Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / California Bookwatch

California Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 4 April 2013 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Computer Shelf Sports Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Art Shelf
Fashion Shelf Architecture Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Biography Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Fiction Shelf Education Shelf Photography Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Cookbook Shelf Science Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Anthropology Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Military Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Social Issues Shelf Business Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Travel Shelf
Native American Studies Shelf Crafts Shelf Relationship Shelf
Poetry Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf California Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Rebuilding the Foodshed
Philip Ackerman-Leist
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603584234, $19.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Rebuilding the Foodshed: How to Create Local, Sustainable, and Secure Food Systems provides a fine key to re-localizing our food systems by rebuilding them to keep money in local economies. More than just an avocation of the idea, this book provides the concrete, real-world tools needed to create replicable models to tackle distribution, transportation, energy costs and more. From food security and environmental concerns to considering the energy put into various farming models, this is a solid discussion of the many influences on food distribution and what it will take to grow sustainable, local resources, and is a 'must' for collections concerned with gardening, food, and local economy.

Mythic Imagination: Collected Short Fiction
Joseph Campbell
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681532, $24.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

Mythic Imagination: Collected Short Fiction gathers Joseph Campbell's short works under one cover for the first time, and provides a collection that includes six pieces never published before, making this a 'must' for any definitive Campbell collector. Written in the years proceeding the 1949 publication of hero With a Thousand Faces, these short fictional pieces document how Campbell explores the themes of his hero tales from around the world, and provides a literary selection of tales ranging from sagas of love and loss to stories of the mythic. From mythological symbolism to images of war, these stories share Campbell's passion for injecting mythic structure into everyday life experiences, and will delight any who seek more of Campbell's visionary works.

NLP Workbook
Joseph O'Connor
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573246156, $24.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

NLP Workbook: A Practical Guide to Achieving the Results You Want covers the basics of neuro-linguistic programming and links its methods and techniques to shifting thinking, choosing an emotional state, and using NLP results for a better life. Exercises on mental rehearsal, visualization and coaching skills accompany tools for creating better relationships as well as honing in on professional financial goals, with the teachings exploring the nature of consciousness, unconscious thinking, and how to create a richer life overall. The result is a highly inspirational pick recommended for all kinds of collections, from new age and health to general inspirational holdings.


The Computer Shelf

iPad Geekery
Guy Hart-Davis
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9780071807555, $30.00, www.mhprofessional.com

iPad Geekery: 50 Insanely Cool Hacks and Mods for your Apple Tablet is a 'must' for tablet owners who already have the basic iPad down, and who want to move to more advanced levels. From turning an iPad into a photo and video camera and gaming device to tweaking it to use it as a backing band, this covers all the basics from creating Word and PDF files to connecting to a company network or just using the iPad for play. Black and white screen shots throughout accompany step-by-step instructions so easy to make it virtually impossible to puzzle over any advanced application. Any iPad owner who already knows the basics will relish this guide to advanced possibilities.

Ubuntu Unleashed, 2013 Edition
Matthew Helmke
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780672336249, $49.99, www.informit.com/sams

The 2013 edition of Ubuntu Unleashed includes a DVD of Ubuntu 12.10 on DVD plus a three upgrade to 13.04, and is packed with information on any who want in-depth insights on the Ubuntu Linux operating system. It's been completely revised and updated by a long-time Ubuntu expert who covers everything needed to install, configure, customize and use all the system's basic and advanced features, from multimedia and system administration to server operations, networking and more. Chapters offer many intermediate techniques and shortcuts not to be found in other guides, while the latest discussions of Ubuntu's productivity and new web development tools covers all the basics including new programming languages and troubleshooting. Any Ubuntu operator at any level of expertise must have this in-depth, complete guide!

GIS Tutorial Spatial Analysis Workbook 10.1
David W. Allen
ESRI Press
380 New York Street
Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589483378, $79.95, www.esri.com

GIS Tutorial Spatial Analysis Workbook offers a fine survey focusing on building spatial analysis skills using ArcGIS 10.1 for Desktop. It's a step-by-step workbook for users with intermediate GIS skills who want to add analysis procedures to their abilities, and includes illustrations of mapping change, measuring quantities, analyzing patterns and much more. Readers learn how to generate new files from existing data and the approach comes from a GIS manager for the City of Euless, Texas who founded one of the first GIS degree programs in the state. Any GIS student must have this key to advancement.

Buttonless
Ryan Rigney
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439895836, $31.95, www.crcpress.com

BUTTONLESS: INCREDIBLE IPHONE AND IPAD GAMES AND THE STORIES BEHIND THEM offers a wealth of lively insights on popular games, from the origins of Angry Birds to how a napkin drawing evolved into a best-selling app. Statistics and fun facts sidebars accompany lively game insights, with each chapter opening with a review of the game and how it's played, and concluding with the often-odd history of its evolution and marketing. Any interested in iPhone and iPad games will be familiar with many of these - and will appreciate having a lively survey discussing their origins and evolution!

Programming Windows
Charles Petzold
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9780735671768, $59.99, www.microsoftpress.com

Programming Windows: Writing Windows 8 Apps With C# and XAML comes from a programmer who rewrites his own solid 'bible' Programming Windows to reflect the very different possibilities in working with Windows 8, and is a 'must' for any programmer who would write Windows 8 apps. From basic event handling, templates, customization and more to advanced topics ranging from programming bitmap graphics to interfacing with share facilities and getting input from the stylus, chapters are packed with code, application examples, and all the nuts and bolts needed to program effectively to create viable Windows 8 apps. Any programming collection should have this.

Learning Cocoa with Objective-C: Developing for the Mac and iOS App Stores
Paris Buttfield-Addison & Jonathon Manning
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449318499, $39.99, www.oreilly.com

Learning Cocoa with Objective-C: Developing for the Mac and iOS App Stores teaches the basics of how to use Cocoa with Objective-C to develop applications on the iOS and OS-X Mac platforms, and is a recommendation for any Mac programming collection. Here's a thorough discussion that includes surveys of life cycles of applications on both platforms, discussions of how to build apps that let users work with data and documents, and details on using advanced developer tools - all backed with examples taught in a project-based format that lets programmers learn from real-world applications and project examples. The result is a key to understanding the Mac development process and is a pick for any level of Mac developer.

DevOps Troubleshooting: Linux Server Best Practices
Kyle Rankin
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321832047, $34.99, www.awprofessional.com

DevOps Troubleshooting: Linux Server Best Practices addresses the basics of Linux server problems in a manner administrators and programmers alike can understand, using best practices as the basis for not only correcting problems, but standardizing techniques a team will need to produce consistent, reliable results. Chapters delve into basic problem-solving techniques relating to Linux servers, discussing such common issues as Apache and Nginx Web server failures, identifying hardware failures, identifying corrupt disc issues, and much more. All this comes from a senior systems administrator and DevOps engineer who speaks frequently about open source software and who here provides specific, tested keys to successful Linux use. Any who would develop 'best practices' for Linux will find this a powerful tool.

Silverlight 5 in Action
Pete Brown
Manning Publications
20 Baldwin Road, Shelter Island, NY 11963
9781617290312, $59.99, www.manning.com

Silverlight 5 in Action completely revamps and revises its predecessor Silverlight 4 in Action and provides a detailed coverage of all Silverlight 5's changed and advanced features, making this a 'must' reference for any programming library. Programmers receive basic instruction that teaches everything needed to build professional-quality desktop applications that can be used on the web, and provide a progressive instructional approach that lends to easy use by newcomers to Silverlight's processes. From simple examples to full applications, along with their code, Silverlight in Action provides a complete coverage in a format lending to use by any aspiring programmer.

The Book of GIMP
Olivier Lecarme and Karine Delvare
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593273835, $49.95, www.nostarchpress.com

THE BOOK OF GIMP offers an in-depth survey of all the capabilities of GIMP 2.8 and offers step-by-step tutorials that teach about all the features of GIMP, covering everything from website design to retouching photos, and provides a basic reference to all aspects of the software so users can quickly locate solutions without putting in hours of troubleshooting time. The dual approach to teaching GIMP allows its accessibility to two kinds of readers: new users who want to get up and running quickly, and users already familiar with the basics who seek a quick reference format for advancing in the program. The instructions are illustrated in full color and teach everything from editing and using logos and animated GIFs to editing images and creating digital art. The result is a fine survey for any GIMP user at any level.


The Sports Shelf

Serious Strength Training, third edition
Tudor Bompa, et.al.
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
97814504122444, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

Serious Strength Training appears in its updated third edition to pack in a guide to building more muscle mass, strength and better workouts, and comes from the world's expert on optimal schedules for training, a leading authority on nutrition, and a former bodybuilder. Basic scientific principles and the latest research combine with guidelines for increasing muscle mass and achieving strength gains for readers who already have the fundamental program down and want a more advanced workout routine. Black and white photos throughout pack in clear descriptions of every routine. A 'must' for any serious muscle trainer.


The American History Shelf

Abraham Lincoln: Beyond the American Icon
Fred Reed
Whitman Publishing
4001 Helton Drive
Florence, Alabama, 35630
9780794837419, $29.95, www.whitman.com

In 2009 the world celebrated the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, and Fred Reed published his acclaimed ABRAHAM LINCOLN: THE IMAGE OF HIS GREATNESS in celebration. This volume offers a companion continuation of that exploration, considering Lincoln's persona, the ways myths grew about him, and the realities of his life. Over 1,400 images show Lincoln on coins, medals, tokens and more, while paintings and ads come from a range of media and accompany a narrative covering his legend and times. The breath and extent of the vintage black and white and full color images throughout are simply stunning, making this a highly recommended pick for any history holding.

The Mighty Gastropolis: Portland
Karen Brooks with Gideon Bosker and Teri Gelber
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452105963, $24.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

The Mighty Gastropolis: Portland: A Journey Through the Center of America's New Food Revolution considers the process through which Portland, Oregon became one of the nation's top food cities nearly overnight. It's a culinary history which both profiles Portland's unique culinary achievements and provides an insider's survey of the city's finest tastes and establishments, considering everything from food trucks to neighborhoods and delving into local chefs who helped put Portland's name on the map as a culinary destination. Recipes, color photos and cultural notes make this a lively and revealing title highly recommended for any culinary history and many a regional U.S. travel holding.

Oysters, Macaroni and Beer
Gene Rhea Tucker
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727687, $34.95, www.ttupress.org

Oysters, Macaroni and Beer: Thurber, Texas and the Company Store follows the evolution of a company store from 1894 to 1934, and the concurrent changes in a company town owned by the Texas and Pacific Coal Company. From unionization in 1903 to the changing makeup of company politics, this uses company records, interviews and newspaper accounts to prove an examination of the changing relationships between labor and management in Texas - a reflection of the broader experience in America. Students of Texas history, business history and American history alike will find this a detailed, compelling survey.


The World History Shelf

The Murder of Cleopatra
Pat Brown
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146504, $20.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

The Murder of Cleopatra: History's Greatest Cold Case challenges the long-held myth that Cleopatra committed suicide via snakebite, moving beyond her Discovery Channel documentary to other further investigations and discussion of the methodology of criminal profiling and crime reconstruction that leads to the conclusion that Cleopatra was murdered. Her findings come from historical analysis and provides a combination of biography of Cleopatra, analysis of the politics and history of her times, and an account of the homicide which ended her life as the last Egyptian pharaoh. Any history holding interested in ancient Egypt and Cleopatra will find this a winning addition, documenting historical investigation and crime investigation.

A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola
Ricardo Cortes
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781617751349, $17.95, www.akashicbooks.com

A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola provides a lively history of coffee, coca-cola, caffeine and more, providing a fun illustrated book reflecting new research in the coca leaf trade conducted by The Coca Cola Company. This history covers cocaine factories in Peru, the evolution of the Coca-Cola Company and drink, and the presence and influence of caffeine in American culture, and considers prohibition attempts and more. It blends a graphic novel-style illustrated format with pop history, and considers the expansion of one of the most popular soft drinks in history. Any food and culinary history holding will find this a lively survey!


The Art Shelf

At the Crossroads
Donna Pierce and Ronald Otsuka, Editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780914738800, $39.95, www.oupress.com

AT THE CROSSROADS: THE ARTS OF SPANISH AMERICA AND EARLY GLOBAL TRADE, 1492-1850 comes from a symposium in 2010 held by The Denver Art Museum and considers the impact on early modern globalization on the arts of Spanish America. An international groups of scholars considered the art and history of Asia, Europe and Latin America and provided the latest research on all kinds of art genres of the times. This volume provides revised, expanded scholarly works presented at the symposium and is a 'must' for any scholarly college-level arts collection concerned with the evolution of Spanish American arts of this period.

Mark Hearld: Workbook
Simon Martin
Merrell Publishers
38 High Avenue, 4th floor, Nyack, NY 10960
9781858945866, $50.00, www.merrellpublishers.com

Mark Hearld: Workbook provides a fine catalog of the works of an artist whose inspiration comes from nature. Workbook is the first collection of his nature art and provides a lively, colorful format packed with examples of the range of his mixed media work, from print, paint, textiles and ceramics to collage, and groups them in nature themes introduced by Hearld himself. Art historian author Simon Martin contributes an essay placing Hearld's work in art history perspective, while the pages packed with images follow his evolution and focus particularly well on his work in collage. Some 200 works are profiled along with the artist's passion for collecting and rendering their images infused with his own interpretations, making this an excellent addition for any holding strong in contemporary art.

Leah Chase: Paintings by Gustave Blache III
A.P. Tureaud Jr., et.al.
Hudson Hills Press
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953782, $40.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Representing a September 2012 exhibition of the Dooky Chase Restaurant series (only) is a catalog of works art libraries will find intriguing. The Dooky Chase Restaurant is one of the cultural icons of cuisine across the world. New Orleans painter Gustave Blache III captures the famous chef's establishment and operations in a series of lovely color photos capturing the kitchen works of the 89-year-old cook, making this a pick for arts and culinary collections as well as any interested in New Orleans history and culture. Accompanying essays explain Blache's techniques and perspective, rounding out a fine exhibition catalog.

Sailboats and Swans
Michal Chelbin
Twin Palms Publishers
PO Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504
9781936611034, $65.00, www.twinpalms.com

Sailboats and Swans comes from an Israeli artist whose works have been shown in galleries around the world, and offers a stunning catalog of images in an oversized, full color presentation recommended for any modern arts holding. The social commentary behind these images are compelling: they were created in prisons throughout the Ukraine and Russia, and offers a hard-hitting selection of images of inmates, capturing on film with a single shot the experience of being locked up. From juveniles to women, this is a study in contrasts and prison life, and deserves a place in any arts or social issues collection.


The Fashion Shelf

Pattern: 100 Fashion Designers, 10 Curators
Phaidon, Editors
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, NY, NY 10014
9780814849710, $79.95, www.phaidon.com

Pattern: 100 Fashion Designers, 10 Curators provides a fine follow-up to the 2005 hit SAMPLE, which Harper's Bazaar called the 'best book in town' for fashion lovers, and continues the discussion by considering the results of ten fashion leaders invited to choose their ten favorite emerging designers. The result makes for a powerful collection of groundbreaking modern fashion design selected by the most famous contemporary designers in the field. Over 1,000 color illustrations include fashion sketches, backstage photos, and advertising campaigns and accompanies descriptions by the ten curators who consider each designer's work and the qualities that make them stand out from the crowd. Presented in a printed Tyvek shoulder bag, this is a powerful reference no serious college-level fashion collection should be without.


The Architecture Shelf

The 100 Best Projects With Reclaimed Materials
Wim Pauwels
Beta-Plus
c/o Antique Collector's Club
ACC Distribution
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, NY, NY 10011
9789089441133, $55.00, www.antique-acc.com

The 100 Best Projects With Reclaimed Materials packs in color photos to illustrate some 100 of the best design projects using reclaimed materials, and is a pick for any arts collection strong in architecture. It represents the third book in the '100 Best' series, and showcases the use of reclaimed materials in exterior and interior design. Different country architectural styles and approaches to making use of these materials lend to a survey filled with innovative approaches and many new ideas for aspiring architects who would use reclaimed materials in their projects. The result is filled with opportunities for architectural students and professionals alike to expand their personal approaches to reclaimed materials and their roles in style choices.

GSD Platform 5
Mariana Ibabez, Editor
Harvard Graduate School of Design
c/o Actar D (ActarBirkhauser Distribution)
151 Grand Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10013
www.actar-d.com, www.gsd.harvard.edu
9788415391289, $34.95, www.amazon.com

GSD Platform 5 represents years of research, exhibitions, and lectures based on events from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and packs in insights on the expanded GSD and the works produced by the school during 2011-2012. Material represents only a small selection of the overall projects and includes discussions of the School's continuing commitment to architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design. Links between the design school's changing structure and evolving global trends make this a particularly important college-level analysis suitable for design and architectural studies alike.

Post-Ductility
Michael Bell and Craig Buckley, Editors
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
9781616890469, $65.00, www.papress.com

Post-Ductility: Metals in Architecture and Engineering discusses the wide-ranging role and use of metals in architecture, and is a recommendation for any serious architectural reference collection. Over the last decades metals have been transformed by both new technology and new applied purposes in the world of architecture - and these choices also hold social and cultural ramifications. Post-ductility refers to not just their physical properties, but to their architectural applications. Key projects around the world are profiled here, along with essays considering the history, engineering, sustainability and use of metal materials in the process. Any collection strong in architectural building heritage will find this a powerful survey.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Ever After
Kim Harrison
Harper Voyageur
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061957918, $27.99, www.harpervoyagerbooks.com

EVER AFTER returns Rachel Morgan to fans as she faces her greatest obstacle yet: she's broken the demonic realm, the ever-after, that parallels the human universe and is faced with fixing a problem that could eliminate all magic in the world as well as demons. This is the eleventh novel from Kim Harrison and offers a journey to an alternate realm in her Hollows series, filled with demons and a feisty character who must gain assistance from deadly beings. The result is a fast-paced fantasy packed with high drama and unexpected moments, perfect for any fan of Harrison's past sagas as well as newcomers to her world.

Necessity's Child
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781451638875, $25.00, www.baen.com

Necessity's Child provides a new Laiden Universe novel and is especially recommended for prior fans and collections seeing popularity with the prior Laiden series. Here the arrival of Clan Korval on planet Surebleak, bringing with it its friends, enemies and ultimate plans, prompts many changes among the private kompani, who live subdued in the shadows as they have lived in secret for centuries. Suddenly it's a time of change - one which might change the planet as a whole and the kompani - and during this change three people from very different backgrounds find their goals and lives melding in a new manner. Necessity's Child offers a fine survey packed with satisfying twists and turns of plot, and continues to expand upon the Laiden Universe setting.

Door to Anywhere
Rick Katze, Editor
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778979, $29.00, www.nesfa.org/press

Fans of science fiction writer Poul Anderson will find this fifth volume of his short writings to be a powerful addition to the multi-volume collection of his best fantasy and science fiction stories. The title story "Door to Anywhere" examines a near future where matter is transmitted to the stars, where other stories consider worlds of magic, a consideration of life on earth over forty years after World War III, and the worlds of the Lensman brought to life in "The Master Key'. Fans of Anderson who appreciate the short story and novella format will appreciate this addition to the literature.

Garrett for Hire
Glen Cook
Roc
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451464958, $17.00, www.penguin.com

GARRETT FOR HIRE provides a satisfying omnibus of Garrett urban fantasy novels: the seventh, eighth and ninth in his Garrett, P.I. series featuring an unusual human detective who stands out in a world of elves and trolls. Including DEADLY QUICKSILVER LIES, PETTY PEWTER GODS and FADED STEEL HEAT, this offers problem-solving stories packed with sex and murder mystery, with a solid dose of humor and irony as in PETTY PEWTER GODS, when new goods challenge the town of TunFaire. The genre of 'fantasy noir' comes to life in these books, which will appeal to prior fans and newcomers alike.

Star Trek Next Generation: On Board the U.S.S. Enterprise
Denise and Michael Okuda
Barrons
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764160068, $18.99, www.barronseduc.com

Star Trek Next Generation: On Board the U.S.S. Enterprise is a unique, oversized book written by Star Trek experts that comes packed with illustrations throughout and is accompanied by a 3D tour of the Enterprise complete with interactive animations. Fold-out pages of detail and lovely color images captured from Next Generation scenes profile characters and settings from the series, examining in detail the corridors of the ship from sickbay to the science lab. The result is an exceptional survey highly recommended for any avid Star Trek fan!


The Biography Shelf

The King of Infinite Space
David Berlinski
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465014811, $24.00, www.basicbooks.com

THE KING OF INFINITE SPACE: EUCLID AND HIS ELEMENTS considers the basics of Euclidean geometry and what it says about Euclid, linking a vivid survey of geometry with a biography of its maker, the man who first organized geometric knowledge into a system. In writing his Elements, Euclid uncovered a way to integrate his personality with science: this title comes from a renowned mathematics writer who provides the definitive story of the elusive genius and his work, creating a lively biography that belongs in science and biography holdings alike.

The Soul of It All
Michael Bolton
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781455523658, $24.99, www.centerstreet.com

THE SOUL OF IT ALL: MY MUSIC, MY LIFE comes from a musician who has sung with famous personalities, worked as a co-songwriter with Dylan and others, and has written and performed many hits, selling over 53 million albums and singles. This autobiography of his life chronicles his rise to success, from his start playing music on the streets for food to his entry into the world of commercial music to help his family survive. His personal insights blend with stories of musical encounters in an account recommended for biography and music history collections alike, who will appreciate his humor, candid assessments of music and Hollywood worlds, and his life.

An Extraordinary Theory of Objects
Stephanie LaCava
HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061963896, $23.99, www.harpercollins.com

An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of An Outsider in Paris tells of a curious girl coming of age in a foreign country when her father's job brings her to a Paris suburb. Original narratives recount her coming of age in Paris and the depression she struggles with as she seeks to understand Parisian culture, where the beauty of unusual objects fascinates her. These objects - from beetles to landscapes and cultural icons - serve as points of reference long LaCava's journey, which tells of historical objects, connections to Paris and home, and her evolving ability to handle loneliness and sadness in a foreign land. Any general-interest library will find this a moving saga.

Broken Butterfly
Karin Finell
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219930, $29.95, www.umsystem.edu.upress

BROKEN BUTTERFLY: MY DAUGHTER'S STRUGGLE WITH BRAIN INJURY is a recommendation for health and biography holdings alike and chronicles a journey that began with a mosquito bite. In 1970 a family vacation to Acapulco seemed idyllic until, upon their return, seven-year-old Stephanie fell ill with an intestinal disorder. When Stephanie went into violent convulsions it sparked a series of tests that led to a diagnosis of viral equine encephalitis while in Mexico - and a journey that led to a six-week coma and brain damage. Doctors encouraged her parents to place her in an institution - but Karin Finell refused, and Broken Butterfly documents their struggles to understand a brain injury little understood at the time. Any collection strong in accounts of illness and coping will find this a poignant, informative survey.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Jesus: A Gospel
Henri Nouwen
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980143, $24.00, www.orbisbooks.com

JESUS: A GOSPEL is edited and introduced by Michael O'Laughlin and provides Henry Nouwen's spiritual retelling of the gospel story. Rembrandt's black and white drawings pair with a rich blend of gospel texts and Nouwen's own reflections on the meaning and life of Jesus, offering a lovely account from a teacher whose ministry revolved around showing people God's presence in the world. This gospel of Biblical meditations and New Testament contributions is a 'must' for any serious Christian collection.

Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word V. III
Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781586176983, $31.95, www.ignatiuspress.com

Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word V. III provides spirituality collections with a powerful study of St. Matthew's Gospel and comes from Brother Simeon, who offers an in-depth analysis of Matthew's writings. The goal is to help readers experience the divine Word: chapters consider objective and subjective levels of depth in the Word of God, offer connections between scripture and its impact and applications to daily life, and comment on the Greek text. The analysis seeks to explain the Word of God and how to read and interpret it, offering a history of its roots in Jesus and showing how it serves to create a connection to Jesus Christ for a life-changing result. While quite scholarly in approach and depth, Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word V. III has the ability to reach lay audiences with its powerful message, and is a pick for any scholarly Christian holding.

Charity and Its Fruits
Jonathan Edwards
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433529702, $22.99, www.crossway.org

Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God's Love comes from a scholar who went to great lengths to describe and document the message of love inherent in the teachings of I Corinthians 13, and is a recommendation for any Christian reader who wants insights into the message and living applications of Biblical love. Over 150 notes explain difficult concepts and notes in the text, define puzzling arcane terminology and treatments, and provide a satisfying update to the original scholarly treatise. Edwards scholar Kyle Strobel provides a powerful editing job of the original, including quotes from his other writings, retaining the work's unabridged presentation, and adding the notes and explanations that will make it accessible to a much wider audience. Any scholarly Biblical studies holding - especially those with prior interest in Jonathan Edwards' classic - will find this a key acquisition.

Bioethics: A Primer for Christians, third edition
Gilbert Meilaender
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802867704, $16.00, www.eerdmans.com

The third updated edition of Bioethics: A Primer for Christians offers many new insights into abortion, assisted reproduction, the latest genetic advancements, and their relevance and impact upon Christian thinking, and remains a 'must' for any Christian collection concerned with scholarly assessments of new technologies. The new edition has updated all discussions and information and added discussion of how to preserve Christian conscience in medicine and research. Chapters are filled with theological arguments that are accessible to both Christian scholars and lay readers alike, offering guidance on a range of medical ethics concerns. A 'must' for any Christian collection!

Meditation and Communion With God
John Jefferson Davis
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830839766, $20.00, www.ivpress.com

How does a spiritual person begin to practice biblical meditation to blend a spiritual reading of the Bible with thought about its words and associations? This title explores the method and reasons for practicing traditional biblical meditation, exploring the theological roots of such and considering the foundations of meditation practices in American and other cultural practices. Chapters survey the benefits of meditating on the Scriptures, and provide strong connections between theology, science, and meditative practices. Any Christian collection needs this fine survey of 'best practices' surrounding faith.


The Philosophy Shelf

Is God Happy? Selected Essays
Leszek Kolakowski
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465080991, $28.99, www.basicbooks.com

Is God Happy? Selected Essays comes from a philosopher who is both an anti-communist writer and known for his explorations of religion and philosophy, and here gathers a range of his writings from 1956 through 2006. It's a posthumous collection appearing in English for the first time, translated by Leszek's daughter Agnieszka Kolakowska, and offers sections on socialism, religion and examination of modernity. While this gathering isn't limited to religious analysis, it does offer extensive discussion on the role of God in a godless world, perceptions of the sacred, and whether God is capable of emotions, lending to its inclusion in any philosophical spirituality collection as well as many a general-interest library.


The Fiction Shelf

Nothing Gold Can Stay
Ron Rash
Ecco
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062202710, $24.99, www.eccobooks.com

NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY: STORIES provides some fourteen stories in a new collection that ranges in setting and time from the Civil War to the present and explores the actions and motivations of a diverse case of realistic characters. Many of the stories share a theme of how the world affects individual lives and how isolated individuals become part of that world - but also central to the themes are profiles of characters facing hardship, and how they overcome such. The result is a fine collection recommended for any literary library!

The Secret of the Nightingale Palace
Dana Sachs
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062201034, $14.99, www.harpercollins.com

The Secret of the Nightingale Palace blends history and modern drama as it centers on a 35-year-old woman struggling to cope with the loss of her husband who receives a strange call from her estranged old grandmother Goldie, who invites Anna to join her on a cross-country trip. What seems like an obvious reason for journeying turns sinister as Anna discovers there are secrets involved in the mission: family history and social history that hold lessons for Anna's own recovery process. Alternating between Goldie's youth and Anna's concerns, this is a fine story of a multi-faceted journey undertaken by both and is recommended for any general lending library strong in emotional novels.


The Education Shelf

The Best Value Colleges, 2013 Edition
Robert Franek, et.al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307945983, $21.99, www.princetonreview.com

The 2013 edition of The Best Value Colleges packs in updates and information over 150 schools - 75 private and 75 public schools - and what it takes to get in, and makes recommendations based on a 30-factor analysis of some 650 institutions. Tips on academics, school culture and cost accompany freshman profiles with test rating scores, keys as to why students like the college, and more. Any who would learn how to get the best value from a college will find this a winning acquisition.

Using Formative Assessment to Differentiate Middle School Literacy Instruction
Leslie Laud and Pooja Patel
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452226217, $29.00, www.corwin.com

Using Formative Assessment to Differentiate Middle School Literacy Instruction: 7 Practices to Maximize Learning comes from experts who discuss how to establish new classroom norms, how to involve students in assessment data, and how to help map learning progression, and is a pick for teachers interested in handling classrooms of different students using tools and techniques of formative assessment and follow-up. Seven classroom-tested practices for maximizing this learning come with case histories, sample worksheets and charts, and everything a teacher needs to keep students engaged. Educators will find this a winner!

From Handprints to Hypotheses
Todd Wanerman
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605541235, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org

From Handprints to Hypotheses: Using the Project Approach with Toddlers and Twos provides a fine guide for using the project approach with young children, offering a range of hands-on creative projects to encourage a young child's interests and ability to explore. Teachers will find these projects blend well into curriculum objectives, linking an early learner's natural abilities with teaching objectives. The result is a highly recommended early learning guide perfect for any who would gain additional projects tools for achievement.


The Photography Shelf

Paradise in Brazil
Joaquim Nabuco
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764342448, $50.00, www.schifferbooks.com

PARADISE IN BRAZIL packs in over 150 color and black and white images to capture the seductive women of Brazil and continues photographer Joaquim Nabuco's focus on Brazilian beauties. His regional approach covers the extent of models from around the country, includes quotes from Brazilian artists and poets, and provide models who come not just from fashion but from different pursuits. The result is a stunning, artistic volume perfect for any arts or photography library.

The Art and Business of High School Senior Portrait Photography, second edition
Ellie Vayo
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608955749, $39.95, www.amherstmedia.com

The Art and Business of High School Senior Portrait Photography is packed with color photos accompanying discussions of the techniques that have made author Ellie Vayo one of the biggest name in senior portraiture in the country. From getting started in the business and marketing a studio to using different lightings and building versatile set, this covers everything from posing to promoting one's art, and is packed with specific keys to understanding and reaching the senior portraiture market. This second edition updates details and includes the latest strategies and options for building a successful senior portraiture business.

The Art of Boudoir Photography
Christa Meola
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321862709, $44.99, www.newriders.com

The Art of Boudoir Photography: How to Create Stunning Photographs of Women comes from an acclaimed professional photographer who here explores how photography can help women feel beautify by capturing their sex appeal and confidence. Here Christa Meola shares her personal tips and techniques for creating the successful boudoir shot, showing how to prepare a novice for posing, how to create sensuality with movement and lighting, and how to flatter every figure. The key lies in 'before and after' shots which clearly show how the boudoir effect is created. Any aspiring photographer needs this specific step-by-step example of how boudoir is captured.

The HDRI Handbook 2.0
Christian Bloch
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538163, $59.95, www.rockynook.com

The HDRI Handbook 2.0: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists rewrites and substantially revises a classic in the field, and is packed with reference information key to understanding HDRI. From dozens of new step-by-step tutorials and accompanying supportive information provided on a DVD to keys to understanding HDR software, how HDR images are captured and used, and the entire process of shooting and stitching HDR, this includes specific updates for 2.0 which include RAW pre-processing, tonemapping, and more. The result is a highly recommended 'must' for any photography or film collection.

Nikon D600: From Snapshots to Great Shots
Rob Sylvan
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321904959, $29.99, www.peachpit.com

Nikon D600: From Snapshots to Great Shots teaches the top ten things needed to know about the D600 camera and its options, from using its automatic modes for fine shots to understanding how to apply the basics of photography composition, focus and more. From portraits to scenes, this book packs in large, colorful photos to illustrate how to use the camera under all kinds of field conditions, and pairs sidebars of tips with specific instructions on different settings and why they are important. The result is a recommendation for all levels of Nikon D600 user, but especially for those new to the camera and photography who want specific instruction on what elements make for a better photograph.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Advances in Small Animal Total Joint Replacement
Jeffrey N. Peck & Denis J. Marcellin-Little
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780470959619, $124.99, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Advances in Small Animal Total Joint Replacement is a 'must' for any veterinarian's reference library; especially those strong in veterinary surgery, and provides an up-to-date examination of joint replacement procedures. It joins others in the 'Advances in Veterinary Surgery' series to consider the latest technologies involved in joint replacements in dogs and cats, including many details on biomechanics not to be found in other guides and offering extensive sections covering procedures, complications, and outcomes. Color charts and diagrams accompany black and white photos and X-rays in a detailed discussion recommended for any collection including veterinary surgery analysis.


The Cookbook Shelf

Tiny Food Party!
Teri Lyn Fisher & Jenny Park
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
9781594745812, $18.95, www.quirkbooks.com

TINY FOOD PARTY! BITE-SIZE RECIPES FOR MINIATURE MEALS is loaded with classic recipes reduced in size and perfect for parties, and includes snacks and finger foods as well as entrees and even cocktails - all in tiny versions with parties in mind. From Chicken-n-Waffles to Homemade Hostess Mini-Cupcakes and small meat loaves, this pairs color photos of all completed dishes with recipes designed with finger food partying in mind. The result is an exceptional collection highly recommended for any who would gain new ideas for entertaining from classic dishes.

Classic Snacks Made from Scratch
Casey Barber
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612431215, $17.95, www.ulyssespress.com

Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats provides homemade versions of chips, dips and sweets in a new cookbook packed with color photos complimenting a wealth of treats, from Ranch Doritos to Klondike Bars. From finger foods and chips to cookies and snack cakes, this holds tested adaptations of such familiar fare as Wheat Thins, Corn Nuts, Animal Crackers, and Creamsicles, to name a few. Instructions are clear and easy to follow and cooks may be surprised to note that ingredients are easy to locate, making this a top pick for any cookbook collection.

Fix-It-And-Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook
Phyllis Pellman Good with American Diabetic Association
Good Books
PO Box 419, Intercourse, PA 17534-0419
9781561484584, $24.95, www.goodbooks.com

Fix-It-And-Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook has been revised and updated to include some fifty new recipes never published before, all backed by the American Diabetes Association and their focus on healthy eating. The focus here is threefold: dishes which are nutritional, easy to prepare, and which lend to slow cookery. Over five hundred slow cooker recipes are all approved by the ADA, whose dietitians have helped adapt the recipes. Home cooks will find them exceptionally easy, with the menu plans and meal tips accompanying such delicious fare as French Dip Roast, Seafood Gumbo and Chipolte Chili. A fine 'must' for any cookbook collection appealing to busy cooks concerned about diabetes and health.


The Science Shelf

The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
Michael J. Lannoo
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1609381211, $19.00, www.uiowapress.org

The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory describes a permanent biological field station that was founded in 1909 and promoted fieldwork and an immersion process key to conservation biology studies. Field stations such as this hold important keys to conservation, and this packs in historic photos, a coverage of the evolution of field labs in general and the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory in particular, and offers keys to understanding environmental studies. Any college-level nature collection will find this a fine addition exploring the history of field work in biology and science.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Life on the Brink
Philip Cafaro and Eileen Crist
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820343853, $24.95, www.ugapress.org

Life on the Brink: Environmentalists Confront Overpopulation was published in the interests of beginning a discussion of population issues among environmentalists and policymakers as well as the general public, and gathers some of the leading voices in the American environmental movement who make the case that population growth is a major force behind serious global environmental issues. Ending such growth is a key to restoring not only ecosystems but the viability of the human race living on the planet: chapters come from a range of disciplines and provide essays diverse in nature but united in their message. Any environmental science or social issues collection will find Life on the Brink packs in much food for classroom discussion, debate, and thought.

Wood for Bioenergy
Brooks Mendell and Amanda Lang
Forest History Society Publications
701 William Vickers Avenue
Durham, NC 27701-3162
9780890300763, $10.00, www.foresthistory.org

Wood for Bioenergy: Forests as a Resource for Biomass and Biofuels offers a fine history of the issues and challenges surrounding the use of wood as a renewable resource, and is a fine primer for teachers and students as well as forest managers seeking to understand the changing nature of wood as an energy resource. Chapters discuss management challenges, consider wood's role in forestry and wildlife management, and provide professionals and students alike with a thorough consideration of forestry basics perfect for making links between conservation efforts and sustainable wood energy resources.


The Anthropology Shelf

Noble Savages
Napoleon A. Chagnon
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9780644855103, $32.50, www.simonandschuster.com

NOBLE SAVAGES; MY LIFE AMONG TWO DANGEROUS TRIBES - THE YANOMAMO AND THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS comes from one of the most controversial anthropologists of our times who became immersed in a volatile public debate over evolution, sex, war and more from the findings of his research living five years among the Yanomamo, one of the last tribes living in total isolation from modern civilization. His findings challenged some of the most basic beliefs in the field of anthropology, presenting findings on a basically warlike people who used violence as the foundation of their society. Far from being 'noble savages', this tribe used warfare as an evolutionary advantage - and Chagnon's research branded him a heretic because he dared to describe Yanomamo ways that heavily contested traditional anthropologic models of thought. Any science holding strong in anthropology will find this thought-provoking and intriguing.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Sew Red
Laura Zander
Publicity Manager
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301
New York, NY 10013
9781936096558, $22.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

SEW RED: SEWING & QUILTING FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH ties women's heart health with sewing and features over thirty sewing and quilting celebrities who offer dozens of home and accessory projects while sharing their own stories of heart disease. Chapters offer health tips for keeping a heart fit, pack in facts and resources along with recipes, and add in designs suitable for sewers, from a drawstring dress to a backpack. The result is a multi-faceted survey appealing to needleworkers but packed with far more in the way of information and inspiration. Health as well as crafts and needlework collections will find this an unusual winner.

Sock-Yarn Shawls
Jen Lucas
Martingale
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604681949, $24.99, www.martingale-pub.com

SOCK-YARN SHAWLS: 15 LACY KNITTED SHAWL PATTERNS provides a lovely survey for using sock yarns and their versatile composition for knitting shawls, and is a pick for any knitter seeking to create shawls. From tips for choosing the right yarn to joining different skeins and creating different lace motifs, this is a fine survey highly recommended for any knitter looking to create lacy shawls or use sock yarns for different purposes.

Liberty Love
Alexia Marcelle Abegg
Stash Books
c/o C&T Publishing
1651 Challenge Drive
Concord, CA 94520-5206
www.ctpub.com
9781607056263, $26.95, www.stashbooks.com

LIBERTY LOVE: 25 PROJECTS TO QUILT & SEW FEATURING LIBERTY OF LONDON FABRICS provides a range of quilts and accessories for a home and wardrobe and is a recommendation for quilters who want patterns and full-size templates to work with. The inclusion of graded tissue paper garment patterns in back of the book may influence its value to a lending library, but individuals who want to use the popular Liberty Tana Lawn lines with fabrics will find this a fine and diverse gathering of ideas and sewing applications. From supplies needed to cutting and construction, color photos accompany clear instructions and provide many basic keys to using the Liberty of London Fabrics in a range of projects.

Sew Knits With Confidence
Nancy Zieman
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
9781440230332, $24.99, www.fwmedia.com

Sew Knits With Confidence is a pick for any sewing collection and addresses the common perception that knits are tricky to sew. Nancy Zieman offers an easy approach to using knit fabrics successfully, and teaches about the variety of knit fabrics, their best sewing uses, and how to pair the right fabric with sewing needs. Five illustrated step-by-step projects offer knits that are easy to produce and quick to sew, with color pictures and patterns throughout simplifying the entire process. Any needlework library will find this specific focus on a fabric commonly thought to be difficult to be useful and important.

Stacked & Stitched
Christine Morgan
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604600322, $21.95, www.americanquilter.com

Stacked & Stitched: Artistic Fabric Projects For Your Home teaches a technique involving using layers of fabric and a chenille cutter to make art works suitable for gallery showing, and is a fine addition to any needleworker's collection. It teaches a range of skills, from how to choose fabrics to using templates to create four projects, and it comes packed with color photo examples of handbags, place mats, pillows and more. The result is a fine selection of different household sewing projects perfect for any who look for new inspiration backed by new techniques.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Mind-Body Workbook for Stress
Stanley H. Block, MD
Carolyn Bryant Block
Amanda A. Peters
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781608826360, $21.95, www.newharbingerpublications.com

Mind-Body Workbook for Stress: Effective Tools for Lifelong Stress Reduction & Crisis Management provides a fine self-help guide for any who are constantly stressed out or tense, and provides a workbook designed to help break the cycle of constant stress and worry. The experiential program outlined here is designed to provide effective recovery tools and helps readers identify tension sources, melt the tension, and reduce anxiety associated with stress. The result is a key acquisition for any experiencing anxiety produced by stress, and is a recommended self-help workbook with an approach that works.

Rating Scales in Mental Health
Martha Sajatovic and Luis F. Ramirez
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406664, $60.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Rating Scales in Mental Health is a pick for any collection appealing to practitioners who use psychometric instruments in their practice, and has been updated to describe and analyze over 116 scales. Each rating scale begins with an overview and includes general applications, copyright information, time frames of completion, and in many cases, examples from real-world applications. Also included is a format which lends to quick reference. Any clinical mental health practitioner looking for an easy overview of the rating scales commonly used in psychiatry will find this an excellent introduction.

Yoga and Fertility
Jill Mahrlig Petigara, E-RYT, MA
Lynn Jensen, E-RYT, RPYT, MBA
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, NY, NY 10036
9781936303328, $21.95, www.demoshealth.com

Yoga and Fertility: A Journey to Health and Healing provides the first detailed yoga guide for anyone wanting to conceive, and is a powerful set of guidelines for any who want to incorporate yoga into their health routines. Here yoga exercises are paired to different fertility cycles, with black and white photos accompanying written description of the movements and their underlying purpose. Sets of poses offer insights into pairing movement with breathing, outlining methods and covering setup, the movement, and the reasoning behind it. With its specifics on poses and intentions, linking yoga to health and fertility throughout, YOGA AND FERTILITY is a special guide recommended for any yoga practitioner.

The Emotional Eater's Repair Manual
Julie Simon
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681518, $16.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

The Emotional Eater's Repair Manual: A Practical Mind-Body-Spirit Guide for Putting an End to Overeating and Dieting outlines the author's successful twelve-week Emotional Eating Recovery Program and outlines a clinical program that identifies often-overlooked causes of weight gain as being rooted in emotional and spiritual hunger as well as physiological imbalance. Discussions include hunger cues, healthy and unhealthy choices, and basic self-care skills key to balancing weight and addressing self-esteem issues. The result is a fine multi-faceted approach to ending overeating and dieting struggles, and is a pick for any interested in long-term diet modification.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
Bill Watterson
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449433253, $100.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes appeared some time ago in an expensive hardcover set, limiting its acquisition to libraries and the most dedicated of fans. The appearance of this paperback set is not as pricey, is also slipcased, and will reach a wider audience with its fine all-inclusive chronicles of every Calvin and Hobbes cartoon Bill Watterson published in his ten years of syndication. An introduction reveals Watterson's inspiration for and evolution of the comic strip, while illustrated artwork captures the entire Calvin and Hobbes experience from start to finish. Any avid fan will find this complete set a 'must have'.


The Military Shelf

Special Forces Sniper Skills
Robert Stirling
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781780960030, $24.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

Special Forces Sniper Skills provides an excellent account of the men and weapons used to eliminate targets on the battlefield, and provides a wide-ranging analysis of the making of a sniper. From training and skills to tactics and battlefield approaches, this illustrates the position and influence of the sniper-trained soldier in combat, considering the evolution of talents, their application, and their role in Special Forces units. The result is a military analysis that is suitable for any military collection looking for specifics on the training and applications of the sniper in a military operation - and a pick for any collection strong in special forces development.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Future
Al Gore
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780449015469, $55.00, www.wandomhouseaudio.com

THE FUTURE: SIX DRIVERS OF GLOBAL CHANGE is narrated by Al Gore himself, who provides a powerful survey assessing emerging forces that are reshaping our world. Ours is a time of revolutionary change that has no precedent in history: this analysis focuses on changing relationships between humans and the plant's ecosystems, offers a map of the future, and brings many issues to the forefront of thought. With powerful narration by Gore himself, this deserves a place in any nonfiction audio collection concerned with social and political analysis.

NPR Driveway Moments: Cat Tales
Hosted by Scott Simon
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611748765, $22.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

NPR Driveway Moments: Cat Tales offers a fun set of radio stories centering around cats and tells of mischievous, fun, and captivating cats of every kind. Cat Tales is for the animal lover who will find the variety and depth of stories perfectly entertaining for car trips and leisure listening, but it holds the ability to attract any audiobook listener with its fun accounts of cats and their habits. General lending libraries, particularly those seeing popularity with animal stories, will find the radio show format and diverse cat tales to be appealing and fun!

Alex Cross, Run
James Patterson
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781607884668, $34.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

Alex Cross, Run follows the intriguing Kill Alex Cross and is an especially recommended pick for prior fans of the series. Here Alex faces yet another case in his detective career: this one involving the murder and mutilation of lovely women. While Alex is involved in research the terrible circumstances he becomes away he's also a target - and finds himself eluding a dangerous adversary in this gripping saga, recommended for any listener intrigued by crime drama. The dual narration of Michael Boatman and Steven Boyer lend high drama and action to the story line.

Undercurrents
Ridley Pearson
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781455890231, $19.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

Jeff Cummings' smooth and powerful voice brings to life Ridley Pearson's story of Police Sergeant Lou Boldt's latest task: to stop the elusive serial killer the Cross Killer. The latest corpse discovery may hold a clue to his identity - or, it may be another murderer entirely: it's up to Lou Boldt to decide on a course of action. Police psychiatrist Daphne joins Lou in his efforts and together they piece together a puzzling story that contrasts the mind and methods of a killer with the approaches of authorities to locate and shut him down. Crime writing at its best, UNDERCURRENTS springs to life in audio format.

The Night Ranger
Alex Berenson
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781611761337, $39.95, www.penguin.com

George Guidall is one of the most respected veteran audiobook narrators in the industry, so it's a pleasure to hear a vivid story of adventure and espionage narrated by his smooth, evocative and dramatic voice. John Wells is tracking four kidnapped Americans in east Africa, and faces controversy abroad and at home over the unfolding events. The hostages may be dead if John can't work out where they are hidden, while social and political tensions abound. If it's international intrigue and fast-paced action that's of interest, packaged in a lively audio listen, then THE NIGHT RANGER is for you.


The Social Issues Shelf

Reducing Gun Violence in America
Daniel W. Webster and Jon S. Vernick, Editors
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421411101, $9.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy With Evidence and Analysis discusses the toll of gun violence and identifies it as a public health concern that needs a policy response. Over 20 of the world's leading experts on guns gathered to discuss gun violence and summarize policies regarding their regulation and use. The research and legal analysis presented here will vastly aid lawmakers and politicians in identifying policy changes and addressing public shootings. From background checks and identifying high-risk individuals to handling assault weapons and locating and allocating research funds, this is a 'must' for any concerned about gun control.

Beyond Civilization
Harry Redner
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412849715, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

Beyond Civilization: Society, Culture, and the Individual in the Age of Globalization tackles the issues surrounding globalization and its discontents. The study of civilization is here used as a method for analyzing this process, providing historical precedent and focusing on economic, political and social aspects of civilization that are changed by globalization efforts. Sociologists, political theorists and any college-level collection strong in social history will find this a fine and scholarly assessment of the forces affecting individualism in this scenario, and will find Beyond Civilization makes for excellent supplemental classroom assignment as well.

China's Uncertain Future
Jean-Luc Domenach
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
9780231152242, $32.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

China's Uncertain Future comes from the experiences of an author based in China as a scholar and a diplomat, and provides a fine blend of archival material and modern research to analyze China's evolving place in the world. His analysis identifies China's current phase as handling a series of relatively simple challenges in preparation for much greater challenges that lie ahead, considering the changes that are facing China's leaders as they prepare to rethink - and recreate - the country's entire social and political structure. These same leaders are also facing corruption in their ranks and divided approaches to problem-solving that could affect China's evolving place in the world. Any college-level collection strong in Chinese analysis and culture will find this a fine analysis of the county's inner influences on its own development paths.

The Long, Lingering Shadow
Robert J. Cottrol
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820344317, $24.95, www.ugapress.org

The Long, Lingering Shadow: Slavery, Race, and Law in the American Hemisphere provides a fine study of legal history, considering the overall and evolving treatment of blacks in the western world. A comparative perspective for college-level students considers the histories of race relations in the U.S., Brazil and Spanish America, from the origins of slavery to the rise of affirmative action in these areas and modern struggles against racism in the entire American hemisphere. From scientific racism and immigration policies to racial classifications and legal systems, this provides a powerful account highly recommended for any racial issues or history holding.


The Business Shelf

Leadership Conversations
Alan S. Berson and Richard G. Stieglitz
Jossey-Bass
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118378328, $27.95, www.josseybass.com

Leadership Conversations: Challenging High-Potential Managers to Become Great Leaders offers clear differentiations between management and leadership styles and considers their different mindsets and priorities, key to success for any moving up the ladder. Chapters discuss vision, strategy, and how to connect with individuals to build relationships and make decisions, and includes advice structured for leaders at every stage, from first-time managers to senior executives. Loaded with real-world examples, this is required reading for any manager.

The Most Important Thing Illuminated
Howard Marks
Columbia Business School Publishing
c/o Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
9780231162845, $29.95, www.cup.columbia.edu

The Most Important Thing Illuminated: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor gathers the author's acclaimed client memos into a single volume and makes his investment philosophy available to general business readers for the first time, and is a recommended pick for any collection concerned with business investment. It's joined by comments and counterpoints of four acclaimed investors - Christopher C. Davis, Joel Greenblatt, Paul Johnson and Seth A. Klarman, who add their comments, observations and assessments of investment strategies to the mix of ideas. Marks also adds his comments to his original memos, which further expands the themes and perspectives of his business plans. Any collection strong in business investment titles will find the diversity and perspective of this volume to be enlightening and well detailed.

The Better Mousetrap
Simon Pont
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
0749466219, $19.95, www.koganpage.com

The Better Mousetrap: Brand Invention in a Media Democracy uses branding and advertising strategies from some of the world's top companies to consider how brands are conceived, promoted and expanded in a media democracy setting, and is a recommendation for any business collection. New perspectives on branding incorporate new technology and strategies of promotion in the 21st century, with chapters offering key discussions on how to provide a viable and changing framework for the branding process, how to encourage creative thinking and perception to keep a brand relevant and lively, and how to create and promote a changeable brand within a constant framework. Any interested in modern branding challenges will find this offers no simple formulas but plenty of encourage for embracing change and making one's brand an evolving creation.

AMA Business Boot Camp
Edward T. Reilly, Editor
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814420010, $25.00, www.amacombooks.org

AMA Business Boot Camp: Management and Leadership Fundamentals That Will See You Successfully Through Your Career provides a fine survey edited by AMA International President Edward T. Reilly offering a course on all the tasks involved in a manager's daily life. It's arranged to follow the path of a manager's career and focuses on developing skills, understanding management basics, and managing staff changes. From keeping up with the demands of managing projects to handling difficult people and situations, this gathers proven techniques and tools for achievement, pairs them with interactive exercises and checklists, and covers all the basics aspiring business leaders need to know to become successful. A 'must' for any business manager working his way up the ladder.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Crowdfunding for Filmmakers
John T. Trigonis
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931330, $26.95, www.mwp.com

Crowdfunding for Filmmakers: The Way to a Successful Film Campaign focuses on tips and techniques for launching a successful film campaign and is a recommendation for any interested in fundraising models for film. The author has been a practitioner and teacher of the crowdfunding process, and here provides a detailed model for everything from locating and building successful relationships to marketing a product, yourself, and a plan. Summary points, exercises, and further details for planning make Crowdfunding for Filmmakers: The Way to a Successful Film Campaign simply a 'must have' for any aspiring filmmaker concerned with successful funding projects.

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013
Roger Ebert
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449423445, $29.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2013 provides an annual favorite from Ebert, who rates more than 600 movies from January 2010 to July 2012 using the 0-4 star system he's cultivated to cross-compare movies. In addition to rating films he includes interviews with film celebrities, essays on Oscars reports, and assessments of the best and worst movies and what influenced their making. With chapters providing detailed observations about the pros and cons, movie-goers will appreciate a detailed instructional based on professional movie-viewer Ebert's own recommendations, and will find here a top reference for locating suitable films by separating the wheat from the chaff.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Standard Catalog of Vintage Football Cards
Editorial Staff
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
9781440232893, $27.99, www.krausebooks.com

Standard Catalog of Vintage Football Cards offers the latest valuation guide covering card sets produced from 1894-1991, and features over 100,000 cards with three values for each. Black and white photos aid in the process of identifying and differentiating these sets, while checklists and pricing covers everything from mainstream issues to local oddities, and covers the NFL, CFL, USFL and college teams from a wide range of manufacturers. Any football card collector looking for the latest values will find this an important addition to their reference tools, perfect to use as a valuation reference at home or in the car while visiting garage sales and sources of football card collectibles.

Almanac of United States Coins
Dennis Tucker, Editor
Whitman Publishing LLC
4001 Helton Drive
Florence, Alabama, 35630
0794839258, $9.95, www.whitmanpublishing.com

Almanac of United States Coins is released in a new first edition in full color and provides coin collectors with an illustrated catalog of information for all levels. Detailed photos lend to identifying coins by type, grading specifics come with large-size step-by-step photo illustrations, and retail price charts cover the latest values. Add stories and essays and you have an exceptional reference for any general lending library looking for a basic primer on coin collecting and how to get started.


The Travel Shelf

Hiking Trails of Cape Breton, second edition
Michael Haynes
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330
Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864926708, $19.95, www.gooselane.com

The second updated edition of Hiking Trails of Cape Breton features some forty routes from Money Point to Ghost Beach, offering details for locating trails, traveling the route, and experiencing the best Cape Breton has to offer. Small but well-detailed maps, assessments of time and difficulty, and facilities include trailhead GPS listings for all hikes, information about reception in the mountains of the area, and black and white photos throughout. Any outdoors person heading to Cape Breton will find this a fine acquisition and reference.


The Native American Studies Shelf

Buffalo Inc.
Sebastian Felix Braun
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143729, $24.95, www.oupress.com

BUFFALO INC.: AMERICAN INDIANS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT offers a fine survey of bison ranching, used by some American Indian tribes in recent years as an ecologically sustainable economic development program. One particular endeavor on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation is used to show whether such projects have fulfilled expectations economically and socially, and chapters consider the evolution of different objectives over a fifteen year period using this experience as the platform. BUFFALO INC. is a pick for any Native American collection concerned with tribal economics and choices.


The Crafts Shelf

Mixed Media Revolution
Darlene Olivia McElroy & Sandra Duran Wilson
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
9781440318719, $24.99, www.createmixedmedia.com

Mixed Media Revolution: Creative Ideas for Reusing Your Art provides a fine guide for recycling and reusing art and paintings, along with scraps and leftovers, and packs in over fifty photographic mixed media techniques. Dozens of troubleshooting tips accompany keys to producing some 70 finished pieces of art, each fully illustrating techniques and including sidebars of 'more ideas' for expanding on them. Any crafts collection will find this a winning survey for expanding the idea of reused art!

Metal Jewelry in Bloom
Melissa Cable
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164438, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Metal Jewelry in Bloom: Learn Metalworking Techniques by Making Lilies, Daffodils, Dahlias, and More teaches how to make lovely flowers using metalworking skills, with each flower project offering keys to building metalworking skills in a progressive manner that moves from basic to complicated skills. Tools, reviews of basics, and step-by-step instruction accompanied by clear color photos offer the end result of lovely jewelry pieces from metal, making this a fine method of learning metalworking basics. Very highly recommended for any crafter working with jewelry who wants to build metalworking skills.


The Relationship Shelf

Manology
Tyrese Gibson and Rev Run
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781451681840, $24.99, www.simonandschuster.com

Manology: Secrets of Your Man's Mind Revealed provides women with some honest answers about the state, nature, and progression of male thought, and is a recommended pick for any who would build healthy relationships with men. From how to weed out manipulators and cheaters from good men to finding happiness in a healthy relationship, MANOLOGY comes from best friends with very different viewpoints about relationships, and provides a fine set of strategies for men and women to have open discussions about relationship expectations. It's filled with real-world experiences and differing perceptions about what such a relationship entails, offers more give-and-take viewpoints from the authors than most single-author, single-perspective titles can offer, and makes for a fine and recommended read.

Your Second Wedding
Kristie Lorette
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601386298, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Your Second Wedding: How to Handle Issues, Make Plans, and Ensure It's a Great Success covers all the etiquette and basics needed to know to make a second wedding run smoothly, from options in vows and ceremonies to advise on registering for gifts, inviting friends who attended one's last wedding, and more. Second weddings can prove a greater challenge than first ones, from wording invitations to handling details. This packs in checklists, planning sheets, and keys to combining a family and handling children from a prior marriage in the ceremony, and incorporates all the basics of wedding etiquette with specifics on second wedding politics and processes. A 'must' for any planning a second wedding.


The Poetry Shelf

Angles of Ascent
Charles Henry Rowell, Editor
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393339406, $24.95, www.wwnorton.com

ANGLES OF ASCENT: A NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY gathers more than seventy African American poets since the 1950s under one cover and presents poems from a range of sources and with a range of topics - not just protest works. As such, it's one of the most wide-ranging Afro-American poetry anthologies in print, offering insights into the community's many concerns and struggles and placing some of the most important Afro-American poets - Rita Dove, Nathaniel Mackey, Kyle Dargan and more - under one cover. General readers, students and specialists will find this packed with over three hundred poems, making this a solid and diverse collection by contemporary Afro-American poets.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Gods of Gotham
Lyndsay Faye
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425261255, $16.00, www.penguin.com

THE GODS OF GOTHAM provides a historical thriller that takes place in New York City in 1845, where the founding of the New York Police Department and the migration of Irish Catholics to Manhattan Island are changing the face of the city. Against this backdrop one Timothy Wilde, a young ex-bartender, has undertaken the struggle to help bring law and order to a rough city, recruited by his older brother. A range of disturbing violent crimes tests his abilities in this fine historical murder mystery.


The California Shelf

Fresno
John Reynolds and Michael J. Semas
Arcade Publishing
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9780738596204, $21.99, www.arcadiapublishing.com

FRESNO joins others in Arcadia's 'Postcard History Series', this authored by a lifelong resident of the Fresno-Clovic area and a resident of Hanford who has previously written Postcard History titles. Together they examine, through visual history, the evolution of California's town of Fresno, originally established in 1872 when the railroad came to town and today serving as a hub for the central valley. Vintage black and white photos from all kinds of collections contribute to a unique and powerful survey highly recommended for any California history holding; especially those focusing on central valley evolution and culture.

Bad Indians
Deborah Miranda
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597142014, $18.95, www.heydaybooks.com

BAD INDIANS: A TRIBAL MEMOIR blends tribal history and memoir and is highly recommended for any who want to learn about California Indian history and culture. Author Deborah Miranda tells of her Ohlone Costanoan Esselen family history in the course of relating stories about California Indians through oral histories, newspaper reports, and anthropological recordings. The blend of formats may sound complex but the transitions are smooth and the insights invaluable, making this a 'must' for both Native American and California history holdings alike.


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

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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design