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California Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 2 February 2012 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Audiobook Shelf Travel Shelf
Computer Shelf Sports Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Psychology Shelf
Education Shelf Military Shelf Music Shelf
Crafts/Hobbies Shelf Photography Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Art Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf International Studies Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Business Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Biography Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Automotive Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Political Science Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Homeowner's Shelf Gardening/Landscaping Shelf Native American Studies Shelf
California Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

How to Get Your Amazing Invention on Shelves
Michael Cavallaro
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601383020, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

How to Get Your Amazing Invention on Shelves: An A-Z Guidebook for the Undiscovered Inventor focuses on understanding the patent process and how to protect an idea. From understanding the elements that make an invention eligible for patent protection all the way to marketing an invention to an appropriate audience, this offers explanations, timetables for production, understanding market demographics, and much more. Inventors and general collection alike will welcome this specific guide.

Map Use: Reading, Analysis, Interpretation, seventh edition
A. Jon Kimerling, et.al., Editors
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands CA 92373-8100
9781589482791, $99.95, www.esri.com

Map Use: Reading, Analysis, Interpretation is a recommendation for college-level geography libraries and appears in its seventh updated edition for students of GIS. Chapters survey the geographic data underlying a map and describe how to analyze spatial structures for maps. A new section devoted to map interpretation discusses environmental maps and their special qualities. College-level cartography holdings will find this a top pick and basic reference, with this new edition furthering its value to any GIS mapping student.

When Disaster Strikes
Matthew Stein
Chelsea Green Publishing
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583220, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CRISIS SURVIVAL provides a list of necessary materials and measures to stay sheltered and safe during all kinds of emergency situations. From first aid skills and using alternative medical sources when conventional ones are unavailable to building fires, purifying drinking water, storing food, foraging and self-defense, this all-in-one manual tells how to respond quickly to all kinds of natural and human disasters, with personal survival in mind. Any general lending library will find this a fine reference.

Beauty Will Save the World
Gregory Wolfe
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
9781933859880, $29.95, www.isibooks.org

College-level readers will find Beauty Will Save the World packed with insights about culture, religion, art and faith, and will find it a scholarly yet lively account of how to enrich and strengthen the sources of positive dialogue, civil change, and religious faith. As such it will appeal to college-level audiences in the arts, spirituality and social issues alike. Chapters use major artists, writers and thinkers to show that Western traditions can be re-imagined in modern terms. Philosophy enters the picture as well, offering insights on the idea of beauty as a force that can change cultures.

Displays: Fundamentals & Applications
Rolf R. Hainich and Oliver Bimber
CRC Press/AK Peters
711 Third Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781568814391, $89.95, www.crcpress.com

Displays: Fundamentals & Applications describes existing and new display technology and provides an in-depth reference for all kinds of display options, from printed and disposable displays that possibly communicate with consumers to display glasses that simulate virtual environments. Any business or general library interested in display technology will appreciate a book that covers the technical details of displays, offering color diagrams, charts, scientific explanations of applied technology, and more. A fine, specific and in-depth reference for college-level holdings.

LTE Air Interface Protocols
Mohammad T. Kawser
Artech House
685 Canton St., Norwood MA 02062
1608072010, $129.00, www.artechhouse.com

LTE Air Interface Protocols provides a fine survey that offers guidance on how LTE works, packing in over a hundred illustrations to accompany discussions of network services, MME communications and interfaces, tracking updates, PMCH and more. It's an engineering reference that's a 'must' for any college-level or engineer's reference, offering keys to understanding both basic and advanced LTE protocols and their applications in engineering systems. The accompanying diagrams and charts clarify and enhance the text!

Engagement & Wedding Rings
Antoinette Matlins, PG
Antonio Bonanno, EGA, ASA, MGA
Gemstone Press
Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 0509
094376341X, $18.95, www.gemstonepress.com

Engagement & Wedding Rings provides a fine expanded, updated survey of the basics of buying a ring, offering chapters that help couples make the right ring choices. From romantic traditions behind rings to selecting styles, designs, and budgeting as well as comparison shopping and understanding differences in quality, this provides in-depth information perfect for any general lending collection.

Theories of Causality
John Losee
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
97814128118322, $59.95, www.transactionpub.com

Theories of Causality: From Antiquity to the Present considers issues of cause and effect, and how they apply in both science and daily living. Historical background accompanies a number of causal theories and their interpretations, with chapters analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Any college-level collection strong in applied philosophy will find this a winning consideration!

An Uncommon Journey
Deborah Strobin and Ilie Wacs with S.J. Hodges
Barricade Books
185 Bridge Plaza N. #309, Fort Lee NJ 07024
1569804524, $24.95, www.barricadebooks.com

AN UNCOMMON JOURNEY: FROM VIENNA TO SHANGHAI TO AMERICA A BROTHER AND SISTER ESCAPE TO FREEDOM DURING WORLD WAR II is a recommendation for any collection strong in Jewish issues, Holocaust studies, and more, providing a powerful story of a family that escaped Nazi Austria to begin new lives in Shanghai. Shanghai had a large population of Jews who had fled from many countries, and this memoir documents the experiences of a brother and sister ten years apart who share different experiences of the event in a powerful, evocative story.

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 2
John Austin
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781596767160, $16.95, www.chicagoreviewpress.com

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 2: Build a Secret Agent Arsenal is a recommendation for any hobbyist's collection and provides the basics of how to build some 30 different spy weapons and surveillance tools, from a pen blowgun to a mint tin catapult. Hobbyists of all ages will appreciate step-by-step diagrams and easy instructions that come from a professional toy designer. It teaches hobby work and science under one cover and will attract a wide audience with its fun projects.

The Work of Enchantment
Matthew Del Nevo
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
1412818605, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

The Work of Enchantment is a pick for college-level philosophy and cultural studies collections and poses that it's a lack of "enchantment" that causes Westerners to experience mental illness. This enchantment can largely be found in art, but adults need to cultivate their ability to read, listen and absorb this art. Del Nevo offers a discussion of the historical and philosophical roots of enchantment, focuses on works in literature and providing literary examples of this lost art. This could have been reviewed in our literary section but is featured here for its broader appeal beyond the literature category.

Let There Be Facebook
Travis Harmon and Jonathan Shockley
Touchstone
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451659436, $13.99, www.simonandschuster.com

Let There Be Facebook: Status Updates from God, GAGA and Everyone in Between provides a fine survey of history presented as a series of Facebook dispatches that date back to the beginning of time and look at social media and its quirky methods of communication. This parody of Facebook is hilarious and especially recommended for modern readers who have used Facebook enough to be familiar with its status updates, friend requests, and more. Color illustrations and photos lend to a fun account for history and Facebook fans alike.

Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy
Josef Steiff
Open Court Books
70 East Lake St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697315, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind provides another volume in the 'Popular Culture and Philosophy' series and is a recommendation for any who follow either Holmes' mysteries or philosophy. It analyzes the meaning of Sherlock Holmes' approaches and philosophy, considering his intellect and analytical possibilities and linking them to philosophical objectives. A fine pick for any philosophy or mystery library.

Mindfire: Big Ideas for Curious Minds
Scott Berkun
Berkun Media
9780983873105, $14.95, www.scottberkun.com

Mindfire: Big Ideas for Curious Minds provides a passionate, vivid set of Scott Berkun's essays and reflections and if his name sounds familiar, it's likely from his popular online blog. 30 essays and postings from a period of some ten blogging years make for a fine collection offering much food for thought and lively discussions. From why faith matters to how to keep your mouth shut and learn from mistakes, chapters are divided into 'Gasoline', 'Sparks' and 'Fire' writings and provide intriguing discussions for any who would read something fun and different.

Concrete Planet
Robert Courland
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst NY 14228-2119
9781616144814, $26.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

CONCRETE PLANET: THE STRANGE AND FASCINATING STORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMMON MAN-MADE MATERIAL provides a lively narrative discussing how famous people over history became involved in the development and use of concrete. Concrete was rediscovered in the 18th century but wasn't seriously considered as a building tool until the end of the 19th century. Only relatively recently has it come to light that concrete disintegrates with age, and its making contributes to global warming. Stories, facts, science and history blend in a lively, satisfying coverage.

Keep Out!
Nick Redfern
New Page Books
c/o Career Press
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Warwick Associates (publicity)
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, California 95476
9781601631848, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Keep Out! Top Secret Places Governments Don't Want you to Know About covers all kinds of government secret facilities, from Area 51 to Hanger 18, plus installations around the world which are forbidden to the general public. It covers facilities and governments around the world, documenting secret facilities and what they contain, and examines places that for decades have reportedly been sites of crashed UFOs, lethal viruses, biological warfare, and much more. Any new age collection will find this intriguing and packed with insights!

Truman Capote and the Legacy of In Cold Blood
Ralph F. Voss
University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
9780817317560, $34.95, www.uapress.ua.edu

Truman Capote and the Legacy of In Cold Blood reviews the origins of Capote's classic book and its lasting impact on American culture and society, and is a fine analysis for any college-level holding. It considers the book both as a Capote creation and as a story in itself, considering Capote's creation, his claims about its background, and its impact on American culture. From Capote's growing dilemma surrounding the book to subtexts and underlying myths, this is an analysis filled with insights and studied commentary and is perfect for any in-depth research on Capote and his most notable work.

Railroad Stations
David Naylor
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY
9780393731644, $75.00, www.wwnorton.com

Collections strong in design, engineering, architecture or transportation history alike will find much to appreciate in RAILROAD STATIONS: THE BUILDINGS THAT LINKED THE NATION. It focuses on the stations created by the railways that linked lines across America, tracing their development, growth, and construction. It's arranged by region so rail buffs can quickly locate the history of a particular station, with vintage black and white photos throughout displaying a range of depot and station styles. Related features, from concourses to train sheds, are covered. Over 600 archival plans, drawings, maps and images pack an outstanding visual display that is accompanied by an online collection showing all the images.

Success Secrets of Sherlock Holmes
David Acord
Perigee Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399536984, $14.95, www.penguin.com

Success Secrets of Sherlock Holmes: Life Lessons from the Master Detective considers the character of Sherlock Holmes and his creator, the processes of logical deduction, and rules embedded in the Holmes stories that teach foundation skills of life success. From approaching problems with an open mind to honing observation and relishing small details, this teaches how to cultivate problem-solving skills and provides a fine set of tools for tackling life's challenges. Any general-interest collection - particularly those whose patrons enjoy Sherlock-style mysteries - will relish this!

Manual for Living: Connection
Seth David Chernoff
Spirit Scope Publishing
6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-249
Boulder, CO 80301
9781937215002, $16.95, www.spiritscope.com

Manual for Living: Connection follows the success of Seth David Chernoff's award-winning MANUAL FOR LIVING: REALITY and comes from a two-time cancer survivor who uses his insights on life and success to provide readers with ideas for achieving awareness and transformation in their own daily lives. Chapters maintain that human binding is key for life itself, and considers the various paths to connecting both internally and externally, to self and world. This fine sequel is recommended for any collection owning and seeing popular interest in REALITY.


The Audiobook Shelf

My Song: A Memoir
Harry Belafonte with Michael Shnayerson
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780739384602, $45.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

My Song: A Memoir is narrated by Harry Belafonte and Mirron Willis and provides a powerful unabridged account of Belafonte's life, from his poverty-ridden start in Harlem and Jamaica to his rise as an actor and his eventual fame as a singer. His activism, a key part of his life, is explored in detail in MY SONG, which documents both his life and the growing civil rights movement. His moving, personal story comes to life in audio and is a 'must' for any collection strong in music memoirs or powerful autobiographies.

Spontaneous Happiness
Andrew Weil, MD
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781611139716, $29.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

SPONTANEOUS HAPPINESS is narrated by the author and teaches his proven method for maintaining optimum physical health. His choices embrace traditional and alternative medicines alike, offering a focus on emotional health that features integrative medical approaches. Scientifically proven strategies from both Eastern and Western psychology are designed to counteract low mood and enhance positive feelings, making this a fine pick for any inspirational audio library.

The Wise Man's Fear
Patrick Rothfuss
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1423389387, $44.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

The Wise Man's Fear turns a powerful fantasy saga to audio, powered by Nick Podehl's smooth voice - which has received audio awards in past. The epic tells of a rivalry with a member of nobility forces, telling of Kvothe who wanders the countryside searching for answers to an assassination attempt and court politics. Romance and intrigue spice an epic fantasy saga hard to stop listening to. THE WISE MAN'S FEAR is a weighty novel and at first glance would seem to not translate well to unabridged audio: it's Nick Podehl's voice that carries the creation, translates well the tensions, and makes for a gripping story line that comes across in unabridged audio as powerfully as in print.

Micro
Michael Crichton and Richard Preston
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780060873080, $39.99, www.harperaudio.com

MICRO receives a fine unabridged performance by John Bedford Lloyd who adds drama and tension to the audio story of an evolving technology that begins to murder. A microbiology endeavor to develop cutting-edge tools becomes dangerous and threatens the world in this riveting blend of science and fiction, filled with twists and turns of plot and powerful characterization. Any fan of Crichton's thrillers will relish his signature ability to create heart-stopping action, which comes to life in this audio and is recommended for any general lending library.


The Travel Shelf

Europe on a Shoestring, seventh edition
Tom Masters, et.al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741796766, $28.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

The seventh updated edition of Europe on a Shoestring is a fine, must-have travel planners for independent travelers who will benefit from the expert advice of 37 contributing authors who cover 45 countries throughout Europe. The result is well over a thousand pages packed with information based on over six months of on the ground travel research, documenting everything from restaurants and places to stay to cultural observations and things to see. From 'why to go' to 'when to go', this travel guide covers all the basics and focuses on budget-oriented travel perfect for students or travelers who have lots of desire and little money.

The Glimpse Traveler
Marianne Boruch
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton St., Bloomington IN 47404-3797
9780253223449, $19.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu

The Glimpse Traveler is at once a memoir and travelogue and tells a true story of the author's experiences joining a pair of hitchhikers from the Midwest to California. Her nine-day trip introduced her to the American counterculture of the early 70s, and created a journey to solve a tragic mystery that would lead her to California and an abandoned resort model turned struggling commune in the desert of Southern California. A lively survey evolves, recommended for general lending collections.

Madagascar, tenth edition
Hilary Bradt
Bradt Guides
9781841623412, $27.99, www.bradtguides.com

The tenth updated edition of MADAGASCAR is a 'must' take-along and travel planner for any destination-bound traveler, and offers itineraries for all budgets and a focus updating all information on how to get to and travel through Madagascar. It used to be a destination only for the healthy and hardy: modern Madagascar offers tourists a range of options, including fly-in resorts, cheap hotels and local transit, and more. A 'must' for any planning a visit to Madagascar!

Moon Costa Rica, new edition
Christopher P. Baker
Moon Travel Guides
1700 - 4th St., Berkeley CA 94710
9781598807837, $21.99, www.moon.com

MOON COSTA RICA provides a new edition of a winning guide showing travelers how to make the most of Costa Rica, from surfing and hiking to accommodations, restaurants, and budget-oriented tips. The focus is on making the most of a budget, covering many strategies locals use to cut costs yet presenting alternatives that have luxury in mind. Black and white small photos and maps throughout make this a top pick for destination travelers.


The Computer Shelf

Service Design Patterns
Robert Daigneau
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
032154420X, $54.99, www.informit.com/awss

Service Design Patterns: Fundamental Design Solutions for SOAP/WSDL and RESTFul Web Services is a top recommendation for software engineering collections and codifies proven design solutions for web services using the REST style. Chapters show how to create a web service API and which style to choose, how to uncover information about a web service, and how to version a service. From response mappers to workflow connectors, this is an excellent reference.

Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.microsoft.com/mspress

Darvish Shadravan and Laura Rogers' USING MICROSOFT INFOPATH 2010 WITH MICROSOFT SHAREPOINT 2012 STEP BY STEP (9780735662063, $34.99) offers a fine survey of building InfoPath forms for SharePoint and teaches the basics of designing forms without building code. From building dashboards to display information to using screenshots to check work, this offers numbered steps and tips on everything from web parts to parameters, publishing form data to creating an interface for approval processes. Computer collections appealing to programmers will find this revealing. John Paul Mueller's START HERE! LEARN MICROSOFT VISUAL C# 2010 (9780735657724, $34.99) teaches the basics of learning Visual C#, from data query and web services to building apps using Presentation Foundation. Chapters offer sample charts, screens and step-by-step keys to understanding Visual C#, and make for a fine addition to any programming library. William R. Stanek's OPTIMIZING WINDOWS 7 POCKET CONSULTANT (9780735661653, $24.99) provides a fine portable guide to optimizing Windows 7, offering a pocket-sized book containing quick reference tables, instructions, lists, and keys to installing and running software. From using multiple monitors to indexing data and troubleshooting issues, this is a customization key for any seeking more from the Windows 7 system.

Open CL in Action
Matthew Scarpino
Manning
Box 261, Shelter Island, NY 11964
1617290173, $59.99, www.manning.com

Open CL in Action is for any programming collection strong in parallel computing processes and covers the basics of techniques for sorting, image processing, and more. Learn Open CL step by step with a title that includes code and tested algorithms, with chapters covering profiling events, event processing, JavaCL and more. Any programming collection will find this a key survey.

Quickbooks 2012 for Dummies
Stephen L. Nelson, MBA, CPA
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118091203, $24.99, www.wiley.com

The 'for dummies' imprint offers step-by-step, clear instruction for any who would manage finances using Quickbooks, and provides a fine survey of the program's special and latest features. From using Quickbooks for basic bookkeeping to estimating jobs, creating invoices, and creating financial reports, this packs in details that make the Quickbooks learning process much easier. Any owner of the latest Quickbooks version needs this simpler way of learning the program and how to apply it best.

Quickbooks 2012: The Missing Manual
Bonnie Biafore
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449398514, $34.99, www.oreilly.com

Quickbooks 2012: The Missing Manual joins other 'book that should have been in the box' series titles, offering a simple and in-depth survey of everything needed to know for setting up Quickbooks and managing all facets of a business. Step-by-step instructions and small black and white sample screen shots of results accompany notes, tips, and reasons to use Quickbooks in a specific function. Basic accounting blends with a survey of specific features to make for a fine guide for any Quickbooks 2012 user.

My New Mac Lion Edition
Wallace Wang
No Starch Press
38 Ringold St., San Francisco CA 94103
9781593273903, $29.95, www.nostarch.com

My New Mac Lion Edition: Simple Projects to Get You Started provides the Lion edition of the best-seller MY NEW MAC and is a pick for any who would use a project approach - some 56 easy ones, here - to learn the basic applications of Lion. From customizing a Mac to burning CDs and DVDs and manipulating songs, images and security, this is packed with step-by-step coverage and black and white screen shots throughout.

Sitepoint
1829 Market Street, Suite 202
San Francisco CA 94103
www.sitepoint.com

Lorna Mitchell, Davey Shafik and Matthew Turland's PHP MASTER: WRITE CUTTING-EDGE CODE (9780987153043, $39.95) provides a range of techniques designed to help programmers improve their PHP skills, and is a fine survey for developers who want to improve their server applications. From using an object-oriented programming blueprint to duplicate success to using modern testing methods on applications and using security to protect code, chapters cover all the basics. Charts, diagrams, and tables cover performance, design patterns, automated testing processes and much more in a top pick for any developer's library. Mick Olinikand Raena Jackson Armitage's THE WORDPRESS ANTHOLOGY (9780987153050, $39.95) covers all the basics of WordPress, packing in solutions to a range of common problems and teaching how to understand WordPress file structures, plugins, APIs and more. Chapters excel in color sidebars of tips and tricks, teach the basics of using WordPress in a network situation, and are packed with keys to customizing processes, making this a top recommendation for any WordPress developer or collections catering to them.

IBM Cognos 10 Report Studio: Practical Examples
Filip Draskovic and Roger Johnson
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0132656752, $54.99, www.ibmpressbooks.com

IBM Cognos 10 Report Studio: Practical Examples provides tips from top IBM Cognos trainers who show experienced users how to construct better reports with less effort. Dozens of examples reflect actual business reporting challenges and teach how to take advantage of report queries and modules to create better reports. From providing access to interactive reports to users who aren't connected to servers to adding titles and formatting reports, this is a fine reference to fine-tuning the program using real-world examples.

Advanced Mac OS X Programming
Mark Dalrymple
Big Nerd Ranch
154 Krog St. #100, Atlanta, GA 30307
0321706250, $59.99, www.bignerdranch.com

Advanced Mac OS X Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide is the only book to explain how to leverage various technologies intrinsic to Macintosh programming efforts, and offers details and applications not available in your usual OS X programmer's guide. It delves into stack traces, file systems and partitions, kqueues and more, offering programming strings, explanations of operations and simultaneous processing options, and more. A fine 'must' for any Mac programmer collection catering to advanced users.

CompTIA Network+ N10-005 Authorized Cert Guide
Kevin Wallace
Pearson
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789748213, $49.99, www.pearson/tcertification.com

CompTIA Network+ N10-005 Authorized Cert Guide provides a fine authorized study that helps master all topics on the Network+ exam, from network components and routing to wireless LANs, security, and more. A companion DVD contains the Pearson IT Certification Practice Test engine, pairing hundreds of exam-realistic questions with options for customizing tests and reviews, and creating reports. Any taking this exam will find here a treasure trove of in-depth detail.

CCNA 640-802 Official Cert Library, Updated, third edition
Wendell Odom
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9781587204388, $59.99, www.ciscopress.com

The third updated edition of the CCNA 640-802 Official Cert Library is a 'must' for any planning on taking the latest CCNA exams. It provides all new exercises, expanded coverage, and updates on major new exam topics from IP addressing to OSI networking models. It comes from a network engineer and systems consultant who has worked in the industry and produced all official previous guides to the CCNA exam for Cisco Press, and it teaches the basics of applied concepts. A 'must' for any exam taker, this is a definitive reference to be used by students for review, study, and success!

My Droid, second edition
Craig James Johnston
QUE
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789749386, $24.99, www.quepublishing.com

The second updated edition of MY DROID covers Droid 3, Pro, Incredible 2 and S, and Droid Charge and provides step-by-step color-enhanced instructions keyed to DROID phone images. Tips, notes, and discussions of tasks walk you through getting and keeping your DROID phone working properly and covers everything form basic connection to Bluetooth devices, web browsing, working with the latest DROID apps, and more. The numerous black and white and color phone screenshots make this a top pick!

Murah's Java Programming, fourth edition
Joel Murach
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 N. Knoll Ave., Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774653, $57.50, www.murach.com

The fourth updated edition of Murah's Java Programming provides a fine new edition of a classic text covering Java, and is a recommendation for any new to the language as well as experienced programmers who want a basic reference. Learn to write Java applications after just 6 chapters of a methodical learning program that shows how to use the NetBeans IDE to code, test and debug Java applications, and uncover the best new features of Java SE 7 using this basic coverage, that applies theory to real-world applications.


The Sports Shelf

Developing Agility and Quickness
Jay Dawes and Mark Roozen, Editors
Human Kinetics Press
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
073608326X, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

Developing Agility and Quickness joins others in the Sport Performance Series and helps athletes overcome common barriers to agility and quickness. It discusses elements of agility, and offers programs for optimizing athletes' linear and lateral movements. Tests for agility, agility exercises and drills, and adaptations for incorporating agility and quickness into any sports training program makes this a powerful addition to any athlete's training routine.

The Big Juice
John Long and Sam George
Falcon Guides
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
9780762769933, $18.95, www.falcon.com

THE BIG JUICE: EPIC TALES OF BIG WAVE SURFING provides the best, newest big wave surfing tales form the sport and is a 'must' for any collection strong in surfing interests. These stories offer a range of perspectives on the challenge of surfing, documenting sports challenges, acts of heroism, humor, tragedy, and controversies of the sport. Color surfing photos pack these exciting stories, making this a top pick for any surfing enthusiast or collections catering to them.

Formula One at Watkins Glen
Michael Argetsinger
David Bull Publishing
4250 East Camelback Road, Suite K.150
Phoenix, AZ 85018
9781935007142, $49.95, www.bullpublishing.com

Formula One at Watkins Glen: 20 Years of the United States Grand Prix 1961-1980 offers a fine celebration of 20 years of motor racing during a period which saw great improvements in technology. It was the racing at Watkins Glen that elevated Formula One to headline status in America, and this book documents that rise, offering original photography and commentary for each race run at Watkins Glen. An exceptional guide, this offers critical and visual commentary perfect for any racing library.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Way to Black Belt
Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder
YMAA
23 N. Main Street, Wolfboro, NH 03994
1594390851, $24.95, www.ymaa.com

The Way to Black Belt: A Comprehensive Guide to Rapid, Rock-Solid Results includes tips from nearly twenty martial artists and is packed with information on how to set martial arts goals, find a good instructor, overcome training plateaus, and work through injuries that incur in the course of training. Chapters pair black and white photos with student and teacher perspectives alike and offer a fine, supportive text for any contemplating going for the black belt.


The Social Issues Shelf

Thinking Through Islamophobia: Global Perspectives
S. Sayyid and AbdoolKarim Vakil, Editors
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231702065, $50.00, www.cup.columbia.edu

Thinking Through Islamophobia: Global Perspectives provides college-level political studies and social issues readers with a collection that provides four different contexts for understanding the Muslim identity and the origins and methods of Islamophobia. Different fields of expertise from nearly thirty scholarly contributors make for a survey that considers different themes in Muslim interactions in societies around the world, discussing globalization and the genealogy and terminology of Islamophobia. A fine pick for any social issues holding.

The Transition Companion
Rob Hopkins
Chelsea Green Publishing
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583923, $29.95, www.chelseagreen.com

The Transition Companion: Making Your Community More Resilient in Uncertain Times provides a fine sequel to the prior TRANSITION HANDBOOK and focuses on community-scale solutions and responses to climate change and environmental issues. It follows tales of communities working for local sustainability where lower energy use is seen as a benefit, and offers case histories and keys to new economic structures and approaches. Any social issues collection will find this packed with fine insights.

China in Ten Words
Yu Hua
Pantheon Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307379351, $25.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

CHINA IN TEN WORDS is a recommendation for any library strong in Asian affairs and provides ten essays to offer a view of modern China. This is Yu Hua's first work of nonfiction to appear in English and uses personal stories and analysis to explore the Chinese psyche. Ten phrases popular in Chinese - people, leader, reading, writing, disparity, and others - serve as the foundation for this consideration of issues affecting modern-day China. A 'must' for any collection strong in Chinese society.

Fug You
Ed Sanders
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
44 Farnsworth St., 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780306818882, $26.99, www.dacapopress.com

FUG YOU: AN INFORMAL HISTORY OF THE PEACE EYE BOOKSTORE, THE FUCK YOU PRESS, THE FUGS, AND COUNTERCULTURE ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE is a fine documentation of change for any collection strong in the 1960s counterculture experience. It uses words and illustrations to document the author's experiences at the heart of the counterculture: he published Fuck You/A Magazine of the Arts that offered voice to some of the movement's biggest artists from Allan Ginsberg to Andy Warhol. He also joined political demonstrations, helped people dodge the draft, become involved in underground filmmaking, and devoted himself to the movement to legalize marijuana. FUG YOU is a lively documentation of the entire experience not from a reporter's vantage point, but from the viewpoint of an active participant.

Outdated
Samhita Mukhopadhyay
Seal Press
1700 - 4th St., Berkeley CA 94710
9781580053327, $17.00, www.sealpress.com

OUTDATED: WHY DATING IS RUINING YOUR LOVE LIFE is the executive editor of the blog Feministing.com and here provides a fine survey of relationships and why women have long been coerced into believing their worth is tied up in them. From how to build loving relationships to overcome obstacles to how different social pressures and scare tactics have been used to force women into relationships with men, this addresses relationships from a feminist perspective and provides a fine survey of romance and independence for the modern woman and collections appealing to her.

The Ecological Rift
John Bellamy Foster, et.al.
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W
New York, NY 10001
9781583672181, $17.95, www.monthlyreview.org

THE ECOLOGICAL RIFT: CAPITALISM'S WAR ON THE EARTH comes from environmental sociologists who consider the problem of our current ecological crisis, its links to capitalism and its attitudes, and how the growing rift between nature and human objectives may be addressed. Arguments of mainstream economists and technology buffs blend with those of social scientists in a survey that analyzes issues of evolution and ecology's interactions with the economy. College-level collections will consider this a winner!

China: History
John Keay
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465025183, $19.99, www.basicbooks.com

China: A History is a 'must' for any collection that would understand the rich 5,000 heritage of China. It pairs the latest research with wit and anecdotes and includes territory often overlooked in modern histories, exploring both China's better-known imperial dynasties of the north and the lesser-covered ones of the southern regions. The latest analysis and research examines the high and low points of Chinese history and culture and also tells how China's history has been rewritten four times under four different regimes in the last century alone. Any collection looking for a general review of China's history and culture will find this both lively and intriguing.

Even the Smallest Crab Has Teeth V. 4
Jane Albritton, Editor
Traveler's Tales
853 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781609520021, $18.95, www.travelerstales.com

Even the Smallest Crab Has Teeth Volume 4: Asia & the Pacific gathers some fifty years of Peace Corps stories and is a pick for both travel and social issues collections. It gathers stories from volunteers who served in countries throughout Asia and describe moments of danger, fun, and poignant social reflection. The volunteers struggled with cultural and language barriers and found great meaning in their work: Even the Smallest Crab Has Teeth concludes the 4-volume series on different Corp volunteer experiences in different parts of the world and is a winning pick for any general lending library.

Working in the Shadows
Gabriel Thompson
Nation Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781568586380, $14.99, www.nationbooks.com

WORKING IN THE SHADOWS: A YEAR OF DOING THE JOBS (MOST) AMERICANS WON'T DO is a pick for any collection strong in writings surrounding immigration experience and issues. It comes from an investigative journalist who goes undercover to reveal the immigrant worker experience, focusing on industries dominated by Latino immigrants. His fluency in Spanish lends to his survey of work in different states of the country, which considers the 'hidden' work done by an immigrant workforce. Social issues surrounding immigrant work experiences make this a powerful account.

Grounding Human Rights in a Pluralist World
Grace Y. Kao
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect St. NW, Washington DC 20007
9781589017337, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Grounding Human Rights in a Pluralist World joins others in the 'Advancing Human Rights' series and tells how human rights issues and measurements have moved from social to political realms. Grace Kao critically examines opposing camps who maintain human rights issues should be either based in religious or secular concerns. Human rights and spiritual scholars alike will find this discussion involving and filled with different approaches to human rights ethics and issues.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Lifeblood
Alex Perry
Public Affairs
250 West 57th St., Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
9781610390866, $25.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

LIFEBLOOD: HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD ONE DEAD MOSQUITO AT A TIME charts a race to eradicate malaria, a disease that infects half a billion people a year, and kills millions. Journalist Alex Perry obtained unique access to Wall Street philanthropist Ray Chambers, who became determined to personally oversee malaria's eradication efforts: the followed two years of the campaign and here introduces readers to the challenge and pathos of the effort. A powerful survey, highly recommended for any general interest or health collection.

Catalog of Teratogenic Agents, 13th edition
Thomas H. Shepard, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801897849, $270.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The 13th updated edition of Catalog of Teratogenic Agents offers over a hundred new entries and packs in analysis of over 3,000 teratogenic agents. Agents are listed alphabetically and each entry summarizes research procedures and data on every agent from pharmaceuticals, chemicals and environmental pollutants to food additives, household products, and viruses. Any reference library will find this an in-depth coverage, suitable for college-level research audiences.

Methods in Bioengineering: Cell Transplantation
Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez, et.al., Editors
Artech House
685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062
9781608070152, $139.00, www.artechhouse.com

Recognized experts in the field provides research engineers and medical students with step-by-step procedures and examples covering regenerative medicine, focusing on methods for cell transplantation. Professionals receive chapters on tissue engineering, cell isolation and more, and will appreciate the detailed coverage of steps involved in the entire regenerative process.


The Psychology Shelf

Working With Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Carol Hagland and Zillah Webb
Jessica Kingsley
400 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia PA 19106
9781849050364, $55.00, www.jkp.com

Working With Adults with Asperger Syndrome: A Practical Toolkit offers a workbook developed in consultation with caregivers and provides a basic resource pairing facts and research with individual and group applications. It covers all the basics, from routine and relationships to communication challenges, and includes exercises and case histories throughout. Any caregiver working with Asperger's adults needs this guide to handling common issues.


The Education Shelf

Developing Critical Cultural Competence
Jewell E. Cooper, et.al.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412996259, $33.95, www.corwin.com

Developing Critical Cultural Competence: A Guide for 21st Century Educators includes an online tool kit and discusses student achievement and how teachers can foster critical thinking skills. The focus on teachers' cultural understanding offers insights for developing cultural competency and provides activities based on group discussion questions and professional development plans. Teachers will consider this a fine guide to their own professional development.

The Art of Slow Reading
Thomas Newkirk
Heinemann
361 Hanover St., Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912
0325037310, $25.00, www.heinemann.com

The Art of Slow Reading provides an outstanding survey that identifies and teaches the value of slow reading processes over speed reading and skimming. It comes packed with advice on how to get the most from reading, from making time to read to memorizing and pondering upon meaningful phrases in the course of reading. From memory research to developing god mental habits that lend to better reading experiences, THE ART OF SLOW READING is a top recommendation for any literary or general collection.

Developing Cross-Cultural Competence, fourth edition
Eleanor W. Lynch and Marci J. Hanson
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
159857163X, $49.95, www.brookespublishing.com

The fourth updated edition of Developing Cross-Cultural Competence: A Guide for Working with Children and Their Families provides students and practitioners with a fine guide in a fully revised fourth edition of a best-selling title. This offers a basic primer on cultural competence, teaching readers how to understand their own cultural perspectives and values, how to understand other cultural groups from nine selected backgrounds, and how to work with children and families on a different, more effective level. Any educator's collection strong in multicultural interactions will find this a winning guide pairing case stories with discussions of applied cultural competence.

So This is Normal Too?, second edition
Deborah Hewitt
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul MN 55117
9781605540726, $29.95, www.redleafpress.com

The second updated edition of So This is Normal Too is a pick for any early childhood education collection and provides many new enhancements to the original coverage of preschool education. It is intended to identify and set goals for kids who need more support and includes a range of updates, including early learning standard links to common skill lags, the latest research on brain development, revised reproducible handouts for parents, and much more. A top pick for any early learning teacher's reference collection!

Common Sense for the Inclusive Classroom
Richard Hanks
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849050579, $25.95, www.jkp.com

Teachers receive a fine guide to developing a teaching approach for creating an inclusive classroom that allows special needs students to work effectively in a mainstream environment, and will find this a top choice for any interested in practical methods about learning difficulties and how they operate in a traditional environment. Chapters offer basics on special educational needs, then discuss common issues and alternatives to traditional teaching methods. The methods here have been field-tested and proven effective.

Write Like This
Kelly Gallagher
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571108968, $23.00, www.stenhouse.com

WRITE LIKE THIS: TEACHING REAL-WORLD WRITING THROUGH MODELING & MENTOR TEXTS offers a basic coverage of real-world writing purposes with chapters focusing on specific writing exercises, from analytical writing to expression and solution proposals. Activities, charts, sidebars of information and specific approaches to teaching effective writing and analytical skills make WRITE LIKE THIS a fine pick for high school to college collections alike, packing in plenty of examples for effective writing development.

Paying for College Without Going Broke, 2012 edition
Kalman Chany
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375427411, $20.00, www.princetonreview.com

Paying for College Without Going Broke appears in a 2012 edition to provide a fine survey of grants, scholarships and financial aid that depend as much on the application process as upon need. Students can maximize their eligibility for aid with the help of this guide which surveys various custodial accounts, education tax breaks, and more. Many families and students eligible for financial aid fail to apply for it because they mistakenly feel they won't qualify or because the application process is complex. Paying for College Without Going Broke takes the mystery out of the college financial aid process, reviewing the common basic questions applications ask and how to make sure answers are detailed enough to gain attention. There's a wide range of opportunities discusses here, making for a reference that should be on the shelves of any high school or parents' reference library.


The Military Shelf

No Buddy Left Behind
Terri Crisp with Cynthia Hurn
Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762773862, $21.95, www.lyonspress.com

NO BUDDY LEFT BEHIND: BRINGING U.S. TROOPS' DOGS AND CATS SAFELY HOME FROM THE COMBAT ZONE is about U.S. soldiers surviving war and forming bonds with stay dogs and cats they've saved overseas. Author Terri Crisp does more than write about their experiences: she's been involved in getting these soldiers' 'buddies' home. This tells how one gets an animal out of a dangerous country lacking the normal resources for animal transport. It documents rescue missions and their dangers - and tells how Terri and her volunteers have saved the lives of nearly three hundred dogs and over fifty cats befriended by military personnel. Military shelves and those catering to animal lovers will find this inspirational and amazing!

Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com

Gordon L. Rottman's US MACV-SOG RECONNAISSANCE TEAM IN VIETNAM (9781849085137, $18.95) offers insights into the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam SOG program, established in 1964 for conducting analysis of lessons learned in combat. In reality it was a classified task force that conducted secret missions in enemy territory - and this guide documents these missions. The experiences of these men are documented in detail in a title that uses photos and color art to accompany details on clothing, equipment, and military strategy and engagement. Wayne Stack's THE NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN WORLD WAR I (9781849085397, $17.95) tells the story of the war that reinforced New Zealand's national identity. It considers the courage and actions of New Zealanders who fought in the Middle East and on the Western Front, offering color illustrations and rare photos as it documents events. Any in-depth World War I or New Zealand history holding needs this! COLD WAR GONE HOT: WORLD WAR III 1986 (9781849085366, $24.95) offers gamers a fine alternative history where Reagan announces legislation that will outlaw Russia and make it ok to bomb them. US Missions, fire teams and squads, and scenarios from Cold War Gone Hot provide gamers with excellent scenarios for action. Rene Chartrand's THE SPANISH ARMY IN NORTH AMERICA 1700-1793 (9781849085977, $17.95) joins others in the 'Men at Arms' series and includes much previously unpublished information researched in Spanish, making this a unique in-depth coverage for any interested in the early Spanish Army. From participation in campaigns to battles, it includes rare manuscript images and color reconstructions and is a fine pick! Jim Moran's WAKE ISLAND 1941: A BATTLE TO MAKE THE GODS WEEP (9781849086035, $19.95) provides a fine survey of the Wake Island campaign, when the Japanese launched air attacks on an important American naval base still under construction in the Pacific. The Japanese then launched several invasion attempts on the island, making US forces surrender. This in-depth coverage surveys the 16-day siege of Wake Island and the battles for its occupation, and is an outstanding survey for any World War II collection. Color illustrations and strategy details abound. Mark Lardas' CSS ALABAMA VS. USS KEARSARGE: CHERBOURG 1864 (9781849084925, $17.95) provides a fine account of the battles between two warships during the American Civil War and is a fine pick for any Civil War collection. It considers ship design, battles, and the development of the Confederacy's forces, and covers three warship duels involving the two ships. A powerful survey, filled with strategic insights and illustrations! Julia Dye's BACKBONE: HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND LEADERSHIP LESSONS OF MARINE CORPS NCOs (9781849085489, $24.95) discusses noncommissioned officers in the Marine Corps and how they operate. Fourteen leadership traits held by every NCO are analyzed in a title that pairs biographies and interviews with insights into the structure and unique approaches of Marine NCOs in a 'must' reference for any in-depth Marine collection. Mark E. Stille's TORA! TORA! TORA! PEARL HARBOR 1941 (9781849085090, $18.95) considers the political context of the attack on Pearl Harbor and operations on both sides, analyzing major confrontations, strategies, and including many maps, diagrams and vintage black and white and color illustrations throughout. As a detailed in-depth analysis of the event, this shouldn't be missed.

Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.zenithpress.com

Mark Linney's NORTH AMERICAN F-86 SABRE OWNER'S WORKSHOP MANUAL (9780760342923, $28.00) provides an in-depth account of the first operation Allied swept-wing transonic jet fighter of the post-war era which was flown in the Korean war against the Soviet MiG-15. It describes the fighter's combat record and tells how the prototype F-86 was rescued from a scrapyard and restored to flying condition. Descriptions of the craft and its systems accompany personal insights into flying and maintaining the aircraft, and comes from a pilot with the rare distinction of having flown the F-86 ant the MiG-15 himself. It's a fine, powerful pick for any military aircraft collection! Recommended for World War II history holdings is Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis' THE GERMAN ACES SPEAK: WORLD WAR II THROUGH THE EYES OF FOUR OF THE LUFTWAFFE'S MOST IMPORTANT COMMANDERS (9780760341155, $29.00) offers, for the first time in any book, the memories of four influential Luftwaffe fighter pilots who reminisce about their service in World War II. All were decorated by the Third Reich for their performance but elected to follow their own code of humor in combat. In the end all felt betrayed by Hitler and the Nazis. The author personally interviewed all four air combat leaders to gain their unique experiences during the war, and their unusual perspective of their Nazi leaders. A fine pick for any World War II collection. MARSOC: U.S. MARINE CORPS SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND by Fred Pushies (9780760340745, $24.99) provides a fine survey of the creation and special operations of the U.S. Marine Special Operations Command from its inception in 2006 to the present. Drawn from the ranks of Force Recon companies, these combat marines were to move beyond the front lines of aggression, and their different and ongoing role in the changed arena of world military encounters makes for an engrossing account recommended for any military collection.

Get It On!
Keni Thomas
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9781433672743, $19.99, www.bhpublishinggroup.com

GET IT ON! WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD THE WAY comes from a decorated U.S. military veteran-turned-country music star who provides a personal story of his experiences in the 1993 Battle of Bogadishu. His multi-faceted memoir could be in a range of collections: from spirituality and military libraries to country music holdings, but it's reviewed here for its connections between military service, leadership and following the path of a Christian. Insights into what it means to be a Christian military man are specific and revealing inspirational accounts from one man's changing life.

1001 Things to Love About Military Life
Tara Crooks, et.al.
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781455502837, $19.99, www.centerstreet.com

1001 Things to Love About Military Life pairs stories and vignettes with quotes from military and family members and photos that provide positive inspiration and reinforcement to those serving in the military. From unique advantages to military life to proud traditions and encouragement for families, this provides an outstanding survey for any serving and for family members, and is a unique and top recommendation affirming military service's values.

Sergeant Rex
Mike Dowling with Damien Lewis
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451635967, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

SERGEANT REX: THE UNBREAKABLE BOND BETWEEN A MARINE AND HIS MILITARY WORKING DOG reads with all the high drama of fiction, but is an actual nonfiction account of the author's deployment to Iraq in 2004 with his Military Working Dog Rex. Their mission was to seek out hidden guns and IEDs: in the process of working together they formed a deep bond and protected one another. The two were part of the first Military Working Dog Team to be sent to a battle zone since Vietnam, and their story comes to life in this memorable, powerful account recommended for military and general collections alike.

Inside Seal Team Six
Don Mann with Ralph Pezzullo
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9780316204316, $27.99, www.hbgusa.com

Inside Seal Team Six: My Life and Missions with America's Elite Warriors was controversial before it even appeared in print: the U.S. government conducted an extensive review of its contents and challenged over 5,000 words. But even with editing, Don Mann's story of his experiences with Seal Team Six is extraordinary: Mann trained many of the members who killed bin laden, and he here presents all kinds of insights on the team, from its training and daily life to philosophies for extraordinary achievement. Don Mann's observations and experiences come to life in a hard-hitting account of Seal Team inner workings, recommended for any military collection.


The Music Shelf

The Music of Silence, new edition
Andrea Bocelli
Amadeus Press
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781574671971, $27.99, www.amadeuspress.com

The new edition of THE MUSIC OF SILENCE comes from a tenor opera singer who offers a discussion of the 'music of silence', and considers his life and evolution in the music world. Any fan of Bocelli will relish this diary written in the third person that tells of Bocelli's life and passion for music. It reads like fiction but documents an evolving love of music, offering readers a fine key to understanding how music shapes and changes a life.

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Craig Hopkins
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781617740220, $32.00, www.backbeatbooks.com

Stevie Ray Vaughn: Day by Day, Night After: Night His Final Years, 1983-1990 appears in an oversized edition that represents the second installment of a two-volume chronicle of Vaughn's life. Night His Final Years, 1983-1990 offers a powerful biography tracing the last years of his recordings, pairing first-hand accounts from those who knew him well with recording dates and candid photos. From playbills to set lists, this is filled with color illustrations and close insights on Vaughn's music, performances and life. While it stands alone as a lovely in-depth presentation, as part of the two-volume set, it provides a complete and compelling portrait of Vaughn.

Hal Leonard Corporation
Box 13819, Milwaukee WI 53213
www.halleonard.com

Any fan of country musician Taylor Swift will find SPEAK NOW (9781617803574, $22.99) is a fine pick, offering authentic transcriptions and notes for recorded guitar versions of her music. Pages lay flat easily but offer standard binding suitable for library lending, while oversized pages make it easy to play her songs. A fine addition to any popular music guitar collection. Richard Rejino's WHAT MUSIC MEANS TO ME (9781423499143, $29.99) includes a bonus DVD video and pairs poetry by Barbara Kreader and young musician autobiographies and reflections with lovely musician photos by Richard Rejino in an oversized presentation perfect for photography and music holdings alike. Each story in this collection provides a unique, personal perspective on how music has made a difference in the young person's life. Simply outstanding!

This is a Call
Paul Brannigan
Da Capo
c/o Perseus Book Group
44 Farnsworth St., 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780306819568, $26.99, www.dacapopress.com

THIS IS A CALL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVE GROHL covers the life of one of the most respected musicians in the world who has been a key player in Nirvana, Foo Fighters and more. It surveys Grohl's career in music and his personal life, offering a biography that comes from some ten years of original, exclusive interviews with Grohl and his closest band mates. His desire to make a life in music began with his observation of police brutality against punk rockers. This observation changed him and led him to Nirvana, which produced the hit single that would change his life. Any rock music collection will find this an outstanding and popular choice.

Sound Effects Tips and Tricks
Eddie Bazil
PC Publishing
c/o O'Reilly Media Inc
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781906005160, $19.95, www.pc-publishing.com

Sound Effects Tips and Tricks is a 'must' for any collection catering to practicing musicians, offering clear explanations, diagrams, and discussions of audio effects. It's a basic primer that opens with a simple explanation of what audio effects are and how they are manipulated, moving to how to use them in audio and visual productions and pairing discussions with exercises that include explanations of applying effects to specific projects. Black and white sound system screen shots and sidebars of at-a-glance information make this a winner.

Your Free Open Source Music Studio
G.W. Childs IV
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
1435458362, $29.99, www.coureptr.com

Your Free Open Source Music Studio walks readers through the best free and shareware applications and plug-ins for music production, and is a top pick for any already familiar with traditional music studio software. Discussions offer tips on trying the new-plug-ins and applications that rival expensive items, showing how to locate the software, consider different choices involved in pairing a computer and its hardware with freeware and shareware software, and more. Large-size print, good-sized black and white screen shots and illustrations, and clear instructions help this guide stand out from any competitor.

Man in the Music
Joseph Vogel
Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
1402779380, $24.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

MAN IN THE MUSIC is for any library strong in Micahel Jackson coverages, and offers a fine survey of Jackson's solo catalog and musical albums. His goes beyond the usual biography to consider Jackson's music itself, surveying its creation, its connections to his life, and how his music produced social and cultural observations that fostered change. Hundreds of sources, from news archives to Jackson's personal interviews and interviews with those who worked with him, contribute to a fine survey packed with color photos.


The Crafts/Hobbies Shelf

Mosaics
Elizabeth Atkins-Hood & Elizabeth Joy Bell
Trafalgar Square Press
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road
North Pomfret, VT 05033
9781570764936, $24.95, www.trafalgarbooks.com

Mosaics: Innovative, Creative Ideas and Designs Using the Latest Techniques offers a step-by-step guide to creating mosaics from tiles, glass, ornaments, photos and more and cover all the details from start to finish. From selecting tools and materials to gluing and grouting, these projects are diverse and designed to provide skills in a range of mediums that lend to mosaic techniques. A fine recommendation for any mosaic artist!

Building With Secondhand Stuff
Chris Peterson
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781589236622, $19.99, www.creativepub.com

Building With Secondhand Stuff tells how to re-clean and re-vamp salvaged and leftover building materials and is a pick for any who want to acquire and actually build using secondhand materials. It teaches specific techniques for getting unusable materials into useable condition, covers glass, metal, wood and plumbing alike, and teaches the basics of how to use secondhand material more efficiently. Any crafter or woodworker interested in recycling will find this book's specific guidelines invaluable.

Essential Skills for Scale Modelers
Aaron Skinner
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780890247914, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Essential Skills for Scale Modelers provides scale modelers with a basic how-to guide that provides a basic explanation for beginners. Hobbyists receive step-by-step color-embellished instructions for painting, handling parts, applying decals and more, with chapters focusing on armor, aircraft, ships and figures alike. Highly recommended for any newcomer to modeling, this is the starting point of choice and uncovers many tips and tricks.

The Complete Book of Fantasy Designs
Search Press USA
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
9781844486243, $19.95, www.searchpress.com

The Complete Book of Fantasy Designs comes with a free CD and offers craftspeople and artists a gallery of over 250 borders, motifs and patterns based on fantasy. These take the form of black and white line illustrations that range from creatures to lettering, symbols, and backgrounds. Arranged by style and project ideas, this packs in an outstanding array of fantasy design options applicable to a wide range of projects, and is a pick for any crafter who regularly refers to fantasy images.


The Photography Shelf

Nik Software Captured
Tony L. Corbell & Joshua A. Haftel
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118022221, $39.99, www.wiley.com

Nik Software Captured: The Complete Guide to Using Nik Software's Photographic Tools teaches how to get the most from the Nik system and tools and explores all their applications. The authors are a renowned photographer and instructor and Nik Software's senior project manager: between the two every feature is covered in depth, including workflow steps and color images displaying polished results using Nik. A 'must' for any aspiring photographer!

The Perfect Photo
Elin Rantakrans and Tobias Hagberg
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission Street, Suite 3
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
9781933952857, $19.95, www.rockynook.com

THE PERFECT PHOTO: 71 TIPS FROM THE TOP is a slim volume that adds to the 'espresso' series and provides a range of tips involving composition, editing and taking better pictures, and is a pick for any general lending library strong in photography. From special effects using slow and fast shutter speeds to high key and low key photography, color photos throughout provide fine contrasts on method and results.

Boutique Baby Photography
Mimika Cooney
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608952595, $34.95, www.amherstmedia.com

Boutique Baby Photography: The Digital Photographer's Guide to Success in Maternity and Baby Portraiture offers a fine guide to running a boutique baby photo business, and explains everything from sales cycles and advertising to working with emotional mothers and challenging babies. Photos accompany discussions of successful shoots and elements contributing to such success, targeting the right customers, and influencing the final results of baby photos. Baby photography can be a challenging endeavor, but Mimika Cooney's guide offers tested strategies that work. Any photography holding needs this!


The Cookbook Shelf

The Cheesemonger's Kitchen
Chester Hastings
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811877664, $35.00, www.chroniclebooks.com

THE CHEESEMONGER'S KITCHEN: CELEBRATING CHEESE IN 90 RECIPES pairs lovely color photos by Joseph de Leo with a fine survey of a veteran cheese expert and chef on selecting cheeses and using them. From appetizers to soups, main dishes and even desserts, this tells how to cook with and assemble cheese appetizers, wine pairings, and dishes. Users should be prepared to locate and work with different kinds of gourmet cheeses, with recipes such as Apple and Celery Salad with Chevre Noir and Hazelnuts to Fresh Ricotta Torta with Wild Spring Onions making for a fine collection. Any gourmet culinary library will find this appealing.

Feeding the Dragon
Mary Kate Tate & Nate Tate
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City MO 64106-2109
9781449401115, $24.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Feeding the Dragon: A Culinary Travelogue Through China with Recipes is a pick for travel and culinary collections alike and is arranged by the authors' travels through nine Chinese regions. 100 recipes compliment their travelogue and pair first-person experiences with travel photos and dishes enjoyed throughout their journeys. Sample menus and recommended combinations accompany an ingredient glossary that includes Chinese names, descriptions, and online ingredient retailers for those without
access to an Asian market.

The Ultimate Casseroles Book
Better Homes and Gardens
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118020357, $19.99, www.wiley.com

The Ultimate Casseroles Book packs in over 400 recipes, complete with color photos and arranged by meal for quick and easy consultation. From color-coded side tabs to 300 color photos accompanying tested casseroles for family meals, this packs in affordable, easy dishes that include international influences in such fare as Shrimp Rellenos Casserole, Italian Polenta Casserole, and Tacos in Pasta Shells. A 'must' for any general lending library!

Inside the Jewish Bakery
Stanley Ginsberg and Norman Berg
Camino Books
Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781933822235, $24.95, www.caminobooks.com

Inside the Jewish Bakery: Recipes and Memories form the Golden Age of Jewish Baking is more than another collection of Jewish favorites: it details the history and traditions of Ashkenazic Jewry in Eastern Europe and America, using a range of sources from Jewish culture and religion to provide an 'edible history' accompanied by recipes. Color photos pepper a lovely display perfect for any Jewish or general cookery collection.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Vegan Cooking
Juileanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T. & Beverly Lynn Bennett
Alpha
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9781615641253, $18.95, www.penguin.com

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Vegan Cooking covers all the bases for those who need both a gluten-free and vegan diet, and readers will appreciate the dual focus on ingredients low in soy and other common allergy-producing reactions. From equipping a gluten-free kitchen with appropriate supplies to handling main meals, snacks and desserts ranging from cookies to puddings, this is filled with ideas on substitutions and hearty dishes: the mainstay of a successful gluten-free vegan diet plan. No color photos, but the easy recipes don't need embellishment.

Easy Chinese Recipes
Bee Yinn Low
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804841474, $24.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

EASY CHINESE RECIPES; FAMILY FAVORITES FROM DIM SUM TO KUNG PAO comes from a global food blogger and provides her first cookbook to the print world. Bin Yinn Low grew up in a Chinese household in Malaysia, moved to Southern California where she became too busy to cook, and became interested in mastering basic Chinese cookery with the ingredients found in local supermarkets. Her versions of classic Chinese fare thus offer authenticity combined with easy preparation. Her favorite easy dishes even include dim sum and noodle dishes, along with classics such as Honey Walnut Shrimp and Pot Stickers. A 'must' for any general cooking library, especially those seeking ethnic cookbooks that rely on non-specialized ingredients.

The Rosie's Bakery All-Butter, Cream-Filled, Sugar-Packed Baking Book
Judy Roseberg
Workman
225 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
9780761154075, $15.95, www.workman.com

The Rosie's Bakery All-Butter, Cream-Filled, Sugar-Packed Baking Book packs in over 200 recipes for desserts and comes from some thirty years of baking from Rosie's Bakery. Rosie was a self-taught baker who here provides step-by-step directions and tips for all kinds of baking projects. From everyday efforts and celebratory dishes to foolproof baked goods, this packs in cookies, pies, cakes and more and is a perfect and mouth-watering pick for any general lending library.

Reclaiming Our Food
Tanya Denckla Cobb
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427999, $24.95, www.storey.com

RECLAIMING OUR FOOD: HOW THE GRASSROOTS FOOD MOVEMENT IS CHANGING THE WAY WE EAT provides stories of how groups across the country are creating sustainable food models. Different projects, their perspectives, and their approach offers discussion on many food-related issues, from working with at-risk populations and fostering community to supporting new food initiatives and involving the community. From youth and senior programs to gardeners, chefs, and policymakers and community leaders, this provides a fine account of how to empower communities to changing what and how we eat.

Tart Love
Holly Herrick
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423618942, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

TART LOVE: SASSY, SAVORY AND SWEET offers sweet and savory recipes for little pies and shares methods and recipes for a range of traditional and original tarts. From making perfect pastry quickly to pairing ingredients such as a Sage Green Apple and Aged Cheddar Tart or Strawberry, Rhubarb and Rosemary Pocket Pies, these dishes are filled with unexpected tastes and surprisingly easy directions. Color photos abound, making it a pick for any cookery collection.

Laduree
Michel Lerouet
Editions du Chene
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West 18th St., 4B, New York NY 10011
9782812304583, $39.95, www.antiquecc.com

Laduree: The Savory Recipes pairs photos by Sophie Tramier with a fine boxed book survey of the bakery Laduree, which became a noted Paris shop and one of the city's first tea rooms. It became famous for its fare and here Americans have over 100 of the most famous Laduree recipes, adapted for the home kitchen. From duck foie gras to special teas and eclairs, this provides a selection not just of pastries but main courses and delicious dishes that reflect unusual pairings and winning approaches to gourmet foods.

Cake Boy
Eric Lanlard
Mitchell Beasley/Hachette
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845336059, $19.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

Cake Boy: Home Baking from Master Patissier Eric Lanlard deserves ongoing recommendation as a fine survey of professional baking projects that can translate to home cooking. Baker Eric Lanlard has taken classics and presents them with adaptations for home cooks and also with innovative twists. The range of cakes and baked goods runs from traditional muffins, cupcakes and classic sponges and cakes to modern sponges, flour-free cakes, and more. But even more than the recipes, it's the many tips on how to produce foolproof results that make this such a winner.

Rustic Italian
Domenica Marchetti
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson St. #200, San Francisco CA 94111
9781616281656, $29.95, www.wopublishing.com

Rustic Italian: Simple, Authentic Recipes for Everyday Cooking offers the author's favorite dishes: uncomplicated dishes that are based on seasonal ingredients. As such it's a fine recommendation for any who want the Italian flavor without the fuss or a cabinet full of specialty items. Dishes such as Free-Form Spinach Lasagne with Sausage or Spicy Sauteed Kale and Chickpeas offer outstanding fare that's quick and easy to put together. A fine pick for any lending library!

The Carb Lover's Diet Cookbook
Ellen Kunes and Frances Largeman-Roth, RD
Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095
Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
9780848734770, $29.95, www.oxmoorhouse.com

The CarbLover's Diet Cookbook comes from the editors of Health and packs in over a hundred recipes that provide satisfying dishes to accompany the original best-selling THE CARBLOVERS DIET. Easy recipes and an equally easy diet plan make for a fine guide that updates cooking with foods strong in Resistant Starch, which fills you up and melts fat. From hearty soups and meats to appetizers and even light desserts, this is filled with color photos and reflections on how to get the most from the CarbLover's Diet. Any general library will find this a popular pick.

Rice & Curry
S.H. Fernando Jr.
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781812733, $19.95, www.hippocrenebooks.com

RICE & CURRY: SRI LANKAN HOME COOKING provides a rare examination of Sri Lankan food and provides a fine pairing of the country's history and cuisine. Over 100 easy recipes accompany a detailed spice guide, color photos, timelines and menus, and more. Sri Lanka is all about curries, chilis, garlic, and strong spicy foods: all captured in chapters that organize classic dishes and make it easy to learn about Sri Lanka's rich culinary heritage. No ethnic cookbook collection should be without this!

The New Atkins for a New You Cookbook
Colette Heimowitz
Touchstone
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451660845, $19.99, www.simonandschuster.com

The New Atkins for a New You Cookbook packs in over 200 low-carb recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less and is the first cookbook to blend the Atkins Diet with Atkins recipes that have never been published before. Most recipes use 10 or fewer ingredients, focus on ingredients easily located in supermarkets, and include color photos and easy step-by-step instructions for a range of fare, making this a top pick for any general lending collection seeing interest in the Atkins Diet.

Cooking Club
Dina Guillen and Michelle Lowrey
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104-2555
9781570615603, $23.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

COOKING CLUB: GREAT IDEAS AND DELICIOUS RECIPES FOR FABULOUS GET-TOGETHERS offers the basics on how to set up a cooking club, and how to gain new ideas for menus and gatherings. This book provides a year's worth of monthly themes and over 90 recipes for a range of courses, from Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Lemon Basil Cream to Lychee Martinis and Stuffed Calamari. No color photos, but the easy dishes don't need further embellishment to prove successful.

The Vineyard at the End of the World
Ian Mount
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393080195, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

The Vineyard at the End of the World: Maverick Winemakers and the Rebirth of Malbec provides a fine history of Argentina's wine-producing history and regions and profiles the individuals who fueled the Malbec wine grape revolution and made Argentina a premier wine region. This is a pick for any collection strong in wine and grape history: it provides a lively discussion of the innovations and influences that led to Malbec's rise from a blending grape to a grape suitable for drinking in its own right. As relatively few books consider the Malbec alone, this deserves a place in any serious wine book collection.

The Art of Breakfast
Dana Moos
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892729401, $28.95, www.downeast.com

The Art of Breakfast: How to Bring B&B Entertaining Home provides a focus on breakfast through over 100 Maine-inspired dishes, and offers a range of dishes that won't appear in competing breakfast books. From egg dishes and salads to main courses, this packs in color photos and delicious dishes perfect for any cook looking for different breakfast options, and is an ongoing recommendation for general libraries.

A Mess of Greens
Elizabeth S.D. Engelhardt
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780720340371, $24.95, www.ugapress.org

A MESS OF GREENS: SOUTHERN GENDER AND SOUTHERN FOOD provides students of American regional culinary traditions in general and Southern cooking in particular with a fine examination of Southern gender and Southern food. It considers race, gender, food and power and explores social issues through the lives of moonshiners, bakers, and more, making for a fine survey perfect for any college-level culinary history collection.


The Art Shelf

Geometry of Design, second edition
Kimberly Elam
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
9781616890360, $24.95, www.papress.com

The second updated edition of Geometry of Design has been revised to feature an additional thirty-six pages of content that provides more visual explanations of the geometric principles in nature. From math's geometric reflections in the Fibonacci Sequence to the concept of symmetry and order in art and design, this is a pick for science and arts collections alike, offering color displays of all kinds of design applications to geometry.

The Queen: Art & Image
Paul Moorhouse
Hudson Hills Press
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953683, $50.00, www.hudsonhills.com

The Queen: Art & Image includes an essay by historian David Cannadine and accompanies a fine survey of the Queen's reign and representations of her monarchy. Full-page black and white and color photos and illustrations capture the pivotal moments of her career, reflecting images culled from a wide range of collections. This will appeal to two distinct audiences: art collections seeking photo and artistic representation of British affairs, and history collections looking at representations of Britain's monarchy.

Dog Painting: A History of the Dog in Art
William Secord
Antique Collector's Club
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10011
9781851495764, $85.00, www.antiquecollectorsclub.com

Dog Painting: A History of the Dog in Art is a 'must' for any collection featuring animal painting, and provides a survey of the dog as depicted in art from before the birth of Christ to modern times, around the world. The history of dog painting, its evolution and world influences, and how the dog painting field changed during the advent of dog shows and breed development makes for an outstanding coverage by a noted authority on nineteenth century dog painting. The author has had unlimited access to world collections of dog paintings and over 500 of them are reproduced here, in full color. A 'must' for art and pet collections alike!

Vitamin P2
Editors of Phaidon Press
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780714861609, $69.95, www.phaidon.com

VITAMIN P2: NEW PERSPECTIVES IN PAINTING provides a fine survey of the best new painting from around the world and is a 'must' compilation for any collection strong in modern art. Phaidon first launched its Vitamin series in 2002 to explore this global art world and featured works nominated by a board of internationally acclaimed critics and art historians. Each Vitamin book focuses on a different medium, collecting, display and discussing some of the most important and influential new works in the world. VITAMIN P2 is the painting volume, and provides a review of some of the best modern paintings, with the work of over a hundred artists presenting achievements by those who have received new attention in the past five years. A top acquisition for any serious art history holding!

Bento's Sketchbook
John Berger
Pantheon
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307379955, $25.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

BENTO'S SKETCHBOOK provides artists with a survey of drawing and sketching, and combines philosophical reflection with art under one cover. Berger's experience with both worlds has been presented in many of his other books, but this sketchbook is particularly endearing and notable for its blend of literary, philosophical and artistic expression. The different facets of his imagination and commentary will appeal to artists, philosophers and literary readers alike.

Painting Portraits and Figures in Watercolor
Mary Whyte
Watson Guptill Publications
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780823026739, $24.99, www.watsonguptill.com

Painting Portraits and Figures in Watercolor provides a fine survey to portraiture and figure painting and uses clear language and step-by-step demonstrations to guide would-be watercolorist through the painting process. The author's own watercolors serve as examples in a fine guide that comes from a nationally recognized artist whose works have been exhibited in some of nation's most prestigious exhibitions. Any arts and crafts collection needs this!


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Techno-Fix
Michael Huesemann and Joyce Huesemann
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717046, $24.95, www.newsociety.com

TECHNO-FIX: WHY TECHNOLOGY WON'T SAVE US OR THE ENVIRONMENT provides a fine critique of modern optimism surrounding technology's promises, and challenges the belief that it will save us from the consequences of irresponsible energy management. It explores the limits of modern technology and draws important connections between these limits and the option of long-term sustainability. College-level collections strong in environmental and social issues alike will find this a powerful argument of what has gone wrong in our thinking - and how it can be remedied.

Climate Change and National Security
Daniel Moran, Editor
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect St. NW, Washington DC 20007
9781589017412, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Climate Change and National Security brings together an international team of experts to profile over forty-two key countries and regions that pose intermediate-term security risks from global climate change through the year 2030. From Asian nations to the Persian Gulf and South America, this considers everything from political institutions to climate-induced violence and international cooperation efforts. A top pick for any climate studies collection!

Globalisation and Natural Resources Law
Elena Blanco and Jona Razzaque
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton MA 01060
9781848442504, $75.00, www.e-elgar.com

Globalisation and Natural Resources Law provides college-level natural resources and world issues collections with an in-depth scholarly survey considering issues in natural resources and globalization. It covers political, social and economic influences on natural resource management choices, with chapters considering sustainable development needs and relationships between political and economic market forces. From subsidies for biofuels and alternative energy to fair trade systems, this provides a fine, detailed coverage to any college holding!


The International Studies Shelf

A Socioeconomic History of North Korea
Daniel Schwekendiek
McFarland Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786463442, $45.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

A Socioeconomic History of North Korea is a pick for any college-level collection strong in Asian politics and social issues. It relies on rare U.N.-assisted household data and analysis of propaganda materials to provide the first comprehensive survey of the economic and social history of North Korea from 1948 to current, detailing the political separations between the two Koreas, their different social and political structures, and how North Koreans have evolved once cut off from the world. Charts, tables and graphs accompany an examination recommended for any college-level collection.


The American History Shelf

An Archaeology of Desperation
Kelly J. Dixon, et.al., Editors
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142104, $34.95, www.oupress.com

An Archaeology of Desperation: Exploring the Donner Party's Alder Creek Camp uses various disciplines to explain the events of the Donner Party, is centered on archaeological investigations in the summers of 2003 and 2004 near Truckee California, and offers analysis of artifacts and bones that reveal what the Donner Party did to survive in their final days. Did they butcher and eat their companions? Old data and new scientific assessment techniques blend to provide new revelations for any college-level audience interested in the Donner experience.

New York's Golden Age of Bridges
Joan Marans Dim
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823240654, $34.95, www.fordhampress.com

New York's Golden Age of Bridges provides a fine survey of its bridges and their history. Built almost entire by immigrants, these bridges are commemorated here by artist Antonio Masi and New York City historian Joan Marans Dim, who begin with a focus on the George Washington Bridge and move onto survey the history and construction of eight other major bridges in New York, starting in 1883 with the Brooklyn Bridge. Packed with Masai's color paintings and Dim's essays on the historical, social, economic and political evolution of bridge-building in the region, New York's Golden Age of Bridges is sure to reach well beyond state boundaries to interest any with an interest in immigrant, American, or construction history.


The World History Shelf

A History of the World in 100 Objects
Neil MacGregor
Viking Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780670022700, $45.00, www.penguin.com

A History of the World in 100 Objects provides a fine account of human history told through manmade objects from primitive to modern times, and provides a fine survey from a museum director who selects one hundred man-made objects from the British Museum's collection to discuss turning points in human civilization. From the ax to the credit card, this provides a timeline of mankind's creations, habits, culture, and what inspired human creations. Over 150 color photos pepper a history that is something different from the norm - and more inviting for general-interest holdings than most!


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Universe Bends Toward Justice
Obery M. Hendricks, Jr.
Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759406, $22.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic is a pick for scholarly Christian collections and offers an analysis of modern Christian thinking and abuses committed in the name of religion. Chapters provide intellectual discussion of everything from modern versions of gospel music to the economics and policies of the religious right and how they conflict with basic Christian principles. Quotes from Biblical passages accompany a fine analysis.

The Catholic Studies Reader
James T. Fisher and Margaret M. McGuinness, Editors
Fordham University Press
University Box L, Bronx NY 10458
9780823234110, $30.00, www.fordham.edu

The Catholic Studies Reader provides a college-level text on Catholic studies and is a recommended pick for scholarly religious studies in the area of Catholic teaching and intellectual traditions. It provides scholars and those working in Catholic institutions with a fine assessment of Catholic teachings and social efforts, considering traditions, race and other Catholic social concerns, and more. The result is a scholarly college-level study recommended for any Catholic studies collection.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Real Relationships
Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Ave SE, Grand Rapids MI 49530
9780310332961, $16.99, www.zondervan.com

REAL RELATIONSHIPS: FROM BAD TO BETTER AND GOOD TO GREAT comes from a husband and wife team who offer advice and keys for improving relationships. It's been updated and expanded to include the latest research on social networking and relationship skills, is designed for college students and dating couples, and teaches the basics of building healthy relationships and relating to God. A fine basic primer for any young adult just starting out in the dating world.

Soulmates: Resurrecting Eve
Juliana Geran Pilon
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412842495, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

Soulmates: Resurrecting Eve is a strong recommendation for college-level audiences and argues for a return to the traditional perspective of men and women as seen in the Bible. It discusses the idea of soulmates in God's vision and shows how the original Biblical vision of soulmates has been distorted over time. It considers the original Biblical narrative and compares it to other religious and mythology, considering how the original vision of Eve as a woman associated with sin led to her downfall as Adam's equal - and it identifies the modern concept of man's search for his soul as a search for his soulmate. SOULMATES is a fine addition to any spirituality collection; especially those at the college level!

John Milton, Paradise Lost
Matthew Stallard, Editor
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881462685, $24.00, www.mercer.edu

John Milton, Paradise Lost: The Biblically Annotated Edition appears in paperback and is a recommended pick for any literary college-level biblical school. Milton's broad reading program after concluding his university studies lent a broader perspective to his epic poem than has previously been presented by its critics. Stallard maintains that a full understanding of the Bible as the source of the poem's inspiration is key to appreciating it fully, and this biblically annotated edition of PARADISE LOST is a pick for any college-level scholar or student of Milton, offering a survey of English meaning paired with Biblical references.


The Business Shelf

End of Business As Usual
Brian Solis
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118077559, $24.95, www.wiley.com

End of Business As Usual: Rewire the Way You Work to Succeed in the Consumer Revolution explores different facets of a new consumer revolution that is changing the nature of business. From adopting branding based on shared experiences to tailoring products to consumer influence and considering how the new consumer behaviors can engage a savvy business, this is a 'must' for any who would understand the new consumer market and how to adapt to it.

Agency Mania
Bruno Gralpois
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909
New York City, NY 10003
9781590792056, $24.95, www.selectbooks.com

AGENCY MANIA: HARNESSING THE MADNESS OF CLIENT/AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS FOR HIGH-IMPACT RESULTS considers how client/agency relationships either thrive or fail, and offers a fine survey of influences from a veteran marketing guru who considers how to add value to client experiences. Recent innovations in marketing approaches and how they are applied are analyzed in a fine survey of social networks, digital realms, and how to expand channels of communication. Any business and marketing collection needs this!

Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service, fifth edition
Ann Thomas and Jill Applegate, Editors
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814417558, $18.95, www.amacombooks.org

Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service appears in its fifth updated edition to provide real-world examples and fun cartoon embellishments by John Bush. It reinforces the principles and practices of 'knock your socks off' customer service, showing how to win customer trust, how to do the right thing by customers, and how to understand cultural influences on transactions and interactions. The specific examples and insights are key for any business that would improve their customer service routines.

The Method Method
Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry
Penguin Portfolio
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9781591843993, $26.95, www.penguin.com

When two childhood friends decided to compete with a large cleaning supply company, nobody thought they'd succeed. They did, in the process changing the concept of cleaning itself. They used, $90K in capital to launch Method in 2001, initially selling cleaning products out of their car. How did they achieve such a meteoric rise? THE METHOD METHOD details the main "obsessions" or principles involved in Method's groundbreaking business philosophy and culture, and offers stories about failures, successes, and key turning points. Any aspiring entrepreneur needs this blueprint for success!

QuickBooks 2012: The Official Guide
Leslie Capachietti
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
0071776214, $30.00, www.mhprofessional.com

QuickBooks 2012: The Official Guide teaches the basics of using QuickBooks 2012 and shows how to set up a small business financial management system using QuickBooks. Customization is the key for achieving business tasks, and this guide teaches the basics of avoiding common mistakes and managing all aspects of business, from managing an inventory and accounts payable and receivable to using online banking and managing budgets. Any QuickBooks user will find this guide endorsed by the makers of QuickBooks and will find this packed with easy step-by-step guidelines to applying the program's capabilities to any small business structure.

Good Company
Laurie Bassi, et.al.
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609940614, $27.95, www.bkpub.com

GOOD COMPANY: BUSINESS SUCCESS IN THE WORTHINESS ERA comes from an economist and her team who show that better economics are just around the corner offering a new paradigm where good corporate behavior will be the key to success. Around the world people are choosing business connections and companies based on their perception of that company as being 'good': chapters here discuss whether worthiness pays off, considers a unique ranking of the Fortune 100 companies on their social records, and correlate higher scores with better business success. Corporate social responsibility pays off, and this book documents the payoff and how companies can do good.

The Complete Tax Guide for E-Commerce Retailers
Martha Maeda
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala FL 34471
9781601381248, $29.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

The Complete Tax Guide for E-Commerce Retailers Including Amazon and eBay Sellers: How Online Sellers Can Stay in Compliance with the IRS and State Tax Laws comes with a companion CD-ROM and tells how to take advantage of legal tax loopholes to set up a quick audit-proof recordkeeping system with online taxes in mind. From online auction sites to Amazon businesses are being required to file reports of sales transactions with the IRS. This book addresses all the things a small online business can do to stay legal, and is a 'must' for any collection catering to small entrepreneurs and online endeavors.

How to Increase Your Website Traffic
Khoa Bui
Entrepreneur Press
2445 McCabe Way #400, Irvine, CA 92614-6244
9781599183992, $19.95, www.entrepreneur.com

How to Increase Your Website Traffic is all about gaining and holding website customer attention to be sure interests are being matched and result in commerce. The average attention span of an online consumer can be as little as eight seconds: this book tells how to reevaluate a website for many factors that could eat up this attention span, from clocking a website's loading time to using images to gain attention and assuring content is at-a-glance quick to absorb. From logical and clean image presentation to improving website performance, this offers many keys based on researched facts about website commerce, and is a 'must' for any small business seeking website success.


The Economic Studies Shelf

Confronting Microfinance
Milton Bateman, Editor
Kumarian Press
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781565493421, $75.00 (hc); 9781565493414, $27.50

Confronting Microfinance: Undermining Sustainable Development considers microfinance issues and debates and uses Southeast Europe as a focal point for considering the theory, field and applications of microfinance as a whole. Scholarly and detailed analysis make this a recommendation for college-level collections strong in microfinance, business and European politics and economics. The surveys of influences on sustainable development are in-depth and well researched.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitting Socks from Around the World
Kari Cornell, Editor
Voyageur Press
400 - 1st Avenue North #300, Minneapolis MN 55401
9780760339695, $24.99, www.voyageurpress.com

Knitting Socks from Around the World offers fine color photos to accompany an array of uniquely patterned socks from around the world featuring patterns from major sock knitters. Over twenty-five patterns from Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Turkey and Peru - among others - accompany a history of sock knitting and an array of unique and fun patterns not to be found in your typical sock knitting pattern book. Highly recommended for any knitter's library!

Successful Lace Knitting
Donna Druchunas
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564779762, $29.99, www.martingale-pub.com

Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade offers techniques and lace patterns by the mother of modern lace knitting, with twenty new designs by top designers accompanying patterns, color photos, and step-by-step design directions. Here are keys to producing lovely lace stoles, shawls and sweaters, with contemporary designs making for a nice variety.

Knit Noro Accessories
Wendy Williams, Managing Editor
SixthandSpring Books
161 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
9781936096206, $24.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

Knit Noro Accessories: 30 Colorful Little Knits provides small projects with outstanding color from the popular Noro brand of yarns, and is a recommendation for knitters who want to produce quick small projects with the maximum color. Designs for small projects range from mittens and scarves to bags, home accents, and braided headbands. Any knitter looking to work with Noro yarn and produce unique and colorful gifts will find this a winner!

Stashbuster Knits
Elissa Leapman
Potter Craft
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307586636, $19.99, www.pottercraft.com

STASHBUSTER KNITS: TIPS, TRICKS AND 21 BEAUTIFUL PROJECTS FOR USING YOUR FAVORITE LEFTOVER YARN comes from a knitwear designer who tells how to use the 'leftovers' - that skein or two from any given project - in over twenty projects for the family and home. These are designed in such a way that nobody will guess they're made from odds and ends and range from a fair Isle sweater to a textured bag and a geometrically-designed jacket. A fine recommended pick, this packs in color photos of completed projects.

Classic Elite Quick Knits
Classic Elite Yarns Editors
Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600854033, $24.95, www.taunton.com

Classic Elite Quick Knits: 100 Fabulous Patterns for Wraps, Socks, Hats and more offers many original knit patterns from the studios of Classic Elite Yarns, which creates patterns for quick, easy-to-make accessories. Some 100 patterns for socks, wraps, hats, bags and more provide over a hundred color photos and survey different types of yarns to produce unique projects and contemporary designs. Any knitting library will welcome this different collection.

Weft-Faced Pattern Weaves: Tabby to Taquete
Nancy Arthur Hoskins
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen PA 19310
9780764338519, $39.99, www.schifferpublishing.com

Weft-Faced Pattern Weaves: Tabby to Taquete offers weavers an in-depth guide to weft-faced pattern weaves, teaching beginners and advanced weavers how to produce geometric designs and patterns. Step-by-step directions and patterns cover the plain weave, twill, point twill, rosepath, overshot, and samitum plus other taquete examples. Diagrams, samplers and detailed visual embellishment make it easy for weavers at all levels to duplicate processes, covering all the basics of boundweave in a 'bible' recommended for any weaver's library.


The Biography Shelf

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography, new edition
Agatha Christie
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780062073594, $29.99, www.harpercollins.com

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography holds wide-ranging appeal for a range of audiences, from literary collections and libraries strong in autobiography to those where patrons are strong fans of Agatha Christie mysteries. This new edition includes a CD of the author and returns to print a 1977 edition which has been out of print for several years. Here Christie tells of her childhood, her adult experiences, and her literary evolution alike. A new hardcover edition holds over twenty pages of black and white and color photos plus the CD of Christie dictating parts of this book. Highly recommended!

Hedy's Folly
Richard Rhodes
Doubleday
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780385534383, $26.95, www.randomhouse.com

HEDY'S FOLLY: THE LIFE AND BREAKTHROUGH INVENTIONS OF HEDY LAMARR offers an amazing story of how a young film star invented the technology that makes cell phones and GPS devices possible. Movie star Hedy was lesser known for her inventions, but she pursued technological interests at a young age. When she was a film star as an adult she was introduced to a composer who shared her passion for experimenting, and the two helped create the revolutionary technology of spread-spectrum radio. Her story comes to life in a vivid account highly recommended for any general interest or science collection.

Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid
Tanya Nicole Kach with Lawrence Fisher
Tate Publishing
127 East Trade Center Terrace
Mustang, OK 73064
9781613467596, $17.99, www.tatepublishing.com

Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid provides a powerful account of a girl who was forced to spend more than ten years as the prisoner of her school's security guard. Her advocate works with her to reveal the story of how Tanya fell under his control, blending her story with the legal issues surrounding her case and following her release. This is hard-hitting autobiography at its best, and goes beyond headlines to reveal the heart of oppression and how it happens. Any library should have this!

I Didn't Ask to Be Born
Bill Cosby
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9780892969203, $21.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

I Didn't Ask to Be Born: (But I'm Glad I Was) provides a fine autobiography recommended for any library strong in humor, entertainment, and Bill Cosby. It provides fun observations of everyday situations, told in a light-hearted manner suitable for the entire family. Prior fans of Cosby will rush to pick up his latest: it's filled with fun and whimsy and his humor translates well to book form, making it a 'must' for any general lending library.

Woolgathering
Patti Smith
New Directions
80 - 8th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9780811219440, $18.95, www.ndbooks.com

WOOLGATHERING provides a brief but pointed memoir by Patti Smith, who offers a survey of her childhood memories and the truths she learned in her early years. Memories from youth entwine with those from her twenties experiencing New York to make for a powerful literary reflection on sacred experiences of youth. WOOLGATHERING was completed on her 45th birthday and originally published in a slim volume: this augmented edition includes writing omitted from its first printing, adds new photos and illustrations and is a 'must' for any fan of Patti Smith.

Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny
R.H.S. Stolfi
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616144746, $27.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Hitler: Beyond Evil and Tyranny provides a new biography of Hitler from a historian who reinterprets the known facts about the Nazi leader to reconstruct his personality. From Hitler's youth and early influences to his patriotism during World War I and how the war evoked in him an anger of the deaths of his fellow soldiers and a newfound conviction of the path Germany should take, this provides a powerful survey that goes beyond casual inspection to reveal the heart of Hitler's ideas and actions. Any World War II or Hitler collection needs this different perspective.


The Genealogy Shelf

The Ultimate Search Book, 2011 Edition
Lori Carangelo
Clearfield Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806355153, $39.95, www.genealogical.com

The Ultimate Search Book 2011 Edition. Worldwide Adoption, Genealogy & Other Search Secrets from the files of Americans for Open Records provides the first updated edition of a classic reference since its initial appearance in 2002, and provides extensive updates from the director of the group Americans for Open Records. It provides concrete 'how to' search tips and resources for any searching for answers about their past, covering the legal routines of accessing records both within and outside of the U.S. Any interested in genealogy and birth search records will find this an invaluable reference.


The Automotive Shelf

Performance Automotive Engine Math
John Baechtel
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709474, $29.95, www.cartechbooks.com

Performance Automotive Engine Math provides formulas and connected applications in car mechanics, and is a 'must' for any auto collection. It provides a learning guide and reference tool to achieving high efficiency, using numbers to assess performance for street and race applications. Calculations for compression ratio, carb size, piston speed and more provide strong introductions tying math to performance tweaks and results. A 'must' for any auto reference library!


The Literary Studies Shelf

Books: A Living History
Martyn Lyons
J. Paul Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1679
9781606060834, $34.95, www.getty.edu

Books: A Living History provides a fine illustrated review of books in all forms to accompany a history of the evolution of the book from ancient tablets and papyruses to the modern e-book. Book lovers will find this a delicious history that offers plenty of color examples of books in all kinds of forms. It includes paperbacks, digital copies and more and also discusses bookselling and publishing as a whole. Book enthusiasts will find this outstanding, as will literary and arts collections alike.

English After the Fall
Robert Scholes
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, Iowa City, IA 52242
160938055X, $21.00, www.uiowa.edu

English After the Fall: From Literature to Texuality comes from an essayist who explores the reasons for declining English literature in the U.S., providing an overall history of the rise and fall of English study and how changing notions of verbal art limited English studies. He argues that the current definitions of English literature excluding powerful political, religious and social documents as well as pleasurable works limits the genre too much, and calls for an expanded concept of literature as part of the English curriculum. College-level courses in literature will find this a scholarly, thought-provoking discussion!

The Story of Charlotte's Web
Michael Sims
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780802777546, $25.00, www.walkerbooks.com

The Story of Charlotte's Web: E.B. White's eccentric life in nature and the birth of an American classic traces the research and discoveries that led to White's creation of one of the most beloved children's classics of all time. His biography reflects a deep affection for animals - and a kinship with them that he didn't feel for people. He didn't begin Charlotte's Web until he was 50 and spent much time researching the habits of spiders, but Charlotte was actually rooted in his years of animal experience. THE STORY OF CHARLOTTE'S WEB deserves ongoing recommendation for any interested in White's classic creations.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

I, Robot: To Protect
Mickey Zucker Reichert
ROC Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451454194, $24.95, www.penguin.com

I, Robot: To Protect provides a fine prequel to his celebrated Robot series and comes from Mickey Zucker Reichert, who was carefully selected by Asimov's estate to write this newest installment because her long career as a medical doctor lends authenticity to the protagonist of Dr. Susan Calvin. The year is 2035 and robotic technology has evolved into sentient entities. Dr. Susan Calvin is beginning her residency in psychiatry at a teaching hospital, where nanotechnology offers new promise to patients. Dr. Susan Calvin discovers that the new technology has dangers - and her involvement will change the nature of medicine and human relationships in this fine prequel, recommended for any Asimov collection.

Lightbringer
K.D. McEntire
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145392, $16.95, www.pyrsf.com

Lightbringer tells of Wendy, who has the ability to see souls that have not moved on. They seek her and her abilities: without their powers, they are doomed to wander forever. Wendy is the only one who can send them onward into the light. But each soul costs her - until she meets Piotr, the guardian of the Lost whose memory of his decades in the never has faded. Wendy is falling for him - and she may have to send him into the light as she faces dangerous forces in the process of her own growth. Written for young adults, this is reviewed here for its exciting plot and gripping action which will readily involve all ages in a fine romance.

Earthbound: A Marsbound Novel
Joe Haldeman
Ace
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9780441020959, $24.95, www.penguin.com

Earthbound: A Marsbound Novel concludes the space opera trilogy that began with Marsbound back in 2008, and is a recommended pick for collections seeing interest in this trilogy. Here Carmen, the first human to make contact with the Martians, has come back to earth to find her children are now older than she is. Her time travel has left her out of place in her own world, while the Others, angered by human activities, have obliterated the moon and prevented any further human space explorations. What the Others don't know however, is that humans will persevere - and EARTHBOUND charts this perseverance in a powerful conclusion to the Marsbound saga recommended for any science fiction holding seeing interest in the prior books!

Himmler's War
Robert Conroy
Baen Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451637618, $25.00, www.baen.com

Himmler's War offers a fine alternate history story set days after the Normandy invasion when Hitler is killed in a bombing raid and Henrich Himmler assumes control of the Reich. The Allied side is in chaos, the German effort to build a superweapon is accelerating, and politicians and soldiers on all sides are immersed in a fight to keep destruction from taking over the world in this riveting blend of military science fiction and alternate history, recommended for any science fiction strong in military sci fi.


The Political Science Shelf

Almost President
Scott Farris
Globe Pequot Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
9780762763788, $24.95, www.globepequot.com

ALMOST PRESIDENT: THE MEN WHO LOST THE RACE BUT CHANGED THE NATION profiles twelve men who ran for the American presidency and lost, but who had a powerful impact on American history. From Thomas Dewey to Henry Clay and Barry Goldwater, this explores underlying political and social climate, how each candidate's loss resulted in an opportunity for political change, and how these individuals helped change history just by their efforts to become President. Plenty of books have been written about presidents; few cover the losers - and their lasting impact. Any collection strong in American political history needs this.

Nuclear Jihad
Todd M. Masse
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781597975285, $34.95, www.potomacbooksinc.com

NUCLEAR JIHAD: A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER appraises the menace of nuclear terrorism and considers the likelihood of an attack. Two different sides - skeptics and conventionalists - are surveyed in the course of this analysis, which considers the roots of their beliefs and provides a more balanced assessment of nuclear terrorist potentials around the world. Also included are policy options and national security concerns involved in addressing the issue. A 'must' for any collection strong in terrorist concerns.

Disconnect
Morris P. Fiorina with Samuel J. Abrams
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman OK 73069
9780806142289, $24.95, www.oupress.com

DISCONNECT: THE BREAKDOWN OF REPRESENTATION IN AMERICAN POLITICS is a recommendation for any college-level collection discussing the extent and result of political instability in modern American politics. Chapters examine the modern party system and how it has failed, using polling results and other data to consider the disconnect between politicians and citizens, and offers a fine survey to help readers understand the roots of this breakdown.

Black Flags and Windmills
Scott Crow
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604860771, $20.00, www.pmpress.org

Black Flags and Windmills: Hope, Anarchy and the Common Ground Collective is a fine choice for any library strong in politics and current events, and discusses the founding of the New Orleans relief effort called the Common Ground Collective. This effort operated in the absence of local government, FEMA and the Red Cross, was run by volunteer efforts, and built medical clinics, handled food and water resources, and resisted home demolitions and police brutality. This is a memoir of author Scott Crow's participation in Common Ground and blends his radical ideology with its application to the Katrina crisis. It offers hope and insights for any facing social struggle and crisis, and is a pick for any collection strong in Katrina history.

Capitalist Solutions
Andrew Bernstein
Transaction Publishers
300 McGaw Drive, Edison NJ 08837
9781412842945, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

Capitalist Solutions: A Philosophy of American Moral Dilemmas argues that the U.S. government is pushing the nation towards socialism as it attempts to handle its social, political and economic challenges. Chapters argue for the alternative: an establishment of laissez-faire capitalism, and considers the moral superiority of a capitalist system based on individual rights and less government involvement in social affairs. Philosophy, politics and social issues blend in his discussion of morality and political responses to modern dilemmas, suitable for any college-level American politics collection.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Mauzy's Depression Glass, seventh edition
Barbara & Jim Mauzy
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764339370, $34.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Mauzy's Depression Glass appears in its seventh revised edition with new, expanded coverage and over 300 new color photos identifying depression glass and updating prices. This is the most authoritative guide on Depression Glass in print, offering a comprehensive coverage adding over two hundred new pieces to patterns in the previous edition. All these enhancements make Mauzy's Depression Glass an outstanding pick!


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Guardians of Being
Patrick McDonnell
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato CA 94949
9781608681198, $14.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

GUARDIANS OF BEING: SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS FROM OUR DOGS AND CATS celebrates animal companions and considers their higher purpose, using Eckhart Tolle's teachings blended with the author's cartoon illustrations to provide a unique blend of spiritual observation paired with cartoon illustration. Human enlightenment and the role of dogs and cats in this enlightenment process are surveyed in an accessible, inviting form that comes from the creator of MUTTS, a comic strip about a dog and his unlikely friend. It's a recommendation for cartoon and new age holdings alike!

Mindfulness for Beginners
Ion Kabat-Zinn
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781604076585, $20.95, www.soundstrue.com

MINDFULNESS FOR BEGINNERS: RECLAIMING THE PRESENT MOMENT - AND YOUR LIFE offers some 40 lessons to help define and cultivate the practice and meaning of mindfulness and meditation, and focuses on the mental and medical conditions that can be improved by the application of the mindfulness concept. It comes from a scientist and mindfulness pioneer who over thirty years ago developed mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques used in modern medicine today. Any new age and many a medical collection will find this the perfect introduction to the subject.

Homeopathy for Today's World
Dr. Rajan Sankaran
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774034, $18.95, www.innertraditions.com

Homeopathy for Today's World: Discovering Your Animal, Mineral, or Plant Nature comes from a homeopathic practitioner who blends homeopathic healing techniques with a focus on finding and encouraging the 'inner song' that is deserved from 7 levels of experience. Its focus is on uncovering that underlying natural instinct then using homeopathy to nurture it. Chapters explain how the experience of pain can be used to identify which animal, plant or mineral is 'singing' internally - and how to bring this song in sync with a more balanced condition. A fine addition to any new age health collection!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Under the Dog Star
Sandra Parshall
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590588789, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

Under the Dog Star provides a fine Rachel Goddard mystery set in Virginia where pets are vanishing mysteriously. Pets are bad enough, but when a prominent physician is found dead in his yard, a Sheriff's Department investigator believes the killer used a trained attack dog as the weapon. Rachel and her friend Holly try to rescue the feral dogs accused of the deed - and find themselves in a dangerous game powered by animals in this unique, unusual thriller.

Threadbare
Monica Ferris
Berkley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425243589, $24.95, www.penguin.com

THREADBARE features needlework shop owner Betsy and her involvement with the death of an elderly homeless woman. The dead woman is related to one of Betsy's best customers - and when another homeless woman is killed, she's found wearing an embroidered blouse. Both have a connection to Betsy's shop and she must uncover whether her business is truly linked to the murders in this fine needlecraft mystery, which includes a free embroidery pattern.


The Fiction Shelf

Girls in Trouble: Stories
Douglas Light
University of Massachusetts Press
P.O. Box 429, Amherst, MA 01003
9781558499232, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

Girls in Trouble: Stories provides thirteen short stories that tell of strong protagonists that overcome loss to find their way in the world. From destructive relationships to a girl lost by her parent's breakup, this provides a wide rage of poignancy and courage and offers captivating scenarios and accounts of survival. Any collection strong in literary short stories and fictional accounts of courage needs this!

The Artist of Disappearance
Anita Desai
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780547577456, $23.00, www.hmhbooks.com

The Artist of Disappearance presents a fine triptych of novellas set in modern India, and provides a haunting journey linking past, present and future concerns. A mansion of precious museum relics, a middle-aged woman who hires her successful publisher friend to be a translator, and the story of a hermit living in the remains of his family home in the Himalayan mountains provide different protagonists and powerful, ultimately linked viewpoints in fine stories recommended for any literary and India-focused collection.

77 Shadow Street
Dean Koontz
Bantam Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553807714, $28.00, www.randomhouse.com

The Pendleton is a luxury apartment building for the rich built in the late 1800s - but today it's a sanctuary that holds with it a dark history of murder, madness and suicide. It's long been quiet but its dark forces are rising again, threatening residents with a rising evil and dangerous destiny that will envelop all who live there. 77 SHADOW STREET is horror writing at its best, highly recommended for fans of tales of the supernatural. Each page is a thriller!


The Library DVD Shelf

Hip Hop Body Blast
Dance Off the Inches
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
No ISBN DVD, $14.98, www.anchorbayent.com

Hip Hop Body Blast comes from a fitness dance expert, Jennifer Galardi, who uses the latest hiphop dance club moves and kicks to best effect in a high-energy cardio workout. An accompanying Step Guide teaches the basics and make it easy to workout at home even for those with no prior hiphop dance experience. The Step Guide can be used to help make Galardi's original moves second nature. A fine pick for any home workout program!

Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Claire Petretti
Ocean Soul
No ISBN, $19.99, www.oceansoulyoga.com

Yoga for Cancer Recovery comes from a cancer survivor who has designed a program specifically for someone going through cancer treatment or recovery, and comes from a teacher who has been studying and teaching yoga for over ten years. She outlines methods for yoga applications that include a 60-minute practice designed to restore strength and enhance body functions, along with a 30-minute Relaxing practice for stress. A top pick for new age, health and sports collections alike.

The Sarah Jane Adventures: 4th Season
BBC America
0780682610, $29.98, www.bbcamerica.com

The 4th season of The Sarah Jane Adventures has just been released, and is a 'must have' acquisition for any follower of the Dr. Who series. The focus in this series is on a group of school chums who team up with alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith and her supercomputer Mr. Smith. As a spin-off of Dr. Who it reaches a younger audience but many an adult fan will find this series captivating. In this fourth season Luke is departing for university and facing nightmares; but there are more dangers facing the planet from otherworld influences. Big changes in store for this season as Luke departs and Sarah Jane prepares her replacement - who may not be trustworthy. The actress who played Sarah Jane passed away earlier this year, but her legacy lives on and this 4th season is not to be missed by any enthusiast.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Staying Put
Duo Dickinson
Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600853647, $24.95, www.taunton.com

STAYING PUT: REMODEL YOUR HOUSE TO GET THE HOME YOU WANT is a different kind of home remodeling title and a top pick for any collection catering to builders and homeowners. It shares tips for saving money while re-constructing an existing home to meet changing needs and outlines over 60 projects. Before and after photos, humor, and keys to budgeting accompany a guide by a residential architect who imparts ideas for increasing living space, changing floor plans, creating new storage opportunities, and doing makeovers that reflect changed housing requirements. Any general lending library will find this a key acquisition.


The Gardening/Landscaping Shelf

Botany for Designers
Kimberly Duffy Turner
Publicity Department
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780395706246, $45.00, www.wwnorton.com

Botany for Designers: A Practical Guide for Landscape Architects and Other Professionals teaches the basics of botany in a basic course designed for professionals who need to know more about landscape horticulture. The basics of plant biology, pruning and maintenance is directed to landscapers and explains basic planting design and function. Landscape architects rarely receive botany insights geared to their planting design choices: this is an item of choice for homeowners and landscape designers alike!


The Native American Studies Shelf

After Custer
Paul L. Hedren
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142166, $24.95, www.oupress.com

After Custer: Loss and Transformation in Sioux Country provides an in-depth explanation of the defeat of Custer at Little Big Horn and its lasting effects on the culture, environment and geography of the entire northern Great Plains. U.S. military control following the Great Sioux War allowed the Northern Pacific Railroad to expand which brought additional changes to the entire region. It was the conflicts of 1876-1877 that played a pivotal role in this expansion, changing the dynamics of military leaders, army interactions, and more. Personal testimonies from those who lived the experiences further reinforce this college-level history of Sioux experiences.

Native Historians Write Back
Susan A. Miller and James Riding In
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727328, $65.00, www.ttupress.org

Native Historians Write Back comes from indigenous scholars who examine events in their own nations' histories, providing a range of tribal perspectives. The dialogue contained in this anthology is literary, historical and detailed: any college-level collection strong in Native American studies will find this a unique presentation offering diverse tribal experiences of the same event affecting them all. No Native history collection should be without!


The California Shelf

Justinian Caire and Santa Cruz Island
Frederick Caire Chiles
Arthur H. Clark
c/o University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman OK 73069
9780870624001, $34.95, www.ahclark.com

Justinian Caire and Santa Cruz Island: The Rise and Fall of a California Dynasty charts the history of one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California, offering its history from its early Native American population to its acquisition by The nature Conservancy in modern times. But even more than a history of the Channels, it also entwines an account of the Caire family who owned and occupied the island for over fifty years. It opens with Caire's early years as a San Francisco businessman and relates how he acquired the island, created a ranching empire there, and how he managed the island and its peoples. A powerful history, this is recommended for any California history holding!

Soldiers, Scoundrels, Poets & Priests
David J. McLaughlin
Pentacle Press LLC
http://www.pentacle-press.com
9781937313180, $19.95, www.missionscalifornia.com

Soldiers Scoundrels, Poets & Priests: Stories of the Men And Women Behind the Missions of California is a vivid pick for any California history holding, telling the story of the missions and early Californians through a series of brief biographies of individuals from three different eras: Spanish, Mexican and American. Illustrations, simple writing, a timeline of key events from 1768 to 1853, and more make this a fine pick for California holdings seeking a lively collection of tales of the personalities behind the Missions.


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

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


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