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Volume 25, Number 4 April 2015 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Education Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Autism Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Art Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf Biography Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Agriculture Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Hobby Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
Music Shelf Cookbook Shelf Science Shelf
Photography Shelf Military Shelf Political Science Shelf
Sports Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Business Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Fiction Shelf Technology Shelf
Poetry Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Crafts Shelf
Fishing Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Criminology Shelf
Holocaust Studies Shelf Travel Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Computer Shelf Humor Shelf
Economic Studies Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Library Science Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Psychology Shelf Journalism Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Civil War Shelf Reference Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Lived Experience From The Inside Out
Antonio Calcagno
Duquesne University Press
600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
www.dupress.duq.edu
9780820704784, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Edith Stein, also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD (12 October 1891 - 9 August 1942), was born into an observant Jewish family, but was an atheist by her teenage years. Moved by the tragedies of World War I, in 1915 she took lessons to become a nursing assistant and worked in a hospital for the prevention of disease outbreaks. After completing her doctoral thesis in 1916 from the University of Gottingen, she obtained an assistantship at the University of Freiburg. From reading the works of the reformer of the Carmelite Order, St. Teresa of Jesus, OCD, she was drawn to the Catholic Faith. She was baptized on 1 January 1922 into the Roman Catholic Church. She then taught at a Catholic school of education in Speyer. As a result of the requirement of an "Aryan certificate" for civil servants promulgated by the Nazi government in April 1933 as part of its Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, she had to quit her teaching position. She was admitted to the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Cologne the following October. She received the religious habit of the Order as a novice in April 1934, taking the religious name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross ("Teresa blessed by the Cross"). In 1938 she and her sister Rosa, by then also a convert and an extern Sister of the monastery, were sent to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands for their safety. Despite the Nazi invasion of that state in 1940, they remained undisturbed until they were arrested by the Nazis on 2 August 1942 and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where they died in the gas chamber on 9 August 1942. She was canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1998. She is one of the six patron saints of Europe. "Lived Experience from the inside out: Social and Political Philosophy in Edith Stein" by Antonio Calcagno (Associate Professor of Philosophy, King's University College, University of Western Ontario) is a 231 page treatise the focuses upon Edith Stein's philosophy works produced before she converted to Catholicism. An impressive work of seminal scholarship, "Lived Experience From The Inside Out" is highly recommended for academic library collections in general, and Edith Stein studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

On the State
Pierre Bourdieu
Polity
c/o Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.politybooks.com
9780745663296, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Pierre Bourdieu (August 1930 - 23 January 2002) was a sociologist, anthropologist, philosopher, and renowned public intellectual. Bourdieu's work was primarily concerned with the dynamics of power in society, and especially the diverse and subtle ways in which power is transferred and social order maintained within and across generations. In conscious opposition to the idealist tradition of much of Western philosophy, his work often emphasized the corporeal nature of social life and stressed the role of practice and embodiment in social dynamics. Bourdieu's research pioneered novel investigative frameworks and methods, and introduced such influential concepts as cultural, social, and symbolic forms of capital (as opposed to traditional economic forms of capital), the habitus, the field or location, and symbolic violence. Bourdieu's seminal contributions to the sociology of education, the theory of sociology, and sociology of aesthetics have achieved wide influence in several related academic fields (e.g. anthropology, media and cultural studies, education), popular culture, and the arts. The collaborative editorial team of Patrick Champagne, Remi Lenoir, Franck Poupeau, and Marie-Christine Riviere, and translated into English for an American readership by David Fernbach, "On The State" is a 480 page compendium comprised of the chronologically organized lectures Bourdieu gave at the College de France from 1989 to 1992. Enhanced with the inclusion of two appendices, eighteen pages of Notes, two Bibliography lists, and a forty-five page Index, "On The State" is a very highly recommended addition for academic library collections in general, and Pierre Bourdie Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

Flash Wisdom
Russ Kick
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
9781938875120 $14.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Flash Wisdom: A Curated Collection of Mind-Blowing, Perspective Changing Quotes is more than an inspirational font; the cross-selection of epiphany-triggering insights will prompt the reader to re-examine their own lives and problem-solving endeavors. "In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways." Flash Wisdom lends itself to voracious browsing, and also makes an excellent giftbook for all occasions!

Heaven's Better
Henry A. Walter
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
Campbell Public Relations
9781477498231, $5.99 Kindle, www.amazon.com

Henry Walter is a retired weekly newspaper publisher. For 33 years he has written columns on life in general, politics and humor. is column, Observations, won second place in the National Newspaper awards 2000 humor category. "Heaven's Better", pure Henry Walter from beginning to end, is part memoir and part recollection of the miracles he experienced during his long journalism career. There is a mixture of serious looks at life today along with humor of the Will Rogers bent. An easy and entertaining read from beginning to end, "Heaven's Better" demonstrates what a gifted storyteller Henry Walter truly is with commentaries and observations that are in turns informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, inspired and inspiring. Very highly recommended!

Canadian Spacewalkers
Bob McDonald
Douglas & McIntyre
#211 - 2323 Quebec Street
Vancouver, BC V5T 4S7 Canada
9781771620444 $29.95 www.douglas-mcintyre.com

Not every astronaut has the opportunity to step into outer space itself. Canadian Spacewalkers: Hadfield, MacLean and Williams Remember the Ultimate High Adventure presents the testimony and perspectives of three Canadian astronauts who have engaged in spacewalking. From their rigorous training, to learning how to use power tools in zero gravity while wearing bulky gloves, to their impressions of opening the hatch and stepping outside into airless void, Canadian Spacewalkers is a compelling blend of science, discovery, and the ultimate travelogue, illustrated with full-color photography throughout. Highly recommended!

Short Stories and Literature
Honeydew
Edith Pearlman
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316297226, $25.00, www.littlebrown.com

Honeydew provides a powerful collection of short stories packed with evocative sights, experiences, and daily life encounters, and is especially recommended for literary readers who want something that moves beyond the entertainment factor, well into the realm of poetic prose and thought-provoking scenarios. Consider the diversity of settings in scenes that range from a child's unusual perspective on the world to a professor of Latin who receives an unusual invitation to lecture on a subject nearly beyond his specialty. Consider the impact of a woman who bears witness to the lasting effects of mutilation, as her mother and the women before her have endured. Consider voices that are diverse in topic and presentation, and scenarios that are deeply emotional. All this and more is wrapped in Honeydew, an extraordinary collection of only twenty short stories; but each a gem of human survival and experience.


The Education Shelf

Giants in the Nursery
David Elkind, PhD
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605543703 $29.95 www.redleafpress.org

In Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), a teacher or caregiver instructs children while taking into account theories of child development, the child's individual strengths and weaknesses as gleaned through authentic assessment, and the child's cultural background. Author David Elkind, PhD (Professor Emeritus of Child Development, Tufts University) presents Giants in the Nursery: A Biographical History of Developmentally Appropriate Practice, a close examination of the history and usage of the educational concept of DAP. Especial focus is placed upon the psychology pioneers whose ideas shaped DAP into the form it is used today, including John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Maria Montessori, Sigmund Freud, and much more. An excellent, thoughtful, well-reasoned account, ideal for college library educational studies shelves.

Sharing the Blue Crayon
Mary Anne Buckley
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781625310118 $20.00 www.stenhouse.com

Mary Anne Buckley, an elementary school teacher of eleven years' experience, presents Sharing the Blue Crayon: How to Integrate Social, Emotional, and Literary Learning, an educational guides about weaving social and emotional learning into the standard curriculum for young children. Students need to learn valuable skills such as empathy, how to function as part of a group, self-control, and how to give and receive feedback, as surely as they need to learn how to read and write well. Chapters discuss classroom-tested educational strategies, with illuminating anecdotes. A list of references and an index round out this excellent resource, highly recommended for professionals in the field.

Evaluating and Supporting Early Childhood Teachers
Angele Sancho Passe, MA
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605543666 $24.95 www.redleafpress.org

Early childhood education consultant of thirty years' experience Angele Sancho Passe presents Evaluating and Supporting Early Childhood Teachers, a professional guide to defining quality teaching, establishing best practices, supporting the development of teachers, and creating a positive workplace community. Filled with tips, tricks, tools, and techniques, Evaluating and Supporting Early Childhood Teachers is a "must-have" for professionals in the field. "Communication needs to happen officially in large groups, small groups, and individually. It needs to happen in writing and in person. When communication is not explicit, a secondary system of rumors and hearsay tends to develop through the grapevine... If you are not clearly communicating information to your teachers, they will fill in the blanks with their own ideas and interpretations."

Teaching Reasoning
Laurel Hecker, Julia A. Simms, Ming Lee Newcomb
Marzano Research Laboratory
555 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
http://www.marzanoresearch.com
9780990345817, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Reason is the capacity for consciously making sense of things, applying logic, establishing and verifying facts, and changing or justifying practices, institutions, and beliefs based on new or existing information. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, mathematics, and art and is considered to be a definitive characteristic of human nature. The concept of reason is sometimes referred to as rationality and sometimes as discursive reason, in opposition to intuitive reason. Reason or "reasoning" is associated with thinking, cognition, and intellect. Reason, like habit or intuition, is one of the ways by which thinking comes from one idea to a related idea. For example, it is the means by which rational beings understand themselves to think about cause and effect, truth and falsehood, and what is good or bad. It is also closely identified with the ability to self-consciously change beliefs, attitudes, traditions, and institutions, and therefore with the capacity for freedom and self-determination. Collaboratively compiled by the Marzano Research Development Team of Laurel Hecker, Julia A. Simms, Ming Lee Newcomb, "Teaching Reasoning: Activities and Games for the Classroom" is a 312 page compendium of classroom based activities and games specifically designed to foster the use of reasoning on the part of students ranging from Kindergarten through the 12th grade. Offering a wealth of tools for reinforcing student reasoning and the transmission of complex information so essential for academic and lifetime success, "Teaching Reasoning" is a versatile and highly recommended school curriculum supplement resource that is exceptionally 'user friendly' for both classroom instructors and their students. It should be noted that "Teaching Reasoning" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.69).

Write This Way
Kelly Boswell
Maupin House Publishing
c/o Capstone Professional
1905 Lookout Drive, N. Mankato, MN 56003
9781625219329 $24.95 www.capstonepress.com

Write This Way: How Modeling Transforms the Writing Classroom reveals how the educational of modeling can be a valuable tool in teaching students how to write. When the teacher thinks aloud and crafts a piece of writing in front of his or her students, it reveals possibilities and creative strategies that students can apply to their own works. Author Kelly Boswell has extensive experience as a classroom teacher and literary coach; she shares her insights into making one's thought processes transparent, the skills that all aspiring writers need, the strong combination of mentors and modeling, and much more. A wealth of sample lessons round out this superb resource especially recommended for creative writing and other literary instructors.

Theories of Practice
Carol Garhart Mooney
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605542874, $19.95, www.redleafpress.org

Theories of Practice: Raising the Standards of Early Childhood Education is a slim but important discussion that comes from an educator with a master's degree in early childhood education. It explores why learning about foundational theory supports a teacher's experiences with children, and offers an easy way of absorbing this theory using stories, anecdotes, and discussions that pair theory with applied practices. The result is a powerful educational discussion early childhood educators will find especially accessible and involving.

Elementary Educ 101
Gretchen E. Schultek
Outskirts Press
10940 S. Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
9781478711865, $11.95, www.outskirtspress.com

Elementary Educ 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College is a slim (72 pages) volume directed to teachers facing their first year in the educational system: a time fraught with special challenging, learning curves, and, too often, blunders particular to a first teaching year. Wouldn't it be an easier process if that particular wheel didn't have to be re-invented? Wouldn't it be a more satisfying experience for teachers, students and administrators if a simple guide were to pinpoint common obstacles and easy solutions? Enter Gretchen E. Schultek, a general education teacher of 8 years who has taught elementary grades at both low and high performing schools, and whose teacher wisdom thus comes from a broad base of experience. Any looking at their first year, or the results from an elementary level teaching degree, will find the chapters cover everything from communication with parents through various means and with varying results to how to handle the overwhelming feelings stemming from the first few weeks of a teaching job. The result isn't staggering, it isn't overwhelming, and it is that simple. Elementary Education 101 isn't for the experienced teacher; it's for the novice just entering the system. The fact that it's all presented in an easy format that belays the fact that it's loaded with practical advice makes this a recommendation over weightier first-year-teacher manuals.

Animal Shenanigans
Rob Reid
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838912713, $50.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Animal Shenanigans: 24 Creative, Interactive Story Programs for Preschoolers joins others in a new series of story program lesson plans for librarians and teachers, and blends high-quality picture book recommendations with fingerplays, movement activities, songs, and lesson plans that use animal protagonists to focus on family and life values. Some two dozen complete 30-minute story programs for preschoolers are presented, along with 70 new activities from drama to imagination, to make for a key survey on how educators and librarians can use a child's instinctive attraction to animals to fuel new learning experiences.

Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com

Gail L. Thompson and Rufus Thompson's YES, YOU CAN! (9781452291710, $32.95) provides teachers with a toolkit for introducing diverse learners in a classroom setting, and come from two experts who show new teachers how to involve students and families in a mixed classroom approach to education. More than theory, this blends vignettes about real teachers and student successes with original research conducted by the authors, and pinpoints specific strategies with proven success records for all kinds of students, from Latino and Afro-American population to whites, high or low achievers, and more. Teachers with students of color in their classrooms will find this packed with important insights. Evelyn S. Johnson and Anne B. Clohessy's IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF LEARNING DISABILITIES (9781483331560, $28.95) provides general educators and special educators alike with keys to handling learning disabilities in a classroom, surveying best practices, providing keys on how to gather and use classroom data, and showing how to blend RTI with an evaluation process that not only diagnoses specific learning disabilities, but tells how to handle them. Case studies accompany statistical information to help empower educators in their work with students. Geoff Colvin and Terrance M. Scott's MANAGING THE CYCLE OF ACTING-OUT BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM (9781483374369, $28.00) appears in its second edition to discuss ways in which students act out in the classroom to challenge the overall educational process, and it provides a system for not just understanding their behaviors, but managing it. The latest research here leads to more modifications of the process as educators enjoy discussions applying behavior analysis, educational direction, and management process to everyday experience. Along with the system comes checklists, tools, templates, and more, making this a fine pick for classroom educators who want to feel more in control of out-of-control students. Harvey "Smokey" Daniels and Nancy Steineke's TEACHING THE SOCIAL SKILLS OF ACADEMIC INTERACTION: STEP-BY-STEP LESSONS FOR RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RESULTS (9781483350950, $35.95) provides a comb-bound series of lesson plans teachers can use to practice social skills within the world of curriculum content, and features some 6-25 slides that provide step-by-step teaching tips in a lay-flat planning book. The slides introduce skills, build understanding using models and topics, and excel in projectable lessons for grades 4-12. With its accompanying online support of slides on Corwin's site and its specific lesson content, this is a powerful set of teaching tools perfect for social skills instruction. Jennifer A. Kurth and Megan Gross's THE INCLUSIVE TOOLBOX: STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES FOR ALL TEACHERS (9781483344157, $33.95) offers a range of tools for educators who struggle to asses and implement inclusive practices in their classrooms, and offers a resource of research-based strategies and tools for such a program. Step-by-step plans for implementing new programs using leadership accompany keys to maintaining and expanding existing inclusive programs and creating complimentary schedules and adaptation plans. All the online resources and strategies are tested, while everything from communicating about the curriculum to engaging families makes for a powerful survey highly recommended for any teacher looking through the range of inclusion questions and answers available in today's learning environment.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Eat Out, Eat Well
Hope S. Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
c/o Dalyn Miller Public Relations
9781580405423 $17.95 www.StopDiabetes.com

Eat Out, Eat Well is an in-depth guide to enjoying healthy meals at restaurants - no, that doesn't necessarily have to be a contradiction in terms! Chapters include tips and strategies for gluten-free restaurant dining, portion control suggestions, suggestions to help children eat healthier food, information about the best and worst menu options at different types of restaurants, and much more. Advice specific to different regional cuisines (such as the menus of Japanese restaurants, or Middle Eastern restaurants) makes Eat Out, Eat Well especially valuable for health-conscious gourmets! Highly recommended for both personal and public library health and nutrition shelves.

Retinal Disorders
Eric A. Pierce, Richard Masland, Joan W. Miller, eds.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
9781621820178, $135.00, www.amazon.com

The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue, lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina (through the cornea and lens), which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical events that ultimately trigger nerve impulses. These are sent to various visual centers of the brain through the fibers of the optic nerve. In vertebrate embryonic development, the retina and the optic nerve originate as outgrowths of the developing brain, so the retina is considered part of the central nervous system (CNS) and is actually brain tissue. It is the only part of the CNS that can be visualized non-invasively. The retina is a layered structure with several layers of neurons interconnected by synapses. The only neurons that are directly sensitive to light are the photoreceptor cells. These are mainly of two types: the rods and cones. Rods function mainly in dim light and provide black-and-white vision, while cones support daytime vision and the perception of color. A third, much rarer type of photoreceptor, the intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cell, is important for reflexive responses to bright daylight. Neural signals from the rods and cones undergo processing by other neurons of the retina. The output takes the form of action potentials in retinal ganglion cells whose axons form the optic nerve. Several important features of visual perception can be traced to the retinal encoding and processing of light. "Retinal Disorders: Genetic Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment" is a 446 page compendium comprised of thirty-two scholarly articles deftly organized into four major sections: Genetics of Inherited Retinal Degenerations; Genetics of Age-Related macular Degeneration; Glaucoma; Gene/Genetic therapies for Inherited Retinal Disorders. The newest addition to the Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine series, "Retinal Disorders: Genetic Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment" is a critically important and strongly recommended addition to academic library and medical school ophthalmology reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Quintessence of Dental Technology 2015
Quintessence Publishing
4350 Chandler Drive, Hanover Park, IL 60133
9780867156898, $132.00, www.quintpub.com

With its focus on the newest techniques and materials for esthetic restorative outcomes, "Quintessence of Dental Technology 2015" features original articles on CAD/CAM, conservative adhesive restorations, non-prep veneers, pink esthetics, full-mouth reconstructions, and overall challenging cases. Two state of the art articles are presented: Mastering Esthetic and Functional Rehabilitation of the Severely Worn Dentition by Sergio Arias et al, and CAD/CAM Technology for Complete Denture Fabrication, by Tae Kim and Sillas Duarte, Jr., Neimar Sartori et. al. provide this year's Biomaterials Update on CAD/CAM High-Strength Glass Ceramics. Profusely enhanced with 915 illustrations, the "Quintessence of Dental Technology 2015" is a 220 page, information packed resource that is an essential addition to professional and academic library Dental Technology & Prosthodontics Studies reference collection and supplemental studies reading lists.

Glia
Ben A. Barres, Marc R. Freeman, Beth Stevens, editors
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
9781621820277, $135.00, www.amazon.com

Glial cells, sometimes called neuroglia or simply glia, are non-neuronal cells that maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and provide support and protection for neurons in the brain and peripheral nervous system. Neuroscience currently identifies four main functions of glial cells: to surround neurons and hold them in place; to supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons; to insulate one neuron from another; and to destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons. Glial cells do have some effects on certain physiological processes like breathing, and in assisting the neurons to form synaptic connections between each other. The latest volume in the 'Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology' series, "Glia" is collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Ben A. Barres (Stanford University School of Medicine), Marc R. Freeman (University of Massachusetts medical School), Beth Stevens (Harvard medical School; Boston children's Hospital). This 486 page volume includes twenty-six seminal and erudite articles by experts in the field of Glial cell research and deftly organized into six major sections: Astrocytes; Oligodendrocytes and Myelination; Schwann Cells; Microglia; Glia in Small Genetic Model Systems; Disease and Repair. Enhanced with the inclusion of a comprehensive nine page Index, "Glia" is a model of collaborative scholarship and a critically important and essential addition to professional, medical school, and university library Medical Studies reference collections.

Bar Stool Yoga
Miriam Austin
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
www.imaginebks.com
9781623540470, $14.95, www.amazon.com

From its introduction into American popular culture in the mid-twentieth century, yoga as been a popular form of health-oriented exercise. Profusely illustrated with informative commentary by yoga expert and enthusiast Miriam Austin, "Bar Stool Yoga: The Fun Way Of Being Fit And Flexible At The Bar And Beyond" is a 112 page compendium that showcases yoga exercises that can be done by oneself or with friends in a local community bar or tavern. Of special note is the chapter 'Heaven for Hangovers' that will be greatly appreciated by those who have indulged a little too much! It's important to note that "Bar Stool Yoga: The Fun Way Of Being Fit And Flexible At The Bar And Beyond" is for light fun and entertainment and that alcoholic beverages should be taken after a yoga workout -- not before one or during one. Informed and informative, and a delight to simply browse through, "Bar Stool Yoga: The Fun Way Of Being Fit And Flexible At The Bar And Beyond" is especially commended to yoga practitioners and community library collections.

Natural Treatments For Lyme Coinfections
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.HealingArtsPress.com
9781620552582, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the Borrelia type. The most common sign of infection is an expanding area of redness, known as erythema migrans, that begins at the site of the bite about a week after it has occurred. The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful. About 25% of people do not develop a rash. Other early symptoms may include fever, headache, and feeling tired. If untreated, symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, severe headaches with neck stiffness, or heart palpitations among others. Month to years later there may be repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling. Occasionally people develop shooting pains or tingling in their arms and legs. About 10 to 20% of people despite appropriate treatment also develop joint pains, have problems with memory, and feel tired much of the time. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks of the Ixodes type. Usually the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria is spread. "Natural Treatments for Lyme Coinfections: Anaplasma, Babesia, and Ehrlichia" by Stephen Harrod Buhner (Senior Researcher for the Foundation for Gaian Studies) is a 448 page guide to the natural treatment of three coinfections of Lyme disease and includes reviews the latest scientific research on Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma; reveals how these three conditions often go undiagnosed, complicate the treatment of Lyme disease, and cause symptoms from headache to seizures; and outlines effective natural treatments with herbs and supplements for specific symptoms and to combat overreactions of the immune system and the inflammation response. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Natural Treatments For Lyme Coinfections" is especially recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in alternative medicine in general, and the treatment of lyme disease infections in particular.

Litt's Drug Eruption & Reaction Manual, 21st Edition
Jerome Z. Litt, MD
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781498709903, $199.95, www.crcpress.com

The 21st updated edition of Litt's Drug Eruption & Reaction Manual presents a new revision of an internationally-acclaimed book that provides a clinical reference and drug-safety tool key to better patient care. It packs in over seven hundred generic drug profiles (some 28 new), provides an A-Z listing for quick consultation, lists classes of drugs known to cause interactions, arranged nearly twenty tables outlining reaction profiles, and provides physicians with key in-depth information with an in-depth focus on drug reactions. Readers can also subscribe to an online database comparing reaction profiles for up to four drugs, which documents drug reactions for over 68,000 medicines. Herbal medicines and supplements are not left out, either: the package includes the latest information on all. This significant reference is a 'must' for any physician working with patients who take multiple drugs for multiple conditions!


The Autism Shelf

Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com

Caroline Baker's DEVELOPING EXCELLENT CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN CARE HOMES (9781849054676, $29.95) joins other 'Good Practice Guides' in exploring the key criteria and applications of care homes for dementia patients, and is a recommendation packed with practical ways of helping such people and their families. Chapters are written by people with years of experience and a concern with not just maintaining lives, but making them better, and cover such diverse topics as how to make the most of meal times, how to plan with individual needs in mind, and assessing the use of medicine. Any involved in dementia care needs this! Bill Nason's 'The Autism Discussion Page' provides books specific to helping children with autism. Two such presentations are ON ANXIETY, BEHAVIOR, SCHOOL, AND PARENTING STRATEGIES (9781849059954, $24.95), and ON THE CORE CHALLENGES OF AUTISM (9781849059947, $24.95). On Anxiety provides tools for adults on how to help autistic children feel safe and accepted, and shows how to use existing strengths and interests to create a new level of self-assurance in autistic children. From mentoring children to handling labels and diagnoses, it promotes strategies that can easily be tailored to an individual child's psyche and needs. On the Core Challenges of Autism focuses on the basic cognitive, sensory, social and emotional challenges associated with autistic children and offers simple tools that can be used to thwart common problems. Based on posts from the popular online community page and arranged by subject for quick reference, these two books are filled with not only insights, but applied solutions to common problems - solutions tested in the community as workable and effective. Nicola Lonie's ONLINE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM (9781849054546, $19.95) provides parents with a powerful tool that shows how children and teens with autism can be especially vulnerable online, and gives all the information needed to monitor and limit a child's computer use. From parental controls and social network to hacking, this lists risks, warning signs, and how to handle them, and offers practical solutions that enhance a child's online environment and safety. Kate C. Wilde's AUTISTIC LOGISTICS (9781849037790, $19.95) provides step-by-step advice for parents who want the basics of how to handle an autistic child, from toilet training and sleep routines to social skills. It comes from the author's decades of experience working with children on the autism spectrum and narrows the focus to daily issues which are part of the bigger picture of child-rearing. The result is a specific set of tested recommendations that will go far in helping parents sort out the special daily challenges of raising an autistic child. Shawnee Thornton Hardy's ASANAS FOR AUTISM AND SPECIAL NEEDS (9781849059886, $19.95) tells how to teach yoga to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs, and provides a visual handbook that both breaks down yoga instruction pose by pose and uses easy language and color photos to show parents, teachers and yoga instructors how to introduce yoga to this special group. From the benefits of yoga to yoga games and relaxation exercises, this is a specific and well-tailored approach that uses the special needs personality profiles of such kids to pair with yoga's particular opportunities.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Capone, The Cobbs, And Me
Rex Burwell
Livingston Press
University of West Alabama
Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
www.livingstonpress.uwa.edu
9781604891485, $17.95, 204pp, www.amazon.com

In "Capone, The Cobbs, And Me", author Rex Burwell takes the reader back to the Roaring 20s, an era when baseball big-leaguer Mort hart is suspected of knowing too much by the infamous Al Capone who tries to kill him. Hot-headed baseball star Ty Cobb has reason to kill Mort as well because of a suspected affair with Cobb's wife. How can Mort save himself and Charlene, the woman he loves, against two such formidable figures? Author Rex Burwell deftly conjures up the age of Jazz and Prohibition, the Mob, and what gave the decade of the 1920s its nickname in a complex rollercoaster ride of a story. A thoroughly entertaining novel by a thoroughly entertaining writer, "Capone, The Cobbs, And Me" is also available in a hardcover edition (9781604891492, $30.00) and highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.

The Chocolate Clown Corpse
JoAnna Carl
Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451240675, $22.95, www.penguin.com

The Chocolate Clown Corpse provides a new 'Chocoholic Mystery' story as it surveys the death of a bozo who is the miserably resented owner of the Clowning Around Shop. In this case there are simply too many suspects - and Lee Woodyard's chocolate shop, next to Moe's now-shuttered unattraction, is about to be drawn into the process which is simmering over a murder and expansion plans. From an innocent man's involvement to chocolate capers that center around mystery and business pursuits alike, this is a mystery story of a deliciously intense flavor, and is especially recommended for mystery fans who enjoy culinary insights.

The Magician's Daughter
Judith Janeway
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
MM Book Publicity
9781464203381, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

The Magician's Daughter introduces a new mystery series in the form of one Valentine Hill, who is a magician firmly steeped in the act and in the notion that 'nothing is as it seems': the perfect background for solving a mystery. Valentine herself is real, but has no legal existence, as her con artist mother never registered her before she disappeared. As a result, Valentine has spent her life searching for her roots. She's about to get more than she bargained for when she journeys to San Francisco for a reunion with her mother, only to find there a mysterious world where nothing is as it seems. Mystery fans will find this story's setting and concepts to be fresh, original, and unpredictable.


The Art Shelf

Carpets Of The Art Deco Era
Susan Day
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500517956, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Art Deco is an influential visual arts design style that first appeared in France after World War I and began flourishing internationally in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s before its popularity waned after World War II. It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The style is often characterized by rich colors, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation. Compiled with expert commentary by Susan Day, "Carpets of the Art Deco Era" is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 224 page compendium showcasing the very best of carpet designs during the glory days of the art deco movement. Enhanced with the inclusion of a twenty-two page roster of biographies for artists, manufacturers, and retailers of art deco carpeting; a five page listing of signatures and monograms; a fourteen page glossary; a three page select bibliography; and a three page index, "Carpets of the Art Deco Era" is a seminal work of impressive scholarship throughout and highly recommended for both community and academic library Art History collections in general, and Art Deco supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

The Mardi Gras Paintings of Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455620586 $19.95 www.pelicanpub.com

Aside from a brief text introduction, The Mardi Gras Paintings of Bob Graham is almost entirely devoted to full-color reproductions of Graham's breathtaking oil artwork, which exquisitely captures the vibrant Mardi Gras parades, including costumed portrayals of Zulu, Rex, Hermes, the Muses, Endymion, and other mythological figures. The Mardi Gras Paintings of Bob Graham resonates with joyous celebration, and is a welcome addition to both public library and private artbook collections.

Contemporary American Print Makers
E. Ashley Rooney & Stephanie Standish
Schiffer Books
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764346910, $34.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Contemporary American Print Makers packs in some 500 color images displaying the works of over 75 printmakers and 30 print shops, and features a wide range of modern print techniques and their transformations into art, from lithography and screen printing to fiber art and digital forms. Accompanying this profile of art and artists are insights from the artists into why and how they made their works, offering a range of insights into not just the creations of modern print, but the inspirations and rationales behind the art forms themselves. Add high quality print reproduction (essential in a quality art coverage) and the result is an impressive, accessible production recommended for any involved in the arts and printmaking industries.


The Christian Studies Shelf

40 Days With The Holy Spirit
Jack Levison
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612616384, $16.99, 190pp, www.amazon.com

For the large majority of Christians, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person (hypostasis) of the Trinity: the "Triune God" manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; each person itself being God. The New Testament includes over 90 references to the Holy Spirit. All three Synoptic Gospels proclaim blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. The Holy Spirit plays a key role in the Pauline epistles. In the Johannine writings, three separate terms, "Holy Spirit", "Spirit of Truth", and "Paraclete" are used. The New Testament details a close relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus during his earthly life and ministry. The Gospels of Luke and Matthew and the Nicene Creed state that Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary". The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus as a dove during his baptism, and in his Farewell Discourse after the Last Supper Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples after his departure. The theology of the Holy Spirit is called pneumatology. "40 Days with the Holy Spirit" will inspire you to encounter God in fresh and surprising ways. You'll develop stronger spiritual muscles as you breathe, read, reflect, and pray -- all with an eye to cultivating a relationship with the least familiar member of the Trinity. "40 Days with the Holy Spirit" is interactive, offering the opportunity to write and pray each day; intelligent, rooted in a rigorous study of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation; and inviting, with 40 insightful, well-planned 20-30 minute daily exercises; and prayerful, with 40 original prayers that capture each day's insight into the deep, spiritual work of the Holy Spirit. "40 Days with the Holy Spirit" is very highly recommended to the attention of all Christians regardless of their denominational affiliation. It should be noted that "40 Days with the Holy Spirit" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.95).

Confessing The Faith
Chad Van Dixhoorn
Banner of Truth
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
www.banneroftruth.org
9781848714045, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Chad B. Van Dixhoorn, is a Canadian-born Reformed theologian and historian, as well as the editor of the five-volume "The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly: 1643-1652" which was published by Oxford University Press in 2012. An ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he serves as Associate Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., and as Associate Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia. "Confessing the Faith: A Reader's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith" is a 512 page compendium that features accessible, biblical, and thoughtful work which digests years of study and teaching into bite-sized sections. Van Dixhoorn's work is historical and practical in its focus. It deliberately presents readers with more than another survey of Reformed theology; it offers a guide to a particular text, considers its original proof-texts, and seeks to deepen our understanding of each paragraph of the Confession. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Confessing The Faith" is recommended for both pastoral and academic library Christian Studies collections, and to the attention of non-specialist Christian readers with an interest in Presbyterian theology.

The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen
Sinclair B. Ferguson, author
Steven J. Lawson, editor
Reformation Trust Publishing
c/o Ligonier Ministries
421 Ligonier Court, Sanford, FL, 32771-8608
www.ligonier.org
9781567694031, $16.00, www.amazon.com

John Owen (1616 - 24 August 1683) was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford. He was briefly a member of parliament for the University, sitting in the First Protectorate Parliament of 1654 to 1655. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three consubstantial persons, expressions, or hypostases: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit; "one God in three persons". The three persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or nature".[4] In this context, a "nature" is what one is, while a "person" is who one is. The writing and teaching of John Owen, a 17th century pastor and theologian, continues to serve the Christian church. Daily communion with God characterized his life and equipped him for both ministry and persecution. "The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, proving thoughts and writings of John Owen as relevant today as they were back in the 17th century. Very highly recommended for pastoral and academic library Christian Studies reference collections, for personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.76).

Francis: Bishop of Rome, second edition
Michael Collins
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814637050, $12.95, 152pp, www.amazon.com

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936) is Pope of the Catholic Church, a title he holds ex officio for being the Bishop of Rome, in which capacity he is also the absolute sovereign of the Vatican City State. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technician and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's Provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. "Francis: Bishop of Rome", by Fr. Michael Collins, introduces readers to the pope who has grabbed the attention and the spiritual imaginations of Catholics and others around the world. Now, in this second edition, Collins takes account of the most important events and development of his remarkable pontificate. With a focus on compassion, Francis has challenged world leaders to be more attentive to the poor, begun important reforms of the Curia and the Vatican Bank, and called for two synods of bishops to discuss pastoral challenges that face modern families. This new edition, which is 25% longer than the first, includes more details about Jorge Bergoglio's early life and a far more expansive understanding of the pontificate of this remarkable spiritual leader. "Francis: Bishop of Rome" is very highly recommended for Catholics and non-Catholics wanting to know more about this unique and energetically reform oriented prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Challenge of Jesus
N. T. Wright
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
www.ivpress.com
9780830822003, $20.00, 202pp, www.amazon.com

Today a renewed and vigorous scholarly quest for the historical Jesus is underway. In the midst of well publicized and controversial books on Jesus, N. T. Wright is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world's leading Bible scholars who is now serving as the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. His scriptural lectures and writings have been widely recognized for providing a fresh, provocative and historically credible portrait. Out of his own commitment to both historical scholarship and Christian ministry, Wright challenges us to roll up our sleeves and take seriously the study of the historical Jesus. He writes, "Many Christians have been, frankly, sloppy in their thinking and talking about Jesus, and hence, sadly, in their praying and in their practice of discipleship. We cannot assume that by saying the word Jesus, still less the word Christ, we are automatically in touch with the real Jesus who walked and talked in first-century Palestine. . . . Only by hard, historical work can we move toward a fuller comprehension of what the Gospels themselves were trying to say." "The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was & Is" poses a double-edged challenge: to grow in our understanding of the historical Jesus within the Palestinian world of the first century, and to follow Jesus more faithfully into the postmodern world of the twenty-first century. " Very highly recommended for seminary and community library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was & Is" is also available in a paperback edition (9780830836963, $16.00), a Kindle edition ($11.84), and as an Audio Book ($14.95).

Following Egeria
Lawrence R. Farley
Ancient Faith Publishing
PO Box 748, Chesterton, In 46304-0748
http://store.ancientfaith.com
9781936270217, $16.95, 190pp, www.amazon.com

In the fourth century, a nun named Egeria traveled through the Holy Land and kept a diary of her experiences. In the twenty-first century, Fr. Lawrence Farley followed partially in her footsteps and wrote his own account of how he experienced the holy sites as they are today. Whether you're planning your own pilgrimage or want to read about places you may never go, "Following Egeria: A Visit to the Holy Land Through Time and Space" is an exceptional and impressively well written study that will be of interest not only to those who plan on visiting Jerusalem and other sacred sites in Israel, but prove an informed and informative read for any armchair travelers with an interest in how visitors in antiquity and modern times alike saw and experienced the land of Jesus and the place where Christian began. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Following Egeria" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory
Jerry L. Walls
Brazos Press
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9781587433566, $19.99, www.brazospress.com

Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory: Rethinking the Things That Matter Most offers up an inspirational, hopeful book for hard times and provides a Christian examination of the concepts of heaven, hell and purgatory and the issues surrounding these ideas. From differences between Catholic and Protestant views of the purging process and literary transformations of such figures as Dickens' Scrooge to the question of why people saved by grace even have a purgatory, these are wide-ranging discussions that, under a different hand, could have proved scholarly and challenging. Jerry Walls' approach is to make these considerations accessible to everyday Christian thinkers; and so expect chapters that are easily accessible by average readers who harbor a special interest in thinking about these Christian facets.

New Life Stories
Hilary H. Carter
Ayni Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781782796633, $19.95, www.ayni-books.com

New Life Stories: Journeys of Recovery in a Mindful Community documents a northern Thailand community where mindful recovery is promoted, and where people from around the world come to heal and discover a new life based on mindfulness. Ten residents of the New Life Foundation here explore their experiences, drawing direct connections to something usually treated with philosophical inquiry. Through these discussions linking mindful concepts to life benefits and how they were actually applied, readers gain a better knowledge of how growth happens, and what the applied concepts of mindfulness actually looks like. First-person stories are the key to understanding, here.

Sustainable Happiness
Sarah Van Gelder and the Staff of Yes! Magazine
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000, Oakland CA, 94612
9781626563292, $16.95, www.bk-life.com

Where can happiness be found, and is growth a key to such happiness? If you listen to consumer-oriented traditional business approaches, it's all about such growth - but if you take a look at lifestyle titles such as Sustainable Happiness: Live Simply, Live Well, Make a Difference, then it's easy to see that real well-being comes from developing supportive, mutually cooperative relationships rather than competitive or adversarial circumstances. This book focuses on the former, and shows how such relationships can be identified and fostered. It links the concept of a satisfying life with the bigger concept of developing support system that encourage a different definition of happiness, and it offers chapters that discuss the effects of equality, mindful behaviors, gratitude, and more. The result is quite a different kind of approach to business and life that new age readers, in particular, will welcome.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Requiem of the Rose King 1
Aya Kanno
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
9781421567785 $9.99 www.viz.com

Requiem of the Rose King is the first volume in a series of black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novels) based on the classic Shakespearean plays "Henry VI" and "Richard III", which in turn were dramatizations of the violent conflicts surrounding the lives of historical British monarchs. The principal character is young Richard, born to the House of York, which is locked in a vicious, bitter, and bloody rivalry with the House of Lancaster. A pious yet weak king, at times of unstable mind, is incapable of preventing ruthless warfare. The stylized artwork is presented "unflipped", in right-to-left as originally drawn, in this haunting saga of deadly intrigue for the power of the throne.


The Audiobook Shelf

Racing Demon
David Hare
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
9781580818919 $29.95 www.latw.org

Eleven talented actors present a vivacious, full-cast performance in Racing Demon, the audiobook production of a critically lauded play about the roles that priests play. Four clergymen each try to make sense of their mission and calling, while the Church of England's influence is confusing and contradictory. Racing Demon is especially memorable for its straightforward revelations about gay ordination and the doctrine of the priesthood. Eyebrow-rasing, emotional, insightful, and as relevant today as when it was first performed in 1990, Racing Demon is enthusiastically recommended. 2 CDs, 2 hours 3 min.

The Highlander's Folly
Barbara Longley, author
Performed by Phil Gigante
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781501236792 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Highlander's Folly: A Novel of Loch Moigh is the unabridged audiobook saga of Hunter, a fifteenth-century Highlander gifted by the fae and fierce in battle. Quixotic magic unexpectedly propels Hunter to the present day. He meets a young woman who happens to be talented at self-defense, in part because she was taught by her own father, also a time-traveling Highlander. When the two are pulled back to the fifteenth century, she is desperate to return to her own time, and Hunter finds himself increasingly torn between his family loyalties, his pledge of honor to another woman, and his heart's attraction to the stranger from another era. A saga of intrigue, love, and adventure, The Highlander's Folly is rapturously performed by Audie Award winner Phil Gigante. 8 CDs, 9 hours 37 min.

An Amish Cradle
Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, & Vannetta Chapman, authors
Read by Rebecca Gallagher
Oasis Audio
289 Main Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781613756744 $29.99 www.oasisaudio.com

An Amish Cradle is an unabridged audiobook anthology of four novellas, each about a Christian mother and her path to understanding God's plan. Beth Wiseman's "In His Father's Arms" is about a mother and her husband adjusting to the birth of a baby with Down syndrome; "A Son for Always" is about a husband searching for a way to help his wife and her son (from long before their marriage) accept that he will care and provide for them; "A Heart Full of Love" is about a grandmother who can't let go, for reasons that gradually become clear to the stressed new mother of twins; and "An Unexpected Blessing" is about a 42-year-old mother, caught unawares by her pregnancy, seeking to reconcile care for her new infant and her estranged relationship with her grown son. Evocatively performed by Rebecca Gallagher, An Amish Cradle is emotionally moving and highly recommended. 9 CDs.

Resilience
Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL
Read by the author
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427260147 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Navy SEAL, Rhodes Scholar, and humanitarian Eric Greitens presents Resilience, a testimony of strong-souled wisdom now available as an unabridged audiobook on CD. Inspired by the conversations Eric had with a former SEAL comrade and brother-in-arms who suffered from PTSD, heavy drinking, and lack of purpose ever since returning from the war, Resilience is about what it takes to build resilience, endurance, and adaptability into one's day-to-day life. A practical-minded fusion of memoir and self-help testimony, addressed to listeners of all walks of life, Resilience is enlightening, candid, and an evenhanded balance between compassion, commitment to a vocation, and the creation of personal happiness. Highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.

Alien Shores
Vaughn Heppner, author
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781491519165, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Humanity put all its fading hopes in New Eden, a pristine star system 230 light-years from the ravaged Earth. But upon arrival, the would-be colonists encountered the Kresh -- who are a diabolical alien race resembling dinosaur raptors and who quickly captured the human starship and tortured its inhabitants in hopes of learning the coordinates of Earth. Street-smart Cyrus Gant managed to escape, crashing to the surface of a nearby moon terraformed by the Kresh and inhabited by primitive humans. Now Cyrus pursues a desperate hope bound up in a single boy, a prophesied psionic named Klane -- already in the clutches of the Kresh. Soon Cyrus finds himself torn between tracking down this so-called savior and escaping back into space before it's too late. Yet as he gathers allies and firepower, he's desperate to find a way back to Earth and warn them of this alien menace...only to discover even greater dangers to the future existence of the human race in the form of even more alien hive minds and a flotilla of cyborg war ships. Superbly narrated by Jeff Cummings who brings Vaughn Heppner's science fiction action-adventure novel into life with a true 'theatre of the mind' experience, "Alien Shores" is highly recommended for science fiction enthusiasts' personal listening lists and community library audio book collections. 9 CDs, unabridged, 11 hours and 3 minutes.

The Emperor's Blades
Brian Staveley
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480517554, $29.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

The emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods. Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power he must master before it's too late. An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. But before he can set out to save Kaden, Valyn must survive one horrific final test. At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor's final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing--and risk everything--to see that justice is meted out. "The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley is an impressively written fantasy action/adventure that is superbly narrated by Simon Vance. With the usual Brilliance Corporation's attention to providing flawless production values, this audio book production provides a true 'theatre of the mind' listening experience and is very highly recommended for community library collections, as well as to the attention of science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. Complete and Unabridged, 16 discs; 18 hours 57 minutes.

Graphic Audio
4940 Hampden Lane, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814
www.graphicaudio.net

Graphic Audio is the premier publisher of audio books whose flawless production values make listening a true 'theatre of the mind' experience. On of their latest and truly impressive efforts is the Simon R. Green fantasy trilogy 'Ghost Finders'. Featuring a gifted multicast performance embellished and enriched with digital sound effects and music, the trilogy consists of: "Ghost of a Chance" (9781628511055, $19.99, 5 CDs, 5 hours); The Carnacki Institute exists to "Do Something" about Ghosts, and agents JC Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer will either lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice. "Ghost of a Smile" (9781628511093, $19.99, 5 CDs, 5 hours) The Ghost Finders answer a distress call from the private research center of one of the biggest drug companies in the world, where a team of police enforcement agents have vanished. They have no idea what they're facing-except a deadline that threatens to remove the entire building from existence if they fail to get to the bottom of the mystery.; and "Ghost of a Dream" (9781628521215, $19.99, 5 CDs, 6 hours) The Ghost Finders are investigating a haunting at the long-abandoned Haybarn Theater, which is being renovated. But work has been thrown off-schedule by the some peculiar and unnatural activities. And after the potentially world-altering recent events of their previous assignment, the team thinks that a haunted theater (aren't they all?) will be a walk in the park. Until they encounter the Phantom of the Haybarn - an ancient evil whose ability to alter reality itself will test the skills, science, and blind luck of the Ghost Finders to the limit. The 'Ghost Finders' trilogy is truly extraordinary and very highly recommended for personal and community library audio book science fiction and fantasy collections.

Flashpoints
George Friedman
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553399097, $40.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe is narrated by Bruce Turk and provided in an unabridged production that perfectly captures discussion of the forecasted trends in global politics, culture and more in Europe. It considers the region's historical interactions, its underlying seething possibilities, and the potential for its volatility. Especially strong in social interactions between peoples and nations, this narrative comes to life under Bruce Turk's treatment, as it's well-steeped in film and stage experience, and makes for a gripping audio production certain to involve any who like social analysis and modern history explorations.

The Last American Vampire
Seth Grahame-Smith
Hachette Audio Books
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781611138283, $35.00, www.hachetteaudio.com

The Last American Vampire appears in an unabridged audio production narrated by MacLeod Andrews, includes a .pdf file of photos, and comes to life in audio as it returns vampire Henry Sturges, hero of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, to the limelight. Here Sturges is suffering from the aftermath of his good friend Lincoln's death, and undertakes a journey to England that holds an unexpected encounter with Jack the Ripper and a return to an America that faces a new electric world. Everything is changing - and Henry is lost. A reflective, engrossing story not only emerges but comes to full life in this fine audio production.

The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins
Penguin Audio Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781611763737, $40.00, www.penguin.com

The Girl on the Train is narrated by Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey, and India Fisher and tells of Rachel, who takes the same commuter train each morning and night, past a deck where the same couple enjoys breakfast each day. She envisions their perfect life - until one morning she observes something shocking; something that will change her world. The police won't listen, and so she becomes overly involved in another life and an investigation that threatens to change her own. The lively narration by various voices succeeds in capturing the story's tension and high drama, and lends to an exceptional story.


The Library CD Shelf

In Style Again
Jim Ed Brown
Plowboy Records
c/o Webster & Associates (publicity)
33 Music Sq West, Ste 100B
Nashville, TN 37203-6606
$10.00 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com

Country music singer Jim Ed Brown presents In Style Again, his first solo album in three decades. Smoothly performed with resolute spirit, In Style Again has a unique, trip-down-memory-lane storytelling flair. The tracks are "When The Sun Says Hello To The Mountain", "Tried And True", "In Style Again", "Watching The World Walking By", "You Again", "I Love It", "Don't Let Me Cross Over", "Older Guy", "It's A Good Life", "Lucky Enough", "Laura (Do You Love Me)", "The Last One", and "Am I Still Country?"

Reiki: Hands of Love
Deuter
New Earth Records
c/o Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$13.99 CD / $8.91 MP3 www.amazon.com

Reiki: Hands of Love is new age music CD created especially to accompany the energy of Reiki, an alternative medicine practice involving the healing power of spiritual energy shared through touch. The gentle, flowing music is also ideal for relaxation, meditation, or creative inspiration. Musician Dueter, one of the pioneers of the new age music genre, has composed Reiki: Hands of Love with elements of piano, assorted keyboards and synthesizers, guitars, shakuhachi flute, cello, koto, sitar, tabla, Turkish sasz, Persian tar, santoor, bazuki, Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, drums, some vocalizations, and more. Beautiful and reassuring, Reiki: Hands of Love is a joy to experience, and makes an excellent gift for any fellow new age connoisseur. The tracks are "Morning Light Silhouettes" (7:32), "Morning Light Silhouettes 2" (5:22), "Cloud Surfing" (4:58), "Love's Winged Messenger" (7:14), "Hands of Love" (9:17), "Unknown Doors" (5:53), "Deeper than the Sky" (4:57), "Still Stones of Silence" (8:07), and "Free Forever" (8:09). 61 min.

Visual Music Circus
Composed by Petros Sakelliou
Privately Published
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$TBA www.amazon.com

Also available digitally, Visual Music Circus is an expressive album blending influences from jazz, classical, and world music into something truly unique. Performed by an ensemble of musicians from diverse backgrounds, Visual Music Cricus features multi-layered orchestration and multi-timbral instrumentation, interweaving to form a grand and unforgettable whole. Highly recommended especially for music connoisseurs in search of something truly original! The tracks are "My Choro", "First Come First", "Stucks", "Ironic Dance Suite I", "Ironic Dance Suite II", "Is It Coincidence?", "Love for Magda and Maximus", and "Swingalong".

Distractions
Beardyman
Tummy Touch Records, LLC
c/o Press Junkie PR
$10.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Distractions is the latest music album by Beardyman (a.k.a. Dareen Foreman), a champion beatbox musician who created a machine that records and mixes in real-time. Though Beardyman is an improvisational performer at heart, Distractions is three years in the making, originally intended to showcase the machine's capabilities. The singsong lyrics echo with a keen beat, in this adventurous, creative expression, enthusiastically recommended for music connoisseurs in search of a unique experience that defies conventional classification. The tracks are "A Cheerful and Sunny Disposition", "2^25,000:1 Against and Falling", "Getting There", "Fndege.Gurp", "You Only Like What You Know", "Brain", "Perfect Waste of Time", "I Will Never Win", "A View", "Mountain Saide", and "Before the Fall / Move On".


The Library DVD Shelf

Code Black
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545262 $350.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, Code Black is a documentary in which physician Ryan McGarry gives the viewer access to America's busiest Emergency Department. Following a team of young doctors-in-training, Code Black shows the struggle to save lives, the failings of a complex and overloaded system, and Los Angeles County Hospital's legendary trauma bay "C-Booth". Harrowing and unforgettable, Code Black is an insider's glimpse into America's only 24/7 healthcare safety net, highly recommended especially for public and college library DVD shelves. 81 min., SDH captions, not rated (contains graphic ER scenes and some profanity).

Refuge: Caring for Survivors of Torture
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545300 $325.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, Refuge: Caring for Survivors of Torture is a DVD documentary about refugees and asylum seekers who are survivors of politically motivated torture, and who seek to immigrate to the U.S. Some arrive legally; some are undocumented; some have families; and some are entirely on their own. Advocates for torture survivors include principled healthcare and social service professionals as well as citizen volunteer, who cooperate to provide care and support to survivors in search of new lives. Refuge: Caring for Survivors of Torture focuses on five treatment and support programs in Minneapolis, Atlanta, the Boston area, and Washington D.C. Drawing upon interviews with survivors, professionals, and volunteers, Refuge: Caring for Survivors of Torture is a moving testimony to individual courage, conscience, and dedication, as well as a call to action. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library DVD collections. 57 min., closed captioned.

GO SLOW WHOA Nutrition
MarshMedia
PO Box 8082, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208
9781559426008 $79.95 www.marshmedia.com

Thoroughly accessible to young students, GO SLOW WHOA Nutrition is a brief, educational DVD about basic nutrition and learning to make healthy choices. Simple animation brings to life a "game show" format where the anthropomorphic foods Jonathan Apple, Turkey Sandwich, and Crunchy Carrot provide the right answers; meanwhile, Candy Bar and Do Nut struggle to get started and often wind up in the Yuck Shack. Topics covered include the basic food groups; the effects of too much sugar, salt, or high fructose corn syrup; the importance of drinking water; keeping portions at a healthy size; limiting between-meal snacks; and incorporating positive habits into one's daily routine. Given America's current obesity epidemic, informative shows such as GO SLOW WHOA Nutrition are strongly recommended for homeroom viewing, public library collections, and school library DVD shelves from the kindergarten/elementary to high school grades! 15 min., closed-captioned.

Keep it Clean! Hygiene
Original lyrics & music by Rainmaker Bob Walkenhorst
MarshMedia
PO Box 8082, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208
9781559426022 $79.95 www.marshmedia.com

Keep it Clean! Hygiene is a brief, educational DVD for all ages about the basics of good hygiene. Original music and rap lyrics by Rainmaker Bob Walkenhorst helps viewers remember key information about head to toe cleanliness, including acne prevention, brushing & flossing, eye safety, hearing safety, simple first aid and wound care, hand washing "musts", and the valuable role of good hygiene in preventing the spread of bacteria or viruses that can cause colds, the flu, stomach maladies, or worse infections. Keep it Clean! Hygiene is an excellent resource for homeroom viewing in school classrooms, and highly recommended especially for public and school library DVD collections. 18 min., closed-captioned.

Discoveries... America National Parks: Washington D.C.
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
9781604901788 $24.95 www.Bennett-Watt.com

Part of the high-definition "Discoveries... America National Parks" video essay series (each of which is available in both DVD and Blu-ray), Discoveries... America National Parks: Washington D.C. is a beautiful tour of dozens of notable locations in America's capitol city. Locations surveyed include the Theodore Roosevelt Island Memorial, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, multiple departments of the Smithsonian Institution, and much more. Striking footage and educational narration make Discoveries... America National Parks: Washington D.C. especially appealing to public and school library DVD collections as well as armchair travelers! 50 min.

Case Histories Complete Collection
Starring Jason Isaacs
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621723929 $59.99 www.acornonline.com

Based on the books of bestselling author Kate Atkinson, Case Histories Complete Collection is a DVD series originally shown on public television, about an ex-cop turned private detective trying to scrape by. Jason Isaacs (known for his roles in "Harry Potter" and "The Patriot") plays the tough but good-hearted Jackson Brodie, in an international Emmy-nominated performance. Brodie relentlessly searches for missing children and remorseless killers on the job; off the job, his life remains tumultuous. He loves his young daughter but struggles to see her regularly. His loyal assistant Deborah and his former police colleague Louise are at times exasperated by his endeavors, and his romantic relationships are a tangled mess. An engaging mystery-drama series with keenly written scripts and three-dimensional characters, brought to life through superb performances against a breathtaking Scottish setting, Case Histories Complete Collection is a "must-have" for connoisseurs of the genre. Bonus features include a behind-the-scenes short and cast and crew interviews. 9 episodes on 4 DVDs, 620 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Tiger & Bunny The Movie: The Rising
Directed by Yoshitomo Yonetani
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
$19.98 DVD / $29.99 Blu-ray & DVD combo www.viz.com

Tiger & Bunny The Movie: The Rising is a new feature-length anime (Japanese animation) film featuring contentious superheroes and their efforts against a shadowy plot to bring ruin and terror. In a startling development, Apollon Media's new owner Mark Schneider dissolves the partnership between Kotetsu T. Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks Jr., firing Kotetsu and paring Barnaby with a new hero dubbed "Golden Ryan". A string of bizarre incidents connected to the city's Goddess Legend leads the unlikely champions to three superpowered NEXTs, in this action-packed adventure! Special features include promotional videos, a TV series special digest, and more. Also highly recommended for fans of superhero sci-fi is the previous film, "Tiger & Bunny The Movie: The Beginning" ($19.98 DVD / $24.98 Blu-ray). 100 min. plus 40 min. bonus features, Japanese and English audio with English subtitles, widescreen, rated TV-14 (PG).

The Life And Theology Of Paul
Guy Waters
Ligonier Ministries
421 Ligonier Court, Sanford, FL, 32771-8608
DVD, $48.00, www.ligonier.org

Before being beaten and imprisoned, planting multiple churches, and authoring much of the New Testament, Paul had no equal as a Pharisee in his dedication to the law and his persecution of the early church -- but God called Paul to be an Apostle. Join Dr. Guy Waters in this twelve-part lecture series identifies key moments in Paul's life and considers the essence of Paul's God-centered theology. Paul's inspired writings and the story of his life continue to be a precious gift to the church, used by God to encourage and equip His people in every generation. An impressive and complete course of theological instruction in the form a two disc set of twelve 23 minute messages covering Paul's Life; Paul's conversion & Calling; The Two Ages; Sin 1 & 2; Justification 1 & 2; Sanctification 1, 2 & 3; The Church and The Christian Life; and The Future; "The Life And Theology Of Paul" is especially commended to the attention of all members of the Christian community and should be a part of every seminary Christian Studies DVD collection.


The Biography Shelf

American Mythmaker
Mark J. Dworkin
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806146850 $29.95 www.oupress.com

American Mythmaker: Walter Noble Burns and the Legends of Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Joaquin Murrieta is the first literary biography of Walter Noble Burns (1872-1932), Spanish-American War veteran, "Chicago Tribune" journalist (who covered J. Pershing's pursuit of Pancho Villa in Mexico), and most notably of all, the man who transformed three obscure-at-the-time individuals - an outlaw, a marshal, and a bandit - into legends of the American West. He wrote the three books that propelled Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Joaquin Murrieta into the American public consciousness, applying both his journalistic training and his skill at storytelling. Burns' work influenced how America would perceive the history of the West for generations to come. Enriched with extensive notes and an index, American Mythmaker demystifies Burns' life, accomplishments, influences, and legacy, and is especially recommended for public and college library collections.

Richardson Dilworth: Last of the Bare-Knuckled Aristocrats
Peter Binzen with Jonathan Binzen
Camino Books, Inc.
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781933822860 $24.95 www.caminobooks.com

Richardson Dilworth: Last of the Bare-Knuckled Aristocrats is a biography of Richardson Dilworth (1898-1974), a politician dedicated to reforming corruption. A liberal Democrat who moved to Philadelphia in 1926, Dilworth challenged the Republican political dominance, weathering repeated defeats and earning the moniker "bare-knocked aristocrat". In 1951, Dilworth and Joseph S. Clark ended 67 years of GOP control of the city (often marked by corruption). Clark served one term as mayor, followed by a place in the U.S. Senate. Dilworth served first as Philadelphia's district attorney, then as its mayor, and finally as head of the city's Board of Education during the turbulent 1960s. The stirring life story of a noble and principled Pennsylvania man, Richardson Dilworth: Last of the Bare-Knuckled Aristocrats is highly recommended especially for public library biography shelves.

A Great And Terrible King
Marc Morris
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.us
9781605986845, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Edward I (17 June 1239 - 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons. In 1259, he briefly sided with a baronial reform movement, supporting the Provisions of Oxford. After reconciliation with his father, however, he remained loyal throughout the subsequent armed conflict, known as the Second Barons' War. After the Battle of Lewes, Edward was hostage to the rebellious barons, but escaped after a few months and joined the fight against Simon de Montfort. Montfort was defeated at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, and within two years the rebellion was extinguished. With England pacified, Edward joined the Ninth Crusade to the Holy Land. The crusade accomplished little, and Edward was on his way home in 1272 when he was informed that his father had died. Making a slow return, he reached England in 1274 and was crowned at Westminster on 19 August. He spent much of his reign reforming royal administration and common law. Through an extensive legal inquiry, Edward investigated the tenure of various feudal liberties, while the law was reformed through a series of statutes regulating criminal and property law. Increasingly, however, Edward's attention was drawn towards military affairs. After suppressing a minor rebellion in Wales in 1276 - 77, Edward responded to a second rebellion in 1282 - 83 with a full-scale war of conquest. After a successful campaign, Edward subjected Wales to English rule, built a series of castles and towns in the countryside and settled them with English people. Next, his efforts were directed towards Scotland. Initially invited to arbitrate a succession dispute, Edward claimed feudal suzerainty over the kingdom. In the war that followed, the Scots persevered, even though the English seemed victorious at several points. At the same time there were problems at home. In the mid-1290s, extensive military campaigns required high levels of taxation, and Edward met with both lay and ecclesiastical opposition. These crises were initially averted, but issues remained unsettled. When the King died in 1307, he left to his son, Edward II, an ongoing war with Scotland and many financial and political problems. "A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain" by Marc Morris (Fellow of the Royal Historical Society) is a 480 page biography of one of England's most influential medieval monarchs. In "A Great And Terrible King", British historian Marc Morris examines afresh the forces that drove Edward throughout his relentless career: his character, his Christian faith, and his sense of England's destiny, as well as the competing reasons that led Edward's opponents (including Robert Bruce) to resist him. Enhanced with color and b&w photos, a list of abbreviations, chapter notes, a bibliography, Family Trees, and a comprehensive index, "A Great And Terrible King" is an extraordinary read and highly recommended for both community and academic library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "A Great And Terrible King" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.49).

A Triumph Of Genius
Ronald K. Fierstein
Ankerwycke
c/o American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ababooks.org
9781627227698, $35.00, 644pp, www.amazon.com

Edwin Herbert Land (May 7, 1909 - March 1, 1991) was an American scientist and inventor who was best known to the general public as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. Among other things, he invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and his retinex theory of color vision. His Polaroid instant camera, which went on sale in late 1948, made it possible for a picture to be taken and developed in 60 seconds or less. "A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War" by Ronald K. Fierstein is a riveting biography showcasing the spectacular life of Edwin Land, perhaps the most important, yet least known inventor and technology entrepreneur in American history. Land's most famous achievement was the creation of a revolutionary film and camera system that could produce a photographic print moments after the picture was taken. "A Triumph of Genius" takes you behind the scenes of this reclusive genius's discoveries, triumphs, and defeats, including his involvement over four decades with top-secret U.S. military intelligence efforts during World War II and through the Cold War in the service of seven American presidents. Additionally provided is an analytical history of one of our nation's most important legal battles over intellectual property -- Polaroid versus Kodak. This corporate and legal struggle is a story of almost operatic dimension. What began as a cooperative and collegial relationship ended in Kodak's betrayal. The conflict led to an epic legal battle, a dramatic event for Land who, from the witness stand, personally starred in a compelling courtroom drama. Exceptionally well researched, written, and presented, "A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library 20th Century American Biography collections. It should be noted that "A Triumph Of Genius" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49), as an audio book CD ($31.49), and as an audible download ($32.95).

Champion of the Barrio
R. Gaines Baty
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781623492663 $24.95 www.tamu.edu/upress

Champion of the Barrio: The Legacy of Coach Buryl Baty is a biography of Buryl Baty (1924-1954), a successful athlete and coach who is especially notable for taking a stand against bigotry and discrimination. A breakout high school football player turned star quarterback of Texas A&M University, and drafted by the Detriot Lions in 1947, Baty choice to focus on coaching. He coached teams at Luling High School in 1949 and in 1950 he earned the position of head football coach at Bowie High School in El Paso. Baty observed that the athletes he coached, all Mexican-Americans from the Segundo Barrio, suffered greatly from the ingrained racism of the time. His inspirational efforts to resist discrimination and usher his team to championship status spread pride throughout the barrio community. Yet just as his team had the chance to win its third district title in 1954, a sudden highway accident shattered their world and ended Baty's life far too soon. In 2013, Baty's legacy was commemorated with a posthumous induction into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame. Champion of the Barrio is more than a biography; it is also the firsthand memories of author R. Gaines Bay, Buryl Baty's son, and the testimonies of nearly one hundred individuals who knew Baty during his life. Highly recommended.

Professional Indian
Michael Leroy Oberg
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
www.upenn.edu/pennpress
9780812246766, $39.95, 280pp, www.amazon.com

Eleazer Williams (May 1788-August 28, 1858) was a Canadian clergyman and missionary. He was born in Sault St. Louis, Quebec, Canada, the son of Thomas Williams, and was educated at Dartmouth College. In 1815, Williams joined the Episcopal Church, after which he performed missionary work with the Oneida people of upstate New York. He accompanied a delegation of these Native Americans to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1821, where they sought a cession of land from the Menominee and Winnebago. The following year Williams made his home there and was married to a Menominee woman named Madeleine Jourdain. In 1826 he was ordained a deacon. In 1839 and afterwards, Williams began to make the claim that he was the French Lost Dauphin. During the 1850s he openly became a pretender, but he died in poverty at Hogansburg, New York. "Professional Indian: The American Odyssey of Eleazer Williams" by Michael Leroy Oberg (Professor of History, State University of New York - Geneseo) is an original work of exceptionally impressive detail and scholarship showcasing the unusual life and extraordinary claims of a remarkable man. Enhanced with a three page list of abbreviations, forty-six pages of notes, and a comprehensive index, "Professional Indian: The American Odyssey of Eleazer Williams" is an especially recommended addition to academic library American Biography and Early American History reference collections. It should be noted that "Professional Indian: The American Odyssey of Eleazer Williams" is also available in a Kindle edition ($31.94).

Hoe, Heaven, & Hell
Nasario Garcia
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE
Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
9780826355652 $24.95 www.unmpress.com

Hoe, Heaven, & Hell: My Boyhood in Rural New Mexico is author Nasario Garcia's story of his upbringing in the 1940's Rio Puerco Valley. His parents built their own adobe house, raised their own food, collected their water from the river, and taught their children the old ways. A saga of ranch life, community bonds, the omnipresent threat of drought, and more, Hoe, Heaven, & Hell is the first-person testimony of a traditional way of life that is all but vanished in America today. Highly recommended.

Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father's Unsolved Murder
Robert Crane and Christopher Fryer
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street
Lexington, KY 40508-4008
9780813160740 $29.95 www.kentuckypress.com

Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father's Unsolved Murder is a thoroughly accessible blend of biography and memoir about Bob Crane, known to "Hogan's Heroes" fans worldwide as Colonel Hogan, as penned by his son Robert Crane. Bob Crane was a larger-than-life celebrity; his quirks, scandals, stardom, and horrific unsolved murder are each examined at length. Robert Crane also talks of his own life and marriage to artist, writer, and landscape designer Kari Hildebrand, including Hildebrand's personal battle with cancer. An index rounds out this "must-read" for Bob Crane fans!

Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye: A Journey
Marie Matsuki Mockett
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393063011, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye: A Journey is the autobiography of a woman who lost both her Japanese grandparents and her American father, and traveled to her family's Zen Buddhist temple to bury her grandfather's ashes - only to find the radiation released after the explosion of Fukushima made it an impossible mission. Her observations of Japanese lives changed and challenged by the tsunami and its aftermath reflected much of the grief and suffering in her own life, and as Mockett began to understand how the Japanese handled the loss of life, so she undertook her own healing journey. At once an investigation of Japanese culture, traditions and attitudes towards death, and her own journey, Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye offers a powerful and personal saga that reflects two heart-wrenching sojourns and their results. Any who want more than a personal memoir and who want more insights on Japanese views of death will find this a thought-provoking read.

Call Me Debbie
Deborah Voigt
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062118271, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

Call Me Debbie: True Confessions of a Down-to-Earth Diva comes from an opera star who was a dramatic singer and gained fame beyond her skills when she was fired from a production at London's Royal Opera House because she was 'too large' for her costume. Bypass surgery led her from food addiction to a world of alcoholism and depression, and this memoir shares her story of her involvement in music, her addictions, and the opera world that was her life. An affection for opera in general and Voigt in particular will lend appreciation to her story of an insider's world of opera's politics and challenges, which is nearly as exciting as the story of her personal recovery and return to the stage.

The Making of a Healer
Russell FourEagles
Quest Books
c/o The Theosophical Publishing House
306 W. Geneva Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
9780835609272, $18.95, www.questbooks.net

The Making of a Healer: Teachings of My Oneida Grandmother creates a powerful combination of memoir and health title, and while it could have appeared in our health section, it's reviewed here because of its wider-ranging interest to both Native American and biography readers alike. The healing methods of Russell FourEagle's ancestors go back two hundred generations and are still used today, even given the popularity of traditional modern medicine. His autobiography reveals his early lessons from his grandmother and how the Vietnam War changed and challenged his life before he came to establish a full-time healing practice based on his grandmother's wisdom. The lively blend of spirituality, healing insights, and personal experience lends to a story that will draw its audience from many worlds.


The Social Issues Shelf

In Their Own Hands
Jeffrey Ashe with Kyla Jagger Neilan
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000, Oakland CA, 94612
9781626562189, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com

In Their Own Hands documents the rise and achievement of savings groups, where members save what they can in a communal pot and loan their funds to each other for short-term needs. It explores how they operate, how they form, and how they can be locally managed with relatively little effort, and uses decades of Jeffrey Ashe's personal experiences with such groups to describe how he developed his Saving for Change idea. While business holdings will likely be most interested in this approach, this is especially recommended for social issues collections strong in Third World social systems and positive change.

Going to Pot
William J. Bennett and Robert A. White
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781455560738, $26.00, www.centerstreet.com

Going to Pot: Why the Rush to Legalize Marijuana is Harming America refutes the notion that legalizing pot will solve problems, and comes from one who served under President George H.W. Bush, also serving as Secretary of Education under Reagan. It considers the risks of the legalization process, truths that are being underestimated in the process, and considerations that point out how pot is for more potent today than most baby boomers remember from the 60s. Facts based on scientific research run counter pro-legalization assurances and are gathered here in a serious discussion of modern pot's looming menace to America, making this not just a social consideration, but key for political and health collections, as well.


The Agriculture Shelf

Compendium of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests
American Phylopathological Society
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121 USA
9780890544464, $99.00, www.shopapspress.org

Compendium of Alfalfa Diseases and Pests provides a newly updated third edition to a popular reference to the diseases and insects affecting alfalfa, and is a recommendation for any college-level agricultural studies library. New to this are nearly 250 color images illustrating disease cycles and symptoms, the latest management research, five newly discovered alfalfa diseases, and dangers from herbicides. Researchers, extension personnel, and growers alike will find this offers clear discussions and an approach that lends to both understanding underlying causes of alfalfa diseases and pest intrusion and how to manage them.


The Homeowner's Shelf

The Water-Wise Home
Laura Allen
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121697, $24.95, www.storey.com

With all the talk going on about energy conservation and water management, you'd think the average homeowner would know how to conserve water - but the fact is: they don't. This book teachers homeowners the basics of conservation methods that will lower water bills and save water, and comes from an activist and environmental scientist who explains the current water crisis and its effect on human and natural environments. It presents a series of projects, all of which have been personally tested by the author, to save water and require little special skills or tools to build or implement, and it also includes profiles of those who have successfully integrated these systems into their homes and lifestyles. The only prerequisite? A small dose of handiness and a larger dose of concern over making an extra effort to understand water usage and instigate changes.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Elvis Is Alive
Xaviant Haze
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
9781939149398, $19.95, www.amazon.com

What most Americans know is that Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll", or simply, "the King". But while most believe that he died of a drug overdose there were persistent sightings of him over the past four decades. In "Elvis is Alive: The Complete Conspiracy", Xaviant Haze provides a dedicated 264 page study focusing solely on the mysteries surrounding the King of Rock 'n' Roll. While giving an accurate and concise history of the King's life, he also illustrates how Elvis's talent was seized and controlled by the darker forces within the entertainment industry. The rise of an artist to celebrity status, his work while a mind control victim and his (or her) ultimate self-destruction has become an all-too-familiar story in pop culture, so frequently seen it can hardly be considered a coincidence. But Elvis was no manufactured Disney creation, he was a true one-of-a-kind talent rising from epic poverty to become one of the most iconic entertainers the world has ever seen. His was a tale of screaming fans, groundbreaking music, untold riches, dizzying fame and a spectacular free fall into obliteration. The live of Elvis Presley is also a tale of UFO encounters, zany fake funerals, studies in metaphysics, numerology, occult theology -- and a strange connection with Michael Jackson. An infamous pill addiction led the King to an early "death" and in the aftermath a pop culture phenomenon was born, enabling Elvis to sustain a famous afterlife thanks to over three decades of conspiracy theories. "Elvis is Alive: The Complete Conspiracy" is a compelling and occasionally iconoclastic analytical biography and history that is enhanced with the inclusion of the complete comic strips "Elvis Presley: His Story in Pictures" by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson. Highly recommended to the attention of the legions of Elvis Presley fans, it should be noted that "Elvis is Alive: The Complete Conspiracy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.21).

Never Argue with a Dead Person
Thomas John
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781571747242, $16.95, www.hrpub.com

Never Argue with a Dead Person: True and Unbelievable Stories from the Other Side offers some fifteen stories of what happens when clients ask medium Thomas John to contact their dead friends and relatives, and is a collection of encounters that covers a variety of scenarios and their lessons for the living. Other books have been written before by mediums who regularly work with the 'other side': what sets this one apart is its link between such encounters and the wider life lessons to be learned from the deceased. Case histories are presented not so much for their dramatic impact - although this certainly is the case, making for an engrossing read - but for their wider implications; and it's here that Never Argue with a Dead Person truly shines, making it a top pick for any new age reader and neatly complimenting other books on the subject of mediums by offering a different take on the matter.

The Complete A to Z Dictionary of Dreams
Ian Wallace
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757318351, $18.95, www.hcibooks.com

The Complete A to Z Dictionary of Dreams: Be Your Own Dream Expert is for any interested in dream imagery and packs in over 12,000 definitions designed to help DIY dream analysts understand their own dream meanings. More than just a dictionary, however, Wallace pairs these with his original Dream Connection Process (explored here for the first time in print) and shows how images and symbols from dreams can be linked to life situations. While this process may stymie those who just anticipated a dictionary of dream definitions, it's actually key to a better understanding of the dream interpretation process as a whole, and provides insights that include a healthy dose of psychology - as in the definition for 'gorge' ("Situation where I can achieve a sense of great fulfillment by resolving a dilemma between two different viewpoints I hold.") The result is recommended above other competitors that don't hold nearly as many definitions, or nearly as much psychological insight.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Silence
Thich Nhat Hanh
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062224699, $24.99, www.harperone.com

Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise offers insights into how to cultivate personal silence in a noisy world and in everyday life, and teaches the finer art of mindfulness, which brings with it a stillness that is needed for self-discovery and improvement. This kind of silence doesn't require hours of meditation: it can be achieved through a series of simple exercises and practices that take into account an overwhelming world of busyness and noise. Chapters come from a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen master and teach the basics of how to find that centering calm and how to make the most of it.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Independent Ed
Edward Burns
Gotham Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592408597, $26.95, www.penguin.com

Independent Ed: Inside a Career of Big Dreams, Little Movies, and the Twelve Best Days of My Life offers the memoir of an independent filmmaker who has spent twenty years producing films based only on personal stories. His venture began in 1993 when he wrote a screenplay after college and made The Brothers McMullen in twelve days - a production which wound up winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and led to his film fame and career. But this isn't the story of one film alone: it details his acting experiences in major Hollywood movies, follows his evolution in the film industry and his encounters with actors before they made it big, and details both the spectacular rise of his indie directing career and its sudden demise. In the course of charting his life and times, Independent Ed details the ups and downs of the industry as a whole and provides a vivid story of what it's like to navigate the stormy waters of Hollywood, making it a 'must' for any film collection.


The Hobby Shelf

Origami Aircraft
Mary Packard
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
10350 Barnes Canyon Rd, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121
9781628861725, $24.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com

Origami Aircraft's history of aviation appears in an oversized, boxed package set that combines a paperback book with step-by-step origami instructions to create ten planes, 100 sheets of specially designed origami paper, stickers for decoration, and more, and is a pick not for lending libraries, but as a gift choice for any excited about origami. Chapters in the book provide over a hundred pages combining the origami folding instructions and bits of aviation history, while the sticker sheets lend to young crafter attention. What an easy way to learn aviation history: by replicating some classic crafts! Everything necessary is right here, in an inviting classy package.

Model Railroader Books
Kalmbach Publishing
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Two new model railroad books are recommendations for train enthusiasts and focus on specific keys to building believable models and layouts. Jeff Wilson's THE MODEL RAILROADER'S GUIDE TO GRAIN (9780890249444, $19.99) focuses on the grain industry from its early days to modern times, and provides keys to understanding how they work, how they operated with grain trains, and how to incorporate them into a model landscape. From collection elevators to boxcars, this provides an excellent focus that will appeal to train buffs and modelers alike. Mike Polsgrove works with Cody Grivno on DCC PROJECTS & APPLICATIONS (9780890249826, $19.99), which adds Volume 3 to a series that covers practical applications of DCC in model railroad environments. Digital Command Control has increased in popularity but remains a challenge for many: this title provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up, maintain and operate DCC systems, and is packed with specific insights supported by model systems to instruct by example. Both are fine picks rail buffs in general and modelers in particular will find inviting and clear.


The American History Shelf

The Great Divide
Thomas Fleming
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780306821271 $27.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com

Historian Thomas Fleming (well-known for his guest appearances on PBS, C-SPAN, and the History Channel, and his contributed articles to "American Heritage" and "MHQ") presents The Great Divide: The Conflict Between Washington and Jefferson that Defined a Nation, an in-depth examination of the deep and severe political disagreements between two of America's most influential Founding Fathers. Each had drastically different visions of the presidency, what America's foreign policy should be, the role of merchants and farmers in a republic, and whether or not the new nation would last. Their clash of wills would resonate in American politics for generations, even to the present day. A fascinating study of strong-willed genius, The Great Divide is a "must-have" for college and public library American History shelves.

In the Path of Destruction
Richard Waitt
WSU Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
9780874223231 $22.95 www.wsupress.wsu.edu

Author and scientist Richard Waitt was a member of a U.S. Geological Survey team conducting research in the Cascades. In the Path of Destruction: Eyewitness Chronicles of Mount St. Helens is the culmination of his efforts to gather eyewitness accounts of Mount St. Helens' eruption. The fruit of decades of investigation and recording, In the Path of Destruction is extraordinarily clear, interspersing the stories of survivors with occasional black-and-white photographs or maps. The next best thing to witnessing a volcano eruption in person (and far safer!), In the Path of Destruction is highly recommended.

The Long Gilded Age
Leon Fink
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
www.upenn.edu/pennpress
9780812246889, $45.00, 216pp, www.amazon.com

The Gilded Age in United States history is the late 19th century, from the 1870s to about 1900. The term was coined by writer Mark Twain in "The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today" (1873), which satirized an era of serious social problems masked by a thin gold gilding. The Gilded Age was an era of rapid economic growth, especially in the North and West. American wages, especially for skilled workers, were much higher than in Europe, which attracted millions of immigrants. The increase of industrialization meant, despite the increasing labor force, real wages in the US grew 60% from 1860 to 1890, and continued to rise after that. However, the Gilded Age was also an era of poverty as very poor European immigrants poured into the country. "The Long Gilded Age: American Capitalism and the Lessons of a New World Order" by Leon Fink (Distinguished Professor of History, The University of Illinois - Chicago) is presented in five definitive chapters (The American Ideology;' Great Strikes Revisited; The University and Industrial Reform; Labor's Search for Legitimacy; coming of Age in Internationalist Times". "The Long Gilded Age" is an impressive work of seminal scholarship that is enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Introduction and Epilogue, 40 pages of Notes; and a five page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Long Gilded Age" is very strongly recommended for academic library American History, Economic Studies, and Labor History reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "The Long Gilded Age" is also available in a Kindle edition ($36.00).

Asian Americans in Michigan
Sook Wilkinson and Victor Jew, editors
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814332818 $34.99 http://wsupress.wayne.edu

Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest is an anthology of scholarly writings by diverse authors about Michigan's Asian American communities. Individual writings include "A Demographic Portrait of Asian Americans in Michigan", "Genealogy of a Detroit Childhood", "My Family's Experience of the Japanese American Internment Camps", "Meditating through Memory: The Hmong in Michigan", "Bangladeshis in Hamtramck", "A Brief History of Filipino Americans in Michigan", "Going Back to Chinese School", and much more. Suggestions for further reading and an index round out this diverse, thoughtful, and welcome contribution to American History and Ethnic Studies college library shelves.

Thieves' Road
Terry Mort
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616149604, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Thieves' Road: The Black Hills Betrayal and Custer's Path to Little Bighorn tells of an expedition of some thousand troops and more than a hundred wagons into the Black Hills of South Dakota, and what happened to the exploratory mission which set the stage for the events to take place at Little Bighorn two years later. The little-known fact is that Custer found gold in them thar hills - and his discovery during one of the worst economic depressions the world had known provoked a gold rush that brought the white man directly onto sacred Sioux grounds and into direct confrontation with Native peoples. It's surprising to note that relatively little of this history has been covered elsewhere, making Thieves' Road a 'must' for any American history or Native American history holding.

War Babies
Richard Pells
Richard Pells, Publisher
http://authorrichardpells.com/contact-me
9780990669807, $17.99, www.richardpells.com

War Babies: The Generation That Changed America considers the lives and careers of Americans born between 1939 and 1945: a generation replete with artistic personalities from musicians to actors and one that has fostered many social changes in this country. It's hard to neatly categorize War Babies: it's not a set of biographies, it's not a focus on social issues of the times - it's more of a history of those people and forces that shaped a particular era. And so this book is reviewed here and recommended for a general American history audience who will find in War Babies a coverage that documents a particular segment of society in a particular space of time: a lively discussion of how social change occurs.


The World History Shelf

Truth & Tales
Fiona Somerset & Nicholas Watson
Ohio State University Press
180 Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1002
http://www.ohiostatepress.org
9780814212714, $69.95, www.amazon.com

In European history, the Middle Ages, or Medieval period, lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history: Antiquity, Medieval period, and Modern period. The Medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early, the High, and the Late Middle Ages. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Fiona Somerset (Professor of English and Medieval Studies, University of Connecticut) and Nicholas Watson (Professor of English and Medieval Studies, Harvard University), "Truth and Tales: Cultural Mobility and Medieval Media" is a 360 page compendium comprised of fourteen erudite articles by expert scholars and researches. These seminal articles are deftly organized into five sections: The Truth of Tales 1; Repetition and Continuity: The Claims of History; Cultural Divides and Their Common Ground; New Media and the Literate Laity; The Truth of Tales 2. A model collection of scholarly contributions, "Truth and Tales: Cultural Mobility and Medieval Media" is a valued and essential addition to academic library Medieval Studies reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "Truth and Tales: Cultural Mobility and Medieval Media " is also available as a Multimedia CD ($14.95).

Toronto: Biography of a City
Allan Levine
Douglas & McIntyre
#211 - 2323 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 4S7 Canada
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
9781771000222, $36.95, 464pp, www.amazon.com

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, with the original city area lying between the Don and Humber rivers. According to the 2011 Census, the city had 2,615,060 residents while its census metropolitan area (CMA), which comprises the majority of the Greater Toronto Area, had a population of 5,583,064. The history of Toronto began in the late 18th century when the British Crown purchased its land from the Mississaugas of the New Credit. The settlement established there became York, which lieutenant governor John Graves Simcoe designated as the capital of Upper Canada. The city was ransacked in the Battle of York during the War of 1812. In 1834, York became a city and renamed to Toronto. It was damaged in two huge fires in 1849 and 1904. Since 1954, the city occasionally expanded its borders through amalgamation with surrounding municipalities, most recently occurring in 1998. This process has left Toronto with clearly defined neighborhoods that have retained their distinctive nature, earning it the nickname the "City of Neighborhoods". The character, anecdotes and circumstance oriented commentaries comprising author Allan Levine's captivating prose integrates the sights, sounds and feel of Toronto with a broad historical perspective, linking the city's present with its past through themes such as politics, transportation, public health, ethnic diversity and sports. "Toronto: Biography of a City" invites readers to discover the city's lively spirit over four centuries and to wander purposefully through the city's many unique neighborhoods, where they can encounter the striking and peculiar characters who have inhabited them: the powerful and powerless, the entrepreneurs and the entertainers, and the moral and the corrupt, all of whom have contributed to Toronto's collective identity. Very highly recommended for community and academic library collections, "Toronto: Biography of a City" is informed and informative reading -- and could well serve as a template for other metropolitan histories.


The Music Shelf

No Simple Highway
Peter Richardson
St. Martins Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250010629, $26.99, www.stmartins.com

No Simple Highway: A Cultural History of the Grateful Dead uses new research, interviews, and new material from the Grateful Dead archive to consider the cult fans of the group and why they have persisted into today, well beyond band leader Jerry Garcia's death. It provides a review of the group's history and adds new insights into the Dead's early influences, their organization, and the methods that made their music endearing to generations. The idea here is that the band successfully tapped into utopian ideas fueling American youth dreams, then lived those experiences themselves. Chapters document the group's versatility and corrects the idea that they were just hippies with a following of drug addicts. This vivid story will delight any who can't get enough Dead material and insights!


The Cookbook Shelf

Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies, fourth edition
Alan L. Rubin, MD & Cait James, MS
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
http://www.dummies.com
9781118944264, $22.99, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded fourth edition, "Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies" is an ideal cookbook for planning and preparing meals for anyone having to deal with diabetes. More than just a collection of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, the "Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies" also provides useful information and instruction on how to portion daily kilocalories; ways to make smart choices when eating out; tips on grocery shopping; advice on setting up a diabetic kitchen; guidance on deciphering nutritional labels, a section of recipes for diabetes appropriate snacks and treats; and safe ways to include desserts in a diabetes-based diet. The profusion of recipes in this 408 page culinary compendium range from a Live Cucumber and Avocado Soup; to a Gluten-Free Skillet Cornbread; to a Salmon Steaks Vinaigrette; to a Beer-Braised Pork and Crip-Herb Cabbage with Apple-Tarragon Dipping Sauce; Chocolate Meringue Bits with Strawberries and Cream. Simply stated, "Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies" should be a part of every diabetics home cookbook collection, and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition for community cookbook collections as well. It should be noted that "Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).

1,001 Best Low-Fat Recipes, second edition
Sue Spitler & Linda R. Yoakam
Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841697, $20.99, 700pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and significantly expanded second edition, "1,001 Best Low-Fat Recipes" is collaboratively compiled and co-edited by culinary expert Sue Spitler and registered dietician Linda R. Yaokam. This cornucopia of low-fat recipes showcases 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes that would please any palate and satisfy any appetite. The recipes are organized into 15 chapters: Appetizers, Snacks, and Beverages; Soups; Meats; Poultry; Fish and Seafood; Stews; Eggs and Cheese; pasta; Grains, Beans, and Legumes; Casseroles; Vegetable Side Dishes; Salads and Dressings; Breads and Sandwiches; Desserts; Memorable Menus. From the simple to the elegant, each recipes includes a list of ingredients, step-by-step instructions, estimated servings, nutritional figures per serving, and exchanges. From Greek Beef and Lentil Stew; Pasta with Oyster Mushrooms; Herbed Polenta; and Fruit Stuffed Vidalia Onions; to English Muffin Bread; Chocolate Buttermilk Cake with Mocha Frosting; and Double-Crust Apple Pie, "1,001 Best Low-Fat Recipes" will prove to be a terrific resource for meal planning and an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Secrets from the La Varenne Kitchen
Anne Willan
Spring House Press
www.springhousepress.com
9781940611150, $17.95, www.amazon.com

In 1975, Anne Willan, was on of the culinary icon who helped to launched the modern culinary industry. She founded Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris and educated some of today's most notable chefs including Steve Raichlen, Gale Gand, Virgina Willis, Martha Holmberg, and Alexandra Guarnaschelli. Upon enrolling at La Varenne, all students received a helpful and easy reference tool: La Varenne Basic Recipes. The booklet was based on chef Albert Jorant's belief that "there are only fifty basic recipes in the culinary repertoire, and all other dishes can be made from them." Edited by Anne Willan, La Varenne Basic Recipes was fifty-five staple bound pages with a card stock cover and it was a treasure-trove of essential recipes for any aspiring chef. Now that culinary instruction manual is available to all American kitchen cooks as "Secrets from the La Varenne Kitchen: 50 Essential Recipes Every Cook Needs to Know", a 136 page compilation deftly organized into six chapters: Stocks and Aspic; Hot and Cold Sauces; Pastries and Cakes; Fillings, Frostings, and Meringues; Ice Creams, Sherbets, and Poached Fruits; Cooking with Sugar. A complete haute cuisine instruction course under one cover, "Secrets from the La Varenne Kitchen: 50 Essential Recipes Every Cook Needs to Know" is strongly recommended for personal, cooking school, community, and academic library culinary instruction collections.

Artisan Cake Company's Visual Guide to Cake Decorating
Elizabeth Marek
Race Point Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
http://artisancakecompany.com
Dalyn Miller Public Relations
9781937994693, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Cake decorating is one of the sugar arts that uses icing or frosting and other edible decorative elements to make plain cakes more visually interesting. Alternatively, cakes can be molded and sculpted to resemble three-dimensional persons, places and things. Cakes are decorated to mark a special celebration (such as a birthday or wedding). They can also mark national or religious holidays, or be used to promote commercial enterprises. However, cakes may be baked and decorated for almost any social occasion. Liz Marek is the owner of Artisan Cake Company in Portland Oregon. With the "Artisan Cake Company's Visual Guide to Cake Decorating" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to create a profusely illustrated, 224 page instruction manual and guide that will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to create elegant decorative masterpieces that will grace any dining occasion from simple family parties to the most epicurean celebratory occasion. "Artisan Cake Company's Visual Guide to Cake Decorating" features cake and frosting recipes, elements and principles of cake design, textures and finishes, modeled figures, sugar flowers, celebration cakes, and the 'Science of Structure'. "Artisan Cake Company's Visual Guide to Cake Decorating" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Asian Cooking Made Simple
Habeeb Salloum
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591521341, $25.00, www.amazon.com

"Asian Cooking Made Simple: A Culinary Journey Along The Silk Road And Beyond" by Candandia food and travel writer Habeeb Salloum is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 176 page compendium comprised of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for dishes drawn from the kitchens and restaurants of the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China. Also featured are recipes from the tables and culinary heritage of Uyghur, Kashmiri Wazan, Inda, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf, Yemen, Syria, and Turkey. Of special note for American kitchens are the sections devoted to Asian Condiments and an impressive one page list of References. These are superbly presented dishes that would please even the most gourmet of palates and are as much fun to browse through as they are practical to plan meals and menus with. "Asian Cooking Made Simple" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Modern Southwest Cooking
Ryan Clark
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
www.rionuevo.com
9781933855912, $16.95, www.amazon.com

In "Modern Southwest Cooking", professional chef and culinary expert Ryan Clark draws upon his more than 15 years of experience and expertise in Southwestern kitchens to compile a beautifully illustrated, 152 page compendium showcasing regional recipes for food and beverages that range from a Prickly Pear Mojito; Rattlesnake Bean Dip & Salsa Amarillo; Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Sweet corn Broth; and Crab Mashed Avocado with Pickled Scallions; to Chicken Meatballs in Mole; Chorizo Roasted Pork Belly; Garlic Aioli, Orange Pepper Jelly; and Rhubarb-Pineapple Crumble. Each featured recipe includes a succinct introduction, a complete list of ingredients, and step-by-step fool-proof instructions that will allow even the most novice of kitchen cooks to turn out professional restaurant quality dishes suitable for any and all dining occasions. "Modern Southwest Cooking" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Eat Right For Your Sight
Jennifer Trainer Thompson
The Experiment Publishing
220 East 23 Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10010-4674
www.theexperimentpublishing.com
9781615192496, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Macular degeneration, often age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), is a medical condition that usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in "dry" and "wet" forms. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults (>50 years), afflicting 30-50 million people globally. Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life. "Eat Right for Your Sight: Simple, Tasty Recipes that Help Reduce the Risk of Vision Loss from Macular Degeneration" is a beautifully illustrated, 240 page compendium comprise of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, nutritionally enhanced dishes that would be appropriate for any and all dining occasions -- and have the additional benefit of being impressive sources of the kinds of nutrients that healthy eyes and eyesight require. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Roasted Butternut Squash Hummus; Fish Soup with Vegetables; Spinach Salad with Cured Salmon and Pached Egg; Garlic-Lime Pork Chops; and Spicy Udon Noodles; to Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pine Nuts; Spiced Almonds with Cinnamon; Carrot Cake; Homemade Vegetable Juice; and Strawberry-Orange Smoothie. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Nutrients Table; 'Foods to Have in Your Pantry'; and advice for 'Getting Started', "Eat Right For Your Sight" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Eat Right For Your Sight" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).

The Magical Slow Cooker
Sarah Olson
Front Table Books
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462115334, $19.99, www.amazon.com

A slow cooker, also known as a Crock-Pot, is a counter top electrical cooking appliance that is used for simmering, which requires maintaining a relatively low temperature (compared to other cooking methods such as baking, boiling, and frying), allowing unattended cooking for many hours of pot roast, stews, soups, "boiled" dinners and other suitable dishes, including dips, desserts and beverages. It is one of the most versatile and (in terms of time) 'labor friendly' methods of cooking a meal. "The Magical Slow Cooker: Recipes for Busy Moms" by Sarah Olson is a 224 page culinary compendium showcasing superbly illustrated crock pot recipes for nutritious and delicious dishes that would please any palate, satisfy any appetite, and appropriate for any dining occasion from simple family meals to elegant dining occasions. The step-by-step recipes range from Ham Breakfast Burritos; Italian Beef Sliders; Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole; Chicken Tortilla Soup; Cowboy Chili Beans; and Texas Peach Barbecue Sandwiches; to a Pot Roast Dinner; Lemon Rosemary Chicken; Black Bean Tostadas; Stuffed Poblano Peppers; Blueberry Buckle; Strawberry Rhubarb Cornbread Cobbler; and Peanut Butter Chocolate Fondue. As much fun to browse through as inspiring to plan menus with, "The Magical Slow Cooker: Recipes for Busy Moms" is very highly recommended for both family and community library cookbook collections. It should also be noted that "The Magical Slow Cooker: Recipes for Busy Moms" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).

Sweetly Raw Desserts
Heather Pace
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
c/o Dalyn Miller Public Relations
9781592539789 $24.99 www.quarrybooks.com

Sweetly Raw Desserts is a cookbook of sumptuous delicacies, all of which are vegan (containing no milk, meat, or animal products) and raw (uncooked and unprocessed). Dessert recipes include Mini Cinnamon Cupcakes with Maple Cinnamon Frosting (made with cashews and coconut ground in a food processor), Tropical Parfait, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake, and much more. Full-color photography, and extensive step-by-step instructions for raw vegan food preparation basics such as how to make almond pulp or nut butter, make Sweetly Raw Desserts a wonderful, "user-friendly" resource. Highly recommended!

Passion For Pizza
Craig Whitson, et al.
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841604, $29.95, www.amazon.com

One of America's favorites is the pizza -- an oven-baked flat bread generally topped with tomato sauce and cheese. It is commonly supplemented with a selection of meats, vegetables and condiments. "Passion for Pizza: A Journey Through Thick and Thin to Find the Pizza Elite" is a beautifully and profusely illustrated, 300 page compendium comprised of comprehensive descriptions of all of the types and categories that pizza comes in, ranging from Naples, to New York, to Chicago, to Phoenix, to the distinctly Californian. Organized into four major sections: Italy; USA; Ingredients and Equipment; Recipes (Let's Make a Pizza; Dough Recipes; Sauce Recipes; Pizza Recipes), "Passion For Pizza" is the complete pizza lovers guide. The recipes themselves range from Scampi with Pesta Pizza; BBQ Pizza; Aloha Pizza; Chicago-Deep-Dish Pizza; to Tore's Breakfast pizza; Hot Salami Pizza; Smokin' Salmon Pizza; Blue Pizza; and Dessert Pizza with Chevre. "Passion for Pizza: A Journey Through Thick and Thin to Find the Pizza Elite" will prove to be an especially prized and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Passion for Pizza" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.49).

Santa Fe School of Cooking: Celebrating The Foods Of New Mexico
Susan Curtis & Nicole Curtis Ammerman
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423638131, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Susan Curtis founded the Santa Fe School of Cooking in 1989. Nicole Curtis Ammerman manages the school. Celebrating their 25th year, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is the expert on regional New Mexico cuisine. Each year through cooking classes, restaurant tours and special events, the school teaches thousands of culinary students how to create unique Southwest flavors using fresh local ingredients. Superb recipes and instruction from celebrity and guest chefs over the years make this a collectable cookbook. In celebration, Susan and Nicole have collaborated to publish "Santa Fe School of Cooking: Celebrating The Foods Of New Mexico", a beautifully illustrated, 120 page cookbook showcasing the very best of New Mexico cuisine with recipes ranging from Winter Squash Posole; Grilled Pineapple Salsa; Poblano Chile, Caramelized Onion & Monterey Jack Mashed Potatoes; Red Chile & Cheese Enchiladas; Mexican Burrito Bowls; Smoked Chile-Rubbed Flank Steak with Morita Chile Steak Sauce; and Coconut Pound Cake. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "Santa Fe School of Cooking: Celebrating The Foods Of New Mexico" is as much fun to browse through as it is to plan meals with, making it an exceptional and highly recommended addition to family and community library cookbook collections.

Fun, Funky & Fabulous
Jyl Benson
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455620609, $24.00, www.amazon.com

New Orleans is widely known to be the home of fabulous restaurants and haute cuisine. Compiled by Jyl Benson, "Fun, Funky and Fabulous: New Orleans' Casual Restaurant Recipes" is a beautifully illustrated, 128 page cookbook showcasing a cornucopia of dishes that would please any palate, satisfying any appetite, and enhance any dining occasion. These 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Butter Bean Hummus with Rustic Roasted Garlic Bread (a Vegan dish); Lamb Sliders with Creole Tomato Chutney; and Chicken-Fried Sweetbreads with Lamb Sausage Gravy and Pickled Mustard Greens; to Cream of Blue Crab and Wild Mushroom Bisque; Crawfish Beignets; and Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme Brulee. Each individual recipe is accompanied by a succinct commentary called 'Whatcha Know Good?'. Unique and an utter delight to browse through, "Fun, Funky and Fabulous: New Orleans' Casual Restaurant Recipes" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Ciao Biscotti
Domenica Marchetti
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9781452124957, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Biscotti are twice-baked cookies (or biscuits) originating in the Italian city of Prato. The biscuits are oblong-shaped almond biscuits, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still hot and fresh from baking in the oven. Compiled, organized and presented by cookbook author and Italian cuisine expert Domenica Marchietti, "Ciao Biscotti: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Celebrating Italy's Favorite Cookie" is an illustrated, 144 page compendium comprised of showcasing the impressive diversity of flavors that biscotti can come in. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes are deftly organized into six major sections: Classic Flavors; Chocolate and Spice; Biscotti with Fruit; Fantasy Flavors; The Savory Side; Beyond Biscotti. From a Honey-Almond Biscotti; to a Browned Butter and Toberone Biscotti; to a Chocolate-Dipped Toasted Coconut Biscotti; to a Spiced and Iced Ginger Biscotti; to a Pepper Jack and Green Peppercorn Biscotti; to Hazelnut Butter Rings, "Ciao Biscotti: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Celebrating Italy's Favorite Cookie" is an impressive and highly recommended addition to family and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Ciao Biscotti: Sweet and Savory Recipes for Celebrating Italy's Favorite Cookie" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).

Canning Cents
Stephanie Petersen
Front Table Books
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462115235, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a shelf life typically ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances it can be much longer. "Canning Cents: The Money-saving Whole-foods Canning Handbook" by Stephanie Petersen is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 192 page compendium comprised of an informative Introduction followed by a thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' chapter dedicated to Home Canning Basics. The following five chapters feature instructions and recipes for canning High-Acid Foods; Soft Spreads; Pickled Foods; Low-Acid Foods; Sweet and Specialty Gourmet Sauces. From Grilled Pineapple; South African Inspired Fresh Fig Jam; Apple Spice Butter; Sweet and Hot Corn Relish; and Marinated Mushrooms; to Balsamic Peppercorn Pot Roast; Spicy Roasted Tomato Soup; Red Rage Taco Sauce; and Cucumber Banna Pepper Salsa, "Canning Cents: The Money-saving Whole-foods Canning Handbook" will prove to be an enduringly popular 'how to' culinary reference for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Canning Cents: The Money-saving Whole-foods Canning Handbook" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

Better Homes and Gardens Complete Canning Guide
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9780544454330, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a shelf life typically ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances it can be much longer. "Better Homes and Gardens Complete Canning Guide: Freezing, Preserving, Drying" is a 484 page instructional guide in the form of a loose leaf binder. In addition to showcasing 330 recipes (complete with nutrition information) utilizing home-canned produce, "Better Homes and Gardens Complete Canning Guide: Freezing, Preserving, Drying (Better Homes and Gardens Cooking) " offers complete step-by-step instructions for both boiling water canning and pressure canning. Enhanced with the inclusion of numerous tips and techniques for guaranteed success; information on new products relevant to home canning; dedicated chapters on freezing and drying; and superbly illustrated throughout, "Better Homes and Gardens Complete Canning Guide: Freezing, Preserving, Drying" is a highly recommended and enduringly valued and valuable addition to personal, family, and community library collections.

Simply Vegetarian Thai Cooking
Nancie McDermott
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778805052, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Thailand is a country at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. Thailand has its own distinctive history, culture, and cuisine. Compiled with succinct commentaries by Nancie McDermott, "Simply Vegetarian Thai Cooking" is a 240 page compendium showcasing 125 recipes showcasing a diverse selection of gourmet quality vegetarian/vegan recipes. These impressively 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes are for dishes that range from Vegetable Curry Puffs; Kale Salad with Thai Flavors; Red Curry with Red Sweet peppers, Snow Peas and Tofu; Five-Spice hard-Boiled Eggs in Sweet soy Stew; and Sticky Rice with Coconut Sauce; Butternut Squash in Fresh Green Curry; Speedy Mango Sorbet; and Garlicky Brussels Sprouts. Of special note the chapter featuring Basic Recipes. Enhanced with the inclusion of Suggested Menus; a Glossary; a list of Resources; and an Index, "Simply Vegetarian Thai Cooking" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to any personal, family, professional, or community library Ethnic Cookbook collection.

Wild Gourmet
Boulud, Chiarello, Leysath, Shaw, et.al.
Boone and Crockett Club Collection
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
9780940864931, $34.95, www.boone-crockett.org

Boone & Crockett is a hunting-oriented organization, so at first it may seem a departure for a publisher that produces hunting books to be featuring a cookbook - but this focus on wild meat in the kitchen is actually a very logical extension from the hunter's rife to the plate, and features new ways to prepare wild game that produces unique and different results. From how to process venison to get the most flavor to a melange of favorite recipes from a host of chefs who regularly work with wild game, this teaches the basics of processing and cooking wild game, and lends a health-conscious aspect to the results. Add wine pairings for each recipe and you truly have a delightfully different approach that modernizes the finer art of wild game preparation.

Tasty
John McQuaid
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781451685008, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Tasty: The Art and Science of What We Eat offers a fine blend of culinary science and history that considers the process of taste, how the idea of taste originated, and how it's changing. It begins with how humans first perceived flavors some 500 million years ago and how the concept of taste and food attraction changed as ancestors developed more tools, expanded their ideas of what constituted food and how to handle it, and introduced cultural influences on the creation and perception of food. As human civilization grew, so taste changed, driving explorers to search for new ingredients and food possibilities. But Tasty is more than a human history: it considers how genes shape taste and how taste perceptions operate in the body, from sweet and hot to food attractions. The result is a lively but well-seasoned coverage that delves into the history of human food habits and the evolution of taste itself.

The Big Book of Bacon
Jennifer L.S. Pearsall
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
9781619145556, $19.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

The Big Book of Bacon: Savory Flirtations, Dalliances, and Indulgences with the Underbelly of the Pig is a fun survey celebrating bacon and offering some unusual facts about its health attributes - such as the fact that it promotes a baby's healthy development in the womb. With the guilt factor addressed and abolished, readers can move on to enjoy bacon-wrapped pages that promote a variety of dishes and a variety of ways of cutting, cooking and presenting bacon, from adding it to a macaroni and cheese dish to using it in stuffed peppers or in corn cakes or rye loaves. Bright, good-sized color photos and personal discussions of each recipe's attributes accompany many of the ideas, making this a lively, personal exploration bacon lovers will find delightfully compelling.

Morocco on a Plate
Caroline Hofberg
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
9781629144146, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

Morocco on a Plate: Breads, Entrees, and Desserts with Authentic Spice is a recommendation for any cook who wants to capture the flavors and atmosphere of Morocco, and shows how easy it is to duplicate Moroccan cooking at home. An oversized presentation allows for large-size color photos, while discussions on the culinary and social history of the country places recipes in perspective. Instructions are simple and require no special ingredients or access to anything other than a regular supermarket, while the full-size color photos of finished dishes lends interest and excitement to the results. From a Baked Pumpkin with Caramelized Onion to a Harira-Ramadan Meat Soup, these are appealing dishes that offer something different to newcomers to Moroccan cuisine, with more of a visual display than most competitors offer.


The Science Shelf

The Science Of Evolution And The Myth Of Creationism
Ardea Skybreak
Insight Press
4044 North Lincoln Avenue, #264, Chicago, IL 60618
www.insight-press.com
9780976023654, $24.95 (PB), 352pp, www.amazon.com

"The Science of Evolution and the Myth of Creationism: Knowing What's Real and Why It Matters" offers a clear, lively, and systematic presentation examines the scientific evidence for evolution that is very highly recommended for school and community Science reference collections. Forcefully rejecting creationist objections to evolution and including a critique of so-called 'Intelligent Design', "The Science Of Evolution And The Myth Of Creationism" argues that they are part of a larger social agenda. With discussion that celebrates the fascination to be found in studying the diversity and complexity of life, this examination suggests with some urgency that the science of evolution is crucial to the existence of science itself. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' throughout, "The Science Of Evolution And The Myth Of Creationism" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Exceptionally well written and featuring a section of full color photography, "The Science of Evolution and the Myth of Creationism" is especially commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers of all ages who are interested in countering Creationism mythologies and defending the scientific approach to the consideration of how life developed on planet earth. Librarians -- it should be noted that "The Science of Evolution and the Myth of Creationism: Knowing What's Real and Why It Matters" is also available in a hardcover edition (9780976023678, $45.00).

Essential Dynamics & Relativity
Peter J. O'Donnell
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781466588394, $69.95, www.crcpress.com

Essential Dynamics & Relativity provides college-level readers with an introduction to the central concepts of dynamics and special relativity, covering basic concepts and pairing theory with different topics to offer a methodical focus on how an understanding of principles of dynamics translates to a better understanding of special relativity. Having a dual exploration of the two under one cover offers the rare opportunity for entry-level college physics students to understand their relationships, with mathematics backing the examples and exercises paired to better understanding of the concepts. The result is an approach more accessible to newcomers than most, and important for any studying dynamics and relativity.

Touch
David J. Linden
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670014873, $28.95, www.penguin.com

Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart, and Mind provides a general-interest audience with a lively discussion of bodily touch circuits from skin and nerves to brain reactions; from pain to pleasure - and is a top pick for those who like health and science blends that temper hard science with accessible anecdotes and insights. Explanations are lively, data is supplemented by human explanations and concerns, and topics range from a history of scientific investigation into touch to the latest research and discoveries. It's rare that a scientist author can reach out to non-scientists with accessible, lively prose; but Touch achieves this in a fine series of discussions recommended for any general-interest holding.

At the Edge of Uncertainty
Michael Brooks
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781468310597, $27.95, www.overlookpress.com

At the Edge of Uncertainty: 11 Discoveries Taking Science by Surprise considers the latest wave of 'radical' scientific insights that are affecting the nature and focus of modern scientific discovery, and is a recommended read for both science and general-interest readers. This exploration covers the frontiers of what is currently understand about the world, what is being posited as possibilities for research, and how biology, physiology, and psychics alike are being challenged in new directions by new theories. From changes to clinical trials and long-accepted methods of scientific investigation to how radical new solutions to the lack of organ donors might be achieved from merging species, this wide-ranging discussion also includes ethical considerations and changes brought about by scientific discoveries, making for a survey that science readers will find delightfully lively, complex, and intriguing.


The Photography Shelf

Fine Art Portrait Photography
Nylora Bruleigh, M.Photog.Cr.,CPP
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608957675, $27.95, www.amherstmedia.com

Fine Art Portrait Photography: Lighting, Posing & Postproduction from Concept to Completion narrows the photographic lens to the heart of what makes a picture artistic - and how to hone this concept in portraiture objectives. Some sixty of the author's favorite images are examined from start to finish, exploring how the idea translated into an image, how clothing, props, light and posing were used to support the concept, and how to align images with artistry. From how to tell a story using images to specific programs and refinements used to tweak the powers of the original image, this is loaded with specifics, not generalities, that will delight artistic portrait photographers looking for more creative paths for their expression.


The Military Shelf

The Modern Mercenary
Sean McFate
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780199360109, $29.95, 272pp, www.amazon.com

A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national or a party to the conflict and is motivated to take part in the hostilities by the desire for private gain. Currently the United States is calling its mercenaries by the term 'private contractors'. "The Modern Mercenary: Private Armies and What They Mean for World Order" by Sean McFate (Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and an Associate Professor at the national Defense University) is a 272 page analytical survey identifying and explaining the economic structure of the contemporary mercenary industry and reveals in specific and documented detail how mercenary firms operate on the ground. Drawing from his experience and expertise as a former U.S. Army paratrooper and private military contractor, Sean McFate provides an unparalleled perspective into the nuts and bolts of the industry, as well as a sobering prognosis for the future of war. An extraordinary and seminal work, "The Modern Mercenary" combines a broad ranging theory of the today's use of mercenary assets with an true insider's understanding of what the world of the private military industry is actually like. Exceptionally well written, "The Modern Mercenary" is a critically important addition to community and academic library Military Studies reference collections and is thoroughly accessible and commended to the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the employment of contemporary mercenary forces by the United States and other nations. It should be noted that "The Modern Mercenary" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).

The Reaper
Nicholas Irving with Gary Brozek
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250044557, $27.99, www.stmartins.com

The Reaper: Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers comes from the first Afro-American to serve as a sniper in his battalion, who became known as 'The Reaper' by the end of his service. He set records for enemy kills, his reputation caused a rifle to be named after him, and his memoir provides an account of his experiences in the special operations environment. It follows the instruction and molding of an assassin and arrives on the heels of the box-office hit American Sniper, which means that this saga will prove of special interest to any reading about Afro-American military experiences, special operations forces, or sniper actions and training, in particular.

A Press Divided
David B. Sachsman, Editor
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412854665, $54.95, www.transactionpub.com

A Press Divided: Newspaper Coverage of the Civil War provides an in-depth survey recommended for college-level military and journalism collections alike, and focuses on the political divisions between newspapers of the times, and how this affected their reporting. Eighteen chapters of press reports and newspaper coverage considers the approaches of different papers, their political impact, and how the American press operated during the Civil War. While this likely will appeal primarily to media studies students, it shouldn't be neglected by military history readers, either: for in the process of exploring the press of the times, it provides important analysis and documentation of how press reporting influenced social climate and the proceedings and perceptions of the war itself. Articles teach students the basic importance of editorializing and reporting in American history and hold powerful implications for today's standards in military events reporting.


The Political Science Shelf

The Contemporary Conflict Resolution Reader
Hugh Miall, et al.
Polity
c/o Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.politybooks.com
9780745686769, $99.95, www.amazon.com

Conflict resolution, otherwise known as reconciliation, is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group (e.g., intentions; reasons for holding certain beliefs), and by engaging in collective negotiation. Dimensions of resolution typically parallel the dimensions of conflict in the way the conflict is processed. Cognitive resolution is the way disputants understand and view the conflict, with beliefs and perspectives and understandings and attitudes. Emotional resolution is in the way disputants feel about a conflict, the emotional energy. Behavioral resolution is how one thinks the disputants act, their behavior. Ultimately, a wide range of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including but not limited to negotiation, mediation, diplomacy, and creative peace building. The collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Hugh Miall (Professor of International Relations at the University of Kent), Tom Woodhouse (Adam Curle Professor of Conflict Resolution at the University of Bradford), Oliver Ramsbotham (Emeritus Professor of Conflict Resolution at the University of Bradford), and Christopher Mitchell (Professor Emeritus of Conflict Resolution at George Mason University), "The Contemporary Conflict Resolution Reader" is a 408 page compendium comprised of seventy-three informed and informative articles relevant to conflict resolution issues and which are deftly organized into six major sections: Foundations; Conflict Theories and Analysis; Praxis (1) Conflict Prevention and Nonviolence; Praxis (2) Mediation, Negotiation and Reconciliation; Praxis (3) Peacebuilding; Challenges and Future Directions. Enhanced with the inclusion of a one page 'Toolbox' and a useful index, "The Contemporary Conflict Resolution Reader" is very highly recommended for academic library Political Science reference collections in general, and Conflict Resolution Studies supplemental reading lists in particular. It should be noted that "The Contemporary Conflict Resolution Reader" is also available in a paperback edition (9780745686776, $34.95).

Handbook of Political Citizenship and Social Movements
Hein-Anton van der Heijden, editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781781954690, $290.00, www.amazon.com

Social movements are a type of group action. They are large, sometimes informal, groupings of individuals or organizations which focus on specific political or social issues. In other words, they carry out, resist or undo a social change. Modern Western social movements became possible through education and increased mobility of labor due to the industrialization and urbanization of 19th century societies. It is sometimes argued that the freedom of expression, education and relative economic independence prevalent in the modern Western culture are responsible for the unprecedented number and scope of various contemporary social movements. Compiled and edited by Hein-Anton van der Heijden (Associate Professor in Political Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands), the "Handbook of Political Citizenship and Social Movements" is a 712 page compendium comprised of an informative Introduction and twenty-five scholarly articles that are deftly organized into four major sections: Political citizenship: Approaches and Forms; Social Movements: Current Approaches and Recent Developments; Contemporary Social Movements; Social Movements and Political Citizenship in the Global South. Enhanced with the inclusion of a fifty-one page Index, the "Handbook of Political Citizenship and Social Movements" is an essential addition to academic library Political Science reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

The Hundred-Year Marathon
Michael Pillsbury
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
9781627790109, $30.00, www.henryholt.com

The Hundred-Year Marathon: China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower comes from a defense and national security policy advisor to eight presidential administrations, who performed work on China for the CIA and who here admits that he was seduced into the dream of financing the People's Republic of China's growth and recovery to help it break away from the Soviet Union. Instead what these actions did was create a superpower giant intent not on entering a global market economy so much as dominating it. China's leaders have a plan to surpass the U.S. in this world arena, and have been exploiting American officials in the process of achieving their goals - and The Hundred-Year Marathon outlines this predicament and how the nation has outwitted and deceived the U.S. in its goals of building a competitive strategy to take over in many arenas. Any interested in international politics and policies will find this engrossing.


The Sports Shelf

High-Powered Plyometrics
James Radcliffe & Robert Farentinos
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781450498135, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Plyometrics, also known as "jump training" or "plyos", are exercises in which muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, with the goal of increasing both speed and power. This training focuses on learning to move from a muscle extension to a contraction in a rapid or "explosive" manner, such as in specialized repeated jumping. Plyometrics are primarily used by athletes, especially martial artists and high jumpers, to improve performance, and are used in the fitness field to a much lesser degree. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "High-Powered Plyometrics" is a 215 page instructional guide co-authored by James Radcliffe and Robert Farentinos. Especially recommended to the attention of both amateur and professional athletes and martial arts students, as well as athletes, coaches, and strength and conditioning experts, "High-Powered Plyometrics" showcases the principles of high-intensity plyometric training, power assessments, and development of long- and short-term conditioning programs. A perfect, do-it-yourself hands-on guide, "High-Powered Plyometrics" should be a part of every school athletic program and academic library Athletics & Sports instructional reference collection.

Soccer FAQ
Dave Thompson
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302
Montclair, NJ 07042-2677
9781617135989 $24.99 www.halleonard.com

Soccer journalist of thirty years experience Dave Thompson presents Soccer FAQ, an accessible history and spectator's guide to this enormously popular international sport (called "football" in just about every nation other than the U.S.A.). Chapters cover the origins of modern soccer; how soccer leagues stack up in different nations around the world; the finest players of the game then and now; popular soccer songs; FIFA (but it's not all about FIFA!); and much more. "While the World Cup is unquestionably the premier international tournament in the world, it was neither the first, nor - in those regions where qualification for the FIFA showpiece was restricted to just one or two nations - the most important." A handful of black-and-white photographs, a selected glossary, bibliography, and index round out this accessible, user-friendly educational resource.

Big Trophies, Epic Hunts
Boone and Crockett Club
Boone and Crockett Club Publications
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
9781940860039, $19.95, www.boone-crockett.org

Any interested in hunting will find this the perfect read: a lively accounting of some thirty North American hunters who bagged big game animals - most without guides, taken on public lands. These are stories of both high adventure and the realities of big game hunting, and represent the stories behind some of the top-scoring trophies ever recognized by the Boone and Crockett Club. With its emphasis on self-guided experiences and major man/animal confrontations, this is a hunter's delight and is a top pick for any who enjoy reading real-life stories of the hunt.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

2015 Guide To Self-Publishing
Robert Lee Brewer, editor
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
9781599638478, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. A self-published physical book is said to be privately printed. The author is responsible for and in control of the entire process, including, in the case of a book, the design of the cover and interior, formats, price, distribution, marketing and public relations. The authors can do it all themselves or out-source all or part of the process to companies that offer these services. Writer's Digest Books specializes in publishing 'how to' books for authors and "2015 Guide to Self-Publishing, Revised Edition: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Self-Publishing" is their newest instructional reference manual for aspiring authors who wish to publish their own work. This 362 page instruction guide is as comprehensive as it is "user friendly" and includes such do-it-yourself features as self-publishing checklists, a pay-rate chart, sales tax tips, and so much more. Of special note are the interviews with successful self-published authors, a self-publishing calendar, access to an exclusive e-book formatting webinar, lists of conferences, organizations, book fairs, and festivals that will prove invaluable to the commercial success of a self-publishing author. Simply stated, the "2015 Guide to Self-Publishing, Revised Edition: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Self-Publishing" is an absolute 'must' for anyone contemplating or already embarked on a self-publishing project -- and is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).

Writing Short Stories
Courttia Newland & Tania Hershman
Bloomsbury Methuen Drama
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781408130803, $19.95, www.amazon.com

A short story is a brief work of literature, usually written in narrative prose. Emerging from earlier oral storytelling traditions in the 17th century, the short story has grown to encompass a body of work so diverse as to defy easy characterization. At its most prototypical the short story features a small cast of named characters, and focuses on a self-contained incident with the intent of evoking a "single effect" or mood. In doing so, short stories make use of plot, resonance, and other dynamic components to a far greater degree than is typical of an anecdote, yet to a far lesser degree than a novel. While the short story is largely distinct from the novel, authors of both generally draw from a common pool of literary techniques. In "Writing Short Stories", Courttia Newland and Tania Hershman draw upon their many years of experience and success as short story writers to produce a 304 page instruction manual and guide that will prove to be an informative and invaluable read for any writer seeking to master the short story format. "Writing Short Stories" is deftly organized into three major sections. The first part explores the nature and history of the short story form, includes personal reflections by the Newland and Hershman, and helps novice writers in getting started with ideas, planning and research. The second part features tips by an impressive number of successful and experienced short story writers. The third part focuses upon practical advise on shaping plots, exploring characters, dealing with 'writer's block', rewriting, and getting published. An invaluable 'how to' reference, "Writing Short Stories" is strongly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic Writing & Publishing reference collections.

How I Did It: Establishing A Playwriting Career
Lawrence Harbison, editor
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781480369634, $24.99, www.amazon.com

A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or drama. These works may be written specifically to be performed by actors, or they may be closet dramas - simple literary works - written using dramatic forms, but not meant for performance. For more than 30 years, Lawrence Harbison was in charge of new play acquisition for Samuel French, Inc. He edits annual anthologies of best plays by new playwrights and women playwrights, best ten-minute plays, and monologues for men and for women. In "How I Did It: Establishing A Playwriting Career", Harbison draws upon his experience and expertise to provide aspiring playwrights with a thoroughly user friendly, 342 page instruction manual and guide in the form of Q&A interviews with thirty professional playwrights. The result is an informed and informative compendium that should be considered a "must read" by anyone contemplating becoming a successful playwright whether it be for film, stage, or television. "How I Did It: Establishing A Playwriting Career" is a critically important addition to community and academic library Writing/Publishing reference collections.

Comedy Writing Self-Taught
Gene Perret
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781610352208, $16.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com

Comedy Writing Self-Taught: The Professional Skill-Building Course in Writing Stand-Up, Sketch, and Situation Comedy comes from a three-time Emmy winner and former head writer for Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller, who teaches comedy writers how they can analyze their own routines and others, and produce winning results. Writing exercises accompany these analytical tools to cover the basic tenants of producing stand-up comedy and other types of humor, offering chapters that show how to analyze the work of professional comedians to understand their devices. There's a companion Comedy Writing Self-Taught Workbook which provides further exercises: the two work together to provide a fun 'course in a book' on the basics of how comedy operates, the various devices that can be used to create and foster it, and how to fine-tune a comedy routine for maximum effect. Any would-be comedy writer - especially those just starting out in the genre - need this and its accompanying workbook.


The Business Shelf

Persuasive Copywriting
Andy Maslen
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpageusa.com
9780749473990, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Copywriting is writing copy for the purpose of advertising or marketing. The copy is meant to persuade someone to buy a product, or influence their beliefs. Copywriters are used to help create direct mail pieces, tag lines, jingle lyrics, web page content, online ads, e-mail and other Internet content, television or radio commercial scripts, press releases, white papers, catalogs, billboards, brochures, postcards, sales letters, and other marketing communications media pages. "Persuasive Copywriting: Using Psychology to Engage, Influence and Sell" by Andy Maslen (Managing Director of Sunfish, a business writing agency specializing in direct response, corporate communications and digital content and CEO of the Andy Masten Copywriting Academy, which trains copywriters) is a 256 page instruction manual and guide the provides aspiring copy writers with the confidence to try a psychological approach yielding instant improvements with respect to copywriting; demonstrates how to write enjoyable, compelling copy that stands out in today's extraordinarily competitive marketplace; demystifies advanced copywriting skills with examples, quizzes, exercises and tips. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Glossary, a list of Future Readings, 'Test Your Knowledge: Answers, A Notes On The Type, and an Index, "Persuasive Copywriting" is very strongly recommended for personal, professional, corporate, academic, and community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Persuasive Copywriting" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.72).


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Henry David Thoreau: Spiritual and Prophetic Writings
Edited with an introduction by Tim Flinders
Orbis Books
Price Building, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302
9781626981102 $22.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Henry David Thoreau: Spiritual and Prophetic Writings is an anthology of works by Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), lauded American author known for his quest to seek renewal in nature, and his strong personal convictions. Spiritual and Prophetic Writings focuses particularly on the Thoreau's spiritual testimonies; he was a deeply religious man throughout his life, though he remained unaffiliated with any organized religion. "I am no more lonely than the loon in the pond hat laughs so loud, or than Walden Pond itself. What company has that lonely lake, I pray? And yet it has not the blue devils, but the blue angels in it, in the azure tint of its waters... God is alone - but the devil, he is far from being alone; he sees a great deal of company; he is legion." An introduction and brief notes are present, but for the most part Thoreau's journal entries, letters, essays, and contemplations are left to speak for themselves. A welcome addition to spirituality shelves, Henry David Thoreau: Spiritual and Prophetic Writings is especially wonderful to read while resting during or after a long nature walk.

Being Taoist
Eva Wong
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781611802412 $17.95 www.shambhala.com

Taoism is a philosophical, ethical, political and religious tradition of Chinese origin that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao. The term Tao means "way", "path" or "principle". In Taoism, however, Tao denotes something that is both the source of, and the force behind, everything that exists. The "way" becomes clear when one is in constant mediation with all thoughts being subconsciously regulated outside the state of mental stillness, although emotions will drive thoughts they remain an absolute choice. Translated into English and edited by Eva Wong, "Being Taoist: Wisdom for Living a Balanced Life" is one of the most readable books on Taoist philosophy available. It shines a light on exactly what it takes to live a Taoist life. Taoist living rests on four pillars--the public, the domestic, the private, and the spirit lives. Not only do Taoists strive to live these four aspects fully and in a balanced way, they also believe there is an outlook and an art to each of them. Eva Wong uses the teachings of Taoist masters (one for each pillar) to explain the essential concepts. She then gives voice to these texts -- simplifying them, removing barriers to understanding, and making them completely accessible and relevant to the modern reader. "Being Taoist" is very highly recommended for students of Taoism and for both community and academic library Religion & Spirituality reference collections in general, and Taoist Studies collections in particular.


The Fiction Shelf

Nonprofit: A Novel
Matt Burriesci
New Issues Poetry & Prose
c/o Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5463
c/o Marian Brown PR
9781936970292 $26.00 www.wmich.edu/newissues

Winner of the 2014 Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Award for the Novel, Nonprofit: A Novel is an eyebrow-raising saga about a man caught in the midst of professional and personal crises. John MacManus left Chicago to become executive director of Quill & Pad, a longstanding nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing American letters. Two months into his new job, MacManus discovers the cleverly concealed red ink - Quill & Pad is bankrupt. Despite a paper trail suggesting seven million in the bank, Quill & Pad's actual resources are stripped down to its last five hundred thousand. Just where did all of Quill & Pad's money go? How can MacManus bankroll Quill & Pad's upcoming benefit gala and avoid horrendous financial scandal? MacManus' life at home becomes even more tangled when he learns that he and his wife cannot conceive children without expensive medical assistance - he has to undergo corrective testicular surgery, and she has to begin hormone replacement therapy. Witty, tongue-and-cheek, and painting a darkly humorous picture of modern-day graft and corruption, Nonprofit: A Novel is a must-read for the twenty-first century.

Kvachi
Mikheil Javakhishvili, author
Donald Rayfield, translator
Dalkey Archive Press
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
www.dalkeyarchive.com
9781564788795, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Mikheil Javakhishvili (November 8, 1880 - September 30, 1937) was a Georgian novelist who is regarded as one of the top twentieth-century Georgian writers. His first story appeared in 1903, but then the writer lapsed into a long pause before returning to writing in the early 1920s. His recalcitrance to the Soviet ideological pressure cost him life: he was executed during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge and his writings were banned for nearly twenty years. Ably translated into English by Donald Rayfield and the latest addition to the outstanding 'Georgian Literature Series' from the Dalkey Archive Press, "Kvachi" is a 512 page novel that wonderfully showcases the storytelling talents of a major literary figure. "Kvachi" is the story of a confidence trickster that engages in insurance fraud, bank robbery -- when he's not engaged as a womanizer and associating with the infamous Rasputin. A film maker, a revolutionary, and a pimp, Kvachi is a man of many endeavors -- most of them illegal! Banned in Communist Russia, "Kavachi" is highly recommended and entertaining reading. It should be a part of every academic library's Georgian Literature collection in general, and Mikheil Javakhishvili literary studies supplemental reading list in particular.

Sabotaged
Dani Pettrey
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764211966, $14.99, 336pp, www.amazon.com

The five book in the outstanding Bethany House Publishers 'Alaskan Courage' series, "Sabotaged" by Dani Pettrey is the story of Kirra Jacobs and Reef McKenna, who growing up were always at odds with each other. Now they are teamed together on Yancey's search-and-rescue canine unite and must answer an emergency call from the iconic Alaskan Iditarod race. Kirra's uncle (a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man but discover that the man's daughter has been kidnapped and is threatening her with death while unleashing one of the largest disasters in Alaskan history. Kirra and Reef must cooperate if they are to rescue the girl and stave off an horrific event. "Sabotaged" once again demonstrates and documents Dani Pettrey's impressive gifts as a natural born storyteller of rich and original imagination. Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted that "Sabotaged" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Anna's Crossing
Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800723194, $15.99, 336pp, www.amazon.com

"Anna's Crossing" is the story of a young Amish woman by the name of Anna Konig who fends off the matchmaking efforts of her fellow passengers on the Charming Nancy-the ship that brought the first wave of Amish to America in 1737. This exceptional novel by Suzanne Woods Fisher is based on the actual 1737 crossing of those first Amish settlers. With impressive attention to accurate historical detail, "Anna's Crossing" is a wonderfully entertaining read from first page to last. Very highly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted that "Anna's Crossing" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.63).


The Technology Shelf

Simulations of Oscillatory Systems
Eugene I. Butikov
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781498707688, $89.95, 363pp, www.amazon.com

Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum and alternating current power. The term vibration is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but is sometimes used as a synonym of "oscillation". Oscillations occur not only in mechanical systems but also in dynamic systems in virtually every area of science: for example the beating human heart, business cycles in economics, predator-prey population cycles in ecology, geothermal geysers in geology, vibrating strings in musical instruments, periodic firing of nerve cells in the brain, and the periodic swelling of Cepheid variable stars in astronomy. "Simulations of Oscillatory Systems: with Award-Winning Software, Physics of Oscillations" by Eugene I. Butikov (Department of Physics, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia) provides a hands-on way of visualizing and understanding the fundamental concepts of the physics of oscillations. Both the textbook and software are designed as exploration-oriented supplements for courses in general physics and the theory of oscillations. "Simulations of Oscillatory Systems" is conveniently structured according to mathematical complexity. Each chapter in Part I contains activities, questions, exercises, and problems of varying levels of difficulty, from straightforward to quite challenging. Part II presents more sophisticated, highly mathematical material that delves into the serious theoretical background for the computer-aided study of oscillations. The software package allows students to observe the motion of linear and nonlinear mechanical oscillatory systems and to obtain plots of the variables that describe the systems along with phase diagrams and plots of energy transformations. These computer simulations provide clear, vivid illustrations of oscillations in various physical systems, bringing to life many abstract concepts, developing students' physical intuition, and complementing the analytical study of the subject. Students can investigate phenomena that would otherwise be difficult to study in a more conventional manner. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Simulations of Oscillatory Systems" is an ideal textbook for university level physics curriculums and academic library reference collections.

Introduction To Power Electronics, second edition
Paul H. Chappell
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9780792372707, $159.00, www.amazon.com

Power electronics is the application of solid-state electronics for the control and conversion of electric power. It also refers to a subject of research in electronic and electrical engineering which deals with design, control, computation and integration of nonlinear, time varying energy processing electronic systems with fast dynamics. Now in a fully updated second edition, "Fundamentals of Power Electronics" by Paul H. Chappell (Associate Professor, School of electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton) is an 883 page instructional volume featuring a new chapter on input filters, showing how to design single and multiple section filters; major revisions of material on averaged switch modeling, low-harmonic rectifiers, and the chapter on AC modeling of the discontinuous conduction mode; new material on soft switching, active-clamp snubbers, zero-voltage transition full-bridge converter, and auxiliary resonant commutated pole. Also, new sections on design of multiple-winding magnetic and resonant inverter design; additional appendices on Computer Simulation of Converters using averaged switch modeling, and Middlebrook's Extra Element Theorem, including four tutorial examples; and expanded treatment of current programmed control with complete results for basic converters, and a great deal more. An ideal textbook, "Introduction To Power Electronics" is especially recommended as a classroom textbook and for inclusion into university library reference collections. It should be noted that "Introduction To Power Electronics " is also available in a Kindle edition ($122.89).

Getting to Know Web GIS
Pinde Fu
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
www.esri.com/esripress
9781589483842, $84.99, www.amazon.com

Web mapping is the process of using maps delivered by geographical information systems (GIS). Since a web map on the World Wide Web is both served and consumed, web mapping is more than just web cartography, it is both a service activity and consumer activity. Web GIS emphasizes geodata processing aspects more involved with design aspects such as data acquisition and server software architecture such as data storage and algorithms, than it does the end-user reports themselves. The terms web GIS and web mapping remain somewhat synonymous. Web GIS uses web maps, and end users who are web mapping are gaining analytical capabilities. The term location-based services refers to web mapping consumer goods and services. Web mapping usually involves a web browser or other user agent capable of client-server interactions. While web mapping today is still being developed, challenges and innovations involving the feedback of the quality, the usability, the social benefits, and the legal constraints, drive its evolution. "Getting to Know Web GIS" by Pinde Fu (Project Manager and Senior GIS application developer at Esri) is a 400 page workbook offering detailed, step-by-step exercises that will teach readers how to share resources online and build web GIS applications easily and quickly. It covers Esri's suite of web GIS technologies including ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS for Server, web app templates, WebApp Builder, API for JavaScript, mobile GIS apps, mobile SDKs, CityEngine, and 3D web maps. Holistic Approach: Unlike books that focus on individual products, this book teaches web GIS technologies as a holistic platform. Each chapter completes an application project using multiple products from server side to browser/client side. Easy to Apply: You don't have to be a developer to build web apps. This book facilitates immediate productivity. It teaches how to build engaging web apps without a single line of programming. The two chapters involving programming are easy to follow and don't require a strong programing background. Each of the 10 chapters in this book features a conceptual discussion section that gives readers the big picture and the principles; a system requirements section that helps instructors to prepare for the lab setup; a detailed tutorial section with abundant screenshots that confirm progress along the way; a Q/A section to answer common questions; an assignment section for readers to practice what they have just learned; and a robust reference section. "Getting to Know Web GIS" is the result of Pinde Fu's extensive working experience at Esri and teaching experience at Harvard University Extension and other universities. A practical manual for classroom lab work and on the job training for GIS students, instructors, GIS analysts, managers, web developers, and a broad range of GIS professionals, "Getting to Know Web GIS" is a critically essential addition to professional and academic library GIS instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Poetry Shelf

Times Beach
John Shoptaw
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268017859, $24.00, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Winner of the Notre Dame Review Book Prize, "Times Beach" is an ambitious collection of poems by John Shoptaw that evokes the cultural and environmental history of the Mississippi watershed and meditates on how its rivers are ceaselessly shaping, and shaped by, the lives around them. Shoptaw's free verse and narrative poetry guides us from the Mississippi's headwaters in Lake Itasca to its delta in the Gulf of Mexico, weaving together episodes in the life of the river system; the New Madrid earthquakes; the 1927 flood; the EPA's eradication of the dioxin-laced town of Times Beach; each arising from his own memories of growing up in the Missouri Bootheel: picking cotton, being baptized in a drainage ditch, and working in a lumber mill. The poems comprising "Times Beach" each showcase ring the changes on the big muddy place and hymn its everlasting possibilities. A seminal body of work, "Times Beach" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections and reading lists.

Trumbull Ave.
Michael Lauchlan
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814340967, $15.99, www.amazon.com

"Trumbull Ave." is an impressive, 80 page anthology of Michael Lauchlan's story poems presenting articulated images of Detroit city's past as a working class community. Each poem is a gem and together they evoke a blue collar world of 'welders, bricklayers, gas meter readers, nursers, teachers, cement masons, and street kids'. "Trumbull Ave." is a very highly recommended and rewarding read. 'Milk, 1933': When the gas man came for your meter, / your oldest let him in. You jumped / from your chair and handed him the baby -- / "Take her, too! How will I feed her / if I can't warm the milk?" After he fled, / you were ashamed. You were nursing / of course, and had never lied to a soul. / Five decades later you still see him, / nearly as hungry as you, his wrench / in one hand and from the other / your quiet Ellie gaping up.

The Shack
Paul Muldoon, et al.
Wake Forest University Press
PO Box 7333, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
www.wfu.edu/wfupress
9781930630710, $15.95, www.amazon.com

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southernmost portion in Georgia, then ending northward in Pennsylvania. To the west of the Blue Ridge, between it and the bulk of the Appalachians, lies the Great Appalachian Valley, bordered on the west by the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian range. The Blue Ridge Mountain country has long been a source of inspiration for poets, artists, song writers, and storytellers. "The Shack: Irish Poets in the Foothills and Mountains of the Blue Ridge" is a 72 page compendium showcasing eleven Blue Ridge Mountain poets ranging from Kenneth Frazelle's 'Watercolor', to Ciaran Carson's 'Fiddlin' John's Big Gobstopper'; to the title piece, Michael Longley's 'The Shack'. Enhanced with black-and-white photos of the individual poets and the three full color paintings, "The Shack" is a pleasure to read and a highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knooking
Veronika Hug
Search Press USA
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
www.searchpressusa.com
9781782212249, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled with expert commentary and instruction by crochet and knitting expert Veronika Hug, "Knooking: Knitting with a Crochet Hook" is a profusely illustrated, 48 page compendium showcasing nineteen projects for knitting with the use of a crochet hook. From a Marled Hat; to a Stylish Bag; to Wrist Warmers; to Baby Shoes, each project is thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation. Also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99), "Knooking: Knitting with a Crochet Hook" is enthusiastically recommended for both personal and community library needlecraft instruction and reference collections.

Pretty Birds
Virginia Lindsay
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762453856, $18.00, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Pattern-designer and sewer Virginia Lindsay is the creator of Gingercake Patterns and the author of the blog Gingercake. A sewing addict with a passion for fabrics, Virginia creates and sells her own patterns for a whole range of items, from cute plushies and pillows to bags and notebook slipcovers. In "Pretty Birds" Lindsay draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to showcase eighteen simple sewing projects that even the most novice of needlecrafters can use to create fabric art in the form of colorful and charming birds including peacocks, canaries, penguins, and more. Profusely illustrated throughout, each project features informative commentaries and complete 'sewer friendly' step-by-step instructions. Enjoyable, fun and entertaining, "Pretty Birds" is very highly recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional guide collections. It should be noted that "Pretty Birds" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99) and a Flexibound edition ($10.76).


The Crafts Shelf

Complete Book Of Gourd Carving, new edition
Jim Widess & Ginger Summit
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
GMC Distribution
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565238251, $24.99, www.amazon.com

A gourd is a plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without and is likely one of the earliest domesticated types of plants. Gourds have had numerous uses throughout history, including as tools, musical instruments, objects of art, film and food. Carving is the act of using tools to shape something from a material by scraping away portions of that material. Now in a completely revised and significantly expanded new edition, the "Complete Book of Gourd Carving: Ideas and Instructions for Fretwork, Relief, Chip Carving, and Other Decorative Methods" by gourd craft experts Jim Widess and Ginger Summit is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 224 page compendium that is an essential guide to gourd carving and specifically addressing every method and style of the art. Of special note is that the "Complete Book Of Gourd Carving" includes informed and informative contributions from 92 international gourd artists. For the novice (and with a great deal of relevance for even those more experienced) are the step-by-step instructions for working with both hand tools and powered rotary carvers. As unique as it is 'user friendly', the "Complete Book Of Gourd Carving" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic Crafts Studies collections.


The Fishing Shelf

Survival Guide for Beginning Fly Anglers
Skip Morris
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
www.amatobooks.com
9781571885227, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial "fly" is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or "lure" requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. Fly fishermen use hand tied flies that resemble natural invertebrates or other food organisms, or "lures" to provoke the fish to strike. Profusely illustrated with expert instructional commentary by master fly fisher and fly fishing instructor Skip Morris, "Survival Guide for Beginning Fly Anglers" is an 80 page compendium that covers every aspect of fly fishing for the novice from the proper equipment needed, to tying knots and rigging up, to fly casting, to finding fish, to hooking, playing and landing fish. Separate chapters are dedicated to trout in rivers; largemouth bass and bluegills in lakes; smallmouth bass in rivers; other fishes, tying flies, fly fishing safety issues, and more. Thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Survival Guide for Beginning Fly Anglers" is a 'must' for those new to fly fishing, and has a great deal of useful relevance for even the more experienced angler.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Colleges That Pay You Back, fifteenth edition
Robert Franek, et al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780804125888, $21.99, 480pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded fifteenth edition, "Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Best Value Colleges and What It Takes to Get In" continues to be a critically important reference for students contemplating a college education. "Colleges That Pay You Back" showcases 200 schools that offer average grants of over $22,600; nine tuition-free schools; salary and employment satisfaction data from graduates utilizing PayScale.com; and a unique 'Return on Education' rating for each school, with the top 50 ranking by rating. Additionally, "Colleges That Pay You Back" is enhanced by informing aspiring college students of what college admissions officers look for in applicants. Impressively well organized and presented, "Colleges That Pay You Back" is a critically important addition to highschool guidance counselor and community library College Admissions instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Colleges That Pay You Back" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.46).


The Criminology Shelf

The Real World of Sherlock
B.J. Rahn
Amberley Publishing
www.amberley-books.com
c/o Casemate Publishers
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA19083
9781445637648 $34.95 www.casematepublishing.com

The Real World of Sherlock explores the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary literary sleuth of the Victorian era. Chapters explore the real-life critical thinkers that likely influenced Doyle, particularly Dr. Joseph Bell; the connection between Doyle's literature and that of Edgar Allen Poe, inventor of the detective story; and the practices of police detectives as well as crime scene investigation at the time. An excellent companion to Doyle's works, The Real World of Sherlock is as enlightening as it is fascinating, and highly recommended.

Violent Offenders, third edition
Grant T. Harris, et al.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433819018, $79.00, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Grant T. Harris (Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology at Queen's University at Kingston, Canada and adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Canada); Marnie E. Rice (Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Canada); Vernon L. Quinsey (Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Biology, and Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada); and Catherine A. Cormier (a Research and Clinical Psychometrist with the Research Department of the Waypoint Centre), "Violent Offenders: Appraising and Managing Risk" is a 470 page compendium that is now in an updated and expanded third edition which is deftly organized into five major sections: Historical and Methodological Context; A New Generation of Follow-Up Research; Development of Actuarial Violence Risk Assessment Tools; Changing the Practice of Violence Risk Assessment; and Altering the Risk of Violence and Final Conclusions. Enhanced with the inclusion of thirteen Appendices, seventy-six pages of References, and a twelve page Index, "Violent Offenders: Appraising and Managing Risk" is a seminal study adhering to the highest standards of scholarship and a critically important addition to academic library Psychological Studies and Criminology Studies reference collections.

The Milwaukee Mafia
Gavin Schmitt
Barricade Books
2037 Lemoine Ave., Suite 362, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
www.barricadebooks.com
9780962303265, $16.95, www.amazon.com

A mafia is a type of organized crime syndicate whose primary activities are protection racketeering and the arbitration of disputes in criminal markets. Secondary activities may be practiced such as drug-trafficking, loan sharking and fraud. Being bonded together by a code of honor, in particular the code of silence (or omerta), safeguards the Mafia from outside intrusion and law enforcement action. The Milwaukee crime family or Balistrieri crime family is an American Mafia crime family based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The crime family was considered a branch of the Chicago Outfit. The family's most influential boss was Frank "Mr. Big" Balistrieri, who was greatly involved in the Las Vegas skimming casinos. Today, the crime family is nearly extinct, since Balistrieri died in 1993, and the Chicago Outfit gaining control over some of the illegal rackets in the area. "The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland" by Wisconsin organized crime expert Gavin Schmitt is a 288 page history of the mob in Milwaukee drawn from previously unseen police reports, FBI investigative notes, coroner's records, newspaper articles, family lore and a great deal more to bring to light an era of Milwaukee's history that has been largely undocumented and shrouded in myth. Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland" will prove to be an informative and fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the rise and fall of organized crime in a major Wisconsin city. Highly recommended for community and academic library Criminology and Wisconsin History collections, for personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Milwaukee Mafia: Mobsters in the Heartland" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Moroni and the Swastika
David Conley Nelson
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806146683 $29.95 www.oupress.com

Moroni and the Swastika is a harrowing account of how some fourteen thousand Mormons survived and prospered in Nazi Germany - through extensive collaboration with Adolf Hitler's National Socialist government. Mormon officials sought to fit into the Third Reich by emphasizing common ties with the Nazi state, including interest in genealogical pursuits and a love of sports. Husband served in the Wehrmacht and sons joined the Hitler Youth; congregations prayed for a German victory when the war began; Jewish references were carefully scrubbed from hymnals, lesson plans, and liturgical practices. One American mission president wrote an article for the official Nazi Party newspaper, enthusiastically gushing about the parallels between Utah Mormon and German Nazi society. Author, historian, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran David Conley Nelson documents this dark chapter in twentieth-century Mormon history, decrying attempts to rewrite what truly happened: greater and more willing collaboration than offered by other small religious groups in that time and place, to the point where some Mormon leaders of WW II Germany could legitimately be called Nazis. As disturbing as it is informative, Moroni and the Swastika is a vital addition to world history and holocaust studies shelves.

Female SS Guards And Workaday Violence
Elissa Mailander, author
Patricia Szobar, translator
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611861709, $49.95 (HC), $31.96 (Kindle), www.amazon.com

Majdanek was a Nazi German concentration and extermination camp established on the outskirts of the city of Lublin during the German occupation of Poland in World War II. Although initially purposed for forced labor rather than extermination, the camp was used to kill people on an industrial scale during Operation Reinhard, the German plan to murder all Jews within their General Government territory of Poland. The camp, which operated from October 1, 1941 until July 22, 1944, was captured nearly intact, because the rapid advance of the Soviet Red Army during Operation Bagration prevented the SS from destroying most of its infrastructure; but also, due to the ineptitude of commandant Anton Thernes who failed in his task of removing incriminating evidence of war crimes. Majdanek, also known to the SS as Konzentrationslager Lublin, remains the best preserved Nazi concentration camp of the Holocaust. Unlike other similar camps in Nazi occupied Poland, Majdanek was not located in a remote rural location away from population centres, but within the boundaries of a major city. This proximity led the camp to be named 'Majdanek' ("little Majdan") by local people in 1941 because it was adjacent to the city's district of Majdan Tatarski ("Tatar Maidan") in Lublin. The Nazi documents initially called the site "Prisoner of War Camp of the Waffen-SS in Lublin" because of the way it was operated and funded. It was renamed by RSHA in Berlin as Konzentrationslager on April 9, 1943; however, the local Polish name is how it is remembered. "Female SS Guards and Workaday Violence: The Majdanek Concentration Camp, 1942-1944" by Elissa Mailander (Formerly a visiting fellow at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies in Washington D.C., and now an Associate Professor at the Centre d'histoire de Sciences Po and on the staff of the Ecole des hautes etudes en sciences sociales and the Centre interdisciplinaire d'etudes et de recherches sur l'Allemagne in Paris) is a 434 page historical study about how otherwise "ordinary women " who were the camp guards, like their male counterparts, became capable of the sustained, systemic, brutal, dehumanizing violence that was the daily life in a holocaust concentration camp. An impressive work of seminal scholarship, "Female SS Guards and Workaday Violence: The Majdanek Concentration Camp, 1942-1944" is a critically important and highly recommended contribution to academic library Holocaust Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Travel Shelf

Kolibri Languages' Practical Guides
www.kolibrilanguages.com
c/o Casemate Publishers (dist.)
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA19083
www.casematepublishing.com
www.amazon.com

Also available on Kindle, Kolibri Languages' Practical Guides is a book-and-audio-CD series designed to help familiarize readers with French culture, customs, and language phrases, the better to prepare for travel - whether for business or pleasure. Volume 1, "Eating and Shopping in France" (9791091624008, $TBA) teaches the polite way to cut French cheese; regional specialties; things to keep an eye out for when shopping in Paris; and much more. Volume 2, "Meeting the French" (9791091624046, $24.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle) is a primer for making everyday small talk in French, and Volume 3, "Life in France" (9791091624084, $TBA) is a "must-read" for anyone considering becoming an expatriate in France. All three volumes are filled with full-color photography, as well as helpful cultural hints and tips, and the CD accompanying each book is invaluable for French pronunciation and intonation practice. Highly recommended for anyone interested in traveling to or learning more about this beautiful nation!

Keys to France
Pam Bourgeois
Kolibri Languages
c/o Casemate Publishers (dist.)
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA19083
www.casematepublishing.com
9791091624121 $14.95 www.kolibrilanguages.com

Keys to France is a pocket-sized language and travel guide created to be accessible to travelers and tourists who don't know much French. Focusing on crucial words and verbs that are most useful to travelers, Keys to France also discusses French customs, pleasantries, and politeness; common gestures and signs, practical knowledge and much more. Although details such as maps and contact information for specific hotels are left to other guides, Keys to France is an extraordinarily useful "must-have" for anyone who travels to France, whether for business or pleasure. "...it is very useful to have a collection of exclamations that can allow you to react appropriately to what is being said or to something that happens. 'Ah bon' is a good way of showing you are listening and are interested in what the other person is saying. It can be a simple acknowledgment or you can make it an expression of surprise."


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Working Stiff
Kevin J. Anderson
WordFire Press
c/o WordFire, Inc.
PO Box 1840, Monument, CO 80132
wordfirepress.com
9781614752042 $14.99 pbk
9781614752034 $4.99 ebook

Working Stiff: The Cases of Dan Shamble, Zombie PI collects seven standalone stories in a world similar to our own, several years after an inexplicable celestial event (the "Big Uneasy") unleashed monsters of legends, myths, and movies, such as vampires, ghosts, werewolves, mummies, and zombies such as the titular protagonist. Dan "Shamble" Chambeaux is a private investigator so determined that death can't keep him down. With assistance from his ghost girlfriend Sheyenne, firebrand lawyer partner Robin Deyer, and his "best human friend" the beat cop Toby McGoohan, Dan Shamble takes on everything from Santa Claus' missing list to the hunt for a kidnapped hellhound to a murder investigation at a science fiction convention literally populated by monsters. A wry, witty blend of contemporary fantasy and hard-boiled detective genres, Working Stiff is a devilish delight!


The Self-Help Shelf

Are You Living To Die Or Dying To Live?
Aaron Lumpkin
AaronLumpkin-author.com
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781490849317 $13.95 www.westbowpress.com

Are You Living To Die Or Dying To Live? What Will Your Legacy Be? is a self-help guide to overcoming procrastination in order to better pursue the quest for meaning in life, and work toward a memorable legacy. Inspirational speaker Aaron Lumpkin discusses ways of adapting to challenges, taking better physical and emotional care of oneself, and setting out after one's dreams. Although Are You Living To Die Or Dying To Live has the occasional reference to the Christian faith, its practical, positive-minded advice is invaluable for people of all religions. "We were reading [in the book of Revelation] about men who were so obstinate, they would not change no matter what happened. The men were so turned off by the possibility of changing for the better that even though they were gnawing their tongues with anger, they were saying, 'I will not change. I will not look at life any other way.' I thought, 'What if children acted this way?' They would never grow up."


The Computer Shelf

My Android Tablet
Craig James Johnston
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789753687 $24.99 www.quepublishing.com

Featuring full-color illustrations and screenshots on virtually every page, My Android Tablet is a hands-on guide to getting the most out of one's portable Android tablet computer, particularly the Android 5.0 "Lollipop". Chapters walk the reader through how to access audio, video and movies; connect to bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and VPNs; browsing the web with Chrome; Google Now and navigation; using Android applications; common troubleshooting issues; taking and editing pictures; and much more. A handy index rounds out this solid, user-friendly guide. Especially recommended for brand new Android tablet owners!

Microsoft Office for iPad
Joan Lambert
Microsoft Press
www.microsoft.com/mspress
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9780735696952 $29.99 www.oreilly.com

Microsoft Office for iPad: Step By Step is a straightforward guide for iPad users of all skill and experience levels. Chapters discuss how to use Microsoft Office to quickly create Word documents through tapping, typing or dictation; visually portray and analyze information in tables, charts, and PivotTables; develop PowerPoint presentations straight from one's iPad; save and send .pdf files; use the OneNote feature set to share text or iPad photos; and much more. Full color screenshots illuminate the handy instructions, which are divided into numbered steps for ease of use. A "must-have" for anyone looking to make the most of their iPad in a business environment!


The Humor Shelf

Go To Hells
Kali V. Roy, author
Jesse Riggle, illustrator
Pulp
c/o Zest Books
35 Stillman Street, Suite 121, San Francisco, CA, 94107
9781936976829 $14.99 www.zestbooks.net

Grotesque pen-and-ink illustrations on every other page add the perfect touch to Go To Hells, a tongue-in-cheek expansion of Dante's Inferno, describing a multitude of different modern-day sinners that plague everyday life today. Such questionable individuals include "Social Media Hermits: While you 'liked every photo on Facebook, a 'hello' in real life was too much", and "Potluck Cheats: Betty baked brownies; Tom brought the beers; and you brought your specialty: squat", among many more. An outrageously funny portrayal of contemporary selfish behavior!


The Economic Studies Shelf

Labor In The Global Digital Economy
Ursula Huws
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
www.monthlyreview.org
9781583674642, $75.00 (HC), 240pp, www.amazon.com

The term "digital economy" refers to an economy that is based on digital technologies. The digital economy is also sometimes called the Internet Economy, the New Economy, or Web Economy. Increasingly, the "digital economy" is intertwined with the traditional economy making a clear delineation harder. We live in an increasingly digital world. In "Labor In The Global Digital Economy", Ursula Huws (Professor of Labour and Globalisation, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom) ties together disparate economic, cultural, and political phenomena of the last few decades to form a provocative narrative about the shape of the global capitalist economy at present through seven informed and informative essays. She examines the way that advanced information and communications technology has opened up new fields of capital accumulation: in culture and the arts, in the privatization of public services, and in the commodification of human sociality by way of mobile devices and social networking. These trends are in turn accompanied by the dramatic restructuring of work arrangements, opening the way for new contradictions and new forms of labor solidarity and struggle around the planet. "Labor in the Global Digital Economy" is a forceful critique of our dizzying contemporary moment, one that goes beyond notions of mere connectedness or free-flowing information to illuminate the entrenched mechanisms of exploitation and control at the core of capitalism. Exceptionally well written and presented, "Labor In The Global Digital Economy" is an extraordinary body of commentary and highly recommended for community and academic library collections. It should be noted that "Labor In The Global Digital Economy" is also available in a paperback edition (9781583674635, $19.00) and a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Final Hurdle
Dennis Hursh
Advantage Media Group
http://advantagefamily.com
News & Experts
9781599323138, $69.97, 128pp, www.amazon.com

"The Final Hurdle: A Physician's Guide to Negotiating a Fair Employment Agreement" is an instructional guide in which author Dennis Hursh draws upon his more than twenty-three years of experience and expertise as a physician's attorney to help doctors protect their best interests in the hiring process for employment whether it be with a clinic, a hospital, or a private practice. "The Final Hurdle" covers all aspects of the negotiating process including compensation and benefits, restrictive covenants, call coverage, what is to be expected as an employee, contract terms and issues, malpractice insurance, as well as private practice issues. Of special note is the provision of 'Ten Key Questions' that will prove invaluable. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Final Hurdle" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and should be considered essential reading for those new to medical practice -- and has a great deal of value as a refresher course for those who are considering changing their medical employment. It should be noted that "The Final Hurdle" is also available in a Kindle edition ($47.85).


The Library Science Shelf

A Manual of Library Automation and Networking, third edition
N. R. Satyanarayana, author
Assisted by Abdul Mannan Khan
Ess Ess Publications
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9788170007210 $63.00 www.isbs.com

Now in a revised and enlarged third edition, A Manual of Library Automation and Networking is an in-depth, problem-solving analysis addressing how to use information technologies to facilitate the tasks of swiftly identifying, locating, and disseminating required information. Chapters discuss library automation software packages, library system analysis and design, telecommunications and networking, library document digitization, and much more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations, a glossary, and an index enhance this technical resource created by field professions, for field professionals. Highly recommended, especially for its methodical demystification of relevant media formats and computer programming tools, from magnetic tape to database software and more.

The Accidental Data Scientist
Amy Affelt
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875110, $39.50, www.amazon.com

Big data is a broad term for data sets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. Challenges include analysis, capture, curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, visualization, and information privacy. The term often refers simply to the use of predictive analytics or other certain advanced methods to extract value from data, and seldom to a particular size of data set. "The Accidental Data Scientist: Big Data Applications and Opportunities for Librarians and Information Professionals" by library and information specialist Amy Affelt is a 224 page instruction manual and guide showing librarians and other information specialists how to leverage their skills and training to master emerging tools, techniques, and vocabulary; create mission-critical Big Data research deliverables; and discover rewarding new career opportunities by embracing their inner Data Scientist. Impressively articulate, effectively well organized, exceptionally well written, definitively comprehensive, informed and informative, "The Accidental Data Scientist" is a 'must read' for student librarians and has a wealth of invaluable information for even experienced librarians and data information processors. A critically important addition to university level 'Library Science' instructional reference collections, it should be noted that "The Accidental Data Scientist" is also available in a Kindle edition ($27.65).

Librarian's Guide to Online Searching, fourth edition
Suzanne S. Bell
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781610699983, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated fourth edition, the "Librarian's Guide to Online Searching: Cultivating Database Skills for Research and Instruction" by Suzanne S. Bell is a 310 page compendium that will function as a complete course of instruction on the development and utilization of library-based databases for the use of library staff and patrons alike. Comprehensively informed and informative, the "Librarian's Guide to Online Searching: Cultivating Database Skills for Research and Instruction" covers database structures, social science databases, science and medicine databases, bibliographic databases, humanities databases, and numeric databases. Of special interest are the chapters devoted to 'Focus on People'; 'Choosing the Right Resource for the Question'; 'Teaching Other People about Dababases'; and 'Database Teaching Opportunities'. A complete course of instruction under one cover, "Librarian's Guide to Online Searching: Cultivating Database Skills for Research and Instruction" is an ideal Library Science curriculum textbook and a critically important addition to professional and university library instructional reference collections.

Cultural Heritage Information: Access and Management
Ian Ruthven & G. G. Chowdhury, editors
Neal-Schuman
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838913475, $110.00, www.amazon.com

Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. Cultural heritage includes tangible culture (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, works of art, and artifacts), intangible culture (such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge), and natural heritage (including culturally significant landscapes, and biodiversity). Compiled and co-edited by Ian Ruthven (Professor of Information Seeking and Retrieval, Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde) and Gobinda Chowdhury (Professor in Information Science and Head of the Department of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Northumbria University), "Cultural Heritage Information Access and Management" is a 360 page compendium comprised of eleven informed and informative seminal articles by scholars and experts in cultural heritage issues. Enhanced throughout with figures and tables, as well as 113 page Index, "Cultural Heritage Information: Access and Management" is a critically important and valued addition to university level Library Science & Information Science reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Philosophy Shelf

Anthropology & Philosophy
Sune Liisberg, Esther Oluffa Pedersen, and Anne Line Dalsgard, editors
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.berghahnbooks.com
9781782385561, $95.00, www.amazon.com

Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, past and present, that draws and builds upon knowledge from the social sciences, life sciences, and humanities. Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Dialogue is a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people, Collaboratively compiled and edited by the academic team of Sune Liisberg (External Lecturer of Philosophy, Psychology, and Intercultural Communication, Aarhus University), Esther Oluffa Pedersen (Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Roskilde), and Anne Line Dalsgard (Associate Professor, Aarhus University), "Anthropology & Philosophy: Dialogues on Trust and Hope" is a 302 page compendium comprised of an informative Introduction and six scholarly dialogues, each of which includes a Joint Statement, the discussion itself, and a list of References. Enhanced with the inclusion of an Epilogue (Anthropology and Philosophy in Dialogue?) by Anne Line Dalsgard and Soren Harnow Klausen, a four page Notes on Contributors, and a sixteen page Index, ""Anthropology & Philosophy: Dialogues on Trust and Hope" is a thoughtful and thought-provoking read that is a significant and highly recommended addition to academic library Anthropology and Philosophy reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Robert Frost's Poetry of Rural Life
George Monteiro
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786497898, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 - January 29, 1963) was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and philosophical themes. One of the most popular and critically respected American poets of the twentieth century, Frost was honored frequently during his lifetime, receiving four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetical works. On July 22, 1961, Frost was named Poet laureate of Vermont. "Robert Frost's Poetry of Rural Life" by George Monteiro (Professor Emeritus of English, Brown University) is a 192 page treatise on Frost's rural life themes offering an informed and informative literary critique that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Robert Frost's Poetry of Rural Life" is very highly recommended for academic library American Poets collections in general, and Robert Frost Studies supplemental reading lists in particular. It should be noted that "Robert Frost's Poetry of Rural Life" is also available in a Kindle edition ($23.99).


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Protecting The Wild
George Wuerthner, Eillen Crist, Tom Butler, editors
Island Press
2000 M St NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
www.islandpress.org
9781610915489, $24.95, www.amazon.com

A park is an area of open space provided for recreational use. It can be in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and is set aside for human enjoyment or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas, but may also contain buildings and other artifacts such as play grounds. Many natural parks are protected by law. A wilderness is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by civilized human activity. Conservation is the ethical of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world, its fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation, including non-renewable resources such as metals, minerals and fossil fuels, and energy conservation, which is important to protect the natural world. Those who follow the conservation ethic and, especially, those who advocate or work toward conservation goals are termed conservationists. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of George Wuerthner (Ecological Projects Director, Foundation for Deep Ecology), academician Eillen Crist (Department of Science and Technology in Society, Virginia Tech), Vermont-based conservation activist Tom Butler (Board President of the Northeast Wilderness Trust), "Protecting the Wild: Parks and Wilderness, the Foundation for Conservation" is a 392 page compendium comprised of twenty-eight articles contributed by expert researchers, scholars, and environmental activists. These seminal articles are deftly organized into three major sections: Bold Thinking About Protecting The Wild; Rewilding The Earth, Rewilding Ourselves; Protected Areas: The Foundation For Conservation. Enhanced with an informed and informative Introduction and Afterword; a list of Acknowledgments; a list of Contributors, fifty-six pages of Notes; and a thirty-nine page Index, "Protecting the Wild: Parks and Wilderness, the Foundation for Conservation" is a critically important contribution to academic library Environmental Studies reference collections and the supplemental studies lists for non-specialist general readers with an interest in preserving local, county, state, and federal parks and wilderness designated areas. It should be noted that "Protecting the Wild: Parks and Wilderness, the Foundation for Conservation" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.39).


The Psychology Shelf

Doing Exercise Psychology
Mark B. Andersen & Stephanie J. Hanrahan, editors
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450431842 $71.00 www.HumanKinetics.com

Also available as an ebook, Doing Exercise Psychology is a resource created especially for psychologists, therapists, and exercise scientists. Chapter especially address how to overcome mental barriers to exercise for greater health, or therapeutic treatment. From research on adjunct exercise therapy for alcohol use disorders, to learning how to use "motivational interviewing" (communication designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a goal), to reshaping ingrained bad diet or exercise habits, to the nuances of inspiring a sports team to victory, Doing Exercise Psychology spells out methodologies, priorities, and best practices. An invaluable resource for psychologists and fitness professionals alike, Doing Exercise Psychology is especially recommended for college library collections.


The Journalism Shelf

Student Journalism & Media Literacy
Megan Fromm, Homer L. Hall, and Aaron Manfull
The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010
9781477781326 $106.60 www.rosenpublishing.com

Student Journalism & Media Literacy is an extensive, educational textbook about journalism and media literacy. Accessible to high school and college students alike, chapters discuss news writing, feature writing, column writing, sports writing, editorial writing, headline writing, writing yearbook copy, style and editing, photography, caption writing, digital content creation, managing a news website, ethics and digital citizenship, careers in journalism, and much more. Full-color photography embellishes the point-by-point concepts, in this educational text brimming with information about the latest revolutions that the Internet has brought to the field of journalism. Student Journalism & Media Literacy is a superb resource for teaching an introductory course, and highly recommended for high school and college library Journalism and Media Studies shelves, or for self-study.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Canine Nutrigenomics
W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Diana R. Laverdure
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street
Wenatchee WA 98801
9781617811548 $24.95 www.dogwisepublishing.com

Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health is about the emerging veterinary science discipline of canine nutrigenomics - how diet affects a dog's gene expression at the cellular level, and the role of nutrition in promoting health and preventing disease. Chapters focus on practical applications - how to feed one's dog in a manner to control their weight, or help them resist cancer, arthritis, or the effects of aging. Accessible to pet owners and veterinarians alike, Canine Nutrigenomics is an enlightening resource for taking the best possible care of man's best friend (though of course, no book can substitute for a regular checkup at the vet's office)!


The Civil War Shelf

Engineering Victory
Justin S. Solonick
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809333912 $37.50 www.siupress.com

Engineering Victory: The Union Siege of Vicksburg is a scholarly, historical analysis of the largest and most successful siege in American history: Union major general Ulysses S. Grant's siege of the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Author Justin S. Solonick, Ph.D. (adjunct instructor, Dept. of History and Geography, Texas Christian University) contests the view that Vicksburg's Confederate garrison surrendered due to being starved out, instead contesting that they were "dug out" via Grant's siege tactics. Detailing how the few engineers available to Grant gave Union troops a crash course in military engineering, combined with the ingenuity of Midwestern soldiers, hastened the surrender of Vicksburg, Engineering Victory is a thought-provoking and welcome contribution to Civil War and military history collections.


The Reference Shelf

The Guide to Online Due Diligence Investigations
Cynthia Hetherington
Facts on Demand Press
c/o BRB Publications Inc.
www.brbpublications.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781889150611 $22.50 www.nbnbooks.com

The Guide to Online Due Diligence Investigations: The Professional Approach on How to Use Traditional and Social Media Resources for Investigations lives up to its title as a straightforward guidebook to using the Internet to conduct research, particularly with regard to business. The practice of "due diligence" refers to mandatory or voluntary investigations prior to signing a contract. Such investigations are particularly important prior to acquiring a target company or its assets - it is important to know the overall value of those assets before becoming their legal owner! Online resources ranging from databases to social media are invaluable tools for conducting a due diligence investigation before signing the bottom line. Chapter topics include Investigating People Connected to Businesses; Court Records, Regulatory Sanctions & Enforcement Boards; Asset and Lien Searching; Using Industry Sources; Internet Searches and Social Media Tactics; Client Interaction: Intake, Preparing the Report, and Billing; and much more. Covering investigations that are global as well as American-based, The Guide to Online Due Diligence Investigations is an absolute "must-have" for professionals in the field.


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


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