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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 14, Number 11 November 2004 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Folklore/Fairytale Shelf American History Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Business Shelf Science Shelf
Travel Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Gardening Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Environmental Shelf
Math Shelf Language Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Metaphysical Shelf Library Science Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Biography Shelf World History Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Psychology Shelf Education Shelf International Shelf
Literary Shelf Criminology Shelf Military Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Photography Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Computer Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Dance Shelf Art Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Political Science Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Parenting Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Music Shelf Native American Shelf Poetry Shelf
Nautical Shelf Fiction Shelf Gaming Shelf
Civil War Shelf Architecture Shelf Economics Shelf
Humor Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Washburn
Bradford Washburn
Appalachian Mountain Club
Five Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108-1490
1929173725 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Washburn: Extraordinary Adventures Of A Young Mountaineer is the true story of a young climber's daring early adventures. Black-and-white photographs sparsely illustrate this captivating, firsthand description of what it is like to brave snow, ice, high altitudes, and the risk of death all for the sake of exhilaration and achievement. An exciting read especially for armchair travelers, and the next best thing to daring to climb a peak oneself.

Dress To Express
Tracy McWilliams
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
1577314522 $12.95 1-800-847-5515

Tired of entering a fitting room on wings of air and leaving with wings tattered? Choose Tracy McWilliams' Dress To Express for a better understanding of issues revolving around clothing and dressing anxieties. From creating a dressing plan which fits self-image and personality to identifying both positive and negative shopping patterns and assembling outfits which work well, Dress To Express helps eliminate the guesswork in clothes hunting.

Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com

Molly Ivins provide scintillating political columns reflecting on political ironies, so don't miss her latest Who Let The Dogs In?: Incredible Political Animals I Have Known (1400062853, $22.95), a survey of 'political animals' with a healthy dose of Bush-whacking throughout. The most outlandish, wicket and witty politicians receive their 'dog days' in a title which surveys the last two decades of political life from Reagan through Bush. It's an astute political eye combined with a sense of humor which makes Molly Ivans such a compelling columnist commentator and here, such an inviting analyst. Hugh Thomas' Rivers Of Gold: The Rise Of The Spanish Empire, From Columbus To Magellan (0375502041, $35.00) covers the rise of the Spanish empire from Columbus to Magellan, providing a fresh new account of Spain's early conquests in the Americas. Hugh Thomas has written numerous histories and won the Somerset Maugham Award for his survey The Spanish Civil War, so Rivers Of Gold is the perfect study for his talents, providing a lively and detailed, complex coverage suitable for college-level collections.

Cyberstalking
Paul Bocij
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275981185 $39.95 www.praeger.com

Harassment in the electronic age has moved beyond the realm of in-house and in-person to the cyberspace realm and Paul Bocij handles common cyberstalking issues in his all-important Cyberstalking: Harassment In The Internet Age And How To Protect Your Family, which focuses not just on legal recourse but how the average individual can avoid cyberstalking on the internet. Bocij is a former university lecturer, writer and consultant: Cyberstalking shows how new technologies can all too easily lend to harassment and what can be done to prevent technological harassment routines.

Giving Chocolates
Linda Webb
Boxigami Books
PO Box 3542, Peoria, IL 61612-3542
0975417606 $14.99 1-866-221-5531

Giving Chocolates by freelance illustrator Linda Webb is a delightful Christmas oriented activities book presenting twelve pre-cut, pre-scored, gift boxes which children can punch out themselves. Kids can easily follow the simple instructions for assembly, and then fill them with their favorite chocolates, candies, or other small items for inexpensive gifts or stocking stuffers. There are even gift tags printed on the side of each box. Giving Chocolates is unique, clever, creative, and enthusiastically recommended for kids of all ages, as well as parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coworkers, and the romantically inclined with a special someone in their lives.

Putting On A Party
Lori Bonner & Fran Lee
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1586852329 $9.95 1-800-748-5439

Putting On A Party is a how-to book written especially for kids ages 6 and up, although readers of all ages can use it to plan an exciting adventure party for young people. Colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand text instruct one in the basic steps of organizing, planning, and hosting a celebration. From basic tips and advice (including how to respond to someone who asks why they weren't invited, and knowing how to end a party on a high note) to decoration and invitation ideas, the heart of the book, a wide catalogue of fun party games that all guests can play together, Putting On A Party is a superb resource and starting guide for kids' get-togethers of all kinds, including birthday, holiday, and end of school year celebrations.

Scholarly Journals In The New Digital World
Gerard Boismenu & Guylaine Beaudry
University of Calgary Press
2500 Univerrsity Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
1552381277 $24.95 www.uofcpress.com

Translated from the French by Maureen Ranson, Scholarly Journals In The New Digital World provides an important survey of the major challenges facing scholarly and nonprofit journals at the start of this new century. If they are to survive, their publishers are faced with making fundamental changes in distribution and creation: Scholarly Journals In The New Digital World charts the choices, the changes already underway, and how these early innovators are providing solutions to problems all scholarly journals share. Essential reading.

Harcourt
525 B St., #1900, San Diego, CA 92101
www.harcourtbooks.com

Electricity often is afforded a scientific examination; but there's much more to it, as Linda Simon explores in Dark Light (015-1005869 $25.00), which relates electricity to cultural development and insights. The modern world imagines electricity's discovery was greeted with enthusiasm; but as Simon shows, early concepts of electricity were fantastic, there were few electrical-powered items to spark the imagination about its potential uses, and the general public took thirty years to understand its importance. A lively discourse evolves. Stephen Alter's Elephas Maximus (0151006466, $25.00) provides a portrait of the Indian elephant, coveted by poaches for its ivory tusks and revered in Indian religion. Stephen Alter first encountered this elephant when a child; his travels throughout India are related in a blend of history, travelogue and natural history which surveys the conservation issues and natural history of the Indian elephant.

In The Shadows Of The Morning
Philip Caputo
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.LyonsPress.com
1592283314 $14.95 1-800-836-0510

Philip Caputo's passion for travel and adventure was inspired by many literary figures, and In The Shadows Of Morning gathers his essays for the first time, blending travel, adventure and often natural history in a series of travelogue struggles documenting the outdoors adventure experience. An outstanding survey of travel and nature encounters develops using a personal perspective.

The Great Wisconsin Manhunt Of 1961
Marshall Cook
Badger Books Inc./Waubesa Press
PO Box 192, Oregon, WI 53575
1932542086 $16.95 1-800-928-2372

The Great Wisconsin Manhunt Of 1961 is the true story of an infamous shootout and fallout in the Wisconsin Dells in the summer of 1961. When a police officer was killed, it triggered one of the most intense manhunts in state history. Black-and-white photographs embellish this gripping, truth-more-compelling-than-fiction tale of the dogged chase, meticulously presented by University of Wisconsin professor Marshall Cook. A welcome addition to criminology collections, and especially recommended for "true crime" buffs, and as inspiration resouce for Wisconsin based mystery/action/suspense writers.

Wright In Racine
Mark Hertzberg
Pomegranate Communications, Inc.
Box 808022, Petaluma, CA 94975-8022
www.pomegranate.com
0764928902 $24.95 1-800-227-1428

Wright In Racine is an analysis of all the Racine, Wisconsin architecture projects of the celebrated and often controversial Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), well-known for his revolutionary designs that spurred an awakening in American architecture. Full-color photographs and an extensive discussion of Wright's amazing designs for private homes, public buildings, and affordable housing tie together all of Wright's diverse works with a commen search for vision and expression. Written by award-winning photojournalist Mark Hertzberg, Wright In Racine is enjoyable to browse through for its own sake and especially recommended for anyone interested in an in-depth analysis of Wright's breathtaking and groundbreaking architectural achievements in Wisconsin.

Great Moments In Wisconsin Sports
Todd Mishler
Trails Books
PO Box 317, Black Earth, WI 53515-0317
www.trailsbooks.com
1931599459 $18.95 1-800-236-8088

Great Moments In Wisconsin Sports is a trivia book especially for Wisconsin sports fans, collecting more than 40 of the greatest achievements in Wisconsin sports history. Categorizing its remarkable events by individual sport, Great Moments In Wisconsin Sports covers individual and team athletic accomplishments, incredible winning streaks, little-known records, jaw-dropping trivia secrets and much more. An especial delight for sports enthusiasts and trivia buffs.

Small Celebrations: Autumn
Barbara Fitz Vroman
Pearlwin Publishing
N4721 -- 9th Drive, Hancock, WI 54943
www.barbarafitzvroman.com
0974956805 $16.95 1-715-249-5407

In Small Celebrations: Autumn, author Barbara Fitz Vroman records her experiences as a rural Wisconsin truck driver's wife who journeys to Hollywood, California for the purpose of selling a screen play. From the time she first spots from the airplane the horizon-to-horizon urban sprawl that comprises Los Angeles, she encounters culture shock and experiences a combination of anxiety and delight as she transitions from life in little Hancock, Wisconsin to the big city ways of Tinseltown. Vroman has a special ability to describe her world as she moves through it and employs an almost lyrical prose as she draws the reader into her personal story of laced with informative observations and engaging commentary. Vroman teaches writing at the Rhinelander School of Arts, The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Also very highly recommended is Barbara Vroman's earlier book, Small Celebrations: Summer.

50 Hikes in Wisconsin
John Morgan & Ellen Morgan
Backcountry Guides
c/o The Countryman Press
PO Box 478, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.backcountrypress.com
0881506249 $17.95 1-800-245-4151

50 Hikes In Wisconsin: Walks, Hikes, And Backpacks In The Badger State is an excellent and recommended guide for any enthusiastic hiker looking to explore trails found in all four quadrants of Wisconsin. An overview chart offers at-a-glance information of all 50 hikes, while the text proper presents in-depth maps, flora and fauna information, the history behind the trails, and more. Only loop trails have been selected by co-authors and outdoor enthusiasts John Morgan and Ellen Morgan. Black-and-white photographs round out this informative and very useful resource.


The Folklore/Fairytale Shelf

American Regional Folklore
Terry Ann Mood
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1576076202 $85.00 1-800-368-6868

American Regional Folklore: A Sourcebook And Research Guide is a reference book to other references resources. It does not provide retellings of American myths directly, but rather presents overview essays by expert folklore scholars of various U.S. regions, directs the reader to fully annotated bibliographies, offers a list of literary authors who incorporate folklore themes into their writings, presents the locations of folklore-related museums as well as a selection of folklore journals and websites, and much more. An excellent starting point for any campaign of intense personal research into a given American tall tale, and very highly recommended, especially for academic, public, and personal library reference shelves.

The Faery Reel
Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, Eds.
Viking Press
345 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0670059145 $19.95 www.penguin.com

Fairies may be find around the world in many cultures and in many fantasy works: here Datlow and Windling has asked modern writers for short stories and poems which draw upon fairy traditions, update old stories, or provide new light on them with the result a collection of powerful contrasts by such notable contributors as Nail Gaiman, Patricia McKillip, and Charles de Lint, among others. The diversity of settings, themes, and approaches is refreshingly different and amazing in The Faery Reel: Tales From The Twilight Realm, while black and white decorations by Cahrles Vess enhance each new chapter.


The American History Shelf

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln & Stephen Douglas
Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com
0486435431 $16.95 1-800-223-3130

The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 helped bring to a head many significant issues from slavery and states' rights to the legal status of blacks in America, yet most of these debates have been diluted to mere paragraphs over history. Dover's republication of the two speeches and seven debates which originally appeared in a 1913 Putnam hardcover now returns here as a standby for any solid American history collection and makes one of the most pivotal pre-Civil War political events readily accessible to a new generation of readers.

Searching for Joaquin
Bruce Thornton
Encounter Books
665 Third Street, #330, San Francisco CA 94107-1951
1893554562 $26.95 encounterbooks.com

In 1853 a gunfight took place on the edge of California's San Joaquin Valley which was to kill notorious bandit Joaquin Murrieta and begin a legend lasting to this day. Who was the notorious bad man, and how did he affect California history? The Murrieta legend grew in movies and novels; but Searching For Joaquin is the first to provide a focus on the real life of the man, with chapters probing Joaquin's role, separating myth from history, and including important insights into California's past.

People Of Passion
Carl Mays
The Overmountain Press
PO Box 1261, Johnson City, TN 37605
1570722730 $14.95 1-800-992-2691

People Of Passion is an anthology of brief stories and snapshots of the lives of great figures from American history, with especial focus upon Southern Appalachia. The common theme of the vignettes is an emotional drive that nourishes the soul, as individuals labored to fulfill their dreams, bring good works, or just understand themselves and others better. The short tales, usually no more than four pages, span history from the 1700's to the mid-1900's and bring the can-do spirit of America to the page in a burst of impressions and sensations.

The Modern Cowboy
John R. Erickson
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
1574411772 $18.95 unt.edu/untpress

Now in its second edition, The Modern Cowboy strives to answer the query: who is the American cowboy? Where did he come from, and what is he today? Digging deep into American history, legend, and practical reality, as well as taking a solid look at the contemporary lives led today by men responsible for the welfare of cattle, The Modern Cowboy is a superb source of background material for anyone who truly wants to know more about the legendary figure who appears in so many Western novels and movies. Highly recommended both for entertainment and personal edification.

Born At The Battlefield Of Gettysburg
Harriette Rinaldi
Markus Wiener Publishing
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
1558763325 $18.95 markuswiener.com

Born At The Battlefield Of Gettysburg: An African-American Family Saga is the true story of an African-American family that suffered from the unspeakable evil of slavery. The protagonist's mother was the daughter of free blacks in Philadelphia; kidnapped from her parents by slave catchers, she was enslaved on a Virginia tobacco plantation for 37 years before making a daring escape to Gettysburg on the night before the historic Civil War battle ensued. She was nine months pregnant, and determined that her child would not be born a slave. Born At The Battlefield Of Gettysburg is an impressively in-depth, heavily researched and brutally accurate portrayal of the methods and means by which the monstrous evil of slavery was justified and perpetuated, how religion was used both as a club to keep slaves in line and as a means of self-expression for the slaves, the operation of the Underground Railroad, and much more. Riveting and highly recommended, yet also shocking in its literal, realistic portrayal of man's historical inhumanity to man.

Global Chicago
Charles Madigan, editor
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
www.press.uillinois.edu
0252071964 $19.95 1-800-545-4703

Chicago Tribune senior correspondent Charles Madigan presents Global Chicago, an anthology of essays discussing the history of Chicago, and exploring its transformation into one of the most famous and important cities of the world. From its rebuilding from a devastating fire, to its evolution into a hub of corporate headquarters and international transportation, to its groundbreaking architecture, medley of cultures as expressed in its over 120 foreign language newspapers, and much more, Global Chicago is truly fantastic exploration into history, culture, pride, and visions of the future. A most enjoyable reading experience for anyone looking to better understand Windy City history.

Lake Erie: A Pictorial History
Julie Macfie Sobol & Ken Sobol
Boston Mills Press/Firefly Books
155 East 34th St. #5B, NY NY 10016
www.bostonmillspress.com
1550463616 $29.95 1-800-387-5085

Authors Julie and Ken Sobol are together and independently the authors of several books and numerous TV screenplays, and while an initial glance at Lake Erie: A Pictorial History might indicate it to be a specialty item for limited collections, take a look under the appealing vintage photo cover: there's a lot more going on than meets the eye. For one thing, the history of Erie and the area's role in the development of the US and Canada as a whole is fascinating: it was the pivotal factor in the War of 1812 and conflicts over its future ultimately led to an era of rapid economic boom for America. Pack in archival photos, illustrations, and portraits of major players and events in the region and you have a piece of American history which should not be missed.

Pacifica
Chris Hunter, Bill Drake, et al.
Arcadia
3047 North Lincoln Avenue, #410, Chicago, IL 60657
0738520683 $19.99 www.amazon.com

California residents and many a visitor to the Bay Area only know Pacifica as a suburban coastal town but this history follows the 1900s development of the town as no other, from its early days as a railroad town to its current suburban community standing. Bill Drake owned the Pacifica Tribune from 1959 until 1989, Chris Hunter is its current editor, and members of the Pacifica Historical Society contribute the vintage photos so much a part of a history and survey which is lively from the beginning. Tourists visiting the town will relish Pacifica's colorful history.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Fourth Network
Daniel M. Kimmel
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622
1566635721 $27.50 1-800-462-6420

When Garth Ancier left NBC for the new start-up FOX network, he was told he was making a terrible mistake; but twenty years later FOX has become one of the 'big four' of TV networks. Boston TV critic and newspaper commentator Daniel M. Kimmel is in the perfect position to present the story of FOX's rise to power, what with his background as a TV and film critic and his law degree and film teacher experience. Chapters are lively as The Fourth Network explains how a risky launch turned into a billion-dollar creation.

Open Wide
Dade Hayes & Jonathan Bing
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th St., NY, NY 10023-6298
1401352006 $23.95 1-800-759-0190

Open Wide: How Hollywood Box Office Became A National Obsession is the tell-it-like-it-is story of how the millions of dollars and literally years of work behind Hollywood summer movies finally all come down to a fierce popularity competition -- a competition whose success is measured by the size of the opening weekend box office gross. Focusing especially on the elaborate case study of one weekend's box office face-off between Terminator 3, Legally Blonde 2, and Brad Pitt's Sinbad in thousands of theaters across America, Open Wide reveals the nitty gritty of clashing titans and the individuals who put so much of their heart, soul, and reputation into movies. Movie buffs and film fans are treated to a fascinating peek behind the curtaink where the power struggles resemble the royal intrigues of antiquity.

Hong Kong Cinema
Law Kar & Frank Bren
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.scarecrowpress.com
0810849860 $60.00 1-800-462-6420

The collaborative effort of Hong Kong Film Archive programmer Law Kar and film and modern history scholar Frank Bren, Hong Kong Cinema: A Cross-cultural View, traces the history of Hong Kong's film arts from the "Western shadow plays" of the late 1890s, to the boom of the 1930s, to Hong Kong's title of the "Hollywood of China" that has eclipsed the moviemaking prominence of Shanghai since the 1940s, a preeminence that continues to this day. Hong Kong Cinema explores major developments in the Hong King film making industry, including the changing role of women and the influx of both Eastern and Western influences. A highly readible account, Hong Kong Cinema is as enjoyable for the non-specialized general reader as it is for those in the film industry looking to flesh out their knowledge of the Hong Kong film industry.

Chris Gore's Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide
Chris Gore
Lone Eagle Publishing Company
1024 North Orange Drive, Hollywood, CA 90038
www.hcdonline.com
1580650570 $21.95 1-800-815-0503

Now in a thoroughly updated and significantly expanded third edition, Chris Gore's Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide teaches the reader how to enter over 1,000 film fests worldwide, including ones specializing in independent, documentary, digital, animation, international, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, short films, and much more. Including tips, tricks, and techniques for winning cash prizes, the Chris Gore's Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide draws upon the author's considerable experience as a writer, filmmaker, television personality, and all around globetrotter to film festivals worldwide -- as will as being the host of FilmThreat.com. This is a very highly recommended resource which is simply packed with interviews and general advice, as well as specific details and summaries of the film festivals themselves.

Just A Geek
Will Wheaton
O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein, Higway N., Sebastapol, CA 95472
059600768X $24.95 www.oreilly.com

Fans of the Star Trek television series may recall the name of Wil Wheaton from prior episodes: Wheaton quit the series and faced harsh criticism before and after, for his acting abilities and his decision to leave. He defended his decision through his weblog and here reveals in book form his difficult journey to find himself. From accounts of auditions and Star Trek shoots and conventions to Wheaton's personal life, this provides an insider's viewpoint like no other and is a 'must read' for any Trekkie.

The Golden Age Of Chicago Children's Television
Ted Okuda & Jack Mulqueen
Lake Claremont Press
4650 N. Rockwell St., Chicago, IL 60625
1893121178 $17.95 lakeclaremont.com

The Golden Age Of Chicago Children's Television tells the true story of children's television produced or aired in Chicago from the 1940's to the 1970's. Even though these shows often operated under strict budget limits, the imagination that fueled them was boundless. Classic productions such as "Fran & Ollie", "Garfield Goose", "Bozo's Circus", and more, truly captivated the imagination of generations. Black-and-white photographs illustrate The Golden Age Of Chicago Children's Television, which delves deeply into the amazing history and trivia behind popular and beloved shows, from the lives of stars and hosts to what gave television executives sudden fits and much more. A wonderful trip through memory lane and fascinating repository of little-known facts.

Pitching Hollywood
Jonathan Koch et al.
Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press
1831 Industrial Way, #101, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956319 $12.95 1-800-497-4909

Written by two accomplished producers, Jonathan Koch and Robert Kosberg with the additional assistance of Tanya Meurer Norman, Pitching Hollywood: How to Sell Your TV and Movie Ideas is a no-nonsense guide to navigating the competitive and treacherous market for movie writing. From learning how to create a great idea, to what goes into a good pitch, how long a pitch should be, how to protect one's idea, when a full screenplay is better than just an idea, how pitching a movie differs from pitching a TV show, and much more, Pitching Hollywood is an absolute "must-have" for anyone seriously dedicated to selling one's ideas and writings, and highly recommended for anyone considering movie/TV writing as a career. The sales tips, tricks, and techniques, while of course tailored for the world of TV and movies, also include a lot of solid general information valuable for learning to pitch anything to anyone, making Pitching Hollywood an all-around valuable read.


The Business Shelf

eBay Global The Smart Way
Joseph T. Sinclair & Ron Ubels
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814472419 $19.95 amacombooks.org

Plenty of books show how to increase ebay profits using anything from enhanced display and description techniques to automated listing systems and keyword links but most pass lightly over the issue of considering profits in the foreign markets eBay reaches: now Joseph Sinclair and Ron Ubles provide a basic primer to gaining the most from the international market with eBay Global The Smart Way: Buying And Selling Internationally On The World's #1 Auction Site. Here are the detailed instructions on how to operate profitably on the many international eBay sites available, from how to set prices and arrange shipping to identifying the most likely markets for their products overseas. An excellent basic primer.

Brand Lands, Hot Spots, & Cool Spaces
Christian Mikunda
Kogan Page USA
c/o Stylus Publishing, LLC
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
0749442565 $39.95 www.styluspub.com

Expert marketer, trend scout and specialist in mood management for public spaces Christian Mikunda presents Brand Lands, Hot Spots, & Cool Spaces, an insider's guide to how marketers successfully connect an emotional bond with the customer, placing him or her in the right mood to attract sales, and embellishing public spaces in such a manner that they become locations other than home and work that customers wish to visit regularly. From concept stores and design malls to lobbies and lounges, urban entertainment centers, fairs and expos, and much more, public spaces of all kinds draw upon the fundamental principles that Mikunda clearly delineates to better set their customers at ease and entice them into returning again and again. Highly recommended, especially for marketing professionals seeking to hone the attractiveness of their given projects.

Business Confronts Terrorism
Dean C. Alexander
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, 3rd floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
0299189309 $35.00 uwpress.wisc.edu

Business Confronts Terrorism: Risks And Responses by Washington DC political consultant Dean C. Alexander provides the reader with an informed and informative overview of terrorist threats to business both abroad and here at home. Alexander also explains the ways in which terrorists take advantage of our ordinary, everyday economic system to finance their activities. He goes on to explore corporate security measures; analyses the relationship of the public and private sectors as they collaborate to defeat terrors groups; and reveals how the threat of terrorism has affected American labor, management, and business in general since September 11, 2001. Simply put, Business Confronts Terrorism should be considered mandatory reading by every American private citizen, business owner, labor leader, and government policy maker.


The Science Shelf

Research Projects And Research Proposals
Paul G. Chapin
Cambridge University Press
40 West 20th Street, NY, NY 10011-4211
www.cambridge.org
0521537169 $21.99 1-800-872-7423

Expertly written by Paul G. Chapin (a former director of the National Science Foundation Linguistics Program, and member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science), Research Projects And Research Proposals: A Guide For Scientists Seeking Funding is a no-nonsense, practical, methodically organized and "user friendly" guide to presenting professional-quality applications for grants and proposals. Individual chapters address how to identify appropriate funding sources, the nuts and bolts of writing a proposal with a budget and all the details a review board needs, ethical matters to remain aware of, how to manage a grand and renew a proposal when needed, and much more. A clear instructional emphasizing practical needs and responsibilities, Research Projects And Research Proposals is an absolute "must-have" reference for any scientist faced with the difficult task of raising funds for their department or project.

The Handy Geology Answer Book
Patricia Barnes-Svarney
Thomas E. Svarney
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414, Canton, MI 48187
1578591562 $21.95 www.amazon.com

Will California ever fall into the ocean? When will fossil fuels deplete, and what is their source? How do sedimentary rocks form? These and many other geology questions assume a question-and-answer format lending to browsing in The Handy Geology Answer Book. Other geology books on the market couch their facts in chapter of discussions; by using a question/answer format, The Handy Geology Answer Book invites browsing and injects a fun style into the learning process.

How To Dunk A Doughnut
Len Fisher
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Fl., NY, NY 10010
www.arcadepub.com
1559706805 $24.95 1-800-759-0190

Dr. Fisher was award an IgNobel Prize in 1999 for his work on the physics of cookie dunking, and his How To Dunk A Doughnut extends his research into the everyday world in an effort to relate science to everyday life. Anecdotes tell of science's applicability to people, from beer foam and the meaning of life to chewing and its relationship to perceptions of taste. Even the most reluctant science reader will find these vignettes compelling reading.

Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd St, NY, NY 10023-7015
1-800-944-8648 www.colmbia.edu/cu/cup

Edmond Mathez and James Webster's The Earth Machne: Science Of A Dynamic Planet (023112578X) is a highly recommended text for any who would wonder what climates were like in past times. College-level students will best access the wealth of science and information packed into The Earth Machine, which provides in-depth geological surveys of mountains, plate tectonics, oceans and earthquakes alike. Edmond Mathez is curator of petrology at the American Museum of Natural History and James Webster is curator of mineral deposits at the Museum, so both disciplines blend well in the unusually accessible The Earth Machine, deserving of ongoing recommendation. Neil F. Comins' Heavenly Errors (0231116454, $15.95) provides intriguing analysis of common errors and misconceptions of the real nature of the universe, identifying and classifying almost two thousand commonly held misconceptions, from the nature of black holes to suck in everything around them to how the sun shines. Attention given to how these errors developed is just as intriguing as the corrected science.

The Colors Of Infinity
Ian Stewart, et.al.
Clear Books/International Publishers
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
1904555055 $39.95 clearpress.co.uk

The beauty and color of fractals is captured in a documentary also included on the DVD accompanying this unique and informative book. Introduced by Arthur C. Clarke, The Colours Of Infinity has received world-wide television coverage and ten years ago brought the subject of fractals to the general public for the first time: geometric exploration is brought to the general reader's attention here, in a fine and highy recommended survey of fractual creations and math.

Two Thousand Formulas, Recipes & Trade Secrets
Harry Bennett
Feral House
PO Box 39910, Los Angeles, CA 90039
0922915954 $14.95 feralhouse.com

Can the at-home person actually use formulas to make glue, paint, crayons and more? Two Thousand Formulas, Recipes & Trade Secrets reprints a 1930s original and takes readers to an era where home remedy formulas were more readily accessible to the public. From cosmetics and drugs to lubricants, oils and construction materials, a vast and surprising array of concoctions is provided for the chemistry student interested in 'do it yourself' materials.

Earthshaking Science
Susan Elizabeth Hough
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
0691118191 $24.95 pup.princeton.edu

The sum of knowledge and mysteries surrounding earthquakes are provided in Susan Hough's Earthshaking Science, a scholarly but highly accessible survey of the geology and geologic exploration in the science of seismology. Susan Hough is a research seismologist in one of North America's most active earthquake zones: her title succeeds in aptly communicating the science of earthquake research to a lay audience, injecting a healthy dose of lively history for those with no prior background in the subject.

Best American Science And Nature Writing 2004
Tim Folger, Editor
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116-3764
0618246983 $14.00 www.hmco.com

If it's literary nonfiction essays you seek, look no further than the 2004 edition of Best American Science And Nature Writing as it showcases the finest nonfiction writing on diverse scientific topics published in 2004, from the psychology of suicide terrorism and the war on obesity to the diversity of DNA and medical pioneering efforts. A diverse collection which ranges through all scientific disciplines to provide only the best.

Engineering: An Endless Frontier
Sunny Y. Auyang
Harvard University Press
79 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
0674013328 $39.95 hup.harvard.edu

Genetic engineering, nanotechnology, particle technology: we live in a world increasingly being re-engineered by humans, as Hewlett Packard research scientist Sunny Auyang shows, and the goals of scientists and engineers are drawing increasingly together after decades of divergence. Once natural scientists sought to discover what was not known and engineers tried to create what did not exist: Engineering: An Endless Frontier charts the drawing together of the two disciplines, showing that modern engineering has drawn on par with science in its emerging technologies and achievements.

A Well-Ordered Thing
Michael D. Gordon
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
046502775X $30.00 basicbooks.com

When young Dmitrii Mendeleev drafted the Periodic Table of Elements as a guide for his chemistry students, he was already dreaming of building a scientific empire in his home of Russia with himself at its center. His Periodic Table predicted the existence of three unknown elements and helped foster the entire science of chemistry, so it's sad to learn the name of Dmitrii Mendeleev himself has been relatively lost in relation to his creation. Micahel D. Gordon's A Well-Ordered Thing: Dmitrii Mendeleev And The Shadow Of The Periodic Table resolves this neglect, providing an excellent review of both the Table's importance and Mendeleev's stormy relationship with his Russian background. An exciting, enlightening survey evolves.

God, The Devil and Darwin
Niall Shanks
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., NY, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com
0195161998 $29.95 1-800-451-7556

In the last fifteen years a controversial new theory of the origins of biological complexity has evolved, fostering a set of bitter debates around the world in education versus science teachings. God, The Devil, And Darwin: A Critique Of Intelligent Design Theory proposes an alternative to accepted accounts of evolutionary theory: that life is so complex and the universe so fine-tuned that the only possible explanation is the fact of an intelligent designer. Niall Shanks has written the first introduction to and critique of this new intellectual movement theory, providing both a history and arguments for and against Intelligent Design.

The Harmonious Universe
Keith J. Laidler
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NJ 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591021871 $29.95 www.amazon.com

The last few centuries have brought with them many advancements in human understanding of the structure and motion of the universe and have brought with them a new infusion of symbols, formulas and math not to mention jargon to illustrate these new sciences. In The Harmonious Universe, science writer and chemistry professor Keith Laidler shows how best to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the universe, examining the disciplines which have lately contributed a new understanding to how the universe works, and providing explanations of the latest major scientific developments. An excellent, basic survey of scientific understanding.

The Book Nobody Read
Owen Gingerich
Walker & Company
104 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
0802714153 $25.00 walkerbooks.com

Historian and scientist Owen Gingerich here gathers all extant copies of Nicolaus Copernicus' famous book De Revolutionibus and uses them to tell the story of the 1543 astronomer who didn't see his lifetime work in print until he was on his deathbed. Perhaps his demise was a blessing, for not only did he not live to hear of its impact but his book is only now being recognized as one of the most important scientific works of all time four and a half centuries later. Gingerich's quest to see all existing copies of its first and second editions began through his observation of a seeming contradiction about the book: his journey involved three decades of investigation and The Book Nobody Read evolves into an exciting travelogue and survey of both science and publishing.


The Travel Shelf

Uncertain Safari
Allan M. Winkler
Hamilton Books
c/o University Press of America
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
0761828400 $16.95 www.univpress.com

Modern African life is examined from author Allan winkler's personal experiences living and working in Kenya and traveling to many other parts of the continent. Uncertain Safari presents the history professor's social and political uncertainties, blending a fascinating and informative travelogue with an exploration of the issues which concern and affect all Africans. An excellent blend of travel and social commentary emerges.

The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar
Ron Krannich & Caryl Krannich
Impact Publications
9104-N Manassas Drive, Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
www.impactpublications.com
1570232032 $21.95 1-703-361-7300

The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar: Best Of The Best In Travel And Shopping is an absolute "must-have" for international travelers looking to obtain quality goods or souvenirs from Thailand at a reasonable price. Intended as a supplementary resource and not a general-purpose travel guide, The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar focuses specifically upon obstacles, negotiation techniques, and tips and tricks for those interested in shopping for everything from gemstones to textiles to artworks and much more. From learning how to walk away from the "touts" that try to lure tourists into overpriced stores (overpriced because the store must pay the tout a 10% to 40% commission for the service!), to a step-by-step introduction to the art of haggling, to knowing how to avoid paying thousands of dollars for what might be a cheap knock-off gemstone, to why even the locals may not always obtain the best deals (some shopkeepers can give tourists a lower price than their repeat local customers - who would expect the same bargain every time they walked through the door) to dealing with cultural differences and much more, The Treasures And Pleasures Of Thailand And Myanmar zeroes in on exactly what the money-conscious tourist in Thailand needs to know.

Provence
Steffen Lipp
TeNeues
16 W. 22nd St., New York NY 10010
3823845756 $14.95 www.teneues.com

Steffen Lipp's lovely Provence photos could easily have been featured in our art section but it'd be a shame to limit his lovely images to art students alone. This is virtually packed with images from year-round tours through Provence, France: from the changing leaves and red hills of Fall to the lovely countryside and architectural wonders of the region. Don't anticipate a lot of chat here: it's intended as a visual tour of the countryside and this is Provence's greatest achievement.

Zulu Wilderness
Ian Player
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountain Pkwy #300, Golden, CO 80403-1672
www.fulcrum-books.com
1555913636 $21.95 1-800-992-2908

Ian Player's Zulu Wilderness could also have been featured in our biography section, for really, it's as much a personal memoir of the author's experiences traveling in the African wilderness and his work as a conservationist as it is a travelogue of the region but it's featured here for its fine survey of the wilderness of South Africa, the social and conservation issues at hand, and its exciting 'you are there' adventure sensation. Very highly recommended: gripping and hard to put down.

Reader's Digest Press
Reader's Digest Road
Pleasantville, NY 10570-7000
www.rd.com

Want to stay in the United States but remain off the beaten path in the outdoors areas of the country? There's no better place to begin the journey than with Reader's Digest's Off The Beaten Path (0762-104244, $30.00), which extols the virtues of some ancient and historical wonders in virtually every state. Over a thousand overlooked or under-visited travel destinations are featured in a blend of both text and color photos, from Michigan's museums and waterfalls to Oregon's sea lion caves and canyons. An outstanding travel collection of easily-seen hints, Off The Beaten Path insides small maps, detailed destination-oriented information and tips, and all the description you could want for planning a trip. The Money Saver's Travel Atlas (0762104309, $19.95) is a good take-along car planner: it presents a complete road atlas of large-size maps of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the US Virgin islands, accompanies these maps with regional travel guides, and recommends over thirty scenic lesser-known highways to get to them. The oversized format will still fit in a suitcase if a plane trip is involved, too.

The Best In Tent Camping Virginia
Randy Porter with Marie Javins
Menasha Ridge Press
2204 First Avenue South, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
089732563X $14.95 www.amazon.com

Now in its second edition, The Best In Tent Camping Virginia is a no-nonsense outdoors companion and "user friendly" guide for tent campers who prefer serene campsites and eschew RV's. Written by campers who have set their tents and evaluated grounds for years, The Best In Tent Camping Virginia offers choice sites with campground layout maps, information on fees, restrictions, and dates of operation, ratings for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security, and cleanliness, and a thorough evaluation with particular notes unique to each locale. Highly recommended for any would-be Virginia tent camper looking for an optimum experience.

Best Places Northern California
Matthew Poole
Best Places/Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
www.bestplaces.com sasquatchbooks.com
1570614075 $19.95 1-800-775-0817

Now in a thoroughly updated fifth edition, Matthew Poole's Best Places Northern California compiles the reviews of Northern California natives - locals who know best! - to highlight top quality establishments ranging from vineyards in Sonoma to nightclubs in San Francisco and much more. Offering one to three-day sample itineraries by region, designed to allow one to take maximum advantage of time and money. The special feature of Best Places Northern California is that it only lists the the very best and even a one star rating location is a delight, while inferior institutions simply deserve no mention here. Maps, contact information, and brief but vivid descriptions round out this excellent and confidently recommended travel resource.

The Other Orlando
Kellly Monaghan
The Intrepid Traveler
PO Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
1887140506 $15.95 intrepidtraveler.com

The Other Orlando is a straightforward travel and tour guide for Orlando vacationers who have seen Disney and Universal and want to explore other great attractions, including SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cover, Busch Gardens Tampa, Kennedy Space Center, and Central Florida. Packed with information on everything from sightseeing gators to boat rides to beautiful gardens and much more, with extensive descriptions of various sites, The Other Orlando is a highly recommended for anyone wanting to take an extended vacation and see all that is worth seeing in this Florida paradise.

Globetrotter's Pocket Doc
Jonathan E. Jensen, MD FACP
Caduceus International, LLC
PO Box 144, Hygiene, CO 80533
0971805644 $34.95 www.amazon.com

Globetrotter's Pocket Doc: A Medical Translation Handbook For Travelers, English/french Edition is an international, English-language, medical communication book written especially for travelers to foreign countries. It is not a standard book; instead, it features lists of medical conditions, illnesses, and injuries, in English and in French, that any English-speaking traveler can point to and immediately inform a French-speaking doctor his or her ailments. A superb communication tool, and an absolute must for travelers with chronic medical conditions. In addition to lists of symptoms, a quite lengthy bilingual assortment of prescription and non-prescription drug names, charts, scales, anatomic diagrams, medical history forms and more round out this first-rate communication tool that just might save a life.

Oahu Revealed
Andrew Doughty & Harriett Friedman
Wizard Publications Inc.
PO Box 991, Lihue, HI 96766-0991
0971727929 $15.95 www.amazon.com

Written by expert travel guide writers who take it upon themselves to hike all the trails, ride the boats, scuba dive the reefs, dine the restaurants, review the resorts, snorkel the coastline, and share their secrets, Oahu Revealed: The Ultimate Guide To Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond is a "must-have" for any tourist, vacationer, traveler, or even resident seeking to experience the best that the Oahu island of Hawaii, including Honolulu, Waikiki, and more, have to offer. Color maps and photographs, concise yet detailed reviews, adventures and activities galore from traditional favorites to lesser-known pastimes such as kitesurfing, and much more pack this useful guide, which distinguishes the best of the best places with icons that declare them "solid gold" or "a real gem". An expertly written, information-packed guide.

Finding Fault In California
Susan Elizabeth Hough
Mountain Press
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0878424954 $18.00 mountain-press.com

California has plenty of seismic faults which are responsible for creating the state's diverse geological landscapes, and Susan Hough serves as your travel guide to finding these faults in Finding Fault In California. This is perfect for any who would tour the state with geology or faults in mind: chapters provide background earthquake and activity history, maps to pinpoint specific locations, and plenty of detail for both geologists and would-be visitors to California. An unusual survey peppered with black and white photos throughout.

The Best In Tent Camping: Oregon
Jeanne Louise Pyle
Menasha Ridge Press
2204 First Avenue South, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
0897325702 $14.95 menasharidge.com

Written by veteran camper and nature lover Jeanne Louise Pyle, The Best In Tent Camping: Oregon is a detailed guide especially for Oregon campers who like scenic and serene sites, removed from concrete, RVs, boombox-happy individuals and worse. Categorized according to the section of Oregon in which they are to be found, the campground sites are presented with detailed maps, directions, descriptions, and ratings on their beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security, cleanliness, and insect control. A superb guide for anyone looking to enjoy the peace and freedom of nature.

It's All Greek To Me!
John Mole
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
3704 Beard Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55422
www.nbrealey-books.com
1857883438 $16.00 1-888-273-2539

It's All Greek To Me! is the memoir of an Englishman who came to call Greece, and has lived there for thirty years. He and his family shared a dream of daily life in Greek paradise, and at the urging of a persuasive local, they purchased a little place on the hillside with no water, no electricity, no roof, no floor, no doors, and no windows. From this they created a place to call home in timeless rural Greece, and learned to share the culture and daily life of the local villagers that were their neighbors. A heartwarming story of realizing one's dream and sharing it together, as well as just enjoying the ups and downs of daily life in a peaceful land.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Complete Guide To Carb Counting
Hope Warshaw & Karmeen Kulkarni
American Diabetes Association.
1701 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402038 $16.95 www.diabetes.org

What foods make blood sugars rise, and how high? The answer is in the amount of carbs ingested, and Hope Warshaw and Karmeen Kulkarni's Complete Guide To Carb Counting provides basic tips on how to understand the carb counts of everyday foods. From strategies for eating out to carb counting for insulin pump users and recordkeeping forms, this provides a structured guide both diabetic types can readily understand the use.

No More Knee Pain
Dr. George Kessler & Colleen Kapklein
Berkley Books
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0425194000 $24.95 www.penguin.com

In No More Knee Pain, women receive an excellent basic guide to natural prevention and relief of knee pain with a 12-week program geared to understanding the anatomy of the knee, common problems of the knee in women, and what takes a toll on the joints. From eating appropriately for knee health and using nutritional supplements to considering body mechanics, posture correction and preventative knee exercises, osteopathic physician George Kessler covers all the bases.

Mayo Clinic Guide To Women's Cancers
Lynn C. Hartmann, M.D.
Charles L. Loprinzi, M.D.
Mayo Clinic Health Information
Ceterplace 5, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905
www.MayoClinic.com
189300533X $34.95 1-800-430-9699

The collaborative effort of diverse experts in the Mayo Clinic Women's Cancer Program, Mayo Clinic Guide To Women's Cancers is a thorough, in-depth reference for the lay reader who needs to know the latest information about female-specific types of cancer. Sections cover breast cancer, including the latest discoveries of genetic research, other gynecological cancers including those of the ovaries, cervix, vagina, vulva, and other parts of the female reproductive system, practical advice for living with the day-to-day physical and emotional stresses of cancer and its treatment, and much more. The text is highly accessible to the lay reader, presenting medical concepts in plain terms and offering readily followed advice. Highly recommended.

Omnigraphics
2050 Elmwood Avenue, Sharon Hills, PA 19079
$78.00 Each 1-800-234-1340

Three new titles in the Omnigraphics 'Health Reference Series' provide important reference overviews for any in-depth health library collection, and are highly recommended picks. Dawn Matthews edits Child Abuse Sourcebook (0780807-057), which appears in a first edition to consider basic consumer health information about the physical, sexual and emotional neglect of children. From withholding medical care to child malpractice situations, Child Abuse Sourcebook is packed with insights on all kinds of issues, from foster care and adoption to parenting and abuse prevention. Matthews also edits Domestic Violence Sourcebook (078080-6697), which appears in its second edition to consider the causes and results of abusive relationships. Facts about domestic violence in different populations, medical care, and more are all updated in this renewed resource. Karen Bellenir edits Infectious Diseases Sourcebook (0780806-751), appearing for the first time as an especially highly recommended survey of consumer health issues. Chapters discuss contagious and non-contagious bacterial, viral and fungal spreads, analyze science and health issues, and provide the latest info on treatments and transmission, not neglecting the possibilities of bioterrorism. All are excellent college-level references.

The Obesity Myth
Paul Campos
Gotham Books
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1592400663 $25.00 www.penguin.com

Chronic adult and juvenile obesity is a major health crisis according to both government studies and weight loss industry officials - or is it? Paul Campos leads a backlash against 'weight hysteria' and its dangerous consequences with The Obesity Myth, showing how the public is constantly misinformed about the medical significance of weight, and why dieting is actually bad for health. An intriguing counter-argument to modern thinking evolves.

Plagues And Poxes
Alfred Jay Bollett, MD
Demos Medical Publishing
386 Park Avenue S. #201, NY, NY 10016
188879979X $29.95 demosmedpub.com

The impact of human history on epidemic disease is related in Dr. Bollett's Plagues And Poxes, an excellent medical-based survey which charts the rise and changing of disease patterns throughout human history. From key events which sparked changes and people involved in them to how inflections diseases have been stopped, Plagues And Poxes provides both a case history and a social analysis, written by a medical doctor who has been a member of many prestigious medical history societies.

Plague
Wendy Orent
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0743236858 $25.00 www.simonsays.com

Plague is the world's most dangerous bacterial disease, a frightening bioterrorist threat to the world, and yet largely misunderstood by the general public: enter Wendy Orent's Plague: The Mysterious Past And Terrifying Future Of The World's Most Dangerous Disease, which uses the science journalist's background to easily explain the history and function of the plague germ to lay audiences. From the labs of the former Soviet Union where Russian scientists worked on engineering strains of plague to be vaccine-resistant to other threats of plague's potential as a bioweapon, Plague is a hard-hitting discussion with social and political ramifications for international public health decisions.

Dreamwalk
Rachael Clearwater
Book Partners, Inc.
PO Box 68, Newberg, Oregon 97132
1581511035 $15.00 www.amazon.com

Dreamwalk: A Survivor's Journey Through Breast Cancer is the personal memoir of Rachael Clearwater, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer at age 48. Rachel underwent two mastectomies, and has since dedicated herself to easing the path of cancer patients. The challenge of living daily with a biological time bomb, sojourning through difficult times, the crucial support of friends and family and the difficult choices that take their toll, as well as wisdom borne of 20/20 hindsight, fill this powerful testimony. An inspirational tale of dedication and courage.

Haworth Press
10 Alice St., Binghamton NY 13904-1580
www.haworthpressinc.com

Well over a hundred sixty herbal products and over three hundred clinical studies on them are packed into a weighty two-volume reference with Marilyn Barrett, Ph.D.'s The Handbook Of Clinically Tested Herbal Remedies V. 1 And 2 (078-9010682 $159.95), recommended highly for college-level libraries. Trial designs, bibliographic references, drug-herb interactions, and botanical summaries and pharmacopoeial monograph contents are packed into these descriptions of clinically tested herbal remedies, with an A-Z organization by herb name making for an excellent quick look-up. Most herbal guides are for lay readers and provide only abbreviated, light coverage of study results: this packs in valuable details for both providers and patients, describing the quality and processes of evidence gathering, grading and review as much as the results, making it especially recommended for serious medical libraries. Dennis Worthen's Dictionary Of Pharmacy (0789023288, $39.95) is the only English-language reference to provide a comprehensive list of terms of importance to pharmacy students, educators, and practitioners alike. Here are the pharmacy abbreviations, Latin terms, practice standards, tables and ethical codes pharmacists use daily, along with lists of professional associations, organizations and colleges of pharmacy in the US and Canada. Jonathan Erlen, Ph.D. and Joseph Spillane, Ph.D. edit Federal Drug Control: The Evolution Of Policy And Practice (0787918926, $29.95), providing fresh insights into federal regulation processes and involvement in drug processes. The history of cocaine and marijuana use in the 20th century is presented along with the federal government's attempts to limit the pharmacy profession's control over prescription drugs, and the Narcotic Control and other acts. An excellent survey of legal processes in drug regulation in this country.

What Nurses Know And Doctors Don't Have Time To Tell You
Patricia Carroll, RN
Perigee Books
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0399529578 $14.95 www.penguin.com

From addressing everyday health problems and minor injuries to healing faster and managing chronic conditions effectively, What Nurses Know And Doctors Don't Have Time To Tell You provides fast, easy answers to common health-care questions nurses hear most often. Nurse Patricia Carroll has more than 20 years experience as an RN and ER nurse: she's chosen the most common patient questions and provides treatment plans and solutions for patients and families alike.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Golden Chain
Algis Uzdavinys
World Wisdom
1501 East Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
0941532615 $21.95 worldwisdom.com

The Golden Chain: An Anthology Of Pythagorean And Platonic Philosophy by Algis Uzdavinys (a Research Fellow at the Institute of Culture, Philosophy, and Arts) reveals that Platonic and Pythagorean philosophy is not directly equitable with our contemporary concept of "rationalism" and therefore devoid of any spiritual content. Rather, Platonic and Pythagorean philosophy in ancient Greece was seen as a way of life and as a means of spiritual realization. The object in Hellenic times was to establish for its practitioners of the philosophy of Plato and Pythagoras a harmony with the cosmos, purifying their souls and leading them into union with the Divine Intellect and the One. The Hellenic philosophies were closer to the Eternal Mysteries than to the 20th century fashions of Western logicians. The Golden Chain is informed and informative reading which is most especially commended to the attention of philosophy students and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in how philosophy can free us from the chains of desire driven materialism and the rationalized hubris that is such a hallmark of contemporary western cultures.

The Simple Feeling Of Being
Ken Wilber
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
159030151X $14.95 shambhala.com

Expertly written by Ken Wilber (the prolific author of nineteen books on philosophy and psychology, as well as the developer of the "theory of everything" that blends wisdom from Eastern spirituality and Western science), The Simple Feeling Of Being: Embracing Your True Nature is an assembly of inspirationa, mystical, and informative passages drawn from his many works. These vivid, bite-sized vignettes of enlightenment offer brief glimpses into a larger fulfillment of purpose and the long path to emotional and spiritual well-being. As nourishing to read all at once or a few pages at a time, immersion of any duration in the pages of The Simple Feeling Of Being promotes a meditative sensation true to its title and is a recommended additon personal and academic supplemental reading lists for students of Eastern and Western philosophy systems.

Community In The Digital Age
Andrew Feenberg & Darin Barney, Eds.
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowmanlittlefield.com
0742529592 $34.95 www.amazon.com

If it's a philosophical discussion of how community is changing in the digital age that is needed, you need go no further than Andrew Feenberg and Darin Barney's collection Community In The Digital Age: it updates and extends debates about who we are when we're online, discusses differences between online and offline realities, and provides critical assessments of the Internet's relationships to public life. A challenging survey of one of the fastest-changing relationships in modern times, Community In The Digital Age should be required reading.

Routledge
270 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
$15.95 Each www.routledge-ny.com

Routledge's innovative new 'Thinking in Action' series takes the concept of philosophy a step further, approaching the non-specialist general reader with a series of philosophical concepts linked to contemporary life and thought. Charles Guignon's On Being Authentic (0415261236) examines concepts of self from early to modern times, examining major philosophical movements which have affected and changes concepts of self over the centuries. John Harris' On Cloning (041531-7002) presents a defiance of cloning as a concept, examining how cloning has sparked fear in communities, considering what a clone is, and examining the underlying 'wickedness' of the concept. Adam Morton's On Evil (0415305195) considers the many faces and facets of the concept of evil: what it is, how it makes people do the wrong thing, and how it can be explained or justified. Morton argues for caution in the concept and use of 'evil' even as he discusses its presence and how and why it occurs.

Philosophy Of The United States
Gordon L. Anderson
Paragon House
2285 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55114
1557788448 $19.95 paragonhouse.com

Philosophy Of The United States: Life, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness is the latest of the Paragon Issues in Philosophy series, a critical set of scholarly texts that examines serious issues and ideas that shape human experience. Author Gordon L. Anderson, who holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and who serves as the Secretary-General of Professors World Peace Academy, examines the historical origin and the incredible experiment that was the formation of the United States, as well as the critical necessity of such things as checks and balances on political power, regulations of financial power, universal education, social welfare, and more. An absorbing, informative discussion of fundamental ideals, intended for intermediate students but accessible to any lay reader who wants to do some thinking about the basic principles of the American nation.

On Consciousness
Ted Honderich
University of Pittsburgh Press
Eureka Building, fifth floor, 3400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
0822942453 $44.95 www.amazon.com

Written by the Grote Professor of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic at University College London, Ted Honderich, On Consciousness strives to answer the perplexing dilemma: what exactly is consciousness, and what does it mean? Delving into neuroscience, philosophy, theory, and spiritualism in search of answers, as well as exploring topics such as reflective vs. affective consciousness, anti-individualism vs. union theory, and so much more, On Consciousness carefully dissects grand mysteries into bite-sized conundrums for personal contemplation. The scholarly text is intended for advanced students, yet curious lay readers can also unravel the mysteries of perception, explained as they are to the best of human understanding in On Consciousness.

How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci
Michael J. Gelb
Delta/Bantam Books
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
www.bantamdell.com
0440508274 $15.95 1-800-726-0600

Genius is made, not born: despite this fact many would believe great thinkers sprung from birth with ideas intact. That's why Michael Gelb's How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci is so important: it provides a rebuttal that developing the mind isn't dependent upon genes alone, and it shows how to uncover hidden abilities to unlock latent creative potential for learning and creativity. Chapters describe sensory awareness and how it may be increased, present a range of exercises and applications to learn the rules of mind mapping and how to use them effectively, and generally 'teach thinking' to invigorate latent processes. An intriguing approach to mental prowess.


The Gardening Shelf

Variegated Trees And Shrubs
Ronald Houtman
Timber Press
133 SW Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
www.timberpress.com
0881926493 $49.95 1-800-327-5680

Ronald Houtman is secretary of the Trials Committee of the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society in the Netherlands. This encyclopedic work has more than 760 sharp color photos enabling the reader to distinguish the numerous kinds of variegated trees and shrubs, many of which have gained popularity with modern gardeners. More than 800 varieties are catalogued with special attention given to their correct names, which are often confused by greenhouses and other places selling types of them. Short sections on the hundreds of trees and shrubs also describe them to go along with the photographs and note favorable areas of growth and problems arising from planting in an improper place. An introductory chapter by W. M. van Nicrop, another member of Houtman's Dutch horticultural group, discusses "Using Variegated Plants in a Garden." Variegated Trees And Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia is not only definitive, but attractive with its large size, glossy pages, and hundreds of fine, useful color photographs. For many gardeners, landscape architects, botanists, and the like, this will be the only text they want or need in this area of plants.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Our Life With Birds
John Tveten & Gloria Tveten
Texas A&M University Press
Drawer C, College Station, TX 77843
www.tamu.edu/upress
1585443808 $24.95 1-800-826-8911

Written by a dedicated pair of Texas naturalists, photographers, and freelance writers, Our Life With Birds is a passionate chronicle of birdwatching - the joy of observing feathered friends in the wild, awake or asleep, feeding, courting, or raising a family. Brief yet memorable chronicles from the 1970's to near the turn of the century recount observations of everything from whooping cranes to snowy owls, though many chapters focus on recollections of general features and behaviors of birds in general, rather than encounters with specific species. Black-and-white hand-drawn, naturalisitic illustrations add a charming touch to this guide especially recommended for anyone who loves to view birds in their native habitat, or armchair travelers who wish to experience birdwatching across America without having to traverse the length of the nation.

The Encyclopedia Of Animals
George McKay, et al, editors
University of California Press
2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
0520244060 $39.95 www.ucpress.edu

The editorial collaboration of George McKay, Fred Cooke, Stephen Hutchinson, Richard Vogt, and Hug Dingle, The Encyclopedia Of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide is an amazing scientific reference and "user friendly" resource for zoology students and non-specialist general readers. Full-color photographs and illustrations on every single page add a compelling touch to this amazing survey of virtually of the animal kingdom, featuring geographic distribution, habitat and feeding, distinctive traits, life cycle and more of all the myriad types of beasts known to man. The text is scientific and matter-of-fact in presenting information, yet written to be accessible to lay readers. Of especial note are the realistic artist's depictions of myriad species variations for different birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc. in order to render their different appearances crystal clear. An absolute "must-have" for private or library zoology reference shelves.

Feather Reports
Derwent May
Robson Books/Parkwest, Dist.
Box 20261, New York NY 10025-1512
http://www.parkwestpubs.com/
1861052456 $13.25 1-646-215-9003

Derwent May has long been an expert on nature and the British countryside and his latest Feather Reports reflects his years of experience and expertise, providing a rich survey of the bird world which lay readers and ornithologists alike will relish. Arranged month by month, Feather Reports adds lovely line drawings by Robin Jacques to its detailed descriptions and observations of bird life.

Your New Cat
Kim Campbell Thornton
Capital Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166
www.capital-books.com
1931868034 $14.95 1-800-758-3756

Knowledgeably written by Kim Campbell Thornton (a past president of Cat Writers Association of America), Your New Cat is a straightforward guide to caring for, feeding, grooming, and protecting a beloved new feline pet, whether a kitten or an adult cat. Especially important are the warnings of common household poisons (antifreeze is lethal to animals, yet they will consume it if it is left out due its sweet taste!), hazards, and poisonous plants, and other things to watch out for to keep one's animal safe. Your New Cat is a superb primer and an absolute "must-have" reference and resource for any new cat owner.

Parenting Your Dog
Trish King
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
www.tfh.com
0793805481 $19.95 1-800-631-2188

Professional dog trainer Trish King presents Parenting Your Dog, a witty and insightful look into how dogs really "think." Though their behavior and reactions are strongly shaped by animal instincts, their unconditional love brings joy to an owner's heart and raising a dog can easily be compared t o raising a child. Offering strategies to resolve common problem behaviors, guidelines for aiding a dog's adjustment to family life, an overview of canine physical, mental, and emotional development from puppyhood to old age and more, Parenting Your Dog is a superb supplementary resource and instructional reference for dog owners of all experience levels.

The Race To Save The Lord God Bird
Philip Hoose
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374361738 $20.00 .fgskidsbooks.com

Originally designed and published as a children's book for teenage readers, Philip Hoose's The Race To Save The Lord God Bird is also confidently recommended an ideal introduction for an adult readership as a very highly recommended survey of the process of extinction and changing attitudes towards understanding and protecting species and habitats. From James J. Audubon's early efforts to the plume wars to early collectors of birds, The Race To Save The Lord God Bird documents the ravaging of the bird world around the turn of the century and the slow realizations of bird extinction processes which evolved from there.


The Environmental Issues Shelf

Natural Museums
Kathy S. Mason
Michigan State University
1405 S. Harrison Rd., Suite 25, Manly Miles Building, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
0870137115 $24.95 msupress.msu.edu

In 1872 the first national park was founded at Yellowstone, sparking a series of early parks designed to serve as natural history museums for visitors. Natural Museums is both a survey of early parks and a scholarly study of the national park system as a whole, examining the changing purposes and significance of the parks system for future generations. An excellent survey, Natural Museums should be pursued by any visitor to a US park.

Saving The Big Thicket
James J. Cozine, Jr.
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
www.unt.edu/untpress
1574411756 $34.95 1-940-565-2142

Originally written in 1976 (under the title "Assault on a Wilderness"), Saving The Big Thicket: From Exploration To Preservation, 1685-2003 is the environmental saga of a ten-year war between conservationists and timber companies concerning the 84,550 acres of the Texas Big Thicket National Preserve. Chronicling modern history in an eminently readible manner, Saving The Big Thicket reveals in detail the issues advocated by both sides of the often heated controversy, and offers a handful of black-and-white photographs as embellishment. Saving The Big Thicket is a welcome and scholarly addition to American conservation studies and environmental history shelves.

Tree: A Life Story
David Suzuki & Wayne Grady
Greystone
2323 Quebec St. #201, Vancouver, BC, V5T 4S7, Canada
www.greystonebooks.com
1553650166 $20.00 www.amazon.com

David Suzuki and Wayne Grady join forces in Tree: A Life Story to chronicle the life of a giant Douglas fir tree in the Pacific Northwest, from its birth in the year Edward I became king of England through its fall in 1929 and its rebirth as a nurse log. At the heart of Tree: A Life Story are issues of strip-logging, conservation, and natural history, making for more than a singular discussion of tree environments and conservation.

Climate Change
David G. Victor
Brookings Institute
1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036
www.brookings.edu/press/books
0876093438 $15.00 www.amazon.com

Plenty of titles present exposes of the climate change coming: David Victor's Climate Change provides a political approach, debating American policy options in climate change and surveying the economic and social costs of changing climate conditions. Three contrasting perspectives are offered: one emphasizes the ability of wealthy societies to adapt, a second urges new attention to the defunct Kyoto Protocol, a third urges unilateral action creating a market for low-carbon emission technologies around the world. All provide important discussions.


The Math Shelf

McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York NY 10121
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com

Four new math books are outstanding presentations for self-learners. The 'Demystified' series, for example, uses self-teaching formats to provide the fundamentals. Stan Gibilisco's Statistics (0071431-187, $19.95) considers statistics using a step-by-step approach to understanding the basics, from jargon and formulas to understanding randomness and the right ways to obtain and analyze data. Steven Kemp and Sid Kemp's Business Statistics Demystified (0071440240, $19.95) uses a simple 'applied science' approach to apply business statistics to reports, daily use, and objectives ranging form forecasting to resource management. College Algebra (00-71439285, $19.95) is a prerequisite to these courses, covering all the basics of college-level algebra for students either studying for a test or seeking to master algebra as a foundation for calculus, physics or computing. If it's just basic consumer math you need, choose Jerry Howett's Contemporary's Number Power: Real World Math Skills (0072979097, $19.95): simple topics range from banking, loans and credit to problem-solving applications, ESL activities and more. This is intended as a workbook and reference applicable to school courses but is also highly recommended for the general adult seeking to brush up on math skills.


The Language Studies Shelf

Speak Like A Native
Michael D. Janich
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Cir., Boulder, CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
1581604521 $19.00 1-800-392-2400

Knowledgeably written by Michael D. Janich (an expert interpreter trained by the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center), Speak Like A Native: Professional Secrets For Mastering Foreign Languages is a straightforward, "user friendly" guide which is filled from cover to cover with rules, tips, tricks, and techniques for mastering any language. These are concepts and practices which are applied by professional linguists in various U.S. and foreign government agencies. Offering strategies directly applicable to learning any language, Speak Like A Native includes 10 basic rules for learning a foreign language; a 12-step process for working toward linguistic fluency; 50 proven tricks of the trade, and much more. An excellent resource offering helpful advice for honing one's competency regardless of one's linguistic background and experience Speak Like A Native is a superbly organized and deftly presented addition to any language studies reference collection or supplemental reading list.

Federal Street Press/Merriam-Webster
PO Box 281, Springfield, MO 01102
www.federalstreetpress.com

Two wonderful new Webster dictionaries are recommended picks for both high-school and college-level collections as well as public library holdings. The quite accessible New Explorer Dictionary Of Word Origins (1892859661) provides both students and browsers with an easily-used format where entries are arranged alphabetically for quick look-ups, but provide plenty of cross-referencing for complete word understanding. Plenty of background history helps students understand the evolution of and connections between English language oddities. Webster's New Explorer Guide To English Usage (189285967X) answers usage questions through over a thousand articles addressing most common usage issues. From confused words to alternative spellings, this provides an alphabetical arrangement to make lookups easy, along with the verbal illustration to clarify usage. Both are excellent personal, school, and community English language reference works.

Lose Your Accent In 28 Days
Judy Ravin
Language Success Press
2232 South Main Street, #345, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
www.languagesuccesspress.com
0972530045 $49.95 1-866-577-7323

Having taught English as a Second Language and Accent Reduction Techniques from more than a decade at universities and for corporations, Judy Ravin is the also CEO of English Communication Services, an accent reduction training company. In Lose Your Accent In 28 Days, linquistics expert Judy Ravin draws upon her many years of professional experience to develop a system for accent reductions that includes an instruction book enhanced with an interactive CD-ROM and an audio CD that shows the learner how to produce the sounds of the English language. This provision of a visual and audio reinforcement to the typical audio cassette for language instruction is a major advance, along with Ravin's provision of 80 distinct techniques for better pronunciation. Lose Your Accent In 28 Days is applicable to students of all language backgrounds and would be of special value for immigrants aspiring to succeed in the American corporate, academic, broadcast journalism, or entertainment industries.

A Greek Alphabetarion
Harvey Bluedorn
Trivium Pursuit
429 Lake Park Blvd, Muscatine, IA 52761
0974361690 $25.00 triviumpursuit.com

This new edition of A Greek Alphabetarion: A Primer For Teaching How To Read, Write, & Pronounce Ancient & Biblical Greek by English and Greek grammarian Harvey Bluedorn has been thoroughly revised and reformatted to make it easier for parents to teach their children, and for self-instructed older students to learn by themselves, the symbols and sounds of the Greek alphabet and master the Greek language. A syllabary (practice blending consonants and vowels) and a chrestomathy (practice reading sample passages) have been added in this expanded edition. A Greek Alphabetarion teaches the Greek alphabet in alphabetical order, letter by letter, using a rhythmic cadence to aid the student's memorization. Then author and teacher Harvey Bluedorn instructs the reader the Greek alphabet in phonetic order, classifying each letter by its sound. Enhanced with an accompanying pronunciation CD, A Greek Alphabetarion is a strongly recommended instructional textbook and is especially suited to students in homeschool, private school, parochial school, seminary, college, and adult self-study programs and curriculums.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Sisters At Sinai
Jill Hammer
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
www.jewishpub.org
0827608063 $24.95 1-800-234-3151

Sisters At Sinai: New Tales Of Biblical Women is a fictional anthology of 24 stories about women in the Bible. Rabbi Jill Hammer evokes the ancient tradition of Midrash - that of using creativity to interpret elaborations from the limited details of biblical text - to paint an imaginative picture of the lives of Lilith, Sarah, Leah, Miriam, and many more. Honoring its biblical protagonists as prophets, rulers, and teachers, these diverse tales draw upon a Judaic traditions and understandings regarding the human condition as surely as the scriptures that inspired them. Sisters At Sinai is highly recommended reading.

Battling For Souls
Alex Grobman
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881258431 $29.50 www.ktav.com

Battling For Souls: The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee In Post-War Europe by academician and historian Alex Grobman tells the story of the men, women, and rabbinical leaders of the Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee, who strived to keep and nourish the spark of Jewish spirit in the hearts of survivors in the wake of the unspeakable atrocities of the Holocaust. A mission that sustained itself despite lack of funds and even in the face of open hostility, from both local populations and other Jewish organizations, The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee battled tirelessly for nothing less than Jewish souls. An eye-opening true story of group dedication, determination and purpose.

Introducing My Faith
And My Community
Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com
1580231926 $16.99 1-800-962-4544

Rabbi Kerry Olitzky provides an informative introduction to the basics of Judaism and the complexities of Jewish life through the perspective of an interfaith relationship with Introducing My Faith And My Community. An ideal outreach guide for Christian readers in a Jewish Interfaith relationship, Rabbi Olitzky accessibly addresses a diversity of issues including beliefs, religion, and the place of God in the Jewish faith; study, learning, and charity as core values in Jewish life; food, holidays, humor, and ethnicity as parts of Jewish culture; and the importance of Synagogue, Israel, and Community to American Jews. Highly recommended reading, especially for the Christian husbands of Jewish wives, the Christian wives of Jewish husbands; and the Christian relatives of Jewish children.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Magick Of Reiki
Christopher Penczak
Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
073870573X $16.95 llewellyn.com

Reiki is an ancient practice of acknowledging and working with the universal life force to promote physical healing and spiritual exploration. Experienced Wiccan author and teacher Christopher Penczak pre-sents Magick Of Reiki, an in-depth exploration of the history, mythos, variations, and degrees of Reiki, as well as tips, tricks, and techniques for seamlessly integrating Reiki into magickal practice, psychic development, talisman empowerment, and more. Though many traditional Reiki practitioners would not consider it a magickal art, those who follow the path of magick can only imbue greater strength in their work by drawing upon the nigh-limitless energy of all surrounding life. Clear symbols and diagrams, with explicit instructions in how to draw them exactly as they have been used for countless centuries, enhance the straightforward text that walks the reader through basic, intermediate, and some advanced techniques that channel Reiki to one's advantage. An excellent addition to magickal libraries and Metaphysical Studies supplemental reading lists.


The Library Science Shelf

Introduction To Public Librarianship
Kathleen de la Pena McCook
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William St, #2004, NY, NY 10038
www.neal-schuman.com
1555704751 $59.95 1-866-672-6657

Activist, teacher, and leader Kathleen de la Pena McCook presents Introduction To Public Librarianship, a straightforward accounting of the ins, outs, history, law, politics, services, and twenty-first century trends of public libraries. From the origins of the modern system in the early twentieth century, to modern-day global perspectives on the contributions of public libraries, to a bibliography of national statistics on public libraries and much more, Introduction To Public Librarianship is a superb beginner's resource for anyone looking to become acquainted with the mechanics of the library system, whether in preparation for a future career or from a keen interest in the politics that keep beloved public booklending institutions in service. Highly recommended.

Metadata In Practice
Diane I. Hellman & Elaine L. Westbrooks
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
0838908829 $50.00 1-866-746-7252

The collaborative project of experienced librarians Diane I. Hellman and Elaine L. Westbrooks, Metadata In Practice covers the pioneer projects of information specialists, from the new "AskDCMI" service to image datatbases, geographic survey amalgamations, and much more. A wide variety of essays by learned authors offer scholarly insights into how the skill of information collection and distribution has an ever-growing potential to redefine how mankind understands the world. A superb seminal work, especially recommended for science shelves.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Berry Bible
Janie Hibler
William Morrow
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
0060085487 $29.95 harpercollins.com

Plenty of cookbooks cover recipes for the well-known blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry but how many discuss and provide recipes for the Jostaberry, Salmonberry, or Buffaloberry? Janie Hibler's The Berry Bible does, covering all these and more with almost two hundred recipes for using both cultivated and wild berries, fresh or frozen. The Berry Bible comes from a contributing writer to Gourmet, Food & Wine and other well-known professional food magazines, and includes a centerfold of color photos and an all-important bibliography of web sites as well as the usual index. Berry fans who until now have relied on domestic varietal coverages will appreciate having more in-depth coverage in The Berry Bible.

HempNut Cookbook
Richard Rose & Brigitte Mars
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
1570671427 $16.95 1-800-695-2241

HempNut Cookbook proffers over 200 delicious recipes for the healthful, easy-to-digest, drug-free hemp plant, which contains high-quality protein and an abudance of other nutrients. Simple, no-nonsense instructions for everything from stuffed mushrooms to vanilla hemp nut cake to spiced coffee drink and more, enhanced with a wealth of facts concerning the hemp plant and a glossary and index for quick reference. A highly acessible and easy-to-follow cookbook for anyone wanting to enjoy the bounty of this humble seed.

Southwest Slow Cooking
Tammy Biber & Theresa Howell
Northland Publishing
PO Box 1389, Flagstaff, AZ 86002
www.northlandpub.com
0873588568 $16.95 1-800-346-3257

Southwest Slow Cooking is an enjoyable recipe book featuring dishes meant to be slowly brought to fruitition. Each one proffers mouth-watering southwestern flavors, from Hot Artichoke Dip to Rosemary Chicken to Chile Relleno Casserole and more. Each recipe is concisely presented in a half-page or single-page, and many are illustrated in full color. Tips, tricks, and techniques such as using cheese and jicama to balance the heat when eating barbecue pork as a sandwich, also abound.

Northland Publishing
PO Box 1389, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
www.northlandpub.com

Lynn Nusom's Crazy For Chipolte (0873-588614, $11.95) presents and celebrates the smoky chipolte chile in a cookbook packed with dishes and discussions of their use. Southwest cuisine has used this chile with great success and Crazy For Chipolte reflects this, providing dishes from across the region which require only an affection for hot foods to prove satisfying. Tommy Gales edits the campy cookbook Ultimate Route 66 Cookbook (0873-588533, $9.95), which celebrates the old-time cross-country route with a cookbook packed with both memorabilia in black and white and classics from roadside restaurants. Each establishment contributing a dish is not only identified, but a solid history is provided after each recipe. More than a cookbook, Ultimate Route 66 Cookbook is a recommended pick for any who would fondly recall a bygone era.

Wine Report 2005
Tom Stevenson
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0756605067 $15.00 www.dk.com

Wine collectors and fans now have a unique and different kind of book to turn to for knowledge: Wine Report 2005 takes the form of a series of newspaper-type 'reports' on the wine industry, features contributions by wine writer from around the world, and provides readers with an 'insider's guide' to issues commonly not discussed outside industry circles. If it's a blend of wine science, tips, harvest facts, discussions of producers and winemakers, and top lists you seek, Wine Report 2005 is your ticket.

Robert Rose/Firefly Books, dist.
155 East 34th St. #5B, NY, NY 10016
www.firefly.com www.amazon.com

Five new cookbooks from Robert Rose in Canada provide excellent basic 'bibles' of information particularly useful for cooks new to each topic. New owners of bread machines, for example, get a inspiriational lift from Donna Washburn and Heather Butt's 250 Best American Bread Machine Baking Recipes (0778800997, $19.95), a survey of bread machine innovations supplementing many tips with actual recipes for both 1.5-lb and 2-lb bread machines. Ownership of such a machine is the only prerequisite here: recipes have all been tested with American flours and provide a wide range of machine dishes plus other foods which can be made using the bread machine. Cookie fans won't want to miss Esther Brody's 500 Best Cookies, Bars & Squares (0778801039, $19.95), packing in portable comfort food recipes for a wide range of both traditional and new cookies. No-bake recipes appear alongside classics and all hold the special appeal of being very easy to rush together and bake. 125 Best Pressure Cooker Recipes by Chinda Chavich (0778801063, $18.95 does require a pressure cooker at hand, but provides an easy set of guidelines to using the pressure cooker to develop a range of recipes. Especially important here is a section on how to adapt your own recipes to the pressure cooker's specifications - but there are so many recipes here that users will want to begin with this 'bible' at hand. Judith Finlayson's 125 Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes (0778801-047, $17.95) addresses a problem apparent with the majority of competing slow cooker cookbooks: a focus on meat-based dishes. While 'filler' dishes such as desserts are included to help the slow cooker chef produce a complete meal, the focus is on the mainstays of a vegetarian's table: the soups, stews, and main courses a slow cooker lends to. Many vegan-friendly dishes are included, also setting this apart from competing vegetarian cookbooks. Julie Hasson's 125 Best Chocolate Recipes (0778801012, $18.95) packs in chocolate recipes ranging from muffins and cakes to bars, puddings ad more. Especially notable is the fact that Hasson has gathered or created many of these recipes from her travels and thus packs 125 Best Chocolate Recipes with dishes not to be found in most of the competition.

Chronicle Books
85 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94105
www.chroniclebooks.com

If you're a home baker who regularly celebrates with a homemade cake, don't miss Kathryn Kleinman's Birthday Cakes (08-11840190, $24.95): over fifty color photos compliment classic and new birthday cake recipes culled from the collections of such famous chefs as James Beard, Julia Child and Marion Cunningham. From a layered Banana Spice Cake and a Jelly Roll to an 'Elvis Cake', Birthday Cakes shines as much for its creative decorating photos which would be easy to reproduce at home, as for the cakes themselves. And it may seem too easy to deserve its own book, but the lowly grilled cheese sandwich achieves a stature deserving of such with Marlena Spieler's Grilled Cheese (0811841294, $16.95). Fifty sandwich recipes designed to melt in your mouth use a facing full-page color photo of the completed creation to compliment the easy recipe for dishes such as Cuban Sandwich, Bocadillo, and Goat Cheese Toast. All are variations on the grilled cheese/bread theme, with award-winning cookbook author Spieler providing the right blend of simplicity and unusual twists on the theme.

Food And Culture In India
Colleen Taylor Sen
Greenwood Publishing
88 Post Road West, Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
0313324875 $49.95 1-800-225-5800

Plenty of college-level texts cover Indian history and culture with mention of food but few focus exclusively on the connections between food and culture as does Colleen Taylor Sen's Food And Culture In India. Using a historical approach, Indian culinary expert Sen provides an analysis of how cultures and cuisines have mixed within India from prehistoric to modern times. There are recipes peppered throughout, but the heart of Food And Culture In India lies in its cultural approach and college-level collections will consider it a value addition to any in-depth section on India.

Why Some Like It Hot
Gary Paul Nabhan
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Street NW #300, Washington DC 20009
1559634669 $24.00 islandpress.org

One-third of the world's human population is genetically sensitive to certain foods now considered to be adaptations our ancestors evolved in response to dietary choices and diseases. Why Some Like It Hot is a masterpiece of investigation: natural history/food researcher Gary Paul Nabhan takes a close look at culinary inclinations underlying world cultures, traveling the world to pinpoint these cultural and medical trends. A fascinating survey evolves which will thoughtfully interest any truly dedicated nutritionist, professional chef, or family kitchen cook.

The Habana Cafe Cookbook
Josefa Gonzalez-Hastings
University Press of Florida
15 NW 15th St., Gainesville, FL 32611
0813027373 $19.95 1-800-226-3822

Florida's Gulf Coast Hababa Cafe began earning its place on 'best' lists as soon as it opened its doors, and now readers who live nowhere near the place can enjoy some of its signature dishes compliments of chef/author Josefa Gonzalez-Hastings with her Habana Cafe Cookbook. Customer favorites are picked for feature her, with bright color photos supplementing Cuban classic dishes. From a traditional Cuban Boliche (stuffed pot roast) to a Veal Marsala and Mashed Plaintains, The Habana Cafe Cookbook makes it very easy for home cooks to turn out classic Cuban fare.

Game Gourmet
William M. McKell
Tradery House
c/o The Wimmer Companies
4650 Shelby Air Dr., Memphis TN 38118
1879958333 $19.95 wimmerco.com

Game Gourmet: Recipes That Celebrate A Culinary Journey Through Mississippi Outdoors is an impressive collection of nutritious, delicious recipes. These are recipes that are easy to prepare and include appetizers, soups, salads, fowl, meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes that would grace any table and satisfy any appetite. From Gulf Bouillabaisse; Sesame Cucumber Salad; Rolled Stuffed Beefsteak; Crawfish in Orange Sauce; and Smoked Wild Turkey; to Curried Wild Rice; Grilled Herb Potatoes; Chipotle Mushrooms; and Roasted Balsamic Vidalia Onions, Game Gourmet offers something for everyone and would make a popular addition to any and all kitchen cookbook collections!

Secrets Of Columbian Cooking
Patricia McCausland-Gallo
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
0781810256 $24.95 hippocrenebooks.com

Columbian cooking usually is tossed into general South American cookbooks and too rarely receives an entire mention apart from the rest of the region: enter Patricia McCausland-Gallo's Secrets Of Columbian Cooking, providing the much-needed focus on Columbian dishes alone. There are over 175 recipes here more than enough to warrant their own publication with dishes ranging from Coconut Rice with Lentils to Guava Paste and Cheese. Most ingredients may be very easily located in today's American market, and the inclusion of small black and white photos of both dishes and Columbian cooks throughout adds a flavor and touch to both break up text and appeal to audiences unfamiliar with Columbian dishes. Author McCausland-Gallo is both a nutritionist and pastry chef born in the Caribbean: her culinary background lends to a clear survey of classic Columbian fare.

Spice: History Of A Temptation
Jack Turner
Alfred A. Knopf
1745 Broadway, 17th fl., NY, NY 10019
www.aaknopf.com
0375407219 $26.95 1-800-726-0600

Other histories of the spice trade have appeared over the decades, but Jack Turner's Spice: History Of A Temptation is more accessible to non-history buffs than most: it provide a very lively narrative told through the intimate human impulses that drove the search for spices, incorporating medicine, religion and magic in the process. History, myth, literature and archaeology alike creates the structure of the journey, turning Spice into a multi-faceted adventure story as much as a history. Recommended for both college-level collections and for public library browsers alike.

Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook
Robert W. Surles
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50336-0001
www.meredithbooks.com
0696221500 $24.95 1-800-678-8091

Expert culinary teacher Chef Bobo has proven his talent by personally demonstrating to more than 500 children, ranging in temperament from skeptical to finicky, that simple, healthy food can taste great and satisfy a hearty appetite. Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook is a recipe book designed especially to help parents create healty and delicious meals for their young ones, but the basic recipes within work wonders for the eating habits of all ages. The importance of instilling good eating habits at a young age cannot be stressed enough, and Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook features such great dishes as Chunky Vegetable Soup, Chicken Cacciatora, Rutabaga Fries, Banana Sorbet, and more. In a nation oversaturated with junk food, fast food, soda, store bought cookies and salad dressing with unnecessary fat and calories, canned soups with unhealthy levels of salt, and worse, the need for an easy-to-follow, health living meal guides like Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook has never been greater.

Great Meals Dutch Oven Style
Dale Smith
The Caxton Printers Ltd.
312 Main Street, Caldwell, ID 83605-3299
www.caxtonpress.com
0870044400 $17.95 1-800-657-6465

Professional baker and Dutch oven cooking expert Dale Smith presents Great Meals Dutch Oven Style, a spiral-bound cook book offering more than 100 tested recipes for beef, poultry, fish, pork, vegetables, soups, chowders, breads, pies, marinades and more, all meant to take advantage of the Dutch oven cooking process. Also packed with tips, tricks, and techniques on cookware, seasoning, and storage of meals, Great Meals Dutch Oven Style is a superb, step-by-step referemce amd resource for Dutch oven chefs of all skill and experience levels. This is an excellent and savvy exploration into the culinary joys of a longstanding and traditional cooking tradition.

The Fearless Chef
Andy Husbands & Joe Yonan
Adams Media/F&W Publications
57 Littlefield St., Avon, MA 02322
159337092X $16.95 adamsmedia.com

In The Fearless Chef: Innovative Recipes From The Edge Of American Cuisine, award winning professional chef Andy Husbands and "The Boston Globe" travel editor Joe Yonan effectively collaborate to compile an impressive anthology of avant garde recipes showcasing dishes that would please even the most discerning gourmet. From Tomato-Ginger Chutney; Pork Soup with Yellow Pepper Curry and Pecans; Sweet Potato Rice Cake; and Blackened Salmon with Lemon-Scallion Butter; to Twelve-Spice Turkey Breast with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce; Zinfandel-Braised Beef Brisket; Sesame Flatbread; and Jamaican Rum-Baked Bananas, The Fearless Chef will prove to be one of the more exciting and "kitchen cook friendly" additions to any culinary cookbook collection.

Sweet & Snappy Cherry Drinks
Lori Hall Steele
Eighth Sea Books
PO Box 1925, Traverse City, MI 49685
097495490X $9.95 cherrydrinks.com

Award-winning journalist Lori Hall Steele, who has covered Michigan's cherry industry since the early 1990s, presents Sweet & Snappy Cherry Drinks, a delicious recipe guide of cherry-juice concoctions. Recipes include 65 alcohol free-drinks and 139 cocktails and mixed drinks, and drinks for special occasions and tonics that take full advantage of cherries' natural pain relievers and oxidents. Sweet & Snappy Cherry Drinks is a superb and enthusiastically recommended anthology of specialized beverages for anyone looking to enjoy the taste, health benefits, and pure zest of cherry juice in a wide variety of ways.

Salad Dressing 101
Nathan Hyam, Editor
Whitecap Books
351 Lynn Avenue, North, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1552855244 $12.95 www.whitecap.ca

Finally: a guide to salad dressing which provides easy, quick chapters separating dressings by vinaigrettes, creamy and low-fat dressings and which packs in a wide variety of toppings, from the classic Blue Cheese and Caesar to Maple Thyme Vinaigrette and Creamy Lemon Yogurt. No color photos in Salad Dressing 101, but these very simple dressing recipes don't really need anything more than a blender for 2-minute productions that would enhance any salad dining occasion.

Aroma
Mandy Aftel & Daniel Patterson
Artisan
708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
1579652646 $30.00 artisanbooks.com

Mandy Aftel is the owner of Aftelier Perfumes and custom designs one-of-a-kind blends for individuals and formulates fragrances for private labels. Daniel Patterson is a professional chef and the owner of Frisson in San Francisco. In Aroma: The Magic Of Essential Oils In Food & Fragrance, Aftel and Patterson effectively collaborate to reveal how aromatics play a critically important role in the perception of flavor in cooking. With a special focus on 27 concentrated aromas, recipes are crafted around the fragrant quality of a single ingredient providing such illustrative examples as enhancing a white peach sorbet jasmine, or augmenting asparagus soup a mint-infusion. Kitchen cooks are shown how to incorporate concentrated oils in their homemade dishes such as adding a bit of oil drizzled into the dressing to invigorate a salad, or sprinkling several drops into a batter to add an additional note to a dessert. The combination of basic information with aromatically enhanced recipes makes Aroma a highly recommended addition to any personal or professional cookbook collection.

Crazy About Crockery!
Penny E. Stone
Champion Press
4308 Blueberry Road, Fredonia, WI 53021
www.championpress.com
1891400363 $24.95 1-877-250-3354

Crazy About Crockery! 3 Books In 1 combines three of author Penny Stone's previous titles, each offering 101 budget recipes that cost less than $0.75 a serving to prepare, for a total of over three hundred crockery-cooked delights in a single, spiral-bound volume. Solid, straightforward instructions and the occasional creative tip for a delightful assortment of dishes ranging from E-Z Vegetable Lasagna to Vera's Tuna Cheese Soup to Baked Rhubarb Pudding and more. Crazy About Crockery! is a very welcome addition to any kitchen due to its unbeatable combination of healthy ingredients, low-cost good sense, and easy-to-follow time-saving guidelines.

The Little New Orleans Cookbook
Gwen McKee
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.quailridge.com
0937552429 $8.95 1-800-343-1583

Gwen Mckee'sThe Little New Orleans Cookbook is a simple cookbook of fifty-seven classic Creole recipes, from trout amandine to jambalaya to New Orleans vs. microwave bread pudding, and more. Straightforward instructions, along with notes offering delicious variations or bits of history and tradition, make the recipes easy-to-follow. An excellent introduction to a wondrous and flavorful style of food preparation, The Little New Orleans Cookbook is a marvelous addition to personal and professional ethnic cookbook collections.


The Biography Shelf

Dr. Seuss: American Icon
Philip Nel
Continuum
15 E. 26th St., New York NY 10110
0826414346 $27.95 continuumbooks.com

Theodor Seuss Giesel was best known as 'Dr. Seuss', one of the most influential and enduringly popular children's authors of the 20th century. Giesel created not only his famous imaginative picturebooks, but a unique art and poetry, and even a place for himself in politics. Philip Nel argues that these added activities make Dr. Seuss one of the most influential people in America certainly the most influential poet and Dr. Seuss: American Icon provides the reader an memorably excellent survey of Dr. Seuss' many achievements.

The Lone Samurai
William Scott Wilson
Kodansha America Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10022
477002942X $24.00 kodanshamerica.com

In The Lone Samurai: The Life Of Miyamoto Musashi, William Scott Wilson draws upon his considerable expertise as a preeminent translator of classic samurai texts to write an original biography of the legendary Japanese swordsman who lived and fought in 17th century feudal Japan. For some four hundred years, Musashi has been one of Japan's most revered historical figures. Since 1908 there have been 43 films produced about him. Fighting more than 60 duels from the age of 13 to the age of 29, Musashi was undefeated at the end of his career as a samurai. He was best noted for his skill at handling two swords at once. Uniquely, in nearly all of his matches, Musashi used a wooden sword instead of a metal blade. In addition to his swordsmanship, Musashi designed castle towns with an eye towards defense and within these castles, he is noted for designing Zen temple gardens as well. Musashi was also a respected ink wash painter and many of his painting are still in existence. The ultimate Japanese equivalent of a Renaissance man, Musashi excelled in calligraphy, sculpture, metallurgy, poetry, tea ceremony, Noh drama, and carpentry. Enthusiastically recommended reading, The Lone Samurai is the superlatively written biography of a truly remarkable man.

Isabella Greenway
Kristie Miller
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
www.uapress.arizona.edu
0816518971 $24.95 1-800-426-3797

Isabella Greenway: An Enterprising Woman is the biography of an amazing woman, who played a crucial role in FDR's nomination for President. Married and widowed twice to two of Theodore Roosevelt's rough riders, an energetic businessperson who managed a ranch, an airline, and a resort, a leader who was elected to Congress as Arizona's only U.S. Representative, and was dubbed the "most talked-about woman" at the National Democratic Convention by the New York Times, her contribution to women's role in politics is nothing less than trailblazing. Illustrated with a scattering of black-and-white photographs, Isabella Greenway: An Enterprising Woman chronicles her life in a narrative manner as vibrant and evocative as Greenway herself must have once been.

Books, Friends, And Bibliophilia
Anton Gerits
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware St., New Castle, DE 19720
www.oakknoll.com
1584561386 $65.00 1-800-996-2556

Books, Friends, And Bibliophilia: Reminiscences Of An Antiquarian Bookseller is the unique and engaging autobiography of Anton Gerits, a Dutch antiquarian bookseller. Readers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at Europe's antiquarian book trade from 1950 to the present. Featuring a treasury of anecdotes and replete with colorful characters, Gerits writes of his dealing with true legends of the book trade such as H.P. Kraus, Maurice L. Ettinghausen, and Menno Hertzberger. Gerits life story is also the story behind the building of significant private libraries, as well as the Special Collections departments of institutional and academic libraries of Western Europe, Japan, America, and even behind the Iron Curtain during the bleak days of the Cold War era. A past president of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers and the author of more than a dozen books, Anton Gerits' memoir is enthusiastically recommended reading, especially for book collectors, bibliophiles, librarians, academia, and members of the publishing community.

Mark Twain: A Biography
Connie Ann Kirk
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0313330255 $29.95 greenwood.com

Samuel Clemons lived 75 years; fifty of them writing under the pseudonym Mark Twain while numerous critical works about his writings abound, surprisingly there are very few in-depth biographical coverages that reveal Mark Twain's personal life. Biogapher Connie Kirk uses established Twain resources and adds new research and perspectives gleaned from Twain's personal letters and her discussions with family members: the result is an in-depth modern survey of Twain for new students of his works.


The World History Shelf

Bosworth Field To Bloody Mary
John A. Wagner
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1573565407 $79.95 greenwood.com

Compiled and organized by historian, academician, and author John A. Wagner Bosworth Field To Bloody Mary: An Encyclopedia Of The Early Tudors is a 600-page encyclopedia offering precise and concise definitions and descriptions of the significant men and women of Early Tudor England. Also providing informative definitions of Tudor England terminology, Bosworth Field To Bloody Mary spans the period of 1485 to 1558 and encompasses the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. Featuring almost 400 cross-referenced entries, students are provided with information about key events, movements, groups, treaties, publications, and more. Enhanced with maps, genealogical charts, bibliography, a subject list, a listing of Tudor-themed historical novels, an annotated listing of Tudor websites, Bosworth Field To Bloody Mary is a strongly recommended and core addition to personal, academic, and community library British History collections.

Fallen Order
Karen Liebreich
Grove Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0802117848 $25.00 groveatlantic.com

Intrigue, heresy and scandal in Galileo's Rome is a suitable topic for fiction but Karen Liebreich provides all the trappings of action and high drama in her nonfiction Fallen Order: Intrigue, Heresy, And Scandal In The Rome Of Galileo And Caravaggio. This portrait of 17th century Roman politics and Church issues provides many surprises; from the story of how sexual abuse of children (practiced by some of the leading priests in the Piarist Order) led to its collapse to how bishops and cardinals participated in the cover-up in an effort to protect the church. An eye-opening, revealing social analysis.

The Hanoverians
Jeremy Black
Palgrave/Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.palgrave-usa.com
1852854464 $29.95 1-888-330-8477

A history professor and a leading expert on eighteenth-century Britain, Jeremy Black presents The Hanoverians: The History Of A Dynasty, an enthralling true account of British King George I, George II, George III, and George IV, who presided during an era when they were seen virtually as foreigners by their own subjects. Their dynasty survived the invasion of England by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745, and the loss of the American colonies, and achieved conquest both Canada and India. Exploring both the character of the rulers themselves, and the lasting impact of their rule, The Hanoverians is a remarkable and welcome contribution to British and world history shelves.

Juice
Evan I. Schwartz
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
www.harvardbusinessonline.org
1591392888 $24.95 1-800-668-6780

Juice: The Creative Fuel That Drives World-Class Inventors is a remarkable history that explores the minds of some of the most prolific and innovative inventors in history and living in the modern day. Delving into the stories behind classic inventions as well as the people behind current innovations, whether in science, mechanics, or business systems, Juice strives to understand the fundamental keys to creation - such as learning to channel chance, embrace failure, think systematically, and more.


The Needlecraft Shelf

1000 Great Knitting Motifs
Luise Roberts
Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
1570762597 $19.95 1-800-423-4525

There plenty of yarns and patterns for knitters, but 1000 Great Knitting Motifs by Luise Roberts is the one pattern guide guaranteed to please all levels and styles of knitter. It features 1000 charted motifs to chose from and not just Western, either: motifs from the Middle East and other parts of the world deftly separate 1000 Great Knitting Motifs from its largely-Western competitors. Add a number of categories which deftly lend themselves to both browsing and quick reference and you have a comprehensive needlecraft library reference including color charts to encourage knowledgable design variations and you have a real reference winner complete with lay-flat binding for practical access while knitting.

Confessions Of A Knitting Heretic
Annie Modesitt
ModeKnit Press
365 Irving Ave, South Orange, NJ 07079
0975421999 $18.99 www.modeknit.com

Confessions Of A Knitting Heretic offers original tips, techniques, and projects for intermediate to advanced knitters. A quite unorthodox and self-proclaimed "knitting heathen", Annie Modesitt dares to break conventions in this spiral bound volume, which uses black-and-white photographs, diagrams combined with a clearly delineated text to expand the limits of imagination and creativity when crafting with threads. The guidelines and suggestions include row-by-row details for truly amazing creations. Confessions Of A Knitting Heretic is a superbly unique resource for anyone with enough experience in knitting to tire of the "same old, same old", and who yearns to try a dazzling, brand-new technique with their knitting projects and practices.

The Quilt That Walked To Golden
Sandra Dallas with Nanette Simonds
Breckling Press
283 Michigan Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126
www.brecklingpress.com
0972121838 $29.95 1-630-941-1179

The Quilt That Walked To Golden is a full-color, coffee-table history book showcasing the lives and struggles of women who faced the Overland Trail to settle the mining and farm communities of Colorado Territory, and especially the role that quilts and quilting had in helping them survive, adapt, and thrive to difficult conditions. From stories of pioneering mothers who wrapped lost children in quilts as burial shrouds, to sewing and quilting circles that offered pleasant ways to socialize and interrupt the incredible lonliness of remote farms and mining camps, The Quilt That Walked To Golden is an enthralling account illustrated with both vintage and full-color photographs. Highly recommended for any enthusiast curious about the history of quilting in America.


The Psychology Shelf

Ethics For The Practice Of Psychology In Canada
Derek Truscott & Kenneth H. Crook
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
0888644221 $49.95 uap.ualberta.ca

A psychologist and a lawyer combine their expertise in Ethics For The Practice Of Psychology In Canada, a manual especially for students in professional psychology programs intending to practice in Canada or professionals who desire to extend their understanding of the definitions of responsible practice. Chapters discuss basic ethical principles and systems, law and legal standards to keep in mind, tenets of ethical decision-making, issues of confidentiality and professional boundaries, means to maintain and enhance one's competence in light of an ever-advancing field, providing services across cultures, and much more. A serious, informed, in-depth book that an absolute "must-read" for psychologists in Canada; the depths of its plain-terms information make it a valuable contribution to reference shelves for psychology students and professionals of any nation.

Bipolar Disorder
Frances Mark Mondimore, MD
Johns Hopkins Press
2715 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801878578 $21.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Patients and families will appreciate the large print format and easy accessibility of Dr. Francis Mark Mondimore's Bipolar Disorder, providing a basic guide to the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this psychiatric illness formerly known as 'manic-depression'. The latest treatments, their pros and cons, and side effects help families make decisions based on the latest research and findings, while the book's authoritative background and scientific basis assures readers gain accurate details from Dr. Francis Mondimoer, himself a practicing psychiatrist. An excellent guide to both counseling and drug options.

W.W. Norton
500 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com

What does the sequencing of the human genome tell us? Plenty of articles have discussed the importance of sequencing, but none go into the depth and ease of explanation as does Henry Gee's Jacob's Ladder (0393050831, $25.95), which draws important connections between the sequencing process and its future applications. The real challenge will lie in understanding how genes interact to direct growth: chapters discuss what we know, what we've learned, and what we have yet to know. Daniel N. Stern's The Present Moment In Psychotherapy And Everyday Life (0393704297, $29.95) is also a winner, discussing how the 'here and now' of present moments intensely lived reveal insights about the psyche and the character of experience itself. From various ways in which the present is perceived by the mind to its relationship to psychological growth and change, chapters address basic concepts in identifying present-moment experience. Excellent for students of psychology. Joel Sadavoy, MD's Psychotropic Drugs And The Elderly: Fast Facts (0393703754, $65.00) is designed as a clinical guide for practicing geriatric psychiatrists, but plenty of nursing students and medical professionals will consider it a major reference. Based on the most current research and accepted clinical practice, all major drug classes are covered, class by class, with discussions revolving around treatment for common disorders in the elderly and both side effects and combination therapy applications. Victoria Hendrick MD and Michael Gitlin MD's Psychotropic Drugs And Women: Fast Facts (0393704211, $27.50) provides an excellent survey of medical exposure for women, from risks during pregnancy and applications for specific psychiatric disorders to general female physiology. Where little human data is available, this is noted: where studies reflect the need for specific monitoring, coverage provides clear information.

An Alchemy Of Mind
Diane Ackerman
Scribner
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10020
0743246721 $25.00 www.simonsays.com

The science of the brain receives newfound attention in Diane Ackerman's Alchemy Of The Mind, which explains memory, thought, emotion, dreams and more using the latest discoveries of neuroscience and psychology. Ackerman's approach is to add plenty of anecdotes to enliven the science and health issues, to pose questions about consciousness and the nature of identity, and to consider the lasting effects of mental health or illness: her title provides the general-interest reader access to a new world.

Braindance
Dean Falk
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
0813027381 $19.95 1-800-226-3822

Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Braindance examines what science has to say about the evolution of the human brain and the origins of humanity as a species. Looking at what the most recent discoveries have to say about male brains versus female brains, and the difference - or resemblance - that human brains have with regard to primate brains, and much, much more, Braindance strives to explain what truly distinguishes human beings in terms as accessible to lay readers as it is to field professionals and academic scholarship. Information-packed and highly recommended.

Cognitive Methods
Amy Wenzel and David C. Rubin
American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
apa.org/books
1591471850 $59.95 1-800-368-5777

Cognitive Methods And Their Application To Clinical Research is a college, graduate studies and professional-level text collecting the writings of expert psychologists concerning the discoveries and applications of cognitive psychology, particularly in the past 20 years. Clinical psychologists often have little background in cognitive psychology, and cognitive psychologists frequently have sparse training in conducting research with special populations; Cognitive Methods And Their Application To Clinical Research seeks to bridge the gap by providing the necessary background reference to discuss each eassy topic, in an ambitious anthology that strives to further promote both individual and collective professional understandings of psychology as a whole. Highly recommended especially for professional and academic library psychology reference and supplemental studies shelves.


The Education Shelf

Learning Communities
Barbara Leigh Smith, et al.
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
www.josseybass.com
0787910368 $40.00 1-800-225-5945

Co-written by four professional eductors that include Barbara Leigh Smith, Jean MacGregor, Roberta S. Matthews, and Faith Gabelnick, Learning Communities: Reforming Undergraduate Education is a hard look at weaknesses in undergraduate education available to students today, and plans for strengthening the quality of instruction. Focusing especially upon structures and practices that yield beneficial results for a learning community, and in particular exploring means to improve learning communities for which English is a second language, Learning Communities is a superb resource of ideas and experiences worthy of being examined at length. Especially recommended reading for anyone responsible for undergraduate education or the academic environment in which such teaching takes place.

Educational Freedom In Urban America
David Salisbury & Casey Lartigue Jr.
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
1930865562 $24.95 www.cato.org

In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregated public schools unconstitutional: what is the state of educational freedom in this country over forty years later? David Salisbury and Casey Lartigue Jr. gather articles to show schools still lack equality in modern times: minority children in urban neighborhoods still suffer disproportionately from a failing education system. A dozen leading scholars, educators and reformers examine why in Educational Freedom in Urban America: Fifty Years After Brown V. Board of Education.

Great Quotes For Great Educators
Todd Whitaker & Dale Lumpa
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont NY 10538
1930556829 $29.95 eyeoneducation.com

Great Quotes For Great Educators is a brilliant inspirational resource of over 600 insightful quotes. Including the wisdom of respected figures such as Thomas Huxley, George Eliot, and Victor Hugo; over 100 original quotes from internationally acclaimed speaker and educator Todd Whitaker; and the words of real students echoing wit and perseverance, Great Quotes For Great Educators is laudible both for casual reading and as the perfect source for "filler" quotations on flyers, school newspapers, and other documents. The secret of education is respecting the pupil. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Adult Education And Adult Learning
Knud Illeris
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
www.krieger-publishing.com
1575242575 $39.50 1-800-724-0025

Knowledgeably and expertly written by Knud Illeris (a Professor of Educational Research with a Ph.D. in Psychology), Adult Education and Adult Learning is a an impressive and scholarly resource which analyzes adult education and its significan role in contemporary society. Presented in the interests of uncovering means to make adult education more effective, useful, and beneficial to the needs of adult learners, Adult Education And Adult Learning discusses differences in adult learning styles that form generational patterns, principles behind the organization and implementation of successful adult learning programs, problem-solving adaptations that teachers of adults can use, and much more. Adult Education And Adult Learning is a welcome strongly recommended contribution to academic and professional studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The International Studies Shelf

The Stakes: America In The Middle East
Shibley Telhami
Westview Press
11 Cambridge Ctr, Cambridge, MA 02142
0813342198 $15.95 1-800-242-7737

An Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and a frequent contributor to TV, radio and print media, Shibley Telhami's cogent mideast political analysis is more accessible to the general public than most. One of the country's most in-demand commentators in the Middle East, his social and political analysis set forth in The Stakes: America In The Middle East clearly and persuasively explains Arab and Muslim attitudes towards the U.S. and why the Arab-Israeli conflict remains integral to resolving the war on terrorism.

Mullahs, Merchants & Militants
Stephen Glain
Thomas Dunne Books
175 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0312329113 $25.95 www.stmartins.com

A coverage of the economic collapse of the Arab world might seem incongruous, but Stephen Glain's analysis in Mullahs, Merchants & Militants surpasses the usual history and contemporary political analysis to focus on an under-covered area: the region's economic structure. Chapters examine sustained economic decay in the region and its impact on political instability and extremism, recounting the ongoing decline of the Arab empire and its increasingly limited ability to pioneer new technologies and sciences. Stephen Glain was the Wall Street Journal's Middle East corespondent from 1998-2001: his familiarity with the region and his in-depth history adds a depth and dimension to discussions of economic instability.

Europe Recast
Desmond Dinan
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th St., #314, Boulder, CO 80301
1588262308 $23.50 www.rienner.com

Europe Recast: A History Of European Union is the true saga of people's attempts to bring together the will of Europe as a whole, from the first struggling attempts at economic integration to the formation of the European Union. The writing style is scholarly without being overly pedantic, and detailed without losing its central themes in a morass of trivia. A straightfoward, scholarly history, examining events, motives, philosophies, and results, Europe Recast is highly recommended for students, scholars, researchers, and government policy makers.


The Literary Shelf

The Genius Of Language
Wendy Lesser, Editor
Pantheon
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0375422382 $23.00 .randomhouse.com

Wendy Lesser asked fifteen modern writers to reflect on their formative experiences with language and culture, and her Genius Of Language is the result: a survey of how writers alienated from their mother tongue embraced English and faced exile from both their culture and their own language. Essays by Amy Tan, Louis Begley and others provide important keys to understanding the process of adapting to another language and all its cultural implications.

Separate Journeys
Geeta Dharmarajan, editor
University of South Carolina Press
937 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29208
1570035512 $16.95 www.amazon.com

Separate Journeys: Short Stories By Contemporary Indian Women is an anthology of fifteen short stories all by female East Indian authors. The tales are surprisingly diverse, offering a wide variety of regional, linguistic, and class-based perspectives. Edited by the director of Katha, and organization dedicated to storytelling and preserving the role of story-sharing in human culture, Separate Journeys is a remarkable composite literary glimpse into the human psyche.

A Sense Of Wonder
Jeffrey Allen Tucker
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
www.wesleyan.edu/wespress
0819566896 $24.95 1-800-421-1561

A Sense Of Wonder: Samuel R. Delany, Race, Identity And Difference is an in-depth study and criticism of the works of Samuel R. Delany, one of the the modern era's most amazing cross-genre writers. Influenced by African-American cultural traditions, even though both black and white critics have interpreted Delany as a writer who downplays racial identity, his works range the gamut from science fiction to autobiography to even pornography. Extensively researched and meticulously written, A Sense Of Wonder is a superb scholarly contribution to academic and literature shelves.

Conversations With Ray Bradbury
Steven Aggelis, Editor
University Press of Mississippi
3825 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211
www.upress.state.ms.us
1578066417 $24.95 1-800-737-7788

Biography blends with literary criticism in this inherently fascinating and informative collection of conversations with noted science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, revolving around everything from how science fiction is changing our world to social issues such as the role of education and transportation in society. Add some critical articles and commentary on Bradbury's works and perspective and you have a true winner.

Jack Kerouac: Windblown World
Douglas Brinkley, Editor
Viking Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0670033413 $25.95 penguinputnam.com

Douglas Brinkley editors and provides the introduction for Jack Kerouac: Windblown World; gathering of Kerouac's journals from 1947-54. With University of New Orleans professor Brinkley's background in history, Windblown World comes alive, providing a gathering of materials synthesizing works entered by Kerouac in ten notebooks and providing two fine sections centering around his early efforts to publish his first works and the events which led to his finest "On The Road" novel. These two pivotal focuses succeed in providing an essential insight into the roots and foundations of not only Kerouac's life, but his literary inspiration. Very highly recommended.

The English Novel
Terry Eagleton
Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.blackwellpublishing.com
1405117079 $24.95 1-800-216-2522

Leading literary theorist Terry Eagleton presents The English Novel: An Introduction, a scholarly examination of the artistic expression of the English novel that particularly focuses upon classic works by great authors such as Charles Dickens, George Eliot, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Thomas Hardy, and others. An in-depth examination of dramatic effect, narrative characteristics especially prevalent among English novels, ideological passions that fueled the individual authors, and much more, The English Novel is a superb introduction for beginning to intermediate college-level students of literature. Witty and inventive as well as filled with sharp observations, The English Novel is enthusiastically recommended for personal and public library literature shelves.


The Criminology Shelf

Emotional Trials
Cynthia Siemsen
Northeastern University Press
360 Huntington Avenue, 416CP, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
155553614X $20.00 www.amazon.com

Sociology professor Cynthia Siemsen presents Emotional Trials: The Moral Dilemmas Of Women Criminal Defense Attorneys, a scholarly study of how female defense attorneys deal with the inherent conflicts of representing individuals accused of violent crimes such as rape, domestic abuse, and child molestation. Proposing that the roles and identities of female criminal defense attorneys evolve through three distinct stages - early, mid, and seasoned - Emotional Trials is a fascinating study that draws upon individual testimony and psychological theory to explain the the intense pressures that individuals undertake and how they cope. A fascinating and welcome contribution to ethical and legal discussions.

The Full Spectrum
Carla J. Smalls, editor
American Correctional Association
4380 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, Maryland 20706-4322
1569912106 $25.00

The Full Spectrum: Essays On Staff Diversity In Corrections is an anthology of essays by learned authors discussing the influence of diversity amid the corrections system. Intended especially for corrections professionals at all levels, but just as fascinating for the lay reader to browse, The Full Spectrum covers such issues as the need for cultural diversity training among correctional officers, age, religious, and ethnic diversity, the implications of cross-cultural communication, and more. Specific essays focus on individual ethnic groups such as Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and African-American women. Professionally researched and straightforwardly presented, The Full Spectrum successfully strives to explain the critical importance of understanding and incorporating cultural differences in order to promote a stable system of justice.


The Military Shelf

The Russian Officer Corps
Alexander Mikaberidze
Casemate
2114 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishing.com
1932714022 $64.95 1-610-853-9131

The Russian Officer Corps: Of The Revolutionary And Napoleonic Wars, 1792-1815 is an anthology of 600 detailed biographies of the senior Russian officers who commanded troops in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Though its focus is on the era from 1792-1815, the individuals featured include those whose service stretched before or after this window. Years of research and fifty pages of introductory material set the stage for this ambitious reference, which includes each subject's place of bearth, family history, educational background, military service in detail, awards and promotions, wounds, transfers, commands, date and place of death and internment, and more. Where available, black-and-white portraits of the generals preface their biographies. An absolute must-have reference for academic libraries and students of Russian and Napoleonic wars.

The Longest Tunnel
Alan Burgess
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
1591140978 $17.95 www.amazon.com

The Longest Tunnel: The True Story Of World War II's Great Escape is an amazing historical chronicle of the true story behind the popular and classic World War II movie "The Great Escape", which is in turn based on the book "The Great Escape" by Paul Brickhill. Author Alan Burgess, a RAF flyer in WW II, draws upon sources that even Brickhill did not have access to, explaining how seventy-six allied POW's traveled through a 350-foot tunnel to make their mark on history. Exciting, highly readable, dramatic, and narrated in express detail.

Reluctant Lieutenant
Jerry Morton
Texas A&M University Press
Drawer C, College Station, TX 77843
www.tamu.edu/upress
158544359X $19.95 1-800-826-8911

Reluctant Lieutenant: From Basic To OCS In The Sixties is the true story of one man's experience in the training regiment of the U.S. Army in the late 1960s. Jerry Morton's journey through basic training, advanced infantry training, and Infantry Officer Candidate School during the Vietnam era are all recounted with a natural knack for storytelling, that draws the reader in to the picture of daily life, and the hell that military instructors put their cadets through - in the hope of making them better able to survive the hell that is war. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this candid military memoir.

Voices From The Battle Of The Bulge
Nigel de Lee
David & Charles/F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.davidandcharles.co.uk
0715319205 $24.99 1-800-289-0963

Featuring a forward by Major General Michael Reynolds CB, Voices From The Battle Of The Bulge presents personal testimonies from Americans, British, and German soldiers and civilians who took part in one of the most historic and severe conflicts near the end of World War II. A slight scattering of black-and-white photographs illustrates the powerful, firsthand accounts, in this primary source of military history that is riveting and sometimes chilling. Voices From The Battle Of The Bulge is a welcome and highy recommended addition to academic and personal, academic, and community library military history collections, adding a unique touch to the recounting of a dramatic and world-shaping event in the European Theatre battlefields of World War II.


The Social Issues Shelf

50 Facts That Should Change The World
Jessica Williams
The Disinformation Company, Ltd.
163 3rd Avenue, #108, NY, NY 10003
0972952969 $14.95 www.disinfo.com

50 Facts That Should Change The World is a shocking, eye-opening look at what is really going on in the world today. The cold statistics are so severe they speak for themselves, yet each one is elaborated upon with several pages explaining why the stark reality of the statistic has come to be, and what can be done about it. Figures such as "black men born in the US today stand a one in three chance of going to jail" and "children living in poverty are three times more likely to suffer a mental illness than children from wealthy families" don't lie - and the needed efforts to change these figures would transform life as we know it, if only more people would become aware and take action.

Zero-Day Exploit
Rob Shein & Marcus Sachs, editor
Syngress Publishing
800 Hingham St., Rockland, MA 02370
1931836094 $49.95 www.syngress.com

Much of the nation's critical infrastructure rests on technology a technology so fragile that a 'zero-day' bug in the wrong hands could cripple the economics and social systems of the Western World. Cyber-terrorism has not yet become a key buzzword in everyday circles, but as Rob Shein explains it will. Shein works as an independent consultant in the DC area, has been a member of various response and penetration testing services for major clients, and has in-depth experience in technological security systems and their limitations. Zero-Day Exploit: Countdown to Darkness predicts the potential for a dangerous attack but don't expect technical jargon here. The caution comes in the form of nearly chatty case history presentations from conferences and encounters and almost read like fiction with a frightening edge of reality.

Machines That Become Us
James K. Katz, Editor
Transaction Press
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway NJ 08854
0765801582 $49.95 1-888-999-6778

Social critics and artificial intelligence experts have predicted physical and emotional links between robot and human for decades, also sharing fears of a dehumanized future as a result. Katz gathers articles that address these concepts, considering if computer anxiety is creating more problems than it causes and exploring connections between people and their personal communication devices. Machines That Become Us considers the advancing age of cyber-technology and robotics, considering everything from personal digital assistants and mobile phones to wearable computers, implants, and various mobile technologies. An intriguing collection is created which goes beyond the usual concept of the human/robot meld to consider how everyday computer-driven devices are changing our lives.

Gene Traders
Brian Tokar
Toward Freedom
PO Box 468, Burlington, VT 05402-0468
www.towardfreedom.com
0974693510 $14.00 1-802-657-3733

Gene Traders: Biotechnology, World Trade, And The Globalization Of Hunger is a selection of seven essays by learned authors questioning the spread of genetically engineered agriculture worldwide. Revealing ways by which developments in biotechnology cn actually increase dependency and hunger, while compromising the survival of traditional farmers and their communities, as well as the evolution of the global movement for food sovereignty brought about by genetic engineering. Specific topics include how the World Trade Organization's "intellectual property" rules promote monopolies and biopiracy, how Zambia's food aid crisis has forced tough choices, how food aid can become food dumping and displace agricultural communities, deconstructs common myths about "feeding the world", and much more. A highly recommended, keynote discussion and an absolute "must-read" for anyone concerned about world starvation.

Americans At Work
Craig Storti
Intercultural Press
PO Box 700, Yarmouth, ME 04096
1931930058 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Written by the founder and director of Communicating Across Cultures and a former Peace Corps volunteer, Americans At Work: A Guide To The Can-Do People is a straightforward introduction to how American culture pervades and affects the American workplace. From basic ideals driving American behaviors - such as an obsession with efficiency, intense competition, and the celebration of individualism - to specific tips, tricks, and techniques to better understand how one's American co-workers think and react, Americans At Work is a superb resource and a "must-read" especially for readers for another country striving to adapt to American customs, but also for Americans seeking to better understand the corporate mentality of their own workplaces. A step-by-step, plain-terms tutorial for communication in the American workplace especially for readers accustomed to more indirect cultures is absolutely priceless; for example, it stresses that what Americans consider direct other countries tend to consider rude, and a typical American worker won't be offended by a "no" but will be offended by a "yes" when the real answer is "no.


The Photography Shelf

Wildlife
Terry Hope
RotoVision
c/o Rockport Publishers
33 Commercial St, Gloucester, MA 01930
2880468035 $19.99 rockpub.com

Wildlife is a truly gorgeous showcase of wildlife photography from expert professionals. Still images are presented in full-color, along with a brief sidebar written by the photographer detailing the story behind the photograph in question. A wide variety of species are presented in all their glory, from a magnificent tiger in mid-leap to a penguin chick huddled for protection underneath its dutiful parent. Highly recommended for nature and photography collections alike, and simply beautiful to page through.

Fear This
Anthony Suau
Aperture
20 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
1931788537 $25.00 www.aperture.org

What did America look like on its way to war in Iraq? Anthony Suau's Fear This could have easily been presented in our Art section for its photographically astute and involving artistic creations but is featured here for its equal strength in hard-hitting political pictures. Black and white photos capture anti-war demonstrations, soldiers leaving home, and reflections on war alike in a series of revealing social commentaries.

The James VanDerZee Studio
Colin Westerbeck
The Art Institute Of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603-6110
0865592101 $9.95 1-312-443-3600

The James VanDerZee Studio is a portrait showcase of the work of photographer James VanDerZee, who operated a portrait studio at various locations in Harlem from 1916 to 1969. He is best known for his portraits of leaders and popular figures such as Marcus Garvey, Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, but the bulk of his living came from his portraits of the local community's middle class. Black-and-white photographs, some of them gel-tinted, show his finest work in capturing human energy and spirit, and the thoughtful text rounds out this brief yet entrancing survey of a passionated and dedicated professional's life work.

Amphoto's Complete Book Of Photography
Jenni Bidner, author
Russ Burden, photographer
Amphoto Books/Watson Guptill
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.amphotobooks.com
0817434860 $24.95 1-800-451-1741

Amphoto's Complete Book Of Photography: How To Improve Your Pictures With A Film Or Digital Camera is a comprehensive resource to improving the quality of one's pictures, no matter what the medium one works with. Advice for both technical issues (learning when and how to use fill flash, selecting the most appropriate camera angles) and artistic inspiration (watching for moments of interaction between people, simplifying images to give them more power) and much more pack this thorough compendium. In addition to color photographs throughout, the pages of Amphoto's Complete Book Of Photography are color-coded for quick and easy lookup of specific types of photography - blue for stripped down point-and-shoot, green for more advanced situations, red for using a traditional or digital SLR, and much more. Highly recommended for any amateur or professional photographer seeking to improve.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Latinas
Hedda Garza
University of New Mexico Press
1720 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1591
082632360X $18.95 www.unmpress.com

Many history coverages obscure or dilute the important roles played by Hispanic women in the U.S: Hedda Garza seeks to correct this lack through Latinas: Hispanic Women In The U. S.: a survey of the major contributions to this country provided by women leader, organizers and activists from diverse Hispanic backgrounds. Garza has long been a lecturer and an activist for social justice: the appearance of her study in paperwork is a recommended pick for college-level collections strong in Hispanic history and social issues.

Circle Of Stones
Judith Duerk
Inner Ocean Publishing
PO Box 1239, Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
www.innerocean.com
1880913631 $13.95 1-800-916-3308

Now in a superbly presented fifteenth anniversary edition, Circle Of Stones is a classic spiritual guide for women featuring meditative experiences drawn from ancient cultures and rituals. Vignettes narrating the life journeys and searches of individual women guide the reader into personal reflection. Ideal for individual reflection or for reading aloud among women's circles, this moving vision of past, present, and future for women promotes awareness and understanding of female responsibilities, powers, and dreams. Woman, with a candle lighted/to help her keep faith with her own life.../a centered presence/spreading in concentric circles around her.

Ladies Of The Lake
Kathleen Bagley
Dower Press
c/o Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
0954767608 $39.95 1-800-365-8929

Inspired by the story of King Arthur's encounter with the Celtic water goddess Vivienne, and enhanced with the remarkable photography of Christine Thomsen, Ladies Of The Lake: Women Rooted In Water by Kathleen Bagley is an assembly of interviews with twenty-three women from the shores of Placid Lake. 155 photographs, in black-and-white as well as full color, illustrate resplendent personalities intimately connected to the water and the environment. An enjoyable survey of emotion, passion, and unity with transcendent natural forces.


The Audiobook Shelf

A Pretext For War
James Bamford
Books On Tape, Inc.
PO Box 25122, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122
www.library.booksontape.com
1415900744 $81.00 1-800-541-5525
0739312545 $27.50 (audio CD, abridged)

A Pretext For War: 9/11, Iraq, And The Abuse Of America's Intelligence Agencies is an audiobook that dares to state flat-out what others have only weakly suggested: that President George W. Bush knowingly misused the findings of an incompetent U.S. intelligence community to provide a false pretext for war with Iraq. Discussing systematic weaknesses of American intelligence agencies that caused them to ignore the crucial signs leading up to the attacks of 9/11. Deception and misinformation allowed Bush and his cronies, who cared less about the capture of Osama bin Laden and the end of his terror network than the opportunity to follow a questionable agenda in Iraq, to spend American lives and resources championing a war to find "weapons of mass-destruction" that did not exist - and even this flagrant abuse was only the latest result of twisting American intelligence agencies for the administraton's own ends. With its in-depth research and detail of shady dealings inside the American government, A Pretext For War is proof that truth can be far more chilling than fiction.

Holy Cow!
Sarah Macdonald
Bolinda Audio Books
PO Box 307, Shelton, CT 06484
www.bolinda.com
1740931602 $56.00 1-888-235-2019

When the love of Sarah Macdonald's life is posted to India, she resigns from her job to move to New Delhi (which seems like the most polluted city on the face of the planet) as an act of ultimate romantic sacrifice. Holy Cow! is the fabulous chronicle of Sarah's often humorous adventures in a land of chaos and cows, class structure and contradictions. We are treated to her encounters with Hinduism, Islam, Janism, Sufis, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, yogis, swamis, and Bollywood stars. From spiritual retreats and crumbling nirvanas, to war zones and New Delhi nightclubs, Holy Cow! is the thoroughly engaging story of one woman's journey to save her soul, her love life, and her sanity. This unabridged, 10 hour, 30 minute, highly recommended audiobook memoir narrated by the author, is also available in a CD format (1740935063, $72.00).

Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859 www.brillianceaudio.com

Brilliance's rapidly expanding list of books on audio keep providing the general-interest listener with plenty to choose from: the latest novels and mysteries paired with a growing force of veteran narrators who can adeptly bring them to life: these are some top picks of their latest releases. Michael Palmer's The Society (15-93557094, $39.95) enjoys another long-time reader J. Charles, whose wining voice brings to life the tale of a doctor who becomes involved in a serial killer who may have him on the list of next to attack. Jack Higgins has already proven his prowess as adventure/espionage writer extraordinaire, so don't miss the audio of his latest Dark Justice narrated by Michael Page, who brings to life the story of an executive operation in Manhattan involving the President and a murder. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson combine forces along with a solid style of reading by relative newcomer Jim Dale in Peter And The Starcatchers (159355978X, $29.95), pairing fantasy and a high seas adventure involving orphan boy Peter and his new friend Molly: if you liked Robert Louis Stevenson, don't miss the action and drama of this pirate story. Nora Roberts is known for romances but writes hard mystery plots under the pseudonym J.D. Robb as in her latest Visions In Death (1593-555377, $38.95), which enjoys a strong narration by Susan Ericksen as it tells of a female New York detective who handles a murderer who likes to deface his victims. Joseph Garber's Whirlwind (1593555253, $36.95) comes from the author of Vertical Run and enjoys a fine lively narrative style by Guerin Barry as it tells of a CIA agent facing a final job which will bring him either death or satisfying revenge for his past imprisonment. Kay Hooper's Hunting Fear (1593557922, $36.95) enjoys Dick Hill's long-time seasoned skill at bringing narratives and high adventure to life as it tells of a psychic special agent pursuing a human predator very successful at collecting ransoms. Sandra Brown's Bittersweet Rain (15935-58988, $29.95) tells of survivor Caroine, who has endured a broken first love only to find the scene repeating. Joyce Bean's smooth and long-standing skills as an audio narrator bring Brown's story to life. Dorothea Benton Frank's Shem Creek (1593559739, $26.95) is an especially powerful pick, enjoying a dual narrative by veterans Sandra Burr and Dick Hill and a special audio appearance by Anita Singleton Preather as it tells of a single parent faced with managing a restaurant. All are excellent stories.

The Things They Carried
Tim O'Brien
Recorded Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
1402574495 $69.75 1-800-638-1304

Expertly narrated by Tom Stechschulte, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien is the story of American soldiers during the Vietnam War who took into the fields, jungles, and rice patties more than just their weapons and survival gear. This is an epic story that is part novel, part personal memoir, and part short story anthology. A strongly recommended, unabridged, technically flawless audiobook recording (6 compact disks, 7.25 hours), The Things They Carried will prove to be an enduringly popular contribution to any community library multimedia and audiobook collection.


The Computer Shelf

Anybody Can Enjoy Computers
Vicki Mills
Mills Custom Services Publishing
68525 Risueno Road, Cathedral City, CA 92234
0974846538 $29.95 aonestopmall.com

Anybody Can Enjoy Computers: The Clear And Simple Basics is an extremely simple instructional guide especially for those who have never attempted to use a computer before. Walking the reader through such introductory matters as how to turn a computer on and off, how to use a mouse and a computer keyboard, how to create and save documents in Notepad or Wordpad, how to highlight, cut, copy, and paste text, using email, and much more, Anybody Can Enjoy Computers renders its wisdom in clear, simple terms. Highly recommended, especially as a primer for those who are not computer literate and would like to be.

Sams Publishing
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
1-800-428-5331 www.mcp.com

Two new titles from Sams Publishing are invaluable instructionals for personal and professional computer reference collections. Now in a thoroughly updated third edition of PHP and MySQL Web Development by the collaborative team of Luke Welling and Laura Thomson (0672326-728, $49.99, 984 pages) Combines two open source tools essential to creating truly dynamic Web sites: PHP 5 and MySQL 5. This is an expanded, comprehensive, user friendly, superbly organized, and highly recommended manual. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Notification Services (0672326647, $49.99, 672 pp.) by Shyam Pather will enable anyone to competently learn SQL Server Notification Services through working sample codes that can actually run by the reader. A confidently recommended addition to academic and professional computer science and technology reference collections, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Notification Services comprehensively covers the basic problem of notification applications, while describing the SQL Notification Services platform as well as just how to use it to build rich, scalable notification applications.

iMovie 4 & iDVD
David Pogue
Pogue Press/O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
0596006934 $24.95 1-800-998-9938

iMovie 4 & iDVD: The Missing Manual is a solid primer and resource especially focusing on step-by-step video editing techniques for use on the Macintosh. Chapters address forming seamless transitions and effects, the ins and outs of QuickTime Pro, iDVD secreets, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for getting the most out of iMovie 4 and iDVD software, highly recommended for amateur and professional moviemakers and movie editors working on the Macintosh.

Automating Microsoft Access with VBA
Mike Gunderloy & Susan Sales Harkins
Que Publishing
801 E 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.mcp.com
0789732440 $34.99 1-800-428-5331

Mike Gunderloy and Susan Sales Harkinsdeftly collaborate in Automating Micro-soft Access with VBA to produce an ideal, comprehensive, 408 page introduction and instructional manual enabling the reader to readily take full and ocmplete advantage of VBA's diverse capabilities. With thoroughly "user friendly" instructions for customizing Access database applications to meet business needs, Automating Micro-soft Access with VBA is an invaulauble and continuing reference.

Agile Software Development In The Large
Jutta Eckstein
Dorset House Publishing
353 West 12th Street, NY, NY 10014
0932633579 $39.95 dorsethouse.com

Agile Software Development In The Large is a guide especially for career professional computer software developers seeking to adapt their code and techniques to the revolutions that agile, or "lightweight" processes have brought to the software development industry. These faster, more efficient development processes enable developers to adapt more readily to requirement changes, better focus on the human factor, deliver working software in more frequent iterations, and more. An in-depth resource written by an experienced field professional, Agile Software Development In The Large is an absolute must-have for any expert striving to keep current and improvements.

Cisco Press
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.ciscopress.com

Intermediate developers using the Cisco network will find these titles new titles from Cisco Press to be weighty and essential references suitable for repeated consultation. Peter Rybaczyk's Cisco Network Design Solutions For Small-Medium Businesses (1587051435, $50.00) shows how to analyze and apply the design process used by successful networking professionals, applying these streamlined designs to small business sites and applications. Rybaczyk has been involved in multiple technology disciplines since 1979, from applications and network design to database administration and IT training programs: he's in the perfect position to pass on his knowledge to administrators of Cisco networks for small applications. Cisco Router Firewall Security by Richard A. Deal (1587051753, $60.00) goes a step further in illustrating the complete functionality and applications of the Cisco IOS firewall. Chapters cover all the basics of perimeter router security, cover all the pros and cons of its key security features and when they should or should not be used, and provides case studies at the end of each chapter to illustrate practical applications. An essential how-to guide to firewall security in general and Cisco applications in particular. Matthew Castelli's Lan Switching First-Step (1587-201003, $29.95) joins others in the 'First Step' series in providing a basic introduction to LAN switching, from learning local-area network concepts and terminology to identifying key issues in managing a switched LAN. Castelli is the deputy network and secure solutions program manager with EDS working on Navy/marine Corps Intranet: his background lends to a thorough survey of a variety of LAN switched networks, and uses language as basic as you can get for the topic. Jim Geier's Wireless Networks First-Step (15872-01119, $29.95) is written by the founder and principal consultant of Wireless-Nets, Ltd: a consulting firm that helps companies with their wireless networks. His 'first step' guide covers the foundations of wireless networks and ow they operate, from discovering key radio frequencies and learning about how they operate in a wireless environment to applying basic wireless technology to a project. Invaluable guides, all.

Mastering 3D Animation
Peter Ratner
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, NY, NY 10010
www.allworth.com
1581153457 $40.00 1-800-491-2808

Technology affects art and the many changes in computer animation and effects means that the art world faces both new challenges and new innovations in 3D modeling. Surprisingly, Peter Ratner explains, the changes mean less technical challenges for artists with more ability to focus on creating art rather than deciphering computer systems and the second edition of his Mastering 3D Animation is just the place to begin. Ratner is a professor of the topic at James Madison University and the founder and head of the first computer animation program in Virginia, so his background lends particularly well to discussions. His paintings and computer graphics have received exhibition and acclaim also a plus for artists seeking more than just a programmer's technical tips.

Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages 2
Dave Lindsay & Sean Lindsay
Erin Publications
82 Edenstone View NW, Calgary, AB, T3A 4T5, Canada
0969060998 $11.95 www.erinbooks.com

Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages 2: A Guide To Creating Multi-Page Web Sites is a simple instructional to applying HTML and creating an effective, professional-quality multi-page website free of dead links. Written by a web designer who has been learning the tips, tricks, and techniques since 1996 (at age eleven!), Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages 2 offers sample HTML text, an easy-to-understand walkthrough, and much more covering everything from fonts to row/column grids. A superb, easy-to-use resource especially for any amateur or novice professional designer.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Fly-Fishing For Trophy Trout
Brent Curtice
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
www.amatobooks.com
1571882987 $19.95 1-800-541-9498

In Fly-Fishing For Trophy Trout: A Complete Guide For The Beginning Fly-Fisher, professional flyfishing and flytying instructor Brent Curtice puts his years of experience and expertise directly in service to the novice angler seeking to make his or her next fishing trip enjoyable confident and successful. Curtice covers trout species, their habits and habitats, what they eat, and how best to imitate their meal time favorites. Not to be missed is Curtice's presentations on collecting insects, matching the hatch, choosing effective equipment and accessories, tying knots, casting techniques, reading the water, as well as first aid, planning the trip, showcasing trophy trout, keeping a journal, and more. Superbly illustrated in full color, Fly-Fishing For Trophy Trout is a "must" for any beginner, and has a great deal to offer as a refresher for even seasoned anglers who have been away from the sport for a while.

Fly Fishing California Stillwaters
Bill Sunderland
Mosca Loca Books, Inc.
865 Beach Road, Whitethorn, CA 95589
www.flyfishcaliforniabooks.com
0970857632 $27.95 1-707-986-1683

Fly Fishing California Stillwaters is an exciting fisherman's guide to the trout that can be found in California's lakes and reservoirs. Stillwater trout are bigger because they don't have to work as hard fighting stream and river currents, and because many lakes are rich in fish food. Full-color photographs and illustrations on almost every page add a visual touch to this no-nonsense guide to the best stillwater locations all across California, complete with maps, information on resources, tips, tricks, techniques, and much more. Recommended for any fly-fisherman in California who is out to catch the biggest fish to be had.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Estate Planning For The Healthy Wealthy Family
Stanley D. Neeleman, J.D., et.al.
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., #510, New York NY 10010
www.allworth.com
158115318X $16.95 1-800-491-2808

There are plenty of books on financial planning and savvy: what makes Stanley D. Neeleman, et.al.'s Estate Planning For The Healthy Wealthy Family special is its focus on values-based estate planning which goes beyond the usual focus on how to pass wealth tax-free to future generations. The concern here is that money passed on be used wisely: a new form of values-based planning which encourages wisdom, character growth, and even non-material values. Professor Neeleman has studied law at Brigham Young University and has extensive practical experience in tax planning, while associate co-author Carla B. Garrity Ph.D is a child psychologist and Mitchell A. Baris, Ph.D. is a family psychologist. The unusual blend of disciplines means Estate Planning For The Healthy Wealthy Family delves way beyond the usual 'protect your assets' focus.

Real Estate Riches
Dolf de Roos, Ph.D.
Warner Books, Inc.
1271 Avenue of the Americas, Room 913, New York, NY 10020
0446678643 $17.95 1-800-759-0190

Expert real estate investor Dolf de Roos presents Real Estate Riches: How To Become Rich Using Your Banker's Money, a straightforward introduction to reaping the rewards of real estate investment. From taking advantage of favorable parts of the tax code, to creating passive income with one's banker's money, to how to increase one's property values without excessive expense, and much more, Real Estate Riches is an excellent primer for putting money and land to work for one. Tips, tricks, techniques, and advice such as tha 100:10:3:1 rule (if you look at 100 properties, put offers on 10, and try to arrange financing for 3, you may end up buying 1 - good deals are not just there for picking!) tell the business like it is. Real estate investment requires hard work and intelligence like any other business prospect, yet when properly done, the rewards can be tremendous; Real Estate Riches shows just what to do and how.


The Dance Shelf

The Pointe Book
Janice Barringer & Sarah Schlesinger
Princeton Book Company
PO Box 831, Hightstown, NJ 08520-0831
087127261X $19.95 www.amazon.com

Now in a new and expanded second edition, The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training, & Technique is a remarkable manual and examination of ballet dancing pointe shoes, and the methodologies used by professionals. Choreographic experts Barringer and Schlesinger apply their years of knowledge and personal experience in the world of fitting and training with pointe shoes to matter-of-factly present how dedicated and athletic individuals achieve remarkable feats of grace and balance. Packed with detail, The Pointe Book is as comprehensive as can be covering everything from different types of shoes to the hazards of learning to walk on one's toes to resources for help with pointe-related injuries and much more. Highly recommended for anyone with a professional or casual interest in the world of ballet.


The Art Shelf

Stephan Pace
Marticia Sawin
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
0555952275 $50.00 hudsonhills.com

Art historian and contemporary art expert Marticia Swain's 144 page, coffee table style artbook Stephen Pace showcases the life and life of an American artist that arose from a childhood spent on Indiana and Missouri farms, to survive the Normandy Landings in World War II, and studied art in Mexico, Paris and New York on the G.I. Bill. Attracting critical attention for his abstract expressionist canvases, Stephan Pace through the use of 93 color plates and 45 black & white illust-rations, provides the reader with an informed and informative perspective that continues through to Pace's luminous representational paintings of the past several decades. Informed and informative, Stephan Pace is a truly core addition to any personal, professional, art school, or community library 20th Century art history collection.

On The Strange Place Of Religion In Contemporary Art
James Elkins
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0415969891 $22.95 www.routledge.com

James Elkins (Professor of Art History and Theory at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago), presents On The Strange Place Of Religion In Contemporary Art, an in-depth exploration of the complex dilemma of the modern artist concerning to what extent his art should reflect his faith. Even as art historians separate art from spirituality, the long history of art has been intertwined since long, long before the Renaissance. On The Strange Place Of Religion In Contemporary Art explores the dichotomy through the stories of five individuals, and turns over key terms and ideas scholars express when analyzing religious themes and motifs found in the art world. Highly recommended reading especially for art critics and art history students, seeking to better understand both their knowledge base and their descriptive vocabulary of the great works they view.

Savannah Sketchbook
Jeffrey Eley
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
1589801024 $29.95 1-800-843-1724

Savannah Sketchbook offers the experience of twenty-one artists who applied their impressionistic vision to watercolor paintings of Savannah, Georgia. The full-color illustrations on almost every page have a slightly sketchy feel, yet evoke a profound sense of warmth, and the text offers the rich history behind each of the locales captured on brush and paper. An amazingly unforgettable tour of a charming American town, blending talent and love for scenery into a beautiful whole.

American Fancy
Sumpter Priddy
Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Ave., 2nd fl, NY, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
0972435395 $75.00 1-800-338-2665

American Fancy: Exuberance In The Arts 1790-1840 is a stunning coffe table book focusing upon all forms of physical art - from paintings to furnishings to clocks, glass panels, coffeepots, and much more that could be found American households circa the early 1800's. The full color photographs display a truly remarkable assortment of classic antiques, and the text brings the reader on an in-depth tour of not only the works themselves, but the lives and sweeping historical changes surrounding the men and and women who cherished them. American Fancy is a veritable treasury of vintage creations, many of which were pragmatic as surely as they were beautiful.

In The Gardens Of Impressionism
Clare A. P. Willsdon
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
0865652325 $60.00 1-212-737-5297

In The Gardens Of Impressionism is a beautiful artbook exploring the fascination that Impressionists have had with gardens, from examining classic works of Monet to delving into the personal letters and testimonies of individual artists. Packed with full-color, soothing works of Impressionistic tranquility on almost every page, In The Gardens Of Impressionism is a splendid blend of art history, criticism, theory and speculation, offering detailed information on the backgrounds of the many works showcased in its pages and insight into the hearts, minds, and motivations of those who created those works. In The Gardens Of Impressionism is as much a joy to simply browse through and savor the artwork as it is fascinating to read.

Contemporary International Glass
Jennifer Hawkins Opie
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
1851774262 $50.00 1-800-759-0190

Contemporary International Glass: 60 Artists In The V&A by Jennifer Hawkins Opie (V&A's curator of contemporary glass and a leading expert in this specialized field) is an impressively beautiful introduction and survey of the V&A's outstanding collection of glass art. Each showcased piece is presented in a full-color photograph, along with a statement (if any) by the artist, information concerning its composition, the training, professional, and teaching experience of the artist, and notable critical commentary. A wide variety of modern images, colors, suggestions and themes from classical design to abstract sculpture fill this remarkable display of uniquely modern art.

The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes
John Britt
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
1579904254 $29.95 1-212-532-7160

The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes is a highly practical reference especially for ceramic artists - potters and sculptors who glaze their work, put it in a kiln, and then wait and see what comes out. Written by a practicing ceramicist of 20 years' experience, The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes uses full-color photographs, charts, and extensive detail to instruct artists in exactly what to expect when placing their work under fire. From technical information about the oxides that make up glazes, to a walkthrough of all aspects of cone 10 glaze-making including mixing the glaze and firing procedures for fuel and electronic kilns, to means of controlling a kiln's firing temperature and atmosphere for each type of glaze, hundreds of glaze recipes, and much more, The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes is a "must-have" for any dedicated ceramicist and a treasure simply to browse for its wealth of beautiful ceramic works for everyone else.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

It's Your Career: Take Control!
Catherine B. Beck
Davies-Black Publishing
3803 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
www.daviesblack.com
0891061835 $20.95 1-800-624-1765

Career consultant and management coach Catherine Beck presents It's Your Career: Take Control!, a job search workshop in book form. Covering everything from self-assessment to resume writing, interview techniques, practical exercises, sample forms, case studies, advice for negotiating one's compensation package and much more, It's Your Career is up-to-date on the latest trends - such as the recent acceptibility of a two-page resume rather than a one-page resume if one has more than five years' experience, a change brought around by increased employment turnover in the constantly changing modern world. It's Your Career presents need-to-know tips, tricks, and guidelines in a manner that anyone seeking the job best suited for them can immediately absorb. Highly recommended.

The New Retirement
Jan Cullinane & Cathy Fitzgerald
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth St., Emmaus, PA 18098
1579547966 $19.95 www.rodale.com

The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide To The Rest Of Your Life is a comprehensive guide to planning all aspects of one's ideal retirement. Packed with virtual tours of the best cities in which to live (both in America and abroad), ways to spend one's free time, financial planning, mortgages and investments, adult-only communities, tips for buying and selling one's home, physical and psychological wellness, second career suggestions, and once more, The New Retirement offers plain-terms solid advice in response to perplexing questions and gripping dilemmas, whether financial, emotional, or family-related. Highly recommended for anyone nearing the end of their term in their chosen career.

Start Your Own Pet-Sitting Business
Cheryl Kimball
Entrepreneur Press
2445 McCabe Way, Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92614-6244
www.entrepreneurpress.com
1932531068 $14.95 1-800-462-6420

Author Cheryl Kimball's Start Your Own Pet-Sitting Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide To Success is a straightforward guide to the ins and outs of running a business that cares for people's beloved animals. Chapters address the issues of setting up a business framework, the services one must offer (including feeding, grooming, exercise, and health care), marketing basics, insurance and legal matters, financial considerations, considerations to take into account when looking after specific animals such as dogs, cats, birds, rodents, fish, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles, barn animals, and wild animals, things to take into account when expanding one's business, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for anyone seriously contemplating a career as a pet caretaker.

How To Start A Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service
Victoria Ring
Graphico Publishing
1601 West Fifth Avenue, Suite 123, Columbus, Ohio 43212-2303
www.graphicopublishing.com
0976159112 $59.95

Author and paralegal Victoria Ring (one of the first paralegals in the country to set up an internet-based service dedicated to aiding bankruptcy attorneys), How To Start A Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service is a solid guide packed with everything the reader needs to know about improving one's skill as a bankruptcy paralegal or bankruptcy forms processor, and get a freelance bankruptcy forms processing business off the ground. Chapters address the beginning steps of setting up a business from ground zero, including structuring one's client base and selecting the right office supplies, to the nuts and bolts of performing one's jobs, assessing one's clients (for example, recognizing when a debtor could be hiding assets), marketing chapter 13 services to bankruptcy attorneys, managing one's business, tips, tricks, techniques, and insights, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for anyone seeking to organize, promote, or improve the service of their own bankruptcy forms business.


The Political Science Shelf

Restoring The Lost Constitution
Randy E. Barnett
Princeton University Press
41 William St., Princeton, NJ 08540
www.pupress.princton.edu
0691115850 $32.50 1-800-777-4726

Restoring The Lost Constitution: The Presumption Of Liberty by Randy E. Barnett (Austin B. Fletcher Professor, Boston University School of Law and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute) sharply warns that the U.S. Constitution, as taught in school textbooks, is not the true foundation of American law and government as enforced today by the Supreme Court. Claiming that court decisions have effectively cut holes in the parts of the Constitution that protect liberty from the power of the government - rendering the the Commerce Clause, the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and more effectively without any bite - Restoring The Lost Constitution is an alarming, well-researched and gravely serious warning of an immediate and pervasive threat to human rights in America, calling upon the reader to take action before it is too late.

Wake Up... You're Liberal
Ted Rall
Soft Skull Press
Publisher's Group West, dist.
71 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
www.pgw.com
1932360220 $15.95 1-800-788-3123

Wake Up... You're Liberal: How We Can Take America Back From The Right is a sharp-voiced wake-up call, grounded heavily in both research and personal passion. Cartoonist, columnist, and war correspondent Ted Rall argues that most "Republican" voters agree with liberals on most issues, but have been duped into voting against their own interests and for the interests of the wealthiest, most sharply conservative, and often most fanatically religious minority of the nation. Discussing everything from high school bullying to dirty political practices to Central Asian oil politics, Wake Up... You're Liberal combines its whetted observations into an overriding manifesto to wake up, get involved, and contribute to the democratic system that makes America great.

Of Grunge And Government
Krist Novoselic
RDV Books/Akashic Books
130 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
0971920656 $9.95 akashicbooks.com

Of Grunge And Government: Let's Fix This Broken Democracy! is both memoir and political platform. Krist Novoselic, bass player and founding member of the widely-known rock band Nirvana, calls readers to action - stressing the importance of getting up and taking part, in small ways and large. His own work in benefit concerts and the founding of JAMPAC (Joing Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee) reveals the efforts to which he has gone to get the message out; his drive to make contributions is infectious, healthy, and inspirational for a democracy and a community meant to be of, by, and for the people. Highly recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Writers Of The Future: Volume XX
L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
1592121772 $7.99 www.amazon.com

Writers Of The Future: Volume XX is the 20th anniversary edition of the L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future anthology. Featuring 15 amazing, original stories showcasing rising creative talent in speculative fiction, all winners of the Writers of the Future contest, Writers Of The Future: Volume XX is an anthology that transcends imagination and transports the reader into the most mind-blowing and exciting new worlds. All the pieces within have never before been published, and the professional judges who screen the submissions include such well-known story weavers as Orson Scott Card, Larry Niven, Anne McCaffrey, Andre Norton, Frederik Phol, and much more. Award-winning black-and-white illustrations, also judged for their expertise, enhance the mass-market edition of this world-spanning and immensely entertaining collection.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Frugal Book Promoter
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Star Publish
465 South Meadows Parkway 20-113
Reno, NV 89521-5946
http://carolynhowardjohnson.com
193299310X $17.95 starpublish.com

Written by former publicist Carolyn Howard-Johnson, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't is a no-nonsense guide to the basics of building a media kit and media release, forming a solid mailing list that is far more effective than any that could be bought, a wealth of promotional ideas to choose from, suggestions for tailoring a promotion campaign to one's pocketbook and personality, and much more. Also available in an ebook format (1932993118), The Frugal Book Promoter is an excellent resource for any aspiring small press or self-published author looking to get the word out and unafraid of elbow grease.


The Parenting Shelf

The Pampered Child Syndrome
Dr. Maggie Mamen
Creative Bound, Inc.
151 Tansley Drive, Box 424, Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0, Canada
1894439163 $20.95 creativebound.com

Written by a clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience working with parents and children, The Pampered Child Syndrome: How To Recognize It, How To Manage It, And How To Avoid It is a straightforward parenting reference that focuses upon a sociological and psychological phenomenon that can harm children. Parents who truly believe they are working for their child's best interests, and who strive to give their child everything to make him or her feel special, can have their efforts backfire, strip themselves of their own power and authority, and instill views of the self that will in fact hurt the child as he or she matures. Insights and solid guidelines for restoring a healthy family balance fill this superbly recommended resource.

The Divorce Helpbook For Teens
Cynthia MacGregor
Impact Publishers
Box 6016, Atascadero, CA 93423-6016
www.impactpublishers.com
1886230579 $13.95 1-800-246-7228

The Divorce Helpbook For Teens is a straightforward guide for teenagers dealing with their parents' divorce. Addressing young people in a plain-terms manner without any condescension, it covers such common questions as why parents get divorced, how divorce changes people's lives, how to say "no" to a parent who wants the child to carry messages to (or spy on) the other parent, what to talk about when visiting a parent who moved away, and more. Examples flesh out the all-too-real dilemmas contemplated, and question-and-answer sessions spell out difficult issues in this highly recommended book for any young adult who must deal with the difficulty of their parents' separation.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Legendary Lionel Trains
John A. Grams & Terry D. Thompson
Kalmbach Publishing Company
PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187
0871162113 $29.95 1-800-533-6644

Legendary Lionel Trains is a remarkable history of the model railroading collectibles of the Lionel company; though it includes specimens from every era of Lionel production, it especially focuses upon the classic creations of the 1940s and 1950s. Gorgeous full-color photographs illustrations on almost every page draw the reader into the fascinating world of these unique creations, as the text extensively describes each item's innovations, history, productions, commercial success rate, and more. This a treasured walk down memory lane for model railroad enthusiasts, and a superb resource for Lionel Train collectors.

Travel & Village Rugs
Peter F. Stone
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
0500511845 $65.00 1-800-233-4830

Travel & Village Rugs is a full-color, in-depth, coffee-table sized identification guide to the motifs, designs, and patterns that can be found upon rugs and carpets crafted according to the rich weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia. Divided into six major regional and tribal groupings, covering Anatolian, Baluchi, Caucasian, Kurdish, Persian and Turkman motifs, the segments rely on explict, plain-terms description, colorful diagrams, close-up zooms of sample repeating patterns, and more to clarify its points about subtle nuances of design. Travel & Village Rugs is an invaluable reference and resource for any dedicated hobbyist or professional textile dealer who needs to familiarize themselves with the distinct designs of Central Asian regions, or have the information ready for easy access.

American Farm Collectibles
Russell E. Lewis
Krause Publications
700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krause.com
0873498232 $24.99 1-800-258-0929

American Farm Collectibles: Identification And Price Guide is a catalog of classic mementos of the bygone era of American farm life, including tools, antique tractors, toys and sleds, kitchen utensils, gardening items, turn-of-the-century ads, and much more. Black-and-white photographs fill almost every page other than the 32 pages of color photos, and the text offers straightforward item descriptions, current prices, and advice for finding collectibles and antiques. A superb resource for the dedicated enthusiast, and fun just to page through for the memories and nostalgia.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Horror Classics
Eureka Productions
8778 Oak Grove Road, Mount Horeb, WI 53572
0974664812 $9.95 graphicclassics.com

Horror Classics is a graphic novel anthology that brings to vivid life those great tales of terror by Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and others. Each individual story is skillfully rendered into comic book format by a different artist, who uses black-and-white imagery to perfectly capture moments of terror. An engrossing introduction to the classics of horror for those new to the literary experience, and an exciting fresh take on great stories for those who have read them a hundred times before.

Tales Of The Hermit, Volume III
Oscar Ratti & Adele Westbrook
Via Media Publishing
821 W. 24th Street, Erie, PA 16502
1893765059 $29.95 goviamedia.com

Tales Of The Hermit, Volume III is an astounding work of illustrated fantasy and mythology. Integrating text and haunting, black-and-white images to tell the narrative in a manner bordering on the graphic novel, Tales Of The Hermit, Volume III weaves the stories in a faraway eastern land where a long-traveling and long-suffering westerner has sought refuge. The dazzling stories of swordsmanship, duty, honor, loyalty, the evolution of the spirit, and much more make for an unforgettable blend of Japanese culture, personal growth, and ponderings of the soul.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

True Crime
Jake Arnott
Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
1569473730 $25.00 sohopress.com

True Crime by Jake Arnott is a riveting novel of suspense, following Harry, a wanted London gangster, and his return to his old hometown. Most of Harry's old contacts are dead or behind bars, but one ruthless individual has focused upon Harry and will let neither rules nor conscience stand in his way. True Crime is confidently recommended as an exciting and deftly written criminal drama, heavy with suspense and featuring a protagonist who doesn't play by the good guy rules either.

The Secret Notebooks Of Sherlock Holmes
June Thomson
Allison & Busby Limited
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22883 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166
www.alisonandbusby.com www.internationalpubmarket.com
0749006986 $25.95 1-800-758-3756

Former teacher and prolific mystery author June Thompson presents The Secret Notebooks Of Sherlock Holmes, an enthralling assembly of stories exquisitely crafted to mesh with the life story of the world's most famous fictional detective. Presented as a hidden collection of writings that Dr. Watson hid to protect the reputations of the good and not-so-good people that he and Holmes encountered in their line of work, The Secret Notebooks Of Sherlock Holmes ventures into the realms of deception, intrigue, high stakes and often the grim ruthlessness of criminals determined to carry out their plan. A treat for detective story fans in general and a "must read" title for dedicated Sherlock Holmes fans in particular, The Secret Notebooks Of Sherlock Holmes is written in a style that is as reminiscent as possible of Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes classics while remaining easy to assimilate by contemporary readers.


The Self-Help Shelf

A Winner By Any Standard
Rob Garofalo, Jr.
Teen Winners Publishing
19 Quail Run Lane, Berlin, CT 06037
www.TeenWinners.com
0974035645 $16.95 1-860-829-2067

Written by an experienced teacher, A Winner By Any Standard is a self-help manual designed especially for teenagers. 52 personal growth challenges, one for each week, cover such self-improvement issues as appreciating one's family, being a true friend, examining alcohol use, thickening one's skin, and more. Each challenge, and the positive virtues one can reinforce in oneself by contemplating it, is effectively summarized in a "Life App" at the close of the chapter. Written in plain, accessible terms without talking down to the reader, A Winner By Any Standard is a superb guide and a very highly recommended personalized giftbook for any teen.

Talk To The Mirror
Florine Mark
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
www.wiley.com
0471630853 $24.95 1-800-225-5945

Written by the successful and slender former owner of "Weight Watchers" franchises worldwide, Talk To The Mirror: Feel Great About Yourself Each And Every Day is the straightforward testimony of a one-time ugly duckling (fifty pounds overweight as a child) who, in her late twenties, turned her life and her health around, becoming a motivational speaker and businesswoman as well as learning to improve her health habits. Stressing the importance of giving oneself unconditional love, Talk To The Mirror is a cogent lesson in self-empowerment supplemented with self-tests, exercises, inspirational stories and more to banish negative self-images and improve the quality of one's life. Written with jovial wisdom and genuine warmth, Talk To The Mirror is a confidently recommended to self-help reading lists.


The Music Shelf

Music, Money And Success
Jeffrey Brabec & Todd Brabec
Schirmer Books
c/o The Music Sales Group
PO Box 572, Chester, NY 10918
www.musicsales.com
0825673062 $24.95 1-800-431-7187

You need more than just talent to be commercially successful in the volatile and highly competitive field of music. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded fourth edition, Music, Money And Success: The Insider's Guide To Making Money In The Music Industry by Jeffrey Brabec (Vice President of Business Affairs for Chrysalis Music) and Todd Brabec (Vice President/Director of Membership for ASCAP) provides the definitive instruction and reference manual for making money from record sales, performances, films, television, videogames, commercials, theatrical productions, the Internet, and foreign countries. Music, Money And Success features the 2004/2005 mechanical rates; ASCAP/BMI rates; website fees; streaming royalties, ringtone/cell phone and video game licenses and royalties; negotiating publishing and record contracts in the digital world; new sources of income, and more. Thoroughly "user friendly", Music, Money And Success should be considered mandatory reading by anyone wanting to earn their living by the music they make.

Fiddlin' Man
View Video
34 East 23rd Street, NY, NY 10010
#1354 VHS $19.98 www.view.com

Fiddlin' Man: The Life And Times Of Bob Wills is a live action video that showcases country western musician Bob Wills and his band, the Texas Playboys. It was Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys that principally founded Western Swing music. This 61 minute video showcases performances that capture forty years of their music including such signature numbers as Sittin' on Top of the World; Home in San Antone; Lone Star Rag; Goodbye Liza Jane, Time Changes Everything; and San Antonio Rose. Very highly recommended, especially for those who are fans of country music, Fiddlin' Man is also available in a DVD format (#2354, $19.98) that includes bonus features such as a Bob Wills biography, a discography; digitally mastered audio and video, and instant access to numerous scene selections.

Bruce Springsteen "Talking"
John W. Duffy
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corporation
257 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10010
www.omnibuspress.com
1844494039 $14.95 1-800-431-7187

Bruce Springsteen "Talking" is a collection of memorable quotes from rock-and-roll veteran legend Bruce Springsteen. Black-and-white and a handful of color photographs illustrate this memorable assembly of keen insight, carefully considered discussions, and since exhortations straight from the heart. Covering everything from daily life to roles in American society to the turn of the millennium, these vignettes make for quick reading yet expose one to the depth of Springsteen's personal character, in a most thought-provoking and intriguing manner. "When Regan mentioned my name in New Jersey, I felt it was another manipulation, and I had to disassociate myself from the president's kind words." - Springsteen, 1984.

Through These Doors
Kerstin H. Becker
Old Chapel Press
1106 N. Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01002
0974755303 $44.95 oldchapelpress.com

Through These Doors: The History Of The University Of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band 1863-2003 is the true story behind an acclaimed, award-winning marching band that has even earned the honor of marching for President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. at the Presidential Inaugural Parade. Black & white photographs as well as a smattering of color plates enrich this chronicle of an organization grounded in excellence and musical celebration, which delves deeply into the personal efforts of the individuals who shaped, taught, and led the marching band as well as the broader history of the band and the school it served.


The Native American Shelf

History And Folklore Of The Cowichan Indians
Martha Douglas Harris
Marquette Books
3107 E. 62nd Ave, Spokane, WA 99223
0922993114 $29.95 MarquetteBooks.org

In the late 1800s, Martha Douglas Harris (the halfbreed daughter of the former governor of British Columbia) witnessed first hand the destruction of the Cowichan tribal culture in Vancouver, Canada. Deftly edited by Paul Lindholdt (Associate Professor of English, Eastern Washington University), this edition of Martha's History And Folklore Of The Cowichan Indians is a faithfully reproduced reprint (including the original illustrations by Mar-garet C. Maclure) of this collection of Native American folktales first published in 1901 to honor Martha's Cree Indian heritage. Also included is Martha's back-story account of being a Victorian woman whose father had hoped to conceal her mixed-blood heritage. An accurate reproduction, this Marquette Books edition does correct for grammatical errors and one factual error, thus providing contemporary readers with a significant and seminal contribution to Native American Studies supplement reading lists and reference collections.

Miracle Hill
Blackhorse Mitchell
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
www.uapress.arizona.edu
0816523983 $16.95 1-800-426-3797

First begun in 1962 as a 12th grade classroom assignment to pen the author's life story, Miracle Hill: The Story Of A Navajo Boy is the memoir of growing up and earning his passage into manhood. Author Blackhorse Mitchell recounts learning Navajo ways, herding sheep, living at a boarding school, the first time he encountered white people, and eventually, earning a place in the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where his creative talent was encouraged and given ample opportunity to grow. Relating daily life in plain terms that transcent cultural barriers, Miracle Hill offers a unique and unforgettable picture of the Southwest. Highly recommended reading for students of Native American Studies as well as the non-specialist general reader with an interest in contemporary Native American culture.


The Poetry Shelf

Along Greathouse Road
Anne McCrady
Eakin Press
PO Drawer 90159, Austin TX 78709-0159
1571688420 $16.95 eakinpress.com

Along Greathouse Road is an impressively observant and enthusiastically recommended compendium of poetry showcasing the imaginative images and lyrical language of Texas poet Anne McCrady. An assistant editor and critic for "Gin Bender Poetry Review" and active with the Poetry Society of Texas, Anne McCrady draws upon the landscape and people of East Texas in verses that will engage the reader's rapt attention. Recovery: They thought that she would die/faced with this disappointment,/that she would simply fold her wings/and plunge toward earth,/a fragile, feathered song/about to end.//They had not known her/days ago when blessings came/like bluebird pairs,/and her determination grew/from seeds of doubt,/not flocks of friends.//And so, as rumors spread/of how her world was caving in,/she found the essence of her flight/within her heart,/then faced the sky/and caught the wind.

The Earth's Wall
Giorgio Caproni, author
Ned Condini, translator
Chelsea Editions
Box 773, Cooper Station, NY, NY 10276
0972527125 $15.00 www.amazon.com

Superbly translated from the original Italian by Ned Condini, and presenting its poems in the bilingual format of Italian on one page and English on each facing page, The Earth's Wall: Selected Poems 1932-1986 is a truly breathtaking anthology of Giorgio Caproni's immortal verse. Born in 1912, surviving his term of service fighting in World War II, Caproni puts his unfettered emotions on the page. The lyrical, often rhyming rhythms of the original Italian are especially is not to be missed. The Chance: The chance was good. / I too wanted to shoot. / I aimed upward. A star / or the eye (the ice) of God?

Prayer Against Famine & Other Irish Poems
John Knoepfle
BkMk Press
University of Missouri - Kansas City
5101 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City MO 64110
1886157456 $12.95 umkc.edu/bkmk

Award-winning author and poet John Knoepfle presents Prayer Against Famine & Other Irish Poems, a work that embraces his Irish roots and contemplates the human drive for survival in spite of terrible suffering. Compassion and tragedy intertwine in these brief, free-verse compositions that evoke a sanctity of the human spirit. Dancing with the Inupiaq: the man dancing on one foot / told us he did not know / where his songs came from / only that his grandmother sang them // we understood how it was with him / how the man at the desk and that one / skulking in the beloved fields / would tell him it did not matter // so we put on our gloves / and we all got up and danced / keeping time as well as we knew / and awkward as a room full of bears // learning how the inupiaq dance.

John Berryman: Selected Poems
Kevin Young, editor
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, NY, NY 10022
1931082693 $20.00 www.loa.org

John Berryman: Selected Poems is the latest addition to the outstanding "American Poets Project" series from The Library of America. Deftly edited for the reader by poet and essayist Kevin Young, this is the the showcase collection of poetry by the Pulitzer Prize winning John Berryman and will aptly serve to introduce a whole new generation to his work that ranges from wrenching religious poems to verse that is characterized with a mesmerizing diction. King David Dances: Aware to the dry throat of the wide hell in the world,/O trampling empires, and mine one of them,/and mine one gross desire against His sight,/slaughter devising there,/some good behind, ambiguous ahead,/revolted sons, a pierced son, bound to bear,/mid hypocrites amongst idolaters,/mockt in abysm by one shallow wife,/with the ponder both of priesthood & of State/heavy upon me, yea,/all the black same I dance my blue head off! Also very highly recommended as newly released titles in of the "American Poets Project" series are William Carlos Williams: Selected Poems (1931082-715, $20.00) and Amy Lowell: Selected Poems (1931082707, $20.00).

Father Said
Hal Sirowitz
Soft Skull Press
71 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Publishers Group West (dist.)
www.pgw.com
1932360271 $23.00 1-800-788-3123

Award-winning poet Hal Sirowitz presents Father Said, an anthology of his one-page free-verse poems, written in an almost conversational style, that distill the connection between father and son into bits of wisdom, large and small, that strengthen a lifelong bond. A compelling and eminently readable compendium of ageless wisdom, wry insight, and catch-one's-eye phrases make Father Said a superb giftbook even for individuals who may be unaccustomed to reading poetry - the words speak with a plain-terms, everyman spirit that one does not need years of literary education to wholeheartedly appreciate. Highly recommended. Mother of Invention: They say necessity is the mother / of invention, Father said, but you / don't feel the necessity of inventing / an excuse for why you don't visit us anymore. / Your sister, who has given less than you, doesn't / visit us much either but at least she invents a new excuse / every week that she's unable to come.


The Nautical Shelf

The Last Great Adventure Of Sir Peter Blake
Alan Sefton, Editor
Sheridan House
145 Palisade St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.sheridanhouse.com
1574091905 $39.95 1-888-743-7425

If it's a large-size hardcover gift edition you seek celebrating adventure expeditions in general or the achievements of Sir Peter Blake in particular, make it Alan Sefton's editing of Blake's logbooks, The Last Great Adventure Of Sir Peter Blake. The text is drawn directly from Blake's logbooks as he journeys from the Antarctic to the Amazon, with fine color photos and paintings adding the visual delay which sets The Last Great Adventure apart from biographical memoirs alone. Plenty of factual information about the regions Blake explores, from animals to flora, make this an informational guide above and beyond its adventure biography theme.


The Fiction Shelf

Air Loom Gang
Mike Jay
Four Walls Eight Windows
39 W 14th St, #503, NY, NY 10011-7489
1568582978 $24.00 www.4w8w.com

James Tilly Matthews lived in London in the late 1700s and was a respected Welsh tea merchant who intended to preserve the peace of an increasingly dangerous city out of control in its conflicts with Paris. Arrested and sent to a mental hospital for his accusation of a lord, Matthews became convinced his mind was being controlled by a secret machine called an 'air loom' hidden in a London basement and run by a gang of revolutionaries: Air Loom Gang sets out to pinpoint the political foundations of his 'madness' in an intriguing true 'whodunnit' mystery

The Only Life That Mattered
James L. Nelson
McBooks Press
National Book Network (dist.)
520 North Meadow St., Ithaca, NY 14850
www.mcbooks.com
159013060X $16.95 1-888-BOOKS11

The Only Life That Mattered is a riveting novel that tells the fictionalized story behind real-life pirate legends Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack Rackam. Written by a former professional square-rig sailor, The Only Life That Matters is an enthralling high-seas adventure of the outlaw life, pirate society, and two woman who achieved the impossible - they succeeded in making fellow pirates accept them as equals. Based heavily upon primary sources, this account blends both history and exciting storytelling to paint an unforgettable picture of ruthless yet free life upon the high seas.

Salute To Adventurers
John Buchan
Nautical & Aviation Publishing Co.
2055 Middleburg Lane, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
1877853682 $19.95 nauticalaviation.com

A novel set during the beginning of the Jamestown Colony, Salute To Adventurers is an enthralling saga about one man's struggle to survive and even find love in a land beset by trade controls with England enforced by pirates, religious strife manifested through a fanatic who stirs Indian tribes to attack settlers, harsh environmental conditions, the unending chores of daily life, and much more. Painting a vivid picture of what it was once like to earn a living in untamed lands, Salute To Adventure is an exciting chronicle featuring conflicts of man vs. nature and man vs. man alike. Action, self-discovery, and the resolve to make the most of one's life distinguish this involving narrative.


The Gaming Shelf

Starting Out: Pawn Endgames
Glenn Flear
Everyman Chess
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.everymanchess.com
1857443624 $17.95 1-800-243-0495

Starting Out: Pawn Endgames is an intermediate-level chess instructional and self-improvement guide, that focuses on teaching the reader about endgame situations when it's down to just kings and pawns. English chess grandmaster Glenn Fear shares his years of experience, tips, and warnings, in clear prose with numerous sample games and diagrams. From dealing with a race, to maneuvering the king, to common mistakes and practical exercises, Starting Out: Pawn Endgames is an excellent resource to hone one's skill and learn more about the game itself.

The Most Powerful Blackjack Manual
Jay Moore
PlainSmart Publishing
520 Kerr Street, Suite 20033, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, L6K 3C7
www.plainsmart.com
1412031168 $19.95 1-416-895-2577

In The Most Powerful Blackjack Manual, Blackjack expert Jay More draws upon his more than twenty-five years of experience in the gaming industry to write the perfect "how to" manual for aspiring Blackjack players. Blackjack has long been one of the most popular Casino games and now ordinary players can know what the professionals know -- and enhance their chances for winning at the table. A virtually complete instructional guide and reference, The Most Powerful Blackjack Manual is a "must read" for anyone seeking to make their fortune and have a really memorable time whether its a trip to Las Vegas or their nearest Indian Casino!


The Civil War Shelf

A Pictorial History Of The Confederacy
John Chandler Griffin
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
0786417447 $49.95 1-800-253-2187

Black-and-white maps, diagrams, and photographs on almost every page illustrate A Pictorial History Of The Confederacy, a wide survey of more than forty battles of the American Civil War. From the foundations of the Confederacy in 1860 and 1861 to battle flags, to the heavy toll of bloodshed upon the fields, A Pictorial History Of The Confederacy presents the details of the war in a condensed, fact-by-fact manner that makes it a superb summary and overview resource, for lay readers and aspiring historians alike.

Little Phil
Eric J. Wittenberg
Brassey's, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.brasseysinc.com
1574885480 $17.95 1-800-775-2518

Little Phil: A Reassessment Of The Civil War Leadership Of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan by civil war historian Eric J. Wittenberg is a 272 page examination of the legendary Union Army general. This controversial study challenges the existing literature on Sheridan arguing that his war record has been commonly overrated. Informed and informative reading which is confidently recommended to Civil War buffs and academia alike, Little Phil is a provocative, iconoclastic, well written study that will enrich and enhance our understanding of one of the Union Army's most famous yet fallible officers.

Abraham Lincoln
Ginger Turner & Saral Tiwari
Gossamer Books LLC
PO Box 455, Belmont, CA 94002
0974250201 $14.95 gossamerbooks.com

Also available in a hardcover edition (097425021X, $17.95), Abraham Lincoln: The Civil War President is about President Abraham Lincoln, his dog Fido, and the American Civil War as told in a "graphic novel" format by author Ginger Turner and animation illustrator Saral Tiwari. From Lincoln's path to the presidency, to the Battle of Gettysburg, to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the tragic assassination of President Lincoln, the attention to historical detail is as impressive as the collaborative storytelling abilities of Turner and Tiwari who combine text and illustration to present actual historic events that will engage readers ages 8 through adult from beginning to end because the graphic novel format is especially suited to bringing history alive in the minds and imaginations of the readers. It should be noted for school and community librarians, that Abraham Lincoln: The Civil War President is carefully mapped to the U.S. Department of Education's National Standards for teaching American History.


The Architecture Shelf

Country & Farmhouse Home Plans
Creative Homeowner Press
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
1580112218 $10.95 1-800-631-7795

Offering 350 home plans in full color, 250- full-color renderings, tips on design, notes on home decorating, and quick and easy means to order services by phone or online, America, Country & Farmhouse Home Plans fully captures the experience of seasoned architects and designers. Vivid concept sketches, floor layouts, and full-color photographs make abundantly clear exactly the size, appearance, and structure of home one is getting with each plan. The homespun motif of country living reverberates in these dwellings; even a generations-bred city clicker will recognize the quiet, comfortable, practical feel to the design and empathy of each sample building, down to the sloping roofs meant expressly to prevent too much snow from piling up above. America, Country & Farmhouse Home Plans is an enjoyable and useful resource to page through, especially when contemplating decorations or especially architectural designs for one's own rural homestead.


The Economics Shelf

Cowboy Capitalism
Olaf Gersemann
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
1930865627 $22.95 www.cato.org

German reporter Olaf Gersemann examines common misperceptions of the American economy in Cowboy Capitalism, providing a survey of the continental econ-omies of Europe versus the United States and examining common myths and realities on both sides of the world. His survey reveals a variety of myths many Europeans believe about Americans and their economy, discussing the realities underlying the rumors. An excellent survey most valuable for its expose of European common sentiments about the U.S.


The Humor Shelf

Keys To Uncomfortable Living
Bob Woodiwiss
Emmis Books
1700 Madison Road, 2nd floor, Cincinnati, OH 45206
1578601584 $14.99 emmisbooks.com

Keys To Uncomfortable Living: An Indulgence Of My Peculiarities, An Indictment Of Yours is a collection of wry insights into daily issues small and large. Caught in a world of mishmash ambition, demands, misinformation, and constant fears lurking underneath the shadow of routine that sink their hooks into their psyche, Keys To Uncomfortable Living offers the reader a memorably satirical look at yesteryear, today, and tomorrow mixes zesty wit with cutting-edge observations and the stripping of happy-go-lucky illusions. Not intended for anyone who is completely "happy-happy joy-joy" with the Universe and their place in it, but instead, is confidently and enthusiastically recommended for everyone else, but most especially those looking for a really good laugh.

Cowtoons: Living With Cow
Bob Artley
Voyageur Press
123 N Second St, Stillwater MN 55082
0896586146 $9.99 1-800-888-9653

Cowtoons: Living With Cows is an amusing anthology of cartoons depicting the lighter side of farm life, from the mud and general mess of March to the oppressively hot and humid cowbarns of summer, and much more. The whimsical black-and-white drawings will induce a chuckle in anyone, but will strike an particularly deep chord in the hearts and minds of former or current farmers themselves, especially dairy farmers. A superb giftbook and a celebration of dairy farming heritage, as well as a just plain funny read.

Completely Carlin
George Carlin
Acorn
Box 1670, West Chester, OH 45071-1670
www.acornonline.com
Catalog #11644 $79.98 1-888-870-8047

Perhaps best known for his wickedly funny social, cultural, and political satires, stand up comedian George Carlin has maintained a core and influential position in American comedy more than 45 years. He has done a number of HBO television comedy specials showcasing his particular brand of sociopolitical commentary and all of those appearances have now been collected together in Completely Carlin, a superbly developed 6 DVD boxed set which is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library audio/video and humor collections. Completely Carlin is also available in a 5 volume VHS boxed set format as well (11643, $69.98).

Through A Baby's Eyes
Paul Marks
Black Forest Press
Box 6342, Chula Vista, CA 91909-6342
1582750416 $9.95

Through A Baby's Eyes is an amusing, simple narrative of how the world must look from the perspective of the very young. Sure to resonate with anyone who has had to take care of an infant, Through A Baby's Eyes combines warm mirth with open curiositity and chuckle-inducing speculation. A charming read that reinforces positive feelings and the bonds shared with adorable little guys and gals.

The Bush Junta
Mack White & Gary Groth, editors
Fantagraphic Books
7563 Lake City Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98115
www.fantagraphics.com
1560976128 $18.95 1-800-657-1100

The Bush Junta is an anthology of 25 cartoonists who lampoon the Bush dynasty. Made all the more biting from its heavy reliance on literal fact, these stinging, wordy black-and-white parodies candidly reveal the records, actions, and foibles of the GOP with razor-keen wit and no-holds-barred cynicism. A series of bumper-sticker flyers that can be reproduced and distributed enhances this timely and critical attack on alleged abuses of govermental power, among other presidential, political, and personal failings.

To make your way through the world today you need to be able to write a coherent sentence, read a book, operate a computer, and balance a checkbook.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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