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The Bookwatch

Volume 10, Number 7 July 2015 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Nautical Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Economic Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Education Shelf
Science Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Business Shelf
Autism Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Biography Shelf
Travel Shelf Automotive Shelf Gardening Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Art Shelf
Music Shelf Architecture Shelf Crafts Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Sports Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
International Studies Shelf Parenting Shelf Culinary Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Land Access and Resettlement: A Guide to Best Practice
Gerry Reddy, Eddie Smyth and Michael Steyn
Greenleaf Publishing
Aizlewood Business Centre
Aizlewood's Mill, Nursery Street, Sheffield S3 8GG, UK
9781783532131 $50.00 www.greenleaf-publishing.com

Land Access and Resettlement: A Guide to Best Practice provides a guide to plans for how to implement and review land access and resettlement processes to avoid common problems, and is based on many lessons learned the hard way: as such, it will appeal to any college-level reader of natural resource management projects and community development issues. From the different stages of preparing for a land resettlement project to involving business leaders, political forces, and social groups in project management and planning, this discusses land access and resettlement strategies with an eye to using project examples to illustrate best practices. Black and white photos of projects around the world accompany charts, statistics, and highlighted project examples, making the book an excellent pick for any looking for specifics to streamline the resettlement process.

Last Child in the Woods
Richard Louv
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
9781565126053 $15.95 www.algonquin.com

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder is a 'must' for any parent who wants their child to appreciate nature, and brings together the latest studies that consider how an ongoing exposure to and relationship with nature is key to a child's healthy physical and emotional growth. It presents evidence that without this link, children experience more issues with obesity, attention disorders, and depression; and it advocates a campaign to involve kids in outdoors events and appreciation. From discussion points for book groups and communities to lists of practical actions that are easy for parents and concert adults to act on, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder provides a powerful assessment and call to action that no parent should ignore.


The Nautical Shelf

Lusitania
Diana Preston
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781632860842 $20.00 www.bloomsbury.com

Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy is an engrossing story of the tragedy that took place in 1915 when one of Great Britain's ocean liners was struck by a German submarine's torpedo, killing nearly twelve hundred people. But the bigger picture is that the story of the Lusitania offers insights on the maritime world of its times, which include the rise of the luxury liner, the effects of submarine warfare, and struggles for control of the Atlantic. The process of describing the series of events thus evolves to become much more as it pairs eyewitness accounts and stories from newspapers with a larger perspective of its times in a recommendation history readers will appreciate.


The American History Shelf

1920: The Year That Made the Decade Roar
Eric Burns
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605987729 $27.95 www.pegasusbooks.us

1920: The Year That Made the Decade Roar covers one of the most dynamic periods of American history - the 1920s - and considers how exactly the surge of innovation and culture emerged at the beginning of the decade. Thus, with the attention narrowed to 1920, the start of the Roaring Twenties, readers learn about a crucial period and how it evolved. Many books have covered this time frame, but most focus on the events and culture of the era as a whole. This title offers a fine review of the new kinds of power emerging among women and minorities of the times, and the concurrent events that made the 1920s so significant. Any American history holding needs this, not as a recap of events, but as a deeper probe into why and how they emerged and their underlying impact on American culture today.


The World History Shelf

Waterloo
Bernard Cornwell
HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062312051 $35.00 www.harpercollins.com

Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles may represent best-selling fiction author Cornwell's first venture into nonfiction; but it's a powerful work focusing on a pivotal point in history that has long interested him, and Waterloo thus pairs his ability to bring drama and intrigue to life with an in-depth collection of facts about Waterloo, already a hit best-seller in the UK and being published in the U.S. to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the 1815 battles. Anticipate a survey packed with solid researched facts and a focus on narrative life that follows Napoleon's escape from his exile in Elba and continues to his surprising offensive strategy. Cornwell brings the battles to life, probes their underlying politics and strategy, and creates a powerful historical saga that is a 'must' for any definitive examination of the events surrounding Waterloo.


The Economic Studies Shelf

Misbehaving
Richard H. Thaler
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393080940 $27.95 www.wwnorton.com

Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics comes from "the founding father of behavioral economics" who considers how economic theory relates to social lives, improvements, and change, and is a recommended pick for general-interest, psychology and social issues readers alike. It synthesizes and creates a foundation for the basics of an economic theory that links economic models with human habits through history, and it discusses the process of human decision-making by translating it into a new branch of economics that is psychology-based as well as integrated into social theory. Evidence about 'economic misbehaving' comes from a range of settings and makes for an outstanding survey.

Banking on Confidence
Dale K. Cline
iUniverse
c/o Author House
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com
9781491755822 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Dale K. Cline is a CPA in public practice as well as a businessman and a real estate investor, so his book covering how money works is central to understanding the economy, fiscal policies, and how banks work. No prior background in economics or business is required to appreciate this primer, which includes everything from how to read financial statements to considering the roles government and politics play in personal economic success or failure. From the basics of currency trading - which are surprisingly straightforward and accessible to lay readers - to 'shadow banks', this is packed with important considerations the general public needs to know.

Separating Fools from their Money
Scott B. MacDonald and Jane E. Hughes
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412855006 $24.95 www.transactionpub.com

Separating Fools from their Money provides an economic-based American history that analyzes the changes in the US financial market, consider the scandals that occurred through four different epochs of American history from the early Republic through the Gilded Age, Roaring 20s, and 1980s and modern times. College-level readers with a special interest in finance scandals and their lasting impact on American lives will find here a lively, absorbing coverage.


The Christian Studies Shelf

A Still and Quiet Conscience
John A. McCoy
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
9781626981171 $26.00 www.orbisbooks.com

A Still and Quiet Conscience: The Archbishop Who Challenged a Pope, a President, and a Church covers the life of Raymond G. Hunthausen, archbishop of Seattle from 1975-1991, who embraced the spirit of the Vatican II church and reached out to those on the margins of Catholic circles. He was an advocate of peace, he ran against the Cold War policies of the Reagan Administration, and he also conflicted with Vatican visions of what American Catholicism could be. His biography thus is about more than one man: it's about the evolution of the American Catholic Church as a whole, and key to understanding Catholic beliefs.

The Exiled Generations
Carl L. Kell, Editor
University of Tennessee Press
110 Conference Center UT, Knoxville, TN 37996
9781621901129 $35.95 www.utpress.org

The Exiled Generations: Legacies of the Southern Baptist Convention Holy War gathers testimonials by individuals whose parents and relatives were purged from or left the Southern Baptist Convention in the take of modern fundamentalism, and provides a follow up to Kell's earlier work, Exiled, which revealed the stories of those who were banished. It discusses how those involved in the movement were themselves exiled, and probes the underlying religious and political forces in Southern Baptist circles. Stories of these events have not been documented until now: in this collection Professor Kell provides a diverse range of voices that considers the conflict and its lasting effects. Scholars will appreciate the primary sources while students of Baptist history will find it essential for understanding church history.

A Faithful Farewell
Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802872609 $15.00 www.eerdmans.com

A Faithful Farewell: Living Your Last Chapter With Love offers essays reflecting on the approach of death, are written in the first person, and provide biblical reflections on the love of God and the approach of the end of days, and is a recommended work for Christian readers considering impending death. Over fifty short meditations consider the issues faced by those who are dying, from psychological and family conflicts to emotional and spiritual challenges, and offer prayers and sentiments directed toward peaceful resolution in life's final moments. Any facing dying and death will find this a heartfelt set of simple insights.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

The Dark Side of the Crescent Moon
Georgy Gounev
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412854061 $39.95 www.transactionpub.com

The Dark Side of the Crescent Moon blends history with political process as it analyzes the growth of radical Islam throughout the world and traces its spread through Europe, which brought the U.S. and Russia into an unlikely alliance in the process of its expansion. This survey traces the rise of Islam and global movements that have led it to become a threat, considering elements of the network that has evolved and the strategies both long- and short-term to deal with it. It serves as an alarm for future events and a growing danger around the world and should be on the shelves of any college-level reader of Islamic and political history.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Sewing for Your Girls
Yoshiko Tsukiori
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9784805313275 $16.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Sewing for Your Girls: Easy Instructions for Dresses, Smocks and Frocks includes pull-out patterns - which may limit its usefulness for library lending, but will delight sewers who want an easy instructional for sewing for girls. Black and white and a selection of color step-by-step photos require very little prior sewing experience as instructions walk readers through the process of sewing dresses for girls. The pieces are versatile and easy to produce and the results will especially delight needleworkers who have some basic knowledge of machine and hand sewing, but want to move on to the next level of expertise: creating a dress for a child. All the tools, patterns, and options are here.

Increase Decrease
Judith Durant
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612123318 $16.95 www.storey.com

The key to professional-looking, polished knitting results lies in using the right increase or decrease technique to shape one's knitting, but while nearly all knitting patterns ask for increases and decreases, most don't specify which option to use. These techniques can improve fit when properly matched with stitch patterns, and that's where Increase, Decrease comes in, offering insights to making informed knitting decisions. Some 99 methods are covered in chapters that survey stitches, offer step-by-step how-to photos, swatches capturing the featured stitch, and a list of best uses for each. Knitters who have been somewhat puzzled by the options and when to apply them will find this an important guide.

Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com

Boho Crochet: 30 Hip and Happy Projects (978160685510 $22.99) packs in a powerful collection of crocheted projects that represent bohemian style, from crochet mug warmers to blankets, pillows, bags and more, and uses step-by-step color photos to teach the basics. It helps to know and understand basic crochet instruction abbreviations (ch, dc, sl, de1 into ring). This note aside, the easy color photo-enhanced project selectors, the full-page color photos of finished results, and the directions for crocheting and finishing make for an appealing survey packed with a variety of easy projects all useful for capturing the 'boho style'. Pat Sloan's Teach Me to Applique: Fusible Applique That's Soft & Simple (9781604685237, $26.99) provides a class in a book' and comes from a popular teacher and designer who already has a big podcast following. Here she shares fusible techniques for machine-stitched quilts, using projects from wall hangings to quilts to produce a range of options designed to teach newcomers the basics of fusible applique. The result is a fine survey packed with easy-to-follow tips on how to use fusible applique.


The Education Shelf

In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practice
Steven L. Layne
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781625310408 $21.00 www.stenhouse.com

In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practice advocates the process and practice of reading aloud and presents the research that defends this practice in grades K-12, considering the ongoing debate over its value and methodology. Any instructor or parent who wants to continue to use read-alouds more effectively would do well to consider this book, which offers insights from leading researchers in the field of literacy and provides keys to understanding how read-alouds work and why they are essential to improving literacy. From recommendations of particular read-aloud books and why they lend so well to the practice to the selection process and making the most of read-aloud time, this is a solid survey highly recommended for any education holding.

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

The second updated edition of Karla Reiss's Leadership Coaching for Educators (9781483359151, $34.95) reflects the latest research projects and trends in the field, and provides school leaders with specifics based on these new findings. It provides evaluation tools for coach development and comes from an educational consultant who offers a research for implementing a proven school wide coaching system. Chapters given plenty of applied examples of how this process works in a variety of settings, considering core coaching competencies for various grade levels and exploring how to get started as a coach. The result is a reference that is a recommended 'must' for any education reference collection, and for educators and leaders who want to explore coaching methods. Toby J. Karten's Inclusion Strategies That Work! Research-Based Methods for the Classroom (9781483319902, $39.95) appears in its third updated edition to help educators address students with diverse needs, and considers why inclusion is essential and how to go about it. The latest updated information on ADA, IDEA, and inclusion strategies accompanies tips for working with families, integrating interactive classroom activities, and addressing academic standards and behavioral and emotional expectations. With its attention to describing legal and social changes, Inclusion Strategies That Work! Research-Based Methods for the Classroom is packed with forms, resources, and ideas of how to use brain-friendly learning strategies on many different levels, making it a 'must' for any educator seeking workable, realistic methods for inclusion goals. Maria C. Grant, et.al.'s Reading and Writing in Science: Tools to Develop Disciplinary Literacy (9781483345680, $29.95) provides an updated edition of a best-selling discussion of how science-literature students can analyze and defend data orally and in writing, and provides strategies linked to literary curriculum approaches to learning. From how to use science to develop cognitive and literary skills to monitoring student process, this survey is a 'must' for science teachings looking to achieve more than education. Finally, the second updated edition of Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin's Leading 21st Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement (9781483374413, $30.00) provides an update to the 2009 classic, which provided administrators and teachers with strategies for encouraging student engagement, and which returns with a second updated edition that presents some eighty percent new material to cover the latest technological developments. From aligning this technology to Common Core State Standards and others to offering resources and trends that school leaders need to know about, this provides a continuing formula for success.


The Science Shelf

Nature Anatomy
Julia Rothman
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612122311 $16.95 www.storey.com

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the Natural World blends art and nature in a visual tour that considers the life cycles of plants, animals, and mountains alike, and provides a fun exploration designed to invite all ages to learn about nature. From leaf and bug identification to basic rules for wild foraging safety, what can be found in and under a rotting log, what happens during a sunset and why color patterns form, and considering forest, marine, and underground animals, Nature Anatomy is a wonderful and lively set of drawings that encourage understanding and insights into the natural world. The result is recommended for middle school through adult audiences: any curious about nature basics who will appreciate the warm artistic drawings that identify plants, animals, and life cycles.

The Story of Science
Susan Wise Bauer
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393243260 $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

The Story of Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory comes from a writer and historian who considers science writing and how it developed, and who begins with ancient Greek works and carries the discussion to modern times - some 2,500 years of scientific texts. Most of these classic works are in the public domain and readily available at the book's website, and most represent some of the greatest science writings in history. Her probe not only lists these books, but discusses what makes them great not just in their own times, but to modern readers. Chapters consider how science is interpreted and presented and probes the basics of creating landmark works supporting it. No science reader should neglect this unique coverage with its expansive scope and lively style.

The Mercy of the Sky
Holly Bailey
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780525427490 $27.95 www.penguin.com

The Mercy of the Sky: The Story of a Tornado documents the growing number of twisters going through 'tornado alley', the corridor from Texas to Kansas, and what this means for its residents. In 2013 one of the worst tornadoes on record landed on the small town of Moore, killing children and decimating neighborhoods. The school involved lacked protection because tornados have been changing their habits, coming earlier in the season and hitting with more force. This book gathers first-hand narratives of those caught in this tornado and explores the changing weather patterns in the region. It considers the storm chasers and scientists who are studying tornadoes and it provides a combination of personal experience and scientific inquiry into the nature of climate change, making it a pick for science and general lending libraries alike.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Tales of Remarkable Birds
Dominic Couzens
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781408190234 $25.00 www.bloomsbury.com

Tales of Remarkable Birds offers a fun exploration of avian behavior around the world, considering how various species of birds conduct courtship, defend territory, conduct kidnappings of rival birds, and more, and is a lively survey that focuses on the odder behaviors of birds. From how some birds provide distraction to how others display aggression and fight, Tales of Remarkable Birds pairs its natural history with some outstanding and often little-known facts and fine color photos throughout. The result is an appealing natural history that will delight any casual birder.

Bug Book
Nick Baker
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781472913791 $20.00 www.bloomsbury.com

Bug Book offers a fun format and a lively coverage designed to help readers understand the natural history of all kinds of insects and their relatives, and provides a fun blend of color photos and details on bug habits, bug watching, and bug collecting. While its format lends to use by advanced elementary grades, adults who also harbor an interest in insects will find this Bug Book comes packed with plenty of science and nature details perfect for adults who want a lively read. The result is a collection that is unique in its ability to cross over and appeal to many audiences.


The Cookbook Shelf

Nong's Thai Kitchen
Nongkran Daks & Alexandra Greeley
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804843317 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Nong's Thai Kitchen: 84 Classic Recipes That Are Quick, Healthy and Delicious requires only an interest in Thai cooking and access to an Asian market for specialty items such as Pandan Leaves and Sticky Rice to prove accessible to all. Preparation times average 10-15 minutes (all under 30) while dishes are as varied as Fish Fillets with Ginger and Shrimp Soup with Coconut Milk and Thai Ginger. The result is an easy, appealing introduction to Thai cuisine that requires little in the way of prep or expertise to duplicate with success, and is especially recommended for those who have eyed more extensive Thai cookbooks but want
something more accessible and inviting.

Chowderland
Brooke Dojny
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612123752 $14.95 www.storey.com

Chowderland: Hearty Soups & Stews with Sides & Salads to Match takes the concept of the traditional chowder recipe and embellishes it, from contrasting different approaches to clam and corn chowder to outlining such different creations as a Saint Patrick's Chowder, Parsnip Chowder, Seafood Chowder, and many more. Chowders are traditionally filled with potatoes, onions, meats and flavor: this encourages experimentation with seasonal dishes and celebratory foods, and comes packed with color photos on nearly every page. Introductions to the special dishes accompany descriptions of what to expect in a title that takes the basic chowder concept and makes it an appealing, innovative creation.


The Fiction Shelf

No One Gets Out of Here Alive
Adam Nevill
St. Martins Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250041289 $32.50 www.stmartins.com

No One Gets Out of Here Alive tells of Stephanie, who moves to a North Birmingham neighborhood to an affordable room for rent that's bigger than the 'cell' she held prior. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to house more than one person - unfortunate, because she hears things in the night, feels things - or people - who vanish when the lights go on, and comes to believe that her room is haunted. More than this, the terror builds as the presence she senses becomes increasingly hostile, and as she becomes aware that not only has something deadly taken place in this house, but it's out to get her. A chilling novel of horror slowly and deliciously emerges: perfect for any who enjoy vivid, wonderful supernatural sagas.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Susanna Clarke
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781620409909 $18.00 www.bloomsbury.com

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, most believe magic is dead in England - but Mr. Norrell reveals strange powers and revives the belief, and then he's challenged by another magician, novice Jonathan Strange, who is charismatic and young and daring. It seems obvious that the two magicians will join forces: what is less obvious is that the war against France is another factor that draws both these figures into a battle not just of politics and societies, but worlds of magic and myth. It's unusual to find a novel over a thousand pages; much less one that is compelling, multi-faceted, and embraces history and magic at the same time. This is a unique presentation in so many ways and provides an engrossing survey packed with drama and tension throughout - a true achievement in a story of over 1,000 pages of intrigue and food for thought.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

A Finely Knit Murder
Sally Goldenbaum
Obsidian Mysteries
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451471604 $24.95 www.penguin.com

A Finely Knit Murder provides a new 'Seaside Knitters' mystery and is a special recommendation for knitters who love murder puzzles. It tells of Birdie, who is thrilled that her granddaughter will be staying with her for the fall semester while attending a local school. When an outspoken school board member is murdered, however, it's up to Birdie and her knitting group to untangle the yarns in her life to find a murderer in their own community. A fine tale of puzzles and intrigue evolves, perfect for those who love knitting and women's group participations in community events.

Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Laura Childs' Ming Tea Murder (9780425281642, $25.95) shows what happens when scones mix with scandal as Theodosia is forced into a black tie affair by her handsome boyfriend, only to find that at this bastion of high society, murder crashes the party. When Theodosia discovers the body of museum donor Edgar, her invitation to tea becomes more complicated, and she must examine his life, his enemies, and the many motivations behind his murder. The story is involving and well-woven. Carolyn Hart's Don't Go Home (9780425276549, $25.95) tells of the owner of the Death on Demand mystery bookstore who hosts a party to celebrate successful Southern literary icon Alex Griffith and his new novel Don't Go Home. It's when a local reporter states that the author intends on revealing the real-life inspiration behind his characters that a book signing turns deadly and arguments erupt that eventually result in too realistic a murder mystery. A gripping saga of change makes for a solid, involving read.


The Social Issues Shelf

So You've Been Publicly Shamed
Jon Ronson
Riverhead Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781594487132 $27.95 www.riverheadbooks.com

So You've Been Publicly Shamed follows the author as he traveled the world for three years, meeting recipients of famous public shamings. It's a personal account of not only those who have been publicly shamed, but others who use shame as a method of social control, and it offers some powerful commentary on secrets, shame, violence, and most of all, how people can find a way out of shame. Relatively little has been written about the process of shame, especially in modern times, which makes So You've Been Publicly Shamed so unique and important a title for any collection strong in social issues discussions.


The Self-Help Shelf

Enough Already
Mike Lamele
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573246477 $14.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Enough Already: Create Success on Your Own Terms tells of a man who by the age of 24 was making large sums of money at his own public relations firm. Far from being happy, the success was literally killing him, and when a stress-induced illness brought looming disaster, he decided it was time to question the ideals of success. His transformation changed his business from a PR approach to being a wellness coach, and his path for making these changes is presented in a blend of autobiography, business savvy, and personal wellness and change routines that promise readers the same opportunities to turn potentially deadly success into better opportunities. From paying attention to the messages of one's own body to making money doing what is truly loved in life, Enough Already: Create Success on Your Own Terms is about different kinds of success and approaches to them, and is a highly recommended guide.

Find the Good
Heather Lende
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
9781616201678 $16.95 www.algonquin.com

Find the Good: Unexpected Life Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer provides short chapters and discussions geared to attacking negative attitudes and understanding positive approaches to life, and uses the author's experiences as an obituary writer in Alaska to impart this wisdom, gained from last words and how a meaningful life is truly lived. The synthesis of her experiences lies in 'finding the good' life has to offer; and while other books advocate similar approaches, this one differs in its succinct exploration of method. One person's angst is another's view of opportunity - and Find the Good tells how to make these connections to change hearts and lives.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Norse Goddess Magic
Alice Karlsdottir
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620554074 $16.95 www.destinybooks.com

Norse Goddess Magic: Trancework, Mythology, and Ritual is a recommendation for spirituality and new age holdings and blends traditional research on folklore with meditation techniques to reveal the feminine side of the Norse goddess for group ritual and personal spirit work. She uses her own trancework journeys and goddess insights to fuel an exploration of various icons, sharing their appearances, relationships, and connections to Old Norse society. The result is a survey perfect for new age readers working with goddess spirit influences.

Toward the Light
Amy Major
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781632650009 $14.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Toward the Light: Rescuing Spirits, Trapped Souls, and Earthbound Ghosts is the first guide that addresses spirit rescue and how it can help save earthbound spirits from an exile on earth, and it's designed to appeal to mediums, spirit communicators, and any who strive to understand the world from a ghost's perspective. From why spirits remain earthbound and where they tend to gravitate to spirit attachments and techniques used to clear spirit energies, Toward the Light is all about release methods and different approaches to viewing and dealing with the spirit world.

Awakening Higher Consciousness
Lloyd M. Dickie and Paul R. Boudreau
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620553947 $18.95 www.innertraditions.com

Awakening Higher Consciousness: Guidance from Ancient Egypt and Sumer provides an in-depth study of ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Babylonian and Hebrew myths and uses their cross-comparison to identify similarities in classic myths that address awakening higher consciousness. In considering creation and ancient myths as actual guideposts to higher consciousness and thinking, this approach allows for a full review of connects myths with modern thinking. The authors spent more than a year in Egypt to personally investigate the myths, so their discussions of sacred narratives offers an ample blend of personal research and impressions from the cultural traditions they survey.

Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com

Jane Meredith's Circle of Eight: Creating Magic for Your Place on Earth (9780738742151, $17.99) is a recommended pick for any reader strong in paganism, and reviews a magical system for developing new rituals based on one's relationship with the land. It explores the nature of mythic work, considers innovations and how relationships develop within magical circles, and considers the localized influence of environment on magical endeavors and perceptions. First-person discussions of how to work with invocations, children, totems and local elements make for a satisfying blend of author introspection and insights into the nature and process of magic, making for a powerful and thought-provoking survey. Sherrie Dillard's Develop Your Medical Intuition (9780738742014, $16.99) is recommended for health and healing and new age holdings alike, and shows how to improve health through basic step-by-step exercises that include guided visualizations, case studies on intuitive processes, and how to assess main medical intuitive types and skills from clairvoyance and claircognizance to vibrational sensitivity. The basic premise is that developing one's intuitive powers will lead to better medical intuition and that exercises can be used to strengthen this process. Chapters draw important connections on how this all works.


The Business Shelf

Accounting for Non-Accountants, tenth edition
David Horner
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749472818 $49.95 www.koganpage.com

Accounting for Non-Accountants appears in its tenth updated edition to provide a basic introduction to accounting and finance, and has been updated for 2015 to include information on the new UK GAAP accounting standards and the latest international standards. It provides analysis in three key areas, covers such major topics as accounting standards, balance sheets, and cash flows, and provides new coverage of the technology used for management and financial bookkeeping. Any non-accountant who wants to get up to speed on terminology and accounting basics will relish this.


The Autism Shelf

An Asperger's Guide to Entrepreneurship
Rosalind A. Bergemann
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849055093 $29.95 www.jkp.com

An Asperger's Guide to Entrepreneurship: Setting Up Your Own Business for Professionals with Autism Spectrum Disorder is for any business person with Asperger Syndrome who is considering a new career path, for new graduates, or for any who want to consider if self employment fits with their personality and abilities. Especially tailored for Aspies, the book discusses developing working relationships, self-marketing, and other common business concerns with an eye to understanding the special concerns and psyche of Asperger's individuals, and makes for an involving discussion filled with specific tips for getting at the heart of a business pursuit and understanding the special business challenges faced by Asperger's individuals.

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

Caroline Baker's Developing Excellent Care for People Living with Dementia in Care Homes (9781849054676, $29.95) discusses the award-winning PEARL program for improving care home practices, and provides an easy introduction describing the program's key framework and how to blend this approach in a care home. It provides care home workers with all the basics needed to make this part of their plan and it pairs examples with theory to cover everything from helping residents to sleep well to managing pain. Philip Wylie's Very Late Diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder): How Seeking a Diagnosis in Adulthood Can Change Your Life (9781849054331, $19.95) tackles a common issue: what happens when Asperger syndrome is undiagnosed until well into adult years. Its focus on what to do after such a diagnosis offers invaluable keys to handling the choices and journey that evolves from that point onward, and uses the author's own experiences as one of the foundations for considering the ramifications of such a diagnosis. Bill Nason's The Autism Discussion Page titles offers two different books packed with tools for helping children with autism feel accepted and safe. On the Core Challenges of Autism (9781849059947, $24.95) discusses the sensory, social, and emotional challenges of autism and provides information and tools for helping kids. It's based on the posts and online community interactions around the subject and teaches readers how to understand about the sensory challenges involved in autism. On Anxiety, Behavior, School, and Parenting Strategies (9781849059954, $24.95) surveys anxiety and stress and different behavioral and social issues, providing more general teaching and mentoring strategies for helping autistic children with the challenges of school and social settings. Both of these books, together, provide invaluable keys to success.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Becoming Generation Flux
Miles Anthony Smith, MBA
Miles Anthony Smith, Publisher
http://www.milesanthonysmith.com/contact.html
9780988405332 $16.95 www.milesanthonysmith.com

Becoming Generation Flux: Why Traditional Career Planning is Dead: How to be Agile, Adapt to Ambiguity, and Develop Resilience discusses career ambiguity, job searches, and how to incorporate a career search that leads to future success. Traditional career planning, readers may be surprised to note, is dead - the key to success lies in becoming agile and adapting to ambiguity and change as the job market goes through vast transitions. Chapters discuss how to develop such resilience and how to adapt to make the most of a career path that isn't linear, but fluid.


The Biography Shelf

The Book of Wanderings
Kimberly Meyer
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316251211 $27.00 www.littlebrown.com

The Book of Wanderings: A Mother-Daughter Pilgrimage is a thought-provoking, moving saga of a daughter born during a single mother's last year of college, a haunted relationship affected by a mother's longing to travel and a daughter's fear of being abandoned, and a later joint journey that takes them on a journey to retrace the footsteps of a medieval Dominican friar, discovering their connections and relationship in their shared process of exploring the world. It's a powerful memoir of family connections, what it means to undertake a shared pilgrimage, and the encounters and forces that change lives, and it's a powerful story that is perfect for mothers and daughters to read together.

I Regret Nothing
Jen Lancaster
New American Library
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.newamericanlibrary.com
9780451471079 $26.95 www.penguin.com

I Regret Nothing: A Memoir comes from an author whose life represents reinvention and change, who has documented her attempts to improve and move ahead - and provides a lively memoir that documents zany encounters, fun friends, American culture, and more. Lancaster's approach to midlife will have fellow midlifers laughing and relating to her experiences while black and white photos throughout enhance her stories and lively adventures. The result is a romp through one woman's life which will feel like a shared experience at book's end, recommended for any general interest collection and for both newcomers to and old fans of Jen Lancaster's brand of humor.


The Travel Shelf

The Wilderness of the Upper Yukon
Charles Sheldon
B&C Classics
c/o Boone & Crockett Club
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
9781940860084 $24.95 www.boone-crockett.org

Any interested in the wildlife and land of the Yukon Territory - particularly those who want a study of historic travels in the region by an author who recorded his field experiences from 1904 to 1905 - will find The Wilderness of the Upper Yukon provides an unusual blend of a natural history, hunter's observations, and travelogue. Readers who are interested in science, nature, hunting, and travel alike - especially those with a particular affinity for the Yukon - will find this filled with nearly a hundred photos and paintings of the trip from the viewpoint of a hunter who also appreciates natural history. It's part of the 'B&C Classics' series launched in 2012 by the hunter's group Boone and Crockett Club, in which each book is authored by a club member of the late 1800s to early 1900s. The result is a lively, fun survey that will delight any looking for vintage, early impressions of wilderness encounters.


The Automotive Shelf

CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com

Pat Ganahl's Hot Rod Gallery: A Nostalgic Look at Hot Rodding's Golden Years: 1930-1960 (9781613251157 $39.95) provides a compelling history of hot rod races, covering cars, personalities, racers and events, and is packed with photos which in many cases come from the personal photo albums of those pioneers who made hot rodding history. This wasn't a one-time event: Pat Ganahl has reported on rods since the early 1970s and his collection numbers between 30,000 and 40,000 images - so this book selects the best of a vast number of images and represents both top events and riveting photo treatments of their circumstances. Tommy Lee Byrd and Kyle Tucker's Detroit Speed's How to Build a Pro Touring Car (9781613251379, $26.95) offers step-by-step instructions for brake upgrades, LS engine swaps, cooling and writing upgrades, and much more, and teaches both a history of the Detroit Speed company and how their performance parts work. Chapters discuss various systems and pair auto history and performance facts with how-to directions auto buffs will appreciate. With its color photos of performance cars being worked on and keys to constructing and refitting a pro touring car, this is the auto tinkerer's dream book. Tony Candela's EFI Conversions: How to Swap Your Carb for Electronic Fuel Injection (9781613250839, $26.95) teaches the basics of how to convert from a carburetor fuel system to electronic to improve vehicle performance, and discusses the benefits of EFI systems and their management. There are various EFI systems available, from multiport fuel injection to stack systems and special applications: this book discusses the basics of each and provides keys to installing, calibrating and optimizing them. Color photos, charts, and sidebars of highlighted information contribute to a winning approach for any home car mechanic.


The Gardening Shelf

The Complete Guide to Companion Planting, second edition
Dale Mayer
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781620230039 $14.99 www.atlantic-pub.com

The second updated edition of The Complete Guide to Companion Planting: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Garden Successful provides a solid, revised reference complete with a new insert of color images, facts, and tips for companion planters and is a top pick for any who would learn the basics of companion planting techniques. From crop rotation and working with a garden's natural condition to creating a gardening schedule, this book teaches the best companions, what not to pair, and how to arrange a garden to make the most of a companion placement. From design strategies to pros and cons, this book comes packed with information and a centerfold of color photo examples.

Kyoto Gardens
Judith Clancy
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780805313213 $22.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art provides a lively survey of Kyoto's gardens and landscapes and comes from a master photographer and a Kyoto-based writer who capture the beauty of the city's major gardens. Historic, artistic, and cultural insights accompany displays of seasonal color and discussions of how the master gardeners injected different feelings into imperial, temple, and public garden settings. While the city may be known for its gardens, what is less usual is a guide that embraces all these elements, moving beyond gardening specifics to cover all of Japanese gardening objectives in the course of examining one city's diverse horticultural wonders, making this a pick for gardening and travel holdings alike.


The Audiobook Shelf

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HachetteAudio.com

Henry M. Paulson, Jr.'s Dealing with China: An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower (9781611138993 $35.00) comes from a former U.S. Treasury Secretary, is narrated by Kevin Stillwell, and appears in an unabridged audio production perfect for any who would consider China's economic reforms and strategies. Recommended for listeners who want a combination of history and economic insights, Dealing with China provides a solid review based on Paulson's unique access to modern China's economic and political elite at their highest levels, and reviews how China become an economic superpower, how business is done there, and what it means to compete with the Chinese on a political and economic level. It packs in anecdotes and observations in a discussion that is key to understanding China's progress and place in the world, and most notably, its relationship to the U.S., and in audio format this discussion comes to life. George Bodenheimer and Donald T. Phillips' Every Town is a Sports Town: Business Leadership at ESPN, from the Mailroom to the Boardroom (9781478905257, $35.00) is narrated by Bodenheimer and follows the rise of the ESPN dynasty, from a few trailers in a parking lot to becoming a top television network, and blends a memoir with a series of insights on business leadership to cover how ESPN rose to the top. It pairs business history with anecdotes about the channel's personalities and influences on sports and TV culture as a whole, and follows the history and evolution of the network in an engrossing study highly recommended for any business, sports, or media collection. Joyce Meyer's The Battle Belongs to the Lord: Overcoming Life's Struggles Through Worship (9781478903642, $18.00) teaches how to turn personal adversity and struggle into success by giving battles to the Lord, and advocates trusting God to live a better life. It's about empowerment through belief and trust, and provides a solid survey that uses Biblical teachings to draw important connections between spiritual belief and life's struggles. Christian readers will find it an inspiring, moving saga.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, tenth edition
Robert S. Hoffman, et.al.
c/o McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor, New York, NY 10020
www.mhprofessional.com www.mcgrawhillmedical.com
9780071801843 $325.00 www.amazon.com

The tenth updated edition of Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies provides a weighty industry reference in medical toxicology, long considered the leading resource for poison emergencies, and offers updated case studies, discussions of the pathophysiologic basis of medical toxicology, and discussions of risk management, patient safety, and even post mortem toxicology. It presents the basics of medical toxicology principles and techniques but moves on to review the molecular and biochemical aspects, considering the latest research in science and medicine and applying them to patient management. Packed with tables, charts, color illustrations, and detailed explanations throughout, this is an in-depth authoritative reference on the subject that is crammed with all the information a health reference collection would need to access the latest information covering toxicologic emergencies.

The Digital Doctor
Robert Wachter
McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor, New York, NY 10020
www.mhprofessional.com www.mcgrawhillmedical.com
9780071849463 $30.00 www.mhprofessional.com

The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine's Computer Age considers the many problems of healthcare industry transitions from analog to digital worlds, and uses real-life stories gained from interviews with clinicians and patients alike to consider the growing distance between doctor and patient. Technology may be the key to improving healthcare, but too often it is distracting, illogical and can even be dangerous. One might anticipate from its title that the discussions would revolve around technology's improvement of medical care; but as The Digital Doctor proves, quality care can only be provided once new challenges posed by new systems are met. This considers those challenges, the positive prospects at work for physician and patient alike, and make for a discussion highly recommended for any involved in the medical industry.

Finding Robert
Robert J. Stevens & Catherine E. Stevens, MS
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
9780757004025 $16.95 www.squareonepublishing.com

Finding Robert: What the Doctors Never Told Us About Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Hard Lessons We Learned charts the struggles of a Long Island family who saw their son falling into behavioral disorders despite his exceptional intelligence. Robert could not function in a mainstream environment and caused problems whenever he tried: he had no friends and no self-control - and his parents were warned he also had no future. Placed in a special education program and on powerful medications, Robert suffered immensely and still became more and more troubled as his parents struggled to find the answers. Holistic therapies helped Robert begin to improve, despite doctor discouragement about their effectiveness - and when his parents conducted their own research and used these alternative approaches, Robert began to return to them. By third grade he was off all medications and attending a mainstream school. More than one family's journey, Finding Robert holds hope for any who find themselves struggling with conventional treatments and logic that just don't seem to make sense.


The Art Shelf

Collage Paint Draw
Sue Pelletier
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
1140 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9781440337024 $24.99 www.artistsnetwork.com

Collage Paint Draw: Explore Mixed Media Techniques & Materials provides a daily chronicle of mixed-media projects and teaches how to use images as the starting point to consider materials, techniques, and images that lend to painting. Some thirty techniques use drawing, painting, and collage ideas from some forty materials to create mixed-media projects, while the focus also uses symbols and tools to explore both traditional and new ways of creating mixed-media art. The result is a compelling collection of ideas packed with color images and a wide range of techniques.

Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com

E. Ashley Rooney & Stephanie Standish's Contemporary American Print Makers (9780764346910 $34.99) is an outstanding collection packing in some five hundred color images to display the works of over seventy printmakers and thirty print shops, and is a recommendation for any who would understand the latest artistic paths of lithography, screen print, installation and digital approaches, and more. Each set of images is accompanied by a short artist autobiography and lends insights into the specific objectives and approaches of the artists, while an attention to diversity and detail makes for a gathering of symbols, images, and art that stretches the boundaries of the form. The result is a top pick for any interested in the intersection of art and print technique: a gathering that is representative of some of the most creative innovations of modern printmakers. The Center for Art in Wood's Your Personal Hang-Ups (9780764348112, $19.99) is a recommended pick for any who are interested in wardrobe arrangement and hanging systems, and narrows its focus to artists who were invited to create inventive forms for an exhibition at the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia. Some thirty-eight artists created sculptures from free-standing poles, racks, stands, wall systems and more, and used a wide range of woods and embellishments in the process. The result is a lively collection of art forms that won't appear anywhere else, and which demonstrate the extent of creativity directed art can take.


The Music Shelf

Deal
Bill Kreutzmann with Benjy Eisen
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250033796 $27.99 www.stmartins.com

Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead offers an intriguing story of the author's experience playing with the popular cult band, and tells of Kreutzmann's music explorations in a band that led him to push the boundaries of his music and experience high times as a member of the Grateful Dead. Thirty years of a wild roller coaster ride would lead the band and its members to encounter some of the greatest musicians of their generation. More than another history of the Dead or its experiences, Deal is about the culture that emerged from its efforts, and is an essential key to understanding the counterculture movement and its participants.


The Architecture Shelf

Japanese Architecture
Mira Locher
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9784805313282 $29.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Japanese Architecture is more than a picture book of buildings: it's a discussion of the architectural components that translate to uniquely-Japanese buildings, and it supports photographs with discussions of particular interest to designers, architects, and artists. It provides discussions of traditional Japanese design and construction methods, it incorporates fencing, landscaping, and materials, and it even includes furniture, removable walls, garden bridges, and more. Wider-ranging than most and packed with extensive discussions, Japanese Architecture is a satisfying introductory survey for any who would understand the unique style, function and approach of Japanese design.

Fifty Modern Buildings That Changed the World
Design Museum and Deyan Sudjic
Conran
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781840916805 $20.00 www.octopusbooksusa.com

Fifty Modern Buildings That Changed the World is one of two new titles in the Design Museum Fifty series published this season with London's Design Museum, and provides a fine history of modern architecture by exploring fifty of the most accessible buildings in the world. From the Seagram Building in New York to the National Congress of Brazil, full-page color and black and white photos accompany discussions that survey the building's history and its impact on architectural design. History includes architectural costs, technical problems, and descriptions of special challenges and attributes, and presents a powerful survey of how these buildings made a lasting impact in the world.


The Crafts Shelf

Origami Toy Monsters
Andrew Dwar
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804844567 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Origami Toy Monsters: Easy-to-Assemble Paper Toys That Shudder, Shake, Lurch and Amaze is a book paired with a kit that includes instructions and assembly materials for some eleven pop-out paper monsters. Directions are easy and assume no prior experience making models or working with paper, while the step-by-step instruction book is clear and inviting. From mummy heads and zombies to dragons and aliens, kids and many an adult will find this a fun set of inspiring paper creations that takes the modeling process and makes it accessible to anyone.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Sound of Music FAQ
Barry Monush
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781480360433 $27.99 www.applausebooks.com

The Sound of Music FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Maria, the Von Trapps, and Our Favorite Things joins a host of others that have recently appeared in response to the anniversary of The Sound of Music, and pairs a trivia collection with a comprehensive guide analyzing the film's origins, rise to success, and more. Where other collections would stop here, however, The Sound of Music FAQ moves further to explore the cultural and social impact of the movie, its phenomenal economic success, and why it became one of the greatest works of all times. From the Austrian shooting locations and critical reviews to its stage revivals and tributes to its achievements, this book is the definitive in-depth reference for any who would read all about The Sound of Music.


The Sports Shelf

Gironomo!
Tim Moore
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605987781 $27.95 www.pegasusbooks.us

Gironimo! Riding the Very Terrible 1914 Tour of Italy comes from a cyclist who attempts the route of the 1914 Giro d'Italia, the hardest bike race in history, and took place twelve years after he had followed the route of the Tour de France, only to find some of his accomplishment shadowed by the Lance Armstrong matter. The notorious 1914 Giro d'Italia involved some 400 kilometer stages packed with storms and dangerous roads: out of eighty-one who began from Milan, only eight complete it. Moore acquired a wooden-wheeled 1914 road bike, maps, and attempted to duplicate the experience: his adventures are perfect for adventure readers, cyclists, and sports fans alike.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

A Long Time Until Now
Michael Z. Williamson
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781476780337 $25.00 www.baen.com

A Long Time Until Now tells of U.S. soldiers who arrive on a convoy in Afghanistan only to find themselves transported through time to Earth's Paleolithic world of Asia, where they discover groups of people throughout time who have also been displaced. The soldiers may be the most technologically advanced of the lot, but there are only ten of them and they have no better tools than the others - until time travelers from the far future enter the picture, with their own agenda. Readers interested in a military sci-fi read will find this a gripping account.


The International Studies Shelf

Nordicana
Kajsa Kinsella
Cassell
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781844038053 $14.99 www.octopusbooksusa.com

Nordicana: 100 Icons of Scandi Culture & Nordic Cool celebrates the traditions that have inspired Nordic style, from sweaters and foods to house decor and literature, and is a pick for any who would incorporate Nordic style and culture into their homes and lives. From pendant lamps and vases to chairs, foods, and cultural icons, this goes beyond home and garden to consider the latest trends and insights relating to Nordic culture, making it a pick for both home and garden and arts readers alike.


The Parenting Shelf

The Expectant Father, fourth edition
Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013
9780789212139 $13.95 www.abbeville.com

The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be has been updated in its fourth edition to cover the emotional, financial and physical effects of fatherhood on men and uses Brott's experience as a father of three, combined with interviews with real dads, physicians, psychologists and more. It provides a solid reference packed with details on what is in the future of a father's new life, and it should be a shower gift for any father-to-be. The blend of personal experience, research, and facts makes this a top recommendation.


The Culinary Shelf

The Food Activist Handbook
Ali Berlow
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121802 $17.95 www.storey.com

The Food Activist Handbook provides a political view of food systems, their dysfunctions, and how to make community-level changes in food distribution and growth to return food to small-scale management, and is a top pick for any interested in developing community food projects from neighborhood gardens and harvesting methods to setting up a community composting program. It discusses food pantries and how they can connect with local producers and products, it considers ethnic food traditions, and it advocates being a 'guerrilla gardener', among other approaches, to keep food fresh, healthy, and at a small-scale community level. Any interested in the intrusion of big business and agribusiness into the food chain will find this handbook offers solid, practical recipes for success based on country-wide small community experiences.

Pig Tales
Barry Estabrook
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393240245 $26.95 www.amazon.com

Pig Tales: An Omnivore's Quest for Sustainable Meat comes from a prize-winning food writer who here examines the American pork industry, and uses his same light conversational style to inquire into American methods of raising, processing, cooking and presenting pork. It's filled with both insights into the idea and challenges of sustainable meat and keys to understanding why pork from such animals looks and tastes more succulent than the ordinary factory pork most Americans are more familiar with, and it considers the finer points of commercial pig farming, wild pig harvesting, and more. The result is a 'must' for any interested in the possibilities of the pig.

Darjeeling
Jeff Koehler
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781620405123 $27.00 www.bloomsbury.com

Darjeeling: The Colorful History and Precarious Fate of the World's Greatest Tea surpasses most explorations of tea history in that it narrows its focus to Darjeeling's tea bushes and their story, following how India's tea industry grew to be the biggest in the world and considering how it came to symbolize British rule in India. Any with an affection for tea and history will find this a solid story of family plantations, political influences on tea development, discussions of tea's organic future, and more. The history also involves a sense of place, so others interested in India's overall history, culture, and agriculture will find Darjeeling explores the tea, the people, and the place with equal detail, all presented in a lively cup of wonder.


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


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