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

The Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 6 June 2012 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf
Computer Shelf Photography Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Education Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Art Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Psychology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Science Shelf
Botany Shelf Native American Shelf Military Shelf
Nautical Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf Business Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Music Shelf Travel Shelf
Sports Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Biography Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Economic Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Technology Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf International Studies Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Gardening Shelf Homeowner's Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Imagine: How Creativity Works
Jonah Lehrer
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
222 Berkeley St., Boston MA 02116
9780547386072, $26.00, www.hmhbooks.com

Imagine: How Creativity Works goes beyond scientific studies to consider creativity as it's experienced in the real world. It uses Bob Dylan's writing methods, the drug habits of poets, the inspiration of an autistic surfer who invented a new surfing move, and much more to consider the sources of inspiration and genius, and provides a fine analysis of thought processes with an eye to showing how these can be used more efficiently by everyone. The result is a lively survey of the sources of inspiration in us all, with keys to unlocking creative potential through exercises and adjustments.

Authentic Hope
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 302
Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570759574, $22.00, www.orbisbooks.com

AUTHENTIC HOPE: IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT, BUT SOFT LANDINGS ARE POSSIBLE provides a fine survey that considers the value and possibilities of hope in a world facing hunger, poverty, and despair. It offers keys to vanquishing greed and considers everything from alternative approaches to health systems to dangerous political decisions caused by mis-reading history and unmet needs in consumer-driven social structures. Any collection strong in politics, social issues, or personal enlightenment will find this a powerful pick!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Life Without Parole
Clare O'Donohue
Plume
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780452297821, $15.00, www.penguin.com

Life Without Parole provides a satisfying Kate Conway mystery and presents Kate juggling two new reality shows and a murder investigation simultaneously. Kate's in over her head with the shows and an increasingly puzzling murder investigation that has implicated her husband's girlfriend as a suspect. The world of TV permeates the novel and adds rich insights into reality shows for mystery readers who will appreciate following Kate's investigations. Any mystery library - especially those who have seen excitement over the prior MISSING PERSONS - will find this a winner.

Sacre Bleu
Christopher Moore
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780061779749, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

SACRE BLEU: A COMEDY D'ART offers a fun probe into the 1890 suicide of Vincent van Gogh and the unanswered questions he leaves behind - including his fear of a stalker, a certain shade of blue, and more. Vincent's friends confront these questions and more - and vow to learn the truth about his untimely death - a journey which brings them into the art world, into a world of intrigue and mystery, and into a world of artists affected by the color blue. With Christopher Moore's usual penchant for tongue-in-cheek humor coloring the investigation, SACRE BLUE offers up more complexity and fun inspection than most of his prior novels, and is a pick for any fiction collection.


The Fiction Shelf

Fup
Jim Dodge
Heyday
Box 9145, Berkeley CA 94709
9781597141581, $9.95, www.heydaybooks.com

FUP is a fun little story first published in 1983 and reprinted for new audiences, and tells of one Granddaddy Jake, a 99-year-old codger who likes gambling and whiskey and who lives with a grandson with an obsession for fence-building. Fup, a mallard who likes to drink and watch TV, enters and changes their lives in this fine fable packed with hilarious moments and fun encounters between man and bird. A recommendation for any general lending library!


The Computer Shelf

Professional JavaScript for Web Developers, third edition
Nicholas C. Zakas
Wrox
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9781118026694, $44.99, www.wrox.com

Professional JavaScript for Web Developers offers a tool to the latest ways to use JavaScript in web development and packs in professional discussions for web developers already working with Java. It analyzes the parts involved in a JavaScript implementation, considers new and emerging APIs, explores the new core language features and how to work with data formats, and considers how to create offline-capable web applications. Code, formula examples, and plenty of real-world applications pack an updated third edition recommended for any computer holding catering to professional Java programmers.

Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Chad Mureta's APP EMPIRE: MAKE MONEY, HAVE A LIFE, AND LET TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOU (9781118107874, $24.95) comes from an author who made millions by starting his own successful app business with no experience - and who provides the basics of how you can do it, too. APP EMPIRE provides keys to designing and marketing successful apps across platforms, showing how to gain competitive advantage over other app developers, how to choose app ideas that are popular and desirable, and how to use marketing strategies under-utilized by others. The result is a business and computer guide that offers new opportunities and hope for those who are developing apps or have app ideas, but no clue on the process of development and successful marketing. Jacob Seidelin's HTML5 GAMES: CREATING FUN WITH HTML5, CSS3, AND WEBGL (9781119975083, $39.99) provides a fine web developer's guide to creating new games using new open web techniques such as Canvas, WebGL, and more. The new generation of open web techniques fills a gap between traditional web sites and online gaming and tells how to create amazing games that can be played both using traditional computers and new mobile devices. Game programmers receive step-by-step basics to producing and marketing these new games in a fine pick for any computer game library. David E.Y. Sarna and Vanessa Richie's EVERNOTE FOR DUMMIES (9781118107386, $24.99) provides a fine, specific key to Evernote, a program that can store and access nearly everything in one place for a computer, smartphone, tablet or web. Evernote can retrieve all kinds of information from text and images to web pages, and this book covers the basics of getting organized, creating one account that can access many different formats and types of information, and how to use a scanner, camera or other devices to sync with Evernote. It's a solid recommendation for any newcomer to the Evernote environment.

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw

Mark Dexter and Louis Landry's JOOMLA! PROGRAMMING (9780132780810, $49.99) provides a fine set of proven best practices for getting the job done right and is written by experts who provide a basic tutorial and reference to offer step-by-step instructions for basic application development. From understanding Joomla!'s foundations and extending its abilities using plugins and more to building front-end and back-end components and integrating Joomla!'s new Access Control lists into a website framework, this is a top pick for programmers looking to work with Joomla! features, and will work for classroom study and independent study alike. Any computer holding catering to neo-professionals needs this! Mitch Lacey's THE SCRUM FIELD GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR (0321554159, $42.99) is for any collection strong in agile software engineering practices, and provides IT professionals with an assessment of Scrum and how it can be adapted. It comes from a seasoned Scrum practitioner who identifies major challenges associated with Scrum adoption and offers keys to using Scrum successfully, from setting priorities and conducting customer reviews to managing culture clashes on Scrum teams and documenting projects. Real-world business examples from the author's own experiences make this a winning survey!

Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers
Michael Schrenk
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593273972, $39.95, www.nostarch.com

Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers comes from a noted webbot developer who teaches readers how to build time-saving, automated bots to mine, parse and archive online data. The book begins with easy-to-follow instructions on how to write stealthy webbots in PHP that read email and manage cookies, and moves from these basics to sample projects that reinforce all the material. Learn how to build webbots that automate all kinds of processes in a fine guide from a webbot developer who has worked with them for over 15 years. Any developer's library will find this a winning title.

Android Phones for Dummies
Dan Gookin
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118169520, $24.99, www.dummies.com

Android Phones for Dummies offers color, large-size screen shots that offers a step-by-step manual to exploring all the features of the Android phone. From getting email and sharing photos to learning about the best apps and obtaining them from the Android Market, this is a winning pick making all Android operations much easier. The chapter divisions assume no prior smartphone or Droid knowledge and provide a fine assessment of all the possibilities of an Android. Any newcomer to the smartphone environment in general and Android in particular will find this a fine survey that moves from beginning to advanced functions.

Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics, third edition
Brian Clifton
Sybex
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
9781118168448, $39.99, www.sybex.com

The third updated edition of Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics covers the latest edition of Google Analytics and packs in more ROI-building tips and techniques for measuring performance, tracking social and mobile web visitors, and more. From mastering the new user interface and tools to learning advanced techniques and using best practices gleaned from real-world applications, this is a top recommendation for any working with Google Analytics.

Content Strategy for the Web, second edition
Kristina Halvorson and Melissa Rach
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321808301, $29.99, www.newriders.com

The second updated edition of CONTENT STRATEGY FOR THE WEB provides a fine survey for all kinds of organizations and offers a strategy-based handbook for businesses interested in cost-saving opportunities and revenue-generating websites. From understanding the basic principles of content strategy and how it applies to the web to making decisions about what content to create and how to market it, this shows how to build a content strategy for business promotion, and is a key survey appearing in an updated second edition with new chapters, updated material, case studies, and much more. A fine 'must' for any who would understand how to build and market web content.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com

Vandad Nahavandipoor's IOS5 PROGRAMMING COOKBOOK: SOLUTIONS AND EXAMPLES FOR IPHONE, IPAD, AND IPOD TOUCH APPS (9781449311438, $49.99) packs in 100 new recipes in an updated cookbook covering all the steps needed for writing complete iOS applications. Hundreds of techniques are provided along with recipes that offer clear solutions and sample code that can be translated to similar circumstances. From using different audio and video files across the iPod library to using iCloud and detecting rotation gestures, this includes solutions and discussions in a fine pick for any programming collection. The second updated edition of Eric Enge, et.al.'s THE ART OF SEO: MASTERING SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (9781449304218, $49.99) is a recommendation for any collection strong in web analytics and online business, and provides techniques to help plan and execute an in-depth SEO strategy. This second edition uses recent changes in search engine behavior, from new ranking methods to the changing role of social media, and is a fine guide from authors who are leading SEO consultants. From using Google Suggest to monitoring and improving social media marketing, this provides best practices, tested methods, and keys to optimizing news feeds and more, and is a 'must' for any with more than a casual interest in search engine optimization. Alasdair Allan's LEARNING IOS PROGRAMMING (9781449303778, $34.99) is a pick for any interested in mobile programming and offers an introduction to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch programming. It teaches the basics of how to use iOS programming to develop one's first marketable iOS application, from opening Xcode to how to submit a product to the App Store and is filled with keys to understanding the basic methodology of writing iOS applications that use Objective-C as their foundation. This updated second edition covers iOS 5 and is a 'must' for any aspiring developer. KINDLE FIRE; THE MISSING MANUAL by Peter Meyers (9781449316273, $19.99) provides a fine survey covering the Kindle Fire, and provides all the basics from getting online and watching movies and TV series to getting popular games, references and apps using Amazon's Apps for Android, and reading Word files, Excel spreadsheets and other documents. Black and white and color screen shots throughout compliment easy step-by-step accounts of best Kindle practices. No Kindle owner should be without this basic manual.


The Photography Shelf

The Digital Photography Book Part 4
Scott Kelby
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321773020, $24.99, www.peachpit.com

The Digital Photography Book Part 4 provides fine, step-by-step discussions on how to make photos look like professional shots, and is a 'must' for any digital photographer. It provides single pages covering a single concept on how to transform a photo, creating a professional approach to turning snapshots into gallery prints. Clear explanations supported by screen shots and color photos throughout make for a process that helps photographers build skills and understand complex camera settings and tricks to fine-tuning photos. Very highly recommended!

New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com

Jerod Foster's STORYTELLERS; A PHOTOGRAPHER'S GUIDE TO DEVELOPING THEMES AND CREATING STORIES WITH PICTURES (0321803566, $44.99) provides a unique book that focuses on visual storytelling and how to use these concepts to create stronger images. From composition and visual themes to types of shots and how they translate to an image, this offers a survey packed with color photos and insights of using photos to tell stories, and is a 'must' for any photography library looking for books that go far beyond the basics of how to operate a camera and take a decent picture. Vincent LaForet's VISUAL STORIES: BEHIND THE LENS WITH VINCENT LAFORET (9780321793928, $54.99) provides a fine artistic survey packed with color photo scenes accompanied by technical information on how to capture and create visual stories through photography. Over 100 photos discuss how to blend photos with stories, how to use light and color to create eye-popping photos that display both beauty and emotion, and how to understand an image's impact when combined with words. It's a powerful survey for any photography collection and creates an emphasis between word and image that other photo surveys simply miss.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Circular Knitting Workshop
Margaret Radcliffe
Storey
210 Mass MoCa Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429993, $24.95, www.storey.com

CIRCULAR KNITTING WORKSHOP: ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUES TO MASTER KNITTING IN THE ROUND provides a technique-oriented guide for using circular needles and learning knitting in the round, and is a pick for any knitter's reference library. It provides circular projects that are portable and easy to learn, teaching all aspects of circular knitting and presenting classic techniques such as Fair Isle, tubular and others in a series of step-by-step color photos. The result is a fine survey that acts as a quick problem-solving reference and a step-by-step techniques guide as well.

Lovely Knits for Little Girls
Vibe Sondergaard
Taunton Press
P.O. Box 5506
Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600855030, $22.95, www.taunton.com

Lovely Knits for Little Girls: 20 Just-Right Patterns, Just for Girls provides twenty patterns for small dresses, sweaters, skirts and more for girls around the age of two, addressing the gap that exists in project guides oriented around either babies or adults. It comes from a knitwear designer who creates a bright, little-girl wardrobe of projects that are quick to knit and teach some basic design tricks in the process. The result is a collection of patterns that are easy to size up or down and filled with innovative, fun ideas.

Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE
Bothell, WA 98011
www.martingale-pub.com

Charlene Schurch & Beth Parrott's THE SOCK KNITTER'S HANDBOOK: EXPERT ADVICE, TIPS, AND TRICKS (9781604680461, $26.99) provides fine instructions for both toe-up and cuff-down sock knitting and teaches a range of techniques for knitting, from casting on and working with heels and toes to sizing and binding off. A hardcover with lay-flat binding and spine lettering makes it easy to follow the instructions while knitting, while the diversity of stitches, methods and different sock styles lends to its use by beginning knitters who want a range of approaches. Laura Farson's KNITTING SCANDINAVIAN SLIPPERS AND SOCKS (9781604680492, $24.99) provides lovely knitting patterns for slippers and coordinating socks, and is a project guide highly recommended for any knitting collection. The narrowed focus on Scandinavian designs makes for a lovely survey packed with color photos of each project, including close-up color patterns accompanied by specific stitches. Any with some basic knitting knowledge will find this a warm and cozy guide.

Blackwork Made Easy
Lesley Wilkins
Search Press
1338 Ross Street
Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
9781844487530, $19.95, www.searchpress.com

BLACKWORK MAED EASYL; TECHNIQUES, PATTERNS & SAMPLERS teaches the basics of how to create traditional blackwork embroideries using easy stitches on fabric. Step by step photos and charts show how traditional patterns and borders can be blended to create unique designs, showing how to create samplers inspired by old-style embroidery traditions. Full-page patterns accompany the color step-by-step photos, making it a breeze for needleworkers to duplicate blackwork. Any collection strong in embroidery techniques needs this!

Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement
Suzi Parron with Donna Sue Groves
Swallow Press
c/o Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19, Athens, OH 45701
9780804011389, $29.95, www.ohioswallow.com

Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement offers a colorful story of the American Quilt Trail by an author who follows one of the fastest-growing grassroots public arts movements in the U.S. and Canada. Here the authors travel through over twenty states as well as Canada to visit the people and places that make up the movement, pairing journeys with color photos of the barn quilt movement. The result is an exciting project survey containing dozens of interviews documenting the movement from its 2001 founding by co-author Donna Sue Groves to modern times.


The Audiobook Shelf

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

James Patterson and David Ellis's GUILT WIVES (9781607884682, $34.98) comes to life under the New York-based voice and TV personality of actress January LaVoy, who lends a dramatic and sensitive touch to this story of a weekend binge in Monte Carlo where four best friends lead a fantasy weekend - until Abbie awakens on a yacht surrounded by police, her friends arrested. Betrayal, guilt, and a struggle for survival contribute to a vivid thriller that's simply impossible to stop listening to - and filled with unexpected twists and turns to its satisfying conclusion. Tom Rob Smith narrates AGENT 6 (9781611139907, $34.98), which comes to life under a fine reading by Dennis Boutsikaris and chronicles three decades, two murders, and a puzzling mystery agent. International intrigue and espionage combines with a powerful investigation of a killer who murdered Leo Demidov's family in a fine choice for any lending library. David Baldacci's THE INNOCENT (9781607885719, $39.98) receives a fine dual narration by Ron McLarty with Orlagh Casidy whose voices spice the fine story of intrigue and espionage. Robie is a hitman who never questions orders - until something goes wrong. His refusal to kill on command makes Robie a target on the run, and his flight will bring him in touch with others whose lives are changed by murder and violence. THE INNOCENT's powerful story of two very different lives intersecting makes for a powerful listen, hard to lay aside! Carole King's A NATURAL WOMAN (9781611133639, $29.98) provides a memoir narrated by Carole King herself and is a pick for any audio holding strong in autobiography or music. Carole King is best known for her pop folk songs, but A NATURAL WOMAN reveals the woman behind the music, detailing her career and describing her childhood in Brooklyn, her experience as a young bride and mother, and her many relationships with men and fellow musicians that shaped her life and influenced her music. Any fan of Carole King will welcome her revealing account! Joyce Meyer's DO YOURSELF A FAVOR... FORGIVE (9781611133974, $24.98) is narrated by Sandra McCollum, the author's younger daughter, who reads her mother's audiobook focusing on anger and the conflicts Christians experience in managing it. Joyce explains how anger can be managed and reveals issues surrounding the roots of anger, is various forms, and how to live with it and ultimately forgive. A powerful pick for any audio collection; particularly those strong in psychology or Christian insights.

Random House Audio
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

John Grisham's CALICO JOE (9780449011003, $30.00) receives a fine narration by Erik Singer, who has performed in many off-Broadway pays and worked with regional theatres around the country, and whose voice spices a fine story of fathers, sons, and stormy family relationships. Calico Joe would become the greatest rookie baseball player any had ever met, and the idol of every baseball fan in the country. Until one day when a fastball would change all their lives. CALICO JOE is packed with baseball moments and family relationships, friendships changed and lost, and more: any collection strong in audio novels will find this a winner. Elaine Pagels' REVELATIONS: VISIONS, PROPHECY, AND POLITICS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION (9780307099263, $35.00) receives a fine reading by Lorna Raver who has won numerous awards for her fine narrative style. Her acting skills lend drama and interest to a history of the most controversial book of the Bible, offering a powerful survey of John's prophecies and relating the writings in Revelations to real-world scenarios. Any spirituality holding needs this fine survey!

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887
Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Jack Higgins's BLOODY PASSAGE (9781441856112, $29.99) is performed by Christopher Lane, whose voice lends a vivid drama to this tense thriller revolving around a decorated soldier turned mercenary, who sells his services to the highest bidder when things get rough. Oliver is chosen to rescue a Mafia boss's stepson from a Libyan prison - but he doesn't want the job. Force is applied and Oliver finds himself caught in a deadly web of intrigue in this fast-paced, satisfying story that translates well to audio. Suzanne Brockmann's BORN TO DARKNESS (9781441850799, $34.99) receives a fine dual narration by Melanie Ewbank and Patrick Lawlor who spice the story of a former Navy SEAL Shane, down on his luck when he finds work as a test subject at a scientific institute. The experiment involves access to untapped areas of the brain - and Shane discovers the institute is actually finding and experimenting with telekinesis, super strength, and even reversing aging. Can a designer drug change his life? Gripping action and suspense spice a story that proves hard to stop listening to!


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Warman's Field Guides
Krause Publications
700 East State St.
Iola WI 54990-0001
www.krausebooks.com

Updated editions of two Warman's field guides are fine picks for any collector, packaged in pocket-sized take-along totes and packed with color illustrations and at-a-glance prices. Maurice D. Wozniak's U.S. STAMPS FIELD GUIDE - 2ND EDITION (9781440216992, $14.99) features over 1,000 color pictures and the latest pricing for all 4,250+ U.S. regular-issue and Airmail stamps from 1847-2010. New chapters on Christmas and Error stamps accompany accurate prices for both Unused and Used conditions, making this a fine collector's pick. Arlyn G. Sieber's U.S. COINS & CURRENCY FIELD GUIDE, 4TH EDITION (1440216983, $14.99) provides new information on 2009 and 2010 circulating issues, proof sets, and more, covering content and values for coins and currency from 1809 to the present and including modern commemoratives, gold and silver coins, and more. Both are powerful picks for any collectors working in the field who want the latest values at a glance.


The Education Shelf

The Big Book of Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Children and Teens
Lindsey Joiner
Jessica Kingsley
Box 960, Herndon VA 20172-0960
9781849058650, $29.95, www.jkp.com

The Big Book of Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Children and Teens: Inspiring Arts-Based Activities and Character Education Curricula comes from a Positive Behavior Specialist and licensed counselor who works with a Mississippi public school district helping kids and teens through day treatment and community programs incorporating arts-based activities. Her guide thus is packed with real-world applications and is filled with creative activities to increase enjoyment and reinforce positive behaviors. A wide variety of techniques use art, music, stories, poetry and film to teach conflict resolution, social skills development, and more.

Beyond Behavior Management, second edition
Jenna Bilmes
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540733, $34.95, www.redleafpress.org

Beyond Behavior Management: The Six Life Skills Children Need provides a set of strategies developed and tested in the classroom that teach how to manage challenging behaviors in all children. This second edition includes many changes in early childhood education, pairing each life skill with early learning standards and considering added issues of cultural awareness. When kids absorb these s0069 lessons, they exhibit more prosocial behaviors and are better learners: every teacher should read this!

The Democratic Dilemma of American Education
Arnold Shober
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue
Boulder CO 80301
9780813345369, $35.00, www.westviewpress.com

The Democratic Dilemma of American Education provides a fine analysis of the politics of U.S. education policy and considers modern controversies over education governance, teachers unions, school funding, choices, and social issues - and considers the impact on democratic education processes as a whole. Chapters will appeal to a college-level audience consisting of education and political science readers as they analyze education's challenges in light of basic democratic principles. Highly recommended!

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

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (9781412997904, $36.95) by William Bender gathers strategies and assessment methods for implementing a project-based learning program for grades K-12, and is a winning title for any teacher interested in understanding the approach's successes and is packed with real-world examples. It comes from a teacher who has also published over 60 research articles over the decades, and offers a range of practical approaches perfect for any teacher's collection. Karla J. Reiss' Be A Changemaster (9781412997454, $36.95) provides 12 coaching strategies and is directed to leaders at all levels of education. From handling small groups to individual coaching, this offers a range of strategies that will prove useful in all kinds of schools at all levels. THE BRAIN-TARGETED TEACHING MODEL FOR 21ST+ CENTURY SCHOOLS (9781412991988, $36.95) by Mariale M. Hardiman provides a proven model for applying brain research to instruction processes, offering a framework for change that help teachers assess the choices and effects of brain-friendly learning strategies in the classroom. Educators can engage students on better levels using the teaching model presented herein, which offers methods for K-12 and higher education alike. The focus on brain research and best practices alike makes for a powerful collection of ideas teachers will find specific and stimulating. John Barell's HOW DO WE KNOW THEY'RE GETTING BETTER? ASSESSMENT FOR 21ST CENTURY MINDS, K-8 (9781412995283, $39.95) provides an outstanding survey packed with keys to measuring a student's progression in critical thinking and skills. It explains how inquiry leads to problem solving and offers teachers insights into the entire formative assessment process, using classroom examples to cover the basics of collaboration, learning measurement, and leadership. Any teacher will find this a specific, useful measurement and assessment guide!


The Cookbook Shelf

Alice's Tea Cup
Haley Fox & Lauren Fox
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9780061964923, $24.00, www.chroniclebooks.com

ALICE'S TEA CUP: DELECTABLE RECIPES FOR SCONES, CAKES, SANDWICHES, AND MORE FROM NEW YORK'S MOST WHIMSICAL TEA SPOT comes from sisters who own a tea shop and here share nearly a hundred recipes from their popular Manhattan restaurants. Alice's Tea Cup has been a New York City destination for almost ten years, and their cookbook is packed with baked goods, sweets, savories, and specialty drinks alike. From children's sandwiches to cookies, cakes and salads, this is a delightful collection.

Dinner in a Bowl
Better Homes & Gardens
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118038154, $17.99, www.wiley.com

Over a hundred recipes from the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchen are complimented by color photos and accompanied by icons that identify 30-minute meals, kid-friendly dishes, and more, making for a fine survey of one-bowl meals that are simple and quick to put together. Chapters are arranged by four different approaches: The Asian Bowl, The European Bowl, The American Bowl and The Salad Bowl, and make it easy to locate and use recipes based on taste.

Ulysses Press
Box 3440
Berkeley, CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com

Matt Kadey's MUFFIN TIN CHEF (9781612430522, $15.95) offers a fine collection of recipes - over a hundred - paired with over sixty color photos to help readers create miniature versions of favorite dishes - including many surprising savory muffins, such as Two-Cheese Smoky Chicken Cups or Eggplant Parmesan. Small portion sizes and faster baking times make for a fine collection of family-friendly muffin recipes that can be easily incorporated into any meal plan. The result is an outstanding survey perfect for any general lending library. Jessica Harlan's RAMEN TO THE RESCUE COOKBOOK (9781569759905, $12.95) provides some 100 recipes based on ramen and shows how to add sauces, seasonings and more to make such varied dishes as Ramen Pizza, Ramen-n-Cheese, Pad Thai, and more. Some of the dishes are logical extensions of ramen and others are unexpected delights, making RAMEN TO THE RESCUE a fine cookbook choice.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Ree Drummond
Morrow Cookbooks
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780061997181, $29.99, www.harpercollins.com

THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS: FOOD FROM MY FRONTIER offers recipes and daily writings about life on an Oklahoma ranch, and provides a fun collection of simple dishes that are ranch-based family favorites. From Cowgirl Quiche and Sloppy Joes to Rib-Eye Steak, these are fine dishes paired with detailed step-by-step photos. All have been tested for their appeal to the entire family, but it's the wealth of color throughout that makes this a fine recommendation above all others.

Flavors of Malaysia
Susheela Raghavan
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue
New York NY 10016
0781812496, $40.00, www.hippocrenebooks.com

FLAVORS OF MALAYSIA: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME, TASTES, AND TRADITIONS celebrates the best of Malaysian cooking, a cuisine blending Malay, Chinese, Indian, Arab and even Dutch and Portuguese influences. Over a hundred recipes pair with family stories and notes on the history of Malaysian food in a collection pairing color photos with such dishes as Sweet Coconut Crepes, Spicy Egg Curry, and Pandan Tea. Most Malaysian dishes are mixed into general Asian cookbooks: to have a rare focus on Malay traditions alone makes this a real winner.

Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095
Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
www.oxmoorhouse.com

SOUTHERN LIVING WHAT'S FOR SUPPER: 30-MINUTE MEALS EVERYONE WILL LOVE (0848736427, $19.95) provides fine 30-minute meals designed for family appreciation and pairs color photos with quick preparation techniques for maximum effect. From Ham Steak with Orange Glaze and Mango-Chicken Pita Sandwiches to Herb-Blend Turkey Burgers and King Ranch Chicken, these are easy family-friendly dishes highly recommended for any general lending library appealing to families and busy cooks looking for simple, appealing fare. Sunset's EDIBLE GARDEN COOKBOOK: FRESH, HEALTHY COOKING FROM THE GARDEN (0376027975, $24.95) pairs gardening and harvesting advice with over 200 recipes and basic cooking techniques to guide on garden cooking and preserving a harvest, and is a pick for any home and garden and cookery collection. It holds lovely color photos of plants and recipes alike, includes nutritional details, and is arranged by garden ingredient for quick consultation during harvest. Very highly recommended!

Lard
Editors of GRIT Magazine
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St.
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449409746, $24.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

LARD: THE LOST ART OF COOKING WITH YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S SECRET INGREDIENT packs in over a hundred sweet and savory recipes and photos along with anecdotes from cooks around the U.S. on lard, an ingredient once frowned upon but which has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. Lard has come full-circle recently, touted by dietitians because it contains only 54 percent of the saturated fat found in butter. This cookbook provides a fine set of sides, main dishes, and desserts from over 100 years of GRIT Magazine, a national bimonthly magazine celebrating the country lifestyle. Packed with flavor and advice, it's a top recommendation for any cookbook collection!


The Art Shelf

Portraits of the Belle Epoque
Valeriano Bozal, et.al.
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953492, $85.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Portraits of the Belle Epoque accompanies an exhibition on the topic of portraiture in the 19th and 20th centuries and refers to a period known as the Belle Epoque, during which time portraiture made many influences in the art world. Life through portraits was captured in artistic representations that moved beyond the usual singular focus to represent relationships between art and society as well. This presentation is packed with captivating portraits of the Belle Epoque era and offers fine accompanying facts about the evolution of art and social consciousness during this period. No arts library should be without it!


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Master Shots, second edition
Christopher Kenworthy
Michael Wiese
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615930876, $26.95, www.mwp.com

The second updated edition of Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look On Your Low Budget Movie provides a fine update to the original 2009 best-selling examination of filmmaking. In this updated edition every image has been digitally remastered for clarity, with more text been added to address feedback from readers, plus expansion of the industry's best tricks and secret techniques of professional directors. Black and white film shots illustrate the discussions and provide specific keys to understanding the film concepts being provided, making this a 'must' for any filmmaker's collection.

Hollywood's Copyright Wars
Peter Decherney
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231159463, $34.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

HOLLYWOOD'S COPYRIGHT WARS: FROM EDISON TO THE INTERNET begins with the origins of copyright protection in Thomas Edison's aggressive copyright disputes, and concludes with the latest lawsuits against YouTube, and documents the efforts of the film, TV and online media to adapt to changing media and copyright issues. Plenty of books cover the basics of media copyright law, but this history allows for an eye-opening look at its controversies, changes, and the history of Hollywood's intellectual property rights in particular. Any collection strong in Hollywood media issues needs this fine survey, which goes beyond the scenes to probe the decisions and actions that often take place outside the actual courtroom.


The Psychology Shelf

The Science of the Art of Psychotherapy
Allan N. Schore
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue
New York NY 10110
0393706648, $45.00, www.wwnorton.com

The Science of the Art of Psychotherapy offers a companion to the author's AFFECT DYSREGULATION AND DISORDERS OF THE SELF and AFFECT REGULATION AND REPAIR OF THE SELF, and provides a collection of elaborations of regulation theory - all written since 2005. It provides a model of mind/body changes in patients and therapists and considers therapeutic expertise and how clinical experience results in a neurobiological effect on the therapist. Chapters consider modern attachment theory, implicit processes and clinical intuition, clinical enactments, the origins of pathological disassociation, and much more.

Depression Sourcebook, third edition
Amy L. Sutton, Editor
Omnigraphics
155 W. Congress Suite 200
Detroit, MI 48226
9780780812574, $95.00, www.omnigraphics.com

The third updated edition of DEPRESSION SOURCEBOOK provides basic information about the symptoms and types of depressive mood disorders and surveys risk factors, depression in different populations, treatments and new research findings, and more. It's a health survey that includes a healthy dose of genetics, biology and discussions of environmental results of depression and offers many strategies for managing depression, including the warning signs of suicide and discussions of risk factors. All information has been completely updated from a range of government agencies, nonprofits and periodicals and makes for a fine survey suitable for any general lending library and health collections in particular.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Paintracking
Deborah Barrett
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145132, $20.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

PAINTRACKING: YOUR PERSONAL GUIDE TO LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC PAIN provides a hands-on manual to improving life for sufferers with chronic pain, no matter what the cause. It comes from a psychotherapist who has firsthand experience with such pain, and offers a systematic method to help readers handle treatment options and incorporate effective approaches into their lives for continued progress. It's actually a self-help tool in a book showing readers how to track and interpret their pain experiences, and how to become better aware of how their body responds to different therapies and approaches. PAINTRACKING offers hope to many and should be a part of any general health lending library.

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide
Rosemary Gladstar
Storey
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781612120058, $14.95, www.storey.com

Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide offers a quick reference from a respected herbalist who shows how easy it is to make natural, low-cost healing remedies. It provides quick primer on all aspects of herbs, from growing and harvesting them to using over thirty of the most common plants. Recipes produce everything form aloe lotion for poison ivy to lavender-lemon balm tea for stress relief, and are paired with color photos and step-by-step instructions for drying and preserving the herbs for use in teas, salves, tinctures, oils and even pills.


The Science Shelf

Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South
New York NY 10016
www.basicbooks.com

Rafe Sagarin's LEARNING FROM THE OCTOPUS: HOW SECRETS FROM NATURE CAN HELP US FIGHT TERRORIST ATTACKS, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND DISEASE (9780465021833, $26.99) offers a new method of applying natural defense methods to our security systems and contrasts nature and military defense methods. Natural adaptability is discussed in relation to how we can protect ourselves from human hazards by learning from nature's defense mechanisms. From successful evolutionary systems and how uncertainty is exploited to symbiotic relationships with others to increase adaptability, this provides a fine survey of the principles that translate from nature to security issues, making this a pick for security and science holdings alike. John Long's DARWIN'S DEVICES: WHAT EVOLVING ROBOTS CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LIFE AND THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY (9780465021413, $26.99) comes from a pioneer in evolutionary biorobots and bioinspired engineering processes and explains how researchers design and evolve biorobots. From Long's own research and knowledge of how robots evolve to how robots are learning autonomous reactions and how they are limited, this is a fine survey that analyzes the possibilities of biorobots designed to operate like animals, and is a fine and lively discussion for any general science collection.

How it Began
Chris Impey
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393080025, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com

HOW IT BEGAN: A TIME-TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE comes from a scholar and former vice president of the American Astronomical Society, and offers a guide for lay readers interested in an easy introduction to the latest investigations of cosmology. It provides a fun, lively discussion of the basic concepts of astronomy and begins with the nearest celestial bodies through the challenges of understanding time and space itself. From invisible pocket universes to M-theory, this guide blends science reporting with history, personal anecdotes, and thought experiments and provides a fun guide to the latest theories and discussions about the nature of the universe. Any general lending collection will find this a fun, enlightening survey.

Beyond Walden
Robert M. Thorson
Walker & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
0802716458, $26.00, www.walkerbooks.com

BEYOND WALDEN: THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF AMERICA'S KETTLE LAKES AND PONDS provides a fine geological ecological and cultural history of kettle lakes around the U.S., and is a pick for any who would understand the ecology and development of these unique ecosystems. Kettle lakes formed by the meltdown of blocks of glacial ice span the northern part of the country, are self-contained, and offer unique significance and connections to America's historical and geological past.


The Botany Shelf

Smut Fungi of the World
Kalman Vanky
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul MN 55121
http://www.apsnet.org/apsstore/shopapspress/Pages/default.aspx
9780890543986, $499.00

SMUT FUNGI OF THE WORLD provides an outstanding key to identifying smut fungi and packs over 3,500 monographs and studies into nearly 1,500 pages of reference material recommended for college-level botany and science reference collections. This is a required reference for any serious library: Dr. Kalman Vanky, has more than 50 years experience collecting and describing smut fungi species, and updates all scientific names, synonyms, host plant ranges, and much more. It can serve as either a standard at-a-glance reference or a school text and it holds potential to appeal to a wide-ranging audience, from mycologists and plant biologists to molecular biologists, students, teachers, and more. The fact that there's simply nothing like it on the market makes this a key acquisition for any college-level or professional holding with more than a casual interest in smut fungi.


The Native American Shelf

Iroquois Art, Power, and History
Neal B. Keating
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138909, $55.00, www.oupress.com

Iroquois Art, Power, and History explores Iroquois visual expression in over five thousand years of art, from the early discoveries of ancient North America to modern times. Extensive archival research and fieldwork with Iroquois artists lends to a moving title which documents the emerging artists and visions of the Iroquois peoples, showing how they've used visual expression to adapt to change. Chapters trace the history of Iroquois art practices in a scholarly survey that will interest both arts and Native American history holdings alike, seeking an ethnohistorical approach to Iroquois developments. Keating is one of the first Iroquois studies scholar to emphasize painting: over 100 color and black and white reproductions accompanies a wide-ranging survey and a highly recommended pick!


The Military Shelf

Outlaw Platoon
Sean Parnell with John R. Bruning
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062066398, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

OUTLAW PLATOON: HEROES, RENEGADES, INFIDELS, AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF AR IN AFGHANISTAN offers a powerful portrait of conflict in the mountains of Afghanistan and provides Captain Parnell's gripping personal saga of the legendary U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division's heroism. At the age of 24 Army Ranger Sean Parnell was named commander of a forty-man elite infantry platoon which was known as the Outlaws, confronting Pakistan-based insurgents in Afghanistan. They became one of the most feared American units in the war and the account of their battles over a sixteen month period is related here in a fine survey of military and political conflicts. Any collection strong in Afghanistan history and military confrontation will find this a powerful memoir.

At War With PTSD
Robert N. McLay, MD., PhD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421405575, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

AT WAR WITH PTSD: BATTLING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WITH VIRTUAL REALITY comes from a practicing psychiatrist who worked with Veterans and civilians coping with PTSD, who became the primary investigator on treatment projects that used computer simulation to help veterans. The author and his team believed they had found a breakthrough treatment so in 2008 they took it to Iraq and worked with the First Marine Expeditionary Force. Their successes and failures are documented in a fine memoir of the psychological impact of war and its treatment, highly recommended for military and psychology holdings alike.

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

Steven Zaloga's METZ 1944: PATTON'S FORTIFIED NEMESIS (9781849085915, $19.95) is illustrated by Steve Noon and documents General Patton's most controversial campaign: a series of battles in 1944 along the German frontier at the city of Metz. This title offers an in-depth view of these battles, considering the conflicts, German and Allied plans, air strikes and events that led to bloody confrontations for all sides. Color drawings and vintage black and white photos accompany maps and charts for an in-depth presentation perfect for any World War II collection. John Weal's HE 111 KAMPFGESCHWADER IN THE WEST (9781849086707, $22.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Combat Aircraft' series and discusses a plane originally designed in the mid-1930s as a fast airliner that could become a bomber. It saw action in Spain during the civil war and more than 700 were in service by the time Germany invaded Poland. By the fall of 1944, it had ceased production with over 7,000 planes in production. Chapters offer a fine history of the key German aircraft, offering a full story of its action during the war. The result is a fine addition to any serious military or aviation library. Dmitriy Khazanov and Aleksander Medved's MIG-3 ACES OF WORLD WAR 2 (9781849084420, $22.95) provides a fine survey of an aircraft created by Russian designers, built to satisfy a Soviet Air Force requirement for an advanced high-altitude flyer. Many of the new MIG-3 machines were destroyed at the opening of the Operation Barbarossa invasion in 1941 - but enough survived to produce many victories, and this account charts these achievements and the pilots who flew the planes to victory. Clyde W. Cocke's PASS IN REVIEW: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF WEST POINT CADETS 1794-PRESENT (9781849085588, $29.95) pairs lovely color photos by Eilene Harkless Moore with a fine specific history of the West Point military Academy's cadet parade. Most might think the parade a quick event, but every movement holds historical meaning, and this history moves from parade grounds to salutes, uniforms, hazing practices, the different soldiers who have passed through West Point, and much more. It's a powerful survey highly recommended for any military library. THE CIVIL WAR QUIZ BOOK (9781849086189, $9.95) is light and fun trivia reading for any Civil War buff who wants to test a knowledge of the who, where, what, when and how of the Civil War. Over 1,000 questions range from easy to challenging and include true or false, multiple choice and match-ups in a recommendation for any avid Civil War history buff. Rene Chartrand's TOMAHAWK AND MUSKET: FRENCH AND INDIAN RAIDS IN THE OHIO VALLEY 1758 (9781849085649, $18.95) provides a fine history of General John Forbes, who lead his army against French headquarters in the Ohio Valley. The French then launched their own counter-raid, leading to 500 French and Canadians, backed by 500 Indian allies, ambushing the highlanders. The back-and-forth French and Indian raids changed the history and politics of the Ohio Valley - and this documents all attacks, counter-raids, and political tactics and alliances in a pick recommended for any Ohio or military history holding!


The Nautical Shelf

Cornell's Ocean Atlas
Jimmy and Ivan Cornell
Cornell Sailing Ltd.
c/o Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780955639654, $99.95, www.paracay.com

Cornell's Ocean Atlas: Pilot Charts for All Oceans of the World is an oversized, spiral-bound, and comprehensive reference containing pilot charts for all oceans of the world, and is a 'must' for any geography or nautical reference collection. The charts in this atlas are based on the latest weather information gathered by a network of satellites over the last twenty years, and the oversized lay-flat binding lends to their use on the ocean. A highly recommended 'must' for any sailor or any nautical reference collection!

"Unsinkable": The Full Story of the RMS Titanic
Daniel Allen Butler
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor
Boston MA 02210
9780306820984, $16.00, www.dacapopress.com

"Unsinkable": The Full Story of the RMS Titanic appears in honor of the ship's centennial and reissues a best-selling title that charts the rise and fall of the Titanic, from her conception to her sinking and the latest efforts to salvage her. Thirty years of research are involved in providing the complete story of the ship's demise, using eyewitness accounts to recreate scenes on the ship and adding a new postscript and foreword updated to include the latest theories and findings about its history. Any collection interested in the Titanic's history will relish this revision.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

God and the Folly of Faith
Victor J. Stenger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145996, $20.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

God and the Folly of Faith: The Incompatibility of Science and Religion provides a fine historical survey making the case that Christianity held back science for a thousand years. Chapters show how religion and science are basically incompatible and considers the influence of organized religion on politics and the process of science. There's a basic antiscientific attitude in the context of religion that keeps a lid on some kinds of scientific investigations: GOD AND THE FOLLY OF FAITH identifies these connections in a survey recommended for science and religion holdings alike.

Why I Became An Atheist
John W. Loftus
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145774, $21.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

WHY I BECAME AN ATHEIST: A FORMER PREACHER REJECTS CHRISTIANITY provides a powerful survey from a once-devout evangelical Christian and an ordained minister with three degrees who experienced a crisis of faith that turned him from Christianity to atheism. His documentation of the process appeared in 2006, was reissued in 2008, and has been revised and expanded in this latest new addition to address criticisms of the original work. New arguments and references refines his ideas and beliefs in a pick recommended for religious and secular holdings alike.


The Christian Studies Shelf

William B. Eerdmans Publishing
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com

Sergius Bulgakov's ICONS AND THE NAME OF GOD (9780802866646, $29.00) is translated by Boris Jakim and provides a scholarly survey exploring the theology behind the Orthodox veneration of icons and the celebration of the name of God. Two major controversies over time accompany the author's belief that an icon stops being a religious painting and becomes a sacred object when it is named. Essays consider the history and changing aspects of the icon provides fine scholarly theological discussions perfect for any college-level scholarly collection. D.A. Carson's THE INTOLERANCE OF TOLERANCE (9780802831705, $24.00) uses real-life examples to suggest that ideas about tolerance have been shifting and that some of the new concepts are socially dangers and actually lead to intolerance of beliefs. Christian collections will find this a solid history of this shift in perspective, filled with discussions about morals, ethics, good and evil, and Christian truth claims: a fine survey for any Christian collection.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

What Does Islam Mean in Today's World?
William Stoddart
World Wisdom
1501 East Hillside Drive
Bloomington, IN 47401
9781936597147, $17.95, www.worldwisdom.com

WHAT DOES ISLAM MEAN IN TODAY'S WORLD? RELIGION, POLITICS, SPIRITUALITY argues that modern Christianity has nothing to fear from traditional Islam: the two religions have common enemies, concerns, and are united in their opposition to immoralities such as materialism. The general public tends to associate Islam with terrorism: this book considers its underlying connections to Christian beliefs and examines Islam's role in modern societies. Chapters include surveys of art and culture as they discuss modern religious bias in a pick recommended for any spirituality and Middle East cultural collection.


The Political Science Shelf

Showdown
David Corn
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780062107992, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

SHOWDOWN: THE INSIDE STORY OF HOW OBAMA FOUGHT BACK AGAINST BOEHNER, CANTOR, AND THE TEA PARTY offers a fine story of White House decision-making processes based on interviews with Obama insiders and details a turbulent period of the Obama presidency from the 2010 elections to the start of his 2012 campaign. This insider's story follows the key dramas of the early presidency, discussing controversial political decisions, events, and more. Any who would understand the Obama administration or the evolution of world politics and American political parties during this period must have this!

Political Worlds of Women
Mary Hawkesworth
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder CO 80301
9780813344959, $42.00, www.westviewpress.com

POLITICAL WORLDS OF WOMEN: ACTIVISM, ADVOCACY AND GOVERNANCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY provides college-level readers with a fine critical introduction to women's political struggles in local, national and global contexts, and is a fine pick for any who would explore the boundaries of women's political activism. It considers women's political engagement on all levels, using case studies to document critical issues central to women's politics and involvement, and it provides a rich series of gender and political connections perfect for any women's history or political studies collection.


The Business Shelf

Just Start
Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, & Paul B. Brown
Harvard Business Review Press
c/o Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422143612, $27.00, www.hbr.org/books

JUST START: TAKE ACTION, EMBRACE UNCERTAINTY, CREATE THE FUTURE tells how to succeed in work and life in a world which is uncertain. The first step is to take action and learn from there: JUST START offers research along with proven practices to provide a method for handling uncertainty in the world, and it tells how to minimize financial risks and understand why acting is just as important as learning. Without action, there is nothing to learn from. JUST START provides an outstanding survey perfect for any business collection.

Reverse Innovation: Create Far From Home, Win Everywhere
Vijay Govindarajan, Chris Trimble, & Indra K. Noovi
Harvard Business Review Press
c/o Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422157640, $30.00, www.hbr.org/books

Reverse Innovation: Create Far From Home, Win Everywhere explains the basics of reverse innovation and why it is on the rise, providing a survey of world emerging markets, and how to use reverse innovation basics to create innovations remotely. It's a pick for any business collection catering to business managers or leaders, using triumphs from some leading companies around the world to document the principles of reverse innovation and cases in which it does or does not work. Any who would understanding growing international ties and how reverse innovation works will find this a winning guide.

Project Management for Non-Project Managers
Jack Ferraro
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
9780814417362, $24.95, www.amacombooks.org

Project Management for Non-Project Managers offers a detailed survey of the functional manager's role in project successes and addresses the 'what' and 'why' of project management processes. From uncovering the real customer need and business use for a project to staying focused on deliverables and accepting project risks and setbacks, this is a fine key for non-project managers who find themselves at the helm of an important business venture. Case studies accompany step-by-step guidelines for success in a top recommendation for any who find themselves handling a project.

The Greater Goal
Ken Jennings and Heather Hyde
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650
San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781609942885, $16.95, www.berrettkoehler.com

THE GREATER GOAL: CONNECTING PURPOSE AND PERFORMANCE offers a survey of putting purpose into practice and comes from years of management consulting experiences that teach what it takes to connect purpose and performance. It's a business fable that provides a model to guide leaders through the entire process of engaging all throughout a business structure, and tells the story of Alex Beckley, a new company president who faces a challenge that demands different reactions. The business fable format makes for an easy collection of facts in a fine recommendation for any business library.

Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider's THIS IS SERVICE DESIGN THINKING: BASICS - TOOLS - CASES (9781118156308, $34.95) provides keys from over twenty authors from the global service design community and introduces the basics of service design thinking to beginners and students. Consultants, marketers and innovators offers a fine book describing an interdisciplinary approach to designing services. It covers over twenty service design tools and offers summaries of the disciplines involved, using case studies and walkthroughs of methods and design techniques. From applied service design to deep service design thinking, this is a top pick for any business looking to understand the service design profession. Jeanne Hopkins and Jamie Turner's GO MOBILE: LOCATION-BASED MARKETING, APPS, MOBILE OPTIMIZED AD CAMPAIGNS, 2D CODES, AND OTHER MOBILE STRATEGIES TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS (9781118167786, $24.95) is for any business or marketing collection interested in marketing to mobile devices. Corporations around the world are embracing mobile marketing as a new tool that can help them connect with customers, and GO MOBILE provides keys to setting up, launching and running a mobile marketing campaign. From using QR codes and SMS to mobile websites, this is a powerful set of approaches to making the most of mobile technology, and is a pick for any business marketing program interested in making the most of iphone and other mobile marketing devices to reach new customers. Julie Clow's THE WORK REVOLUTION: FREEDOM AND EXCELLENCE FOR ALL (9781118172056, $24.95) covers the rules we follow in our workforce, why they no longer work, and what the alternatives are. From rethinking the nature and process of the workplace to creating strategies for changing existing organizations and empowering teams for greater impact, this is a top recommendation for any business collection catering to managers with an eye on organizational change.

McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
NY, NY 10121-2298
www.mhprofessional.com

Mark W. Schaefer's RETURN ON INFLUENCE: THE REVOLUTIONARY POWER OF KLOUT, SOCIAL SCORING, AND INFLUENCE MARKETING (9780071791090, $25.00) comes from a world-recognized educator and business consultant whose blog, www.businessesGROW.com has become one of the AdAgew Top 100 blogs in the world. Here he discusses social media influence, how to improve a social score, why Klout offers unique new marketing opportunities to the savvy, and where to connect with the influential markets of social space with timely, relevant and entertaining content. It's essential to understand social media scoring, and RETURN ON INFLUENCE proves keys to making the most of this knowledge. Shirzad Chamine's POSITIVE INTELLIGENCE: WHY ONLY 20% OF TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL (9781608322787, $23.95) is a pick for any college-level business and economics collection and helps readers measure the percentage of time your mind is actually working in positive versus negative directions. PQ determines how much potential is actually achieved, and this teaches how one can assess and improve a PQ in as little as three weeks. Tools and techniques presented here have been refined over years of coaching hundreds of CEOs and their teams, and provides an excellent set of ideas for any who would understand and increase their potential! Leadership expert David Casullo's LEADING THE HIGH-ENERGY CULTURE (9780071781268, $25.00) links leadership to business strategy and comes from nearly thirty years of experience addressing the 'energy crisis' occurring in modern business. Leadership challenges have become magnified in importance with workforces reduced and leaders stressed, and this book offers insights on how some companies have excelled against all odds, through focusing energy and concentrating on economic value involved in employee engagement. Real-world scenarios pair with proven coaching methods in a fine survey.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Job Search Solution, second edition
Tony Beshara
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway
New York, NY 10019-7420
0814417997, $16.95, www.amacombooks.org

The second updated edition of The Job Search Solution: The Ultimate System for Finding a Great Job Now offers job seekers a system for finding a job and provides a step-by-step approach to taking control of all phases of the process. It provides a complete job search program, proven by over 100,000 successful outcomes in many fields, to help searchers uncover the true purpose of an interview, handle the emotional demands of a job search, and understanding what hiring managers think about social media and how to overcome common obstacles that affect a job search such as extended unemployment and age. A 'must' for any business or job search collection!


The Music Shelf

My Cross to Bear
Gregg Allman with Alan Light
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780062112033, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

MY CROSS TO BEAR offers the definitive story of a band member who for nearly fifty years has authored some of the most recognizable songs in American rock music. His autobiography brings to life the early days of the Allman Brothers Band and documents everything from family conflicts to meeting girls on the road and experimenting with drugs. Also included are insights on the music scene of the last decades, offering a fine insider's observation of its evolution and including a powerful discussion of the impact his brother's death had on him and the entire band. The result is a powerful survey, highly recommended for any rock music history holding.


The Travel Shelf

Brazil, third edition
Michael Sommers
Moon
1700 - 4th Street, Berkeley CA 94710
9781598808735, $21.99, www.moon.com

The third updated edition of the take-along independent traveler's tote BRAZIL comes from a long-term resident and travel expert who introduces the country's culture, cities and attractions. From the best time of year to visit to what to do when there, this covers everything from regional cuisines and etiquette to locating the best transportation, restaurants and hotels in the country. A two-week itinerary for tourists, listings of the best festivals and events in the country, a three-week trip plan designed to make the most of Brazil's unique offerings, and more makes this an outstanding take-along tote!

Amsterdam
Karla Zimmerman & Sarah Chandler
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741799033, $19.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

AMSTERDAM is packaged in a handy take-along tote and packs a pull-out map with comprehensive listings and descriptions of top sights. As such, it's a special recommendation for any budget-minded, independent traveler and for collections catering to them. Over three hundred eating and drinking spots are profiled, along with nearly a hundred good places to stay at all budget levels, 'must see' sights, and more. A top pick for any trying to plan an Amsterdam tour!


The Sports Shelf

Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.humankinetics.com

Hunter Allen and Stephen S. Cheung, PhD's CUTTING-EDGE CYCLING: ADVANCED TRAINING FOR ADVANCED CYCLISTS (0736091092, $19.95) comes from a renowned cycling coach and a scientist who share the latest biomechanical, physiological and technical research revolving around cycling, showing how to blend these new findings into a revised program for cycling endurance. From the latest information on lactate threshold and recovery to peddling techniques, this covers all aspects of conditioning for cycling competition and is a 'must' for any sports collection appealing to competition-level cyclists. DEVELOPING ENDURANCE (0736083278, $19.95) is edited by Ben Reuter and shows how to achieve optimal stamina to race your best through science-based aerobic and resistance training. It presents articles by 11 top experts in the National Strength and Coordinating Association and covers exercises, workouts, drills and programs that all lend to developing optimum endurance. Black and white photos blend with charts and other illustrations to cover the basics for any collection strong in sports training and endurance.

Extra Innings
Baseball Prospectus
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South
New York NY 10016
9780465024032, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com

EXTRA INNINGS: MORE BASEBALL BETWEEN THE NUMBERS FROM THE TEAM AT BASEBALL PROSPECTUS is edited by Steven Goldman and provides a fine sequel to the popular BASEBALL BETWEEN THE NUMBERS; WHY EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GAME IS WRONG. The authors used sabermetrics to examine all aspects of the game in their original book, and this one probes further, exploring the challenges of baseball and going beyond statistics to consider the decisions and actions that change games, teams, and individual players. Key statistical information on players accompany discussions on everything from steroids to measuring fielding and the effects of strikeouts in a fine exploration that should be in any baseball collection.

Swim
Lynn Sherr
Public Affairs Books
250 West 57th Street, #1321
New York, NY 10107
9781610390460, $25.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

SWIM: WHY WE LOVE THE WATER celebrates the history and culture of swimming, recounting the history of the strokes, the science of buoyancy, the history and evolution of world swimming efforts and competition, and more. Blended into the history of swimming is the author's own account of swimming challenges she took on during her research, blending her adventure with an overall discussion of the impact swimming has had on our lives and why humans swim for recreation as well as purpose. The result is a fine survey of swimming highly recommended for any general sports collection.

Make the Pool Your Gym
Dr. Karl Knopf
Ulysses Press
Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703
9781612430140, $14.95, www.ulyssespress.com

MAKE THE POOL YOUR GYM: NO-IMPACT WATER WORKOUTS FOR GETTING FIT, REBUILDING STRENGTH, AND REHABBING FROM INJURY provides a fine series of water exercises that have been proven to build strength and improve fitness - all without the trauma of land-based exercise efforts. It pairs photos with step-by-step instructions on how to create a workout best suited to needs, and covers warm-up and conditioning exercises alike.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Tai Chi Fa Jin
Mantak Chia and Andrew Jan
Destiny
c/o Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774287, $18.95, www.innertraditions.com

Tai Chi Fa Jin presents Fa Jin, an advanced Yang style of Tai Chi, and is a pick for any martial arts collection. It presents the teachings of various Taoist masters and discusses the yin and yang of Tai Chi, explaining Fa Jin techniques and how to apply them by resisting forces through redirection and yielding. The authors also apply breathing and stretching exercises designed to reinforce meditation energetic exercises, and provide a wealth of tips for linking Fa Jin practices to traditional better-known Tai Chi movements and approaches. Any martial arts collection strong in Tai Chi needs this!


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Lance of Earth and Sky
Erin Hoffman
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, New York 14228-2197
9781616146153, $17.95, www.pyrsf.com

LANCE OF EARTH AND SKY is Book Two of the 'Chaos Knight' series and provides a fine sequel to Sword of Fire and Sea, recommended especially for prior fans. After decades of peace war is erupting due to shifting technologies while Vidarian is called into battle by a desperate young emperor and must fight multiple battles on many levels. Politics and epic battle rage throughout the novel and make this a particularly satisfying pick for any military science fiction or fantasy holding.

Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St.
New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Patricia Briggs's FAIR GAME (9780441020034, $26.95) is Book Three of the Alpha & Omega series, recommended for any collection strong in urban fantasy and the prior releases of Patricia Briggs' exciting series, set in alternate Tri-Cities, Washington. In this world werewolves, vampires and others live among ordinary people and one Anna Latham and Charles Cornick return to the limelight in a scenario where Anna and Charles find themselves helping investigate a serial killer case where all of the victims were werewolves. Someone is targeting their kind in a dangerous game filled with captivating twists and turns of plot. Stephen Wallenfels' POD (9781937009430, $7.99) provides a griping account of the arrival of aliens whose spheres fill the skies and kill anyone under them. Survivors of the initial invasion remain indoors, cut off from all communications, and Josh is one of these: trapped at home with a father whose sanity is beginning to erode. Megs is also struggling for survival in a hotel parking garage. Both of them face an alien enemy ruthless and unknown - and both of them also will face impossible choices in their struggle for survival, documented in a gripping saga impossible to put down and recommended for any science fiction collection.

Chrysanthe
Yves Meynard
Tor Books
c/o Tor/Forge
175 - 5th Avenue
New York NY 10010
0765330261, $15.99, www.tor-forge.com

CHRYSANTHE provides a fine fantasy in a complex story of Christine, a princess in the world of Chrysanthe who is kidnapped as a small child by a magician and is exiled in a Made World akin to ours. Confused, she has few memories of her childhood and an imaginary friend that holds the key to her real identity - and as she matures she begins to question her past. Nearly an adult, a young man approaches her with a proposition - one which may return her to her magical home and bring a new war in the process. Courage, battles and wisdom mark a strong female protagonist and a fast-paced plot filled with exciting twists and turns, recommended for any fantasy collection.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Frazer Irving
Nathan Wilson and Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Dr.
Raleigh NC 27614
9781605490397, $15.95, www.twomorrows.com

MODERN MASTERS VOLUME TWENTY-SIX: FRAZER IRVING chronicles a fine artist best known for his work on DC Comics' titles Batman and Xombi. He also was the co-creator of the steampunk Gutsville, is a musician in the band Atom Heart Brothers, and here provides insights into his works and influences. Black and white images from his digital and artistic renderings accompany in-depth interviews covering the art he penciled for a range of plots and characters, making this a recommendation for any interested in comic book illustration and its evolution.

James Bond Omnibus Volume 003
Ian Fleming, James Lawrence, & Yaroslav Horak
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857685889, $19.95, www.titanbooks.com

James Bond Omnibus Volume 003 presents seven of Bond's dangerous missions and is the third installment in the classic 007 comic strip adventure, recommended for Bond and graphic novel fans alike. This gathers the first period of writer Jim Lawrence's stories and provides classic adventures, including Kingsley Amis' controversial post-Fleming story Colonel Sun. It's a powerful collection highly recommended for any fan of Bond's action-packed adventures.


The Biography Shelf

Hitler
A.N. Wilson
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South
New York NY 10016
9780465031283, $24.99, www.basicbooks.com

HITLER is a fine historical biography written by a biographer who has won prestigious awards for his works, and whose discussion of Hitler offers perspectives unseen elsewhere. It reassesses the reason for Hitler's sudden rise to power and blends psychological insights with political and social analysis to provide a well-rounded survey asserting Hitler is a mystery with different sides to his nature. Chapters provide a thorough consideration of his childhood to his adulthood, using primary documents from the times paired with his own analysis, making for a powerful survey unparalleled in scope and depth, and recommended for any World War II, biography or world history holding.

Dropped Names
Frank langella
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St.
New York NY 10022-5299
9780062094476, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

DROPPED NAMES; FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN AS I KNEW THEM offers a unique memoir of the author's encounters with famous personalities ranging from movie stars and presidents to members of the social upper crust, and offers a fine account from a professional actor who has encountered these personalities over a period of five decades. It's a special pick for any interested in social and literary figureheads, offering an account of many different encounters with the rich and famous and adding the backdrop of Frank Langella's personal growth from age fifteen to modern times. The lively writing and outstanding presentation make this a pick for general-interest collections.

Triggered
Fletcher Worthmann
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010-7848
9780312622107, $24.99, www.thomasdunnebooks.com

TRIGGERED: A MEMOIR OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER offers insights into the author's struggles with mental illness and considers his cultural involvements, struggles with religious terror and unhelpful psychologists, and the eventual diagnosis of OCD that was to help him cope. His insights into OCD and religion, sex, culture, and struggles with everyday life makes for a powerful choice for any general lending library's health or autobiography section, offering insights into the process of OCD thinking that are rarely available elsewhere.

Bay and Her Boys
Bay Buchanan
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
44 Farnsworth St., 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780738215136, $25.00, www.dacapopress.com

BAY AND HER BOYS: UNEXPECTED LESSONS I LEARNED AS A (SINGLE) MOM tells of a devastating divorce during which the pregnant Bay becomes a working mother caring for three boys alone. Her parenting successes and mistakes alike are shared along with the eight tried-and-tested rules of parenting which can serve as a guide to all mothers. Bay's autobiography is packed with striking moments and discussions of family values, a mother's role, and how mothers can have family and career options alike, with a little support. It's a recommendation for autobiography and parenting collections alike.


The Social Issues Shelf

Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com

Melvin I. Urofsky's SUPREME DECISIONS: GREAT CONSTITUTIONAL CASES AND THEIR IMPACT (9780813347356, $28.00) gathers stories of major Supreme Court cases and their impact on American constitutional law, and provides a fine key documenting critical moments in the American social and legal system. Over 200 years of Supreme Court decisions are covered in a fine collection of cases documenting political, social and cultural changes throughout the country. What makes this a great pick is its discriminating choice of the top cases which made a lasting impact on American society and culture. Any legal or social issues collection at the college level will find this a worthy addition! Angela Hattery and Earl Smith's THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE (9780813344638, $55.00) provides a fine exploration of family violence and considers the cultural, social and institutional causes of such violence. From child abuse to partner violence and elder abuse, this offers college-level students a basic course on how social inequality contributes to violent family settings, teaching students about preventative measures and social policy alike. Coverage of same-sex and multicultural couples are included, along with theory and methods. SOCIAL PROBLEMS by Sara Towe Horsfall (9780813345079, $37.00) offers college-level collections a fine consideration of social problems and how advocacy groups work towards solutions to them. From a history of social problems and how they are handled to explaining what social problems are and the roles of advocate groups, this identifies issues, offers insights on traditional and alternative problem-solving methods, and discusses potential solutions to these problems. A fine guide for any college-level sociology course.

Being Global
Angel Cabrera and Gregory Unruh
Harvard Business Review Press
c/o Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422183229, $30.00, www.hbr.org/books

BEING GLOBAL: HOW TO THINK, ACT, AND LEAD IN A TRANSFORMED WORLD discusses what it takes to lead a global business, and is a key acquisition not just for college-level business libraries, but for those strong in social issues and global economics and politics as well. It draws on the author's extensive experience and research they conducted at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and offers a new definition of global leadership and the challenges of staying successful in an international arena. BEING GLOBAL is written for all kinds of business leaders and deserves a place in social science and business collections alike.

Funding the Enemy
Douglas A. Wissing
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616146030, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

FUNDING THE ENEMY: HOW US TAXPAYERS BANKROLL THE TALIBAN offers a fine social and political narrative based on the author's research and fieldwork in Afghanistan's war zones, and uses the voices of hundreds of combat soldiers, ordinary Afghans, private contractors and more to detail how U.S. taxpayer dollars have been flowing into the Taliban's banks due to mismanaged US development and counterinsurgency programs. This is the first book to chronicle the dangerous actions of American policymakers and Afghan politicians and the Taliban, and is a 'must' for any who would understand the effects of policies overseas.

American Sheikhs
Brian VanDeMark
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616144760, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

AMERICAN SHEIKHS: TWO FAMILIES, FOUR GENERATIONS, AND THE STORY OF AMERICA'S INFLUENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST deserves ongoing recommendation as a fine story of two families who built a great institution in the Middle East and fostered it for almost 150 years. What they built was the American University of Beirut and what began as a small missionary school grew to become the most influential college in the Middle East. This is a powerful account of its history and tells how two families both succeeded and failed in their attempts to influence the Middle East. Any collection strong in Middle East history needs this!

Merchants of Despair
Robert Zubrin
New Atlantis Books
c/o Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601
New York NY 10003-1239
9781594034763, $25.95, www.encounterbooks.com

MERCHANTS OF DESPAIR: RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS, CRIMINAL PSEUDO-SCIENTISTS, AND THE FATAL CULT OF ANTIHUMANISM is a pick for college-level political science and human rights collections alike, and trades the propaganda promoting the idea that human begins are a cancer on the planet, endangering the world with its destructive actions. It traces the history of the idea, its dangerous consequences, and the chief proponents of antihumanism over the last two centuries, pairing history with social and political policy arguments to scientifically refute the movement's pseudo-scientific claims. A fine survey for any political and social issues holding.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The New Depression
Richard Duncan
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118157794, $29.95, www.wiley.com

THE NEW DEPRESSION: THE BREAKDOWN OF THE PAPER MONEY ECONOMY provides an analytical framework that explains all aspects of the current global economic crisis, explaining all aspects of the crisis, government responses, and what is likely to happen next. Chapters consider the evolution of the world economic system, the rise of credit growth, and why overall creditworthiness at both the governmental and private levels is eroding, with discussion of how a potential new depression exists. Chapters go beyond charting the problems to consider what must be done to prevent them. Highly recommended for any economics collection.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Book Formatting for Self-Publishers
Jeannette Green
Diamond Press
3400 Pegasus Drive, Box 80043
Bakersfield, CA 93380
www.diamondpresspublishing.com
9780984404476, $19.97 print, $9.97 ebook

Book Formatting for Self-Publishers is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in self-publishing techniques. It comes from an author who professionally prepares clients' books and ebook files for publication and shares her techniques of professionally publishing a book in either print or ebook formats. The directions are presented in an easy step-by-step coverage that anyone can readily absorb, with illustrations making the entire process even simpler. From using Microsoft Word to format to using it to create ebooks for Kindle, NOOK and Smashwords, this is a 'must' for any aspiring self-publisher and for collections catering to them.


The Technology Shelf

Making Things See
Greg Borenstein
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449307073, $39.99, www.oreilly.com

MAKING THINGS SEE: LEARN BY DISCOVERY provides a detailed, hands-on guide to building applications using Microsoft's Kinect, the motion-sensing device that enables computers to see. While this could have been featured in our 'Computer Shelf' section, it's reviewed here for its fine applications for engineers interested in robotics, offering a basic instruction for using software to create fun 3D interactions, using 3D scanning for custom fabrication projects, and more. A range of projects can be made using inexpensive off-the-shelf components in a title packed with fun projects and tools for making and understanding models using basic design and fabrication techniques and Kinect.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Jewish Gospels
Daniel Boyarin
New Press
38 Greene St., 4th Floor
New York NY 10013
9781595584687, $21.95, www.thenewpress.com

THE JEWISH GOSPELS; THE STORY OF THE JEWISH CHRIST provides a fine survey considering the boundaries between Judaism and Christianity, and comes from a scholar who challenges our modern understanding of Jesus and Judaism. It presents a new image of a Jewish Christ who kept kosher and defended the Torah, and provides a fine new framework for considering Jesus and his relationship to both Christianity and Judaism, using various texts to consider early ideas about Jesus and Judaism.


The International Studies Shelf

Cultivating the Colonies
Christina Folke Ax, et.al., Editors
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, the Ridges, 1 Ohio University
Athens OH 45701
9780896802827, $29.95, www.ohioswallow.com

Cultivating the Colonies: Colonial States and Their Environmental Legacies gathers college-level essays examining the relationship between colonial power and nature, and exploring how colonial governments cultivated ideas about nature and native peoples, then put them into action through policies in the course of building an empire. Eleven essays cover different colonial governments of the world and discuss different policies and practices, from animal husbandry in the Philippines to indigenous medicine in India. The focus on the impact of colonial ideas on local nature and culture makes for a powerful survey of the evolving colonial world, and a pick for any history or world social issues holding.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

A Dog Is a Dog
Clarice Rutherford
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Road, Crawford, CO 81415
1577791037, $14.95, www.alpinepub.com

A Dog Is a Dog, And That's Why He's So Special is a fine choice for ages 10-14 and packs in over a hundred color photos and illustrations to accompany a fine survey of man's best friend. Middle school kids receive a blend of science facts and insights into why a dog acts like a dog, how to communicate with and understand them, how to approach a dog safely, and how to train and handle a dog. Color photos add emphasis on understanding the dog in a recommendation for parents and libraries strong in pet references.

Fishes
Gene Helfman and Bruce Collette
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218
9781421402239, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

FISHES: THE ANIMAL ANSWER GUIDE packs in over 100 photos and the latest facts on the world's fishes and provides a powerful survey for anglers and lay naturalists alike. It's a wide-ranging natural history that provides a basic survey of fish ecology, interactions, and science. From oddities that defy science in the fish world to fun facts, this is a highly accessible, inviting guide recommended for any general lending library where natural history is of interest to lay readers.


The Gardening Shelf

Garden Wisdom
Jerry Apps
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9780870204944, $26.95, www.wisconsinhistory.org

GARDEN WISDOM: LESSONS LEARNED FROM 60 YEARS OF GARDENING provides a fine survey pairing photos by Steve Apps, recipes by Ruth Apps, and the garden wisdom of Jerry Apps for a complete and fine guide to the entire gardening process. It comes from a rural historian who discusses the basics of harvesting and cultivating produce, and offers a crop-by-crop, season-by-season saga blending folklore, science, and his own extensive gardening savvy into a lively, colorful survey perfect for any home gardener who wants accessible reading.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Programming Your Home
Mike Riley
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325
Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356906, $33.00, www.pragprog.com

PROGRAMMING YOUR HOME: AUTOMATE WITH ARDUINO, ANDROID, AND YOUR COMPUTER is edited by Jacquelyn Carter and provides an outstanding survey teaching how to use a smartphone and programming to streamline home lighting, security systems, temperatures, and more. It shows how to use a combination of Android phones, Arduinos and X10 controllers to perform a range of home functions and is written for smartphone developers and any who enjoy building electronic projects. PROGRAMMING YOUR HOME could have been featured in our Computer Shelf section, but is reviewed here for its wider interest to homeowners.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design