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

California Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 1 January 2013 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Technology Shelf Fashion Shelf
Art Shelf Crafts Shelf American History Shelf
Computer Shelf Science Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Psychology Shelf Business Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Travel Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Education Shelf Biography Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Language Studies Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Sports Shelf Gaming Shelf
Military Shelf Cookbook Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Music Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Gardening Shelf Woodworking Shelf Homeowner Shelf
Photography Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Native American Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
International Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Automotive Shelf
Humor Shelf California Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Book of Blacksmithing
Michael Cardiff
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781610045773, $16.00, www.paladin-press.com

Any who would learn blacksmithing or understand what basic skills are needed to set up shop will want to consult this manual, which comes from a veteran blacksmith who teaches how to set up a basic shop, gather tools, work with different metals, and more. Some 15 simple projects include making tools for such a workshop and home items - and teaches the basics of mastering these tools and techniques. Black and white diagrams throughout make this a winning reference especially recommended for rural and 'how-to' collections.

Unlearn, Rewild
Miles Olson
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717213, $15.95, www.newsociety.com

Unlearn, Rewild is packed with nature and outdoor skills and blends meditation with a hard-core survival guide perfect for any who want philosophy tempered by practical skills. From feral food preservation and natural methods of birth control to tanning animal skins and understanding biologically sustainable lifestyle choices, this is an excellent alternative to most survivalist skills guides and is highly recommended for any reference shelf strong in nature skills and interactions with the wild.

The Pearl Book, fourth edition
Antoinette Marlins, PG
Gemstone Press
Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780943763545, $19.99, www.gemstonepress.com

THE PEARL BOOK: THE DEFINITIVE BUYING GUIDE covers all the basics of how to select, buy and care for pearls, and appears in a fourth updated, expanded edition for any interested in selecting or caring for a pearl collection. It's practical and lends to both quick browsing reference and thorough reading, offering answers to common questions about pearls and offering expert opinions on pearls and pearl care. A 'must' for any consumer reference or jewelry reference collection.

Water and Wastewater Treatment, second edition
Joanne E. Drinan and Frank R. Spellman
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439854006, $67.75, www.crcpress.com

The second updated edition of Water and Wastewater Treatment is a pick for any environmental engineering reference holding and provides a fine nonmathematical account of the unit processed used to treat drinking and waste water. It's been completely revised and expanded to add new material on technological advances, regulations, and the latest issues facing the function and equipment used in wastewater and water management. It's a fine, specific overview recommended for any student involved in water management and environmental issues.

31 Days to Survival
M.D. Creekmore
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781610046480, $18.00, www.paladin-press.com

31 Days to Survival: A Complete Plan for Emergency Preparedness discusses short- and long-term disaster planning and provides a daily, step-by-step approach to advance planning. From accumulating the right firearms for defense to making a homemade water filter, gathering seeds for a survival garden, and assembling accessible emergency kits, this is packed with clear instructions and is a fine pick for any disaster planner and any general-interest collection.

Amy Signs
Rebecca Willman Geron and Amy Willman
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563685378, $29.95, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu

AMY SIGNS: A MOTHER, HER DEAF DAUGHTER, AND THEIR STORIES provides an account unique in the literature of the deaf community: an account of a hearing mother and a deaf daughter who provide their different perspectives on Amy's childhood and education. Rebecca was anguished to learn of her 11-month-old baby's deafness in 1969: her account charts struggles to find the right educational opportunities for Amy. Amy's story reveals her life at a boarding school, her world of deaf friends living away form home, and her introduction to the world of sign. A fine account evolves with two different perspectives revealed.

The Burning Island
Pamela Frierson
Trinity University Press
One Trinity Place
San Antonio, Texas 78212
9781595341358, $16.95, www.tupress.org

THE BURNING ISLAND: MYTH AND HISTORY IN VOLCANO COUNTRY, HAWAII is hard to easily peg: charts the author's experiences and adventures at volcanoes in Hawaii, provides science and mythological insights as well as history, and also provides a basic introduction to how volcanoes work and threatened rainforest ecosystems. Add in explorations of indigenous cultures and various insights on Hawaiian perceptions from different angles ("I began to think that I could see beneath the Western portrait of the generic Hawaiian: the Hawai'i Visitors' Bureau Hawaiian (lazy, affable dweller in Eden); the anthropological Hawaiian (poetic but primitive worshipper of dark gods of human sacrifice); the sociological Hawaiian (poorly acculturated).") and you have an outstanding multi-faceted survey.


The Technology Shelf

Encyclopedia of Electronic Components V. 1
Charles Platt
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449333898, $24.99, www.oreilly.com

Encyclopedia of Electronic Components V. 1: Power Sources & Conversion is a pick for any electronics reference, science or crafter's holding and teaches the basics of how to use an electronic component. It's the first in a projected three-volume set that includes details on electronic parts for projects, and packs in schematics, photos and diagrams in a survey easy for hobbyists to quickly browse. Color photos and diagrams throughout accompany discussions of applications and specs for resistors, inductors, switches, relays and much more.

Robotic Navigation and Mapping with Radar
Martin Adams, et.al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608074822, $169.00, www.artechhouse.com

Robotic Navigation and Mapping with Radar focuses on autonomous robotic applications and demonstrates radar models and detection algorithms specifically for robotic land vehicles. Grid-based robotic mapping and radar-based measurement estimation pack a coverage of autonomous robotic research which goes into great depth and detail in its technical discussions, including formulas, perspectives on usage, and much more. Highly recommended for any robotics collection or engineering holding, this is the technical survey every engineer needs.

Artech House
685 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com

Andrea De Martino's INTRODUCTION TO MODERN EW SYSTEMS (9781608072071, $159.00) is a top recommendation for engineering reference collections and teaches engineers the latest electronic warfare techniques and technologies for on-board military platforms. From design guidance and detecting emitter threats to handling guided weaponry and EW systems, this covers both basic and advanced principles of operation and their math, offering details on how to provide connectivity and enhance modern communications data links. Any engineer working with modern EW systems will find this a winning survey! Kandeepan Sithamparanathan's COGNITIVE RADIOS TECHNIQUES: SPECTRUM SENSING, INTERFACE MITIGATION AND LOCALIZATION (9781608072033, $139.00) tells of a form of wireless communication in which a transceiver can intelligently detect which communication channels are in use and move into vacant ones. It considers critical areas of such technology that haven't received in-depth coverage in other literature, and offers basic foundation knowledge, common problems and solutions, enabler issues, and algorithms for engineers in the field, making this a top reference for any radio engineering library.


The Fashion Shelf

The King of Style
Michael Bush
Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
9781608871513, $45.00, www.insighteditions.com

One might think the book THE KING OF STYLE: DRESSING MICHAEL JACKSON should have been featured in our Music Shelf section; but actually it's more appropriate for 'The Fashion Shelf', with its powerful focus on fashion and the evolution of rock musician Jackson's unique style. Chapters provide the first artistic examination of the costumes, shoes and accessories worn by Jackson, who set fashion trends around the world. Hundreds of full-page color photos in an oversize presentation illustrate the striking fashions he wore: many of the pictures from private holdings have never appeared in print before. From special clothing effects to developing a line of Jackson originals, this is an in-depth survey, not just a photo shoot, and belongs in any serious fashion holding as well as music collections where Jackson is popular.

Lessons from Madame Chic
Jennifer L. Scott
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451699371, $23.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris teaches readers how to thrive and comes from a style expert and blogger who reveals lifestyle secrets that guide the French. Each chapter is based on a lesson Scott learned while living abroad and studying in Paris, and blends vignettes and fun encounters with philosophies and lessons that helped her evolve a sense of style and aesthetics. LESSONS FROM MADAME CHIC is a fine pick for any interested in women's fashion, style, and how the French have recreated style lessons.

Remake It: Clothes
Henrietta Thompson
Thames & Hudson Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500516324, $29.95, www.thameandhudsonusa.com

Remake It: Clothes packs in some five hundred illustrations in color and black and white and offers an encyclopedia of tips on projects to create new clothes from old, and accessories from found materials. The history and concept of clothing recycling in the fashion world is followed by tips on locating vintage clothing, storing and caring for it, and modifying it, with chapters include notes on global fashion trends and changing renovation practices. What results is a powerful survey recommended for any interested in fashion and clothing redesign.


The Art Shelf

Sign Painters
Faythe Levine & Sam Macon
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
9781616890834, $24.95, www.papress.com

SIGN PAINTERS charts the history, rise and fall of sign painters and tells of how as recently as the 1980s storefronts, murals, banners, billboards and even street signs were hand-lettered. The advent of the computer and die-cut vinyl lettering changed all that, and only now are traditional sign painters seeing a resurgence of interest in their art. In 2010 the filmmaker authors began documenting these artists: SIGN PAINTERS is the result, and is the first anecdotal history offering stories and photos of over two dozen such painters across the country. Arts collections will find this a winning survey!

Creative Illustration
Andrew Loomis
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781845769284, $39.95, www.titanbooks.com

CREATIVE ILLUSTRATION comes from a renowned illustrator whose two previous volumes on pencil and figure drawing have become best-sellers: this latest book continues his teaching technique and shows how to move from making a figure to telling a complete story or selling a product. This covers all the basics of illustration in a step-by-step format so that students can begin to think of the overall goal and impact rather than just putting together a singular figure or composition. Full-page black and white drawing examples in this oversized presentation accompany specifics on drawing approaches, conducting experiments, applying studies and principles of illustration, and developing tests and ideas. The result is a powerful collection of images highly recommended for any illustration library, and unparalleled in its depth and applications.

The Pop-Up Generation Design Between Dimensions
Lidewji Edelkoort
Moti
c/o BIS Publishers
Het Sieraad, Postjesweg 1
1057 DT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
9789063692827, $32.00, www.bispublishers.nl

The Pop-Up Generation Design Between Dimensions documents the works of young designers moving between the worlds of 2D and 3D, providing a catalog of eye-catching designs that 'pop', from photos to sketches and more. The selected projects here are mobile and flexible: they move between virtual and physical worlds, they provide transient and thought-provoking images, and they are packed with color and intriguing insights. Accompanying text surveys the art and approaches of this 'pop-up generation' and considers their artistic and design approaches. Highly recommended for any modern arts holding!

Joseph Cornell's Manual of Marvels
Dickran Tashjian and Analisa Leppanen-Guerra, editors
Thames and Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500516492, $80.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Joseph Cornell's Manual of Marvels may not be suitable for active library lending as such - it pairs a hardcover facsimile journal complete with cutouts and tip-ins with paperback book of essays on Joseph Cornell and an interactive CD - but is still a top pick for any arts collection or enthusiast. Cornell loved to roam used bookstalls of lower Manhattan sorting through ephemera in search of inspiration: his discovery of an old journey of advice for farmers sparked his efforts to reinvent the production with collages, photomontages, and drawings. His Journal was discovered after his death in 1972 and resides in a museum, fragile and largely untouched: this recreates some sixty of the pages in a facsimile with all kinds of handmade, specialty details and will prove an exquisite acquisition for any art enthusiast.

Eliot Porter: In the Realm of Nature
Paul Martineau
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
9781606061190, $39.95, www.gettypublications.org

Eliot Porter: In the Realm of Nature gathers key works from the American photographer's six-decade career from the 1930s to the 1980s and provides lovely photos taken in color during a time when most photographers were focused on black and white. Images were taken in the Southwest, New England, and in Iceland and are from the Amon carter Museum of American Art, a private collection, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. The collection also includes his lesser-known early black and white photos as well, offering a fine catalog of all of his achievements. Any arts holding devoted to American photography should consider this catalog a key acquisition.


The Crafts Shelf

Bead Soup
Lori Anderson
Kalmbach Books
c/o Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164421, $19.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Over thirty new projects from top designers make for a fine collection in BEAD SOUP: 32 PROJECTS SHOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 26 BEADERS SWAP THEIR STASH. Color photos accompany 'recipes' for projects ranging from tassel necklaces to African-themed bead projects, with each 'recipe' couched in culinary terms for a whimsical touch. The result is a lovely collection of projects based on interconnected beading approaches, perfect for beaders looking for something different.

The Unofficial Lego Builder's Guide, second edition
Allan Bedford
No Starch Press
38 Ringold St.
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593274412, $24.95, www.nostarch.com

The second updated edition of The Unofficial Lego Builder's Guide is a recommendation for LEGO fans of all ages and explains the basic building practices that underlie any model. It's a lively tone that provides visual embellishments to teaching the basics of a LEGO project, teaching how to construct models that won't fall apart, how to build to different scales, and how to create playable board games as well as photo mosaics and models. The full color and lively tone assures this is a winner!

A Bounty of Bead & Wire Bracelets
Nathalie Mornu
Lark Crafts
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
9781454704072, $19.95, www.larkcrafts.com

A Bounty of Bead & Wire Bracelets: 50 Fun, Fast Jewelry Projects gathers projects from over thirty leading jewelers and pairs close-up color photos with projects that produce polished professional results. It's packed with insights on how to handle wire and tools needed to produce bracelets, and offers step-by-step instructions and materials lists to round out the information. Any jewelry making collection will find this an appealing, inspirational collection.

Geek Mom
Natania Barron, et.al.
Potter Craft
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780823085927, $19.99, www.pottercraft.com

GEEK MOM: PROJECTS, TIPS, AND ADVENTURES FOR MOMS AND THEIR 21ST-CENTURY FAMILIES is for any mother who wants to develop some basic tech skills to keep their kids entertained. Included here are projects and imaginative ideas for all ages and budgets from putting together a hobbit feast to home lava lamp chemistry and creation and putting together a Blob Habitat. Host a Star Party, learn about apps suitable for preschoolers, and use the Wii to encourage fitness with this fine, fun guide for any mother looking to interact with her child.


The American History Shelf

Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard
William Kerrigan
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
142407299, $25.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard provides an outstanding history surveying the character and achievements of Johnny Appleseed Chapman, a frontier hero whose apple trees sparked an agricultural revolution in this country. Chapman planted trees from seed rather than grafting - and his practices ultimately were attacked by agricultural reformers who promoted commercial fruit stock. This coverage provides a satisfying blend of frontier history, agricultural and business insights, and American history and is a powerful pick for a range of holdings, from those strong in agricultural or American history to home and garden collections.


The Computer Shelf

Juniper MX Series
Douglas Richard Hanks Jr. & Harry Reynolds
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449379717, $69.99, www.oreilly.com

Juniper MX Series is a pick for any computer collection strong on networking, and provides a fine key to understanding and applying all of the Juniper MX Series features. This provides step-by-step documentation on how to implement high-density, high-speed Layer 2 and 3, with each chapter covering a specific Juniper MX feature in depth and including review questions to test knowledge. From installing network services to creating a firewall filter, this is packed with advanced applications and is a pick for any networking collection!

Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, sixth edition
Rogers Cadenhead
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780672335747, $44.99, www.informit.com/sams

The sixth updated edition of Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days includes coverage of the latest Java 7 and Android variations, and is presented in a guide that requires no previous programming experience or familiarity with Java basics. It's a self-paced sequential lesson plan in a book, offering users the ability to acquire the skills needed to develop apps for both computers and android phones and tablets - all in just 21 days. From practical examples and real-world case histories and tips to the latest features and how they work, this is a 'must' for any serious about self-learning Java.

Practical Object-Oriented Design in Ruby
Sandi Metz
Addison-Wesley
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321721334, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Practical Object-Oriented Design in Ruby: An Agile Primer provides a fine programming guide for those looking to write better code for Ruby applications, and is a recommendation for any collection strong in Ruby approaches. Sandi Metz offers a clear set of Ruby practices for making pleasing code, showing how to build new applications from existing ones and how to produce superior outcomes by using basic principles to Ruby that apply across the board. The result's a powerful pick any Ruby programmer MUST have!

PHP & MYSQL Novice to Ninja, fifth edition
Kevin Yank
Sitepoint
PO Box 1115
Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
9780987153081, $39.95, www.sitepoint.com

PHP & MYSQL Novice to Ninja offers an updated fifth edition that includes source code available for download as it tells how to use PHP to build a content management system using entirely free software. From understanding the basics of coding and PHP-specific syntax to considering the basics of object-oriented programming, this is a winning guide which has been entirely updated for Windows 7, Mac OS X Lion, and the latest versions of PHO, MySQL and HTML5.

Raspberry PI User Guide
Eben Upton and Gareth Halfacree
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118464465, $19.99, www.wiley.com

Raspberry PI User Guide is a basic primer for any who wish to get started with Raspberry Pi computing and programming, and offers a fine way for kids and adults alike to learn the fundamentals of computer programming. The raspberry Pi evolved into a credit-card-size computer that can be used for HD videos and hacking alike: this primer tells how to connect it to keyboard, mouse, monitor and more, how to install software, and how to configure Raspberry Pi for maximum advantage. Any interested in the Raspberry Pi's performance will find this a winning guide!

Managing the Unmanageable
Mickey W. Mantle and Ron Lichty
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321822031, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Managing the Unmanageable: Rules, Tools, and Insights for Managing Software People and Teams provides an outstanding guide on how to make programmers and software teams manageable, and shows how to hire, motivate, and lead a team to develop great products. The authors have some seventy combined years in software development and management, and provide specifics, not generalities. This means theory is tagged to real-world examples and keys to managing all sizes of programming teams. Business managers and software team leaders alike will find this a key acquisition!

Practical Vim
Drew Neil
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325
Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356982, $29.00, www.pragprog.com

Vim is a text editor that holds many keys to making for a faster, more efficient developer, and PRACTICAL VIM packs in over a hundred Vim tips for learning the editor's core functionality and applying them to editing and writing tasks. Learn to apply Vim techniques to repetitive changes using the Dot Formula or discover how to build complex patterns based on search history: chapters cover commands, repeating changes on contiguous lines, alphabetizing properties of rules in a file, and more, and pack in plenty of supportive real-world examples.

Web Designer's Guide to Wordpress
Jesse Friedman
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321832818, $39.99, www.newriders.com

Web Designer's Guide to WordPress teaches the basics of how to plan, build and launch a WordPress application and pairs real-world examples with step-by-step tutorials and discussions on how to use WordPress plug-ins and how to develop basic through advanced themes. From basic installation to handling the many resources available to WordPress users, this includes highlighted bars of best practices, some color photos, and many screen shot examples and charts, making for an outstanding survey for any WordPress user, whether bare-bones beginner or those with some skills mastered and others yet to build.

A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming
Mark G. Sobell
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780133085044, $49.99, www.informit.com/ph

A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming packs in a virtual bible of command references in a 'must have' for any serious Linux programmer and collections catering to them. From an introduction to Python's possibilities for system administrators to automating remote backups using rsync and customizing the shell, this packs its extensive command reference section with coverage of some 98 utilities and detailed instructions for running and updating Linux systems. The in-depth directions make this a real winner!

Securing Cisco IP Telephony Networks
Akhil Behl, CCIE
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9781587142956, $69.99, www.ciscopress.com

Securing Cisco IP Telephony Networks is a pick for any professional networker's collection and covers, in depth, how hackers target IP telephony networks. This discussion offers complete detailed coverage of Cisco IP Telephony encryption and protocols for protecting networks against attack. Chapters appeal to technical professionals and IT decision-makers with Cisco IP telephony networks, and provide reviews of key applications and network security examples, making it a 'must have' reference for any active Cisco development environment.

Windows Phone 7 Development Internals
Andrew Whitechapel
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9780735663251, $59.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

Windows Phone 7 Development Internals covers Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 7.5, and offers developers a range of applications and design architecture perfect for tweaking application models and customizing applications. From using media services APIs for video streaming to blending Silverlight and Javascript into standard choices for setup, this offers code, best practices, and formulas for success. Black and white screen shots also pepper the title and illustrate successful results. Any developer's technical library will benefit from adding this Windows Phone-specific guide!

Master Your Mac
Matt Cone
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593274061, $29.95, www.nostarch.com

MASTER YOUR MAC: SIMPLE WAYS TO TWEAK, CUSTOMIZE, AND SECURE OS X teaches the basics of tweaking Mac's system to enable undocumented features, repair disk permissions for better performance, automate tasks with Apple Script, and more. From turning a Mac into a Web server to securing a Mac with better passwords and firewalls, this teaches the basics of customizing a Mac and is a recommended pick for any computer collection where users are interested in advanced tweaking opportunities.

Murach's SQL Server 2012 for Developers
Bryan Syverson and Joel Murach
Mike Murach & Associates
9781890774691, $54.50, www.murach.com

Murach's SQL Server 2012 for Developers teaches the basics of mastering the SQL statements and designing databases, and is a top pick for developers working with SQL Server 2012. From creating initial queries and using DBMS features to developing skills advanced professional developers use, this covers the basics of how to query a database and adds in design elements developers can learn from and build on. The progressive study makes for a fine guide that should be in the toolbox of any SQL developer who wants a 'bible' reference packed with real-world examples and a step-by-step foundation for building skills.

Well-Grounded Java Developer
Benjamin Evans and Martijn Verburg
Manning Publications Co.
20 Baldwin Road, Shelter Island, NY 11963
9781617290060, $49.99, www.manning.com

Well-Grounded Java Developer covers techniques of Java 7 and polyglot programming and is a top reference for any developer's collection strong in Java. It offers a fresh look at new Java 7 features, languages, and supporting technologies and begins with a coverage of these features and their applications. Examples come from real-world developer and show how to translate these new features into solid results, profiling dozens of best practice case histories and the process of integrating the Java routines into new programming objectives. From new approaches to testing to differences that represent potential problem spots, this is filled with specifics and is recommended for prior Java programmers with no familiarity with the latest Java 7.

Programming Interviews Exposed, third edition
John Mongan, et.al.
Wrok
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118261361, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job appears in its third updated edition to teach the basics of getting interview skills needed to land a programming job. Programming interviews aren't your usual job focus: they require different skills from applicants. This completely revised, expanded third edition covers those skills and teaches them, linking a programmer's expertise and approach to solving problems. Sample interview questions accompany keys to understanding the interview process specific to programmers, and makes for a fine survey that includes real interview questions and how to solve problems using code. New chapters on sorting and design patterns and new secure programming practices make this a key acquisition for any collection appealing to programmers.


The Science Shelf

The Fractalist
Benoit B. Mandelbrot
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780307377357, $30.00, www.pantheonbooks.com

THE FRACTALIST; MEMOIR OF A SCIENTIFIC MAVERICK provides a powerful memoir by a man who revitalized visual geometry, author Benoit Mandelbrot, who created fractal geometry, and follows the high points of his life and his evolution from his birth in Warsaw in 1924 to a Lithuanian Jewish family to his evolution as a mathematician. While escaping the Nazi occupation of World War II he continued his studies in geometry and dreamed of using it to apply to real-world situations: THE FRACTALIST perfectly captures his experiences, education, and how they applied to his evolution as a noted mathematician, and is recommended for any collection strong in mathematics.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

I, Lobster: A Crustacean Odyssey
Nancy Frazier
University Press of New England
1 Court Street, Suite 250
Lebanon, NH 03766-1358
9781584659624, $24.95, www.upne.com

I, Lobster: A Crustacean Odyssey is a fine survey of lobsters, and will appeal to a wide range of collections, from culinary holdings to natural history libraries. It considers the evolution of the lobster, its natural history, and its place in human history and affairs, covering the myth, art, literature, history and cuisine of the lobster and offering a close inspection of its surroundings and life. Lobster fans will find this a top pick!

The Divinity of Dogs
Jennifer Skiff
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451621570, $24.00, www.simonandschuster.com

THE DIVINITY OF DOGS: TRUE STORIES OF MIRACLES INSPIRED BY MAN'S BEST FRIEND will appeal to spirituality collections but is reviewed here for its wider-ranging appeal to general-interest readers who enjoy pet stories. It packs in over seventy inspirational stories culled from hundreds of submissions to the author's website, and considers how dogs have shown love, compassion, loyalty and comfort. From a Chihuahua who helped diagnose breast cancer in her owner to a dog who kept her owner from committing suicide, this moving and inspirational collection offers light and enjoyable reading suitable for any general lending library.

Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery
Alasdair Hotston Moore and Rosa Angela Ragni, Editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9781405190015, $89.99, www.wiley.com

Clinical Manual of Small Animal Endosurgery provides a practical, comprehensive guide to rigid endoscopy and endosurgery in small animal practices, is packed with illustrations, and covers pre-operative through post-operative care. With it, vets can develop and improve their endoscopic techniques in clinical practice and will find this provides specific guidance on the procedures that include not only techniques, but possible complications. Color clinical photos accompany articles written by experts in the field, making this a top reference for veterinary and vet student libraries alike.

Another Insane Devotion
Peter Trachtenberg
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738215266, $24.00, www.dacapopress.com

ANOTHER INSANE DEVOTION: ON THE LOVE OF CATS AND PERSONS provides a fine memoir by a husband and cat owner and tells of a marriage falling apart and a beloved cat who vanishes from home. Peter takes over the search for his lost cat, in the process re-examining his concepts of love, commitment, and more and explaining how the love of family and pets changes lives. His writing is powerful and evocative: "...I look at her the way you look at a house you are thinking of moving out of. It's gotten too small for you. It needs a new furnace; the floor slants. Why do you stay? But how can you ever leave?" This may begin in the pet section but its message moves far beyond and spills over into other areas in a recommendation for any general interest library.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Herbal Antibiotics, second edition
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429870, $24.95, www.storey.com

HERBAL ANTIBIOTICS: NATURAL ALTERNATIVES FOR TREATING DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA appears in its second updated edition and has been completely revised and expanded to reflect the latest options. From detailed reviews of the most effective herbs to associated scientific research and detailed step-by-step instructions for making medicine from herbs, including some 200 tincture ratios, this is a top pick for any health library looking for specific herbal applications.

The Vital Psoas Muscle
Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583944585, $19.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

The Vital Psoas Muscle: Connecting Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being considers this specific muscle, located in the front hip joint and lower spine and critical for postural alignment, movement and overall well-being. It tells how to solve lower back pain and reduce trauma through understanding the physical, emotional and spiritual ramifications of this muscle, offering in-depth illustrations and key stretching and strengthening routines that incorporate the use of yoga or Pilates. A fine pick for any health or new age holding.

The Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Book
Mayo Clinic
Good Books
PO Box 419, Intercourse, PA 17534-0419
9781561487721, $22.95, www.goodbooks.com

The Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Book provides a handbook covering the latest research and basics on breast cancer, from what to do when a diagnosis is made to a complete review of risk statistics, preventing breast cancer, treating invasive cancer, and reconstruction options. All the latest details on screening, diagnosis and treatment are provided along with review of complimentary and alternative therapies, making this a fine recommendation filled with black and white photos and clear outlines of options, suitable for any general lending library's health section.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes
Michelle May, MD
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781608822454, $17.95, www.newharbinger.com

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes appeared some time ago but deserves ongoing recommendation for its powerful purpose: to promote sustainable lifestyle and dietary change for people with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. It promotes the Mindful Eating Cycle to draw connections between diet choices and diabetes management, focusing on how to manage it through more knowledgeable decision-making processes. A fine guide for any diabetic who wants to regain control over life.

Depression and Anxiety in Later Life
Mark D. Miller, MD and Charles F. Reynolds III, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406305, $19.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Depression and Anxiety in Later Life: What Everyone Needs to Know narrows the focus on depression to the overall physical problems and emotional stresses affecting older people, and is a 'must' for both general health libraries and those focused on the health needs of older individuals. Chapters discuss causes, symptoms and treatment of mental illness with descriptions of successful adaptive aging, using case studies to document everything from social withdrawal to irritability to end-of-life issues. The result is a top recommendation for any collection strong in later-life issues.

Crash
Carolyn Roy-Bornstein, MD
Skirt!
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200
Guilford, CT 06437
9780762780457, $22.95, www.skirtbooks.com

CRASH: A MOTHER, A SON, AND THE JOURNEY FROM GRIEF TO GRATITUDE comes from a nurse and pediatrician whose teen son is hit by a drunk driver. What at first seems like only a broken leg becomes complex when she learns he has a head injury, and must face a changed future for herself and for him. CRASH differs from other accounts because the author's years in the medical profession gave her insights the casual person would not have. Her experiences as the parent of a trauma victim make for a gripping and moving saga of recovery.

The Great Cholesterol Myth
Jonny Bowden PhD, CNS & Stephen Sinatra, MD, FACC
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
9781592335213, $19.99, www.fairwindspress.com

The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease offers many startling facts backed by a doctor's research: among them, that cholesterol is nearly harmless and plays only a minor part in heart disease, and that their levels don't actually help much in predicting heart attacks. This revolutionary premise is based on new research that raises concerns about cholesterol treatments, and maintains that our emphasis on lowering it has been all wrong. Any collection concerned with heart health needs to carefully consider the facts in this revealing expose.

Antibiotics Simplified, second edition
Jason C. Gallagher and Conan MacDougall
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jbpub.com
9781449614591, $33.95, www.jblearning.com

The second updated edition of ANTIBIOTICS SIMPLIFIED provides a concise guide to antibiotics basics and combines microbiology concepts with insights on treatment plans. Experts in pharmacology and practicing clinicians have created an at-a-glance handbook that packs some 17 new chapters with the latest details on drug classes with expanded coverage and insights on antiviral agents. A new appendix includes empiric regimens for common infections while each drug review includes agents, adverse effects, dosing issues, and much more. A 'must' for any health or general reference collection!

The Decline of Therapeutic Bloodletting and the Collapse of Traditional Medicine
K. Codell Carter
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412846042, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

The Decline of Therapeutic Bloodletting and the Collapse of Traditional Medicine covers the history of a key medical approach which was almost completely abandoned without discussion or debate. Bloodletting was a key medical practice in 19th century Europe: it abruptly stopped even though there was relatively little argument about its benefits or failures. This traces the history of how it evolved, changed, and was abruptly abandoned, and is a special pick for any college-level collection strong in medical history.

The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction
Rebecca E. Williams, PhD & Julie S. Kraft, MA
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781608823406, $24.95, www.newharbinger.com

The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction provides a fine self-help guide to breaking one's addiction cycle and helps identify the foundations of addictive behaviors, offering coping strategies to handle the stress and addiction that can come with change. These are mindfulness exercises and lifestyle tips that encourage replacing addictive behaviors with healthy ones, and offers chapters packed with coping skills, keys to recognizing and avoiding addiction triggers, and building a support system. While the workbook format lends more to individual use than library lending, this is a fine pick for any interested in meaningful change, and for psychology collections strong in the mindfulness approach to healing.


The Psychology Shelf

A Dissociation Model of Borderline Personality Disorder
Russell Meares
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393705850, $44.95, www.wwnorton.com

A Dissociation Model of Borderline Personality Disorder closely analyzes one of the major issues of borderline personality disorder: dissociation and a lack of self. Neurobiology, behavior science and the latest developmental research lends to a survey analyzing the original issues of BPD and its impact on recovery, reviewing symptoms and providing a theoretical framework for developing treatment options. From PSTD and borderline personality to distancing procedures and emotional responses to trauma, this is packed with insights any analyst can use.


The Business Shelf

Form a Partnership
Attorney Denis Clifford and Ralph Warner, J.D.
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413313925, $39.99, www.nolo.com

Form a Partnership: The Complete Legal Guide packs in everything needed to draw up a partnership agreement, and includes downloadable forms online to accompany an attorney's review of what's involved. From worksheets and agreements to discussions of different clauses and their meanings, this edition has been completely updated to reflect current law and business issues and is a powerful legal reference for any thinking of forming a partnership and looking for best practices in so doing.

The Careerist
Rhymer Rigby
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749465926, $19.95, www.koganpage.com

THE CAREERIST; OVER 100 WAYS TO GET AHEAD AT WORK provides a fine and lively reference to help workers identify issues and get ahead at work, from how to get headhunted and how to find a business mentor to managing former colleagues and asking for a pay raise. Expert opinions here come from a range of industry professionals who explore many common career concerns and how to overcome obstacles to success.

The Success Equation
Michael J. Mauboussin
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422184233, $27.00, www.hbr.org/books

THE SUCCESS EQUATION: UNTANGLING SKILL AND LUCK IN BUSINESS, SPORTS, AND INVESTING considers the importance of skill and luck in business transactions and considers the lessons to be learned from determining how many successes and failures can be attributed to each. Chapters offer insights into how skill and luck interact, which is important in business transactions, and provide tips on how to put changes into effect. Case histories and examples from real life follow keys to building skills, understanding the science of predictability and unpredictability, and more, making this a fine and different approach business readers will find involving.

Networking is Dead
Melissa G. Wilson & Larry Mohl
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781937856021, $12.95, www.benbellabooks.com

Networking is Dead: Making Connections That Matter offers insights on basic networking misconceptions and provide a new approach to building mutually beneficial relationships that share values and principles that go beyond just networking within business fields. It's written as a business fable and uses the story format to offer ten lessons to build more meaningful long-term connections. Any collection that has been seeing popularity with networking business books will find the approach here different: it tells how to create more meaningful networks and how to get the most value from them.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business Both Online and Off, second edition
Stephanie Beener and Constance H. Marse
Atlantic Publishing
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601389046, $39.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

The second updated edition of How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business Both Online and Off comes with a companion CD-ROM and teaches everything one needs to know about getting started in the floral industry. From updated facts about industry trends and keys to success to basic business savvy about insurance, record-keeping processes, and more, this manual provides an in-depth study of the entire industry, offers a CD-ROM packed with forms and a sample business plan, and offers a comprehensive guide perfect for any business collection.

Blog, Inc.
Joy Deangdeelert Cho
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452107202, $16.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

BLOG, INC.: BLOGGING FOR PASSION, PROFIT, AND TO CREATE COMMUNITY offers advice on starting and growing a blog, from design to attracting readers, and is a fine guide to turning a blog into something more profitable than individual writing. It comes from a graphic designer and blogger who has her own award-winning blog, so it offers plenty of keys to success, and is an outstanding pick for any interested in making the most of a blog structure.

Why I Left Goldman Sachs
Greg Smith
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017
9781455527472, $27.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

Why I Left Goldman Sachs: A Wall Street Story tells of the author's internship in the summer of 200 as one of seventy-five interns in the sales and trading program. He believed the company's motto that client interests came first - and was one of the few to be offered a position there after his internship ended, to raise in the ranks to sales trader. Twelve disillusioned years later he wrote a scathing 1,500 word "resignation letter" - and published it in the New York Times. His book documents how he saw the company move from a respected institution to one that had anything but client interests in mind, and offers business readers a fine insider's guide on how Goldman Sachs changed. Highly recommended for any business holding strong in stock market guides.

No B.S. Guide to Marketing to Leading-Edge Boomers & Seniors
Dan S. Kennedy & Chip Kessler
Entrepreneur Press
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9781599184500, $17.95, www.entrepreneurpress.com

No B.S. Guide to Marketing to Leading-Edge Boomers & Seniors provides a fine guidebook about getting money from an age group which holds over half of the nation's wealth and more of its discretionary spending income, and offers not only ideas for marketing to boomers and seniors, but keys to using conditioned behaviors, imbedded commands, and profiling to reach and attract these markets. Lessons from real-world companies who achieved this - Disney, Playboy and more - provide concrete connections between marketing approaches and success, making this an item of choice for any company seeking to expand into this market.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Debt-Free Spending Plan
JoAnneh Nagler
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814432433, $16.00, www.amacombooks.org

THE DEBT-FREE SPENDING PLAN: AN AMAZINGLY SIMPLE WAY TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES ONCE AND FOR ALL is more than just another review of personal debt and budgeting processes: it comes from an author who only ten years ago owed more than, $80,000 in credit card dept - and in her search for help discovered that many paths supposedly important to reducing debt in effect imparted relatively useless advice with no realistic plan to get her out of debt and help her live on her cash income. So - she developed one. THE DEBT-FREE SPENDING PLAN: AN AMAZINGLY SIMPLE WAY TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES ONCE AND FOR ALL shares her solution with a plan that is easy to absorb, use, and stick to. Only a few hours are needed to absorb the daily strategies for balancing income and expenses, making this a top pick for any consumer collection.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Rational Psychic
Jack Rourke
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781604078046, $22.95, www.soundstrue.com

THE RATIONAL PSYCHIC: A SKEPTIC'S GUIDE TO EXTRAORDINARY PERCEPTION offers a detailed guide to supernatural and psychic events, and uses decades of first-hand experience combined with research to explore how and why people are extrasensory or psychic, the difference between psychic ability and paranormal perception, scientific investigations of psychic perceptions, and how to identify and strengthen your abilities. It's a seasoned, reasoned approach which is perfect for both paranormal new age libraries and general lending collections.

The Lost Civilization Enigma
Philip Coppens
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632326, $19.99, www.newpagebooks.com

The Lost Civilization Enigma: A New Inquiry into the Existence of Ancient Cities, Cultures, and Peoples Who Pre-Date Recorded History comes from an investigative journalist who has contributed much to the field of alternative science, His exposes about ancient history and archaeological evidence are notable: here he presents facts supporting the idea that human civilization goes back at least 10,000 years beyond what has commonly been accepted. Chapters discuss the Sumerian civilization and link archaeological findings to new facts, making this a fascinating account of the latest prehistory research and the possibilities of lost technological advancements. New age holdings will find it intriguing and specific.

Leveraging the Universe
Mike Dooley
Beyond Words/Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781582703145, $21.99, www.simonandschuster.com

LEVERAGING THE UNIVERSE; 7 STEPS TO ENGAGING LIFE'S MAGIC builds on principles shared in INFINITE POSSIBILITIES and MANIFESTING CHANGE and comes from a best-selling author who offers techniques for channeling energies to bring about major life changes. In just seven steps you can align beliefs with dreams and this blends the author's own history and lessons learned from life with discussions of the entire process. The result is an inspirational read highly recommended for any new age collection and for any self-improvement or spirituality holding, as well.


The Travel Shelf

Mexico
John Noble, et.al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781742200163, $26.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

Mexico is a top recommendation for any travel collection looking for destination-oriented specifics for budget and independent travelers, and covers all the basics of Mexico's culture, peoples, attractions, and options. Small blue sidebars of information include "don't miss" attractions while small maps accompany specifics on tours, eating, sleeping, and touring the country. It's a top recommendation for any planning a journey to Mexico!


The Self-Help Shelf

Turning Dead Ends Into Doorways
Staci Boden
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573244916, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

Turning Dead Ends Into Doorways: How to Grow Through Whatever Life Throws Your Way comes from a healing practitioner who shows readers how to navigate life's changes, and how to let go of ideas that actions and thought alone can determine what happens next. The focus is on how to make excellent choices - and then how to grow and heal no matter what their consequences. With specifics on how this process works and how to incorporate ideals of growth into any life challenges, Turning Dead Ends Into Doorways becomes a top recommendation for any seeking positive, life-affirming change.

What Really Matters
Karen M. Wyatt, MD
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909
NY, NY 10003
1590792173, $16.95, www.selectbooks.com

WHAT REALLY MATTERS: 7 LESSONS FOR LIVING FROM THE STORIES OF THE DYING offers a fine self-help guide for grief and bereavement, and details the life changes experienced by Dr. Karen Wyatt and her patients and their family members during hospice care. Stories outline these lessons and provide a guide for those going through the same thing, offering affirming keys to letting go of limiting beliefs and past traumas and understanding the stages of the process of dying. The result is a powerful recommendation for any health or self-help holding.

How to Be a Best Friend Forever
Dr. John Townsend
Worthy Publishing
134 Franklin Road, Suite 200
Brentwood, TN 37027
9781936034437, $19.99, www.worthypublishing.com

How to Be a Best Friend Forever tells how to make and be a friend, and how to determine the nature and quality of a friendship, and is a top pick for any interested in building better relationships. Eight principles for building such friendships are covered in a guide that defines 'best friend' from 'casual friend', and which links friendship to Biblical passages. Spirituality and general lending collections with a spiritual bent will find this an absorbing, meaningful discussion.


The Education Shelf

DentEssentials, fourth edition
Michael S. Manley & Leslie D. Manley
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th floor
New York, NY 10006
9781607149002, $49.99, www.kaplan.com

The fourth updated edition of DentEssentials: High-Yield NBDE Part 1 Review offers a board exam preparation guide for first- and second-year dental students in a new design that features more room for notes and arranges information to compliment both organ system and discipline-based curricula. Diagrams, charts, clinical correlations, basic physiology, are packed into a study guide that covers all the basic science topics presented in dental school. Any college-level collection strong in dental school references must have this comprehensive survey!

Early Literacy Materials Selector
Kathleen Roskos, et.al.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452241647, $25.95, www.corwin.com

Early Literacy Materials Selector is the first evaluation tool for teachers working with early childhood literacy materials, and provides a step-by-step toolkit filled with keys to assessing literacy materials for quality, working in teams or alone with the materials, and establishing a baseline to compare new additions to an early childhood literacy program. The result is a fine assessment of instructional practices perfect for any working in preK and kindergarten circles.

Bringing ABA to Home, School and Play for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Disabilities
Debra Leach
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598572407, $29.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Bringing ABA to Home, School and Play for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Disabilities offers a series of early childhood best practice exercises in a guide to using Applied Behavior Analysis with everyday routines to support a child's learning and development. This guide is the first to combine ABA basics with natural environment intervention, offering over twenty sample teaching plans that strengthen social interaction and independent play and cognitive skills, and offering keys to meeting goals and making adjustments in routines. It's packed with exercises that can help young children with disabilities make lasting social improvements, and is a top pick for any education collection strong in disabilities management.

Dual-Language Learners
Angele Sancho Passe
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605541013, $24.95, www.redleafpress.org

Dual-Language Learners: Strategies for Teaching English is an important resource for kids learning both English and a home language, and is based both on the latest research and techniques and the author's own experience as a multilingual educator. The focus is on early childhood development to help kids be ready for school: chapters offer early childhood educators resources to supporting this effort, and are filled with real-world applications and exercises that will advance any efforts to teach English. A 'must' for any multilingual education or early childhood holding.

Teaching and Learning Chinese in Global Contexts
Linda Tsung and Ken Cruickshank, Editors
Continuum International Publishing Group
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781441100399, $140.00, www.continuumbooks.com

Teaching and Learning Chinese in Global Contexts offers discussions that emphasize the need for understanding general research on Chinese L2 learning and specific research into Mandarin Chinese, and makes for a key acquisition for any college-level holding strong in Chinese language learning challenges. Specialists from around the world discuss issues specific to learning and teaching Mandarin Chinese around the world, discussing topics ranging from learner diversity and different goals to the future of Chinese as a global language. The result is a fine survey highly recommended for any in-depth collection covering the Chinese language and the global learning community.

Pathways to the Common Core
Lucy Calkins, et.al.
Heinemann
PO Box 6926, Portsmouth, NH 03802-6926
9780325043555, $33.13, www.heinemann.com

Pathways to the Common Core: Accelerating Achievement explains how the standards work will correct many misconceptions in literacy instruction, and teaches how the CC can be used to provide guidance for all standards. All aspects of the CC are examined in an analysis that includes advice on basing instruction on the CC standards. Chapters discuss speaking and listening standards in relation to media, reading to integrate knowledge and ideas, and fostering intelligent, logical writing patterns. Any educator's collection needs this!


The Biography Shelf

Twitch Upon a Star
Herbie J. Pilato
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589797499, $24.95, www.rowman.com

Twitch Upon a Star: The Bewitched Life and Career of Elizabeth Montgomery is based on the author's exclusive interviews with Montgomery prior to her death in 1995, and includes much in the way of never-before-published material and commentary from those associated with her life and career before, during and after her success with the TV show Bewitched. From her career controversies to her stormy relationships with men, this offers insights into her life and times and is a recommendation for biography and TV and film libraries alike.

Reflections in a Mirror
Raoul Felder
Barricade Books
185 Bridge Plaza North, Suite 308-A
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
9781569804704, $24.95, www.barricadebooks.com

REFLECTIONS IN A MIRROR: A MEMOIR comes from a prominent lawyer, but isn't a book about law. It's a lovely memoir of the lives of two brothers - one a famous lawyer, the other a famous songwriter - and provides a personal account of growing up in Brooklyn as the younger brother of Doc Pomus, who become a popular songwriter despite his struggles with polio. It's an account of family ties, the evolution of a lawyer, and childhood and coming of age in pre-war America and post-war Europe.

Mitt Romney
R.B. Scott
Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762779277, $16.95, www.lyonspress.com

Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics offers the first unauthorized biography of the Republican candidate for Presidency and uses research collected over more than two decades, including interviews with friends and enemies alike. It's a political and personal coverage of Romney's experiences in and out of office, from his Mormon roots and how the church network works to his family history and public interactions. The result is a powerful account recommended for any political studies collection, particularly those strong in examinations of candidates and their backgrounds.

Jane Doe No More
M. William Phelps with Donna M. Palomba
Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762778805, $24.95, www.lyonspress.com

JANE DOE NO MORE: MY 15-YEAR FIGHT TO RECLAIM MY IDENTITY - A TRUE STORY OF SURVIVAL, HOPE, AND REDEMPTION tells of a woman brutally attacked in her home in Connecticut, only to face shoddy police work, abuse by detectives investigating her assault, and shamed for her victimization. Everyone pointed to her as an unfaithful wife trying to cover up her affair: one policeman believed her, and worked to find out the truth. This is her story - a charged account of assault, victimization and recovery - and offers an investigator's account of the real truth. Collections strong in true crime accounts will find this a winner!

Babylon Confidential
Claudia Christian with Morgan Grant Buchanan
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781937856069, $16.95, www.benbellabooks.com

Babylon Confidential: A Memoir of Love, Sex & Addiction tells of the author's move to Hollywood at age 17, caught up in a glamorous career as she worked with notables from Bob Hope to Charlie Sheen in over 50 films and dozens of TV shows. But underlying her charged life with Hollywood billionaires and rock stars was a descent into alcohol addiction that eventually threatened her life. How she moved away from the sober-binge cycle of abuse through a little-known medical cure called The Sinclair Method makes for engrossing reading especially recommended for any collection concerned with alcohol abuse and recovery.

Oddly Normal
John Schwartz
Gotham Books
c/o Penguin Publishing USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592407286, $26.00, www.penguin.com

ODDLY NORMAL: ONE FAMILY'S STRUGGLE TO HELP THEIR TEENAGE SON COME TO TERMS WITH HIS SEXUALITY is a pick for all kinds of collections and tells of the author's gay child and the family's stormy path. Joe Schwartz came out at age thirteen but knew he was gay from the age of eight. As he aged his tastes and differences evoked bullying from school, but coming out to his classmates proved no solution, and his moods and attitude reflected the constant issues with his schoolmates. ODDLY NORMAL tells of his parents' struggles and Joe's difficult years following a suicide attempt in which he finally came to terms with his sexuality and its meaning. It's a powerful story recommended for any general lending library.

Fast Girl
Ingrid Steffensen
Seal Press
1700 - 4th Street
Berkeley, California 94710
9781580054126, $16.00, www.sealpress.com

FAST GIRL: DON'T BRAKE UNTIL YOU SEE THE FACE OF GOD AND OTHER GOOD ADVICE FROM THE RACETRACK tells of a woman who has a successful career as an art history professor, a loving husband, and plenty of hobbies, until she learns to drive her Mini Cooper very fast on the racetrack and becomes hooked on high-performance driving. This charts the year that follows her first lesson where she discovers new talents, uses new skills, and ultimately changes her persona to accept new challenges in life as a result. It's an inspiration read recommended for women's issues, sports and general biography holdings alike.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Scaling Force
Rory Miller and Lawrence A. Kane
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392504, $18.95, www.ymaa.com

SCALING FORCE - DYNAMIC DECISION-MAKING UNDER THREAT OF VIOLENCE come from martial artists who have hands-on experience with violence themselves - a veteran corrections officer and a stadium security expert, and provides assessments of violence scenarios which consider the options ranging from doing nothing to employing deadly force in response. Chapters are for those who have already mastered some martial arts skills, but who need instruction on choices involved in employing them, and assesses the pros and cons of different uses of force, their limitations, and the legal and personal results of using them. Any martial arts library needs this survey!


The Language Studies Shelf

Global Trends in Translator and Interpreter Training
Severine Hubscher-Davidson and Michal Borodo
Continuum International Publishing Group
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781441193407, $140.00, www.continuumbooks.com

Global Trends in Translator and Interpreter Training is one of the most important guides to modern translator education and should be in the collections of any college-level library strong in translator and interpreter training. Mediation and culture are examined in a title that updated research trends in such education and how they relate to broader technology and new developments in the field. It's a global analysis with articles covering all the latest trends, offering field studies and discussions of the implications of such changes in the field, and gathering translation practitioner experiences from a range of disciplines. Highly recommended as a basic reference for any professional or academic library strong in language studies interpreter training.


The Audiobook Shelf

Treasury for All Seasons
Julie Andrews
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781619692282, $19.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

TREASURY FOR ALL SEASONS: POEMS AND SONGS TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR offers fun songs designed to celebrate both the holidays and the year, and packs in poems and songs from modern poets and songwriters from Langston Hughes and John Keats to Walt Whitman and poems by the authors themselves. Musical interludes accompany readings, while Andrews opens each section with a personal message to listeners sharing memories of her own family celebrations. A special pick for any poetry or music library appealing to the entire family!

Off the Grid
P.J. Tracy
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781469228457, $29.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

Off the Grid receives a fine performance by veteran narrator Buck Schirmer, whose smooth and dramatic voice is the perfect accompaniment to this new thriller about the Monkeewrench crew, set on a sailboat off the Florida Keys. Here Grace, a partner in the firm, thwarts an assassination attempt on retired FBI agent John Smith even as others are discovered murdered that same day. It's up to Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo and Gino to link the crimes, only to find out that there have been similar murders all across the country. A dangerous suspect and plot are revealed in a riveting story of intrigue perfect for any general audio collection.

The Demigod Diaries
Rick Riordan
Listening Library
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780449010716, $25.00, www.listeninglibrary.com

The Demigod Diaries is part of the Heroes of Olympus series, is narrated by a full cast and assumes the feel of an old-fashioned radio show drama as it focuses on Greek and Roman gods, fighting monsters around the world, and more. Four never-told-before stories add to the series as it tells of favorite demigods who continue to face perils and tasks almost beyond their abilities. Any prior fan of the series and any newcomer interested in demigod adventures will find this a satisfying story line that absolutely comes to life in audio!

Super Brain
Deepak Chopra, MD and Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780449015544, $35.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

SUPER BRAIN: UNLEASHING THE EXPLOSIVE POWER OF YOUR MIND TO MAXIMIZE HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING receives a fine reading by Shishir Kurup in a fine unabridged production that includes a pd file of brain anatomy illustrations to accompany a key discussion of how to use the latest brain research to enhance thinking, lifestyle, and health. From reducing aging risks and promoting happiness to understanding how spirituality works in the brain, this covers all the latest science and then applies it in ways the general-interest listening can use in daily living, making for a unique survey highly recommended for new age and general collections alike.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Hat Book
Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine
SixthandSpring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301
New York, NY 10013
9781936096503, $24.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Hat Book provides a fine guide to knitting a variety of hats, and covers everything from the thick knit cap to beret-style hats and tams. Full-page color photos of each hat on a model accompany step-by-step directions knitters will find filled with ideas. Plenty of knitting guides include hats - but usually in the context of other accessory projects: having a guide devoted entirely to hats makes this a real 'plus' for any avid knitter seeking inspiration to produce a range of projects.

Thimbleberries Beautiful Blocks for Beautiful Quilts
Lynette Jensen
Landauer Publishing
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
97819435726241, $27.95, www.landauerpub.com

Thimbleberries Beautiful Blocks for Beautiful Quilts provides some eighteen mix and match projects that are easy to complete, quick, and employ classic and seasonal blocks to everything from bed quilts to table runners or wall hangings. Instructions are step-by-step and, accompanied by color photos, leave little to the imagination, while quilt assembly diagrams accompany tips and tricks for using templates, assembling the project, making borders, and cutting binding. The result is a lovely assembly of project ideas perfect for any quilter's library!

Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook
Anna Maria Horner
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118359976, $21.99, www.wiley.com

Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook provides over twenty embroidery projects from textile designer and writer Anna Maria Horner, and features insights and projects for four categories of needlework: cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, and crewel. Each category offers tips on using tools, features the author's favorite techniques, and tells how to customize or develop your own needlework patterns. The gorgeous color photos throughout accent an accessible approach for any needlework collection.

Knits for Nerds
Joan of Dark (Toni Carr)
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449407919, $16.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

KNITS FOR NERDS: 30 PROJECTS offers knits inspired by science fiction, comic book and fantasy cult classics from Star trek and Star Wars to Harry Potter, and is a special recommendation for any who want projects for such a nerd. These are basic knits with theme-specific embellishments, pairing a wide range of patterns with accessories and fun clothing ideas. The result is a highly recommended pick for any knitter looking for something different and contemporary for science fiction and fantasy fans.


The Sports Shelf

Delavier's Sculpting Anatomy for Women
Frederic Delavier and Jean-Pierre Clemenceau
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450434751, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com

Delavier's Sculpting Anatomy for Women: Shaping your Core, Butt, and Legs pairs color photos with detailed anatomical illustrations of exercises for slimming, shaping and toning the core. From adding leg definitions to toning the overall body, this pairs step-by-step instructions with color anatomical illustrations offering a clear understanding of how to maximize exercise to tone the right places. Nutritional advice and a customizable program for achieving optimum results makes this a winning acquisition for any women's or exercise holding.

The Student's Anatomy of Exercise Manual
Professor Ken Ashwell
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9781438001135, $24.99, www.barronseduc.com

The Student's Anatomy of Exercise Manual packs in some 50 exercises including advice on weights, equipment and stretches and is designed to help an exercise student understands how the body functions during a workout session. Over 200 anatomical illustrations accompany a detailed overview of the major body systems and includes over thirty pages of a self-test coloring workbook, packing in tips for different fitness levels and identifying muscles and their proper exercise. The result is a top recommendation for any physical education collection.

Hell-Bent
Benjamin Lorr
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780312672904, $25.99, www.stmartins.com

HELL-BENT: OBSESSION, PAIN, AND THE SEARCH FOR SOMETHING LIKE TRANSCENDENCE IN COMPETITIVE YOGA provides a powerful survey of the world of Bikram or 'Hot' Yoga, a style taught to millions and practiced in extreme heat (105-110 degrees) with a focus on pain. The author worked into his first yoga studio overweight and curious and found yoga changed his life. When he encountered a competitive yoga champion he decided to train for national championship - and his story follows his increasing obsession with pushing his body to the limits - an obsession that would bring him in touch with a charismatic yoga guru on a mission. It's a powerful winning survey highly recommended for any sports or yoga collection.


The Gaming Shelf

The Art of Assassin's Creed III
Andy McVittie
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781781164259, $29.95, www.titanbooks.com

The Art of Assassin's Creed III is packed with concept art and artists' commentary and covers one of the most successful game franchises created. It's a game set in the world of the American Revolution in the 18th century and provides a new hero of Native American and English heritage, who becomes the voice for justice in the ongoing battle between Assassins and Templars. Famers become an Assassin in the war for liberty and this book provides new interactive cityscapes, threats from human and natural worlds, and new influences on game play. The four Assassin's Creed games have sold over 38 million units since their launch in 2007: this book provides a fine key that incorporates not only the games, but the Facebook games, comics and short films that have evolved from the experience. Very highly recommended!


The Military Shelf

Valiant Units of the Cold War
Andrew Brookes
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781849087537, $22.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

Valiant Units of the Cold War joins others in Osprey's 'Combat Aircraft' series and provides an in-depth survey of the RAF's first Cold War bomber, the Vickets Valiant, which enjoyed a very active service and served as the launch platform for all British freefall nuclear weapons tests. It also was modified to serve in the electronic warfare and strategic reconnaissance roles, and was the first V-bomber to operate at low level when it was assigned to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The result is a powerful pick for any military holding strong in aviation history.

The Generals
Thomas E. Ricks
The Penguin Press
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9781594204043, $32.95, www.penguin.com

THE GENERALS: AMERICAN MILITARY COMMAND FROM WORLD WAR II TO TODAY tells of great leaders and others, documenting why the American generals of World War II have been largely acclaimed while those of later conflicts have not. It's not just a collection of biographies or analysis of military strategies: it examines the entire command structure, documenting performance measurement, the evolution of a different kind of American military leadership structure, and the problems of modern generals and their approaches. The result moves far beyond your usual singular analysis and will prove an in-depth blend of history and military analysis suitable for general and military libraries alike.

The Sociology of Military Science
Chris Paparone
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781441154804, $100.00, www.bloomsbury.com

The Sociology of Military Science: Prospects for Postinstitutional Military Design is a scholarly work by a retired U.S. colonel and challenges military routines in a critical discussion recommended for political and military leaders alike. Chapters challenge entrenched believes governing military strategy and organization, offering new ways of thinking in a powerful survey that is a pick for college-level military science holdings. No light thinking here: this is an in-depth and thorough analysis suitable for future military leaders who are interested in rethinking the structure and traditional approaches of service.

The Outpost
Jake Tapper
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780316185394, $29.99, www.littlebrown.com

THE OUTPOST: AN UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICAN VALOR comes from an ABC News senior White House correspondent and provides an in-depth and powerful survey of one of America's deadliest battles in Afghanistan. It considers what really happened at Outpost Keating, telling of the history and evolution of the camp and the interactions of soldiers at the mercy of reckless commanders. Photos and maps accompany a history which begins long before the 2009 attack and reflects the author's years investigating the entire history of the region: not just the one event. The result is a passionate and detailed survey highly recommended for any military collection.


The Cookbook Shelf

Taste of Treme
Todd-Michael St. Pierre
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612430973, $21.95, www.ulyssespress.com

TASTE OF TREME: CREOLE, CAJUN AND SOUL FOOD FROM NEW ORLEANS'S FAMOUS NEIGHBORHOOD OF JAZZ is packed with unusual and appealing dishes that capture the flavors and approaches of Treme, a New Orleans neighborhood that was the birthplace of jazz in the city. It's packed with local cuisines not to be found in most other Cajun or Creole cookbooks, from a local Desiree's Chicken and Andoulle Gumbo to Estelle's Praiseworthy Creole Pork Roast and Immaculate White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Raspberry Sauce. The results is a mouth-watering collection of authentic local dishes recommended for any regional American collection.

The Art of the Restaurateur
Nicholas Lander
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780714864693, $39.95, www.phaidon.com

The Art of the Restaurateur offers stories behind the world's top restaurants through the experiences of their owners, and features some twenty profiles of influential restaurateurs gleaned from interviews with the author. The owners operate establishments around the world, from London and Paris to the U.S., and offer insights that basically expose the business side of running a major restaurant. Each story tells something different about the avenue to success, making this a fine pick for any contemplating their own restaurant business.

Fire in My Belly
Kevin Gillespie with David Joachim
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449111435, $40.00, www.andrewsandmcmeel.com

Fire in My Belly provides an original collection of recipes and insights and comes from the executive chef of Atlanta's Woodfire Grill, who packs in over 350 color photos to illustrate discussions of food qualities and his techniques. 120 original recipes pack a discussion of traditional Southern fare and modern innovations, pairing such recipes as a Savory Fig Tart or Slow-Cooked Ribs with Chili-Lime Butter with Coca-Cola Braised Pot Roast or Grilled London Broil with Ginger and White Soy. The addition of international influences and spice into the Southern fare makes this stand out from the crowd!

Easy Gluten-Free Baking
Elizabeth Barbone
Lake Isle Press
c/o National Book Network
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781891105418, $24.95, www.nbnbooks.com

Easy Gluten-Free Baking offers a blend of tested recipes and flour combinations specifically designed for each recipe, along with easy directions for successfully producing such classics as yeast breads, muffins and quick breads, and more. From Pixies (part brownie, part cookie) to Molasses Crackle Cookies and more, this book goes where few others dare: into the challenging realm of successful gluten-free baking completely with custom-blended flours and starches, not just flour substitutes sold over-the-counter. A 'must' for any gluten-free cook!

True Blood
Gianna Sobol, Alan Ball and Karen Sommer Shalett
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452110868, $29.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

TRUE BLOOD: EATS, DRINKS, AND BITES FROM BON TEMPS features recipes by Marcelle Bienvenu and food photos by Alex Farum based on the characters and settings of HBO's original series True Blood, and is a fun pick for any cookbook holding that is strong in Southern, comfort or Hollywood movie food. Familiarity with the series will lend delight to this specific coverage, which packs its pages with color photos from the show to accompany dishes such as Burning Love BLT or Up-in-Arms Biscuits and Gravy. Any cookbook collection strong in TV associations will find this a winner!

Frontera
Rick Bayless with Deann Groen Bayless
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393088922, $24.95, www.wwnorton.com

FRONTERA: MARGARITAS, GUACAMOLES AND SNACKS is the first cookbook to showcase the author's popular restaurant and packs in over fifty original recipes covering his Mexican dishes. Each of the new recipes was inspired by Chicago's local farmers and seasonal offerings, and produces ideas that can be recreated in any home kitchen. From a Black Currant-Rhubarb Margarita to Guacamole with Strawberries and Habanero, this is heavy on the margarita ideas with a healthy dose of snacks to accompany them, and is the perfect pick for any Mexican culinary collection.

The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook
Tom Douglas and Shelley Lance
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062183743, $35.00, www.harpercollins.com

The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook: Sweetness in Seattle packs in over a hundred favorite recipes from the notable bakery, all tailored for home cooks, and comes from the restaurant's owner and chef. Puddings and cakes to ice creams and even savories such as soup and sandwiches featured in the bakery make for a fine guide packed with quick sidebars, techniques, difficulty ratings and color photos. From coconut pastry dough to an 'Intense Chocolate Cake', this is filled with mouth-watering flavors and makes for a solid addition of unique dishes perfect for any who like to bake and produce sweets.

Meanwhile, Back at Cafe du Monde
Peggy Sweeney McDonald
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455616602, $35.00, www.pelicanpub.com

Meanwhile, Back at Cafe du Monde: Life Stories About Food pairs food monologues about special foods in life with photos of people involved in the discussions, and recipes. The result is a pairing of foods and memories that comes from a member of the Cafe du Monde family of New Orleans, providing a lovely celebration of that cafe's offerings. From Louisiana Buttermilk Pralines to Tequila Shrimp and a Grandma's Pecan Kisses, this offers a celebration of food that goes beyond your usual Louisiana cookbook approach to embrace the entire family. Some sixty-seven 'Louisiana' stories presented became shows presented at restaurants and venues throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and California with food lovers sharing their stories about food. The shows are theatre and recipes combined: this volume reproduces the event in a lovely pick for any culinary collection.

The Southern Foodie Cookbook
Chris Chamberlain
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781491691638, $24.99, www.thomasnelson.com

The Southern Foodie Cookbook: 100 Places to Eat in the South Before You Die (And the Recipes That Made Them Famous) comes from a food writer who surveys Southern restaurant specialties and translates these dishes to home cooks. Some thirteen states, 100 chefs, and over a hundred recipes offer a fine blend of culinary history and Southern delights, offering secrets on how to translate these dishes to home kitchens. From Creole Eggplant A La Madina's to Crabmeat Remick, these are dishes packed with flavor and accompanied by color photos for added attraction, and belong in any library strong in Southern cuisine.

The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook
Michelle Costello
HCI Books
c/o Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757316333, $18.95, www.hcibooks.com

The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook: 125+ Delectable Plant-Based Vegan Recipes for a Fit, Happy, Healthy You comes from a celebrity chef who shares recipes for over a hundred plant-based dishes, pairing a philosophy for eating with recipes that support not just ideals, but intentions to keep it simple and make it tasty. Dishes range from Indian Spiced Coconut Yam Soup to Apple/Pear Crisp, and offer menus and dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The result is a menu plan that will appeal even to those who don't like vegetables and don't cook much.

Cake Balls
Dede Wilson
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
9781558327627, $16.95, www.harvardcommonpress.com

CAKE BALLS: MORE THAN 60 DELECTABLE AND WHIMSICAL SWEET SPHERES OF GOODNESS provides recipes for what is a blend of crumbled cakes and frosting rolled into balls and dipped in a coating, and is a pick for any dessert baker looking for something different. Nine basic cake recipes and ten basic frostings, glazes and ganaches are presented in a collection that offers ideas for parties, holidays, bake sales and more. Many are kid-friendly, which means young bakers can take advantage, too! Any collection catering to dessert cooks will find this awinner.

The Complete Bordeaux
Stephen Brook
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845337070, $60.00, www.octopusbooksusa.com

The Complete Bordeaux: The Wines, the Chateaux, The People provides the definitive work on the wines of Bordeaux and goes beyond the usual focus on produces to create an analysis of current trends in Bordeaux wine production. From different appellations and assessments of their major properties to leading wines and lesser known producers, this provides assessments of individual wines, grapes and the latest production methods, covering some 13,000 wineries across 54 appellations in a 'must' for any comprehensive world wine guide library.

From a Southern Oven
Jean Anderson
Wiley Cookbooks
c/o Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9781118067758, $32.50, www.amazon.com

From a Southern Oven: The Savories, The Sweets comes from a long-time food editor and author who has a powerful knowledge of Southern food stemming from kitchen experiments when she was four years old. Her passion for Southern baking was fueled when she discovered that Southerners bake as many savories as they do sweets, from main-dish puddings and pies to casseroles and gratins. This collection packs in over a hundred savory and sweet dishes for everything from snacks to main courses and sides, pairing color photos with mouth-watering baked dishes. The result stands out from the usual Southern cookbook with its focus on baked goods from the oven and its emphasis on savory delights: very highly recommended, even for collections that already host traditional Southern cookbooks!

Two in the Kitchen
Christie Dufault and Jordan Mackay
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
9781616283797, $34.95, www.weldonowen.com

Any searching for a newlywed gift can't go wrong by providing the new couple with TWO IN THE KITCHEN: A COOKBOOK FOR NEWLYWEDS. It pairs dozens of recipes for all kinds of occasions, from daily dining to entertaining, with keys on how two cooks can successfully operate together in the kitchen. Six couples from around the country share their experiences and how they bonded cooking together in a guide that includes details on kitchen equipment, pantry, purchasing dishes, and recipes that lend well to two cooks. It's a well-organized addition to any newly married cook's library.

My Year in Meals
Rachel Ray
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781451659726, $29.99, www.simonandschuster.com

MY YEAR IN MEALS offers TV cook and personality Rachel Ray's dishes that she cooks for her own family and friends, and considers some 500 recipes from her food diary and photos. It's especially recommended for fans of Ray, covering meals from breakfast to dinner and offering some twelve months of dishes. An added bonus: when you flip the book over, Rachel's husband John Cusimano offers over 100 cocktail recipes to compliment Ray's dishes. A solid winner for any avid cook who follows Ray's award-winning presentations!

Slow Cooker Tonight!
Cooking Light
Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095
Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
0848736575, $17.95, www.oxmoorhouse.com

Slow Cooker Tonight packs in over 140 weeknight recipes for the slow cooker featuring all kinds of influences and filling, flavorful dishes. From Veal Paprikish to Braised Pork with Port and Dried Plums and Chilaquiles, this is packed with full-page color photos paired with appealing, appetizing dishes that lend to high flavor and low effort in using the slow cooker's ability to cook all day and place a meal on the table that evening. The result is a family-friendly collection that will prove outstandingly delicious for any busy cook seeking new, fast ideas for dinner.

The Family Classics Diabetes Cookbook
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
9781580404846, $21.95, www.shopdiabetes.org

The Family Classics Diabetes Cookbook is a pick for any in a family with diabetics, and is packed with recipes and tips that include main courses that are crowd-pleasers, appetizers that are appealing and diabetic-conscious, and more. Over 140 dishes from the pages of Diabetes Forecast Magazine accompany full-page color photos and specifics on serving sizes and exchanges, with dishes such as Inca Red Quinoa Pilaf and Simple Baked Halibut providing a wealth of diabetes-friendly main course ideas. A fine pick for any diabetic cook!

150 Best Donut Recipes
George Geary
Robert Rose
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804116, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca

150 Best Donut Recipes Fried or Baked provides a fine survey of delicious recipes which feature all kinds of donuts, from yeast-based to cake-based, baked or fried donuts, and specialty toppings, and is a pick for any fan of donuts. A centerfold of close-up color photos accompanies a wide variety of recipes from Red Devil Donuts to Fresh Strawberry and Cream Donuts and mini one-bite donuts, making for an outstanding collection recommended for any baker's collection.

Seasonal Spanish Food
Jose Pizarro
Kyle Books
67 - 69 Whitfield Street
London, England W1T 4HF
9781906868093, $32.95, www.kylecathie.com

Seasonal Spanish Food packs in lovely Spanish dishes following a seasonal theme - some 125 - and provides recipes and local stories to emphasize local flavor. From Pan-Fried Paprika Chicken with Mashed Potatoes to Spanish Apple Pie and Orange-Marinated Cod, this pairs a healthy dose of color photos with dishes that represent the heart of Spanish approaches to cooking, making for a lovely gathering highly recommended for any Spanish cookbook collection!

Vegan Eats World
Terry Hope Romero
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738214863, $35.00, www.dacapopress.com

VEGAN EATS WORLD: 300 INTERNATIONAL RECIPES FOR SAVORING THE PLANET shows how to translate favorite dishes from a range of cultures to vegan - including Spanish, Indian, Greek, Thai, African and more. Not only are classics re-created but new dishes based on different, vegan ingredients are introduced, with recipes labeled for time and complexity. Plant-based meals can be lively, easy and unique: VEGAN EATS WORLD is one way of exploring world cuisines in a new, vegan light and is a pick for any who would incorporate vegan dining into a new worldview.

Gluten-Free & Vegan Bread
Jennfer Katzinger
Sasqatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104-2555
9781570617805, $24.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

Any who follow gluten-free diets know that breads and baked goods are the heart of gluten-free challenges, making a cookbook devoted to either a treasure trove of information. This tells how to bake gluten-free and vegan breads at home, easily, with recipes including yeasted breads, sweet breads, savory breads, and more. With color photos peppered throughout, accompanying recipes for breads that use sorghum flour, almond and flax meal, tapioca flour and more for their bases, this is a top pick for any gluten-free baker.

Raising the Bar
Pam Williams and Jim Eber
Wilmor Publishing
c/o Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
97809619192121, $19.95, www.chelseagreen.com

RAISING THE BAR: THE FUTURE OF FINE CHOCOLATE follows the history of chocolate marketing and the next movement in the world search for fine chocolate, and is told in four parts covering everything from genetics and chocolate manufacturing to specialty productions. Dozens of international influences on the marketing and making of chocolate are provided, from the high costs of fair trade policies to farmer growing models and challenges around the world. With its fine focus on chocolate production and the future of chocolate trends, this is a 'must' for any culinary collection interested in the business and future of chocolate in the world.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Islam and Human Rights, fifth edition
Ann Elizabeth Mayer
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813344676, $38.00, www.westviewpress.com

ISLAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: TRADITION AND POLITICS appears in its updated fifth edition offering college-level political and social science readers an examination of how Islam has been exploited for political ends by institutions seeking to validate policies against human rights. The latest issues of the Middle East are updated in this guide, which covers everything from new pressures in the region for human rights to new social and political resolutions from other nations. The result is a winning reference for any discussion on Islam and human rights issues.

Sharia Versus Freedom
Andrew G. Bostom
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146665, $32.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Sharia Versus Freedom: The Legacy of Islamic Totalitarianism expands on the author's two previous groundbreaking works THE LEGACY AND JIHAD and THE LEGACY OF ISLAMIC ANTISEMITISM and provides recent essays on Sharia-Islamic law. It considers Sharia's defining Islamic religious ideals, its applications over time, and offers modern discussions of its evidence and objectives. From Western ideals of universal rights to traditions from Sharia-based Muslim legal systems, this is an in-depth and scholarly study recommended for college-level collections strong in Middle East issues and Islamic religious and legal rights.


The Social Issues Shelf

People & Permaculture
Looby Macnamara
Permanent Publications
c/o Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781856230872, $34.95, www.chelseagreen.com

People & Permaculture: Caring & Designing for Ourselves, Each Other & The Planet is the first book to explore using permaculture design to restore personal and planetary well-being, and widens the definition of permaculture from being about land based systems to being about our relationship with the planet. It offers detailed information covering permaculture design as it applies to people, provides tools we can use in our own lives, and tells how to create harmony in our relationships and through our communication and social systems. Over 50 activities accompany keys to initiating positive change in a recommendation for all kinds of social issues collections.

Bullspotting
Loren Collins
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146344, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

BULLSPOTTING: FINDING FACTS IN THE AGE OF MISINFORMATION offers keys to applying critical thinking tools to identify common trends in typical misinformation campaigns, and covers the basics of how rumors are started, how false logic is perpetuated in society, and how to identify misleading or false claims. From how to validate information to evaluating the credibility or rumors and quotes, this offers a fine guide to identifying and handling false information and is a fine pick for any social sciences collection.

The Nashville Way
Benjamin Houston
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820343273, $24.95, www.ugapress.org

The Nashville Way: Racial Etiquette and the Struggle for Social Justice in a Southern City focuses on the civil rights issues affecting Nashville in the decades following World War II, and is a fine guide for any interested in either civil rights history or southern history. It's the first book to consider the city's racial and movement cultures, considering the makeup of the Nashville community and how civil rights evolved to change it. Nonviolent efforts contrasted sharply with white violence there, resulting in an uncertain changed form of racial etiquette that affected the city. Any interested in black power and white response in the South will find this a specific title, perfect for college-level social issues holdings.

An Argument for Same-Sex Marriage
Emily R. Gill
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
9781589019201, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

An Argument for Same-Sex Marriage: Religious Freedom, Sexual Freedom, and Public Expressions of Civil Equality is a pick for political science and social issues collections alike and comes from a political scientist who considers religious belief, sexuality, and laws linking the two. U.S. law and policy, to remain consistent, should support the right to marry. Civil marriage is a public institution, not a religious one alone - and for a state institution to deny these rights demonstrates civil inequality. Chapters make a convincing argument in this fine survey recommended for any college-level collection.


The Music Shelf

Cigar Box Guitars
David Sutton
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565235472, $29.95, www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Cigar Box Guitars: The Ultimate DIY Guide for Makers and Players of the Handmade Music Revolution could have been featured in our Crafts Shelf section, but is reviewed here so that avid DIY musicians don't miss the opportunity to make their own instrument. It's a blend of the history of cigar box guitars and their modern revival, the people who made and played them, and the trends that are returning the cigar box guitar to musical circles. Readers receive specifics on how to build three different types of the guitar, along with profiles and tips from some of the best makers and players today. Antique and modern photos round out an outstanding presentation perfect for music or crafts libraries alike.

Hits: Philosophy in the Jukebox
Peter Szendy
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823234387, $24.00, www.fordham.edu

Hits: Philosophy in the Jukebox pairs a consideration of music and ways of playing and listening with social, political, economic and philosophical observations of how the hit song functions like a myth, with repetition reinforcing its power. Music reflects the human condition, and becomes more powerful with distribution and reflection: this philosophy guide is more than either a music or a philosophy title, and belongs in music as well as general social issues holdings.

Bruce
Peter Ames Carlin
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781439191828, $28.00, www.simonandschuster.com

BRUCE is a top biographical recommendation for any fan of Bruce Springsteen and is the first biography in two decades to be written with Springsteen's complete cooperation: as such it belongs in any rock music collection. Access to the artist, his family and friends, and his fellow musicians lends a depth and quality to this coverage that is unequalled in other coverages of Springsteen. Years of research and numerous interviews with Springsteen and his peers and family result in a powerful account that recollects his upbringing, his evolution, and how he became the musician he is today. Very highly recommended!

Zen and the Art of Producing
Mixerman
Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781458402882, $24.99, www.halleonardbooks.com

Zen and the Art of Producing comes from the notable Mixerman, and provides musicians with a detailed blueprint for producing a record. The genre of music matters not in the world of mixing: what matters is understanding the elements of a successful recording session and how to produce an album that grabs one's audience. Chapters discuss everything from the pros and cons of bringing a sideman into a session to evaluating demos and handling the challenges of acoustic guitars. Any interested in music production will find this a winner!

The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2013
Alan Greenwood & Gil Hembree
Vintage Guitar Books
PO Box 7301, Bismarck, ND 58507
9781884883309, $29.95, www.vintageguitar.com

The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2013 is a guide for any who like to play and plan to acquire vintage guitars, including histories and the latest values from detailed research and market analysis. Chapters cover thousands of vintage and recent-model guitars, amps, banjos, ukes and more, and pack in over a thousand photos and details on over 1,900 brands. While libraries might see interest from those making singular purchases, its real value lies in its information for collectors and others who regularly buy and sell vintage guitars - who will find this a reliable and invaluable guide, to be regularly consulted.

The Disney Song Encyclopedia
Thomas S. Hischak and Mark A. Robinson
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589797130, $18.95, www.rowman.com

The Disney Song Encyclopedia appears in an updated edition to describe some 900 famous and less famous songs from Disney's films, TV shows, theme park and productions from the 1930s to modern times, and is a 'must' for any Disney fan. It identifies songwriters and original singers, discusses the source of the song and venues where it's appeared, and packs in terms, a guide to Disney recordings, and history. The result is a 'must' for any Disney fan.


The Interior Design Shelf

Reclaiming Style
Maria Speake and Adam Hills
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
9781849752671, $29.95, www.rylandpeters.com

RECLAIMING STYLE: USING SALVAGED MATERIALS TO CREATE AN ELEGANT HOME tells how to decorate an entire home with reclaimed materials and salvage, and is a pick for any interior designer who wants to reclaim materials and use them in logical interior decorating choices. It comes from partners behind an architectural salvage and design business and uses case studies and insights to explore reclaimed materials, and packs in color photos with clear directions perfect for any home and garden or architectural design collection.


The Gardening Shelf

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th edition
Carla Emery
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104-2555
9781570618406, $29.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

The 40th anniversary edition of the popular The Encyclopedia of Country Living packs in over 2,000 recipes and 1,500 mail order sources and is a top pick for nay modern country dweller or homesteader interested in growing foods, cooking from scratch, and developing techniques to live off the land. It's been continually updated since the first edition in 1974, and provides a standard, useful dictionary-style reference that's proven a solid reference for any who would live independently off the land, and is a 'must' for any home and garden library or rural reference collection.

Beautiful Corn
Anthony Boutard
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717282, $19.95, www.newsociety.com

BEAUTIFUL CORN: AMERICA'S ORIGINAL GRAIN FROM SEED TO PLATE is recommended for a variety of collections, from food and culinary holdings to science and nature, history and home and garden collections. It pairs a history of corn production around the world with discussions of the plant's contribution to our culture, its biology, and how to grow and use it at home. From restoring heritage corn varieties to understanding hand and machine seeding techniques, BEAUTIFUL CORN is a recommended pick for any interested in the harvesting and uses of corn.

A Place All Our Own
Mary Irish
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816512829, $19.95, www.uapress.arizona.edu

A PLACE ALL OUR OWN: LIVES ENTWINED IN A DESERT GARDEN provides a memoir of the author's challenges in changing her Phoenix yard from an empty lot to a haven for native plants. Irish has cultivated and xeriscaped the Sonoran Desert for over twenty years, and her story of how she and her husband changed the barren plot to a haven for local wildlife and plants makes for a powerful survey highly recommended for any gardening collection strong in xeriscaping.


The Woodworking Shelf

Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture
Robert W. Lang
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565237384, $29.99, www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture is a sourcebook of working shop drawings for nearly sixty pieces of furniture designed by Gustav Stickley and his associates early in the 20th century, and compiles three prior books on the topic. From beds to cabinets, bureaus and rockers to stools and dressers, this gathers everything needed to provide modern woodworkers with the patterns needed to create these Craftsman furniture styles, and is a pick for home and garden collections appealing to handymen seeking to make their own pieces.


The Homeowner Shelf

Ecodesign
Silvia Barbero and Brunella Cozzo
H.F. Ullmann
c/o 60 Cycle Media Relations LLC
38 High Avenue, Nyack NY 10960
9783833163081, $19.99, www.ullmawnn-publishing.com

ECODESIGN: ECOFRIENDLY OBJECTS FOR EVERYDAY USE is a pick for home and garden and arts holdings alike, and offers a combined survey of designs for modern living and style and fashion that confirms to ecological thinking. Well over three hundred pages pack in color illustrations while the focus on stylish yet ecological designs demonstrates how such thinking translates to a wide rang of options. The result is a powerful gathering of ecofriendly options and objects that are practical and conscious choices.


The Photography Shelf

Photoshop Masking & Compositing, second edition
Katrin Eismann, Sean Duggan and James Porto
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321701008, $59.99, www.newriders.com

The second updated edition of Photoshop Masking & Compositing is a 'must' for any photographer or illustrator working with Adobe Photoshop and tells how to master advanced masking and compositing skills to allow landscape photographers to enhance images. It's been completely revised and provides step-by-step examples, opening with a history of compositing techniques and explaining how these can be used for compositions for all purposes. From moving from sketch to final composite to understanding the basics involved in professional masking applications, this is a solid reference applying color photo examples throughout the entire course.

Iconic
Brian Vanden Brink
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9781608931798, $65.00, www.downeast.com

ICONIC: PERSPECTIVES ON THE MAN-MADE WORLD comes form an award-winning photographer who uses his art in an oversized coffee-table presentation capturing the cultural messages and changes inherent in manmade structures. Many of these structures are unique for their architectural and cultural significance alike, but this overall presentation is also unique for its photographic excellence in capturing these structures and documenting their artistic and human importance. The result captures not just odd or vanishing buildings, but represent some thirty years of work and a visual portrait of the theme of iconography, with each selected portrait representing a unique addition to the world.

Lighting for Digital Photography
Syl Arena
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321832757, $24.99, www.peachpit.com

Lighting for Digital Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots teaches aspiring photographers how to use natural light and flash in photos, and is for those who have had a DSLR camera for a while and are ready to look at what it takes to produce a superior image with it. From handling the intensity and changes of light to shooting indoors and outdoors under different lighting conditions, this teaches how to assess and make the most of lighting to produce superior shots, and is a 'must' for any who would take the next step.

Nikon D800/D800E
David D. Busch
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place
Stamford, CT 06902
9781285084510, $29.99, www.courseptr.com

Intermediate to advanced SLR camera users who own Nikon's D800/D800E will find this a top pick packing in recommendations for making the most of the camera. From selecting the best autofocus mode and handling flash to HD movie-making and approaches to file formats and exposure, this packs in color images to accompany details on all the bells and whistles of the camera, and offers all the basics of not just using the camera more effectively, but troubleshooting problems and keeping the camera running at its best. A 'must' for any owner of this Nikon who would realize its maximum potential for producing superior shots.

Weeki Wachee Mermaids
Lu Vickers and Bonnie Georgiadis
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813044309, $29.95, www.upf.com

Weeki Wachee Mermaids: Thirty Years of Underwater Photography is packed with rare, previously unpublished vintage photos, postcards and publicity shots taken over a thirty year period and provides lovely underwater photography images of the 'mermaids' which became as big a Florida theme as Disney's creation. The lovely images here combine with text describing the attraction's origins, evolution, and promotion with special attention to how the efforts of business and a pioneering underwater photographer succeeded in creating a marvel that has lasted for decades. The result isn't just a celebration of the Mermaids: it's a celebration of the history and evolution of underwater photography, and is a pick for any general lending library as well as those specializing in Florida history and culture or photography.

The Disappearance of Darkness
Robert Burley
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
9781616890957, $50.00, www.papress.com

The Disappearance of Darkness: Photography at the End of the Analog Era is by a photographer who traveled the world with his 4x5 field camera to record factories disappearing before his eyes: those that supported analog photography that were vanishing nearly overnight in the wake of digital photography. Some seventy of his large-format photographs consider the different plants around the world where photographic processing was practiced, with chapters exploring underlying relationships between a changing industrial world and the analog era. The result is a powerful photography title packed with strong evidence of the entire tradition process, highly recommended for any photography or arts collection.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Barrayar
Lois McMaster Bujold
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778931, $26.00, www.nesfapress.org

Barrayar provides a sequel to Bujold's SHARDS OF HONOR and provides the story of Cordelia and Aral after their marriage, when civil war changes their world and other military figures become involved when the couple tries to drag Barrayar into a more civilized era. Cordelia is finding her place in a new society less advanced than on her own world, while her new husband as accepted the Emperor's appointment as regent for his grandson. Political and military struggles permeate another fine Vorkosigan novel especially recommended for prior fans and collections seeing popularity with the others in the series.

Flame of Sevenwaters
Juliet Marillier
Roc
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451464804, $26.95, www.penguin.com

FLAME OF SEVENWATERS tells of Maeve (daughter of Lord Sean of Sevenwaters) who was badly burned and crippled as a child. After ten years she's returning home as a healer of animals, only to find Sevenwaters in turmoil facing murder and deception. Maeve's increasing involvement in the murders leads her on a dangerous quest that challenges one Mac Dara's dangerous rule and could lead to her own death - or her realization of her latent powers. FLAME OF SEVENWATERS is an outstanding survey perfect for any science fiction or fantasy holding, filled with an epic quest and satisfying twists and turns of plot.

Awakening: The Art of Halo 4
Paul Davies
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781781163245, $34.95, www.titanbooks.com

AWAKENING: THE ART OF HALO 4 comes from the award-winning series of Halo video games and contributes to a new trilogy covering Halo 4's characters, weapons, and action. It's a close inspection of the art created for the Halo 4 game, and is presented in an oversized title packed with color throughout and pairing photos with discussions of design philosophy, discussions of Halo's action environment, and surveys of fighters and their high-tech weaponry. The result is a powerful, artistic celebration of Halo 4: the perfect item of choice for video game collections in general and Halo surveys in particular.

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
Lois McMaster Bujold
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781451638455, $25.00, www.baen.com

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance is a 'must' for any who have been avidly following Bujold's Vorkosigan universe, and here provides an outstanding saga of one Captain Vorpatril, cousin of the famous Miles Vorkosigan, who has all too often become embroiled in his cousin's outrageous political and military schemes. His current duty seems light in comparison - and nobody is shooting at him, for once. But what seems simple rapidly turns complex as an undercover agent for Imperial Security introduces him to a young woman in danger. Life quickly becomes complicated in a saga that embraces the best of military and political science fiction and the already-popular Vorkosigan series, highly recommended for prior followers and newcomers alike.

Star Trek: Kingon Bird-of-Prey Owners Workshop Manual
Rick Sternbach and Ben Robinson
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451695908, $28.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Star Trek: Kingon Bird-of-Prey Owners Workshop Manual is a recommendation for any collection seeing ongoing and intense interest in Star Trek, and offers a follow-up similar in format and scope to the popular U.S.S. ENTERPRISE HAYNES MANUAL. It focuses on the Klingon Empire's Bird of Prey vessel, packing in color photos from the Star Trek movies and series, offering cut-aways and technical descriptions, and including in-depth discussions of the vessel's parts and everything from command authority codes to antimatter storage capacity. Yes, it's fantasy - and yes, it's Star Trek at its technical best, recommended for fans and collections catering to them.

The Cassandra Project
Jack McDevott and Mike Resnick
Ace
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9781937008710, $25.95, www.penguin.com

THE CASSANDRA PROJECT comes from two powerful science fiction writers who provide a powerful thriller/science fiction saga based on one man's discovery of the secret history of the U.S. space program. Jerry is hired as NASA's public affairs director and is proud of the agency - but years later he's facing public disinterest and a fading program. When a fifty-year-old secret about the Apollo XI mission is revealed, he finds himself in the center of a dangerous maelstrom of controversy that holds wide-ranging implications for all. Highly recommended, this blends science fiction and intrigue in a powerful saga packed with unexpected twists and turns of plot.

The Lazarus Machine
Paul Crilley
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146887, $16.95, www.pyrsf.com

The Lazarus Machine is set in an alternate 1895 universe where steam and Tesla-powered computers are everywhere and teen Sebastian and his conman father struggle to live in a paranoid city where a secretive government agency strives to control everything in the name of the Queen. When the fearful Professor Moriarty moves into town and Tweed's father is kidnapped, it's up to Tweed to save not just his father, but the British Empire. The protagonist may be a young adult but the action, science and setting are perfect for all ages of reader.


The Christian Studies Shelf

A Cultural Handbook to the Bible
John J. Pilch
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802867209, $26.00, www.eerdmans.com

A Cultural Handbook to the Bible translates important social concepts and applies them to biblical texts, offering short chapters packing in discussions related to family, language, spiritual insights and cultural considerations. Each chapter concludes with more references from cultural anthropology or biblical studies, while the task of interpreting the Bible for maximum cross-cultural understanding lends to a fine survey of Biblical terms, symbols, values and more. Scholarly spirituality holdings will find this a winning discussion.

Deep Mentoring
Randy D. Reese and Robert Loane
IVP Books
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830837892, $20.00, www.books.ivpress.com

DEEP MENTORING: GUIDING OTHERS ON THEIR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY provides a practical consideration for pastors who want to foster church leaders, and come from Randy Reese, a Fuller Seminary student who was mentored by Bobby Clinton. Three sections discuss how to notice God's already-present action, how to learn from mentors, and how to translate this understanding and learning to becoming a mentor to others in the church. From exploring how God gifts his people to aligning a ministry with the Bible, this is a powerful addition for any spirituality collection concerned with religious mentoring approaches.

Nourishing the Spirit
James D. Whitehead & Evelyn Eaton Whitehead
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980013, $22.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Any spirituality holding strong in the psychology of religion and personal growth will find delight in NOURISHING THE SPIRIT: THE HEALING EMOTIONS OF WONDER, JOY, COMPASSION, AND HOPE. It pairs theological reflection with philosophy and psychology designed to encourage the goodness and positive thinking that lies in us all. From envisioning a personal communication with God to re-affirming our spiritual origins, this is filled with engrossing insights and uplifting thoughts: perfect for theology and general spirituality collections alike.

Logic of the Trinity
Paul Thom
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823234769, $65.00, www.fordham.edu

The Logic of the Trinity: Augustine to Ockham joins others in the 'Medieval Philosophy: Texts and Studies' collection for college-level theological scholars, and provides an in-depth history of the attempts of medieval thinkers to blend the spirituality of the Trinity with the logic, philosophy, science and politics of the times. Internal ontological questions about the Trinity are considered within context of the thoughts of Augustine, Aquinas, Ockham and other thinkers, with chapters considering the arguments surrounding the concepts of one God and the three-persona aspects representing the Trinity. By analyzing individual accounts of this Trinity, chapters offer the opportunity to cross-compare and consider the different theories. Scholarly Christian holdings will find this a key acquisition.

Unleash!
Perry Noble
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414366791, $15.99, www.tyndale.com

UNLEASH! BREAKING FREE FROM NORMALCY maintains that everyone has been custom designed by God with a purpose and plan to carry out - and yet most conduct their days with normalcy and predictability. UNLEASH advocates understanding the social and spiritual barriers that prevent advancement and keep individuals from achieving their higher purpose, offering chapters steeped in Biblical quotes to support a better plan of action and growth. Any Christian collection will find this an inspirational guide to personal transformation.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Faith Beyond Belief
Margaret Placentra Johnston
Quest Books
c/o The Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60189-0270
9780835609050, $17.95, www.questbooks.net

Faith Beyond Belief: Stories of Good People Who Left Their Church Behind is a powerful survey of those who have rejected their own church but continue in spiritual explorations, and consider the issues and perceptions of an increasing number of Americans who describe themselves as 'spiritual but not religious'. Stories of ten people's quests for spiritual integrity are accompanied by the author's insights and pair real-life stories with powerful reflections on spiritual evolution. A fascinating discussion evolves, suitable for any spirituality holding.

SQ21
Cindy Wigglesworth
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909
NY, NY 10003
9781590792353, $24.95, www.selectbooks.com

SQ21: THE TWENTY-ONE SKILLS OF SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE blends psychology and behavioral theory with a focus on spirituality and business pursuits to provide a combined concept helping business people develop and use their spiritual intelligence. There's a difference between earning money and leading a joyful life: SQ21 provides practical applications and skills that help readers in work and life in general, teaching how to make decisions on a higher level and how to handle high rates of change in the process. Exercises provided here are designed to support this spiritual intelligence, and teaches how to apply this to all kinds of life processes. A wide ranging of holdings will find it a winner.

The Purpose Driven Life
Rick Warren
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310329060, $22.99, www.zondervan.com

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE: WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR appears in an expanded edition celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the best-selling nonfiction guide. It holds a bonus of two additional chapters of 'The Envy Trap - I must be like you to be happy' and 'The People-Pleaser Trap - I must be liked by you to be happy'. It's a powerful key that in this rendition includes web links to a video and audio message for each chapter, contributing to a special edition that is far more than a reprint.


The Native American Studies Shelf

The James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection
Christina E. Burke, et.al.
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143040, $29.95, www.oupress.com

The James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection: Selected Works provides an encyclopedia of paintings and three-dimension works in a catalog of James T. Bialac's gathering of Native American drawings, prints, jewelry, baskets and textiles, and is a key acquisition for any Native American holding. Bialac first began collecting art in the 1950s: his collection would evolve behind the thousand kachina dolls he held to embrace paintings and a wide range of Native American art forms. This gathers works from indigenous cultures across North America and is an outstanding pick for arts and Native collections alike.

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher
Timothy Egan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780618969029, $28.00, www.hmhbooks.com

SHORT NIGHTS OF THE SHADOW CATCHER: THE EPIC LIFE AND IMMORTAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF EDWARD CURTIS details the untold story behind photographer Curtis' famous photos of Native American life, and is a 'must' for any serious Native American holding. Edward Curtis was a mountaineer and a famous photographer, but he was only thirty-two years old in 1900 when he decided to capture on film Native Americans in their element before their old ways vanished. He spent the next thirty years on a mission traveling across the country documenting the customs and histories of over eighty tribes, backed by the powerful names of Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan. His is an outstanding saga and highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Photographic History and Native American Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Singularity of Being
Mari Ruti
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823243150, $27.00, www.fordhampress.com

The Singularity of Being: Lacan and the Immortal Within blends philosophy, literary analysis and psychoanalysis in a guide arguing for the creativity of singular beings and presents a Lacanian vision of what makes us individually important and unique. It argues that the 'singular self' emerges in response to a directive from the real, which carries with it a force of obligation that can't be resisted. Singularity lends to individual distinctiveness and prevents closure: it includes elements of rebellion and change, and goes beyond social convention. Any college-level philosophy, social issues or literary holding will find this thought-provoking reading.

A Philosophical History of Love
Wayne Cristaudo
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412846264, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

A Philosophical History of Love is the culmination of years of thought about the basic experiences and expressions of love in the Western world, and provides a fine exploration of love in myth, philosophy and society. From primary philosophical sources to Dante and Spinoza, this considers love's enactment, philosophical examination, and modern challenges and includes analytical insights based on psychology as well as the reflections of thinkers over the ages. Any interested in romance and philosophical insights will find this a winner!


The International Studies Shelf

China's Search for Security
Andrew J. Nathan and Andrew Scobell
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231140508, $32.95, www.cup.columbia.edu

China's Search for Security offers an in-depth probe into China's foreign policy issues and challenges, which continue even as the nation gains power over it neighbors, and comes from two analysts who provide close inspection of the country's security concerns, both on its borders and in the region. It provides history to give plenty of insights into how foreign policy and local situations have evolved, considering Chinese views of the U.S. and other countries and why China is involved in Iran and North Korea, among other countries. The result is an in-depth survey highly recommended for any collection strong in Chinese history and politics.

The China Fallacy
Donald Gross
Continuum International Publishing Group
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781441100832, $120.00, www.continuumbooks.com

The China Fallacy: How the U.S. Can Benefit from China's Rise and Avoid Another Cold War comes from former White House and State Department official Donald Gross who challenges assumptions about China and the political policies based upon them. He documents the ongoing policy to 'contain' China's growth, power and influence in the world, tells how this approach has not ultimately served in our best interests, and makes the case for putting into place fair trade agreements that will benefit both sides. His intricate examination of China's policies and politics includes a history of political attitudes towards the evolving nation, and should be required reading for any college-level collection strong in China history, politics, and current issues.


The Political Science Shelf

Political Woman
Peter Collier
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601
New York, NY 10003
9781594036040, $25.99, www.encounterbooks.com

POLITICAL WOMAN: THE BIG LITTLE LIFE OF JEANE KIRKPATRICK provides a captivating biography and is the first to profile the life and times of Ronald Reagan's UN ambassador. It uses interviews and unique access to her private writings to provide an in-depth portrait of a woman who was a Party activist, a feminist, and more. More than just a review of her life and achievements, this biography considers many wider issues, such as the lasting impact of a female conservative and the politics that evolved post-Vietnam. Any political studies holding will find this insightful and revealing.

Obama's Globe
Bruce Herschensohn
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
9780825306853, $24.95, www.beaufortbooks.com

OBAMA'S GLOBE: A PRESIDENT'S ABANDONMENT OF U.S. ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD offers a different focus than most books on Obama, focusing on how he handles our allies around the world. It comes from a Pepperdine professor and foreign policy authority who here chronicles Obama's repeated failures in foreign policy and military strategy - and reviews errors made by presidents in the past. The focus on how foreign policy decisions affect the nation decades later offer more than a focus on Obama, providing an overall review of U.S. foreign policy decisions and errors in judgment. An intriguing discussion for any political studies shelf.


The Literary Studies Shelf

My Heart is Boundless
Eve LaPlante, Editor
Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781476702803, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Any collection strong in literary criticism, American literature or the works of Louisa May Alcott will want to add MY HEART IS BOUNDLESS: WRITINGS OF ABIGAIL MAY ALCOTT, LOUISA'S MOTHER. It's a lively survey outlining the real women behind the fiction in Little Women, and comes form newly revealed letters and diaries found in an attic trunk by Abigail's biographer and great-niece Eve LaPlante. The result is a fine coverage told in her own words documenting Abigail's life and influences: perfect for any general lending library or college-level holding concerned with Alcott's life and works.

Radical Chapters
Michael Doyle
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110
Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815610069, $29.95, www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu

RADICAL CHAPTERS: PACIFIST BOOKSELLER ROY KEPLER AND THE PAPERBACK REVOLUTION is a 'must' for who would understand the changing world of book selling, and comes from the owner of long-time literary bookstore Kepler's Books and Magazines, one of the biggest independent bookstores in American history. Kepler's store served as the focal point for the "paperback revolution" and he popularized the once-radical idea of selling affordable books. Any collection strong in literary evolution and American social history will find this a specific and powerful title perfect for understanding the progress of literary advancement in this country.

The Story of Ain't
David Skinner
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062027467, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

THE STORY OF AIN'T: AMERICA, ITS LANGUAGE, AND THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL DICTIONARY EVER PUBLISHED tells of the publication of Webster's Third New International Dictionary, which added thousands of new words while breaking tradition in describing how the language was used. It ignited controversy among literary and editorial circles around the country, involving linguists in basic arguments and principles about language and its evolution and science. One needn't be a literary student to appreciate THE STORY OF AIN'T: the story is told with a lively emphasis and captures a cast of involved characters to make for an entertaining history of the English language's evolution. Any general lending library will find this a fine and spirited account!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Twelve Clues of Christmas
Rhys Bowen
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425252789, $24.95, www.penguin.com

The Twelve Clues of Christmas provides a fine Royal Spyness mystery and revolves around one Georgie, stuck in a dreary Scottish castle with family members and anticipating a depressing holiday. When she applies for an assistant position to a hostess working a large holiday party in a lovely English village her prospects appear to be looking up - until a series of bodies begin to appear, involving her in an unusual holiday murder mystery. The Twelve Clues of Christmas is an outstanding and intriguing story that arrived too late for holiday mention but deserves ongoing recommendation year-round.

Bitter Blood
Rachel Caine
New American Library
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780451238115, $17.99, www.penguin.com

BITTER BLOOD offers another in the Morganville Vampires series and is a fine pick especially recommended for prior fans of the series. It continues the adventures of Claire Danvers and her friends, who live in a small Texas town populated by vampires. Here the vampires and humans are divided - but Claire has ties to both, and refuses to take sides. When a television crew comes to town looking for ghostly news, trouble erupts, and Claire and her friends find themselves charged with keeping an uncertain secret in this fine and vivid vampire novel.

Skulduggery
Carolyn Hart
Seventh Street Books
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616147068, $13.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

SKULDUGGERY opens in China in 1941 when the ancient bones of the "Peking Man" are placed in two wooden crates for shipment to the U.S. to escape the invading Japanese - only to vanish in transit. Fast forward TO San Francisco in the 1980s, when a stranger calls upon noted anthropologist Ellen with evidence of the bones, only to find himself on the run escaping danger. A closely woven plot assumes a cat-and-mouse blend of high drama and danger as the mystery deepens, making for a satisfying plot for any mystery holding.

Fatal Induction
Bernadette Pajer
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590586129, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

FATAL INDUCTION provides a fine Professor Bradshaw mystery and the second in a series of historical mysteries set in 1901 Seattle. Here a competition involves the Professor in electrical inventing when President McKinley is assassinated and a peddler and child turns up missing. The child may have witnessed a murder, and he embarks on a search for her that brings him into the underworld of Seattle proper. A powerful forensic and investigative mystery with satisfying twists and turns of plot makes this a winning and highly recommended murder mystery suitable for any general lending collection strong in historical settings.


The Fiction Shelf

Daughter of Fu-Manchu
Sax Rohmer
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street
London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857686060, $9.95, www.titanbooks.com

DAUGHTER OF FU-MANCHU: THE CONTINUE ADVENTURES OF THE ORIGINAL EVIL GENIUS provides the fourth in a new series of the only complete, authorized set of Fu-Manchu novels in print. Set in London in 1913, the evil mastermind here faces a special challenge in his own daughter, who possesses all of his secrets and harbors her own thirst for power. This new edition brings the violent and dangerous world of Fu-Manchu to life for new generations of readers, and is a pick for any holding looking to resurrect the classic stories.

Mythic Imagination: Collected Short Fiction
Joseph Campbell
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681532, $24.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

Mythic Imagination: Collected Short Fiction belongs in any literary library strong in novels and mythology as well as many a new age collection, and collects for the first time Campbell's mythic fiction, produced before he became famous for his non-fiction focus on mythology. Campbell published his first short story at twenty-nine and his focus on narrative led to some masterful storytelling approaches captured here. These stories, written during the years following publication of his famous The hero with a Thousand Faces in 1949, offer fiction that explores how narrative underlies hero tales from around the world. Literary collections will find this a winner!


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Harry Potter Film Wizardry, updated edition
Brian Sibley and David Heyman
Harper Design
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061997815, $45.00, www.harperdesignbooks.com

Harry Potter Film Wizardry has been revised and expanded and offers a lovely blend of filmmaking secrets and unpublished photography and art from the film. In 2010 it was the first book to provide behind-the-scenes insights into the Harry Potter film franchise: this newly updated edition offers additional pages on the final films and features a stand-alone photo album with new and previously unpublished images and photos of the stars and movie moments. Interviews with cast members rounds out the celebration, highly recommended for any fan of the Potter movies.

The Art of Rise of the Guardians
Ramin Zahed
Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
9781608871087, $40.00, www.insighteditions.com

The Art of Rise of the Guardians provides a fine oversized, full-color celebration of DreamWorks Animation's most ambitious project yet: a mythical story that allowed studio artists to create a magic story of childhood and childhood fantasy. Over 400 pieces of reproduced art include storyboards, effects concepts and cuts from the film along with discussions of DreamWorks' animation challenges and development process. Commentary from all involved, from the director to producers and designers and crew, make this a stunning movie guide loaded with special effects insights and highly recommended for any film animation library!


The Women's Studies Shelf

Lillian Gilbreth
Julie Des Jardins
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813347639, $20.00, www.westviewpress.com

Lillian Gilbreth's research in efficiency changed business and domestic worlds forever, producing wide-ranging changes in how domestic tasks are completed, how consumers are sold on products, and more, and thus LILLIAN GILBRETH: REDEFINING DOMESTICITY is a key acquisition for any studying women's issues and influences. Chapters highlight the entire era in the process of showing how Gilbreth, mother of twelve children, conducted research that led to changes in industrial engineering perceptions and household tasks. Primary sources from her life lend to a combination of biography and social history that will prove key to any college-level women's issues history holding.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Best From the Tomb
Peter Normanton, Editor
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490434, $27.95, www.twomorrows.com

The Best From the Tomb gathers highlights from The Tomb magazine, a sterling example of horror comics at its best, and is especially notable because the UK issues have been scarce and highly collectible in the U.S. until now. This 'best of' compilation places The Tomb's horror stories in the hands of non-collectors and collectors alike, offering highlights from its ten years of publication and including comics that they tried to ban along with revised, updated articles on their creators. A centerfold of color pages compliments the black and white images throughout and the in-depth discussions, making for a horror fan's treasure trove of detail!

Once Upon a Time Machine
Andrew Carl and Chris Stevens
Dark Horse Comics, Inc.
10956 SE Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222
9781616550400, $24.99, www.darkhorse.com

Once Upon a Time Machine offers a lovely graphic novel fantasy revolving around some twenty-five retold tales, all in full color. From Rip Van Winkle and The Three Muskateers to Red Riding Hood and Pinocchio, this offers delightful graphic novel embellishments on classic stories from both old fairy tales and new spins on the topic. The result is a solid collection of fables and fairy tales perfect for any who appreciate the graphic novel format and who want a combination of classics and modern takes.


The Automotive Shelf

How to Restore Your Pontiac GTO
Don Keefe
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709696, $29.95, www.cartechbooks.com

HOW TO RESTORE YOUR PONTIAC GTO 1964-1974 goes beyond the usual auto restoration guides to discuss how to restore everything from the body and trim to brakes, chassis and steering. Step-by-step captions accompany color photos and keys to restoring a GTO to factory-new specs, and come from an editor of the official Pontiac GTO newsletter. From the most desirable models to restore to how to repair trunks, floorpans and how to return an engine to top condition, this is a 'must' for any GTO owner who wants specifics - not generalities - on restoration options.

Lost Hot Rods II
Pat Ganahl
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709931, $34.95, www.cartechbooks.com

LOST HOT RODS II: MORE REMARKABLE STORIES OF HOW THEY WERE FOUND packs in a fine collection of once-famous unique cars lost over time. Fans of the first volume will find this an excellent complimentary acquisition, picking up where the first book left off and providing a fine history of hot rodding and stories of cars that were destroyed or just faded away. The focus on what happened to these vehicles returns them to history and shares the full story of each, from how it was built to why it was lost and how it was rediscovered here. A powerful pick for any transportation and car history collection, this is packed with lovely photos throughout.

How to Fabricate Automotive Fiberglass & Carbon Fiber Parts
Daniel Burrill with Jeffrey Zurschmeide
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709986, $29.95, www.cartechbooks.com

How to Fabricate Automotive Fiberglass & Carbon Fiber Parts is a 'must have' for any collection catering to automotive readers. The specifics of how to fabricate parts from air dams and wings to hoods and side skirts considers numerous interior parts fabrications ranging from gauge panels and consoles to door panels. Common repairs and interior and exterior parts usually given to fabricators are covered in a title that tells how to construct molds for simple and complex parts and how to construct wood patterns and undertake specialty fabrication and repair projects. The result is a top recommendation for any automotive how-to holding.

The Definitive Shelby Mustang Guide 1965-1970
Greg Kolasa
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709979, $39.95, www.cartechbooks.com

The Definitive Shelby Mustang Guide 1965-1970: Facts, Figures and Features of Shelby's Legendary Mustangs is for any car enthusiast interested in Shelby Mustangs, and comes from a historian and registrar who details the specifics on performance and appearance alterations of the Shelby. Factory documentation, interviews with Shelby American designers and engineers, and a history of the car and its technical specs and evolution make for a guide packed with color photos and commentary key for any Shelby Mustang enthusiast.

Airstream Memories
Joan Brunhowski and Michael Closer
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764341632, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

AIRSTREAM MEMORIES focuses on the legendary Airstream travel trailer and assembles a fine collection of nearly four hundred vintage color and black and white photos and over four hundred pieces of Airstream memorabilia from the authors' collection - which includes nearly three hundred postcards. Many items are rare and never before seen in print, while the accompanying details on Airstream history, advertising, rallies and art makes for a blend of artistic survey and whimsical cultural observation that will delight not just automotive fans and Airstream enthusiasts, but any interested in vintage car history and culture.


The Humor Shelf

The Onion Book of Known Knowledge
The Onion
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780316133265, $29.95, www.littlebrown.com

The Onion Book of Known Knowledge is packed with tongue-in-cheek observations and ideas and is a fun encyclopedia containing "the total sum of mankind's knowledge". From a definition of Congress as a "National legislative body of the U.S. government that had such amazing potential, damn it" to a description of Walt Disney as an "American film producer, writer, animator, voice actor and entertainer who was renowned for his childlike enthusiasm for money", this is crammed with fun observations that will delight any with a sense of criticism and humor.

F for Effort!
Richard Beasor
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452113227, $9.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

Studying not only takes up effort and brain power, but too much time. This collection provides hilarious homework results by kids, and inventive and wildly inaccurate responses to test questions, and is an outrageously funny gathering perfect for fans of 'bloopers' and student responses. Some examples: Q: What is a super-saturated solution? A: A solution that holds more than it can hold. Q: Correct the error in the sentence: the girl were extraordinarily intelligent. A: The boy were extremely intelligent. Packed with fun, it's a pick teachers, parents and many a former student will relish.

Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles 1977 to 1978
Dick Browne
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781848562363, $19.95, www.titanbooks.com

Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles 1977 to 1978 celebrates the cartoon character with black and white gatherings from daily newspapers from 1977 to 1978, and is a fine recommendation for any fan of the Viking looter. Hagar is a lazy Viking who makes a lot of mistakes - and is surrounded by characters, from his less-than-intelligent dog Snert to his overbearing but long-suffering wife Helga. It's a fun, appealing collection especially recommended for any prior Hagar fan.


The California Shelf

A Clamor for Equality
Paul Bryan Gray
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttupress.org
9780896727632, $39.95, www.amazon.com

"A Clamor for Equality: Emergence and Exile of California Activist Francisco P. Ramirez" by academician and historian Paul Bryan Gray is a 432 page biography showcasing the life and accomplishments of one of California's hitherto unsung heroes of the 19th century struggle in southern California for political and social equality for its Mexican-American citizenry. In 1855, at the age of 18, political radical Francisco P. Ramirez launched 'El Clamor Publico, a Spanish-language newspaper advocated Mexican-Americans to become politically active and vote in to governmental offices at all levels men who would work to promote and secure their rights. He would continue that struggle for the rest of his life and add to it significant work toward the abolition of slavery, free elections, and education for women. Informed and informative, "A Clamor for Equality" is superbly crafted biography of seminal scholarship and should be considered an invaluable addition for academic 20th Century California History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Hanford
Steve R. Rogers
Arcadia Publishing
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9780738593111, $21.99, www.arcadiapublishing.com

HANFORD joins others in the 'Then and Now' series comparing the present with the past and analyzing the evolution of a small town by placing historical images side by side with contemporary photos. This approach provides fine documentation of Hanford's evolution and will prove a top pick for any California history holding; especially those considering titles about the area that are packed with vintage photos rarely seen elsewhere.

With Golden Visions Brought Before Them
Will Bagley
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142845, $45.00, www.oupress.com

With Golden Visions Brought Before Them: Trails to the Mining West, 1849-1852 offers the second chronicle in Bagley's Overland West series and captures the excitement and drama of the gold rush to California in the mid-nineteenth century. This story is told through eyewitness testimonies of those who experienced the rush and, as Bagley points out, the event prompted suffering, sacrifice, and hardships that made many turn back from the endeavor. The effect on America's Native tribes was a disaster - and that's another story central to With Golden Visions Brought Before Them, differentiating this from other historical approaches and making it suitable for California and Native American history holdings alike.

The Gulf of California
Richard C. Brusca, Editor
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816527397, $75.00, www.uapress.arizona.edu

The Gulf of California: Biodiversity and Conservation offers college-level readers a pointed and in-depth survey of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) and its 6,000 recorded animal species. Most of the Gulf's coast is a shadow of the diversity that it exhibited just half a century ago: this volume offers contributions by over twenty Gulf of California experts from both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border and considers its ecosystem, changes, and conservation. While this could have been featured in our Science Shelf section, it's reviewed here because no college-level California collection should be without it.

Soft Soil, Black Grapes
Simone Cinotto
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10003
9780814717387, $35.00, www.nyupress.org

California and general food and wine libraries alike will find Soft Soil, Black Grapes: The Birth of Italian Winemaking in California to be a powerful history linking Italian immigrants to the evolution of California's wine grape industry. How did a relatively small group make such a huge impact? This account offers an ethnic focus in considering the origins and evolution of California's wine industry, exploring the visionary ideas of transplants who worked with different soils and growing conditions and old traditions, melding the two. It focuses on the wine-makers' access to family ties - not finances or previous grape-growing experience - that ultimately enabled them to evolve a successful approach beyond their wildest dreams. And it provides a focus that is key for any California or wine collection. Highly recommended!


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

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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design