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Library Bookwatch

Volume 10, Number 1 January 2015 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Psychology Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Social Issues Shelf Poetry Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Mathematics Shelf International Studies Shelf Gardening Shelf
Criminology Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Reference Shelf Economic Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Library Science Shelf Education Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf Science Shelf
Photography Shelf Anthropology Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Furthering America's Research Enterprise
Richard F. Celeste, Ann Griswold, and Miron L. Straf, editors
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9780309305228 $64.00 www.nap.edu

Furthering America's Research Enterprise is a scholarly analysis of the value of scientific research in the United States, which has led to incredible discoveries and technological advances. In today's era of lean budgets, how can America's cherished tradition of scientific innovation and discovery continue? Furthering America's Research Enterprise examines why American scientific research has historically been so successful, what lessons can be learned from the benefits of these research investments, and how those who allocate funds for scientific research can optimize their limited resources. An especially valuable tool for policy makers and those in private or public institutions that fund research, Furthering America's Research is well-reasoned, plain-spoken, and highly recommended.

The Sibling Survival Guide
Don Meyer and Emily Holl, editors
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
9781606130131 $21.95 www.woodbinehouse.com

Accessible to both teen and adult readers, The Sibling Survival Guide: Indispensable Information for Brothers and Sisters of Adults with Disabilities lives up its title as a practical, non-nonsense resource. Testimony, insights, and tips from people with disabled siblings fill the pages of this positive-minded, life-affirming guide. Topics range from everyday problems, to relationships and marriage, to legal issues and planning for the future. "...neither the US Treasury Department nor the Social Security Administration (SSA) recognize power of attorney when the individual's governmental benefits are concerned. Therefore, if you have power of attorney for a beneficiary who receives Social Security benefits, you must still file an application to serve as his representative payee." An absolute "must-have" for family members of people with disabilities, The Sibling Survival Guide is worthy of the highest recommendation.

Honeymoon
Patrick Modiano, author
Barbara Wright, translator
David R. Godine, Publisher
PO Box 450, Jaffrey, NH 03452
9781567925388 $16.95 www.godine.com

Patrick Modiano (winner of the 2014 Noble Prize for Literature) presents Honeymoon, an original novel about a midlife crisis that gradually subsumes perception of time. The central character Jean B. has spent his life making documentary films about lost explorers; now, it is Jean who feels aimless. He abandons his wife and career, leaving a false trail, and hides in a Parisian suburb where his own memories and imaginings drawn from a past meeting with a refugee couple encroach upon his waking reality. Superbly translated from the original French by Barbara Wright, Honeymoon is slightly surreal, profoundly reflective, at times tragic, and highly recommended.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Book Trade In Early Modern England
John Hinks & Victoria Gardener, editors
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720-5038
www.oakknoll.com
9781584563273, $55.00, www.amazon.com

In the late fifteenth century, the book trade in England was modest in scale and ambition, hamstrung by legislation, centered in London and heavily dependent on its European connections. During the seventeenth century a nationwide market for books emerged and in 1695 the Licensing Act lapsed, allowing provincial printing to develop. By the early decades of the eighteenth century the trade had been radically transformed: it was national in character, better organized and perceptibly 'modern' in its structure. These essays, from recent 'Print Networks' conferences, shed light on this transformation, revealing the practices and perceptions of authors, translators, producers and collectors, the shifting geographical networks that characterized the early modern book trade and, crucially, what these changes meant for readers. Contributors: Maureen Bell, Bernard Capp, Sara Barker, Stacy Erickson, Victoria Gardner, John Hinks, Lucy Lewis, Dan Mills, Harry Newman, Charlotte Anne Panofre, Renae Satterley, Louise Wilson. A seminal anthology of outstanding scholarship, "The Book Trade in Early Modern England: Practices, Perceptions, Connections" is the twelfth volume of the outstanding Oak Knoll Press 'Print Networks' series and provides an invaluable historical overview of how the publishing industry for the English speaking reader evolved into a viable commercial enterprise. Informed and informative, "The Book Trade in Early Modern England: Practices, Perceptions, Connections" will prove to be an invaluable and much appreciated addition to academic library collections.

A Long Way from the Armstrong Beer Parlour
Richard Landon
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720-5038
www.oakknoll.com
9781584563303, $49.95, www.amazon.com

Richard Landon (1942-2011) was the long-time director of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto, where he also taught courses in bibliography, book history, as well as rare books and manuscripts librarianship. "A Long Way from the Armstrong Beer Parlour: A Life in Rare Books: Essays by Richard Landon" is a 440 page compendium comprised of Landon's personal essays deftly collected into three major sections: Autobiography; Bibliography and Book History; Collecting and the Antiquarian Book Trade. Erudite, informed and informative, these essays will be of special interest to bibliophiles, as well as those actively engaged in the publishing industry, academic and community library systems, and rare book collectors. Of special interest for dedicated collectors and rare book librarians in charge of acquisitions is Landon's essay 'Who Owned it and Why It Matters: Provenance'. Enhanced with an excellent introduction by Marie Elena Korey, "A Long Way from the Armstrong Beer Parlour: A Life in Rare Books: Essays by Richard Landon" will prove to be a prized addition to personal, professional, and academic library collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Innate Immunity And Inflammation
Ruslan Medzhitov, editor
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
9781621820291, $135.00, www.amazon.com

The innate immune system, also known as the nonspecific immune system and the first line of defense, is an important subsystem of the overall immune system that comprises the cells and mechanisms that defend the host from infection by other organisms. The cells of the innate system recognize and respond to pathogens in a generic way, but, unlike the adaptive immune system (which is found only in vertebrates), it does not confer long-lasting or protective immunity to the host. Innate immune systems provide immediate defense against infection, and are found in all classes of plant and animal life. They include both humoral immunity components and cell-mediated immunity components. Compiled and edited by Ruslan Medzhitov, "Innate Immunity and Inflammation" is a 240 page compendium comprised of fourteen seminal contributions by experts in the field of immune system studies. The papers range from 'Microbial Sensing by Toll-Like Receptors and Intracellular Nucleic Acid Sensors; to The Chemokine System in Innate Immunity; to Inflammation and the Blood Microvascular System; to Approaching the Next Revolution? Evolutionary integration of Neutral and Immune Pathogen Sensing and Response. Enhanced with the inclusion of a five page Index, "Innate Immunity and Inflammation" is a critically important addition to academic library Medical Science reference collections and Immune System Studies supplemental studies reading lists.

Behcet's Disease
Joanne Zeis
Mercury Learning and Information, LLC
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781938549403, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Behcet's Disease, sometimes called Behcet's syndrome, or Morbus Behcet, Behcet-Adamantiades syndrome, or Silk Road disease, is a rare immune-mediated small-vessel systemic vasculitis that often presents with mucous membrane ulceration and ocular problems. Behcet's disease (BD) was named in 1937 after the Turkish dermatologist Hulusi Behcet, who first described the triple-symptom complex of recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, and uveitis. As a systemic disease, it can also involve visceral organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and neurological systems. This syndrome can be fatal due to ruptured vascular aneurysms or severe neurological complications. "Behcet's Disease" by BD expert Joanne Zeis is a 125 page compendium the provides a history, explanation, and description of this ailment in the United States and Western European countries. Of special note are the descriptions of diagnostic features, as well as information on medications both current and in development. Enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying disc containing figures, photographs, and web links to references in the text and other sources of information, "Behcet's Disease" is strongly recommended for academic and medical center reference collections in general, and medical professionals dealing with cases of Bechet's Disease in particular. It should be noted that "Behcet's Disease" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.95).

Losing Patience
James Peinkofer, LCSW
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
www.newhorizonpressbooks.com
9780882824789, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a constellation of medical findings: subdural hematoma, retinal bleeding, fractures, and cerebral edema from which physicians, consistent with current medical understanding, infer child abuse caused by violent shaking. In a majority of cases there is no visible sign of external injury. Shaken baby syndrome is, a subset of the broader form of child abuse termed abusive head trauma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies SBS as 'an injury to the skull or intracranial contents of an infant or young child (< 5 years of age) due to inflicted blunt impact and/or violent shaking'. Knowledgeably written by SBS expert James Peinkofer (who draws upon his more than eighteen years of professional experience and expertise in the field of medical and mental health clinical social work), "Losing Patience: The Problems, Alarms and Psychological Issues of Shaken Baby Syndrome" is a 240 page compendium that identifies which infants and children are most vulnerable to SBS; what to look for (and look out for) in a caregiver; and what families should do if they suspect SBS is occurring. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Losing Patience: The Problems, Alarms and Psychological Issues of Shaken Baby Syndrome" is critically important reading for family members and friends having to deal with SBS issues, and is a critically important addition to community library Health & Medicine reference collections. It should be noted that "Losing Patience: The Problems, Alarms and Psychological Issues of Shaken Baby Syndrome" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.91).


The Cookbook Shelf

Clean Eating Freezer Meals
Tiffany McCauley
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455619085 $25.95 www.pelicanpub.com

Clean Eating Freezer Meals is a cookbook designed especially for making nutritious, healthy meals emphasizing natural, unprocessed food. The twist is that all dishes are "freezer-friendly"; family providers short on time can store these breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and desserts in the freezer. Meals can later be withdrawn from the freezer and made ready-to-eat in minutes. Recipes include Mexican-Style Breakfast Burritos, Garlicky Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna Rollups, Hawaiian Baked Beans, Chinese 5-Spice Stir Fry, Thai-Style Coconut Shrimp Soup, Balsamic Cherry Pork Chops, Creamy Mango Popsicles, and much more. Highly recommended!

Cooking Well
Sonali Ruder
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578263721, $12.50, www.amazon.com

Compiled by physician and chef Sonali Ruder, and featuring contributions from Jo Brielyn, "Cooking Well: Anti-Aging: Over 100 Easy Recipes for Health, Wellness & Longevity" is a 176 page culinary compendium comprised of nutritious, delicious, and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, each of which are as palate pleasing as they are appetite satisfying! The recipes range from Raspberry Almond Chia Pudding; Quinoa Salad with Dried Cranberries and Pistachios; Stuffed Patty Pan Squash with Quinoa, Grass-Fed Beef, and Spinach; and Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala; to Mushroom Barley Risotto; Roasted Maple Dijon Carrots; Maple Orange Spice Cranberry Sauce; and Dark Chocolate Almond Biscotti. "Cooking Well: Anti-Aging: Over 100 Easy Recipes for Health, Wellness & Longevity" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that ""Cooking Well: Anti-Aging: Over 100 Easy Recipes for Health, Wellness & Longevity" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

Happy Herbivore Holidays & Gatherings
Lindsay S. Nixon
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781940363264 $19.95 www.benbellabooks.com

Happy Herbivore Holidays & Gatherings: Easy Plant-Based Recipes for Your Healthiest Celebrations and Special Occasions lives up to its title as a treasury of vegetarian and vegan recipes, suitable for a whole foods, plant-based diet (no oil or animal products, including dairy or eggs). Appetizers, party foods, and entire meals are included; recipes are grouped according to their appropriate season or event, from Thanksgiving to Easter/Passover to picnics, kid-friendly parties, romantic occasions, and more. Recipes include mouth-watering delights such as Stuffed Acorn Squash, Creamed Kale, Spaghetti alla Puttanesca, Lemon-Rosemary Meatballs (made with kidney beans, not meat). Highly recommended, as are author Lindsay S. Nixon's previous "Happy Herbivore" cookbooks.

Better Homes and Gardens Skinny Dinners
Better Homes & Gardens
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9780544336698, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Where exotic diets fail, sensible and healthy eating will succeed. Especial with meals planned with the assistance of the "Better Homes and Gardens Skinny Dinners: 200 Calorie-Smart Recipes that Your Family Will Love". This colorfully illustrated, 300 page compendium is comprised of two hundred palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes that are as nutritious as they are delicious. Each recipe provides calorie, fat, protein, and fiber information that will prove invaluable. The dishes range from Herbed Chicken, Orzo, and Zucchini; Vegetable-Loaded Pasta Bake; Crunchy Peanut Pork Lettuce Wraps; and Steak Sandwiches with Spicy Aioli; to Pork Tacos with Spicy Watermelon Salsa; Tuna-Nectarine Salad with Bread Toasts; Porcini Eggplant; Miso-Ginger Kale; and Chocolate-Sesame Cookies. All entrees are 425 calories or less; side dishes are 100 calories or less; and desserts are 200 calories or less. Of special interest is the 'Make it a Meal' feature suggesting serve-alongs for every main-dish recipe. Very highly recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Better Homes and Gardens Skinny Dinners: 200 Calorie-Smart Recipes that Your Family Will Love" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.22).

The Modern Kosher Kitchen
Ronnie Fein
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781592336357, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Kashrut (in English - Kosher) is the set of Jewish religious dietary laws. Among the numerous laws that form part of kashrut are the prohibitions on the consumption of unclean animals (such as pork, shellfish (both Mollusca and Crustacea) and most insects, with the exception of certain species of kosher locusts), mixtures of meat and milk, and the commandment to slaughter mammals and birds according to a process known as shechita. There are also laws regarding agricultural produce that might impact on the suitability of food for consumption. "The Modern Kosher Kitchen: More than 125 Inspired Recipes for a New Generation of Kosher Cooks" is a superbly illustrated, 208 page compendium comprised of fully kosher recipes for dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. These 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Seared Tuna Steak Sticks with Wasabi-Sesame Dip; Chicken Soup with Curry and Apple; Roasted Vegetable Hash with Egg and Horseradish Creme Fraiche; and Pan-Seared Marinated Hanger Steaks with Peppers and Onions; to Double Corn Fritters with Scallion and Chile Pepper; Bread and Tomato Gratin; Braised Lamb Shoulder Roast with Chocolate; and a Honey Cashew-Cranberry Pie. As much fun to browse through as to create a family meal menu from, "The Modern Kosher Kitchen: More than 125 Inspired Recipes for a New Generation of Kosher Cooks" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99) and very highly recommended for any and all personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Health Snacks
Emily Von Euw
Page Street Publishing Company
27 Congress Street, Suite 103, Salem, MA 01970
Trina Kaye Organization
www.pagestreetpublishing.com
9781624140914, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Knowledgeably compiled by popular food blogger Emily Von Euw, "100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Health Snacks" is a beautifully illustrated, 208 page compendium comprised of imaginative and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that will please any palate, satisfy any appetite, help with weight control issues, and generally supplement a healthy life style. The recipes range from a Lime and Apple Aura; Herb Happiness; Radical Rootz; Berry Citrus Blitz; and Pina Colada; to Blueberrylicious Smoothie; Curried Carrot Cream; Spiced Mylk; and Peppermint Spirulina Bars with Chocolate Fudge. As much fun to browse through as it is inspiring to prepare delightful culinary treats with, "100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Health Snacks" is truly extraordinary and highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Health Snacks" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.89).


The Psychology Shelf

When All Else Fails
Rubin Battino MS
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845908942 $29.95 www.crownhousepublishing.com

Practicing therapist Rubin Battino MS presents When All Else Fails: Some New and Some Old Tools for Doing Brief Therapy, a thoughtful discussion of tools, techniques, and options for therapy when there is little time to spare. Although multiple methodologies (gestalt therapy, neurolinguistic programming, encounter groups and group therapy, psychodrama and more) are discussed, the role and value of hypnosis receives especial focus. When All Else Fails is a superb resources especially for professional seeking to broaden their practice and options.

Essentials of Hypnosis, second edition
Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8
New York, NY 10017-9209
9781138814288 $44.95 www.routledge.com

Now in an updated second edition, Essentials of Hypnosis is a detailed introduction to the field of hypnosis and its use in neuroscience, psychology, and as a treatment tool. Principles and methods of hypnosis are also discussed at length. Author Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D. draws upon his experience as a clinical psychologist and family therapist, and is the recipient of multiple lifetime achievement awards from the International Society of Hypnosis, the American Psychological Association's Society of Psychological Hypnosis, and more. Highly recommended especially for college library shelves.

A Practical Guide to PTSD Treatment
Nancy C. Bernardy & Matthew J. Friedman, editors
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433818325, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD may develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as sexual assault, warfare, serious injury, or threats of imminent death. The diagnosis may be given when a group of symptoms, such as disturbing recurring flashbacks, avoidance or numbing of memories of the event, and hyperarousal, continue for more than a month after the occurrence of a traumatic event. Most people having experienced a traumatizing event will not develop PTSD. People who experience assault-based trauma are more likely to develop PTSD, as opposed to people who experience non-assault based trauma such as witnessing trauma, accidents, and fire events. Children are less likely to experience PTSD after trauma than adults, especially if they are under ten years of age. War veterans are commonly at risk for PTSD. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by academicians and PTSD experts Nancy C. Bernardy and Matthew J. Friedman, "A Practical Guide to PTSD Treatment: Pharmacological and Psychotherapeutic Approaches" is a 194 page compendium comprised of eleven critically important papers on PTSD experts and researchers deftly organized into three major sections: Background and Assessment; Pharmacological and Psychotherapeutic Approaches; Comorbid Disorders and Unique Presentations. Enhanced with a fourteen page Index, "A Practical Guide to PTSD Treatment: Pharmacological and Psychotherapeutic Approaches" is a seminal publication that should be a part of every academic library's Psychology/Psychiatry reference collection in general, and PTSD treatment supplemental studies reading list in particular.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

At The Cutting Edge 2014
Dwight H. Merriam, editor
ABA Publishing
321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-7598
9781627228404, $49.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Dwight H. Merriam, "At The Cutting Edge 2014: Land Use Law From The Urban Lawyer" is a 187 page compendium comprised of eight original papers on a variety of legal ramifications of land use issues. From Daniel P. Dalton's 'The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized persons Act - Recent Decisions and Developments'; to 'Recent Developments in Eminent Domain: Public Use' by the team of Mark M. Murakami, Bethany C.K. Ace, and Robert H. Thomas; to Sorell E. Negro's 'Recent Developments in Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change'; to 'Recent Developments in Regulatory Takings' by Robert H. Thomas, "At The Cutting Edge 2014" offers a wealth of up-to-date information directly applicable to land use issues in the law. "At The Cutting Edge 2014" is very strongly recommended for professional and academic library Judicial Studies reference collections in general and land use law supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Secrets of the Oak Woodlands
Kate Marianchild, author
Ann Meyer Maglinte, illustrator
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597142625 $18.00 www.heydaybooks.com

Secrets of the Oak Woodlands: Plants & Animals Among California's Oaks lives up to its title as a user-friendly guidebook to the flora, fauna, and ecology of California's woodlands. Beautiful, realistic color illustrations are interspersed among descriptive text, thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. A wonderful enrichment for hikers and nature lovers, Secrets of the Oak Woodlands is highly recommended. Also a choice pick is Gordon W. Frankie, et. al.'s "California Bees & Blooms: A Guide for Gardeners and Naturalists" (9781597142946, $28.00).

Why Did the Chicken Cross the World?
Andrew Lawler
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781476729893 $26.00 www.simonsays.com

Veteran journalist Andrew Lawler presents Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? The Epic Saga of the Bird that Powers Civilization, an amazing chronicle of the domestic chicken, from its jungle fowl origins to its use in cockfighting to its roles in agriculture, cuisine, religious rituals, gambling games, and medicine. "...much of the Roman knowledge of raising chickens appears to have come from the Greek island of Delos, a center of a lucrative poultry production that likely provided a model for the business at home. By the height of the Roman Empire, chickens were a common sight in the bustling marketplaces." Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Why Did the Chicken Cross the World? is as entertaining as it is educational, and enthusiastically recommended for public library collections.

Australian High Country Raptors
Jerry Olsen
CISRO Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9780643109162, $69.95, www.amazon.com

Birds of prey, also known as raptors, hunt and feed on other animals. The term "raptor" is derived from the Latin word rapere (meaning to seize or take by force). These birds are characterized by keen vision that allows them to detect prey during flight and powerful talons and beaks. Compiled with expert commentary by Jerry Olsen, "Australian High Country Raptors" is a very nicely illustrated, informed and informative, 340 page compendium devoted to providing an complete presentation on all of the birds of prey that fly the skies of Australia. Enhanced with two appendices (Diurnals; Sick and Injured Raptors); a two page listing of scientific names of raptors mentioned in the text; a thirteen page bibliography (References), and a comprehensive Index, "Australian High Country Raptors" is an extraordinary instructive reference that is especially recommended for professional and academic library Aviary Studies reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "Australian High Country Raptors" is also available in a Kindle edition ($55.96).


The Social Issues Shelf

Social Justice and the Indian Rope Trick
Anthony de Jasay, author
Hartmut Kliemt, editor
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46250
www.libertyfund.org
9780865978843, $22.68, www.amazon.com

Anthony de Jasay was born at Aba, Hungary in 1925 and was educated at Szekesfehervar and Budapest, taking a degree in Agriculture. In 1947-48 he worked as a free-lance journalist, his activity forcing him to flee from the country in 1948. After two years in Austria, he emigrated to Australia in 1950 and took a part-time course in Economics at the University of Western Australia. Winning a Hackett Studentship, he went to Oxford in 1955 and was elected a research fellow of Nuffield College where he stayed till 1962, publishing papers in the Economic Journal, the Journal of Political Economy and other scholarly journals. In 1962 he moved to Paris and worked there as a banker, first in an executive capacity and then on his own account, till 1979, doing investment business in several European countries and the United States. In 1979, he retired to the Normandy coast where he still lives. He has a wife, three children, and three grandchildren. While his initial interest and training were in economics, he has later turned to political philosophy, and his writings draw on both. He has published five books, several of which have been translated into a total of six languages, as well as numerous articles, mainly in English but also in French and German. Anthony de Jasay writes Reflections from Europe, a monthly column for The Library of Economics and Liberty. "Social Justice and the Indian Rope Trick" is a 200 page compendium comprised of papers written by Anthony de Jasay on the subjects of social justice and economics. Erudite, informed, informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Social Justice and the Indian Rope Trick" very highly recommended for community and academic library collections, as well as supplemental reading lists in Economics and Social Justice studies curriculums. It should be noted that "Social Justice and the Indian Rope Trick" is also available in a paperback edition (9780865978850, $14.50).


The Poetry Shelf

The Poem She Didn't Write and Other Poems
Olena Kalytiak Davis
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.coppercanyonpress.org
9781556594595, $23.00, www.amazon.com

While poetry is the language of love, it is also the language of love lost, innocence lost, youth lost, and aspirations unfulfilled. It is a language that Olena Kalytiak Davis has truly mastered in all its simplicity, complexity, and nuance. "The Poem She Didn't Write and Other Poems" is a 110 page compendium comprised of just such poetry written in a physical style reminiscent of E. E. Cumming in her avoidence of capital letters. All in all, an impressive body of intensely personal experiences that have a universal resonance that is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Poetry collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Snow Queen and Other Stories
Hans Christian Andersen, author
Read by Clare Corbett
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
9781843798712 $17.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com

The Snow Queen and Other Stories is an unabridged audiobook adaptation of the classic fairy tale for all ages. When the mysterious Snow Queen sweeps young Kay away to her distant palace in the frozen north, Kay's friend Gerda must undertake an arduous and dangerous quest o bring him back! Four other beloved tales from Anderson's boundless imagination are also included: "The Leap-Frog", "The Old House", "The Snowman", and "The Daisy". The Snow Queen and Other Stories is ideal for gift-giving or for public library audiobook collections. 2 CDs, 2 hours 4 min. Also highly recommended is Thomas Hardy's "Under the Greenwood Tree" (9781843798378, $34.98, 5 CDs, 6 hours 17 min.), an unabridged historical audiobook. Under the Greenwood Tree is set in a secluded village where the arrival of an attractive school mistress prompts a grand rivalry for her affections, even as the modern invention of the organ threatens to render the traditional village band and choir obsolete.

The Hound Of The Baskervilles
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
www.latw.org
9781580819633, $29.95 (CD), www.amazon.com

Adapted into an audio play by the team of David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright, and employing a full cast performance under the direction of Alexis Jacknow, "The Hound Of The Baskervilles" is a classic Sherlock Holmes mystery brought vividly to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience for the listener. Enhanced with music, sound effects, and a live audience 'talkback' with Leslie S. Klinger (editor of the "New Annotated Sherlock Holmes", this L. A. Theatre Works edition of "The Hound Of The Baskervilles" is a solid entertainment from beginning to end. This truly extraordinary production is enthusiastically recommended and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections. (2 DCs, 1 hour, 46 minutes).

The Island Of Doctor Moreau
H. G. Wells
Mondello Publishing
Box 13470, Mill Creek, WA 98082
9781940650111, $19.95, www.mondellopublishing.com

"The Island of Doctor Moreau" by H. G. Wells is a true classic of early science fiction and horror. In it, we hear the story of Edward Prendick, an Englishman who becomes stranded on a mysterious island which is ruled by a brilliant but malevolent, overlord, the eponymous doctor. Through this imaginative adventure, Wells explores fundamental ideals of morality and the innate meaning of human nature. With its multicast performance, sound effects, music, and flawless production values under the direction of Bruce Van Deventer, this audio book edition offers the listener a true 'theatre of the mind' experience and is very highly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections. (3 CDs, 154 minutes).

Citizens Creek
Lalita Tademy, author
Performed by Bahni Turpin and J.D. Jackson
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480562509 $29.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Superbly performed by the duo Bahni Turpin and J.D. Jackson Citizens Creek is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of an original work of historical fiction. The story follows Cow Tom, an African-American slave sold as a child to a Creek Indian chief; Cow Tom's extraordinary gift for languages makes him an invaluable translator for his Creek master and military generals. The Civil War changes Cow Tom's world forever, but will it bring him freedom? The second half of Citizens Creek portrays Rose, the courageous granddaughter of Cow Tom. Rose fights against political and social injustices that oppress both African-Americans and Native Americans. An extraordinary, inspirational story about not only survival, but also the indomitable will to make the world a better place, Citizens Creek is highly recommended. 13 CDs, 15 hours 43 min.

Vanessa and her Sister
Priya Parmar
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780553398441 $40.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

An unabridged audiobook production read by a full cast, Vanessa and her Sister adapts Priya Parmar's novel about classic author Virginia Woolf and her artist sister Vanessa. When Vanessa falls in love, it puts stress on their close bond as sisters; Virginia feels abandoned and becomes increasingly self-destructive. An unfolding tragedy set amid the bustle of prewar London, Vanessa and her Sister is powerful, emotional, and highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11 hours.

The Swords of Riverside
Ellen Kushner & Delia Sherman
SueMedia Productions
PO Box 227, Carle Place, NY, 11514
www.suemediaproductions.com
B00NPP418O, $34.95 (CD), www.amazon.com

"The Swords of Riverside" is a multicast performance that combines two novels action/adventure novels. In "The Privilege of the Sword" a young woman ready to take it on and make her fortune in the alluring and alarming world of Riverside. Well-bred country girl, Katherine knows all the rules of conventional society. Her biggest mistake is thinking that they apply here. Katherine's host and uncle, Alec Campion - the decadent Mad Duke Tremontaine - is in charge here, and to him, rules are made to be broken. When he decides it would be far more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to ballroom and husband, her world changes forever. Blade in hand, it's up to Katherine to find her own way through a maze of secrets and betrayals, nobles and scoundrels - and to gain the power, respect, and self-discovery that come to those who master the privilege of the sword. "The Fall of the Kings" is a stunning tale of Riverside is set in the same world of labyrinthine intrigue, where sharp swords and even sharper wits rule. Against a rich tapestry of artists and aristocrats, students, strumpets, and spies, a gentleman and a scholar will find themselves playing out an ancient drama destined to explode their society's smug view of itself - and reveal that sometimes the price of uncovering history is being forced to repeat it. With its flawless production values, "The Swords of Riverside" comes alive for the listener as a true 'theatre of the mind' experience. Enhanced with music and sound effects, complete and unabridged, "The Swords of Riverside" is something extraordinarily special and very highly recommended for both personal and community library audio book collections. (43 CDs, Running time: 45 hours, 10 minutes).

The Quiet Revolution
Jay F. Hein, author
Fred Stella, narrator
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480593374 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Quiet Revolution: An Active Faith that Transforms Lives and Communities is a nonfiction audiobook about a little-publicized yet dramatically impactful change in America. President George W. Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative was a program that spurred the spread of faith-based community groups dedicated to helping their fellow human beings. The stories of ordinary volunteers inspired to help their neighbors in need are inspirational, and the efforts of generous people light the way to a better future. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections. 5 CDs, 5 hours 58 min.


The Library CD Shelf

Whispers the Falling Snow
Dan Chadburn
www.DanChadburn.com
Privately Published
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$15.13 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Classically trained pianist Dan Chadburn presents Whispers the Falling Snow, an instrumental, solo piano album in tribute to the joys of the winter season. Most of the songs are improvisations upon traditional and long-beloved carols; three tracks ("Returning Home", "Winter Waltz", and "Whispers the Falling Snow") are Chadburn's original creations. A truly beautiful listening experience, Whispers the Falling Snow is highly recommended. The tracks are "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (4:27), "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" (4:20), "Returning Home" (4:23), "Silent Night" (3:44), "In the Bleak Midwinter" (4:18), "What Child is This" (3:49), "Winter Waltz" (3:42), "Away in a Manger" (4:01), "Angels We Have Heard on High" (3:35), and "Whispers the Falling Snow".

Cha Cha Cha
Abelardo Barosso with Orquesta Sensacion
World Circuit
worldcircuit.co.uk
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
http://abelardobarroso.officialstore.co.uk/Shop
9.99 Brit pounds / $TBA US

Available as a CD, vinyl, or high-resolution download, Cha Cha Cha is an album of fourteen of the most widely beloved songs recorded by the "Golden Voice of Cuba" Abelardo Barosso, with Orquesta Sensacion. Remastered for the first time in 60 years, these classic songs reverberate with passion and intensity. The album includes in-depth liner notes, with full lyrics in Spanish and English as well as rare, vintage photography. Highly recommended, especially for classic international music collections! The tracks are "En Guantanamo" (3:01), "La Hija de Juan Simon" (3:08), "Tiene Sabor" (3:09), "El Guajiro de Cunagua" (3:05), "Un Brujo en Guanabacoa" (3:04), "El Panquelero" (2:54), "El Huerfanito" (2:57), "El Manisero" (3:13), "La Mulata Rumbera" (3:00), "Yo te Cansa (Na Teresa)" (3:01), "Macarina" (3:00), "Bruca Manigua" (3:38), "La Reina del Guaguanco" (3:11), and "Triste Lucha" (3:25).

Sanctuary III: Beyond the Dream
Sherry Finzer
www.sherryfinzer.com
Heart Dance Records
c/o New Leaf Distributing Company
$14.63 CD / $8.91 MP3 www.amazon.com

The eleventh music CD of superlative flautist Sherry Finzer, and third album in her solo Sanctuary series, Sanctuary III: Beyond the Dream is a wondrous medley of flue playing, electronic effects, synth pads, and sounds of nature. Sweeping and visionary, Sanctuary III evokes a sense of peaceful journey and reverence for the Arizona desert. Highly recommended. The tracks are "The Way" (8:18), "Hallelujah" (6:06), "Beyond the Dream" (6:00), "Frost Runes" (6:55), "Amazing Grace" (6:01), "Another Time and Place" (8:05), "Wayfaring Stranger" (6:07), "Grace" (6:51), and "Song for Rex" (5:48).

Dawn
Emma Donovan & the PutBacks
HopeStreet Recordings
c/o Press Junkie PR
$17.99 CD / $5.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

The debut album of indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan and Melbourne rhythm band The PutBacks, Dawn is an Australian composition that captures the nation's darkest and most hopeful moments. The songs are closer in heritage to Aboriginal musical traditions than modern soul, flowing with raw, unfettered emotion. Excitedly entrancing to the point of overwhelming, Dawn is an enthusiastically welcome to international music shelves. The tracks are "Black Woman", "My Goodness", "Dawn", "Mother", "Daddy", "Keep Me In Your Reach", "Come Back To Me", "Voodoo", and "Over Under Away".


The Library DVD Shelf

Get Wise to Portion Size
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

Get Wise to Portion Size is an educational DVD for all ages spotlighting a little-noticed American trend... the steady increase in the size of meal and snack portions. Larger portions mean more calories, and increasing portion size is a major contributor to America's problems with obesity and related health issues. A registered dietitian explains why portion size matters, with tips for controlling portion size when eating out or at home, in this brief but informative account highly recommended for public and school library collections. 18 minutes, closed captioned.

Plastic Paradise
A film by Angela Sun
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545246 $350.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a documentary about a growing environmental hazard. Due to the motion of water currents, trash discarded into the Pacific Ocean naturally congregates at Midway Atoll, in a horrific, ever-increasing floating monstrosity. How can plastic pollution be contained? Emphasizing the critical importance of recycling, Plastic Paradise warns that the environment is everyone's responsibility, and that humanity cannot turn a blind eye to its own garbage forever. Highly recommended. 57 min, SDH captions.

Groundswell Rising
Renard Cohen, director/producer
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
194154519X $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, Groundswell Rising: Protecting Our Children's Air and Water is a documentary about the spreading opposition to hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking", an extremely lucrative means of extracting fossil fuels from the earth with hydraulically pressurized liquid. Fracking essentially injects a host of toxic and carcinogeous chemicals into the environment, with negative repercussions on the local waterways, wildlife, and communities. The stage is set for a battle of wills between corporate interests and ordinary people concerned for the air and water that future generations will inherit. Groundswell Rising is thought-provoking, forboding, and highly recommended. 70 min. (a 52 min. version is also on the DVD), SDH captions. Also highly recommended is "Oil & Water" (1941545165, $295.00, 78 & 55 min. versions on the same DVD), a documentary eight years in the making about two young men dedicated to making the Ecuadorian Amazon a better place - one striving to clean up a toxic disaster, the other attempting to launch the first company in the world able to certify oil as "fair trade".

Where Am I?
Written and directed by Bruce Mohun
Produced by Sue Ridout
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545181 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

How are people or animals able to find their way, and why are some better at navigation than others? The documentary "Where Am I?" (43 min., SDH captions) reveals what the latest scientific findings have to say about this intriguing topic. Navigation relies on both memory and imagination to chart a path. Originally created for the CBC series "The Nature of Things" with David Suzuki, Where Am I? is as fascinating as it is educational, and licensed for public performance. Also highly recommended is "The Allergy Fix" (1941545157, $250.00, 43 min., SDH captions, licensed for home use only), a documentary about the recent, dramatic rise in childhood food allergies, conflicting scientific theories about what causes allergies and how best to treat them, and innovative medical advances that offer hope to the long-suffering.

Who Killed Alex Spourdalakis?
Written & directed by Andy Wakefield
The Disinformation Company
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 405
New York, NY 10010-4659
9781939517340 $19.98 www.disinfo.com

Who Killed Alex Spourdalakis? is a chilling documentary by the Autism Media Channel about injustice, incompetence, and desperation, which culminated in the alleged murder of a Chicago teenager. Alex Spourdalakis was mute and afflicted with severe autism; he was happy as a child, but as he became older he was beset with gastrointestinal pain and inflammation, and became violent as a young adult. Misdiagnosed by successive doctors, he was put in locked restraints for over 70 days and subjected to powerful psychotropic drugs. Alex's overwhelmed mother and godmother eventually planned to end his suffering through mercy killing, followed by their own (unsuccessful) suicide. A tragedy that reveals the fatal, systemic flaws of America's healthcare system, Who Killed Alex Spourdalakis? is highly recommended. Bonus features include an interview with the filmmakers, a brief success story featurette, and a tribute to Alex. 66 min. plus 17 min. of extras, closed captioned.

Levitated Mass
A film by Doug Pray
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213
New York, NY 10036
$27.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Levitated Mass (89 min.) is an amazing documentary about a unique work of modern art that is also feat of modern engineering. Avant-garde land artist Michael Heizer selected a 340-ton boulder from a desert quarry and transported it to a seemingly tenuous perch above a gigantic, walled slot in the ground. Dubbed "Levitated Mass", this creation was a triumph of art over bureaucratic as well as physical obstacles, and captured the imagination of thousands of stunned observers, just as the story behind it will inspire the minds of many more. Also highly recommended for art documentary collections is Altina ($27.95, 89 min.), a biographical DVD about a trendsetting Jewish-American artist known for her boldness, her work to aid Holocaust survivors and the civil rights movement, and her inventive creations including the Harlequin "cat's eye" sunglasses worn by stars such as Lucille Ball.


The Mathematics Shelf

Combinatorial Maps
Guillaume Damiand and Pascal Lienhardt
CRC Press
Suite 300, 6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781482206524 $99.95 www.crcpress.com

Combinatorial Maps: Efficient Data Structures for Computer Graphics and Image Processing is a scholarly resource intended especially for researchers and graduate students in geometric modeling, computational and discrete geometry, computer graphics, and image processing and analysis. Chapters discuss data structures, operations, and algorithms that are particularly valuable when working with subdivided geometric objects. Covering applications of combinatorial maps in computer graphics processing, basic topological and mathematical concepts, constructing n-Gmaps and n-maps, and more, Combinatorial Maps includes black-and-white diagrams, numerous sample algorithms, a bibliography, and an index. An excellent technical teaching tool, especially recommended for college library mathematics and computer science shelves.

Compressible Flow and Euler's Equations
Demetrios Christodoulou & Shuang Miao
International Press of Boston
PO Box 43502, Somerville, MA 02143
www.intlpress.com
9781571462978, $58.00, www.amazon.com

In mathematics and physics, there is a large number of topics named in honor of Leonhard Euler, many of which include their own unique function, equation, formula, identity, number (single or sequence), or other mathematical entity. Many of these entities have been given simple and ambiguous names such as Euler's function, Euler's equation, and Euler's formula. Euler's work touched upon so many fields that he is often the earliest written reference on a given matter. It has been said that, in an effort to avoid naming everything after Euler, discoveries and theorems are named after the first person after Euler to have discovered it. Compressible flow (gas dynamics) is the branch of fluid mechanics that deals with flows having significant changes in fluid density. Gases, but not liquids, display such behavior. To distinguish between compressible and incompressible flow in gases, the Mach number (the ratio of the speed of the flow to the speed of sound) must be greater than about 0.3 before significant compressibility occurs. The study of compressible flow is relevant to high-speed aircraft, jet engines, gas pipelines, commercial applications such as abrasive blasting, and many other fields. The ninth volume in the outstanding 'Surveys of Modern Mathematics' series from the International Press of Boston, "Compressible Flow and Euler's Equations" is a 581 page monograph considers the classical compressible Euler Equations in three space dimensions with an arbitrary equation of state, and whose initial data corresponds to a constant state outside a sphere. Under suitable restriction on the size of the initial departure from the constant state, the authors establish theorems which give a complete description of the maximal development. In particular, the boundary of the domain of the maximal solution contains a singular part where the density of the wave fronts blows up and shocks form. Academicians and mathematicians Demetrios Christodoulou and Shuang Miao obtain a detailed description of the geometry of this singular boundary, and a detailed analysis of the behavior of the solution there. The approach is geometric, the central concept being that of the acoustical spacetime manifold. Very strongly recommended for academic library Advanced Mathematics reference collections, "Compressible Flow and Euler's Equations" will be of particular interest to scholars and scientists working in partial differential equations in general and in fluid mechanics in particular.


The International Studies Shelf

Xi Jinping: The Governance of China
Xi Jinping
Shanghai Press
c/o Tuttle Publishing (dist.)
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9781602204096, $16.95 pbk
9781602204089, $24.95 hc

Xi Jinping (born 15 June 1953) is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, the President of the People's Republic of China, and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. As General Secretary, Xi is also an ex officio member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's de facto top decision-making body. Son of communist veteran Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping rose through the ranks politically in China's coastal provinces. He served as the Governor of Fujian between 1999 and 2002, then as Governor and Party Secretary of the neighboring Zhejiang between 2002 and 2007. Following the dismissal of Chen Liangyu, Xi was transferred to Shanghai as the Party Secretary for a brief period in 2007. Xi was promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee and Central Secretariat in October 2007 and was groomed to become Hu Jintao's successor. He served as Vice-President of the People's Republic of China between 2008 and 2013. Xi is now the leader of the People's Republic's fifth generation of leadership. He has initiated a renewed campaign against corruption, further market economic reforms, governing with greater emphasis on the law and legal institutions, and a comprehensive national renewal under the neologism "Chinese Dream". "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" is compiled by the State Council Information Office of China, the CCCPC Party Literature Research Office and China International Publishing Group, and published by Foreign Languages Press in an English edition for an American readership. "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" is a 515 page compendium comprised of Xi Jinping's major works from November 15, 2012 to June 13, 2014; it comprises 79 speeches, talks, interviews, instructions and correspondence in 18 chapters. Each item is accompanied by relevant notes about Chinas social system, history and culture for readers reference. It also includes 45 photos taken at different stages of Xis life, providing readers with more information about his work and life. "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" will contribute to interpreting the concepts and principles of governance of the CPC leadership, and help the international community to learn more about and better understand China's ideas, path of development, domestic and foreign policies, and response to international concerns about China. "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections.


The Gardening Shelf

Bountiful Bonsai
Richard W. Bender, author
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759
9784805312704 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

"Bountiful Bonsai: Create Instant Indoor Container Gardens with Edible Fruits, Herb and Flowers" is a fascinating exploration of the possibilities of adaptive bonsai gardening techniques to produce indoor container gardens for sources of fruits, herbs, and flowers, in addition to the basic bonsai gift, living plant beauty. The author is an experienced bonsai gardener, with many unique bonsai creations and credits to his name. Here he shows how to use instant bonsai techniques to create delicate sculpted indoor plant gardens, with pleasant fragrances, herbal offerings to the kitchen, fruits for eating or cooking, flowers for contemplative pleasure, and medicinals such as tea tree or camphor laurel. All this information is organized into 6 chapters and less than 130 pages, with an overview of bonsai, ideas for creating instant bonsai, exploring beautiful bonsai possibilities, finding your future bonsai, long term bonsai care, and the bountiful harvest. Many photos of examples of beautiful bonsai plants are included, with specific information about the care and preparation needed to nurture and encourage the bonsai plantings. Many specific plants are described especially in Chapter three, Beautiful Bonsai Possibilities, including Dwarf Natal Plum, pineapple sage, and the New Zealand tea tree. Both the idea of creating "instant" bonsai and providing long term bonsai care are explored in depth in chapters four and five. Chapter Six, The Bountiful Harvest, discusses actual recipes using fruits of bonsai gardening, such as limequat or calamondin marmalade, Salmon Citrus Cheese Ball, plus added forays into the art of winemaking. A favorite quote of the author's love of bonsai winemaking activities: "The artistic symmetry of drinking a decades-old wine made from a bonsai while viewing bonsai that have been in training that long is very appealing... (p. 118)." The reader senses that another publication may be forthcoming, perhaps on the topic of bonsai winemaking. Some of the author's favored vintages are pictured: Lemon Drop, Citrus Symphony blend, and Strawberry Lemon Guava wine. The author also suggests a favorite trick: When cooking rice, add half a cup of herbal wine to the rice for the last five minutes of steaming. Delicious! For this and many more creative ideas and explorations of the art of bonsai, read "Bountiful Bonsai" and savor the centuries of knowledge that permeate every page.


The Criminology Shelf

Stagecoach Robberies in California
R. Michael Wilson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786479962 $55.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Also available as an ebook, Stagecoach Robberies in California: A Complete Record, 1856-1913 is a meticulously researched compendium detailing the 458 documented stagecoach robberies that took place in California from 1856 to 1913. Intriguing tales abound among the researched stories; some robberies involved murder, others wild pursuit and capture, and still others had so little stolen that the robbers were never sought out. Drawing from contemporary newspapers and other sources, Stagecoach Robberies in California is a thorough and welcome addition to California and criminology history collections.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Not Trying
Kristin J. Wilson
Vanderbilt University Press
PMB 351813, Nashville, TN 37235-1813
www.vanderbiltuniversitypress.com
9780826519986 $9.99 ebook
9780826519962 $49.95 hc
9780826519979 $22.95 pbk

Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats, Not Trying: Infertility, Childlessness, and Ambivalence gathers interviews of women are infertile or involuntarily childless, yet feel ambivalent about the situation. Modern science offers a host of methods to treat infertility, yet not every infertile woman wants to subject herself to the expense of such methods, or become an adoptive mother, defying the stereotyped view that lack of fertility is an existential crisis. "Just as motherhood is not necessarily a chosen role and does not always equate to fulfillment, infertility and childlessness are often not chosen but they do not preclude fulfillment." A fascinating, serious-minded gathering of and reflection upon true-life testimonies, Not Trying challenges the reader to think about societal definitions of womanhood, the role of motherhood, and women's life choices - including the choices of single, widowed, divorced, and lesbian women. Highly recommended for public and college library Women's Studies shelves.


The Literary Studies Shelf

The Sherlock Holmes Companion
Daniel Smith
Aurum Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.qbookshop.com/aurumpress.com
9781781314043 $27.99 www.amazon.com

The Sherlock Holmes Companion: An Elementary Guide is an in-depth resource to the classic, universally beloved detective hero. Accessible to casual fans and literary scholars alike, The Sherlock Holmes Companion covers not only every Holmes story by Conan Doyle, but also more recent interpretations of Holmes from Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr. In addition to chronological plot summaries of every Holmes story, there are biographies of the major characters in the Holmes saga, an intriguing biography of Conan Doyle, contemporary interviews of actors who portrayed Holmes on stage or screen, and numerous timelines and details down to the variety of firearms Holmes used. A "must-have" for fans of the mystery genre's most iconic character!


The Reference Shelf

The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2015
World Almanac Books
c/o Infobase Learning
132 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
c/o Rosen Group PR
9781600571909, $13.99 www.worldalmanac.com

Now in a new edition that includes 2014 election results, top 10 news topics, the year in pictures, and more, The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2015 is jam-packed with facts, covering everything from profiles of 196 nations worldwide to sports statistics. An extensive index aids in quick reference, and a handful of color maps and photographs spice up the neatly organized data. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2015 isn't entirely composed of statistics; text passages cover topics such as proper etiquette for handling the American flag, a summary of TSA travel regulations, highlights of world history, and much more. World Almanac and Book of Facts is the definitive "must-have" for public library and personal reference shelves.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Economics of Peace
J. Frederick Arment
McFarland
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786496389 $35.00

Also available as an ebook (9781476618906), The Economics of Peace: Freedom, the Golden Rule and the Broadening of Prosperity examines the transition from nation-state capitalism to a collaborative economy regulated by the judicial system. Economic prosperity is indeed compatible with peace, and arguably vital for it; The Economics of Peace particularly studies how the "Golden Rule" reciprocal ethic ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you") and organizations that embrace it are keys to successful peacetime commerce and stability. Highly recommended, especially for college library economic studies shelves.


The Biography Shelf

Mark Twain's Mississippi River
Peter Schilling Jr.
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
www.hbgusa.com
9780760345504 $30.00 www.voyageurpress.com

Featuring vintage black-and-white as well as modern full-color photography throughout, Mark Twain's Mississippi River is a memorable coffee-table biography of the classic American author, accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Particular emphasis is placed on Mark Twain's days as a steamboat pilot, a life experience that brought him close to the river - both its friendly side facilitating commerce and its dark side from flooding to its use in transporting slaves. Twain's connection to the river would ultimately be reflected in his literary masterpieces and legacy to future generations. Mark Twain's Mississippi River is a fascinating browse, and a welcome addition to public library biography and literary studies collections.

Theo: An Autobiography
Theodore Bikel
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
978029900548 $26.95 www.uwpress.wisc.edu

Theo: An Autobiography With Reflections Upon My Ninetieth Year is the self-told life story of award-winning actor, singer, and progressive activist Theodore Bikel. Now in a new edition celebrating Bikel's ninetieth birthday, Theo: An Autobiography includes both the original 2002 postscript and a new 2014 postscript reflecting upon the decades. An index rounds out this striking portrait, notable for Bikel's recollections of monumental events in twentieth century history (such as the rise of the Third Reich, the inception of the nation of Israel, the McCarthy paranoia of the 1950s, and the turbulent 1960s). Highly recommended for public and college library biography shelves.


The Library Science Shelf

More Library Mashups
Nicole C. Engard, editor
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike
Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874984 $45.00 www.infotoday.com

More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data is an anthology of projects from 24 creative library professionals, about how to "mash up" free or low-cost digital tools and techniques to improve service and meet challenges. Individual writings include "Curating API Feeds to Display Open Library Book Covers in Subject Guides", "Searching Library Databases Through Twitter", "Telling Stories with Google Maps Mashups", "Mashing Up Information to Stay on Top of News", and more. An invaluable resource for librarians seeking to stay abreast of the digital revolution!


The Education Shelf

Handbook of the Recognition of Prior Learning
Edited by Judy Harris, Christine Wihak, and Joy Van Kleef
The National Voice for Lifelong Learning
http://shop.niace.org.uk
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9781862018617 $39.95 www.isbs.com

Handbook of the Recognition of Prior Learning: Research Into Practice is an anthology of essays by learned authors about an exciting new field of academic and educational studies: recognition of prior learning, or RPL. Research in this domain contributes to a better understanding of how human beings learn and remember, which can in turn be used to modify instructional techniques for improved success. Individual chapters include "RPL, labour markets and national qualifications frameworks: A policy perspective", "Technology and RPL", "RPL in higher education: Past, present and potential", "RPL in further and vocational education and training", and much more. An index rounds out this welcome contribution to college library educational studies shelves.


The American History Shelf

The American Plate
Libby H. O'Connell
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139
Naperville, IL 60563
9781492603023 $26.99 www.sourcebooks.com

The American Plate: A Culinary History in 100 Bites is primarily a history of the foods indelibly tied to America, enhanced with over a dozen time-honored recipes (such as the instructions for "Shoo Fly Pie", "Fried Catfish", "Scrapple", or "Red Cross War Cake"). Chapters cover staples of the Native Americans, to colonial faire, and the sagas behind uniquely American culinary creations, even modern innovations like cold cereal and TV dinners. Entrancing and mouth-watering, The American Plate is a welcome contribution to history and culinary shelves, highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

Chasing Gold
George M. Taber
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605986555 $29.95 www.pegasusbooks.us

Chasing Gold: The Incredible Story of How the Nazis Stole Europe's Bullion is the eye-opening true story of how the Nazis made a naked grab for Europe's gold bullion in order to finance their genocidal war. A different type of World War II history book, Chasing Gold almost reads like a thriller at times, packed with true stories of greed, murder, political intrigue, and corrupt money laundering that persisted well past the war's end. Highly recommended.

Galilee in the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic Periods, Volume 1
David A. Fiensy and James Riley Strange, editors
Fortress Press, P.O. Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
9781451466744 $69.00 http://fortresspress.com

David A. Fiensy (professor of New Testament, Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky) and James Riley Strange (associate professor of religion, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama) present Galilee in the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic Periods, Volume 1, a studious omnibus of information about ancient Galilee, focusing on the historical period of 100 BCE to 200 CE. Chapters include a general overview of Galilean history, as well as specialized research on taxation, ethnicity, religious practices, road systems, trade, education, health, village life, houses, and the urban-rural societal divide. An amazing, fact-filled, exhaustively researched yet eminently accessible portrait of the birthplace of Jesus, Galilee in the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic Periods, Volume 1 is highly recommended especially for college library world history collections.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Environments of Guam
Danko Taborosi
The Bess Press
3565 Harding Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
9781573064538 $24.95 www.besspress.com

Also available as an ebook, Environments of Guam is accessible to environmental scientists and lay readers alike. Filled with full-color maps and photography, Environments of Guam describes terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine environments of this beautiful island nation. A glossary, bibliography, and list of Chamorro (the indigenous language of Guam) names of various species round out this user-friendly guide and resource.


The Science Shelf

Introducing Astronomy: A Guide to the Universe
Iain Nicholson
Dunedin
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9781780460253 $19.95 www.isbs.com

Illustrated with striking, full-color photography throughout, Introducing Astronomy: A Guide to the Universe is a thoroughly accessible guide for readers of all backgrounds. Iain Nicholson (former Principal Lecturer in Astronomy, University of Hertfordshire) guides the browser on an incredible tour of the planets of the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe beyond. Scientific terms (such as "gravitational lensing", the manner in which mass distorts light) are carefully explained, often with accompanying diagrams. A glossary and suggestions for further reading round out this fascinating guide, created not only to enlighten people but also to inspire them to learn more about this wondrous scientific discipline.


The Photography Shelf

Portrait Photography: The Essential Beginner's Guide
Sarah Plater & Hannah MacGregor
Ammonite Press
www.ammonitepress.com
c/o GMC Distribution
9781781450895 $26.95 www.thegmcgroup.com

Portrait Photography: The Essential Beginner's Guide lives up to its title as a hands-on, user-friendly instructional and resource for mastering the basics of professional-quality portrait photography. Chapters address equipment essentials, issues of handling lighting and scouting locations, and working with infants, toddlers, children, teens, couples, or families. Suggested lessons make Portrait Photography an excellent resource for self-teaching or formal instruction. Highly recommended.


The Anthropology Shelf

Blood and Fire
Sharryn Kasmir and August Carbonella, editors
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781782383635 $95.00 www.berghahnbooks.com

Also available as an ebook, Blood and Fire: Toward a Global Anthropology of Labor is a scholarly anthology examining the precariously ebbing role of labor throughout the world. Each of its six chapters is an ethnography from a different contributor, scrutinizing a different area of the world (Colombia, India, Poland, Spain, southern US, and northern US). Blood and Fire draws upon long-term fieldwork to examine how labor struggles have faltered, become disconnected from the societal mission to advance the greater good, and the reactions and fallout from this change. Applying principles of global anthropology to the dilemma, Blood and Fire portrays an uncertain future. A thought-provoking and studious title, ideal for college library anthropology shelves.


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