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Library Bookwatch

Volume 12, Number 7 July 2017 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Architecture Shelf Civil War Shelf Education Shelf
Military Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
Science Shelf Economic Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Language Studies Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Fiction Shelf Parenting Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Library Science Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf Business Shelf
Art Shelf International Studies Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Psychology Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Social Media Warfare
Michael Erbschloe
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781138036024, $69.95, HC, 327pp, www.amazon.com

Social media applications can be weaponized with very little skill. Social media warfare has become a burden that nation states, government agencies, and corporations need to face. Michael Erbschloe has worked for over 30 years performing analysis of the economics of information technology, public policy relating to technology, and utilizing technology in reengineering organization processes. In "Social Media Warfare: Equal Weapons for All" he draws upon his decades of experience and expertise to address the social media warfare threat in a reasonable manner that reduces uncertainty requires dedication and attention over a very long-term. To stay secure, individuals, corporations, and governments need to develop the capability to defend against social media warfare attacks. "Social Media Warfare" addresses unconventional warfare strategies and tactics that takes time and experience, plus planning and dedication, to succeed. "Social Media Warfare" will help managers develop a sound understanding of how social media warfare can impact their nation or their organization. Enhanced with the inclusion of a fourteen page glossary of key terms, as well as a ten page index, "Social Media Warfare" is a comprehensive study that is unreservedly recommended for community, academic, and governmental library Cybersecurity/Cyberwarfare collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Social Media Warfare" is also available in a Kindle format ($55.96).

HAZMAT Guide for First Responders
Michael L. Madigan
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781138036291, $129.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Michael L. Madigan works as a master instructor for the Department of Homeland Security for the Civil Support Teams and hazardous material emergency response operations on weapons of mass destruction and threat assessments to the United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School (USACBRN) in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He is also retired from the United States Army where he served as a senior chemical operation specialist to the USACBRN School, CENTCOM, and the Multi- National Forces Command (MNFI) in Iraq. He is also an Adjunct Professor for Homeland Security Related Topics, Emergency Management, Terror/Terrorism History and Related Operations, and Weapons of Mass Destruction at Central Texas College on Fort Leonard Wood Campus, Missouri. He draws upon his many years of experience and expertise in "HAZMAT Guide for First Responders" for the specific mission of helping to train hazmat response teams and other responders in disaster training, techniques, and planning. "HAZMAT Guide for First Responders" will also help define and sharpen training plans and assumptions. Focusing on lessons learned from real-world experiences during actual disasters, "HAZMAT Guide for First Responders" will help to establish a well-trained professional first responder, individuals, and teams. Such lessons are emphasized so that planners and responders learn to anticipate how their community is likely to react under real disaster conditions, and plan accordingly. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "HAZMAT Guide for First Responders" includes a four page Bibliography and a fifteen page Index. While a fundamental and unreservedly recommended addition to professional, community, academic, and governmental library Occupational Health & Safety collections in general, and HAZMAT supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted for individual reading lists that "HAZMAT Guide for First Responders" is also available in a Kindle format ($64.95).

Too Young to Be Old
Nancy K. Scholssberg
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433827495, $19.95, PB, 182pp, www.amazon.com

As the "Baby Boomer" generation reaches retirement age, an unprecedented number of Americans will soon be 55 or older. More so than ever before, the question on our minds is: How do I age well? "Too Young to Be Old: Love, Learn, Work, and Play as You Age " by Nancy K. Schlossberg (Professor Emerita of Counseling and Personnel Services at the University of Maryland) is accessible and upbeat guide that builds on the concepts Professor Schlossberg first pioneered in her popular books Retire Smart, Retire Happy and Revitalizing Retirement with an engaging take on positive aging. Looking at the basic issues of aging health, finances, relationships, and how to live more creatively readers will be able to think about and develop a deliberate plan to age happily. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, impressively informative and ultimately inspiring, "Too Young to Be Old" is highly and unreservedly recommended for Senior Citizen Center, community, and academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Too Young to Be Old" is also available in a Kindle format ($15.38).

The Essential Book of Homesteading
Ashley English
Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling Publishing
1166 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036
9781454710202, $24.95, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com

In barnyards and backyards, on rooftops and in alleyways, a development called the modern homesteading movement is happening. Whether it is in the form of turning a lawn into a vegetable garden, or getting a flock of chickens, or transforming cucumbers into pickles, people everywhere are taking charge of their own food supply. Ashley English (who has degrees in both holistic nutrition and sociology, and who has worked with numerous nonprofit organizations committed to social and agricultural issues, and is a member of Slow Food USA) is a major figure in the return to homesteading, and with the publication of "The Essential Book of Homesteading: The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Living" gives newcomers her time-honored tips for successfully overseeing food production in their own homes. Totally updating material from her phenomenal homesteading books (Keeping Bees, Keeping Chickens, Canning & Preserving, and Home Dairy) this new collection covers everything from preserving jams and jellies to whipping butter and keeping a hive of honeybees. Ashley provides entry points, troubleshooting tips, and inspiration for putting the food a family consumes back in their own hands. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "The Essential Book of Homesteading" truly lives up to its title and is highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library collections.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

How to Be Good with Words
Don LePan, Laura Buzzard, Maureen Okun
Broadview Press
c/o FedEx Trade Networks
555 Riverwalk Parkway, Tonawanda, NY 14150
www.broadviewpress.com
9781554813254, $14.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

In recent decades, the contested areas of English usage have grown both larger and more numerous. English speakers argue about whether we should say man or humanity, fisher or fisherman; whether we ought to speak of people as being disabled, or challenged, or differently abled; whether it is acceptable to say that's so gay. More generally, we ask, can we use language in ways that avoid giving expression to prejudices embedded within it? Can the words we use help us point a way towards a better world? Can we ask such questions with appropriate seriousness while remaining open-minded -- and while retaining our sense of humor? To all these questions "How to Be Good with Words" is a concise and user-friendly guide that definitively answers yes. The collaborative effort of Don LePan, Laura Buzzard, and Maureen Okun, "How to Be Good with Words" provides clear-headed discussions of many of the key issues including Class; Disability; Gender; Humans & Other Animals; Race; Relationship Status; Religion; Sexual Orientation; Political Controversies; Seriousness & Humor; Euphemism & Plain Speaking; and Political Correctness. Of special note is the inclusion of Bias-Free Vocabulary: A Short List. A unique, extraordinary, thoroughly 'user friendly' study, "How to Be Good with Words" should be considered a 'must read' for any and all aspiring writers, and a core addition to both community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional resource collections.

The Rules of Screenwriting and Why You Should Break Them
Bill Mesce, Jr.
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476668505, $29.95, PB, 228pp, www.amazon.com

Only a couple of generations ago, the Hollywood-based movie industry ran on gut instinct as film schools, audience research departments, and seminars on screenwriting were not yet dominating the cinematic medium. Today the standard is the analytical approach, intended to demystify filmmaking and guarantee success (or at least minimize failure). The trouble with this method is that nobody knows how to do it they just think they do and films are made based on models of predictability rather than the merits of the script. "The Rules of Screenwriting and Why You Should Break Them" by Bill Mesce(an adjunct instructor at several New Jersey universities and colleges, and an author, screenwriter, and playwright) provides a true insider's look at the craft and business of screenwriting while exploding some of the popular myths, demonstrating how little relevance the rules have to actual filmmaking. With long experience in film and television, Mesce provides insightful how-not-to analyses, with commentary by such veterans as Josh Sapan (CEO of AMC Networks), bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, and Oscar nominated screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas). Impressively informed and informative, exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Rules of Screenwriting and Why You Should Break Them" should be considered a "must read" for any and all aspiring screenwriters. While very highly recommended for community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections in general, and screenwriting supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Rules of Screenwriting and Why You Should Break Them" is also available in a Kindle format ($15.99).


The Cookbook Shelf

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School
Alison Cayne
Artisan Books
c/o Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
www.artisanbooks.com
9781579656737, $35.00, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Learning to cook has never been simpler (or more delicious) thanks to "The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen" by Alison Cayne (who is the owner of Haven's Kitchen, a cooking school, cafe, and event space in New York City). Each of the book's nine chapters centers on a key lesson: for example, in the eggs chapter, readers will learn about timing and temperature while poaching, frying, and scrambling; in the soups chapter, they will learn to layer flavors through recipes like Green Curry with Chicken. The rigorously tested recipes (including wholesome lunches, dinner-party showstoppers, and delectable desserts) will become part of readers' daily repertoires. Beautiful photographs show both the finished dishes and the how-to techniques, and helpful illustrations offer further guidance. A complete and comprehensive 'how to' textbook for highschool Home Economics classes, as well as novice family kitchen cooks, the palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes range from Jose's Black Beans; Mixed Vegetable Tempura; Braised Cabbage; and Fish Chowder; to Goat Cheese Tart; Miso Balsamic Vinaigrette; Sweet Chili Sauce; and Coconut Milk Tapioca Pudding. Of special note are the lessons on timing and temperature; the layering of flavors; and the seasonality of vegetables. While very highly recommended for community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).

Salad Days
Amy Pennington
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Avenue, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632170859, $22.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Amy Pennington is a cook, author, and urban farmer. In The pages of her newest cookbook, "Salad Days", Amy draws upon her years of culinary experience and expertise to showcase 75 simply outstanding salad recipes that feature not just greens with zesty dressings but also incorporate satisfying proteins, such as fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, and nuts, as well as other toothsome ingredients like grains and noodles, and even fruit. Salad Days is organized according to how and when we eat, featuring grain bowls, fast and fresh salads, winter salads, noodle salads, fruit salads, cooling salads, and salads for a crowd -- making it easy to identify just the right salad to satisfy a particular craving or any dining occasion. With fresh greens as their base, the salads range from Roasted Beets and Beet Green Salsa Verde; Onion-Pomegranate Salad; Celery, Chickpea, and Raisin; Green Onion Vinaigrette with Mixed Greens and Kale; to Snap Pea and Potato with Mustard Vinaigrette; Shaved Cabbage and White Onion with Pomegranate and Orange-Caraway Dressing; Little Gem and Cilantro Salad with Watermelon Vinaigrette; and Zucchini Noodles with Feta and Lemon. Of special note is the chapter devoted to Vinaigrettes & Dressings. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Salad Days" is impressively 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal and highly prized addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Salad Days" is also available in a Kindle format ($11.99).

Adam's Big Pot
Adam Law
Hachette Australia
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780733630699, $15.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

A professional Australian chef, Adam Law draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to present "Adam's Big Pot: Easy Meals for Your Family", a beautifully illustrated cookbook that showcases thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes that would grace any dining occasion ranging from simple family meals to elegant dining occasions. A pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, the recipes comprising "Adam's Big Pot" range from Chilli, Garlic & Eggplant Salad; Salmon with Braised Mushrooms & Lettuce; Pork, Green Beans & Lime Leaf; Lamb Vindaloo; and Soy Sauce Chicken; Barbecue Noodles; Steak & Asparagus Donburi; Taco Rice Gratin; Bananas in Coconut Milk; and Pumpkin Custard. Clearly, "Adam's Big Pot" will prove to be a prized, original, and favored addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Recipes from the Herbalist's Kitchen
Brittany Wood Nickerson
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612126906, $24.95, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com

Experienced herbalist Brittany Wood Nickerson understands that food is our most powerful medicine. In "Recipes from the Herbalist's Kitchen: Delicious, Nourishing Food for Lifelong Health and Well-Being", she draws upon her impressive expertise to reveal how the kitchen can be a place of true awakening for the senses and spirit, as well as deep nourishment for the body. With in-depth profiles of favorite culinary herbs such as dill, sage, basil, and mint, Nickerson offers fascinating insights into the healing properties of each herb and then shares 110 original recipes for scrumptious snacks, entrees, drinks, and desserts that are specially designed to meet the body's needs for comfort, nourishment, energy, and support through seasonal changes. With her palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly dishes ranging from Braised Beef Shanks with Gremolata; Cucumber Raita with Dill and Black Mustard Seeds; Apple and Parsley Salad; and Almond Wasabi Pesto; to Poached Peaches with Tarragon; Pea Greens and Radish Salad with Yogurt Mint Dressing; Root Vegetable Pie; and Butternut Squash Stuffed with French Lentils and Walnuts, "Recipes from the Herbalist's Kitchen" will prove to be an exceptionally appreciated and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. A simple pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, it should be noted that "Recipes from the Herbalist's Kitchen" is also available in a digital book format ($9.99).

Indian Cuisine Diabetes Cookbook
May Abraham Fridel
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
www.diabetes.org
9781580405997, $19.95, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com

May Abraham Fridel was born in the Indian state of Kerala, one of the spice centers of the world, and comes from a family of spice merchants. With this rich culinary heritage, she learned to cook classic Indian dishes from her family. With "Indian Cuisine Diabetes Cookbook" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to compile a thoroughly palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, diabetes treatment friendly compendium of recipes that can be used by even the most novice of family cooks to create memorable meals for all dining occasions. With recipes ranging from Masala Sweet Potatoes; Butternut Squash Shorba; Keralan Spice-Roasted Turkey; and Roasted Chicken Tandoori; to Whole-Wheat Spinach Parathas; Curried Allo Anardana Salad; and Coconut Chutney, each recipe in "Indian Cuisine Diabetes Cookbook" features 'Cook's Notes' and a register of Choices/Exchanges. With a center collection of beautiful color photos of finished dishes, "Indian Cuisine Diabetes Cookbook" is very highly recommended for community cookbook collections in general, and for the personal or family collections of anyone having to deal with diabetes in particular.

Betty Crocker Outdoor Cooking with Betty
Betty Crocker, author
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9781328846051, $15.99, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com

With more than 63 million cookbooks sold since 1950, Betty Crocker is the name family kitchen cooks have for generations learned to trust for reliable recipes and great ideas. For over 75 years, the Betty Crocker team has provided culinary advice to millions of Americans through cookbooks, magazines and television. Now there is "Betty Crocker Outdoor Cooking with Betty", a compendium 'yesteryear' compendium of Betty Crocker classic recipes and a guide to dining and entertaining outdoors. An authentic reproduction of a cookbook classic from 1961, packed with retro appeal. Illustrated with delightful period line drawings and color photos, "Betty Crocker's Outdoor Cooking with Betty" is a hardcover reprint features 200 tried-and-true recipes for barbecues, picnics, camping trips, and boating excursions ranging from Beef Tenderloin Roast, Grilled Lobster Tails, and French Fried Onion Rings, to Swiss Steak Meal in Foil, Summer Macaroni Salad, and Vagabond Strawberry Shortcakes. Of special note are the expert tips on barbecue equipment and techniques. There are even illustrated instructions for an authentic "Down-East" clambake. While very highly recommended for family and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Betty Crocker Outdoor Cooking with Betty" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Architecture Shelf

A Sustainable Bodega and Hotel
John Spence, et al.
Yale School of Architecture
c/o Actar D / Actar Publishers
355 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
http://actar.com
9781945150067, $35.00, PB, 172pp, www.amazon.com

"A Sustainable Bodega and Hotel in Rioja" presents the studio of the Yale Edward P. Bass Distinguished Visiting Architecture Fellowship taught by John Spence, entrepreneur and chairman of Karma Resorts worldwide; with architect Andy Bow, a senior partner at Foster & Partners in London; environmental engineer Patrick Bellew, principal of Atelier Ten; and Timothy Newton of the Yale faculty. The studio proposed designs for a world-class winery and hotel complex in Rioja, Spain where wineries are both vernacular and exuberant in design. The students were challenged to address social, economic, and environmental sustainability in a holistic and integrated way. The project resulted in a range of strategies to sustainably harvest, engage local workforce, integrate landscape, and source materials responsibly. The project features attractions and symbiotic food production to facilitate tourist visits. Edited by Henry Chan and Nina Rappaport "A Sustainable Bodega and Hotel" is an impressively informative, insightful, and thoughtful study that is unreservedly recommended for professional and academic library Contemporary Architecture collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

The Sagrada Familia
Gijs van Hensbergen
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632867810, $27.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The scaffolding-cloaked spires of Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, dominate the Barcelona skyline and draw in millions of visitors every year. More than a century after the first stone was laid in 1882, the Sagrada Familia remains unfinished, a testament to Gaudi's quixotic ambition, his religious devotion, and the sensuous eccentricity of his design. It has defied the critics, the penny-pinching accountants, the conservative town-planners, and the devotees of sterile modernism. It has enchanted and frustrated the citizens of Barcelona. And it has passed through the landmark changes of twentieth-century Spain, surviving two World Wars, the ravages of the Spanish Civil War, and the "Hunger Years" of Franco's rule. "The Sagrada Familia" by art historian Gijs van Hensbergen deftly explores the evolution of this remarkable building, working through the decades right up to the present day before looking beyond to the final stretch of its construction. Rich in detail and vast in scope, "The Sagrada Familia" is a unique and revelatory chronicle of an iconic structure, its place in history, and the wild genius that created it. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library Architectural Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of architecture students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Sagrada Familia" is also available in a digital book format ($16.82).


The Civil War Shelf

"The Bloody Fifth"
John F. Schmutz
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611213348 $32.95 amazon.com

"The Bloody Fifth" - The 5th Texas Infantry Regiment Hood's Texas Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia Vol. 2: Gettysbug to Appomattox is the second installment of an in-depth history of the 5th Texas Infantry during the Civil War. Covering the regiment's march into Pennsylvania, the momentous battle of Gettysburg, the violent battle of Chickamauga, and the long marches and difficult campaigns that ultimately concluded with the General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, "The Bloody Fifth" is a scholarly work enhanced with maps and exhaustive notes, yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. "The Bloody Fifth" Vol. 2 is highly recommended especially for public and college library Civil War history shelves, as is "The Bloody Fifth" Vol. 1 (9781611212044, $32.95).

All the Fighting They Want
Stephen Davis
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611213195, $14.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

During the American Civial War, John Bell Hood brought a hang-dog look and a hard-fighting spirit to the Army of Tennessee. Once one of the ablest division commanders in the Army of Northern Virginia, he found himself, by the spring of 1864, in the war's Western Theater. Recently recovered from grievous wounds sustained at Chickamauga, he was thrust into command of the Confederacy's ill-starred army even as Federals pounded on the door of the Deep South's greatest untouched city, Atlanta. His predecessor, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, had failed to stop the advance of armies under Federal commander William T. Sherman, who had pushed and maneuvered his way from Chattanooga, Tennessee, right to Atlanta's very doorstep. Johnston had been able to do little to stop him. The crisis could not have been more acute. Hood, an aggressive risk-taker, threw his men into the fray with unprecedented vigor. Sherman welcomed it. "We'll give them all the fighting they want", Sherman said. He proved a man of his word. In "All the Fighting They Want: The Atlanta Campaign from Peachtree Creek to the City's Surrender, July 18-September 2, 1864 ", military historian Steve Davis, (who is perhaps the world's foremost authority on the Atlanta campaign) vividly presents the last great struggle for the city. Davis' Southern sensibility and his knowledge of the battle, accumulated over a lifetime of living on the ground, make this "All the Fighting They Want" indispensable addition to the acclaimed Savis Beatie 'Emerging Civil War Series'. Impressively informative and exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "All the Fighting They Want" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library American Civil War History collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and Civil War buffs that "All the Fighting They Want" is also avail in a digital book format ($7.53).

Jefferson Davis's Final Campaign
Philip D. Dillard
Mercer University Press
1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207-0001
www.mupress.org
9780881466058 $35.00 amazon.com

Jefferson Davis's Final Campaign: Confederate Nationalism and the Fight to Arm Slaves is a scholarly examination of a seemingly paradoxical aspect of the American Civil War. In the fall of 1864, when repeated Union victories made the fall of the Confederacy appear imminent, Confederate President Jefferson Davis confronted a radical idea - arming slaves to fight for the Confederacy, in a last-ditch, desperate attempt to preserve independence, possibly even at the cost of the slavery institution itself. Discussions about arming slaves to fight in the war opened long-hidden rifts between planters, yeoman, and poor whites. Jefferson Davis's Final Campaign examines the perspectives of ordinary Southerners as well as those who held high governmental and military positions. A bibliography and an index enhance this excellent contribution to public and college library Civil War collections. Highly recommended.


The Education Shelf

Summer Matters: Making All Learning Count
Elizabeth M. McChesney & Bryan W. Wunar
Marketing Department
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838915615, $50.00, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Summer reading for children is a long standing and cherished tradition in school and community libraries across America, but today's kids need to master new skills and competencies. Today's summer programming needs to move beyond reading to engage children with hands-on activities, thus keeping their brains active even when school is out. In "Summer Matters: Making All Learning Count", a team of librarians and educators from the Chicago Public Library (CPL) and Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry present a guide based on their award-winning, STEAM-inspired approach. "Summer Matters" outline practical steps for libraries and cultural institutions to partner in creating a sustainable summer learning program that's both fun and educational. "Summer Matters" also explains what STEAM is and why it's important for libraries; provides evidence-based research on summer slide, the achievement gap, and 21st century learning skills; walks readers through building a cultural partnership, collaborating efficiently, and sustaining the relationship into the future; offers tips for managing institutional change; provides guidance for developing a new vision for summer at the library, with pointers on adding learning tracks to existing programs and addressing design challenges; details how CPL evaluates and assesses their program; and includes templates for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), mission statement, logic model, and sample Summer Learning Challenge evaluations. Loaded from cover to cover with innovative program ideas, "Summer Matters" is an outstanding and thoroughly 'user friendly' resource that will ensure that learning continues even while school is out.

Learning Transformed
Eric C. Sheninger & Thomas C. Murray
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416623892, $31.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com

With all that we know about how students learn, the nature of the world they will face after graduation, and the educational inequities that have existed for centuries, maintaining a traditional, one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and learning is tantamount to instructional malpractice. International security, the success of global economies, and sustainability as a global society all depend on the success of our education system in the years to come. It's our obligation to prepare our students for their future not our past. In "Learning Transformed: 8 Keys to Designing Tomorrow's Schools, Today" Eric C. Sheninger (Senior Fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education) and Thomas C. Murray (Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools) outline eight keys each a piece of a puzzle for transforming the K - 12 education system of teaching and learning to intentionally design tomorrow's schools so today's learners are prepared for success -- and stand ready to create new industries, find new cures, and solve world problems. The traditional model of schooling ultimately prepares students for the industrial model of the past. If we want our students to become successful citizens in a global society, we must dramatically shift to a more personal approach. Failure is not an option. We can no longer wait. Let Learning Transformed show you how you can be a part of the solution. Informative, thoughtful, insightful, practical, timely, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Learning Transformed" is very highly recommended for school district, college, and university library Teacher Education collections. It should be noted for classroom teachers, school board members, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Learning Transformed" is also available in a digital book format ($27.32).

Creating the Anywhere, Anytime Classroom
Casey Reason, Lisa Reason, Crystal Guiler
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
www.solution-tree.com
9781943874866, $29.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com

As technology continues to shift the educational landscape, most K-12 teachers' instructional strategies remain mostly unchanged. "Creating the Anywhere, Anytime Classroom: A Blueprint for Learning Online in Grades K-12" reveals how to enhance student learning in online and blended classrooms. This user-friendly resource offers direct guidance on the steps K-12 educators must take to facilitate online learning and maximize student growth using readily available digital tools. Each individual chapter includes suggestions, tips, and examples tied to pedagogical practices associated with learning online, so you can confidently and fully engage in the best practices with your students. "Creating the Anywhere, Anytime Classroom" covers such issues and benefits as: Using technology tools like online classroom platforms and apps to foster digitally enhanced learning; Understanding the benefits of learning online and its advantages over traditional real-world classrooms; Learning how to effectively facilitate digital learning experiences and organize the online learning space in a way that encourages comfort, motivation, and engagement; Studying the challenges and opportunities teaching online offers; Gaining strategies and examples to help initiate and sustain digital learning while engaging students. Exceptionally and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Creating the Anywhere, Anytime Classroom" is very highly recommended for school district, college and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted that "Creating the Anywhere, Anytime Classroom" is also available in a Kindle format ($24.92).


The Military Shelf

Battle for the North Atlantic
John R. Bruning
Zenith Press
www.zenithpress.com
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760339916, $40.00, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com

"The Battle of the North Atlantic" by John R. Bruning is the story of the longest continuous military campaign of World War II. An arena of military conflict that ran from 1939 until the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 -- though it reached its peak from mid-1940 through the end of 1943. German U-boats and other warships of the German navy were pitted against Allied merchant shipping. Initially, convoys of merchant ships were protected for the most part by the British and Canadian navies and air forces. Starting in the early fall of 1941, before Pearl Harbor, these forces were aided by ships and aircraft of the United States. Beginning on the first day of the European war and lasting for six years, this Northern Atlantic based conflict arena involving thousands of ships and stretching over hundreds of miles of the vast ocean and seas in a succession of more than a hundred convoy battles and as many as a thousand single-ship encounters. Tactical advantage switched back and forth over the six years as new weapons, tactics, and countermeasures were developed by both sides. The Allies gradually gained the upper hand, driving the German surface raiders from the ocean by the end of 1942 and decisively defeating the U-boats in a series of convoy battles between March and May 1943. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Battle for the North Atlantic" is an extraordinarily informative and consistently compelling read from beginning to end. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century Military History collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated military history buffs that "The Battle for the North Atlantic" is also available in a digital book format ($23.00).

For Want Of A Gun
Christian M. DeJohn
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764352508, $84.99, HC, 392pp, www.amazon.com

"For Want Of A Gun: The Sherman Tank Scandal of WWII" by Christian DeJohn (a published historian completing a masters degree in military and American history, as well as a former United States Cavalry tanker with hands-on experiences as a gunner in an M1 Abrams tank, and a veteran of service in Bosnia-Herzegovina) is remarkable story exposing the Sherman tank scandal of World War II. This was a war time scandal that involved some of the biggest American names and stretched from the White House and Pentagon to factories and battlefronts. Outgunned by more powerful German opponents, the inferiority of American tanks led to some of the worst setbacks of the war -- including prolonging the war in Europe. US tankers ultimately prevailed, but over 60,000 armored division soldiers were killed and wounded -- it was their preventable sacrifice that inspired the Hollywood movie Fury. Included in "For Want Of A Gun" are striking images of the Sherman's adversaries (photographed exclusively at the National Museum of Cavalry and Armor), along with original equipment, documents, period propaganda, and vintage photos of Sherman tanks in action. As a German officer noted, "I was on this hill with six 88mm antitank guns...Every time they sent a tank, we knocked it out. Finally we ran out of ammunition, and the Americans didn't run out of tanks." A unique and impressively informative study, "For Want Of A Gun" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated World War II military history buffs, and an ideal addition to both community and academic library 20th Century military history collections.


The American History Shelf

Food in the American Gilded Age
Helen Zoe Veit, editor
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611862355, $34.95, HC, 344pp, www.amazon.com

Food was incredibly diverse in post - Civil War America. It was an era of gross income inequality, and differences in diet reflected the deep disparities between upper and lower classes, as well as the expansion of a flourishing middle class. In compiled and edited by Helen Zoe Veit (Associate Professor of History at Michigan State University), "Food in the American Gilded Age" excerpts from a wide range of Gilded Age sources ranging from period cookbooks, to advice manuals, to dietary studies -- revealing the jarring eating and cooking differentials between classes and regions at a time when technology and industrialization were transforming what and how people ate. Most of all, the contributors show how strongly the fabled glitz of wealthy Americans in the Gilded Age contrasted with the lives of most Americans. Featuring a variety of sources as well as accessible essays putting those sources into context, "Food in the American Gilded Age" provides a remarkable portrait of food in a singular era in American history, giving a glimpse into the kinds of meals eaten everywhere from high society banquets to the meanest tenements and sharecropping cabins. Of special note are all the recipes showcased throughout "Food in the American Gilded Age". Featuring a Glossary of Nineteenth-Century Cooking Terms; eight pages of Notes, and a nine page index, "Food in the American Gilded Age" is a unique and highly recommended addition to both community and academic library American History collections, and is a 'must' for those with an interest in 19th and 20th century American popular culture with respect to foods, diets, and menus.


The World History Shelf

The Mongol Conquests
Carl Fredrik Sverdrup
Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
9781910777718 $59.95 www.casematepublishers.com

The Mongol Conquests: The Military Operations of Genghis Khan and Sube'etei is a scholarly, detailed history of how the Mongols created the greatest landlocked empire in history, eventually spanning from Korea in the east to Hungary and Poland in the west. Focusing especially on the military operations of these two great generals, The Mongol Conquest draws upon Mongolian, Chinese, Near Eastern, and European sources to reconstruct these ancient campaigns that made world history. The Mongol Conquests also presents evidence to contradict popular beliefs about the Mongols, such as that they used terror as a deliberate strategy or possessed skill at siege warfare. The Mongol Conquests is highly recommended for both public and college library world history or military history shelves.


The Science Shelf

How the Zebra Got Its Stripes
Leo Grasset
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681774145, $26.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Why do giraffes have such long necks? Why are zebras striped? And why does the clitoris of the female hyena exactly resemble and in most respects function like the male's penis? Deploying the latest scientific research and his own extensive observations in Africa, in "How the Zebra Got Its Stripes: Darwinian Stories Told Through Evolutionary Biology", author Leo Grasset offers answers to these questions and many more. Complex natural phenomena are explained in simple and at times comic terms, as Grasset turns evolutionary biology to the burning questions of the animal kingdom, from why elephants prefer dictators and buffaloes democracies, to whether the lion really is king. The human is, of course, just another animal, and Grasset's exploration of two million years of human evolution shows how it not only informs our current habits and behavior, but also reveals that we are hybrids of several different species. Serious science at its entertaining and accessible best, "How the Zebra Got Its Stripes" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library General Science collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "How the Zebra Got Its Stripes" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.99).

The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far
Lawrence M. Krauss
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781476777610, $27.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

"The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far: Why Are We Here?" is a seminal and unique work of scientific history in which theoretical physicist Lawrence M. Krauss (Director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University and the author of more than 300 scientific publications and nine books, including "A Universe from Nothing" and "The Physics of Star Trek") leads us to the furthest reaches of space and time, to scales so small they are invisible to microscopes, to the birth and rebirth of light, and into the natural forces that govern our existence. His unique blend of rigorous research and engaging storytelling invites us into the lives and minds of the remarkable, creative scientists who have helped to unravel the unexpected fabric of reality -- with reason rather than superstition and dogma. Krauss has himself been an active participant in this effort, and he knows many of them well. "The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far" challenges us to re-envision ourselves and our place within the universe, as it appears that "God" does play dice with the universe. In "The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far" Krauss celebrates the greatest intellectual adventure ever undertaken -- to understand why we are here in a universe where fact is stranger than fiction. Exceptionally informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far" is a consistently compelling and absorbing read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library collections, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers that "The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far" is also available in a forthcoming paperback edition (9781476777627, $16.00) and in a currently available eTextbook format ($12.99). Librarians should be aware that there is a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Brilliance Audio, 9781480595576, $24.99).


The Economic Studies Shelf

From Great Depression to Great Recession
Atish R. Ghosh & Mahvash S. Qureshi, editors
International Money Fund
PO Box 92780, Washington, DC 20090
9781513514277, $27.00, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

The global financial crisis and the ensuing Great Recession raised concerns about adjustment fatigue, deflation, currency wars, and secular stagnation that presented a sense of deja vu: similar concerns had arisen at the time of the Great Depression and at the end of World War II. As with earlier crises, these concerns prompted calls for greater international policy cooperation -- both to achieve a sustainable recovery from the crisis and to prevent future crises. "From Great Depression to Great Recession" is comprised of papers given at a 2015 symposium of eminent scholars convened by the IMF to discuss how history can inform current debates about the functioning and challenges of the international monetary system. An introductory chapter sets the stage for the other chapters in the volume by giving a broad overview of the performance of the international monetary system over the past century, highlighting the key events and challenges that shaped it. Subsequent sections look at historical antecedents of today's challenges, describe how the modern international monetary system has been (and continues to be) shaped through international financial diplomacy, provide a present-day perspective, and examine the analytics of international policy coordination. It should be noted that The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization of 185 Member Countries. It was established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries in order to help ease balance of payments adjustments. Informed and informative, "From Great Depression to Great Recession" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, academic, corporate, and governmental library Economic Studies collections.

Money: Free and Unfree
George Selgin
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-5403
www.cato.org
9781944424299, $24.95, HC, 382pp, www.amazon.com

The United States has endured crippling financial crises, together with many other sorts of monetary disorder, throughout its history. Why? The popular answer has long been that U.S. banks have been under-regulated, that increased regulation and centralization over the years have helped, and that still more regulation and centralization is needed. In "Money: Free and Unfree", George Selgin (a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives at the Cato Institute and Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Georgia) turns this conventional wisdom on its head. Through a series of painstakingly researched essays covering U.S. monetary history since before the Civil War, he traces U.S. financial disorders to their source in misguided government regulations. State governments were early culprits -- but in taking advantage of the Civil War to dramatically increase its own involvement in the banking and currency system, the federal government set the stage for even worse problems to come. Instead of addressing the root causes of these crises, the Federal Reserve Act reinforced some of them, while dramatically increasing the potential for politically-motivated abuse of monetary policy. Professor Selgin's revisionist thesis may shock and anger champions of monetary orthodoxy, but they'll be hard-pressed to refute the solid scholarship upon which that thesis rests. Impressively informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Money: Free and Unfree" is an impressively researched and reasoned iconoclastic study that is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Economics collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Money: Free and Unfree" is also available in a digital book format ($11.99).


The Political Science Shelf

Not a Scientist
Dave Levitan
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393353327, $15.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

"Not a Scientist: How Politicians Mistake, Misrepresent, and Utterly Mangle Science" by Dave Levitan (a professional journalist whose work has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Scientific American, Slate, and many other outlets) is an impressively revealing tour of the political tricks that politicians (and those that fund them) use for the deliberate purpose of subverting scientific progress. Readers will learn about the political tactics of The Butter-Up and Undercut, The Certain Uncertainty, and The Straight-Up Fabrication. "Not a Scientist" exposes and dismantles all of these deceptive arguments, and many more, in an exceptionally informative probing and hilarious examination of the ways our elected officials attack scientific findings that conflict with their political agendas. The next time you hear a politician say, "Well, I'm not a scientist, but...," you'll be ready. In a time when the president of the United States has deliberately chosen anti-science appointees to head key science oriented and/or dependent federal agencies (such as a climate change denier to be in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency), "Not a Scientist" is an urgently required and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Political Science collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Not a Scientist" is also available in a digital book format ($8.61).


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Handy Diabetes Answer Book
Patricia Barnes-Svarney & Thomas E. Svarney
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578595976, $21.95, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com

Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications including diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, and damage to the eyes. Compiled by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Thomas E. Svarney, "The Handy Diabetes Answer Book" is the go-to guide for diabetics, prediabetics, their loved-ones and care-takers. It answers questions in plain English on all aspects of the condition. It also introduces the scientists behind breakthrough advances in care. Easy to use and informative reference, brings the complexity of the illness into focus and provides practical assistance for managing the malady through the well-researched answers to nearly 950 common questions. Impressively informative, exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Handy Diabetes Answer Book" should be considered essential reading for anyone having to deal with diabetes within themselves or a loved one. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Health/Medicine collections in general, and Diabetes supplemental studies reading lists in particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Handy Diabetes Answer Book" is also available in a Kindle format ($17.92).


The Language Studies Shelf

A Latin Picture Dictionary for Everyone
James W. Cochola & Donald E. Sprague, authors
Lydia Koller, illustrator
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
www.bolchazy.com
9780865167490, $22.00, PB, 211pp, www.amazon.com

Specifically designed as a curriculum supplemental text for Latin students, "A Latin Picture Dictionary for Everyone: Lingua Latina Depicta" asks the learner to make a ready connection between an image and its corresponding Latin word. Illustrated exercises provide an opportunity for students to practice with and internalize the Latin vocabulary. Special features include black-and-white line drawings present everyday objects and scenes from everyday life (animals and numbers, colors, the family, buildings, transportation, the house, furniture, pastimes, professions, the military, parts of the body, clothing, food shopping, food preparation, and the arts) with one image from the Roman world and a corresponding image from the modern world. The line drawings invite students to color the pictures with each object is drawn for ready recognition and easy connection to its Latin label. Very highly recommended for highschool, college, and university Latin Language courses, "A Latin Picture Dictionary for Everyone: Lingua Latina Depicta" includes a set of exercises, of varied complexity accompanying each set of illustrations. Additionally, "A Latin Picture Dictionary for Everyone: Lingua Latina Depicta" is enhanced with the inclusion of appendices that include Pronunciation of Classical Latin; Major Parts of Speech and Their Uses; How Latin Words Work: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives; A Grammatical Outline; as well as a Pictorial Glossary of Additional Latin Vocabulary and Synonyms.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Ex-Offender's Job Interview Guide
Ronald L. Kannich
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Suite N, Manassas Park, VA 20111
www.impactpublications.com
9781570232824, $9.95, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated second addition, "The Ex-Offender's Job Interview Guide: Turn Your Red Flags Into Green Lights" addresses the many employability issues facing ex-offenders. A practical and 'real world' guide, "The Ex-Offender's Job Interview Guide" shows ex-offenders how to deal with today's job market challenges by having as its principle focus being the critical job interview. "The Ex-Offender's Job Interview Guide" emphasizes the importance of turning obvious red flags into green lights by developing effective communication skills. Thirteen chapters focus on potential job knockouts, telling the truth, 40 interview mistakes, questions and answers, nonverbal interview behaviors, preparation, red flag questions, closing, follow-up, job offers, and salaries. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Ex-Offender's Job Interview Guide" is unreservedly recommended for community library collections in general, and the personal reading lists of all employment seeking ex-offenders in particular.


The Fiction Shelf

The Broken Hours
Jacqueline Baker
Talos Press
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.talospress.com
c/o Sky Horse Publishing (dist.)
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781940456553, $24.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

In the cold spring of 1936, Arthor Crandle, down-on-his luck and desperate for work, accepts a position in Providence, Rhode Island, as a live-in secretary/assistant for an unnamed shut-in. He arrives at the gloomy colonial-style house to discover that his strange employer is an author of disturbing, bizarre fiction. Health issues have confined him to his bedroom, where he is never to be disturbed. But the writer, who Crandle knows only as "Ech-Pi," refuses to meet him, communicating only by letters left on a table outside his room. Soon the home reveals other unnerving peculiarities. There is an ominous presence Crandle feels on the main stairwell. Light shines out underneath the door of the writer's room, but is invisible from the street. It becomes increasingly clear there is something not right about the house or its occupant. Haunting visions of a young girl in a white nightgown wandering the walled-in garden behind the house motivate Crandle to investigate the circumstances of his employer's dark family history. Meanwhile, the unsettling aura of the house pulls him into a world increasingly cut off from reality, into black depths, where an unspeakable secret lies waiting. An original novel featuring H. P. Lovecraft (whom many consider to be the 'father' of American Horror Fantasy Fiction) as the protagonist, "The Broken Hours" is an impressively well crafted novel that will prove to be an inherently fascinating and unfailingly entertaining 'must read' for the legions of Lovecraft fans. While an absolutely requisite addition to both community and academic library fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Broken Hours" is also available in a paperback edition (9781940456874, $14.99) and in a Kindle format ($9.68).

The Summer of the Osprey
Elisabeth Ogilvie
Down East Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781608934829, $16.95, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com

When a stranger buys property on Bennett's Island and drops anchor there in an expensive lobster boat, the locals are suspicious. Day-to-day life goes on, but dark undercurrents begin to bubble in these chilly Maine waters. Elisabeth Ogilvie (May 20, 1917 - September 9, 2006) was an American writer who, in the course of her literary career wrote 46 books. "The Summer of the Osprey" is one of her best and clearly showcases her natural flair for original and reading engaging storytelling. Now brought back into print for the edification of a new general of appreciative readers, "The Summer of the Osprey" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Summer of the Osprey" is also available in a digital book format ($6.15).

Gila Monster
Colin Bainbridge
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444831108, $20.99, PB, 204pp, www.amazon.com

A stagecoach is on its way to the small town of Medicine Bend when it is attacked by outlaws. However, the coach's passengers (the new marshal Wade Calvin; Mr Taber, insurance salesman; and Miss Jowett, on her way to take on caring for her widowed nephew's children) manage to repel them. Upon their arrival they all find their lives intertwined. But as they settle into life in Medicine Bend, Gila Goad, the outlaws' vicious leader, hears news of his men's botched robbery - and is determined to get his revenge -- especially when he learns the identity of the new marshal. A master of the western genre, author Colin Bainbridge has penned another thrilling, non-stop adventure that, in this Linford Western Library's large print edition, will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans, as well as community library Western Fiction collections.

The Gun Master
Rory Black
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444831115, $20.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

On his way to visit an old friend, Rex Carey arrives in the township of Willow Creek. But, unbeknownst to him, the infamous Zane Black is staying in the same hotel. Soon Rex, known throughout the West as the Gun Master, clashes with Zane, and blood is spilled. Meanwhile, Zane's murderous brother Forrest Black and his men are riding towards Willow Creek to rob the bank and having no idea brother Zane is dead at the hands of the man they call the Gun Master. Determined to avenge him, Forrest and his outlaw gang are on a collision course of gun smoke and violence with Rex. With "The Gun Master", western action/adventure novelist Rory Black has penned another outstanding tale that will prove to be of immense and enduring popularity for library Western Fiction collections. Of special note is the large print format of this Linford Western Library edition of Rory Black's "The Gun Master".

Out of the Darkness
Robert D. McKee
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432834197, $25.95, HC, 356pp, www.amazon.com

As the old ways of the nineteenth century fade, "Out of the Darkness" tells a story that touches on the themes and issues America will face in the new century that looms ahead. It is a story of technology and its place in society. It is a story of violence, a doctor's responsibility to his patient, and a lawyer's responsibility to his client. It is a story of forbidden love, and a story of a timid, terrified young woman's finding her courage. It questions humankind's ability and willingness to be a contributor in the quality and course of its own evolution. Ultimately, "Out of the Darkness" takes a provocative look at what sort of people will populate a new age, and what sort of people will, inevitably, be left behind. Original, thought-provoking, deftly crafted, inherently compelling, "Out of the Darkness" is another novel from the gifted pen of Robert D. McKee who has an impressive flair for creating unique characters and a consistently engaging plot replete with unexpected twists and turns. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Out of the Darkness" is also available in a Kindle format ($7.99).


The Parenting Shelf

Joy Fixes for Weary Parents
Erin Leyba
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608684731, $16.95, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com

Modern parenting presents fresh challenges, including unrelenting time pressures, lack of support systems, and work demands, that often leave parents drained and worn-out. Erin Leyba, the mother of three young children, has been counseling parents on these issues for almost twenty years. In "Joy Fixes for Weary Parents: 101 Quick, Research-Based Ideas for Overcoming Stress and Building a Life You Love", Erin Leyba (an individual and marriage counselor, specializes in helping parents of young children) draws her own years of experience and expertise, as well as the latest research about child development, attachment, successful marriages, and mindfulness to create effective, doable solutions for balancing, simplifying, and communicating. She presents powerful tools that parents can use right away to de-stress, stay energized, and create more warmth and passion with loved ones. Whether new, veteran, overwhelmed, exhausted, or just interested in doing better than they are, parents will find proven help here. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Parenting collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for parents that "Joy Fixes for Weary Parents" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Social Issues Shelf

Remember Little Rock
Erin Krutko Devlin
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
www.umass.edu/umpress
9781625342683, $90.00, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com

In "Remember Little Rock", Erin Krutko Devlin (Assistant Professor of History and American Studies at University of Mary Washington) deftly explores public memories surrounding the iconic Arkansas school desegregation crisis of 1957 and shows how these memories were vigorously contested and sometimes deployed against the cause. Delving into a wide variety of sources, from memoirs to televised docudramas, commemoration ceremonies, and the creation of Little Rock High museums, Professor Devlin reveals how many white moderates proclaimed Little Rock a victory for civil rights and educational equality even as segregation persisted. At the same time, African American activists, students, and their families asserted their own stories in the ongoing fight for racial justice. Professor Devlin also demonstrates that public memory directly bears on law and policy. She argues that the triumphal narrative of civil rights has been used to stall school desegregation, support tokenism, and to roll back federal court oversight of school desegregation, voter registration, and efforts to promote diversity in public institutions. "Remember Little Rock" examines the chasm between the rhetoric of the "post - civil rights" era and the reality of enduring racial inequality. Expertly researched, exceptionally informative, impressively organized and presented, "Remember Little Rock" is an extraordinary and seminal work of truly impressive scholarship and one that is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century American History collections in general, and Contemporary African-American History supplemental studies lists in particular. "Remember Little Rock" is also available in a paperback edition (9781625342690, $28.95) for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Cambridge Companion to Philosophical Methodology
Giuseppina D'Oro & Soren Overgaard, editors
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9781107121522, $110.00, HC, 496pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Soren Overgaard (Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and Giuseppina D'Oro (Reader in Philosophy at Keele University, Staffordshire, England), "The Cambridge Companion to Philosophical Methodology" offers clear and comprehensive coverage of the main methodological debates and approaches within philosophy. The twenty informed and informative articles comprising this outstanding volume collectively approach the question of how to do philosophy from a wide range of perspectives, including conceptual analysis, critical theory, deconstruction, experimental philosophy, hermeneutics, Kantianism, methodological naturalism, phenomenology, and pragmatism. The contributors deftly explore general conceptions of philosophy, centered on the question of what the point of philosophy might be; the method of conceptual analysis and its recent naturalistic critics and competitors; perspectives from continental philosophy, and also a variety of methodological views that belong neither to the mainstream of analytic philosophy, nor to continental philosophy as commonly conceived. A fundamental work of outstanding merit, "The Cambridge Companion to Philosophical Methodology" is enhanced with the inclusion of an informative introduction by the editors; a listing of the contributors and their credentials; a thirty-two page Bibliography, and a sixteen page Index. While unreservedly recommended as a core addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Philosophy collections, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Cambridge Companion to Philosophical Methodology" is also available in a paperback edition (9781107547360, $29.99) and as an eTextbook ($24.00).


The Library Science Shelf

Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding
Patrick Sweeney & John Chrastka
Neal-Shuman Publishers
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838915561, $57.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

What every 'Friends of the Library' group has learned whenever they have sought funding for remodeling or building anew a library for their community is the importance of getting their community to support the effort, and then absolutely critically importance of getting their community political leaders to support the effort. 90% of funding for public libraries comes from the will of local politicians and, in turn, from local voters. So it's urgent that librarians, library supporters, and anyone interested in running an election or campaign for a library understand the strategies, resources, and tactics necessary for positive political action. Whether election day is four months away or four years away, there are immediate steps library leaders and local library ballot committees should take to help secure a successful ballot initiative later. Written by two experienced library campaigners, "Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding " is action-driven manual for anyone running a political campaign for libraries dives into proven successful campaigning techniques for rural, suburban, and urban settings. "Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding " offers expert analysis on how political perceptions are formed, how political power works, and ways libraries can reach funding or political goals; starting the discussion internally; the right approach to setting up the committee structure, and identifying the core leadership team for the committee; tips on networking, cultivating good relationships with the power players in the community, and building a winning coalition; canvassing and direct voter contact; responding effectively to opposition, including voters who habitually resist taxes or library funding increases; the differences between paid media and earned media; and best practices for marketing and message development, fundraising, volunteer engagement, and other key areas. Informed and informative, practical, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Winning Elections and Influencing Politicians for Library Funding" is a 'must' for the reference shelves of every community and academic library collection in general, and the Library Science supplemental studies reading lists for aspiring library students and members of Friends of the Library groups in particular.

Sex, Brains, and Video Games, second edition
Jennifer Burek Pieree
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838915486, $57.00, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

How can school and community librarians break through and truly reach their young adult patrons? It begins with understanding them. Librarians who work with teens need information and a big-picture perspective on adolescence that reflects the latest knowledge of cognate fields and the contemporary realities of young people's lives. Now in a thoroughly revised and updated second edition, "Sex, Brains, and Video Games, Second Edition: Information and Inspiration for Youth Services Librarians" by Burek Pierce (Associate Professor in the School of Library & Information Science at the University of Iowa) provides exactly that, selecting and synthesizing emerging information from multiple fields of research to effectively support librarians work with teens. Far-reaching but pragmatic, "Sex, Brains, and Video Games" discusses such important topics as identity and community, sex and sexualities, what experts can tell us about the adolescent brain, and how teens use technology to mediate the world; replaces outdated developmental theories that have been discarded in their home fields but are still sometimes used in the LIS world; looks at how to blend what research tells us about teens with day-to-day work in libraries; reflects new norms of professional practice, such as the increased importance of community engagement and partnerships, offering librarians a path towards cooperation and collaboration with peers outside the library world; and includes a bibliography of essential reading for YA librarians. A critically important and very highly recommended addition to school district, college, and university Library Science collections and supplemental studies lists, educators and practitioners, as well as students preparing to enter the field, will all benefit from this compact overview of contemporary research on adolescence.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The World of the New Testament
Joel B. Green & Lee Martin McDonald, editors
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780801039621, $49.99, HC, 640pp, www.amazon.com

Collaborative compiled and co-edited by Joel B. Green (Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, as well as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Theological Interpretation) and Lee Martin McDonald (formerly Professor of New Testament Studies and President of Acadia Divinity College), "The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts" is a compilation of a series of scholarly articles by experts in their fields addressing the most important issues related to the study of New Testament writings. These contributions to Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman backgrounds are necessary for understanding the New Testament and the early church. Included are seventy-five photographs, fifteen maps, numerous tables and charts, illustrations, and bibliographies. Reliable, up-to-date, comprehensive, "The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts" is an impressively informative textbook and reference volume on the New Testament world that is unreservedly recommended for community, seminary, college, and university library New Testament Studies collections in general, and supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts" is also available in a paperback edition (9780801098611, $49.99) and in a Kindle format ($25.43).

An American Conscience
Jeremy L. Sabella
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802875273, $19.99, PB, 171pp, www.amazon.com

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 - 1971) was an inner-city pastor, ethics professor, and author of the famous Serenity Prayer. Cited as an influence by public figures ranging from Billy Graham to Barack Obama, "An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story" by Jeremy L. Sabella (who earned his PhD in theology from Boston College and has taught religion courses at Fairfield University and Yale Divinity School) is the companion volume to the forthcoming documentary film by Martin Doblmeier on the life and influence of Reinhold Niebuhr, Sabella draws on an unprecedented set of exclusive interviews to explore how Niebuhr continues to compel minds and stir consciences in the twenty-first century. Interviews with leading voices such as Jimmy Carter, David Brooks, Cornel West, and Stanley Hauerwas as well as with people who knew Niebuhr personally, including his daughter Elisabeth, provide a rich trove of original material to help readers understand Niebuhr's enduring impact on American life and thought. An extraordinary account of the life and work of Reinhold Niebuhr, "An American Conscience" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, seminary, and academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "An American Conscience" is also available in a Kindle format ($13.54).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

A Death In The Wedding Party
Caroline Dunford
Magna Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780750544283, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 271pp, www.amazon.com

The year is 1911 and love is in the air. Despite an unfortunate resemblance to her horse, Lady Richenda Stapleford has accepted an offer of marriage. Euphemia too has accepted one of her beaux. But the course of true love does not run true for upstairs or downstairs. Euphemia, the estranged granddaughter of an Earl, who launched her career as a maid in the household of the corrupt MP Lord Stapleford has now risen to the rank of housekeeper. When a senior member of the wedding party is murdered it falls to Euphemia to solve the crime. A deftly crafted and riveting read from first page to last, "A Death In The Wedding Party" clearly reveals author Caroline Dunford as a master of the genre and this large print edition will prove to be an outstandingly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections -- and a 'must' for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs.

The Santa Klaus Murder
Mavis Doriel Hay
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785413537, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 306pp, www.amazon.com

Aunt Mildred declared that no good could come of the Melbury family Christmas gatherings at their country residence, Flaxmere. So when Sir Osmond Melbury, the family patriarch, is discovered on Christmas Day - by a guest dressed as Santa Klaus - with a bullet in his head, the festivities are plunged into chaos. Nearly every member of the party stands to reap some sort of benefit from Sir Osmond's death; but Santa Klaus, the one person who seems to have had every opportunity to fire the shot, has no apparent motive. The Chief Constable of Haulmshire, who begins his investigations by saying that he knows the family too well, wishes before long that he understood them better. And in the midst of mistrust, suspicion and hatred, it emerges that there was not one Santa Klaus, but two! M. Doriel Hay (1894-1979) was a novelist of the golden age of British crime fiction. Now one of her best, "The Santa Klaus Murder" has been brought back for a new generation of appreciative readers in this large print edition which is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Another Castle: Grimoire
Andrew Wheeler, author
Illustrated and colored by Paulina Ganucheau
Oni Press
www.onipress.com
9781620103111 $15.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle amazon.com

Another Castle: Grimoire is a fantasy-adventure graphic novel, beautifully illustrated in striking full color. Princess Misty of Beldora (who has been trained in self-defense due to an uptick in princess kidnappings) finds the responsibilities of royal life stifling. Her life is upended when the immortal tyrant Lord Badlug of Grimoire captures her, intending to marry her as a means to conquer and inflict suffering upon her nation. But the people of Beldora aren't the only ones at risk - the citizens of Grimoire (a multiethnic blend of humans and monsters) will also pay a horrific blood price if Lord Badlug doesn't get what he wants! Can a valiant yet battle-inept prince bring Misty the only sword capable of harming Lord Badlug in time? Will Grimoire's citizens find the will to resist Badlug before he slaughters more innocents? A complete epic saga in one volume, Another Castle: Grimoire is a treat for graphic novel connoisseurs of all ages, and highly recommended for public library collections and personal reading lists.

Afar
Leila Del Duca and Kit Seaton
Edited by Taneka Stotts
Image
imagecomics.com
9781632159410 $14.99 pbk / $9.68 Kindle amazon.com

Afar is a full-color science fiction graphic novel adventure that readers of all ages will find captivating. Fifteen-year-old Boetema lives a humble life in a post-industrial desert wasteland, until she unexpectedly discovers her ability to astral project to other planets while she is asleep. Boetema must navigate challenges in two different worlds - one barren and potentially dangerous, one alien with threats she knows next to nothing about. When her parents must temporarily leave her and her thirteen-year-old brother Inotu, the two are forced to make a dangerous desert journey after a troublesome run-in with a a hostile cyborg bodyguard! The striking art brings this saga of a strong-willed heroine, her family, and her friends to vivid life. Highly recommended, especially for science fiction connoisseurs.

Audubon: On the Wings of the World
Fabien Grolleau & Jeremie Royer
Nobrow
http://nobrow.net
9781910620151 $22.95 amazon.com

Readers of all ages will enjoy Audubon: On the Wings of the World, a colorful graphic novel biography of French-American ornithologist, naturalist and painter John James Audubon (1785- 1851). Born into the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), Audubon lacked his father's aptitude for business undertakings, but carried a lifelong passion for birds and nature as well as courage and artistic talent. Audubon: On the Wings of the World is a fascinating and extraordinary life story, highly recommended especially for public library graphic novel collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

Artificial Intelligence
Jerry Kaplan
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781541404915 $32.99 www.tantor.com

Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a scientific, philosophical, and social conundrum for the twenty-first century - how can society best adapt to the proliferation rapidly evolving artificial intelligences? As machines become smarter and cheaper, more and more human jobs become automated (think "self-service" checkouts and voice mail displacing cashiers and secretaries in the present, and driverless cars displacing driving-related careers in the future), causing unemployment that strains both private and public institutions. The reach of sophisticated artificial intelligences may extend even further into the realm of our everyday lives (consider "Siri" and similar problem-solving smartphone apps). Thoroughly accessible to listeners of all backgrounds, Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know stresses the importance of considering the most profound ethical implications of modern technology. Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know is highly recommended, especially for public and school library audiobook collections, and also for listening. 4 CDs, 5 hours.

Stalin and the Scientists
Simon Ings, author
Tim Bruce, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781501948978 $TBA www.recordedbooks.com

Stalin and the Scientists: A History of Triumph and Tragedy 1905-1953 is the unabridged audiobook rendition of an extraordinary aspect of Soviet history during the first half of the twentieth century - its dual veneration and politicization of science. The ruling elite lavished praise on science and scientists, but scientific ideals were also inseparably intertwined with political ideals, and any individual scientist whose ideas fell out of political favor could be exiled, imprisoned, or murdered. Joseph Stalin, a.k.a. the "Great Scientist", notoriously fell under the sway of pseudo-botanist Trofim Lysenko (who denied the existence of genes), a catastrophe that held back Soviet agricultural science for decades and contributed to the deaths of millions through famine. Nevertheless, Soviet experts achieved incredible breakthroughs in multiple scientific fields. At once both enlightening and riveting, Stalin and the Scientists is highly recommended especially for public and college library audiobook collections.


The Library CD Shelf

I Dream About This World: The Wyeth Album
Catherine Marie Charlton
www.catherinemariecharlton.com
Phil's Records
www.phils-records.com
$TBA CD / $7.99 itunes.com

I Dream About This World: The Wyeth Album is a music album inspired by the timeless paintings of Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009). Some songs are solo piano; some are piano with instrumentation; all are beautifully neo-classical. Consisting of mostly original works with a meditative overall tone, I Dream About This World is a serene collection, ideal for inspiring relaxation, creativity, and wonder. I Dream About This World is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Nonesuch" (4:27), "Granen (The Spruce) Opus 75, no. 5" by Jean Sibelius (3:23), "I Dream About This World" featuring David Darling (6:22), "Outside of Time, a Healing" featuring Nancy Rumbel (9:50), "Die Luft Ist Blau" (4:02), "Helga Suite: Chorale by Ann Wyeth McCoy" (2:15), "A Walk" (3:13), "Off At Sea" (featuring Nancy Rumbel & David Darling) (4:46), "All That I Feel" (3:20), "April Rain" (4:01), and "Eternity" (4:36).

It Might As Well Be a Myth
Adam Miller
folksinging.org
Privately Published
PO Box 951, Drain, OR 97435
$14.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

It Might As Well Be a Mythis an album of spoken word stories and story-songs by master storyteller and renowned autoharpist Adam Miller. Some of the tales are traditional folklore; others are by a variety of authors. An entrancing and magical experience for listeners of all ages, It Might As Well Be a Myth makes an excellent gift, and is highly recommended especially for public library collections. The tracks are "Lost in the Kalahari Desert" (1:20), "Woody Guthrie: When the World's on Fire" (30:33), "The Lupus General Store" (7:59), "Planxty Irwin" (0:41), "The Code" (2:33), "Agent Orange" (4:41), "Home, Dearie, Home" (3:13), "Umpqua River Colosi" (2:59), "The Old Gray Mare" (6:30), "Will You Know Me?" (0:40), "Canning Salmon" (3:29) and "The Old Man of the Sea" (6:58).


The Library DVD Shelf

I Love Toy Trains: Rail Blazers
A McComas/Stachler Production
Original music by James Coffey
TM Books & Video
PO Box 9228, Michigan City, IN 46361
9781936890446 $9.99 www.tmbv.com

Part of the award-winning "I Love Toy Trains" series, I Love Toy Trains: Rail Blazers is a DVD showcasing both real and model trains, for trainspotters and model railroad hobbyists of all ages. Features include the Dino Express, where one can learn about dinosaurs; an imaginary Crayola train layout created by kids; the haunting story of Pratt's Hollow Phantom streamliner; carnival train rides; fascinating facts about railroad history and much more. Original music by award- winning singer/songwriter James Coffey rounds out this delightful video the whole family can enjoy together. 34 min.


The Business Shelf

Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business, 15th edition
Attorney Fred S. Steingold
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413324075, $39.99, PB, 456pp, www.amazon.com

Whether just starting a small business, or already engaged with a business is already up and running, legal questions crop up on an almost daily basis. Ignoring them can threaten any enterprise -- but hiring a lawyer to help with routine issues can devastate the bottom line. Now in a fully updated and expanded 15th edition, "The Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business" by Attorney Fred S. Steingold (who practices law in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is an expert on small business law, representing and advising many small businesses) includes how to: raise start-up money, decide between an LLC or other business structure, save on business taxes, get licenses and permits, choose the right insurance, negotiate contracts and leases, avoid problems if you're buying a franchise, hire and manage employees and independent contractors, attract and keep customers (and get paid on time), and limit personal liability while protecting personal assets. Including the latest legal information and tax rules for small businesses, "Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business" is an ideal and practical reference for the sole proprietorship, or an LLC or corporation, or a one-person business operating out of their home, or a company with a large staff leasing space. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, and very highly recommended for company, community, and academic library Business Management collections, "Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business" is the next best thing to having a personal attorney on retainer. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business" is also available in a Kindle format ($23.99).


The Art Shelf

Art of Power
Caitlin Blackwell, author
Peter Black, contributor
Oliver Cox, contributor
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791356631, $50.00, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled with commentary by Caitlin Blackwell (who is the inaugural Bute Fellow at Mount Stuart, which is located on the Isle of Bute off the coast of Scotland.), "Art of Power: Masterpieces from the Bute Collection at Mount Stuart" focuses on the extraordinary Bute Collection at Mount Stuart and its illustrious history. John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, was one of history's most enthusiastic art collectors. As tutor to Prince George, Bute became indispensable to the royal household. Soon after his accession to the throne, the King made Bute Prime Minister -- a career that was cut short after the Peace of Paris in 1763. Forced out of London by an angry mob, Bute retired to an estate at Luton, where he spent the rest of his years in private study and amassing a collection of 500 paintings, including major works by Venetian painters such as Tintoretto, Bordone, and Veronese. Bute had a special interest in Dutch and Flemish pictures, building the greatest collection of its kind in Britain. "Art of Power" features over thirty masterpieces, mainly genre paintings and landscapes, and including jewel-like landscapes by Brueghel and Savery. The collection is housed at the Bute family's Scottish seat, Mount Stuart, on the Isle of Bute. Two seminal essays, one by Peter Black (Quality and Quantity: Bute and the Collecting of Dutch Paintings) and the other by Olicer Cox (Creating a King: The Third Earl of Bute and George III) delve into the history of Bute's collection, focusing on his relationship with King George III, and his wide ranging passions, which resulted in rooms filled floor to ceiling with works of art. Enhanced for scholars and art history students with the inclusion of a five page Bibliography and a three page Index, "Art of Power" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library European Art History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The International Studies Shelf

After Europe
Ivan Krastev
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
www.upenn.edu/pennpress
9780812249439 $19.95 amazon.com

After Europe reflects upon the future of the European Union - or its possible lack of a future. Beset by an unprecedented number of refugees and migrants, incidents of terrorism, declining populations, and a disturbing rise in the influence of far-right nationalist parties, the European Union as we know it is unquestionably in trouble (and let's not forget "Brexit", Britain's democratic decision to leave the EU). Krastev meticulously analyzes a host of factors behind this perfect storm, and cautions that even though heavily pro-immigration policies may benefit a nation as a whole, it can also harm that nation's poor and working-class residents by placing a downward pressure on wages. "Globalization may have contributed to the rise of numerous middle classes outside the developed world, but it is eroding the economic and political foundations of the middle-class societies in post-World War II Europe. In this sense, the new populism represents not the losers of today but the prospective losers of tomorrow." How can the EU best respond to the concerns of its people while clamping down on impulses toward totalitarianism? A thought-provoking treatise, After Europe challenges the reader to set aside their preconceptions when addressing the conundrum of a sustainable future. Highly recommended.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Literary Theory for Beginners
Mary Klages, author
Illustrations by Frank Reynoso
For Beginners LLC
155 Main Street, Suite 211, Danbury, CT 06810
www.forbeginnersbooks.com
9781939994608 $15.95 pbk / $15.10 Kindle amazon.com

Part of the excellent "For Beginners" series that breaks down complex subjects into an accessible format aided with black-and-white illustrations, Literary Theory for Beginners lives up to its title with a plain-terms discourse on why literature matters, and basic methods for studying, interpreting, and thinking about literature. From classical humanism to psychoanalysis, to gender and queer theory, postcolonialism, postmodernism and more, Literary Theory for Beginners is a superb introduction to gaining a deeper understanding of the human condition through its greatest written works. Highly recommended, especially for public, high school, and college library Literary Studies shelves.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Tai Chi In 10 Weeks
Aihan Kuhn
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594395055, $16.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

T ai-chi is an internal Chinese martial art that is practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. "Tai Chi In 10 Weeks: A Beginner's Guide" by Aihan Kuhn (who is an internationally recognized expert instructor of tai chi, qigong, and tui na, as well as a medical doctor trained in both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine) features: A ten-week calendar to guide you through your introduction to tai chi; Over 200 beautiful full-color photos; Access to the online 10-week companion video course. With "Tai Chi In 10 Weeks" the most novice of students will: Learn the twenty-four-step Yang-style form; Understand the fundamentals of tai chi; Discover not just the physical postures of tai chi, but also its psychological, emotional, and spiritual benefits. Thoroughly and impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Tai Chi In 10 Weeks" is unreservedly recommended for dojo, community, and academic library Martial Arts collections in general, and Tai Chi supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for Tai Chi enthusiasts that "Tai Chi In 10 Weeks" is also available in a digital book format ($7.99).


The Psychology Shelf

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, revised edition
Michelle G. Craske
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433827488, $24.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a significantly updated and revised edition of "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy", Michelle G. Craske (Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles and director of the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Behavioral Research program) provides vital and current coverage of the literature that explores the theory, history, therapy process, primary change mechanisms, and empirical basis of the approach, as well as likely future developments. An essential primer to cognitive behavioral therapy, amply illustrated with case examples featuring diverse clients, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" is ideal for graduate students in the field of psychology studying theories of therapy and counseling, as well as for seasoned counseling practitioners interested in better understanding this approach. Especially well organized and presented, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" should be considered a critically important and core addition to college and university library Contemporary Psychology collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of student and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" is also available in a Kindle format ($15.25).


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Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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