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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
What Should Think Tanks Do?
Andrew Selee
Stanford Briefs
c/o Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804787987, $12.99, www.amazon.com
A policy institute or "think tank" is an academic, governmental, or business organization that
performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy,
economics, military, technology, and culture. Most policy institutes are non-profit organizations,
which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax exempt status.
Other think tanks are funded by governments, advocacy groups, or businesses, or derive revenue
from consulting or research work related to their projects. "What Should Think Tanks Do?: A
Strategic Guide to Policy Impact" is a succinct 128 page instructional compendium in which
academician Andrew Selee distills his interviews with members of some of the most influential
think tanks and provides specific and practical strategies for setting policy oriented goals and the
molding of public opinion in support of them. "What Should Think Tanks Do?: A Strategic
Guide to Policy Impact" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone that is a part of a
think tank operation be it governmental, NGO, academic, or corporate. It should also be noted
that "What Should Think Tanks Do?: A Strategic Guide to Policy Impact" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Economic Studies Shelf
Capitalism and Democracy: A Fragile Alliance
Theo van de Klundert
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781781956151, $120.00, www.amazon.com
Capitalism is an economic system in which capital assets are privately owned and items are
brought to market for profit. In a capitalist economy, the parties to a transaction determine the
prices at which assets, goods, and services are exchanged. Central elements of capitalism include
capital accumulation, competitive markets and wage labor. Democracy is a form of government
in which all eligible citizens participate equally (either directly or through elected
representatives) in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social,
economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political
self-determination. The latest addition to Edward Elgar Publishing's outstanding New Horizons
in Institutional and Evolutionary Economics series, "Capitalism and Democracy: A Fragile
Alliance" by academician Theo van de Klundert (Tilburg University, The Netherlands) is a 240
page compendium that provides an analytical history and overview the interdependent and
fluctuating interplay between economics and politics in established and developing nations. A
masterpiece of seminal scholarship, informed and informative, "Capitalism and Democracy: A
Fragile Alliance" is strongly recommended reading and a core addition to academic library
International Economics and Political Science Studies reference collections.
The Science Shelf
The Handy Astronomy Answer Book
Charles Liu
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414
Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578594191, $21.95, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "The Handy Astronomy Answer Book" by
Charles Liu (Professor of Astrophysics, City University of New York's College of Staten Island)
is a superbly organized, profusely illustrated, 352 page compendium of historical and scientific
information on all aspects of astronomy. Nicely presented in chapters dealing with Astronomy
Fundamentals; The Universe; Galaxies; Stars; The Solar System; Earth and the Moon; Space
Programs; Astronomy Today; Exploring the Solar Systems; and Life in the Universe, "The
Handy Astronomy Answer Book" provides a wealth of up to date information that is thoroughly
'reader friendly'. Informed and informative, "The Handy Astronomy Answer Book" is strongly
recommended for personal, school, and community library Astronomy Studies reference
collections and supplemental reading lists. It should also be noted the "The Handy Astronomy
Answer Book" is available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Education Shelf
Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom
Carrye Kay Syma and Robert G. Weiner, editors
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786459131 $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com
Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom is an anthology of essays by learned educators
about the value of sequential art as a teaching tool in all levels of education, from elementary
school to college. Writings include "Using Graphic Novels to Teach Dystopian Literature",
"Manga, the Atomic Bomb and the Challenges of Teaching Historical Atrocity: Keiji Nakazawa's
Barefoot Gen", "Sequential Art for Qualitative Research", "Comics in the Adult English as a
Second Language Classroom", and much more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations
(mostly the occasional comic page) and an index round out this forward-thinking contribution to
understanding the value of comics and graphic novels as educational literary material.
The Psychology Shelf
Origins of Neuro Linguistic Programming
John Grinder & Frank Pucelik, editors
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5
Bethel, CT 06801
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781845908584, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is an approach to communication, personal development,
and psychotherapy created in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. They posited a
connection between the neurological processes ("neuro"), language ("linguistic") and behavioural
patterns learned through experience ("programming") and that these can be changed to achieve
specific goals in life. Bandler and Grinder claim that the skills of exceptional people can be
"modeled" using NLP methodology, then those skills can be acquired by anyone. Bandler and
Grinder also assert that NLP can successfully treat psychological problems such as phobias,
depression, habit disorder, psychosomatic illnesses, and learning disorders. NLP has been
adopted by some hypnotherapists and in seminars marketed to business and government.
"Origins of Neuro Linguistic Programming" is a 288 page compendium comprised of a series of
original papers on NPL. Informed, informative, "Origins of Neuro Linguistic Programming" is an
impressive body of seminal scholarship and an important contribution to professional and
academic library Psychology Studies reference collections in general, and NPL Studies in
particular. It should be noted that "Origins of Neuro Linguistic Programming" is also available in
a Kindle edition ($20.99).
The World History Shelf
The Holy Roman Empire, Reconsidered
Jason Philip Coy, et al.
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512
Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.berghahnbooks.com
9781782380894, $34.95, www.amazon.com
The Holy Roman Empire was a complex, multi-ethnic political union of territories in Central
Europe existing from 962 to 1806, when Francis II (the last Holy Roman Emperor) abdicated and
dissolved the Empire in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. The collaborative editorial effort of
Jason Philip Coy (Associate Professor of history, College of Charleston, South Carolina),
Benjamin Marschke (Associate Professor of History, Humboldt State University, Arcata,
California), and David Warren Sabean (Henry J. Bruman Professor of German History,
University of California - Los Angeles), "The Holy Roman Empire, Reconsidered" is a 348 page
compendium comprised of fourteen original essays and scholarly articles focusing on the
significance of the Holy Roman Empire in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries.
The result is a meticulous reappraisal of the Holy Roman Empire in its early modern period.
Informed and informative, "The Holy Roman Empire, Reconsidered" is a seminal work and
strongly recommended for academic library European History reference collections in general,
and Holy Roman Empire Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.
The Mathematics Shelf
Statistical Techniques for Forensic Accounting
Saurav K. Dutta
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ftpress.com
970133133813, $89.99, www.amazon.com
Forensic accounting, forensic accountancy or financial forensics is the specialty practice area of
accountancy that describes engagements that result from actual or anticipated disputes or
litigation. "Forensic" means "suitable for use in a court of law", and it is to that standard and
potential outcome that forensic accountants generally have to work. Forensic accountants, also
referred to as forensic auditors or investigative auditors, often have to give expert evidence at the
eventual trial. All of the larger accounting firms, as well as many medium-sized and boutique
firms, as well as various Police and Government agencies have specialist forensic accounting
departments. Within these groups, there may be further sub-specializations: some forensic
accountants may, for example, just specialize in insurance claims, personal injury claims, fraud,
construction, or royalty audits. "Statistical Techniques for Forensic Accounting: Understanding
the Theory and Application of Data Analysis" by Saurav K. Dutta (Associate Professor,
Department of Accounting, Business Law, and Taxation, University of Albany, New York), is a
288 page compendium focused on the mathematical underpinnings of forensic accounting. A
seminal work of great value, especially for accountants and accounting students, "Statistical
Techniques for Forensic Accounting: Understanding the Theory and Application of Data
Analysis" is strongly recommended as a core text for academic library reference collections. It
should also be noted that "Statistical Techniques for Forensic Accounting: Understanding the
Theory and Application of Data Analysis" is also available in a Kindle edition ($41.03).
The Social Issues Shelf
Not a Choice, Not a Job
Janice G. Raymond
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781612346267 $29.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com
Not a Choice, Not a Job: Exposing the Myths about Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade is a
pointed criticism of the many apologists for the sex trade, and takes a well-researched stand
against efforts to legalize or decriminalize prostitution. Author Janice G. Raymond (professor
emeritus of women's studies and medical ethics, University of Massachusetts at Amherst), offers
strong counter-arguments, grounded in empirical evidence, to libertarian claims that prostitution
is just "sex work", and should be treated like any other "job". Raymond observes that in nations
where the sex industry has been legalized/decriminalized, brutal violence against prostitutes and
human trafficking in slave-like conditions does not decrease - instead, the police and legal forces
lose valuable tools to use against pimps and brothels that rape, imprison, and torture women.
When prostitution is legalized - as in the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, or parts of Nevada in
the U.S. - it simply cannot be sufficiently regulated to prevent abuse, murders, human trafficking,
unwanted pregnancy, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, etc. Furthermore, legalized
prostitution often results in families pushing their daughters into the sex-for-sale industry at
young ages, in order to capitalize on their bodies with tacit legal and therefore societal approval.
"There are those who would ask us to speak only about the violation of trafficking and not about
prostitution as violence against women. But sex tafficking is globalized prostitution.
Globalization of the world economy also means globalization of sex industries. The links
between domestic prostitution industries and international trafficking networks are critical to the
expansion of the sex industry". Extensively researched and persuasively argued, Not a Choice,
Not a Job is a desperately needed voice speaking out for the rights and dignity of women and
girls worldwide, worthy of the highest recommendation.
Viral Hate
Abraham H. Foxman & Christopher Wolf
Palgrave Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
www.palgrave-usa.com
9780230342170, $27.00, www.amazon.com
The internet is a powerful source of both information and misinformation. It facilitates all
manner of communications as never before in the history of mankind. It is also easier than at any
previous era of time to spread hostility, vicious rumor, exhortations to violence, and all manner
of hate speech. "Viral Hate: Containing Its Spread on the Internet" by Abraham H. Foxman
(former national director of the Anti-Defamation League) and Christopher Wolf (national chair
of the Anti-Defamation League Civil Rights Committee) is a 256 page compendium specifically
dealing with identifying the presence and consequences of internet facilitated hate speech and
what can and should be done about it. Of special note is the chapter on 'Promoting Civility and
Reducing Hate on the Internet'. Superbly written, organized and presented, enhanced with the
inclusion of six thematically appropriate appendices, featuring extensive notes, and providing a
comprehensive index, "Viral Hate: Containing Its Spread on the Internet" should be in the core
collections of ever highschool, college, and community library in the country -- and mandatory
reading for anyone concerned with the social, cultural, political, and physical consequences of
unrestrained internet hate speech. It should also be noted that "Viral Hate: Containing Its Spread
on the Internet" is available in a Kindle edition ($11.04).
The Cookbook Shelf
Get Your Family Eating Right!
Lynn Fredericks and Mercedes Sanchez, M.S., R.D.
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592335503 $21.99 www.fairwindspress.com
Lynn Fredericks and registered dietician Mercedes Sanchez present Get Your Family Eating
Right!, a cookbook created especially for parents trying to plan and provide their kids with
healthy meals, as well as teach them good eating habits. Recipes are arranged in a 30-day plan for
transitioning to a more healthful lifestyle, and interspersed with helpful advice. Full-color
photography rounds out this excellent, easy-to-use resource, sorely needed in a modern era when
parents need to take a stand against endless mealtime distractions and a deluge of high-sugar,
low-nutrition processed foods. "Place a slip of paper that says 'New Item: Thumbs Up/Down?' in
your child's lunch box when you give her something new to try. Kids love to offer feedback."
Highly recommended!
Twenty-Dollar, Twenty-Minute Meals for 4 People
Caroline Wright
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4381
9780761174936 $12.95 www.workman.com
Culinary professional Caroline Wright presents Twenty-Dollar, Twenty-Minute Meals for 4
People, a cookbook resource written especially for busy and budget-tapped families. Each recipe
utilizes healthy ingredients and easy-to-learn cooking techniques. The ingredients of each recipe
are highlighted in yellow for ease of identification and use, and every dish is illustrated with a
full-color, full-page photograph. Sample offerings include "Grilled Asparagus + Sliced Potato
Salad with Anchovy Butter", "Lentis with Turkey Sausage + Fried Sage", "Spicy Mussel Soup",
and much more. Twenty-Dollar, Twenty-Minute Meals for 4 People makes an excellent gift or a
useful personal meal-planning resource. Highly recommended!
Simply Allergy-Free
Elizabeth Gordon, author
Melani Bauman and Lorna Palmer, photographers
The Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane
Guilford, CT 06437
9780762786183 $24.95 www.lyonspress.com
Elizabeth Gorden, owner of the allergen-free bakery Betsy & Claude Baking Co., presents
Simply Allergy-Free: Quick and Tasty Recipes for Every Night of the Week, a collection of
delicious, nutritious recipes, all of which are 100% free of gluten, dairy, soy, nut, or egg
ingredients. Sample dishes include Poached Salmon, Risotto with Roasted Squash and Sage,
Warm Chickpea Salad with Cilantro and Lemon, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Apple Crumble, and
much more. A brief where-to-shop guideline for obtaining allergen-free ingredients and a recipe
index round out this excellent resource of sumptuous dishes. A "must-have" for anyone seeking
to avoid allergens in their own homemade food, or in dishes cooked for a loved one! Also highly
recommended is Gordon's previous compendium, "The Complete Allergy-Free Comfort Foods
Cookbook".
Great German Recipes
Lynn Hattery-Beyer, collector
Miriam Canter, et. al., editors
Penfield Books
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245
97819320443501, $8.95, www.penfieldbooks.com
"Great German Recipes" is a handy, recipe card size, spiral bound ethnic cookbook with
information about German folk art designs, German American sites, German words, table
blessings, and traditions, and also German menu suggestions, plus recipes for beverages, salads,
soups, breads, main course dishes, vegetables and cakes and desserts. Exciting German recipes
include May Wine, dandelion salad, warm potato salad, liver dumplings in broth, pretzels, round
steak casserole, Weiner Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet), Black Forest asparagus, Oma's apple
dumplings, rhubarb cream pie, kuchen, Bavarian cream, and more. This handy German recipe
collection presents tried and true German recipes in simple format, with easily obtained
ingredients. Further ethnic touches are present in the black and white decorative folk designs and
calligraphy and the German folk lore anecdotes. "Great German Recipes" is a useful,
representative cookbook collection of German-American classic cuisine. Also very highly
recommended from this series are two additional collections: "Dutch Style Recipes"
(9781932043372, $7.95), and "Recipes of Old Mexico" (9781932043433, $7.95).
Put 'Em Up! Fruit
Sherri Brooks Vinton
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612120249, $19.95, www.amazon.com
In tight economic times, one of the best money-saving approaches to a food budget is home
canning. The problem for most housewives today is that while canning was a well known kitchen
skill in the days of their great-grandmothers, it is a culinary expertise that has failed to be passed
down to most of today's generation of family cooks. That's why "Put 'em Up! Fruit: A Preserving
Guide & Cookbook: Creative Ways to Put 'em Up, Tasty Ways to Use 'em Up" by Sherri Brooks
Vinton will prove to be an extraordinarily valued contribution to family cookbook collections.
This profusely illustrated, 288 page compendium is comprised of canning instructions and eighty
recipes for bottling and serving all manner of seasonal fruits throughout the course of an entire
year. Of special note are the recipes for making Homemade Vinegar and Wine Jelly. Thoroughly
'kitchen cook friendly', "Put 'Em Up! Fruit" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family,
and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Put 'Em Up! Fruit" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook
Matt Kadey
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612431895, $15.95, www.amazon.com
Sometimes it's just to hot to fire up the kitchen stove and cook something for the family. That's
when "The No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook" will truly come into its own! This beautifully
illustrated, 160 page compendium showcasing 101 delicious and nutritious recipes guaranteed to
please any palate and satisfy any appetite. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', the recipes range
from Creamy Banana Oatmeal with Coffee Plum Compote; Marinated Mushroom Salad; Shrimp
Tacos with Tomatillo Black Bean Salsa; and Sunflower tomato Pate Nori Rolls; to Salmon
Mango Ceviche; Tex-Mex Chipotle Beans; Raspberry Mint Frozen Yogurt; and Pineapple
Carpaccio with Pomegranate and Ginger Water. "The No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook" is very
highly recommended and distinctive addition to any personal, family, and community library
cookbook collection. It should also be noted that "The No-Cook, No-Bake Cookbook" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Saporito!: Daniela & Stefania
Daniela Pirone & Stefania Muscara
UWA Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781742585055, $34.99, www.amazon.com
Beautifully illustrated throughout with the color photography of Craig Kinder, "Saporito!:
Daniela & Stefania" is a 276 page compendium comprised of recipes gathered by Daniela Pirone
and Stefania Muscara, two friends who share a passion for great culinary achievements. The
palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes range from stuffed zucchini flowers withe three
cheeses (Fiori di zucchini imbottiti); to spaghetti with clams (Spaghetti con le vongole); to
simple grilled lamb chops with balsamic and mint dressing (Costolette d'agnello sulla brace con
balsamic e menta); to biscotti filled with fruit mince (Panzerotti di frutta). There are delicious
dishes for every dining occasion. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "Saporito!: Daniela &
Stefania" is as much fun to simply browse through as it is to plan meals with. Highly
recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections, "Saporito!: Daniela &
Stefania" will prove an enduringly popular culinary reference and resource.
The Autism Shelf
Feeding Your Child with Autism
Mark J. Palmieri & Kristen M. Powers
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
www.woodbinehouse.com
9781606130124, $21.95, www.amazon.com
Having a strong genetic basis, Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by
impaired social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted,
repetitive or stereotyped behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become
apparent before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by
altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well
understood. "Feeding Your Child with Autism: A Family-Centered Guide to Meeting the
Challenges" by Mark J. Palmieri and Kristen M. Powers (who are Co-Directors of the Feeding
Clinic at the Center for Children with Special Needs, Glastonbury, Connecticut), is a succinct
150 page compendium focusing on treating feeding issues associated with autistic children.
Based on case studies, "Feeding Your Child with Autism" is packed with proven
problem-solving strategies with respect to developing a treatment plan that will result in the
autistic child having a lifelong healthy diet and eating habits. Very strongly recommended for
professional, family, and community library Autism reference collections, it should also be noted
that "Feeding Your Child with Autism" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.68).
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Lend Me An Ear
Martha Hoffman
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street
Wenatchee WA 98801
www.dogwisepublishing.com
9781617811210, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Just as there are 'Seeing Eye' dogs that help the visually impaired, so that are 'Hearing Ear' dogs
that aid the hearing impaired. In "Lend Me an Ear: Temperament, Selection and Training of the
Hearing Ear Dog", author Martha Hoffman draws from her more than twenty-five years of
experience as the training director for the Hearing Dog Program to write a 220 page compendium
on how to select and train an effecting hearing ear dog. Offering thoroughly 'reader friendly'
explanations of the complex temperament of the perfect Hearing Dog; texting methods to select
shelter dogs for their Hearing Dog potential; as well as dog-friendly training methods for
teaching a dog to be alert to sounds in behalf of their human companion, "Lend Me an Ear:
Temperament, Selection and Training of the Hearing Ear Dog" can well be considered the 'bible'
on the subject of this specialized animal companion. With the highest of recommendations,
"Lend Me an Ear: Temperament, Selection and Training of the Hearing Ear Dog" should be part
of every professional and community library Pets/Wildlife instructional reference collection. It
should be noted that "Lend Me an Ear: Temperament, Selection and Training of the Hearing Ear
Dog" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).
The Raptors of Iowa
James F. Landenberger, et al.
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
www.uiowapress.org
9781609381660, $29.95, www.amazon.com
"The Raptors of Iowa" is a 188 page compendium showcasing thirty-two of James F.
Landenberger's superb full color paintings of Iowa's bird life ranging from the American Kestrel,
to the Snowy Owl, to the Swallow-Tailed Kite, to the American Bald Eagle. The late James F.
Landenberger (1938-2003) was a wild life painter of a caliber equal to the legendary John James
Audubon. This impressive collection of his work (each full page picture has an accompanying
information caption on the opposing page) is enhanced with informed and informative essays
contributed by Jon Stravers (Driftless Area Coordinator for the national Audubon Society's
Mississippi River Initiative); avian ecologist Bruce Ehrshman (Wildlife Diversity Program, Iowa
Department of Natural Resource); and Rich Patterson (Director of the Indian Creek Nature
Center). Superbly produced, "The Raptors of Iowa" is very highly recommended for personal
bird watcher reading lists, academic library Avian Studies reference collections, and community
library Pets/Wildlife collections. It should be noted that "The Raptors of Iowa" is also available
in a Kindle edition ($16.17).
California Condors in the Pacific Northwest
Jesse D'Elia & Susan M. Haig
Oregon State University Press
121 The Valley Library, Corvallis, OR 97331
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/press
9780870717000, $19.95, www.amazon.com
The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a New World vulture, the largest North
American land bird. This condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 (all remaining wild
individuals were captured) but has been reintroduced to northern Arizona and southern Utah
(including the Grand Canyon area and Zion National Park), coastal mountains of central and
southern California, and northern Baja California. The condor is a scavenger and eats large
amounts of carrion. It is one of the world's longest-living birds, with a life span of up to 60 years.
The collaborative work of fish and wildlife biologist Jesse D'Elia (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Portland, Oregon) and wildlife ecologist Susan M. Haig (USGS Forest & Rangeland Ecosuystem
Science Center, Oregon State University), "California Condors in the Pacific Northwest" is a 184
page compendium incorporating contemporary research studies and findings, plus more than
eighty detailed historical accounts of human encounters with the California Condor. A deftly
composed work of impressive scholarship and research, and enhanced with occasional
illustrations by Ram Papish, "California Condors in the Pacific Northwest" is a strongly
recommend addition to professional and academic library Contemporary Wildlife Studies
reference collections in general, and California Condor studies supplemental reading lists in
particular.
The Language Studies Shelf
Latin Synonyms for Language Lovers: A Select Thesaurus
Christine E. Meyer
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
09780865167940, $29.00, www.amazon.com
In "Latin Synonyms for Language Lovers: A Select Thesaurus", author and highschool Latin
instructor Christine E. Meyer has compiled an impressive 280 page compendium offering word
listings of Latin synonyms grouped by English definitions and parts of speech, with each
individual entry offering multiple Latin vocabulary options thereby enabling students to select
and differentiate between similar words. This skill allows those students to utilize Latin as a
living language. Enhanced with twenty-two images, an appendix of Latin expressions, and two
indices, "Latin Synonyms for Language Lovers: A Select Thesaurus" is thoroughly "user
friendly" and very strongly recommended as a core supplemental addition to Latin Language
Studies curriculum materials. It should be noted that Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers is a premier
publisher of instructional materials for Latin Language Studies and have an extensive roster of
their publications on their web site at www.bolchazy.com.
The Business Shelf
Return on Sustainability
Kevin Wilhelm
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ftpress.com
9780133445503, $34.99, www.amazon.com
Once the subject of ideologically driven controversy, climate change is now a commonly
accepted reality. "Return on Sustainability: How Business Can Increase Profitability and Address
Climate Change in an Uncertain Economy" by Kevin Wilhelm (CEO of Sustainable Business
Consulting) is a 240 page guide for business owners and managers on how to take advantage of
'going green' in their operations and policies. Packed from cover to cover with practical, tested,
up-to-date information on addressing climate change challenges from the perspective of business,
"Return on Sustainability" is thoroughly 'reader friendly'. Of special note are the sections devoted
to 'Policy, Regulation & Carbon' and 'The Market: Demanding Action'. Enhanced with the
inclusion of five appendices (Equator Principles Financial Institutions; United Nations Principles
for Responsible Investment; Comparison of Businesses Across Various Sustainability Rankings
2007; CSR Standards & Certifications; and Interview & Text Box References), "Return on
Sustainability" should be considered as mandatory reading for entrepreneurs and corporate
officers, as well as an invaluable addition to community and academic library Business Studies
and Environmental Studies reference collections.
Delegation & Supervision
Brian Tracy
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
9780814433140, $9.95, www.amazon.com
To negotiate is to bargain and typically includes accommodation and compromise between two or more parties. Successful negotiation is both an art and a science. It is also a responsibility often delegated to a representative and supervised by those in higher authority within a corporate structure. "Delegation & Supervision" is a 313 page pocket-sized compendium in The Brian Tracy Success Library series, packed with practical, 'real world' information and commentary showcasing twenty-one ways to boost employee performance and productivity; define and assign work; create goals and standards; assign particular skill sets to job requirements; monitor and control projects with minimal effort; evoke active participation and feedback; and more. Of special note is the information on freeing-up time for high level tasks that cannot be delegated. Informed, informative, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Delegation & Supervision" is a quick and easy read, and will be treasured as an enduringly useful reference. It should also be noted that "Delegation & Supervision" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.79). Also highly recommended is its companion book in The Brian Tracy Success Library, "Negotiation" (9780814433188, $9.95 print / $3.79 Kindle).
The Architecture Shelf
Rafael Moneo: International Portfolio 1985-2012
Edition Axel Menges
c/o National Book Network
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9783936681567 $89.00 www.nbnbooks.com
Rafael Moneo: International Portfolio 1985-2012 is a black-and-white photographic showcase of
the architectural creations of Rafael Moneo, focusing entirely on the works that Moneo designed
for locations outside of his home country of Spain. There is a minimal amount of scholarly text
scrutinizing the unique challenges faced by an architect adapting to cultural norms and
expectations outside of his native culture, but the bulk of Rafael Moneo: International Portfolio
1985-2012 is devoted to visual imagery, from sketches and plans to full-page showcases of the
completed buildings in day-to-day use. An excellent addition to college library Architecture
shelves!
American Ski Resort
Margaret Supplee Smith
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806142951 $45.00 www.oupress.com
Featuring copious black-and-white and color photography throughout, American Ski Resort is an
oversized hardcover examining the history and evolution of ski resorts in North America, with an
especial focus on the architecture of such institutions. Chapters touch upon the first specialized
skiing destinations, vacation homes, regional variations, skiing's environmental impact, resort
housing and much more. An extensive, scholarly text, American Ski Resort is especially
recommended for college library Architecture shelves. "Sewage was one of skiing's biggest
problems. The thin rocky soil at high altitudes could not handle the wastewater and sewage
generated by tens thousand skiers in a weekend. Botan Hubert Vogelmann of the University of
Vermont warned that unless subsequent development took their fragile nature into consideration,
the Green Mountains would become a tundra. He established the '2,500-foot rule': above that
elevation a mountain had very little capacity to absorb water, sewage, or heavy use."
Rural Modern
Russell Abraham
The Images Publishing Group
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West 18th Street, Suite 4B, NY, NY 10011
9781864704877, $60.00, www.amazon.com
Simply stated, architecture is art when done creatively and imaginatively. Compiled with edited
by Russell Abraham, "Rural Modern" is a 240 page compendium showcasing architectural
projects by such notable architects as Min Day, Carter Burton, Turnbuill, Griffin, Haesloop,
Olson Kundig, and an impressive roster of others. Enhanced with some 200 full color
photographs supporting informed and informative commentaries ranging from Carter Burton's 'A
new voice in Southern Modernism', to Will Bruder's 'Genius in the Desert', "Rural Modern" is a
welcome and strongly recommended contribution to professional and academic library
Contemporary Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Algic Researches
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
Clearfield Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806313528, $48.60, www.amazon.com
"Algic Researches : Comprising Inquiries Respecting the Mental Characteristics of the North
American Indians. Indian Tales and Legends: Volumes I & II" was originally published in 1839
to wide popular acclaim -- and has been out of print and considered a rare book ever since. Now
the Clearfield Company (a premier publisher of genealogical literature) has brought this literary
treasure back into print for the benefit of new generations of readers and students of Native
American culture and folklore. This flawless photomechanically reproduced Clearfield Company
edition is enhanced with an informed and informative new introduction by William K. McNeil
(The Ozark Folk Center) and is a 510 page compendium of authentic Native American folk tales,
legends, stories, and myths. A welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to
community and academic library Native American Studies reference collections, "Algic
Researches" will prove particularly interesting for non-specialist general readers with an interest
in Native American 'tales and legends'.
Tears Of Repentance
Julius H. Rubin
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu
9780803243552, $75.00, www.amazon.com
The conversion of Native Americans to Christianity was of particular concern to colonial era
New England Protestants. "Tears of Repentance: Christian Indian Identity and Community in
Colonial Southern New England" by Julius H. Rubin (Professor of Sociology, University of Saint
Joseph, West Hartford, Connecticut) is a 424 page compendium that provides a fresh perspective
on Protestant missionaries to the neighboring tribes and how the Christianized natives lived,
experienced, and practiced their new faith. Of particular interest is how the perception of the
converted natives were effected by the 'Great Awakening' revivals that swept through southern
New England during the 18th century. An impressive work of original and seminal scholarship,
"Tears of Repentance: Christian Indian Identity and Community in Colonial Southern New
England" is a valued contribution to academic library Native American Studies and American
Colonial History Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted
that "Tears of Repentance: Christian Indian Identity and Community in Colonial Southern New
England" is also available in a Kindle edition ($60.00).
The Music Shelf
Mendelssohn's Instrumental Music: Structure and Style
Erez Rapoport
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576472118, $48.00, www.amazon.com
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 - 4 November 1847), generally
known in English-speaking countries, as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist,
organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. His essentially conservative musical tastes,
set him apart from many of his more adventurous 19th Century musical contemporaries such as
Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner and Hector Berlioz. The Leipzig Conservatoire (now the University
of Music and Theatre Leipzig), which he founded, became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook.
Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His
best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream,
the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, the overture The Hebrides, his mature Violin
Concerto, and his String Octet. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing
musical tastes and anti-Semitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his creative originality
has now been recognized and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the
Romantic era. "Mendelssohn's Instrumental Music: Structure and Style" by music theorist and
teacher Erez Rapoport (1959-2009) is the 18th volume in the outstanding Pendragon Press
'Harmonologia:Studies in Music Theory' series and is a 182 page compendium providing a
sophisticated, informed and informative analysis of Mendelssohn's particular compositional style
of instrumental music. A work of impressive scholarship, "Mendelssohn's Instrumental Music:
Structure and Style" is a seminal contribution to the study of Felix Mendelssohn and a core
addition to professional and academic library 19th Century Classical Music reference
collections.
The International Studies Shelf
Civil Society In China
Karla W. Simon
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780199765898, $75.00, www.amazon.com
From its earliest conception, China has been a major political, cultural, and economic force in
Asia. Within the time frame of the 20th Century and down to the present day, China has also
become a significant global influence. "Civil Society in China: The Legal Framework from
Ancient Times to the "New Reform Era" by Karla W. Simon (Professor of Law at the Columbus
School of Law, Catholic University of America) is a 560 page compendium providing a detailed
historical overview of China's law codes and the judicial system that enforced them. Of special
note is the Dynastic Overview that Professor Simon provides, as well as the background
information on the Revolution and its impact on China's legal systems. Enhanced with the
inclusion of two appendices, and extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Civil
Society in China: The Legal Framework from Ancient Times to the "New Reform Era" is an
impressive body of seminal scholarship and is strongly recommended as a core addition to
academic and governmental library International Studies holdings in general, and China Studies
reference collections in particular.
The Photography Shelf
The Arctic Regions
William Bradford
David R. Godine, Publisher
PO Box 450, Jaffrey, NH 03452
www.godine.com
9781567924510, $49.95, www.amazon.com
Originally published in 1873, this new and elegant Godine edition of "The Arctic Regions:
Illustrated with Photographs Taken on an Art Expedition to Greenland" wonderfully showcases
the historic duo tone photography of a 19th century polar expedition. Superbly reproduced
photographs are provided with William Bradford's original captioning. This superbly produced
Godine edition is enhanced with the inclusion of an informed and informative introduction by
polar historian Russell A. Potter making it an impressive addition to community and academic
library Photography and 19th century Arctic Exploration Studies reference collections.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
March: Book One
John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, & Nate Powell
Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 15125
Portland, OR 97293-5125
9781603093002 $14.95 www.topshelfcomix.com
March: Book One is the first in a trilogy of black-and-white graphic novels chronicling the life
and efforts of Congressman John Lewis, a major participant of the civil rights movement, who
put his freedom and his life on the line to help make a difference. Framed by scenes of the
modern-day Congressman Lewis telling visiting children what it was like to grow up in the
racially segregated American South, March: Book One shows young Lewis caring for chickens,
dreaming of becoming a preacher, and defying his parents (who demanded his help on their farm
during certain months) to attend school. Lewis grew up with the omnipresent specter of racism,
even the threat of violence, and the college he wanted to attend the most denied him because of
the color of his skin. It was his exposure to Martin Luther King Jr.'s teachings, which were
themselves based on Gandhi's principles of nonviolence, that showed him "the way out" - the
path to a better America. He trained in nonviolence workshops, participated in peaceful sit-ins
protesting segregated lunch counters, and was arrested and jailed repeatedly. An extraordinary
true-life comic biography, March: Book One encapsulates a crucial period of transformation in
American history, and is worthy of the highest recommendation especially for public and school
library graphic novel collections.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Color Master: Stories
Aimee Bender, author
Read by a selection of narrators
Books on Tape
400 Hahn, Westminster, MD 21157
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780804148467 $40.00 www.booksontape.com
The Color Master: Stories is the unabridged audiobook production of Aimee Bender's anthology
with a view askew of love, sex, and family relationships, transcending genres from the
contemporary to the fantastic. In one story, a woman who engages in a prostitution fantasy with
her husband can no longer find satisfaction in the sex life she used to have; in another, an
unattractive woman marries and ogre, and has to decide whether to leave him after he
accidentally (allegedly) devours their children; in yet another, a group of tailors strive to perfectly
replicate the shifting colors of the sun, moon, and sky. A diversity of narrators bring Bender's
tales to vivid life, in this unique and eclectic anthology that invites extensive reflection. Highly
recommended. 6 CDs, 7 1/2 hours.
In Times of Fading Light
Eugen Ruge, author
Anthea Bell, translator
Simon Vance, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781622312283 $34.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com
Winner of the 2011 German Book Prize, In Times of Fading Light is the unabridged audiobook
rendition of Eugene Ruge's novel about a family at the crossroads of 20th century power
struggles, particularly the end of communism in East Germany. Weaving back and forth through
the decades, In Times of Fading Light tells of Alexander Umnitzer, whose grandparents were
forced to live in exile from their homeland for a time, and whose father suffered in the gulag for
ten years because he dared to criticize the Soviet power structure. Alexander himself has
contracted terminal cancer, and reflects upon the political struggles that cast a shadow over his
family - a shadow that he only wanted to escape from. Thoughtful and reflective, In Times of
Fading Light is highly recommended for both personal and public library audiobook fiction
collections. 10 CDs, 11 3/4 hours.
Return to Oakpine: A Novel
Ron Carlson, author
David Aaron Baker, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781470341985 $92.75 www.recordedbooks.com
Return to Oakpine: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of Ron Carlson's saga set in
the small town of Oakpine, Wyoming. In the late 1960's, four young men performed formed a
makeshift band; one of them, Jimmy, departed Oakpine after losing his brother to sudden
tragedy. He became a well-known novelist, but in 1999, he returns to Oakpine because he is
dying. Two of his bandmates, Craig and Frank, stayed in the small town all these years; the
fourth bandmate, Mason, has become a high-profile lawyer, returning to Oakpine only to oversee
the repair and sale of his childhood home. There's no time like the present to get the band back
together, if only for a timeless, transient moment before the currents of life and death sweep
everything away once more. Poignant, profound, and wistful, Return to Oakpine is a
thought-provoking experience, superbly performed by talented narrator David Aaron Baker. 8
CDs, 9.5 hours.
The Music CD Shelf
Mzansi
Wouter Kellerman
www.wouterkellerman.com
Kellerman Music
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
South African flutist Wouter Kellerman (winner of the 2011 South African Music Award, the
nation's highest musical honor) presents Mzansi, a cross-cultural album that draws upon
influences worldwide - from Sengalese traditions to Celtic and South African music. The result is
an enlivening, mind-expanding fusion, enhanced with singing in several different African
languages and occasional wordless vocals. Uniquely expressive and adventurous, Mzansi is a
treasure worthy of public library and internationally themed music collections. The tracks are
"African Hornpipes", "Malaika", "Khokho", "Mama Tembu", "Cape Flats", "After Hours",
"N'jarinu Garab", "Fire Drill", "Samami", "Mzansi", "Sylvia", "In The Moment", and
"Miniamba".
Hawai'i '13
The Green
Easy Star Records
PO Box 1069, Cooper Station
New York, NY 10276
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
www.easystar.com
$12.00 CD / $9.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
The Green has created their third studio album, Hawai'i '13, which draws upon the essence of
reggae, soul, and R&B to give a lively, musical glimpse into Hawaiian daily life. As part of
Hawaii's thriving and closely interconnected music scene, The Green share a pure-hearted love of
their homeland, which shines through these unforgettable and emotionally moving songs. Highly
recommended, especially as a souvenir of Hawaiian visits - or as a taste of home for Hawaiians
living abroad. The tracks are "He Mele No Ku'u Hawai'i" (1:21), "Even Before" (5:02), "Good
One" (3:24), "Something About It" (3:56), "Power in the Words" (4:38), "Good Vibe Killah"
(4:26), "Chocolates & Roses" (5:03), "Hold Me Tight" (3:34), "Striking Up a Love" (4:01),
"Take Me On" (3:22), "Forgive Me" (3:45), "Count to 3" (4:05), "Stand & Rise" (4:26), "Always
& Forever" (4:33), and "Hawai'i Aloha" (1:53).
Three-Mountain Pass
Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
Innova
www.innova.mu
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$15.00 www.vananhvo.com
Vietnamese instrumentalist and composer Van-Anh Vanessa Vo reveals her prodigious talent in
Three-Mountain Pass, an extraordinarily beautiful album in which she plays the 16-string
danTranh (a type of zither with moveable bridges and the ability to produce pitch-bending tones).
Some songs have lyrics in Vietnamese; other draw upon history, such as the title track
"Three-Mountain Pass" that incorporates an arrangement of a classic poem by 18th century
female poet Ho XuanHuong. Three-Mountain Pass speaks especially to women, in songs with a
message of empowerment. A striking and wondrous showcase, Three-Mountain Pass is highly
recommended especially for international and public library music collections. The tracks are
"Vong Co" (8:27), "Gnossienne No. 3" (4:49), "Three-Mountain Pass" (9:28), "Green River
Delta" (4:41), "Mourning" (4:43), "The Legend" (6:41), and "Go Hunting" (6:24).
The Library DVD Shelf
Sleepless Epidemic
Based on the book by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D.
www.parentchildhelp.com
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com
Based in part on the insightful book "Sleepless in America" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D,
Sleepless Epidemic is an educational DVD suitable for viewers of all ages, from grade schoolers
and preteens to adults. Sleepless Epidemic reveals how not getting enough sleep can impair one's
physical health and academic performance. Sleeplessness is linked to higher rates of obesity,
stress, accidents, and more; young people who get the proper amount of sleep improve how well
they do in school and in athletics. Printable teaching materials are available online at
www.learningzoneexpress.com/worksheets to help impress these valuable tips, tricks, and
techniques for ensuring a restful night. Sleepless Night is highly recommended especially for
public and school library DVD collections, as well as educational viewing during homeroom. 32
min., closed-captioned.
Shadows of Liberty
Docfactory & Jean-Philippe Tremblay
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
www.shadowsofliberty.org
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Shadows of Liberty is a documentary that reveals just how
great an influence that corporations and the bottom line have one of America's most fundamental
pillars of democracy: its news media. A rash of media mergers has concentrated national
journalism in the hands of fewer and fewer power brokers, and the American public pays the
price of censorship. The erosion of journalism's integrity is scrutinized via case studies, from the
suppression of controversial news reports, to the tragic suicide of a dedicated muckraking
journalism, to the for-profit agenda of the television show "To Catch a Predator" and how it
distorted local police efforts. A sober look at today's very precarious situation, Shadows of
Liberty is highly recommended especially for public and school library collections. 93 min. (a 53
min. version is also present on the same DVD), SDH captions.
Cocaine Unwrapped
Directed and Produced by Rachel Seifert
Dartmouth Films
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
193777256X $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Cocaine Unwrapped: The Real Price of Cocaine is a harrowing documentary about the high tolls
of cocaine and the war on drugs. From coca farmers to cocaine factories, drug mules, drug
dealers, and law enforcement on the streets, cocaine's economic cycle inflicts tremendous
violence, addiction, and suffering. But do the American drug wars really stem the narcotic
deluge? Or do they simply escalate the price of drugs, thereby increasing the lucrative profit
margin of globalized criminals? What alternatives are there to the current stalemate of death?
Featuring front-line drug war testimony, exclusive access to Latin American political leaders, and
interviews with drug czars, Cocaine Unwrapped challenges viewers to rethink American
anti-drug policies, if only because the current status quo is unforgivably brutal and ineffective.
Highly recommended, especially for high school, public, and college library DVD collections. 83
min., SDH captions.
Time Team: The Team's Favorite Digs
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598289442 $59.99 www.acornonline.com
British actor, comedian, and historian Tony Robinson (known for his role in the dark comedy
"Blackadder") leads the Time Team of archaeologists in Time Team: The Team's Favorite Digs,
an eye-opening, true-life documentary about how archaeologists work to unearth secrets about
past civilizations and reconstruct history. From determining whether a treasury of historic
artifacts is genuine or a hoax, to zip-lining to an offshore rock that humans once called home
centuries ago, to investigating a World War II crash site in France and much more, Time Team is
an amazing glimpse into the hard work, science, deductions and discoveries that fuel the
discipline of archaeology. Time Team: The Team's Favorite Digs is the first North American
DVD release of eight episodes, each showcasing the Time Team's efforts against a different
challenge. Bonus features include the Time Team's first episode and two follow-up episodes,
plus a sixteen-page viewer's guide. Time Team: The Team's Favorite Digs is an excellent and
educational pick for both school and public library DVD collections, highly recommended. 3
DVDs, 407 min. plus bonus, fullscreen, SDH subtitles.
This Is Martin Bonner
Paul Eenhoorn & Richmond Arquette
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943700 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com
Winner of an award at the Sundance film festival, among many other honors, This Is Martin
Bonner is an original movie about two men struggling to find their road in life. Martin Bonner
has recently endured bankruptcy; he works as a volunteer helping prisoners adjust to freedom.
Travis Holloway is a flat-broke prisoner, recently released, trying to make ends meet and
re-adjust to an unforgiving world. The two develop an unlikely friendship, but when Travis
betrays Martin's trust, the consequences are devastating. A thought-provoking story about human
flaws and frailties, carried by strong performances in both lead roles, This Is Martin Bonner is
highly recommended. R rating (for some language and brief sexuality), closed captioned, 83
min.
Brainwave
Athena Learning
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781621720140 $59.99 www.acornonline.com
Originally filmed for display on the internet, Brainwave is a documentary series now available on
DVD, featuring the testimonies of celebrities (including actors, musicians, comedians,
choreographers, filmmakers, artists, and authors) and cutting-edge neuroscientists in a bid to
better understand just how the human mind works. The machinations of mental mysteries and
human emotions are explored at length in conversational episodes such as "The Science of Rage:
Lewis Black and Robert Allan" and "Creativity and the Dreaming Brain: Amy Tan and Deirdre
Barrett". Fascinating and educational, Brainwave is thoroughly enlightening - you'll never think
the same way about thinking again! Highly recommended, especially for public and college
library DVD collections (some coarse language is present, but not nudity or violence). 10
episodes on 3 DVDs, 562 min., full screen (ep. 1-7) and widescreen (ep. 8-10), SDH
subtitles.
Blandings, series 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781621720829 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
At last available on DVD in North America, Blandings Series 1 collects the full first season of
the modern-day BBC television adaptation of the delightfully crazed and witty stories by P.G.
Wodehouse (the last televised adaptation of Wodehouse's Blandings Castle stories was in the
1960's). Clarence Emsworth is allegedly the master of the worn-down Blandings Castle, and his
loyal Butler Beach seems to have his back, but one silly mix-up after another distracts him from
his heartfelt desire - quality time with his beloved prize pig, the Empress. His authoritarian sister,
his brainless son, and one quirky guest after another conspire to turn his country lifestyle into a
bizarre pseudo-carnival, in this hilarious tongue-in-cheek comedy (with some moderate sexual
references). Highly recommended. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, SDH subtitles, 182 min.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Natural Posture for Pain-Free Living
Kathleen Porter
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street
Rochester, VT 05767
9781620550991 $21.95 www.innertraditions.com
Kathleen Porter, director of the Center for Natural Alignment in Portland, Oregon, applies her
expertise to Natural Posture for Pain-Free Living: The Practice of Mindful Alignment, a
thorough guide to improving one's posture in ways that ensure the bones, not the muscles,
support the bulk of the body's weight. Guidelines for daily activities including sitting, walking,
sleeping, and safe yoga practice fill this user-friendly reference and resource. This helps the
practitioner ease chronic muscle tension, combats chronic neck/shoulder/back pain, and improve
everyday life. Color photographs enhance this thoroughly accessible guide, highly recommended
to readers of all walks of life.
The Civil War Shelf
John Bell Hood
Stephen M. Hood
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611211405, $32.95, www.amazon.com
John Bell Hood (June 1 1831 - August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American
Civil War. Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on
recklessness. Arguably one of the best brigade and division commanders in the Confederate
States Army, Hood became increasingly ineffective as he was promoted to lead larger,
independent commands late in the war, and his career was marred by his decisive defeats leading
an army in the Atlanta Campaign and the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. "John Bell Hood: The
Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General" by Stephen M. Hood (a descendent of
General Hood) is a 336 page biographical compendium that offers a wealth of information on
General Hood's once controversial contributions to the Confederate campaigns against Union
forces. Enhanced with historical maps and photos, "John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and
Resurrection of a Confederate General" also features three appendices, an extensive
bibliography, and a comprehensive index. A deftly written and ably presented work of impressive
and seminal research, "John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate
General" is a very highly recommended addition to academic library Civil War Studies reference
collections. It should also be noted that "John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a
Confederate General" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Biography Shelf
Edwin Booth
Arthur W. Bloom
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786472895, $55.00, www.amazon.com
Edwin Thomas Booth (November 13, 1833 - June 7, 1893) was a famous 19th-century American
actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing
Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that
was quite modern for its time. Some theatrical historians consider him the greatest American
actor, and the greatest Hamlet, of the 19th century. However, his achievements are often
overshadowed by his relationship with his brother, John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated
President Abraham Lincoln. Compiled with commentary by academician Arthur W. Bloom,
"Edwin Booth: A Biography and Performance History" is a 360 page detailed compendium
showcasing Booth's extensive performance history that spanned more than 30 years. Of special
note are the inclusion of reviews and other supplementary materials. Organized chronologically
and enhanced with occasional illustrations, "Edwin Booth: A Biography and Performance
History" is a work of impressive biographical scholarship and a strongly recommended addition
to academic library American Theatrical History reference collections in general, and the
supplemental reading lists for students of Booth's personal and theatrical accomplishments in
particular. It should also be noted that "Edwin Booth: A Biography and Performance History" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($21.59).
The Political Science Shelf
Wrapped in the Flag
Claire Conner
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807077504 $25.95 www.beacon.org
Established in 1958, the John Birch Society is an ultraconservative, far right political
organization, which staunchly opposed abortion rights, gay rights, gun control labor unions,
environmental protections, immigrant rights, social and welfare programs, the United Nations,
etc. The John Birch Society is perhaps best known for its zealous anti-communism and its
fanatical support of the infamous Joe McCarthy (whose indiscriminate, unjustified accusations of
Communist sympathizing destroyed countless people's careers). Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal
History of the Radical Right is the true-life testimony of Claire Conner, daughter to two of the
John Birch Society's earliest members. She grew up surrounded by passionate Birchers, and was
forced to join the society at age thirteen. She witnessed her father's fierce speeches attacking the
U.N.; she was expected to write letters denouncing "socialist medicine" after school; and her
parents held regular meetings to recruit members to resist the "war on Christmas" or "potentially
poisonous" water fluoridation. Her testimony offers a ground-level view of the extreme far right
in day-to-day action, making Wrapped in the Flag an excellent choice for public and college
library Political Science shelves.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
Fight On
Bernard L. Kahan
Cable Publishing
14090 East Keinenen Road, Brule, WI 54820
www.cablepublishing.com
9781934980644, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Born the son of a Jew in what became Hitler's Germany, Bernard Kahan saw his best friend join
the Nazi party and turn on him. This was a precursor omen of what life was going to be like if he
stayed in Germany. Moving to America and joining the American army, he found himself at
war's end once again in his hometown of Munich looking at the rubble that had been the street
upon which he had lived and the apartment in which his family had dwelt. Told with the
assistance of Neil Kahn, this first hand account is a riveting read. A deftly written and valued
contribution to the growing library of World War II era biographies, "Fight On: A GI's Odyssey
Back To Nazi Germany" should be a core addition to community and academic library
collections, and is very highly recommended reading for non-specialist general readers with an
interest in personal stories of what combat was like a child growing up within cycling distance of
the Dachau Concentration Camp to combat life and death for front line soldiers.
The Military Shelf
Arsenal of Democracy
Charles K. Hyde
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814339510 $39.95 http://wsupress.wayne.edu
Arsenal of Democracy: The American Automobile Industry in World War II is a scholarly
examination of how the American automobile industry converted from civilian to military
production during World War II, playing a key role in the America's and the Allies' eventual
victory. Heavily researched and scrupulously presented, Arsenal of Democracy studies how
former car factories were used to create aircraft engines and propellers, tanks and other armored
vehicles, jeeps, trucks, amphibious vehicles, guns, shells, bullets, and more. Extensive notes and
an index round out this excellent addition to military and World War II history shelves.
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