February 2018 Prime Picks
Biography & Autobiograpgy
I'll
Be Damned I'll
Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to
America's #1 Daytime Drama will
especially appeal to fans of
"The Young and the Restless" TV soap opera, and follows the life and
career of Eric Braeden (nee Victor Newman). Braeden
was a German teen born during World War II who came to America largely
ignorant
about Holocaust events. His viewing of the Swedish film Mein Kampf
at age 20 led to a revelation
and a confrontation with his family and his self, driving him to
uncover
meaning in his life and achievements to atone for his homeland's
history. His
memoir covers not only his career, but his humanitarian work and his
various
roles as he became a star, offering enlightening insights into the film
industry as a whole and his personal efforts to move beyond star status
and
make something meaningful of his life. Fans
of the television soap opera thus receive added value in a discussion
that goes
beyond Hollywood encounters to probe personal motivations for
success.
Eric Braeden
Dey Street
9780062476128
$15.99
www.harpercollins.com
Raising
the Barre Raising
the Barre: Big Dreams, False Starts, & My
Midlife Quest to Dance the Nutcracker
comes from an avid
enthusiast of The Nutcracker who began a cross-country binge to view
six
productions in a little over the week in a self-examination of her life
since
quitting ballet long ago. The
cause of Lauren Kessler's stop, just as she was entering elite circles
of
dance, was a conversation she overheard that dealt her a mighty ego
blow and
led to a decades-long departure from a passion she loved most in
life. She
had to overcome negative body image and traditional views of dancers to
achieve
her childhood dream of becoming a ballerina, and in this memoir she
follows the
process of training for and performing The Nutcracker not from a
youth's
perspective; but from an adult who remained determined to find her way
back
into the world of dance. Fans
of dance, especially, will find Raising the
Barre a welcome change from the usual
youth-focused memoir of ballet
success and experiences.
Lauren Kessler
DaCapo Press
9780306903274
$15.99
www.dacapopress.com
This
Might Get a Little Heavy This
Might Get a Little Heavy is a
memoir
by comedian Ralphie May, who passed away at the age of 45 shortly after
this
memoir was completed. It stands as a special tribute to May as it tours
his
life, times, and the rise of his comedy career. May
moved from impoverished Southern roots to become a comedian when he was
only 12
years old. His real fame begin at an open mic in a pizza parlor, where
he was
recognized and inspired by a legendary comedian who encouraged his move
to
Houston and a new beginning. The
story of how a chubby poor kid became a major comedy name makes for an
engrossing series of stories about his life which will prove especially
absorbing reading for prior fans and followers of comedy personalities
in
general and Ralphie May in particular.
Ralphie May with Nils Parker
St. Martins Press
9781250085740
$26.99
www.stmartins.com
The Computer Corner
Pearson Two
excellent new computer guides are highly recommended picks for
collections
seeking lasting lending value and ongoing reference attention from
their
computer book acquisitions. Jason
R. Rich's Working
the Cloud: Using Web-Based
Applications and Tools to Collaborate Online
(9780789759023, $29.95)
is recommended for anyone interested in cloud computing, teaching how
to blend
collaboration tools with cloud environments to help companies better
work
together using the web as a fluid location. From
Dropbox and Google Drive to Box, DocuSign and others, this moves from
Skye for
Business to Trello, Stack and a myriad of choices, considering how
workflows
may be enhanced through many of these programs' collaborative
applications. Theory,
real-world functions, and practical realities blend in a book that
business
managers as well as computer users will wish to consider. Chapters
offer a basic introduction to Angular that needs no prior familiarity
with the
program to prove accessible, includes ten demonstrations of how to
build
Angular templates, covers techniques on how to define custom directives
and
create services that can be reused, and more. Code,
black and white screen shots, and clear discussions of the rules
governing
Angular's use make for a guide perfect for newcomers to the Angular
environment.
www.informit.com/que
Brad Dayley, Brendan Dayley and Caleb Dayley's Learning
Angular: A Hands-On Guide to Angular 2 and Angular 4
(9780134576978,
$39.99) is for programming and web development collections interested
in the
basics of Angular web development, and shows how to understand and
apply the
latest web development technology to business pursuits.
The
Culinary Corner Chinese
Soul Food Chinese
Soul Food: A Friendly Guide for Homemade Dumplings,
Sir-Fries, Soups, and More provides
some 80 recipes for
classic dishes that lend to their creation by even busy cooks, pairing
the
basics of Chinese ingredients and food preparations with adaptations
which lend
to easy and quick dishes. A
section of 'Little Eats', for example, includes such simple fare as
Work-Fried
Egg with Soy Sauce, Green Onion Pancakes, and a vinegar/soy dressed
Green
Cabbage and Kohlrabi Slaw, while 'Sir Fries' includes such unusual fare
as
Cauliflower with Country Ham and Jalapenos, fresh Tomato Egg, and
Wok-Seared
Corn and Green Onions, which can be made with frozen corn for a quick
meal. The
result blends classic Chinese fare with a comfort food approach that
considers
the comfort of the busy cook's kitchen as much as those who are being
served.
Hsiao-Ching Chou
Sasquatch Books
9781632171238
$24.95
www.sasquatchbooks.com
Kachka:
A Return to Russian Cooking Kachka:
A Return to Russian Cooking joins
a host of other Russian cookbooks on the market, but holds a
difference: it
comes from a Portland Soviet Union restaurant's recipes and pairs
traditional
foods with updated, modernized regional cuisine that retains Soviet
traditions
while venturing into new territory. Recipes
featuring such fare as Earl Grey Tea Brandy, Sliced Veal Tongue with
Daikon
Radish Salad and Pickled Cranberries, and Silberian Pelmeni are
accompanied by
full-page, lovely close-up color photos of finished dishes. Swirling
around
them are discussions of Soviet cooking methods and specialty equipment,
such as
the Pelmenitsa mold, with its thirty-seven hexagons and its ability to
quickly
produce classic pelmeni dumplings with tight seals. Kachka's
vintage black and white photos of
Russian peoples and step-by-step color photos of cooking methods round
out a
recipe collection that offers a fabulous glimpse into a world too
rarely
presented to average Americans. Compared
to more limited or regional Russian cookbooks, Kachka
offers a winning, well-rounded approach that tops most of its
competitors.
Bonnie Frumkin Morales with Deena Prichep
Flatiron Books
9781250087607
$40.00
www.flatironbooks.com
On
the Chocolate Trail, 2nd Edition The
second updated edition of On
the Chocolate
Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History,
Travel,
Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao is not
just for culinary
fans; but for those who would appreciate an injection of religious
history into
the survey of chocolate's evolution and use around the world. If
this sounds like an unusual perspective, be advised that this book is
as much
about Jewish history and traditions as it is about the rituals and
meaning
surrounding chocolate in various cultures around the world. Readers
receive a lively survey of 'religious chocolate revelations' that
discuss
chocolate experts and influence, chocolate's inclusion in religious
traditions
among various cultures, and more. While
cooks will be the most likely fans of this title, its approach is also
particularly recommended for Jewish history and cultural collections,
who will
find within it a unique perspective about chocolate's significance to
Jewish
peoples.
Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz
Jewish Lights Publishing
9781683366768
$18.99
www.turnerpublishing.com
The
Prepper's Canning Guide The
Prepper's Canning Guide: Affordably Stockpile a
Livesaving Supply of Nutritious, Delicious, Shelf-Stable Foods
is a canning guide that will appeal to everyday home cooks; especially
to those
interested in bulk preparations. It
differs from other canning cookbooks in its approach to disaster
preparedness
and how to take food stage strategies to new levels by considering
protein
levels, nourishment, and how to make canned produce last
longer. There
are even canning tips that take into consideration grid failure and a
lack of
power and energy; something most canning guides don't consider - and
while many
recipes and instructions are standard (such as how to use box pectin in
making
jam), other ideas specific to prepping (such as ways to use the
homemade jam
without toast being involved) make for a unique survivalist's guide
that
addresses a topic rarely given much coverage in more general
survivalist books.
Daisy Luther
Ulysses Press
9781612436647
$15.95
www.ulyssespress.com
Film, Screen and Television
Michael
Wiese Productions Pilar
Alessandra's The
Coffee Break Screenwriter
Breaks the Rules: A Guide for the Rebel Writer
(9781615932825,
$12.95) teaches screenwriters how to expand their skills by both
understanding
and breaking the rules of screenwriting, providing a succinct but
powerful
exploration of these rules, their history, and how, why, and when they
should
be broken. From
understanding formatting and when to deviate from the norm to the pros
and cons
of creating lengthy dialogue and what rules are best broken, aspiring
screenwriters and neo-professionals alike receive much food for thought
on
established processes, when they works, and why they sometimes
don't. Helen
Jacey's The
Woman in the Story: Writing
Memorable Female Characters (9781615932573,
$27.95) belongs in
creative writing and performing arts as well as film collections, and
compiles
a resource for writers based on female character development. It's
a newly updated book that collects strategies and pairs them with case
studies
and examples, offering insights into female characterization's pitfalls
and
successes; and it delves into step-by-step approaches that trace the
evolution
of female characters in selected productions. The
result is a writer's guide that teaches the basics of how women are
represented
in writing and how that is translated to film and stage. Paul
Dudbridge's Shooting
Better Movies: The
Student Filmmakers' Guide (9781615932719,
$26.95) is a student's
reference to differentiating between the approaches, techniques, and
ideas that
separate acceptable from good to great movies. It should be assigned
reading
for any film school student. Chapters
survey film skills, how skill sets are paired with mindsets and
shooting
approaches, and compositional tools that camera operators use to make
judgment
calls that result in superior works. The
result examines acceptable productions with a higher level of thinking
about
camerawork, shooting, and film viewer perceptions which elevate an
average film
to a superior production.
www.mwp.com
Flickering
Treasures Flickering
Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore's Forgotten
Movie Theaters provides performing
arts and film collections
with a powerful regional study of one of Baltimore's most iconic movie
theaters. It is a beautifully done, rich history that blends interviews
with
modern and historic photos of the theater during many different stages
of its
evolution. In
a sense, Flickering
Treasures
mirrors many of the experiences of these old theaters: former beauties
that
fell on hard times and then experienced reuse and revitalization. The
city of
Baltimore held far more such icons than most cities. By 1950, there
were over a
hundred of them; but by 2016, only three remained.
Amy Davis
Johns Hopkins University Press
9781421422183
$49.95
www.press.jhu.edu
Here Amy Davis, a photojournalist for the Baltimore Sun, combines vintage with modern color image contrasts to document these urban wonders, considering the social, economic, technological, and political influences on their rise and fall as she crafts a beautiful, iconic collection that will appeal to readers far beyond Baltimore City's borders.
Health and Self-Help
Eating
Disorders, 3rd Edition The
third updated edition of Eating
Disorders: A
Guide to Medical Care and Complications updates
a best-selling,
in-depth guide on managing eating disorders, and is directed both to
primary
care physicians and family, teachers, and those not in a medical
profession. Most
books are specifically directed to either healthcare professionals or
lay
readers. Having an in-depth guide that both groups can consult,
updating it
with key findings and new insights, makes for a powerful survey of the
latest
research into eating disorders and how it applies to everyday life
situations. The
original book proved a success, and this update keeps that winning
approach on
track by synthesizing it with the latest medical findings to keep its
information current and of ongoing importance.
Philip S. Mehler, MD, FAED & Arnold E. Andersen, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
97814214223432
$39.95
www.press.jhu.edu
Nature-Based
Expressive Arts Therapy Nature-Based
Expressive Arts Therapy: Integrating the
Expressive Arts and Ecotherapy
provides therapists interested
in or involved with either expressive arts or ecotherapy with a
nature-based
integration of the two fields, show how different practices and
attitudes in
expressive arts lends to working with nature. Specific
approaches to encouraging this activity (writing, body exercises, and
rituals,
among others) are surveyed during the course of a study that blends
anthropological examination with stories from indigenous cultures and
the arts,
exploring connections between different cultures and expressive art
forms and
providing interdisciplinary keys to enhancing the quality of
life. Therapists
and reference collections catering to them will find Nature-Based Expressive Arts
Therapy an intriguing approach
to making the most of both fields in a therapeutic
environment.
Sally Atkins and Melia Snyder
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
9781785927263
$29.95
www.jkp.com
The
Road Ahead The
Road Ahead: Inspirational Stories of Open Hearts &
Minds comes from a famous actress,
so readers might
anticipate more of a memoir than a discussion of philosophy and
self-help.
However, Jane Seymour's focus on facing life challenges and creating
positive
changes from them provides a different focus than casual observers
would
expect, using the appeal of her celebrity status to bring home an
important
message to audiences who might not ordinarily look at self-help
inspirational
pieces. The
Open Hearts philosophy considers all kinds of life-changing moments and
how they
can be handled, and pairs inspirational stories from her own life and
those of
others with a focus on a three-step process of acceptance,
unconditional
forgiveness, and acts of kindness. These,
in turn, create revitalized lives that help readers identify underlying
adversities in common life situations and the process of turning them
into
strengths. Seymour's own life experiences form a powerful starting
point that
readers can use to assess their own choices and how to redefine their
reactions
to adversity.
Jane Seymour
Post Hill Press
9781662614631
$15.99
www.posthillpress.com
Audiobooks
Highbridge
Audio Six
new audiobook releases are highly recommended picks for individual
listening
and library lending, offering a blend of talented readers and books
that
promise lasting listening value. Dan
Rather and Elliot Kirschner's What Unites
Us: Reflections on Patriotism (9781681687360,
$29.99) should be
listened to by any American concerned about this country's changing
place in
the world. It offers a series of original essays by a television
journalist who
came out of retirement in response to the Trump administration, and is
enhanced
by a powerful narration by one already quite familiar to many
audiences. This
pairs Rather's already-familiar voice with a perspective that focuses
on the
institutions that keep democracies alive, the values that change
societies, and
how the U.S. can continue to move forward and prosper. Daniel
Golden's Spy
Schools: How the CIA, FBI, and
Foreign Intelligence Secretly Exploit America's Universities
receives an excellent narration by Jonathan Yen, whose clear and sharp
narrative style enhances an authoritative survey backed by extensive
research
and reporting. The
globalization of foreign students and teachers and new opportunities
for
Americans to study and teach abroad has also opened up new vistas for
spying
and opened the door for the development of international spy
schools. This
book's attention to describing the connections between public
universities,
American government entities, and the links between educational
institutions
and spying offers many eye-opening facts that will intrigue not just
readers of
social and political issues; but anyone involved in education whether
at home
or abroad. Lawrence
Freedman's The
Future of War: A History
(9781681680422, $29.99) is narrated by Michael Page, who lends a
successfully
somber and circumspect voice to this survey of the future of warfare,
which
contrasts past and present ideas of changing strategies and
objectives. Despite
its fluid environment, war can be studied to provide a better
foundation for
political policy-making and military strategies alike, and The Future of War examines
everything from
civil wars to possible nuclear encounters as it considers different
kinds of
battles, military history, and war's lasting effects on
humanity. Ruth
Emmie Lang's Beasts
of Extraordinary
Circumstance (9781681689982, $39.99) is read by
Peter Berkrot,
Cassandra Campbell, Danny Campbell, and Piper Goodeve, who together
provide a
gripping style interspersing different readers and perspectives with
character
Weylynn's emerging extraordinary abilities, which represent an
uncontrolled
force in his life that doesn't always portend good results. Mary
is willing to accept his unique abilities; but as others find their
lives
changed by encounters with Weylynn, their differing viewpoints create
different
viewpoints about his life and impact. Having
multiple readers for these changing perspectives nicely reflects the
story
line's alternating points of view and makes this audio version
especially clear
and compelling. David
Goldfield's The
Gifted Generation: When
Government Was Good (9781681689586, $54.99) is
read by Mike
Chamberlain, whose voice holds the ability to nicely capture historian
David
Goldfield's consideration of the generation following World War II and
the
federal government's involvement in assuring their lives were
good. The
Presidents who lead the country during those years were united by a
belief that
federal legislation could encourage individual wealth and social
prosperity,
and they created federal legislation that changed all Americans'
relationships
to each other and their environment. How
this ideal rose and fell in federal circles makes for an absorbing
perspective
that comes alive in audio and holds special food for thought in these
changing
modern times, which contrast sharply with approaches of the
past. Kevin
Young's Bunk:
The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug,
Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News
(9781681687100,
$44.99) is read by Mirron Willis, who provides a clear and dramatic
tone to
accent the history and focus in a title that considers historical
hoaxing and
how forgers, journalistic fakes, and others invented back stories and
lies to
promote a particular worldview of 'truth' and 'reality'. There
could be no better timing for the appearance of this book than in an
age when
news and reporting methods are being questioned. By
providing a wide-ranging survey of how hoaxes are perpetuated
throughout
history and society, Kevin Young provides a thought-provoking coverage
that
should be required listening for media studies and social issues
classes alike.
www.highbridgeaudio.com
Noumenon Noumenon
is set in 2088, when humankind is
on the brink of moving beyond Earth's solar system to explore the rest
of the
universe. It's a big field - where does one begin? Astrophysicist
Reggie Straifer's
discovery of an odd star that seems to defy physics points the way to a
journey
that will be undertaken by human clones, as eons of travel are involved. The
question is: how does a human society limited to nine spaceships evolve
differently from Earth's; and what does this mean for the future of
humanity
itself? A
series of vignettes in this novel are brought to life in an especially
compelling narration by Celeste Ciulla, whose vivid voice keeps readers
immersed in a sweeping sci-fi listen hard to set aside.
Marina J. Lostetter
Recorded Books
9781501962769
www.recordedbooks.com
The Arts
American
Runway American
Runway: 75 years of Fashion and the Front Row
pairs an oversized visual display of fashion history with an in-depth
review
and discussion of New York Fashion Week, a key institution in the
American
fashion world for many decades. Fashion
Week did more than exhibit and foster the latest trends and styles: it
continually challenged European traditions and fashion dominance,
provided a
showcase for rising stars who were to become fashion names on the lips
of
ordinary Americans, and demonstrated how entertainment circles could
use the
fashion runway experience to foster and display their own rising
stars. The
anticipated wealth of images is diverse and nicely presented here; but
designer
interviews, photos from all 75 years of the event, and backstage
history and
displays also make for a powerful blend of fashion history and culture
that is
a 'must' for any serious arts collection with a fashion focus.
Booth Moore and the Council of Fashion Designers of America
Abrams
9781419726484
$65.00
www.abramsbooks.com
Art
as Jewellery: From Calder to Kapoor Art
as Jewellery: From Calder to Kapoor
gathers a range of images and sketches (many of which have not been
seen since
the 1960s, and were not widely distributed at that time, either) to
explore the
histories, influences, and art of jewelry pieces made by some of the
biggest
names in the art world, creating a highly recommended and authoritative
examination covering a range of artists and their unique
works. Louisa
Guinness is herself a collector and gallery owner who worked with many
of the
artists and photographers as they collected and produced images of
these
memorable works; and she comments on these pieces and how they were
made,
adding an unusual analytical flavor to the history and art featured in Art as Jewellery. Its
oversized appearance provides plenty of display space for the pieces
and nicely
compliments the prowess of featured artists and photographers, while
accompanying commentary explores key exhibitions, individual artistic
achievements, and the changing genre of artistic jewelry as a
whole. No
serious arts holding should be without this authoritative, in-depth
examination.
Louisa Guinness
ACC Art Books
9781851498703
$75.00
www.accartbooks.com
Selling
Art Without Galleries Selling
Art Without
Galleries: Toward Making a Living from Your Art
is packed
with creative and innovative ideas that artists can use to either
eschew or
compliment the usual gallery focus, profiling alternative ideas for
successfully marketing and selling art. This
updated, revised edition provides new chapters covering social media
opportunities, public art loan programs, private foundations,
donations, and
museums; and offers a wealth of information to compliment updates on
disaster
preparedness, housing, and other topics artists need to know
about. The
result is a powerful guide highly recommended for artists working in
any
medium, covering everything from living arrangements to marketing
opportunities
too often overlooked by aspiring artists who may be novices to many
promotion
approaches.
Daniel Grant
Allworth Press
9781621536116
$19.99
www.allworth.com
Political Matters
Bully
of Asia Bully
of Asia: Why China's Dream is the New Threat to World
Order offers a startling view of
North Korea, China, and
their relationship to the U.S., maintaining that North Korea is China,
and acts as a tributary state of
that nation. Expanding
on this logic, China won't 'help' us with North Korea because they
created the
problem, and China's president is using North Korea to distract
Americans from
looking too closely at China itself as the underlying issue. The
result, a powerful testimony about China's real threat to America,
should be
considered for debate, discussion and insights by any political science
student
and those studying China and current affairs.
Steven W. Mosher
Regnery Publishing
9781621576969
$28.99
www.regnery.com
Fire
and Fury Fire
and Fury: Inside the Trump White House
represents the first insider account of the Trump Presidency that
doesn't come
from a political insider, but from an author and columnist who was
allowed
unfettered access to White House personnel. As
such, it collects the inner workings of the 'smoothly oiled machine'
from the
viewpoints of different people inside the Trump presidency, offering an
eye-opening and pointed examination of Presidential power and
dysfunction. It
covers the first seven months of Trump's administration as it captures
a host
of behind-the-scenes events. Since
Fire and Fury's
publication,
there have been many accusations about the observations, from all
sides; but
one thing is certain: the depth and variety of Wolff's probes offer
much food
for thought about the inner workings of governing a country and what
happens
when dysfunction enters the presidential picture.
Michael Wolff
Henry Holt
9781250158062
$30.00
www.HenryHolt.com
Sizzling Social Issues
Be
Fierce Be
Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back
comes from a top new anchor and mother who addresses the issue of
sexual
harassment both in the workplace and in the world in general, blending
her
personal experiences with views on how women can better protect
themselves on
the job, on college campuses, and elsewhere. From
the problems with arbitration laws in work contracts to women's rights,
the
consequences and responsibilities involved in speaking out, and common
myths
that surround women who do take a stand, Be
Fierce offers a powerfully compelling piece that
tells women exactly
how they can best protect themselves and avoid some common pitfalls of
self-defense.
Gretchen Carlson
Center Street
9781478992172
$27.00
www.centerstreet.com
To
Fight Against This Age To
Fight Against This Age: On Fascism and Humanism
provides an especially compelling argument given the current state of
American
social and political affairs, maintaining that fascism and freedom
often are
close partners, as envisioned by German novelist Thomas Mann, who
predicted
modern world events in so many ways. From
the deep cultural crisis in American society to lessons still unlearned
from
historical precedent and how people are left high and dry by various
systems,
philosopher Rob Reimen provides an accessible, thought-provoking set of
insights that should be required reading for any political studies or
social
history class. They provide surprising accessibility to complex ideas,
while
much of the material is suitable for debate and historical and
philosophical
reflection by high school to college level audiences and
beyond.
Rob Riemen
W.W. Norton
9780393635867
$19.95
www.wwnorton.com
Watermelons,
Nooses, and Straight Razors Watermelons,
Nooses, and Straight Razors: Stories from the
Jim Crow Museum considers racial
stereotyping, prejudice, and
processes of their portrayal as it analyzes black history and heritage,
anti-black stories and caricatures, and how various representations of
African
Americans painted condescending images throughout history. But,
did racial profiling influence the actions of those who undertook to
foster
these myths? What is the underlying effect of spreading such stories
among the
population, how does it affect hearts and minds of all races, and in
what ways
do anti-black stories still hold impacts beyond their intended meanings? Watermelons,
Nooses, and Straight Razors walks
readers through the Jim Crow era to modern times, capturing
representations of
different racist objects throughout history and providing a powerful
collection
of images from a variety of sources, from advertising to
cartoons. No
civil rights, arts, or social issues holding should be without this
pointed
examination of how prejudice is crafted and fostered through images and
representations.
David Pilgrim
PM Press
9781629634371
$24.95
www.pmpress.org
Science, Nature & Technology
Mousy
Cats and Sheepish Coyotes Mousy
Cats and Sheepish Coyotes: The Science of Animal
Personalities is a fun, whimsical
blend of natural history
and animal psychology that considers the scientific basis for animal
personality and whether it stems from wishful thinking and
sentimentality or
real science. In
the past, science has been cautious about considering individuality in
non-humans; but now scientists are beginning to accept that not just
domestic
animals but all kinds of creatures do hold individual personalities
beyond
traits and quirks. Veteran
wildlife expert Dr. John A. Shivik here collects stories about the
latest
research into this notion and considers its foundations in fact as he
reveals
researchers who are probing animal behavior and personalities. Readers
who enjoy lively natural history discussions - even those with little
scientific background - will find Mousy Cats
and Sheepish Coyotes an appealing read.
John A. Shivik
Beacon Press
9780807071519
$26.95
www.beacon.org
Records
of North American Big Game, 14th Edition The
14th updated edition of Records
of North
American Big Game appears in a weighty
two-volume set, updating a
classic that's been regularly revised since its first appearance in
1932. It
is packed with tabular listings based on the Club's copyrighted method
of
scoring, which was adapted in 1950 as a standard for judging North
American big
game, and covers some 32,000 native North American big game trophies in
38
categories. This
edition includes four new World’s Records since the previous edition
(Alaska-Yukon moose, pronghorn, Rocky Mountain goat, and bighorn
sheep),
stories, photos, and score charts for these 4 in all 38 categories,
over 300
photographs of the top-ranking animals, and hundreds of color
photographs of
hunters in the field. While
hunters and outdoorsmen and collections catering to them will be the
biggest
enthusiasts of this extensively updated, two-volume reference, it's
also highly
recommended for science and nature holdings interested in statistics
about big
animals in North America gathered by a club well-known for its
statistical
accuracy and details.
Boone & Crockett Club
Boone & Crockett Club, Publishers
$80.00
http://www.boone-crockett.org/
Should
the Tent Be Burning Like That? Should
the Tent Be Burning Like That? A Professional
Amateur's Guide to the Outdoors
comes from a long-time outdoorsman
and feature writer whose Field
& Steam
column has gained an avid readership and a loyal following. Those
readers, along with newcomers who may have missed his voluminous works,
will
find Should
the Tent Be Burning Like That? a
fine gathering of Heavey's best works and outdoors experiences, from
crashing a
forty-four-foot houseboat in Florida to growing physical challenges
from
leading an active life while aging. With
its autobiographical reflections, spirited adventures, and sense of
whimsy, Should
the Tent Be Burning Like That? is
very highly recommended for outdoors, nature, humor, and autobiography
enthusiasts alike.
Bill Heavey
Grove Atlantic
9780802127105
$25.00
www.groveatlantic.com
The
Source The
Source: How Rivers Made America and America Remade Its
Rivers takes an environmental and
natural history approach to
America history, combining the two in a fine consideration of
relationships
between American peoples and rivers from early to modern
times. The
author, a professor of river science and policy, offers a close
inspection of
early government involvement in developing and regulating America's
waterways,
considering a wide range of issues related to river management, from
flood
control and urban development to labor demands, exploration, water
rights
battles and issues, and the overall environmental impact of human
affairs on
water systems. Anyone
looking for an American history firmly rooted in its environmental
approaches
will find The
Source a powerful
and necessary narrative report backed by strong research and human
stories
alike.
Martin Doyle
W.W. Norton
9780393242355
$26.95
www.wwnorton.com
Why
You Eat What You Eat Why
You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our
Relationship With Food comes from a
neuroscientist who
considers the attraction of different foods and how and why human
senses and
environmental stimulation influence food appreciation and
choice. Her
investigation into food science reveals that mental approaches to and
ideas
about food attraction have as much to do with food choice as sensory
glands,
and she considers the latest brain research into taste, smell, sight,
sound,
and touch. These
studies offer new insights into food choice, diet, weight control, and
other
food-related issues, making for a top recommendation for anybody
interested in
culinary, health, and science topics accessible to lay
readers.
Rachel Herz
W.W. Norton
9780393243314
$25.95
www.wwnorton.com
Reviewer's Choice
Beat
Boredom Beat
Boredom: Engaging Tuned-Out Teenagers
is based on a report that the majority of teens are bored in class, and
comes
from a teacher who decided to turn this statistic upside down as she
sought to
engage her students in politics, economics and journalism through a
hands-on
approach that led them to make decisions, take charge of their
projects, and
interact in ways designed to integrate researched information into
real-world
scenarios. Her
successful strategies are outlined here, as well as the results of some
800
interviews with high school students that helped pinpoint the source of
boredom
and antidotes to its crippling effects. Any
teacher at any grade level looking to foster active student engagement
and
expand the learning process and its effectiveness would do well to
consider the
studies and insights in Beat
Boredom.
Martha Sevetson Rush
Stenhouse Publishers
9781625311498
$32.00
www.stenhouse.com
Bigly:
Donald Trump in Verse Bigly:
Donald Trump in Verse is selected
and arranged by Rob Long, the screenwriter and co-executive producer of
the TV
show Cheers,
and gathers decades
of verse from The Man himself, Donald Trump. Pithy
writing, metaphors, and observations mark these free verse works which
may be
taken literally, figuratively, and in different ways, depending upon
whether
one comes to the collection as pro-Trump, anti-Trump, or interested in
modern
poetry in general. It's
a refreshingly different approach to Trump that many will consider
humorous and
revealing.
Rob Long, Editor
Regnery Publishing
9781621577300
$14.99
www.regnery.com
From
Here to Eternity From
Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good
Death comes from a mortician who
explores the world's funeral
traditions, from an Indonesian village where families live with the
bodies of
their dead for years prior to the funeral to a North Carolina
experiment to
turn corpses into compost. The
diversity of Caitlin Doughty's encounters is surprising: there is no
singularly
accepted world culture of handling the dead, and many of her
experiences hold
an overtone of humor even as they explore cultural oddities,
perspectives, and
funeral traditions that may be either appalling or appealing, depending
on a
reader's viewpoint. One
thing's for certain: From
Here to Eternity
is an eye-opening, entertaining, and educational read that examines
alternative
rituals to traditional funeral industry operations and approaches. It
will
reach a wide audience of readers with no special expertise in and, in
many
cases, no previous special interest in the funeral business.
Caitlin Doughty
W.W. Norton
9780393249897 $24.95
www.wwnorton.com
Hampton
Roads Publishing Two
fine new titles are highly recommended picks for new age collections
interested
in books about folklore, myths, and predictions, offering perspectives
and
insights in an accessible, lively format designed to appeal to avid new
age and
general-interest readers alike. Ralph
Harvey's Fairies
Plain & Simple: An
Introduction to the History and Mystery of their Magical Realm
(9781571747822, $14.95) comes not from a scholar of mythology, but from
a
modern-day English witch who provides a different perspective on
fairies and
his own encounters with them. From
plants which have special meaning to fairies and how they have
influenced human
affairs over the ages to what types of environments fairies frequent in
Britain, modern-day fairy tales surrounding them, and the history of
fairies, Fairies
Plain & Simple includes
insights on how to seek, locate, and deal with fairies. It is a
delightfully
simple, multi-faceted discussion for anyone with a prior interest in
the
subject. Sasha
Fenton's Fortune
Teller's Handbook: 20 Fun and
Easy Techniques for Predicting the Future
(9781571747952, $16.95)
offers a basic primer for those looking to try their hand at fortune
telling,
and covers various divination strategies, options, and
systems. Intended
for the bare-bones newcomer with little more than an affinity for the
subject, Fortune
Teller's Handbook covers various
techniques, discusses their technical aspects, pros, and cons, and
provides a
range of easy-to-use methods for getting the most from fortune telling
efforts.
www.redwheelweiser.com
Island
of the Blue Foxes Island
of the Blue Foxes: Disaster and Triumph on the
World's Greatest Scientific Expedition
offers the first
complete story of the Great Northern Expedition, which lasted almost
ten years
and covered three continents, involved over 3,000 people, and immersed
scientists, artists, mariners and more in one of the greatest efforts
of the
early Russian empire. The
account is based on source materials (letters and writings of the
expedition
members and log books of the voyage), but reads like an adventure novel
as it
charts an expedition which received much attention and financing, yet
became a
dark episode in the age of exploration. Profiles
of individual courage, scientific determination, and insights into the
politics
and struggles of expeditions create an engrossing history that's hard
to put
down.
Stephen R. Brown
Da Capo
9780306825194
$28.00
www.dacapopress.com
Lake
Of the Sky Images: The Photographs of Harold A. Parker If
$45.00 seems pricey for a paperback photography collection, then look
again;
because Lake
Of the Sky Images: The
Photographs of Harold A. Parker is a unique
history worth every cent. For
one thing, Lake
Of the Sky Images represents
the first survey of photographer Harold A. Parker, gathering his
historic
images of California's Lake Tahoe as it documents the career of a
commercial
photographer whose works helped place Tahoe in the minds of many who
might not
otherwise have known about its splendors. His images of Tahoe
steamships,
taverns, and attractions not only helped cement a sense of the area's
natural
beauty; but they became the foundation of photographic standards of
excellence
for the region as a whole. The
images themselves are reproduced in black and white and color. From
postcards
to brochures and color lithographs from a wide range of private
holdings and
collections, this survey captures Lake Tahoe's history like no other
from the
focus of a skilled artist whose craft made Lake Tahoe a familiar public
name. How
did a little known commercial photographer originally from Los Angeles
succeed
in popularizing a then-remote region of California in the early
1900s? Lake
Of the Sky Images belongs in any
definitive California history collection and any serious photography
holding.
It's an outstanding representation of a unique artist's lasting
efforts.
Carol A. Jensen
Byron Hot Springs
9780692924136
$45.00
https://www.amazon.com/Lake-
The
Motivation Toolkit The
Motivation Toolkit: How to Align Your Employees'
Interests with Your Own comes from
a Stanford economist who
follows the journey of Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price, who made a
revolutionary
statement in 2015 when he told employees their minimum salaries would
be $70K
annually. This
doubled the income for many employees and prompted accusations of
socialist
leanings from other business leaders who predicted the company's demise
from
such a move; yet it was a bold statement about employee motivation
processes,
and one which is part of the discussion in The
Motivation Toolkit. This
debate intersects business savvy, psychology, economics, and various
theories
about employee motivation influencers. It offers managers and business
owners
an important discussion that outlines no singular path to motivation,
but
provides a series of insights into how the process works differently
for
various businesses, and is highly recommended for any business
leader.
David M. Kreps
W.W. Norton
9780393254099
$27.95
www.wwnorton.com
A
New Model A
New Model: What Confidence, Beauty, & Power Really
Look Like gathers essays and photos
from supermodel and
activist Ashley Graham, who advocates for the 'body positivity'
movement by
contributing a personal set of insights about emerging new body image
ideals in
society. Graham
was 'discovered' in a mall at the age of thirteen and quickly moved
from a
small-town Nebraska life to a fashion career in New York. Lessons
learned from her transition, from handling the pressure to fit in and
adjust
one's body image to social ideals to balancing food with body needs and
discovering one's own personal model for success, makes for an
inspirational
read highly recommended for arts, autobiography, and social issues
readers
alike.
Ashley Graham
Dey Street/Morrow
9780062667953
$15.99
www.harpercollins.com
The
Permaculture Earthworks Handbook The
Permaculture Earthworks Handbook: How to Design and
Build Swales, Dams, Ponds, and Other Water Harvesting Systems
teaches how to maximize water potential by creating better permaculture
systems, and provides small and medium-sized gardeners with a thorough
guide to
the design and employment of such earthworks. Construction
methods, design options, nine types of water harvesting earthworks
suitable for
different climates, and more provide designers, farmers, landscape
architects,
and gardeners with a complete discussion on how to better manage water
resources using earthworks. Packed
with references and examples, The
Permaculture Earthworks Handbook is a
comprehensive and unique
coverage that should be in any serious gardener's library.
Douglas Barnes
New Society Publishing
9780865718449
$32.99
www.newsociety.com
Your
One & Only At
first glance, Your
One & Only
might seem to be a romance story intended for seasonal Valentine's Day
readers;
but a closer inspection reveals a riveting read that crosses genres as
it tells
of Jack, the only real human in existence hundreds of years after the
human
race dies off in a plague and leaves 'made men' to carry on with
civilization. Humanity
doesn't really exist, except for Jack; but even as Jack struggles with
being
singular, so does Althea-310, who feels she's different than her
identical
cloned sisters she's supposed to match. Can
two disparate individuals find connections with each other and newfound
purpose
in life? It's 2047, and humanity is a thing of the past - or, is it?
This
compelling story is recommended for sci-fi and novel readers
alike.
Adrianne Finlay
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
9780544991477
$17.99
www.hmhco.com
Young Adult/Children
Houghton
Mifflin/Clarion
www.hmhco.com
Kathleen
Krull and Júlia Sardà's One
Fun Day with
Lewis Carroll: A Celebration of Wordplay and a Girl Named Alice
blends words and phrases that Carroll invented himself with a fun
examination
of language and new inventions. Good reading skills will help young
picture
book readers become involved in the story of how Lewis Carroll enjoyed
language
and invented new words to make his young friend happy in a rollicking
story
that adds life to language learning and features new possibilities for
inventive approaches to words. Alison
Donald's The
New Lilbearian
(9780544973657, $16.99) tells of a different story time at the library
when the
old, familiar librarian is replaced by a new librarian who just might
be a
bear. Alex Willmore's engaging drawings compliment the story of a new
librarian
who faces a big challenge as youngsters entreat him to perform a job
he'd never
applied for. Tuutikki
Tolonen's Monster
Nanny
(9780544943544, $16.99) tells of Mrs. Hellman's decision to go to a spa
retreat
while Mr. Hellman is away from town, resulting in a new nanny for
Halley, Koby
and Mimi. It's
bad enough that she's unfamiliar - but they think their new nanny just
may be a
monster. There are many clues pointing towards this dilemma, including
the fact
that she's big, hairy, and dusty and doesn’t speak English; but when
the kids
investigate her origins, they discover that other neighborhood kids are
also
being left in the care of monsters. Is
this a monstrous invasion? Middle
grade readers will relish the detective work that goes into uncovering
what's
really going on.
Simon
and Schuster Sue
Hendra's Norman The
Slug with the Silly
Shell (9781481490320, $14.99) is simply
enchanting, offering a
colorful and appealing picture book story of a slug whose friends are
all
snails. Norman
longs for a shell, which will better enable him to play with his
colorful friends.
He thinks they are amazing and knows his only problem is the lack of a
shell.
It's up to him to find one. This
story will delight young picture book readers as Norman tries on new
identities
in search of the perfect fit that will make him a peer to be
admired. Three
chapter books for new young readers are top picks for kids who are
newly ready
to read beyond the usual picture book format. Tina
Gallo's Daniel
Will Pack a Snack
(9781534411180, $16.99) is part of Simon and Schuster's 'Ready To Read'
series
of first level books in the 'Ready to Go' series, offering some 100
words with
repetition to emphasize vocabulary-building purposes. Unlike
traditional picture book formats, these books include word families, a
guide
that helps kids sound out the words before they begin the story, and
questions
adults can use at the end to help kids understand the story. Poses
and layouts by Jason Fruchter enhance the story of Daniel's kitchen
adventure
as he decides to help bake a cake for a snack. This lovely story pairs
easy
words with big, colorful pictures. Lauren
Thompson's Mouse
Loves Spring
(9781534401853, $16.99) receives colorful and fun drawings by Buket
Erdogan as
it tells of Mouse and Momma, who decide to go outdoors and explore the
world
one windy spring day. Their discoveries of butterflies, snails, frogs,
and more
provide a fun exploration of the season's wonders for very young
readers. Kids
with more advanced reading skills in grades 3-4 will relish Natalie
Shaw's
adaptation of Voltron
Legendary Defender:
Space Mall (9781534410220, $17.99), which
revolves around space mall
cop Varkon, who is charged with protecting a high-priced mall with its
impossible tariffs on rare goods. Working
against him are the Paladins of Voltron, whose mission includes not
being
caught by Voltron. A
zany premise, fast action, and a format which includes colorful, vivid,
cartoon-style drawings makes for an engaging story. Girls
ages 6-10 will appreciate Quvenzhané Wallis and Nancy Ohlin's Shari & Emmie Star in
Dancy Pants! (9781481458856,
$15.99), a fun tale of a third grader and superstar who excels in
giving
performances. When
her teacher involves the class in a major dance competition, Shari is
paired
with her best friend and another classmate and decides to just have fun
until
her rival challenges her to a bet that places winning on a different
level. Now
Shari must
win - but her decision
inadvertently involves her co-dancers, as well. How can she have fun
with so
much pressure? Carolyn
Keene's Nancy
Drew Diaries: The Haunting on
Heliotrope Lane (9781481485470, $17.99) will
reach ages 8-12 (a
younger age group than the older Nancy Drew adventures) and uses a
diary-style
format to capture Nancy's thoughts and experiences. This
latest addition to the series has Nancy investigating rumors that
there's a
ghost haunting Heliotrope Lane. Even worse, the ghost may involve
possession.
Can Nancy solve the problem without being caught up in something beyond
her
detective skills? Santa
Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore's The Royal
Rabbits of London (9781481498609, $16.99) will
also reach ages 8-12
with the adventures of Shylo, who has always been the runt of his
family. He'd
seem the least likely to embark on an adventure to save the day; but
when he
overhears a gang of evil rats plotting against his queen, he's off to
make a
difference in a journey to London to find the Royal Rabbits who protect
her. Black
and white illustrations by Kate Hindley are peppered throughout a fine
story
that animal lovers will appreciate.
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
Sleeping
Bear Press Caroline
Stutson's My
Family Four Floors Up
(9781585369911, $16.99) reaches youngsters up to four years of age with
the fun
picture book tale of a little girl who starts her day in an apartment
in a city. A
lively rhyme accompanies her day and encourages parents to read aloud,
while
Celia Krampien's engaging drawings follow a little girl's action;
whether it's
climbing the stairs down to the street, playing in the park on the
swing, or
facing an unexpected storm. Marsha
Diane Arnold's May
I Come In?
(9781585363940, $16.99) is illustrated by Jennie Poh and recommended
for ages
4-8 as it tells of Raccoon, who is afraid to be alone in his home when
a storm
strikes. His
attempts to rely on friends for company during a scary event only
result in
rejection until he finds the one true friend who may be able to
help. All
are vivid, nicely written picture books that are special
recommendations for
parents reading aloud and kids looking for fun stories.
www.sleepingbearpress.com