October 2020 Prime Picks
The
Culinary Corner
Cooking for
One
America's Test
Kitchen
America's Test
Kitchen
9781948703284
$29.99
www.americastestkitchen.com
Cooking for One should be a mainstay in
any single-person
household, whether it be a bachelor, someone newly single, or a young
person
just starting out on their own. The recipes also can attract members of
households that eat apart, on different schedules.
Small-batch
cooking
involves scaling down recipes, more efficiently using or building a
pantry of
staples, and creatively using leftovers and odd ingredients for best
results.
This
cookbook teaches
all these skills and more, going beyond the recipes presented to
address common
obstacles to single-portion cooking, from food waste to using
ingredients on
hand to best advantage.
Full-page,
colorful
photos of completed dishes, introductions to each meal that explain why
the
recipe works above other similar competitors, and easy step-by-step
directions
that include a sidebar of 'improvisation' suggestions make Cooking for One is the item of choice for
any single cook looking
to produce quality results in acceptably small proportions.
Skinny
Louisiana...in
the Slow Cooker
Shelly Marie Redmond,
MS, RD, LDN, Culinary Dietitian
Pelican Publishing
9781455624768
$26.95
www.pelicanpub.com
Skinny Louisiana...in the Slow Cooker
provides a follow-up to Shelly
Marie Redmond's first cookbook about low-fat Louisiana dishes, walking
readers
through recipes that can be made either in the slow cooker or an
Instant Pot.
A wide range
of
traditional Louisiana dishes are adapted for quicker cooking, from
Crawfish Dip
and Crockpot Red Bean and Turkey Chili and more general fare, such as a
Spicy
'n Sweet Apricot Chicken and a Easy Breezy Apple-Cinnamon Pork Roast.
Skinny Louisiana...in the Slow Cooker
represents a blend of
Louisiana traditional flavors and new innovations and comes from the
founder of
the Skinny Louisiana brand, who is also a culinary dietician and
nutrition
consultant.
The blend of
colorful
photos, easy, inviting recipes, and dishes designed for variety and
health
makes Skinny Louisiana...in the Slow
Cooker an appealing cookbook especially recommended for busy
cooks
interested in healthy Louisiana-based fare.
Women in the
Kitchen
Anne Willan
Scribner
9781501173318
$28.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Women in the Kitchen: Twelve Essential Cookbook
Writers Who Defined the
Way We Eat, from 1661 to Today pairs a history of American
cooking with a
specific focus on twelve selected cookbook authors whose approaches
changed
American cooking and recipes.
Avid cooks
as well
those with a casual interest in food will readily recognize the names
of Fannie
Farmer, Julia Child, and probably Alice Waters, among others. Each
author
receives a biographical sketch, discussions of her books and dishes,
and
information about her role in American culinary history.
As an
adjunct to the
historical survey, Women in the Kitchen includes
fifty original recipes along with updated versions that Willan tested
and
adapted for modern kitchens.
More than a
recipe
collection but embellished with many mouth-watering suggestions, Women in the Kitchen is especially
recommended reading for those who like blends of culinary histories and
biographical sketches. Its focus on some of the major women who changed
the
taste and face of cooking in America is very nicely done.
The Arts
AP Art
History
John B. Nici, M.A.
Barron's
9781506260501
$29.99
www.barronseduc.com
AP Art History, a recommended study guide
for students planning on
taking the AP Art History exam, provides all the review and practice
sessions
needed to make this a successful effort.
Barron's
survey
includes three full-length practice tests, visual images and history of
major
artists and art movements, the latest test practices and content
reviews based
on these changing focuses, and sections of vocabulary, summaries, and
shorter
practice exercises geared to each chapter.
Black and
white
illustrations of the art world abound, while surveys of architecture
(including
those of other cultures, such as Hindu architectural history), art
history, and
cross-cultural comparative discussions round out a study guide that is
in-depth,
logically arranged for progressive learning, and well detailed.
Those
studying for
the exam need this in-depth reference, but AP
Art History also will appeal to anyone looking for a
refresher course in
art and architectural history.
Northwest
Coast and
Alaska Native Art
Christopher Patrello
University of
Oklahoma Press
194583016
$10.95
www.oupress.com
Northwest Coast and Alaska Native Art
excels in lovely full-color
art pieces made by the Indigenous artists of the Northwest Coast and
Alaska. It
features pieces from the Denver Art Museum that celebrate their
reopening and
permanent new galleries covering the subject.
Also
included with
these images are rare stories about each piece and stories about the
museum's
long-standing history of working with living Native artists.
These
discussions of
tribal cosmology, tradition, and artistic heritage provide readers with
an
outstanding survey that needs no prior introduction to Northwest Coast
Native
history in order to prove accessible and enlightening.
You Talkin'
to Me?
Linda Seger and John
Rainey
Michael Wiese
Productions
9781615933136
$19.95
www.mwp.com
You Talkin' to Me? How to Write Great Dialogue
belongs in any film
or performing arts library, as well as many a creative writer's
collection. It
comes from experts in screenwriting who provide writers with a strong
resource packed
with examples of what constitutes powerful dialogue.
This focus
on
dialogues that work not just on paper but in film and on television
makes for a
book that goes beyond most introductory explorations, especially with
its film-oriented
emphasis and approach.
The links
between
building characters and psychological interactions and using sound to
emphasize
or connect their actions is nicely done, as are case study notes that
present
specific examples of such dialogue in action.
From scenes
that
can't be made more effective through dialogue alone to the fine line
writers
must walk between authentic expression and communication, chapters
delve into
the basics of what makes dialogue move from ordinary to great.
Politics & Social Issues
It Was All a
Lie
Stuart Stevens
Knopf
9780525658450
$26.95
www.aaknopf.com
It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became
Donald Trump goes
beyond most political examinations of the Trump presidency to examine
the
foundations of the GOP party itself.
One expects
a story
about how Trump hijacked the party for his own purposes, but Stuart
Stevens
outlines how Trump actually reflects the party's growing moral and
political changes,
from the 1960s to modern times.
Chapters
examine the
party's evolution decade by decade and draw important connections
between its
processes and people and the culmination of its changing values in the
choice
of Donald Trump as its leader.
This
powerful
political analysis should be foundation reading for anyone who would go
beyond
a Trump presidential analysis to follow the changing foundations and
face of
American democracy.
Live Free Or
Die
Sean Hannity
Threshold Editions
9781982149970
$30.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Political
science
readers interested in analyses of American politics and direction
should place Live Free Or Die: America (And
the World) On
the Brink at the top of their reading lists.
Cable TV
news host author
Sean Hannity here provides not only his first book in ten years, but a
close
consideration of American values, traditions, and the principles of
freedom and
achievement which seem under attack today.
This takes
the form
of a blast at Democrats in particular as it warns of the dangers of a
socialist
platform, social strife, and the values the Democrats embody, in
contrast to
Republican interests.
Readers who
choose
this book for its close contrast between both parties' ideals and their
relationship
to democratic principles will find Live
Free or Die offers food for thought on the widely divergent
political and
belief systems of both parties.
The
Presidents vs.
the Press
Harold Holzer
Dutton
9781524745264
$30.00
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
The Presidents vs. the Press: The Endless Battle
Between the White
House and the Media from The Founding Fathers to Fake News
illustrates that
stormy presidential relationships with the media didn't originate with
present-day events, but have their roots in American history.
Every
president has
held a personal belief that his administration and ideals embrace
higher
political and ethical goals than others. At the same time, reporters
charged
with revealing White House operations and meanings behind press release
messages have felt the drive to expose the truth in whatever form it
takes.
Scholar
Harold Holzer
gives readers a history of various presidential leaders and the
accompanying
media reporting that either plagued or supported their administrations.
It should be
mentioned that this is no casual survey. As chapters explore eighteen
selected
presidents and the link between news reporting and their policies and
political
objectives, readers receive a solid connection between politics and
media
interactions.
No
college-level
course in either media studies or politics should be without this
strong
analytical history.
Reaganland
Rick Perlstein
Simon & Schuster
9781476793054
$40.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980
offers the fourth,
concluding volume to a series of sweeping histories covering the
history of
American conservatism in the postwar era. It should be cautioned that
this read
isn't for the casual follower of Reagan's policies or psyche, but for
the
hardcore political history enthusiast who, preferably, has absorbed the
prior
volumes in the series, Before the Storm,
Nixonland, and The
Invisible Bridge.
This
audience won't
be put off by either heavily footnoted studies or over 1,000 pages of
detail
that charts Reagan's evolution, politics, and influence on his times.
Perlstein's
attention
to detail contrasts political and social history during this volatile
period of
American evolution, using Reagan's focus as a focal point for probing
the
evolution of the right-wing party in America.
Despite
conservative
claims of misrepresentation, plagiarism, and scholarly failings,
Perstein's
addition to the series is packed with food for thought. This offers
history
buffs an intriguing discussion that will be enhanced by an overall
probe of
conservatism's roots, tenets, and methodology through reading and
contrasting
other books (both about Reagan and about American conservatism) with
this
sweeping probe.
Science, Nature & Technology
T-Minus AI
Michael Kanaan
BenBella Books
9781948836944
$27.95
www.benbellabooks.com
T-Minus AI: Humanity's Countdown to Artificial
Intelligence and the New
Pursuit of Global Power documents how countries around the
world have
raised the stakes for becoming first in the drive to instigate AI. It
comes
from a national expert on artificial intelligence who considers this
technology
from scientific, social, and political standpoints.
Unlike
similar-sounding discussions which approach their topics from a given
discipline, T-Minus AI aims to
provide those with relatively little familiarity on the subject with a
wide-ranging discussion of AI's promises, threats, and political impact
on a
global scale.
The
wider-ranging
discussion of its effects on the world as a whole makes for a
scientific and
social discourse that should be on the reading lists of not just high
school to
college students, but anyone concerned about the intersection of
technology,
politics, and social change.
Reviewer's Choice
Bunker:
Building for
the End Times
Bradley Garrett
Scribner
9781501188558
$28.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Bunker: Building for the End Times
examines the world of preppers,
who prepare for global disaster by fortifying their medical and food
stockpiles, building bunkers against apocalypse so they and their
families can
survive.
Bradley
Garrett
traveled around the world to visit those physical bunkers and survival
centers.
He interviewed various preppers at different stages of their work and
considers
various communities also at work, from Utah Mormons to the vision of
Survival
Condo and those who built Fortitude Ranch.
From
different layers
of security and the insights of preppers on their choices and others'
fortifications to how people become 'hardwired for survival', this is a
fascinating account that looks at more than just physical structures.
It
examines the social, psychological, and political sentiments of those
preppers
who are involved in bunker-building activities.
Bunker is a powerful account recommended
for anyone considering
survival tactics and approaches.
When More Is
Not
Better
Roger L. Martin
Harvard Business
Review Press
9781647820060
$30.00
www.hbr.org
When More Is Not Better: Overcoming
America's Obsession with Economic Efficiency draws important
connections
between business and politics, considering the problems facing the
economy and
American society alike.
Roger L.
Martin
maintains that the economy has, for too long, been viewed as a
beneficial force
for pursuing greater efficiency when, in fact, it has shifted to make
wealth
more accessible to the already-rich and less to the middle class and
poor. In
reality, the economy needs to be changed to seek balance over
efficiency and allow
for a more even distribution of wealth, over freestyle system
allowances.
Chapters
survey how
to achieve this balance, encouraging the creation of a complex system
that
receives regular scrutiny and a design principle based on less of a
machine
model and more of a flexible course of action.
Anyone
interested in
economic stability and a different kind of approach to growth and
wealth
distribution will find When More Is Not
Better an intriguing consideration of new possibilities and
attitudes about
economic systems and management.
Young Adult/Children
Peachtree
www.peachtree-online.com
These lovely
books
provide engaging stories to young people with good reading skills who
look for
detailed descriptions of nature and accompanying colorful, delightful
drawings.
Leslie
Bulion's Leaf Litter Critters
(9781682631836,
$7.99) receives whimsical and fun drawings by Robert Meganck as it
explores
soil and leaf litter and the creatures that call such places their home.
Leaf litter
ecosystems are not common explorations in children's stories, but here
they come
alive as Bulion pairs simple, fun rhymes with a paragraph of science
notes to
draw readers into these worlds.
The
captivating
drawings are icing on the cake of a unique, fun exploration.
Bulion and
Meganck
also join forces in Amphibian Acrobats
(9781682631843, $7.99), which provides middle grade readers with the
same
appealing blend of illustration, science, and poetry, offering
especially
engaging details on amphibians.
The
whimsical, fun
celebration of different kinds of acrobats in this world will draw
readers into
the science with a flavor of opportunity missing from more staid
scientific
discussions.
Both books
are
outstanding, top recommendations for advanced elementary through middle
school
grades.
Picture book
readers
ages 4-8 will relish Lisa Papp's Madeline
Finn and the Therapy Dog (9781682631492, $17.99), which
follows Madeline's
puppy's education in becoming an official therapy dog.
As Star
trains with
Madeline's assistance, and masters new skills, the ultimate goal
becomes clear
and close, posing new challenges as Star and his friend journey to a
retirement
community to test his newfound abilities.
Kids receive
solid
information on therapy dogs and their abilities and training, along
with a
lovely story of a girl who loves her puppy and his special purpose in
life.
Arlo: The Lion Who Couldn't Sleep by
Catherine Rayner
(9781682632222, $17.99) will reach kids ages 3-7 with a story of
insomnia
that's perfect for bedtime read-aloud.
A gentle,
calming
refrain repeated during the course of his story outlines mindfulness
techniques
which parents can use to help their child adjust to bedtime. The
message of
calmness is very nicely presented.
Mary
Batten's Life in a Frozen World: Wildlife of
Antarctica (9781682631515, $18.99) excels in gorgeous color
drawings by
Thomas Gonzalez as it surveys Antarctica's landscape and wildlife.
Mary Batten
worked at
The Cousteau Society when he took a group of children from around the
world to
Antarctica, and has been fascinated by the region ever since. Her book
pairs
the gorgeous drawings with much in-depth information suitable for
readers ages
6-10, making for an outstanding scientific exploration directed to an
age group
that usually doesn't receive such colorful depth.
Putnam
www.penguin.com/kids
Lisa Graff's
Wonderful You (9781984837387,
$17.99)
receives fun drawings by Ramona Kaulitzki, who outlines the excitement
different families experience over a new baby's imminent arrival.
The
forthcoming child
receives descriptions that relate to fruit, flowers, and vegetables in
a
rhyming survey that emphasizes joy, celebration, and the busy routines
of
preparing for a new addition to the family.
The lively
descriptions and multicultural families are nicely presented and
emphasize the
involvement of all kinds of families as they prepare for the big event.
Luci Soars by Lulu Delacre
(9781984812669, $17.99) comes from a
bestselling artist who adds a fine touch to a story that opens with
black and
white illustrations and ventures into a colorful realm as it describes
a girl
who is born without a shadow.
Luci is
teased for
her lack of a shadow and views her condition as a detriment, but as
time goes
by, she learns to view her omission as a strength...perhaps even a
superpower.
It's a
lesson on
greatness designed for a generation that will benefit from more
messages about
personal abilities and using them wisely.
These are
excellent,
unique additions to any leisure reader's collection.
Sleeping
Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com
The season's
new
arrivals from Sleeping Bear Press represent an outstandingly diverse
collection
of recommended leisure reads.
Katia Wish's
Raccoon's Perfect Snowman
(9781534110670, $16.99) tells of Raccoon's love of building and
decorating the
perfect snowman when winter arrives.
He invites
his
friends to try out their hands at the task, but can't resist giving
them all
'helpful tips' to improve their efforts. Unfortunately, his directions
are
sometimes anything but helpful.
How can
Raccoon help
his friends without demanding their perfection? A fine lesson on
interpersonal
relationships evolves.
Deborah
Diesen's Sing Some More!
(9781534110526, $16.99)
receives gorgeous colorful illustrations by Howard Gray as it follows
four birds
who blend their skills to provide a neighborhood sing-along concert.
The lilting
rhyme
that explores this musical effort is the perfect delivery vehicle of
choice as
kids are introduced to musical concepts, vocabulary, and insights that
pair fun
examples with definitions.
Judy Young's
Bobby Babinski's Bathtub
(9781534110328,
$16.99) enjoys whimsical, fun drawings by Kevin M. Barry, who brings to
life a
lesson not just in bathtub fun, but hygiene.
The
large-size,
uniquely captivating drawings pair nicely with a lilting rhyme as a
father
tries to entice his son to enjoy bath time despite the child's initial
reticence.
And who
wouldn't
enjoy bath time with the zany results explored in Judy Young's
whimsical tale?
Ann Ingalls
and Sue
Lowell Gallion's Tip and Tucker, Paw
Painters (9781534110991, $9.99) will appeal to grades K-1
with Book 3 in a
series of Tip and Tucker adventures. André Ceolin's pictures are
engaging and bright, offering fun embellishments to this story of
hamster
friends whose different approaches to life are enlightening.
Mr. Lopez's
class is
involved in art projects, but the little hamsters face a challenge when
they
try to join in the fun.
Delightful
snafus
will have kids laughing and reading.
Stephanie
Shaw's Tails from the Animal Shelter
(9781534110489, $16.99) receives engaging drawings by Liza Woodruff as
it
surveys the experience of adopting a pet from the animal shelter.
Poetic
stories and
explorations of how community animal shelters work to connect people
with pets
provide information to parents and young readers ages 4-8, who will
have the
reading skills and comprehension to understand both the humor and the
practical
information.
Parents and
kids who
want to learn more about animal adoption will find Tails
from the Animal Shelter a whimsical, fact-filled exploration.
These are lovely surveys, highly recommended for picture book readers and read-aloud parents looking for striking blends of illustration and story line.