SirReadaLot.org
We Review the Best of the Latest Books
ISSN 1934-6557
July 2005, Issue #75
Guide to This Issue
Page Contents: Pick of the Month Art:
Photography Composition, Railway
Stations Audio / Mysteries & Thrillers: Season of the Snake,
Nero Wolfe Father Hunt, Education:
Designing e-Learning Simulation Games, Improve
Training Performance, Art in School,
Best Teaching Practices based on Recent Brain Research,
School Psychology Business:
Pick of the Month –
A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke
(Audio Renaissance & Bloomsbury
This one is indeed all it’s cracked up to be – the perfect
antidote to A Year in
In June our Associate Editor at
SirReadaLot.org went on
her honeymoon to
- Why was there no train? Answer: train workers probably on strike!
- Why was the tourist office closed? Answer: two-hour lunch break, of course!
- Why did no one come over to help her when she went shopping? Answer: she was supposed to say “bonjour” when she walked into the store!
Most importantly, she took an almost all-black wardrobe
with her and learned to shrug and pretend nothing matters, thereby
being mistaken for a Parisienne repeatedly. What could be more
rewarding? Oh – and about the dog poop – they seem to have
cleaned
See the longer review in the July issue and under “Audio” below
Arts & Photography
Photography: The Art of Composition by Bert Krages (Allworth Press)
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, photographic composition has been taught mostly by applying the principles from the field of graphic design. But the factor that distinguishes the work of master photographers is their ability to see and describe scenes visually. In Photography, Bert Krages, photographer, writer and attorney, introduces a radically different approach that applies modern cognitive science to show photographers how they can develop their perceptual skills. The book follows contemporary educational methods used to teach fine arts such as drawing and painting, concentrating on teaching the perception of critical visual elements and understanding how they will be rendered photographically.
Illustrated by more than 250 photographs, the core of the book is
a group of sixty exercises that readers perform to learn how to
perceive points, lines, and shapes in static and dynamic settings.
The exercises cover:
- Developing an intuitive sense of composition to create better photos.
- Understanding how the human brain perceives images.
- Developing visual acuity by studying art and photography.
- Learning how to shoot in a wide variety of genres including street documentary, photojournalism, nature, landscape, sports, and still-life photography
- Thinking and working like an artist.
- Choosing the right camera equipment.
These exercises are structured enough to push photographers to develop their cognitive abilities and flexible enough to allow for individual creative expression. They provide some history about the specific genres at the heart of each exercise.
All too often, students of photography spend more time learning about f-stops and shutter speeds than they do learning about visual communication. Photography will help to correct that error. In a thoughtful and understandable presentation, readers are led through a series of exercises that sharpen their visual skills and greatly advance their ability to make expressive photographs that successfully communicate with their viewers. Any serious student interested in visual communication will find this book an important resource. – Bruce Katsiff, Photographer and Museum Director
Photography goes to the creative heart of the matter of making
photographs. It is intelligent, insightful, and fun. The book is a
lovely and challenging experience, like the art of photography
itself. – Kristi Eisenberg, Photographer and Visual Communications
Program Director,
This informative guide will help photographers develop their cognitive skills and take compelling photos. Unlike other composition resources, which are based on graphic design principles, Photography uses cognitive science to help photographers develop greater artistic proficiency. Photographers can now perfect their ability to perceive and record scenes with this fresh approach to composition, and the series of exercises are sure to help them see and perceive their environment differently.
Audio / Mysteries & Thrillers
Season of the Snake: A Novel [UNABRIDGED] by Claire
Davis, narrated by Hillary Huber, eight
audiocassettes, approximately 12 hours (Blackstone Audiobooks)
Season of the Snake: A Novel by Claire Davis (
When tragedy leaves her life in shambles, Nance flees her
Written by Claire Davis,
Season of the Snake takes an unexpected turn – a visit from her
wayward sister Meredith revives old family conflicts, and resurrects
a secret life that has long lain dormant in Ned. While Nance and
Meredith mend their difficult relationship, Ned's violent nature
begins to emerge, transforming him in ways that Nance denies, until,
with the help of her sister, she is made to see what lies beneath
the skin. But neither can predict how far Ned will go to hide his
past, or where his frightening memories will lead him as he searches
out an object for his obsession.
A suspenseful and heartbreaking meditation on the nature of fate,
family, sex, death, and our individual misuses of love. Truly a
thrilling novel. – Mark Spragg, author of An Unfinished Life, The
Fruit of Stone, and Where Rivers Change Direction
Claire Davis's new novel is a psychological thriller written with an
almost Proustian sense of detail. It would not surprise me if
Season of the Snake turns out to be this year's
In Claire Davis's chilling new novel, predators wear the colors of
their surroundings and only the undeceived survive. A tough, smart
story given in uncommonly vibrant and muscular language.
Season of the Snake reconfirms her place in the first rank of
voices from the American West. – David Long, author of The Falling
Boy
Like a coiled diamondback, Claire Davis's
Season of the Snake grabs your attention and doesn't let go. The
only time I put it down was to get up and lock the doors. – Judy
Blunt, author of Breaking Clean
Audio / Mysteries & Thrillers
Father Hunt: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (Mystery Masters) [UNABRIDGED], 4 cassettes, approximate running time, 5 hours, 43 minutes by Rex Stout, narrated by Michael Prichard (Audio Partners)
This mystery in audio production comes from one of
In Father Hunt twenty-two-year-old Amy Denovo needs Wolfe's help. She is determined to learn the identity of her father, a secret her mother scrupulously guarded – and took to her grave when struck by a hit-and-run driver. Now Wolfe and his sidekick and legman, Archie Goodwin, have just one clue to go on: a note from Amy's mother and a box with over $250,000. Seems that every month since Amy's birth, her mother received $1,000 from an unknown source and saved it for Amy's future. It's easy enough for Amy to afford Wolfe's services, and he grudgingly agrees. But as the weeks go by, Wolfe realizes this may be one of his most challenging cases ever. Someone doesn't want Amy's pedigree discovered, and that someone appears to wield great power. It isn't long before Wolfe and Archie come to believe that Amy's mother was murdered – and that Amy could be next.
It is always a treat to [hear] a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has
entered our folklore. – The New York Times Book Review
Wolfe solves this case with the able assistance of Goodwin, who narrates Father Hunt with his usual wry humor. Michael Prichard gives another of his masterful readings to this cleverly plotted tale.
Audio / Travel / Humor /
A Year in the Merde [ABRIDGED] by Stephen
Clarke, narrated by Gerald Doyle, 4 CDs, running time 4 hours
(Audio Renaissance)
A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke (
There are lots of French people who are not at all hypocritical, inefficient, treacherous, intolerant, adulterous or incredibly sexy ... They just didn't make it into my book. – Stephen Clark
With the Euro soaring sky high, a trip to
Based on his own experiences and with names changed to "avoid
embarrassment, possible legal action – and to prevent the author's
legs being broken by someone in a Yves Saint Laurent suit", the book
is narrated by the fictitious Paul West, a twenty-seven-year-old
Brit who is brought to Paris by a French company to open a chain of
British ‘tea rooms.’ He must manage a group of lazy, grumbling
French employees, maneuver around a treacherous Parisian boss, while
lucking into a succession of lusty girlfriends (one of whom happens
to be the boss's morally challenged daughter). He soon becomes
immersed in the contradictions of French culture: the French are not
all cheese-eating surrender monkeys, though they do eat a lot of
smelly cheese, and they are still in shock at being stupid enough to
sell
Take a self-assured Brit with an eye for the ladies, drop him in
the middle of Paris with a tenuous grasp of the language and you
have Clarke's alter ego, Paul West, who combines the gaffes of
Bridget Jones with the boldness of James Bond. … Originally
self-published in
An urban antidote to A Year in Provence, Clarke's book is a
laugh-out-loud account of a year in
Business & Investing / Training
Engaging Learning: Designing e-Learning Simulation Games by Clark N. Quinn (Pfeiffer)
I believe you will find that the book … is equally useful for the
curious learner as for the e-learning developer interested in
creating something truly special. It explains beautifully and gently
not only how to craft more meaningful learning experiences, but also
why it is vital to do so. I look forward to seeing what you create
as a result of what you learn here. You have the opportunity to
truly change the world. – From the Foreword by Marcia L. Conner
Learning is at its best when it is goal-oriented, contextual, interesting, challenging, and interactive. These same winning characteristics also define the best computer games, suggesting that the most effective learning experiences are also engaging. The challenge is to get in touch with what it takes to design learning experiences that will excite one’s audience.
Clark N. Quinn, learning system designer, in
Engaging Learning presents a unique framework for systematically
aligning the key elements of learning and engagement with a proven
design process for e-learning games.
Engaging Learning is a hands-on guide, based on research and
Quinn’s experience, to designing learning programs and specifically
simulation games that engage and educate. Illustrated with case
studies, the book shows trainers and instructional designers what
they have to know to create e-learning games and suggests how to do
it on a budget and on a schedule.
Engaging Learning also shows why this process can improve
completion rates and garner rave reviews from learners. This book
- Introduces an enhanced instructional design model.
- Outlines the criteria for creating meaningful learning
experiences.
- Explains the common principles that define compelling
learning experiences.
- Explores the different levels of games and learning from
mini-scenarios, through linked and contingent scenarios, to a
full engine-driven experience.
- Defines a new design process for simulations and e-learning.
- Discusses the use of media, pragmatics of production, and
budgetary concerns accommodating various audiences.
I have often said that simulations may work in practice, but they
certainly don't work in theory. Clark Quinn has proved me wrong. He
has uncovered and presented the academic underpinnings to tell us
why simulations work as well as they do, both at the highest level
and in the nitty-gritty of design. – Clark Aldrich, author of
Simulations and the Future of Learning and Learning by Doing
Many so-called e-learning simulation games are neither good games
nor good learning experiences.
Engaging Learning bridges the chasm between the engaging world
of great games and the essential elements of effective learning
experiences in clarifying ways to create truly powerful e-learning.
– Michael W. Allen, CEO, Allen Interactions Inc., and author of
Michael Allen's Guide to e-Learning
Games are great motivators – sometimes you can't tear players
away from their session. How would it be if we could harness that
motivation for the cause of education? In this book, Clark Quinn
leads us through the necessary stages of development. He provides
precisely what you need to know: systematic, logical coverage of how
to create simulations and games that engage the learner and create
the compelling learning experience we all dream about. – Donald
Norman, professor,
Engaging Learning offers a much-needed guide for training professionals who want to create learning programs that are both effective and engaging. This nuts-and-bolts guide, both research-based and grounded in experience, offers the tools needed to transform learning experiences from humdrum to fun. Using this process, even the most inexperienced trainers or instructional designers can feel confident tackling the design of their own simulation or learning game.
Business & Investing / Training / Human Resources
Transferring Learning to Behavior: Using the Four Levels to Improve Performance by Donald l. Kirkpatrick & James D. Kirkpatrick (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.)
Now, more than ever, the pressure is on to demonstrate concrete results from training – but techniques like Return on Investment (ROI) calculations aren't impressive if it's obvious that new behaviors aren't becoming business as usual. Transferring Learning to Behavior shows how an already proven model can be applied to solve this most difficult problem and produce concrete results.
Since its creation in 1959, Donald Kirkpatrick's four-level model
for evaluating training programs – reaction, learning, behavior, and
results – has become the most widely used approach to training
evaluation in the corporate, government, and academic worlds.
However, trainers today are feeling increased pressure to prove
whether instruction is worth its cost. And calculating and
presenting results (Step 4) becomes tricky when, despite training,
workers aren't fulfilling Step 3: applying what they've learned to
their behavior.
Transferring Learning to Behavior takes on this age-old
challenge, first examining why learned concepts don't make it into
practice, then offering solutions that will work in the real world.
Coauthor James Kirkpatrick, a training practitioner, Director of the
This book begins with an overview of the current state of the four levels and outlines the three main reasons for the disconnect between learning and behavior. Part II describes the five foundations for success that must be in place before moving on to confront the true challenge of transferring learning to behavior. Part III addresses the main question, showing precisely how to ensure that there is organizational support, and employee and managerial accountability, for putting the new behaviors into practice. The book closes with 12 best-practice case studies from companies such as Toyota, First USA Bank, Nextel, and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, that bring alive the concepts, principles, and techniques presented throughout the earlier chapters.
Don't miss reading this book. It's practical, easy to understand, and can make a real difference in the bang you get for your training buck. – Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and The Secret
Building on Donald Kirkpatrick's groundbreaking methods of training evaluation, Transferring Learning to Behavior provides a roadmap for putting learning to work as a competitive advantage. A must-read for executives and training professionals who don't want to get bogged down in jargon but want practical examples of how learning can make a difference. – Dale R. Zwart, Founder and CTO, Generation2l Learning Systems
Laced with examples, case studies, and best practices,
Transferring Learning to Behavior tackles the issues in the way
you'd expect from the Kirkpatricks. – Jack J. Phillips, Chairman,
R0I Institute, and author of Measuring Return on Investment in
Training and Performance Improvement Programs
Balancing carefully honed theoretical advice with real stories from the real world of corporate education, this book provides the tools learning leaders need to meet the strategic challenge of transferring education into applied knowledge. –Tim Sosbe, Editorial Director, Chief Learning Officer magazine
The famous four-level model has become the model for evaluating the effectiveness of training programs. Transferring Learning to Behavior shows how this already proven model can be applied to solve this most difficult problem and produce concrete results. The Kirkpatricks speak to training specialists, HR managers, group leaders, technical support professionals, small business owners, supervisors, managers, and even corporate executives, showing how to bridge the divide between learning and behavior – a must-read.
Business & Investing / Travel
Devils on the Deep Blue Sea: The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns
That Built
Left for dead after the advent of cheap, reliable air travel
forty years ago, cruise shipping in the decades since has been
reborn as a $13 billion industry on the cutting edge of twenty-first
century global capitalism. Today, nearly ten million Americans take
cruises each year, sailing to exotic destinations on floating cities
that can cost upwards of $850 million each to construct.
In
Devils on the Deep Blue Sea, journalist Kristoffer Garin
chronicles the industry’s rise from humble and comic beginnings in
the early sixties through waterfront corruption and the incalculably
huge impact of the hit television series The Love Boat in the
seventies and eighties to the recent consolidation wars. Garin
brings us along for the industry's wild ride through the late 20th
century, as a cast of latter-day robber barons grapples in the
virtually lawless arena of international waters. While most
passenger shipping executives at the dawn of the Jet Age in the
early 1960s were busy mourning the end of an era, a handful of
entrepreneurs saw opportunity on
But this account is no mere pleasure cruise. Early cruise ships,
many of them rescued from the scrap heap, often lacked even basic
safety equipment, and lives were lost as a result. Carnival's maiden
voyage in 1972 ended up – literally – on the rocks, and crews
routinely toiled in conditions so deplorable that there were actual
mutinies in
According to Devils on the Deep Blue Sea, problems faced by the cruise industry were second only to problems caused by the cruise industry. The secret of the industry's phenomenal success has been its ability to dodge tax and labor expenses through the use of foreign registry for its ships. Due to this technicality, vessels making round-trip voyages from U.S. ports, carrying overwhelmingly American passengers, and owned by U.S. companies traded on the New York stock exchange are allowed to operate within the U.S. without any obligations to pay taxes on profits. These ships are also not forced to comply with U.S labor standards, resulting in an overworked crew paid far under minimum wage. Despite all these problems, the cruise industry has more than doubled in size since the 80s, and cruising is the vacation of choice for more people that ever before.
A wild ride from the down-and-dirty world of the
It's amazing how fast an industry can grow if it is able to conduct its affairs beyond the reach of the laws, labor protections and environmental regulations that effective governments apply within their borders. Kristoffer Garin's compelling history of the rise of the cruise ship industry combines boardroom drama, entrepreneurial brinkmanship and unsung human tragedy, revealing both the costs and benefits of a truly ‘offshore’ business. - Colin Woodard, author of The Lobster Coast and Ocean's End I've taken twenty wonderful cruises over the years and I'll make this book the twenty-first. – Bernie Brillstein, founding partner, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
In this riveting book about the cruise industry, Kristoffer Garin
investigates the hard realities behind cruising's sunny facade.
Owners will wince, crews will probably not read it, ships will keep
sailing and profits will soar. Required reading for discerning
passengers. – John Maxtone-Graham, maritime historian
Few businesses in
Children’s / Ages 4-8
Shlemiel Crooks by Anna Olswanger, illustrated by Paula Goodman Koz (Junebug Books, NewSouth Books)
In the middle of the night on a Thursday, two crooks – onions
should grow in their navels – drove to the saloon of Reb Elias
Olschwanger at the corner of Fourteenth and Carr streets in
So begins Shlemiel Crooks, a folktale written by Anna Olswanger, author of the Jewish Book & Author News column for the Association of Jewish Libraries newsletter, and illustrated by illustrator and printmaker Paula Goodman Koz.
Based on a true story, the book tells how Reb Elias and the
thieves (inspired by the ghost of Pharaoh) try to steal the Passover
wine – a town of Jewish immigrants plays tug-of-war with wine made
from grapes left over from the exodus from
Anna Olswanger's
Shlemiel Crooks, told with Yiddish inflection, is a fine
addition to the growing number of stories about the Jewish immigrant
experience in
Buy this book – you should only have good luck coming out of your ears – and you'll laugh out loud. A delight! – Arthur Yorinks, author of Hey, Al, a Caldecott Medal winner
I have been reading Anna Olswanger's stories for ten years or more, and I love them – never a boring moment where she is concerned. She is a gifted story teller and a fine writer, and Shlemiel Crooks is one of her most delightful tales. Ms. Koz's delightful illustrations are a perfect complement. – Barry Moser, winner of the American Book Award for design and illustration of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Two dopey burglars, a talking horse, a wagon loaded in Passover
wine, and Pharaoh and Elijah duking it out in
This is a good – no I lie – it is a great story: funny, original
and perfect for a new twist on the Passover holiday. Based on her
own family's history, author Anna Olswanger has created a tale set
in
A modern-day parable, Shlemiel Crooks has a music all its own. No other children's book has Pharaoh's ghost coming back to ‘pull one over on the Jews,’ nosy neighbors making a shtuss outside, and a talking horse that sounds like it has a ‘little indigestion.’ In its Yiddish-inflected English, punctuated by amusing curses that surprise and appeal; young readers hear the language of a Jewish community of another time and get a feel for its customs and colors.
Children’s / Ages 5 & up / Outdoors & Nature / Field Guide / Birding / Activity
Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide & Activities by Fran Lee (Children’s Activity Series: Gibbs Smith, Publisher) asks readers:
-
Do you enjoy watching birds play in a bird bath?
-
Do you love collecting feathers or get excited when you find an old bird's nest?
-
Do you like to hear birds singing their morning greeting?
-
You must be a bird watcher!
As the latest addition to the Gibbs Smith Children's Activity Series, Backyard Birding for Kids encourages children to explore the world around them.
Backyard Birding for Kids is a field guide to birds of all varieties – in the city, country, desert, or at the beach – because no matter where children go, they're bound to spot a bird. The book, written by Fran Lee, a professional illustrator for nearly 20 years, also includes hands-on activities. Kids learn about making the backyard bird-friendly, building a pinecone bird feeder, and creating their own bird watching notebook to record sightings, locations, information, and notes from the field. And they learn how to make a birdbath dripper, plant a hummingbird-friendly garden, and start a bird watching club. They learn to create activities that are fun for a hike in the wilderness or an exploration of the neighborhood.
Kids learn about the physical traits of birds, their common names, and even their Latin names. They discover what makes birds unique to certain regions and why birds look vastly different from each other. Bird trivia throughout this volume makes it a learning tool, and interesting facts like "Did you know that the Robin is the first bird to sing in the morning?" bring bird-watching to life and spark the interests of future ornithologists. A handy list of everyday bird watching equipment makes it easy for a novice to begin backyard investigation.
Divided into six geographical locations, Backyard Birding for Kids is a playful resource for children across the continent. The book inspires children to explore and go outside and have fun while they learn about birds. Not only a field guide to various bird species, the book is also a fun activity book that will get young readers involved in the discovery process. Lee's colorful illustrations bring local feathered residents to the forefront and reveal foreign species to children who might otherwise never see these exotic birds.
Children’s / Ages 2-5
Starry Safari by Linda Ashman, illustrated
by Jeff Mack (Harcourt, Inc.)
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Hop into a bright orange jeep for a thrilling safari adventure.
Just watch out for the…
In
Starry Safari a daring girl and her trusty orange jeep are off
on an exciting safari. There are giraffes to watch, rhinos to race,
and wily crocodiles to avoid. And when a roaring lion crosses her
path, she knows exactly what to do: roar back! But will she be as
courageous when it's time for bed and there are lots of scary night
noises?
Acclaimed author Linda Ashman with the help of illustrator Jeff Mack
has created an exciting picture book with an almost superhero of a
heroine. Action packed from beginning to end,
Starry Safari is a rhyming adventure that will keep young
readers on the edge of their seats.
Children’s Books / Grades 2-5 / Science / Outdoors & Nature
Weather Forecasting by Terri Sievert (Bridgestone Books. Weather Update Series: Capstone Press)
Capstone Press invites young readers to explore the fascinating world of weather with its series Bridgestone Weather Update books.
Weather Forecasting asks young readers:
- What should you wear to school tomorrow?
- Will it rain on your picnic?
Author Terri Sievert says that a weather forecast can help them find the answers.
Speaking at a third grade reading level, Sievert explains that weather forecasting is a way to predict the weather. People who forecast weather look at weather maps and radar and satellite pictures. They study temperature, wind speed, and wind direction. They use computers to turn this information into a weather forecast. This report tells people what kind of weather to expect in the days ahead.
If readers have ever wondered what a meteorologist does, how forecasters know when rain or snow is on the way, or what tools forecasters use to predict the weather, they will find the answers in Weather Forecasting.
The striking photographs and easy-to-read text in the book provide all the facts on basic weather topics, including the effects of weather on people and wildlife.
Children’s / Young Adult / Biographies & Memoirs
Vladimir Putin by Thomas Streissguth
(Biographies Series: Lerner Publications Company) Vladimir Putin
rose from humble beginnings as the son of a
The book tells how as a teenager in
But according to prolific author Thomas Streissgut, explaining at a level appropriate for young people, Putin was not afraid – ever since he could remember, he had wanted to be a spy. He knew that rising through the ranks of the Soviet government and security services required good connections, a university degree, and membership in the government-run Communist Party – and Vladimir had none of the above.
Still, he did not turn away from his dream. He simply walked to
the headquarters building and approached the first man he saw. "I
want to get a job with you,"
The man studied the eager and deadly serious teenager. This kind
of encounter was familiar to him. Many people wanted to talk to the
KGB, for many different reasons. Some of them, like
But
Just a few years later, he enrolled at the law
Vladimir Putin goes on to describe events in Putin’s career
including his demand for more authority to deal with terrorism and
his continuing battles with private Russian businesses, focusing on
Yukos, a giant Russian oil company, which he eventually installed a
close friend to run. And it covers his attempt to influence an
election in the
Vladimir Putin offers insights into Putin’s policies and events
occurring in
Computers & Internet / Law / Intellectual Property
Digital Watermarking for Digital Media by Jürgen Seitz (Information Science Publishing) provides a broad overview of digital watermarking.
The issue and debate over digital rights has seen a recent explosion over the last few years. As the Internet continues to expand, so does this concern. To help guard against the vast amounts of illegal copies of music, films, and pictures, digital water-marking has emerged to help protect the rights of digital assets.
Written by Jürgen Seitz, professor for information science and
finance, and chair of information science,
Contents include:
- Chapter 1: Digital Watermarking: An Introduction
- Chapter 2: Digital Watermarking Schemes for Multimedia Authentication
- Chapter 3: Digital Watermarking for Multimedia Transaction Tracking
- Chapter 4: A New Public-Key Algorithm for Watermarking of Digital Images
- Chapter 5: Geometric Distortions Correction Using Image Moment in Image Watermarking
- Chapter 6: Audio Watermarking: Requirements, Algorithms, and Benchmarking
- Chapter 7: MPEG Standards and Watermarking Technologies
- Chapter 8: Time-Variant Watermarks for Digital Videos: An MPEG-Based Approach
- Chapter 9: Active Watermarking System: Protection of Digital Media
Broad in its approach, Digital Watermarking for Digital Media provides a comprehensive overview not provided by any other texts. Undergraduate and graduate students in information technology, law, multimedia design, and economics will all find valuable material here, and artists, composers, lawyers and publishers will all find value in this digital watermarking book. The publication is also highly recommended for library acquisition in support of teaching programs.
Cooking, Food & Wine
The Wine Lover Cooks Italian: Pairing Great Recipes with the Perfect Glass of Wine by Brian St. Pierre, with photography by Minh + Wass (Chronicle Books)
The only thing better than sitting down to an Italian dinner is enjoying it with one of Italy ’s superb regional wines.
From Pear Salad with Walnuts and Cheese (served with a light,
crisp Pinot Grigio to crunchy Almond Biscotti (Vin Santo being the
perfect choice),
The Wine Lover Cooks Italian Brian St. Pierre brings to the
table recipes and wine pairings. Whether it's a hearty barolo from
The recipes in
The Wine Lover Cooks Italian are organized geographically, in
six sections (plus dessert), from west to east across northern
Italy, then the center of the country, the eastern coast along the
Adriatic Sea, the south, and the islands offshore. Each section has
a brief explanation of the character and the gastronomy of the
regions within it, followed by notes on the principal wines of the
regions. The wines are listed in order of prominence, with the most
important first. Most of them have a note on the typical aromas and
flavors that may be found in that wine, intended as a rough guide to
its style and character, and then some tips on matching the wine
with food, Italian and sometimes otherwise. Some of them, especially
a few of the light whites, are simply sketched in.
At the end of The Wine Lover Cooks Italian is a short section of basic recipes that are staple ingredients in many of the recipes. Readers will find uses for them beyond this book. Finally, olive oil matters to Italian wine, too, so there are notes on it, along with a brief survey of Italian cheese. The index is the best place to look for specific foods, and for wines, organized alphabetically rather than geographically.
When the topic is wine, writers often lapse into pompous
wordiness or, in an effort to connect with a younger, hipper
audience, groove up their language to the point where they could be
describing anything from rock music to sneakers. The author of this
volume, a noted wine writer who has published several books on the
subject mercifully does neither. Instead, he uses simple, engaging
language to describe the many wines of
Glass in one hand, fork in the other,
Education / Preschool & Kindergarten (Ages 5-8) / Parenting & Families
Primary Art: It's the Process, Not the Product by MaryAnn F. Kohl (Gryphon House, Inc.) is the long-awaited sequel to First Art and Preschool Art.
Look no further for creative and distinctive art experiences for the preschool and primary grades.
In
Primary Art, award-winning author MaryAnn F. Kohl, regular
columnist for Parenting Magazine, offers children ages
The book explores unusual materials and gives children a chance
to develop art skills, laugh, and learn, with no prior experience
necessary. Activities range from beginning to advanced, with
activities which include Shimmer Paint, Squeezy Batik, Sunbright
Collage, Crinkle Scruncher and Jellie Dangles.
Primary Art provides hard-to-resist activities, which encourage artistic expression at every level. With this book, teachers, parents, after-school caregivers, and anyone working with children will encourage creativity, as well as promote the process of art exploration.
Education / Teaching
Ten Best Teaching Practices: How Brain Research, Learning
Styles, and Standards Define Teaching Competencies, 2nd edition by
Donna Walker Tileston (Corwin Press)
The biggest challenge a teacher can face is an uninspired student.
In
Ten Best Teaching Practices, Second Edition, veteran teacher
Donna Walker Tileston, award-winning author and full-time
consultant, helps teachers work with these students.
Ten Best Teaching Practices provides classroom teachers with a
practical guide to inspiring, motivating, and therefore educating
even the most unenthusiastic students. This update of the original
classic details the fundamentals of creating an environment that
facilitates learning, differentiated teaching strategies, teaching
for long-term memory, collaborative learning, higher-order thinking
skills, technology integration, plus five more best teaching
practices.
Ten Best Teaching Practices, Second Edition includes:
-
Examples illustrating how each teaching practice can be employed in a practical environment.
-
Tips on how to encourage students to incorporate self-motivation in their own learning through personal goals.
-
Detailed analysis on how the brain absorbs learning.
-
Mentoring guidelines that will help even the most challenged students.
-
Graphics illustrating the essential points of these practices.
Tileston explains the importance of an enriched and emotionally supportive climate, a wide repertoire of teaching techniques, the critical element of connections or transfers in learning, and the role of memory in making learning more meaningful, motivating, and challenging work. – CHOICE, July 2001
Teachers say that what they need is an all-in-one reference book, and this book meets the need to enable all students to realize their greatest learning potential. Tileston in Ten Best Teaching Practices incorporates brain research, learning styles information, and the issues of standards into a highly effective classroom instructional model. Once readers implement these tried-and-true practices, they may wonder how they ever got along without them.
Entertainment / Humor / Biographies & Memoirs
Buster Keaton: Tempest in a Flat Hat by Edward
McPherson (
This book is meant to celebrate an unbelievably fertile time in American cinema that was the result of an extraordinary man working under extraordinary circumstances – with absolute artistic freedom, in the fluidity of the silent medium, infused with the bravado of the machine age, supported by a crack team, fresh in the vigor of his youth. – Edward McPherson, from the Introduction
Writer Edward McPherson in the new biography Buster Keaton traces Keaton's career from his early days in vaudeville where, as a rambunctious five-year-old, his father threw him around the stage to his becoming one of the brightest stars of silent film's golden age.
Buster Keaton celebrates Keaton in his prime as an antic genius,
equal parts auteur, innovator, prankster, and daredevil. It also
reveals the pressures in his personal and professional life that led
to his collapse in drunkenness and despair before a triumphant
second act as a television pioneer and
Working from extensive research, McPherson describes the life of Keaton in front of the camera and behind the scenes, affectionately relating the gut-busting gags, hair-raising stunts, and remarkable on- and off-screen stories of such Keaton classics as Cops, Sherlock, Jr., The General, The Cameraman, Our Hospitality, and The Navigator, and how they were made, while tracing Keaton's life from his early years on the stage to his introduction to moviemaking, to his fateful move to Hollywood, and his three (often quite public) marriages.
McPherson offers an account of Keaton's birth and early years on the road with his Vaudeville performer parents, who had little choice but to include their son – to great success – in their act when his curiosity and stage presence kept cutting into their shows.
When the family act broke down in 1917, Keaton traveled to
After serving in World War I in
Throughout
Buster Keaton, McPherson portrays Keaton's human dimension,
relating how he stood by old friends like Arbuckle in moments of
need, and how he found his creativity and moviemaking bravado
stifled by the studio system when he joined MGM in the late 1920s.
The consequences of that decision, combined with growing unhappiness
at home and dwindling finances, would deeply affect Keaton, leading
him to drink heavily and disappear – for a time – from the
Buster Keaton's final chapter recounts Buster Keaton's travails after his dismissal from MGM, ultimately a successful comeback story that found Keaton utilizing his comedic skills again, first as a consultant for MGM, then as a star of the new, vaudeville-friendly medium that was TV in the early 1950s. Along with two new marriages, Keaton continued to work throughout the 50s and 60s on the stage, screen and TV, appearing in many high-profile films, from Sunset Boulevard to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, to the beach movies typical of the period.
Keaton died in early 1966, but his legacy endures. His comedy has influenced scores of filmmakers and film comedians, ranging from Woody Allen to Martin Scorsese to Jackie Chan, and, thanks to new DVD releases and marathons on classic film channels, a new generation is discovering his work and appreciating his singular comic genius.
Buster Keaton is arguably the best actor-director in the history
of the movies, and certainly the bravest. McPherson charts the
progress of a life in which art was built out of early experience,
insatiable curiosity ... and a sense of humor that still seems ahead
of its time. – Roger Ebert
Edward McPherson's elegant and affectionate new biography takes you on a delightful ride through the ups and downs of Keaton's fascinating life. Each film is lovingly examined with a precision and dry wit that Old Stoneface himself would admire. – Jim Taylor, co-screenwriter, Sideways, About Schmidt
[A] loving tribute...McPherson adroitly describe[s] the extraordinary visual lunacy Keaton produced on-screen to achieve cinema art. – Publishers Weekly
From the vaudeville stage to silent film's golden age, this insightful new biography Buster Keaton chronicles the prolific actor/filmmaker's life and examines his films and his legacy. Writing with the same kind of exuberance and narrative energy as Keaton's madcap films, McPherson delivers a fresh take for new generation discovering the on-screen antics of the genius of silent film.
Entertainment / Humor / Families & Parenting
Driving under the Influence of Children: A Baby Blues Treasury by Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott (Baby Blues Treasury: Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Under the sticky seats, next to the molten milkshakes, unreturned library books, and petrified French fries is probably where the hidden microphone is hidden. Those Baby Blues cartoonists undoubtedly planted it in many readers’ minivans, because how else could they come up with the ideas for their comic strip that mirror exactly what's going on in readers’ lives?
According to McMeel Publishing, for years fans and critics have been alternately checking under their seats and raving about the realism of the parenting experience depicted in Baby Blues. That realism is no accident (nor the result of illegal wiretaps). Parents themselves, co-creators Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott have an infinite wellspring of material at their disposal, including, for example, changing diapers, teaching kids to read, mystery stains in the car, breast feeding, and giving baths.
As writer Scott, who is a co-creator of Zits, explains, "As long as kids keep having runny noses and wiping them on the drapes, we're in business." And business is booming. Running in nearly 1,000 newspapers and more than 20 other periodicals worldwide, Baby Blues is enjoyed by 40 million fans daily. The latest colorful treasury, Driving under the Influence of Children, not only contains over 240 pages of award-winning Baby Blues comic strips, but also the very first Baby Blues stickers, including a bumper sticker that should be affixed to nearly every minivan on the road, warning other drivers the car is loaded with kids – so watch out!
Driving under the Influence of Children will tickle readers’ funny bones. From adjusting to a new baby to dealing with sibling rivalry, Driving under the Influence of Children covers every event a new parent can expect. Read Baby Blues' new comic strip collection will help parents laugh their way through all the insanity.
Entertainment / Music / Biographies & Memoirs
Chronicles: A Bob Dylan Series, Volume 1 [LARGE PRINT] by Bob Dylan (Thorndike Press Large Print Biography Series: Thorndike Press)
As seen through Bob Dylan's eyes and open mind as he first
arrives in
One would not have foreseen an autobiography at all from the pen of the notoriously private legend. However, he bypasses expectations yet again.
Chronicles, Volume 1 is the first volume in a three-volume
series promised fans by his elusive and rebellious lordship, Bob
Dylan. Skipping over most of the ‘highlights’ that his many
biographers have assigned him, focusing on his intellectual
development, Dylan rambles through his tale, amplifying a series of
major and minor epiphanies. For example, the 1963 assassination of
John Kennedy prompts nary a word from the era's greatest protest
singer. Dylan does describe the sensation of hearing the Beatles’
"Do You Want to Know a Secret" on the radio, but devotes far more
ink to a
He reconstructs, for example, an early moment in
…For all the small revelations (it turns out he's been a big fan
of Barry Goldwater, Mickey Rourke, and Ice-T), there are eye-opening
disclosures, including his confession that a large portion of his
recorded output was designed to alienate his audience and free him
from the burden of being a ‘the voice of a generation.’ Off the
beaten path as it is,
Chronicles is nevertheless an astonishing achievement. As
revelatory in its own way as Blonde on Blonde or Highway 61
Revisited, it provides ephemeral insights into the mind one of the
most significant artistic voices of the 20th century while creating
a completely new set of mysteries. – Steven Stolder, Amazon.com
After a career of principled coyness, Dylan takes pains to outline
the growth of his artistic conscience in this superb memoir. …
Ultimately, this book will stand as a record of a young man’s
self-education, as contagious in its frank excitement as the letters
of John Keats and as sincere in its ramble as Jack Kerouac’s On the
Road, to which Dylan frequently refers. A person of Dylan’s stature
could have gotten away with far less; that he has been so thoughtful
in the creation of this book is a measure of his talents, and a gift
to his fans. – Publishers Weekly, starred review
Acolytes and scholars have long argued over the meaning of
Dylan's often cryptic songs. … Among the surprising revelations is
Dylan's confession that his mundane output in the early ‘70s was the
result of withdrawal into domestic life and a conscious attempt to
reject the pressure he had felt as the ‘voice of a generation.’
Another surprise is that the book is so straightforward. As opposed
to his obtusely surreal novel Tarantula (1971) and his famously
evasive interviews, Dylan here is honest, bordering on confessional
– that is, if he is to be taken at face value, always a risky
proposition with this elusive artist. Dylan envisions this as the
first of three volumes of memoirs, so fans shouldn't be upset that
he ignores his most significant work but let the omission whet
appetites for the sequels. – Gordon Flagg, Booklist
Side trips to
Entertainment / Music / Biographies & Memoirs
Billy Joel: The Life & Times of an Angry Young Man by Hank Bordowitz (Billboard Books)
Supremely successful...volatile, creative...a craftsman, a genius...self-aware and self-destructive, Billy Joel's life reads like a popular novel.
Written by veteran music journalist Hank Bordowitz, Billy Joel is an in-depth look at the artist who has written some of the biggest hits of the 20th century – the only biography of this intensively private superstar.
Starting with his middle-class
- All the romantic songs written early in his career were about his first wife, Elizabeth.
- New York State of Mind was written after leaving
- Only the Good Die Young wasn't anti-Catholic as critics believed, but a song about lust.
- The album, An Innocent Man, was inspired by Christie Brinkley.
- High-school drop out Billy Joel finally graduated from
Hicksville High on
With his breakthrough 1973 album, Piano Man Joel's story became one of unstoppable success. Bordowitz covers those heady days, as well as the turbulent business dealings and bad advice that have colored his career. Billy Joel explores Joel's big moments, including his induction in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and the Roll Hall of Fame, his shift from popular to classical composition, and his move to Broadway (Joel's collaboration with choreographer Twyla Tharp on the hit show Movin' Out). And it covers Joel's personal struggle with broken marriages and substance abuse.
Interviews with a wide range of Joel's friends and colleagues provide a detailed picture of this complex man and his music.
A solid read without being tawdry. Bordowitz shows Billy Joel as human...and as an artist with a one in a million gift. – Doug Howard, bassist/vocalist for Touch, Edgar Winter, Todd Rundgren, Stun Leer
Veteran music journalist Hank Bordowitz applies his inexhaustible
research energies to this first major biography of Billy Joel. The
result: a compelling look at one of the most private and least
understood musical artists of our time. – Stan Soocher, author of
They Fought the Law: Rock Music Goes to Court
After Marley, Bono, and The Boss, who expected Bordowitz to outdo himself again? But he has, with Billy Joel. After ripping through each page of his latest book, two questions remain: Who'll be the subject of his next book? When will it reach my grubby hands? – Vinny Cecolini, Senior Head Writer, VN1 Classic
I've always admired the writings of Hank Bordowitz for many reasons. He's blatantly honest, and holds nothing back. And with this new book, he continues his path of opening the minds of those who are fortunate to come into his creative life. – Steve Zuckerman CEO, Global Entertainment Network
This can’t-put-down book is a fascinating read and should please fans, documenting in detail Joel’s ups and downs. But Billy Joel will not do a lot for those who want to read deep analysis to try to get some fix on this enigmatic figure. The book takes a raspy, man’s man tone which works well in Joel’s early days, but is not sure what to do with his later Broadway writing or ongoing alcoholism.
Ethnic & National / Biographies & Memoirs
Inside the Kingdom: My Life in
Addicted to the ‘I-married-the-Mob’ genre? Try this variation: smart women who marry Islamic fundamentalists. – Publishers Weekly
This international bestseller gives the shocking account of what
it's like to be a woman – even a wealthy woman from a privileged
family – in
According to Carmen bin Ladin on
Carmen fell in love with Yeslam bin Ladin, Osama's older brother
in 1973, and after a fairy-tale courtship, including a semester
together at USC, the two married in
Courageous...Stark and unrelenting...heroic...To stand up as a
woman and share her personal experiences and feelings... about the
Bin Laden family's daily life in
Compelling...dark...Makes a fiery case against what its author
calls the oppression and fanaticism that dominates much of Saudi
society. Her unabashed conclusion: The Saudis are the Taliban, in
luxury. – New York Times
Chilling...brave and moving...A brilliantly observed book, a must
for anyone struggling to comprehend the culture that spawned the
floridly evil Osama. – People, four stars
Perhaps the most vivid account yet to appear in the West of the
oppressive lives of Saudi women....let's hope that more brave
dissenters – male and female – will follow her lead. – Wall Street
Journal
Osama bin Laden's former sister-in-law provides a penetrating, unusually intimate look into Saudi society and the bin Laden family's role within it, as well as the treatment of Saudi women in Inside the Kingdom. This courageous book stands out as an unprecedented act of heroism.
Health, Mind & Body / Alternative Medicine
Easing the Pain of Arthritis Naturally: Everything You Need to Know to Combat Arthritis Safely and Effectively by Earl Mindell (Basic Health Publications, Inc.)
Millions suffer from arthritis pain, and the numbers are growing as the population ages. If readers are among the tens of millions of Americans who suffers from arthritis, they know that arthritis medications and painkillers offer only a temporary respite. Fortunately, there is a better way to combat joint inflammation and slow the progression of arthritis. In fact, the alternatives are many – from modifications to diet and supplements, such as ginger extract, to regular exercise and hands-on therapies such as therapeutic massage.
Earl Mindell, pharmacist, nutritionist, and herbalist, encourages people to try using natural remedies in lieu of relying exclusively on prescription and over-the-counter medications. In Easing the Pain of Arthritis Naturally Mindell describes remedies that work synergistically with the body's natural tendency toward healing and balance without harmful side effects. This book features a special diet to cleanse the body of toxins that contribute to joint diseases. Mindell also describes simple exercises readers can do for pain-free joints as well as alternative methods for coping with arthritis pain, including hypnosis and acupuncture.
He covers three categories of drugs are commonly used to treat arthritis evaluating the risks and benefits of each, drug interactions, side effects, the hype, and the facts. He also reviews experimental antibiotics and surgery options. He points out that some conventional treatments for osteoarthritis could cause the disease to progress more rapidly than if there was not treatment at all.
And he discusses how the food we eat may have adverse effects – certain foods can increase the amount of inflammation in the body. He describes the dietary connection to chronic disease and the supplements and natural remedies that can bring about profound results; the right diet supplements can even repair damaged cartilage.
He details:
- Supplemental enzymes that help rheumatoid arthritis.
- The power of ginger extract for controlling and coping with chronic pain, and the current research on its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Herbal extracts, such as cat's claw, feverfew, natural cortisols, and others.
Mindell also describes and evaluates therapies for managing arthritis pain, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, massage, relaxation techniques, and others. He emphasizes the importance of regular exercise. He recommends specific exercise routines for flexibility and range of motion, strengthening, and balance.
In
Easing the Pain of Arthritis Naturally,
Health, Mind & Body / Psychology & Counseling
Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally,
Really Grow Up by James Hollis (
The second half of life presents a rich possibility for spiritual
enlargement, for we are never going to have greater powers of
choice, never have more lessons of history from which to learn, and
never possess more emotional resilience, more insight into what
works for us and what does not, or a deeper conviction of the
importance of getting our life back.
What does it really mean to be a grown up in today’s world? We generally recognize only three developmental periods of life – childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. We assume that once we ‘get it together’ with the right job, marry the right person, have children, and buy a home, all is settled and well. But adulthood itself presents varying levels of growth, and is rarely the respite of stability we expected. Turbulent emotional shifts can take place anywhere between the age of thirty-five and seventy when we question the choices we’ve made, realize our limitations, and feel stuck – commonly known as the ‘midlife crisis.’ In Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Jungian analyst James Hollis explores the ways we can grow and evolve to fully become ourselves when the traditional roles of adulthood aren’t quite working. Hollis, executive director of the C.G. Jung Educational Center of Houston and humanities professor for more than twenty years, through case studies and observations, gives readers hope and encouragement based on the Jungian principle of individuation to help them in their struggle across this difficult passage in adult development.
Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life contains the writing
of a gentle and insightful soul who does not bog down in analytical
dryness, but speaks to and teaches from the heart. A combination of
genuine vision and genuine humanity is a rare and valuable gift, and
readers will find both in this work. – Clarissa Pinkola Estes,
author of Women Who Run with the Wolves
James Hollis's new book is a work of soul-making. It brings
solace and wisdom to those of us who find ourselves in a dark wood
in the second half of life. – Edward Hirsch, author of How to Read a
Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry
Midlife is a time when people can lose their way and flounder.
Jungian analyst James Hollis knows this terrain, describes it well,
and asks the important questions that can lead to clarity, maturity,
and meaning. – Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., author of Goddesses in
Everywoman and Gods in Everyman
Revealing a new way of uncovering and embracing our authentic selves, Hollis offers wisdom to anyone facing a career that no longer seems fulfilling, a long-term relationship that has shifted, or family transitions that raise issues of aging and mortality. Through case studies and provocative observations, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life provides a reassuring message and a crucial bridge across this critical passage of adult development.
Health, Mind & Body / Psychology & Counseling
Anger Treatment for People with Developmental Disabilities: A Theory, Evidence and Manual Based Approach by John L. Taylor & Raymond W. Novaco (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
Anger and aggression are prevalent problems among people with developmental disabilities and constitute primary reasons for them to be admitted and readmitted to institutions. They are also a key reason for the prescribing of behavior control and anti-psychotic medication to this client group. Stimulated by growing research in this area, mental health and criminal justice professionals have begun to see the benefits of anger assessment and cognitive-behavioral anger treatment for people with developmental disabilities.
There is no prior text to guide anger treatment provision to this
client group. Written by John L. Taylor, Northumbria University,
[Anger
Treatment for People with Developmental Disabilities] represents
the state of the art in anger treatment for individuals with
developmental disabilities and I would expect to see a significant
effect from this text on the development of treatment services. –
Bill Lindsay, The
Anger Treatment for People with Developmental Disabilities is a must-have resource for practitioners and clinicians in the developmental disability and forensic fields, across a range of settings. It will also be of interest to academics and trainees in the developmental disability and forensic fields.
Health, Mind & Body / Religion & Spirituality / Self-Help
Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings by Rob Brezsny (Frog, Ltd.)
Human beings are selfish, small-minded, violence-prone savages, civilization is a blight on the earth, and the rising tide of chaos that surrounds us on all sides ensures that everything's going to fall apart any day now. Right?
Wrong, says Rob Brezsny. In Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia, he declares evil is boring. Cynicism is stupid. Despair is lazy. The truth is that the universe is inherently friendly. Life is a sublime game created for our amusement and illumination, and it always gives us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.
This buoyant perspective is not rooted in denial. On the contrary, Brezsny builds a case for a ‘cagey optimism’ that does not require a repression of difficulty, but rather, seeks a vigorous engagement with it. The best way to attract the blessings that the world is conspiring to give us, he insists, is to dive into the most challenging mysteries.
This irreverent manifesto puts the 'pro' in 'protest' ...
insightful and puzzling as a Zen koan ... I Ching on Ecstasy.... –
Frances Lefkowitz, Body + Soul
I have seen the future of American literature and its name is Rob
Brezsny. – Tom Robbins, author of Still Life with Woodpecker,
Jitterbug Perfume, Another Roadside Attraction, and Skinny Legs and
All
Brersny's astrology column, Free Will Astrology, has been the
most widely syndicated feature in
Health, Mind & Body / Self-help / Business & Investing
What is Your Life's Work?: Answer the BIG Question About What Really Matters...and Reawaken the Passion for What You Do by Bill Jensen (HarperBusiness)
We live and work in a world of more-better-faster, where 75% of us are disengaged from what we do and four out of every five of us wish we had more of what really matters in life. It's time for a change!
In What is Your Life's Work? Bill Jensen captures the intimate exchanges between mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and caring teammates – all talking about what really matters at work, and in life. Exposed are the raw truths we've all experienced, the personal frailties and mistakes we'd like to hide, and the proudest achievements we'd like celebrate.
Jensen, the author of Simplicity, CEO and President of the Jensen Group, a change consulting firm he founded in 1985, is today's foremost expert on work complexity and cutting through clutter to what really matters. Throughout fifteen years of research he has asked: "What is the single most important insight about work that you want to pass on to your kids?" The responses were so powerful and dramatic that he began asking people to write them down and share them with loved ones. Over the past four years, several thousand people around the world contributed to this project. What is Your Life's Work? is a representative sampling from the private letters and journal entries of well-known leaders, struggling managers, and heroic people in workaday jobs.
Among them:
- A former senior executive at American Express, John Harvey, writes to his children about trust after being fired as a victim of office politics. His wife and kids then respond, helping guide the family through tough times.
- CEO Dennis Bonilla writes to his granddaughter – whose mother, his daughter, died shortly after giving birth – about how to think and act when faced with defining moments.
- Linda Stone, a former senior executive at Microsoft, writes about setting boundaries and reveals what happened when she failed to take her own advice.
- US Navy SEAL Commander Rob Newson advises his kids to "never compromise your values," and to hold themselves accountable: "Silence in the presence of wrong-doing is complicity."
- The son of a tuna fisherman as well as a former go-go dancer, a judge, and a day-laborer all describe the amazing power of saying yes to their dreams.
What is Your Life's Work? is divided into five sections based on distinct discoveries people made about their life's work:
- Finding Yourself
- Finding the Lessons to be Learned, the Questions to be Asked
- Finding the Choices That Really Matter
- Finding the Courage to Choose
- Finding Joy, Serenity, and Fulfillment
While it touches the heart and lifts the soul, What is Your Life's Work? does not shy away from difficult introspection. Jensen provides a toolkit for getting started, inviting readers to share with their loved ones, "This is what I stood for, believed in, struggled with, and accomplished...."
What a treat! Bill Jensen has written the most powerful book
about life at work that I have ever read. My personal mission on
this earth is to bring life to work. In
What is Your Life's Work? I found that my biggest questions were
asked and answered in ways that are big enough to embrace their
enormity and simple enough to be wise. – Stephen C. Lundin, author
of the best-selling FISH!
What is Your Life's Work? reminds us that as we make our livings, we are also making our lives, so we'd better take care that our work matters. The candor and human decency expressed in this book should be benchmarks for every decision made on every job. – Karen Katen, Vice Chairman, Pfizer Inc.
Not only does Jensen let us peer inside the working lives and
decisions of people just like us, he's our guide to the discoveries
that lie ahead of us. He's cleared our path.
What is Your Life's Work? is a unique, heartfelt, and practical
approach to finding the courage to do more of what's important and
less of what isn't. – Julie Jansen, author of I Don't Know What I
Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding
Gratifying Work
Jensen does a wonderful job of pulling together meaningful, often
moving letters ... there is an abundance of meaningful philosophy,
insight and advice. – Publishers Weekly
What is Your Life's Work? captures an exceptional moment in each of our lives – the time when we sit down with loved ones and attempt to answer the big question about what really matters. Jensen has created a wonderfully practical space for readers to explore who they are, what they stand for, what they believe in, what's risky, what's not, what's worth it, what they are struggling with, and what they have accomplished. He has captured the intimate exchanges between mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and caring teammates – all talking about what really matters at work, and in life.
Health, Mind & Body / Women’s Health
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Testosterone: How to Revitalize Your Sexuality, Strength and Stamina by Elizabeth Lee Vliet (HER Place Press, Chelsea Green)
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Testosterone asks readers: Is this You?
- Loss of interest in sex
- Loss of sexual sensation
- Easily fatigued, low energy, decreased stamina
- Feeling blah, flat or blue
- Diminished muscle tone and strength; feeling muscles are getting ‘weaker;’ not responding to exercise as well
- Thinning hair
- Dry eyes
- More frequent headaches
The book proposes that readers may be suffering from low testosterone, but they don't have to simply accept testosterone decline as their fate.
According to
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Testosterone, testosterone is as
natural to women as estrogen. In fact, from a woman’s teens until
menopause, her body makes more testosterone than estrogen. New
testosterone therapy options for women are poised to hit the
consumer market in 2005 and will revolutionize approaches to help
women’s sexual response, much as Viagra revolutionized the treatment
of erectile dysfunction in men. Now it’s women’s turn.
Vliet says she has seen firsthand the profound effects of low testosterone for women: and her goal with this book is to overcome stigma and negative myths about testosterone for women, and teach them how to gauge benefits versus risks. Vliet shares her experience in helping women find the right doses, and avoid unwanted side effects of too much testosterone.
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Testosterone helps women learn ways to restore libido, improve muscle strength, build healthy bone, and maintain normal energy levels. The book gives readers cutting edge medical information. It helps them understand the intricacies of proper hormone balance, benefits, safety, testing methods, optimal dosing, products, and route of delivery, and teaches them practical approaches to discuss treatment options with their physicians. The Savvy Woman's Guide to Testosterone is the book to read before talking with the doctor. Readers can use this book to help them sort through the maze of conflicting information and work more effectively with their own physicians to find the best treatment approaches for their individual health goals.
History /
Let Us Die Like Brave Men: Behind the Dying Words of Confederate Warriors by Daniel W. Barefoot (John F. Blair, Publisher)
Throughout the military history of this country, American soldiers have faced the enemy willing to fight for what they believed was a just cause. However, war does not come without a cost. Some soldiers pay the ultimate price, giving their lives for the cause they set out to defend. No conflict cost more American lives than the Civil War.
The dying words of Private Samuel Davis encompass the patriotic feelings of the soldiers who died during that tumultuous time: "If I had a thousand lives to give, I would give them all before I would betray a friend or be false to my country."
Written by Daniel W. Barefoot, prolific author, is a former N.C. state representative who lives in Lincolnton, North Carolina, Let Us Die Like Brave Men offers over 50 accounts of the last moments and words of Southern soldiers, some famous, others virtually unknown, from the rank of general to private, looking at what led up to their last words. Photographs of the soldiers, their graves, or the places where they fell illustrate the text. Each story was chosen to highlight a different aspect of the war, and every state of the Confederacy is represented here.
All strata of society are represented: wealthy plantation owners and hardscrabble farmers, educated scions of prominent families and illiterate boys, legendary generals and buck privates – at the onset of the Civil War, their backgrounds were as divided as the nation, but by war's end they all shared a common destiny. They offered what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion" to the cause for which they fought.
James F. Jackson died less than a month after
Teenage Private Charlie Jackson was left sleeping when his
company struck camp to march into the Battle of Shiloh, left behind
on orders of the company commander, who was also
In contrast, Stonewall Jackson and Jeb Stuart were Confederate
heroes who established international reputations before dying of
wounds sustained in battle. Both men's last words reflected not on
military glory, but on their devout faith.
Let Us Die Like Brave Men tells the stories behind the dying words of fifty-two warriors who fell for the Southern cause. It includes soldiers from every Confederate state and gives equal play to men high-ranking and obscure. The experiences of these men reveal the scope and the cost of the Civil War, and although the Confederate effort ended in defeat, modern readers can respect the valor with which many of the Confederacy's soldiers met their end.
History /
1776 [UNABRIDGED] by David McCullough running time: 8 cassettes, approximately 12 hours (Simon & Schuster Audio) 1776 by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster)
The darkest hours of that tumultuous year were as dark as any Americans have known. As the year began, hostilities between American forces and British regulars, which had begun the preceding April, continued. Yet war was not inevitable, and there were those on both sides seeking compromise.
Bestselling historian and two-time Pulitzer winner McCullough
follows up John Adams by staying with
…McCullough writes vividly about the dismal conditions that
troops on both sides had to endure, including an unusually harsh
winter, and the role that luck and the whims of the weather played
in helping the colonial forces hold off the world's greatest army.
He also effectively explores the importance of motivation and troop
morale. – Amazon.com
… The great Washington lives up to his considerable reputation in
these pages, and McCullough relies on private correspondence to
balance the man and the myth, revealing how deeply concerned
Washington was about the Americans' chances for victory, despite his
public optimism. … Enthralling and superbly written, 1776 is the
work of a master historian. – Shawn Carkonen
…How did a group of ragtag farmers defeat the world's greatest
empire? As McCullough vividly shows, they did it with a great deal
of suffering, determination, ingenuity – and, the author notes,
luck.… Simply put, this is history writing at its best from one of
its top practitioners. – Publishers Weekly, starred review
… This is a first-rate historical account, which should appeal to
both scholars and general readers. – Booklist, starred review
Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, McCullough's 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history. McCullough covers the military side of the momentous year of 1776 with characteristic insight and a gripping narrative, adding new scholarship and a fresh perspective to the beginning of the American Revolution. Especially in our own tumultuous time, 1776 is powerful testimony to how much is owed to a rare few in that brave founding epoch, and what a miracle it was that things turned out as they did.
History /
I Acted from Principle: The Civil War Diary of Dr. William M. Mcpheeters, Confederate Surgeon in the Trans-Mississippi edited by Cynthia Dehaven Pitcock & Bill J. Gurley (The Civil War in the West Series: The University of Arkansas Press) is a civil war diary, but more than that – now in paperback.
At the start of the Civil War, Dr. William McPheeters was a
distinguished physician in
From almost the moment of his departure, the doctor kept a diary. It was a pocket-size notebook which he made by folding sheets of pale blue writing paper in half and in which he wrote in miniature with his steel pen. It is the first known daily account by a Confederate medical officer in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The journal appears in I Acted from Principle in its complete and original form, exactly as the doctor wrote it, with the addition of the editors' full annotation and vivid introductions to each section.
Being the first published daily account of the Trans-Mississippi war by a Confederate medical officer, McPheeters's diary offers a unique perspective. It records wonderful details about the struggle to keep men