MBR: Reviewer's Choice
Midwest Book Review
The Charm Carver
David Shuch
Integrative Arts Press
11 U.S. Highway 206, Suite 201, Augusta, NJ 07822
0976813602 $20.00
The Charm Carver is a soulful anthology of brief, almost poetic short
folk-style tales, told from the point of view of an old woman fondly
remembering her days in the presence of Simon the charm carver, who
created each of his works as a key to heal and enlighten human hearts.
Warm, witty, and insightful, The Charm Carver is a soulful journey
through troubles with hope glistening in the horizon. The Charm
Carver's pages fly past one's fingertips but linger in the mind.
Highland Handcrafters
Michael Joslin
Parkway Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607
1933251085 $19.95 www.parkwaypublishers.com
Highland Handcrafters: Appalachian Craftspeople is the captivating true
story of both early and late immigrants to the Appalachian Mountains
region and the wondrous handcrafts they have produced throughout the
generations. Chapters tell the stories of individuals who created
everything from harnesses to metal sculptures, paintings, blown glass,
pottery, stone buildings, music, furniture, cider, and much more. Each
profile of an individual includes a black-and-white photographs and a
down-to-earth about the person's life and creations. An absorbing
multiple profile of resourceful, creative, and skilled human beings.
Thank You, Brain For All You Remember
William R. Klemm
Benecton Press
9001 Grassbur Road, Bryan, TX 77808
10930648820 $24.95 www.thankyoubrain.com
Most of us would like to improve our memory. This is especially true as
we get older and find that our memory isn't quite as sharp as it once
was. In Thank You, Brain For All You Remember: What You Forgot Was My
Fault, Bill Klemm (Professor of Neuroscience, Texas A&M University)
draws upon his more than forty years studying the human brain to
present more than 150 key ideas to improving and retaining memory. From
learning in just a single attempt, to noticing and making associations,
to working with hidden memories, to using memory gimmicks, to removing
bad emotions, to reducing incorrect memories, to slowing the aging of
the mind, to compensating for aging, Thank You, Brain For All You
Remember is a compendium of accessible, practical, invaluable
information. Indeed, Thank You, Brain For All You Remember is
specifically and enthusiastically recommended reading for students
wanting to improve their performance on tests, workers needing to
improve their job performance, senior citizens who are losing memory
capability, and anyone else who simply wants to improve their memory
and memory skills in daily life.
The Internet Guide To Survival And Self-Reliance
Rich Gray
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
158160470X $20.00 1-800-392-2400
Want expert advice on everything from harvesting wild foods and
supplying one's own energy to saving money on autos and treating
injury? If you don't wish to spend hours surfing the Net, use Rich
Gray's quick Internet Guide To Survival And Self-Reliance: More Than
300 Web Sites To Help You Live Better, Live Cheaper, And Survive When
Things Get Tough. Many books would offer just survival info: Gray's
goes beyond this, addressing quality of life issues which face those
cut off from their usual utilities and stores, linking itself to the
author's own web site of links to make it easy to copy and paste
website recommendations, and adding the author's owner personal tips to
compliment overviews of each recommendation.
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1-800-836-0510 www.lyonspress.com
Dean K. Boorman's Guns Of The Old West: An Illustrated History
(1592286-380, $18.95) provides a fine survey of the firearms which
helped win the West - and it packs in the color photos which make such
guns easy to identify and understand. From handguns to longarms and
those who used them on both sides of the law, Guns Of The Old West will
find a ready audience in Western history buffs and collectors alike.
Sister Surfer: A Woman's Guide To Surfing With Bliss And Courage
(1592287212, $19.95) by Mary Osborne and Kia Afcari provides the basics
of surfing for women who want to learn how. From catching whitewater,
adapting a stance, bailing, and looking great in the process to
understanding fear and different surf cultures, Sister Surfer packs in
color photo examples and practical advice with plenty of psychological
insights.
Death And The Sun
Edward Lewine
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
www.hmco.com
061826325X $24.00 1-800-225-3362
Few books are written these days on the politically-incorrect (in the
USA anyway) art of bullfighting, so it's refreshing to see a modern
matador reporter's account of the sport and his participation in it in
Death And The Sun: A Matador's Season In The Heart Of Spain. Journalist
Edward Lewine is the first to admit "The bullfighting business could be
awful", but his insider's look at the tradition follows one season in
the life of one of Spain's famous modern fighters and provides an
understanding of bullfighting which goes beyond cliches and
misperceptions. Chapters blend a travelogue with a social history and
an explanation of the meaning of bullfighting in Spanish culture.
Prestel
900 Broadway #603, NY, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
The history of the 20th century can be revealed through its fashion
trends, and Gerda Buxbaum Icons Of Fashion: The 20th Century
(3791333127 $19.95) proves this with an overview of fashion trends and
revolutions. Yes, there are the icons of fashion to testify to these
changes: Chanel, Karan and others - but also fine photos capturing
styles ranging from body stockings to military and cocktail dress; all
contained in an excellent overview blending visuals with a running
commentary on fashion's influence. The gorgeous Spirits Speak: A
Celebration Of African Masks (3791332287, $49.95) edited by Peter
Stepan with contributions by Iris Hahner gathers a representative
sampling of African masks from the world's leading museums and private
collections, choosing samples which reflect powerful artistry and
spiritual meaning alike. The power in Spirits Speak lies in full-page
color photos of each mask making for a catalog which pairs an
introductory section of history and cultural insight with plates which
pack a visual punch.
Abracadabra!
Nathaniel Schiffman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591022487 $18.00 1-800-421-0351
Magicians use more than smoke and mirrors to deceive audiences, but
their secrets are rarely revealed. Writer and magic enthusiast
Nathaniel Schiffman's Abracadabra! Secret Methods Magicians And Others
Use To Deceive Their Audience provides a lay reader's guide to common
methods used to fool or mislead audiences. While experiments and magic
tricks are included, the focus here is on how a magician manipulates
the audience toward belief: an intriguing expose is created.
Custom Knifemaking
Tim McCreight
Brynmorgen Press/Stackpole Books
58 Washington Ave., Portland, ME 04101
www.stackpolebooks.com
0811721752 $19.95 brynmorgen.com
Ten projects from a master craftsman provide enlightening details on
how to make a range of knives - and remain unique instructions, keeping
Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects From A Master Craftsman active on the
list of recommended picks even years after publication. From kitchen
paring knives and forged camp knives to pocket knives and wilderness
skinning knives, Custom Knifemaking provides tempering, soldering, and
fitting details available in few other references.
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
http://kalmbachbooks.com
Artists and model railroaders alike will appreciate these three fine
guides. Nana V. Mizushima's Metal Clay Magic: Making Silver Jewelry The
Easy Way (08712162-202, $21.95) provides a solid introduction to metal
clay, showing beginners how to create beads, brooches, and more from
this new Japanese material. Lesson plans are based on over twenty easy
projects and provide everything from shaping and use tips to hints on
how to fire metal clay with a butane torch, use an electric kiln, and
more. The inclusion of Internet resources and a bibliography round out
the how-to facts, which are packed with step-by-step color photos for
easy demonstration of technique. The third updated edition of Dave
Frary's How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery (0890244707,
$24.95) is a 'must' for any model railroad builder who would produce
professional-quality scenery. From planning the scenery and building
forms and shells to support it to choosing materials and colors, adding
depth and texturing, and understanding the logical progression of
construction, How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery is packed
with color photos of successful projects and provides plenty of tips
for overcoming common problems. Lawrence Hansen compiles The Basics Of
Scale Modeling (089024-3921, $16.95), a step-by-step photo guide to
scale modeling for bare-bones beginners. The best models are tiny
museum-quality replicas of the real thing: the art lies in capturing
the element of realism of the real thing, and it's an art presented by
The Basics Of Scale Modeling's techniques culled from FineScale Modeler
magazine articles covering the basics. From setting up the initial work
area and assembling the tools to planning a project for smooth success,
this is a 'must' for any who would start on their first scale model.
The Game
Neil Strauss
Regan Books
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
0060554738 $29.95 reganbooks.com
Two years ago author Strauss, a writer for the Rolling Stone and New
York Times, decided to investigate an exciting underground community:
an international network of men devoted to the art of seduction. They
weren't rich, they weren't criminals or unduly attractive - but they
had success with even the most remote woman, and had a scientific set
of rules which dictated their successful moves. The Game: Penetrating
The Secret Society Of Pick-Up Artists is more than just an expose of an
underground community: it tells of Strauss' own experiments as a single
male with little personal success with women himself, and of his
undercover life for two years as he works to master the Game -
successfully. But The Game isn't autobiography either: it reveals the
secrets of the Game, why its strategies work, and what women can learn
from the tricks pick-up artists commonly use on women.
Ecovillages
Jan Martin Bang
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0 Canada
0865715386 $24.95 newsociety.com
There's long been a movement towards living in community with others as
an alternative to the nuclear family model, but in modern times
'ecovillages' have emerged around the world, adding attention to
sustainability and social interactions to the model. Ecovillages
explores these developments, opening with a history of the movement and
progressing to include a practical manual for planning and maintaining
a sustainable community using permaculture as a foundation. From house
design and building options to farming and handling sewage and energy
sources, Ecovillages is packed with practical applications; not just
theory.
Messages To The World
Bruce Lawrence
Verso
180 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
1844670457 $16.95 versobooks.com
Osama Bin Laden's statements have been widely covered in TV and radio
in bits and pieces; but they haven't been gathered together under one
cover before; so to receive a unified presentation of all his
admonitions, turn to Messages To The World: The Statements Of Osama Bin
Laden. Statements issued in his name over the last ten years are here
newly translated from the Arabic and annotated with a critical
introduction by editor Lawrence, an Islamic scholar, which adds
historical, political and religious context to the statements. Any who
want insights on Bin Laden's thoughts and viewpoint must have Messages
To The World.
My Love Affair With The French
Fannie Lillian
Dorrance Publishing
701 Smithfield, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3906
0805964463 $23.00 dorrance.com
Fannie Bellamy grew up in rural Virginia under segregation and
discovered some deep bonds with France and the French people early on
in life: her account tells of her journey from rural Virginia to
college and on to travels to France in search of the French tradition.
My Love Affair With The French is a lively first-person account of a
fine adventure abroad.
The Black-Smith's Craft
Charles McRaven
Storey Publishers
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580175937 $19.95 storeybooks.com
Very few titles go into much depth on the vanishing art of
blacksmithing as does Charles McRaven's The Blacksmith's Craft: A
Primer Of Tools And Methods - which is why any would-be blacksmith will
want to see this on a reference shelf and even in a home collection.
>From setting up your own forge and making common items to using
recycled materials, learning and acquiring the basic tools, and using
blacksmithing skills to restore homes, The Blacksmith's Craft is a
'must' for any rural resident or student craftsman thinking of taking
up the art of blacksmithing for fun or profit.
We Changed The World
Sidney Pike
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, #7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
1557788553 $24.95 paragonhouse.com
The introduction of CNN's 24-hour cable news channel in 1980 changed
the world of television, with satellite and cable providing a strong
competitive alternative to tradition TV - and author Sidney pike was in
the middle of the revolution, here explored in his We Changed The
World: Memoirs Of A CNN Satellite Pioneer. Pike met with media and
government leaders around the world trying to sell CNN programming, and
was an early pioneer for the global television channels we know today.
His memoir provides a first-person review of obstacles, achievements,
challenges, and a rapidly-changing industry under transition to this
day.
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