Science & Technology

Garden design author Brookes (Garden Masterclass) explains the steps in the design process in this practical and straightforward workbook geared primarily to prospective and novice professionals. Following an introductory chapter that discusses how we see gardens and what the role of the garden designer is, Brookes explains what to look for when visiting the site of a project, what questions to ask the client, and the importance of listening to the owner's wants and needs. Next he covers measuring and surveying the site as well as observing the natural environment and plants of an area. He illustrates how to use the tools of his trade such as photography, line drawings, drafting, and the computer software CAD to execute the design. He covers various types of garden styles and illustrates many gardens that he has designed in England and the United States. Specifics such as water features, garden restoration, and gardening on grand scales are also addressed. His chapter of frequently asked questions answers queries that Brookes gets from his own students. The book, well illustrated and including color photographs, should appeal to anyone who is considering garden design as a career as well as those who want to design or redesign their own gardens. Recommended for public libraries.—Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

This first book by journalist and television producer Feldinger describes an epidemic of bubonic plague that swept through the Macy Street district, a poor, Hispanic neighborhood of Los Angeles, during the fall and winter of 1924–25. Though plague is now mercifully rare, in the 1920s, the overcrowded Macy Street neighborhood—with its substandard housing, numerous packing houses, and polluted Los Angeles River—provided an ideal environment for plague transmission. When what began as bubonic plague, spread by flea bites, emerged as pneumonic plague, transmittable directly from person to person, the outbreak became extremely serious and eventually resulted in some 37 fatalities. Public health and city officials initially misdiagnosed those affected, then denied the outbreak, and only later imposed a draconian quarantine. The Hispanic patients were deprived of the most effective remedy then known, though ample supplies were available, and as news of the plague leaked out, Hispanic workers experienced mass firings, evictions, and violence. Although Feldinger often writes like a blogger with a cause, the tragic story he tells, of the last black plague epidemic in the United States, will appeal to general readers interested in Hispanic or public health history.—Kathy Arsenault, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

Graboys, a top Boston cardiologist, devoted his life to his work and his patients. He was at the top of his field and was physically and socially active. At the relatively young age of 63, Graboys now finds himself in the role of the patient and no longer able to work as a physician owing to Parkinson's disease and an associated progressive dementia. Graboys struggles with tremors, involuntary jerks of his hands and arms, sweats, and cognitive dysfunction. Navigating new places or keeping up a telephone conversation have become challenges for a man who used to make complex medical decisions. Graboys describes how his disease has affected every aspect of his life: work, family, social, physical, and appearance. He also gives an honest view of how he struggles to deal with the challenges, anger, bitterness, and guilt he feels. Enhancing his memoir are segments from family members and friends. This well-written memoir of a life shattered by Parkinson's disease will give readers, patients, and their caretakers an honest account of life with the disease. Recommended for most libraries.—Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Tompkins-McCaw Lib. for the Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs., Richmond

Lalitananda, a columnist on Hatha yoga for the award-winning magazine Ascent, here anthologizes her writing into an instructional book focusing on the Hidden Language technique. Stretching both the body's muscles and the mind's limits, the Hidden Language approach to Hatha yoga is about understanding asanas, or yoga postures, as mudras, sacred gestures in Hatha yoga that hold "hidden meaning"—thereby allowing psychological investigation of one's body and mind. Organized into themed chapters according to the fundamental ideas of awareness, choice, action, devotion, and union, the book includes step-by-step instruction, black-and-white photographs, and spiritual reflections for 25 different Hatha yoga poses. Practical, inspiring, and expertly written, it is certain to prove a useful guide, adding deeper spirituality to any level of practice. Most suitable for public or specialized libraries supporting spirituality and health and wellness collections.—Lisa Forrest, Buffalo State Coll. Lib.

When Vicki Iovine's The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy was published in 1995, it stood out to a lot of pregnant women as a fresh and practical resource more readable than many other pregnancy manuals available at the time, equivalent to girlfriends dishing about pregnancy over decaffeinated coffee. Now there are many such titles on the market, and new mom and lifestyle writer Lenkert's is another to add to the list. Highly readable, the book is organized by topic rather than trimester, with chapters including answers to some basic pregnancy questions and input from what Lenkert calls her "Mommy Menagerie"—more than 100 mothers of all ages from around the world. But its real strength is in Lenkert's sharing of her own experiences: she tells all about her pregnancy, her partner, and her daughter, with no detail too personal. This is not the only pregnancy book a library should own, but as a fun and informative update to The Girlfriends' Guide, it should be considered. [A full-color flexi-format paperback.—Ed.]—Mindy Rhiger, Minneapolis

Poet and fiction writer Manguso's fourth publication (contributor, One Hundred and Forty-Five Stories in a Small Box) is her illness memoir. Thirteen years ago, in her early twenties, Manguso developed an unusual, life-threatening, and very debilitating viral infection that recurred over the course of the next several years, interrupting her relationships, her education, and her career. Her diagnosis was long unclear, and her treatment was sometimes incompetent and frequently painful and humiliating. Further, some of the medications she was prescribed caused serious physical and psychological symptoms; she eventually became an alcoholic and suicidal. Young adults are not "supposed" to get seriously ill, much less relapse repeatedly, so Manguso's story is a particularly compelling reminder of mortality and the isolation and loss imposed by an illness that doesn't follow the rules. But what makes it really stand out amid the glut of other illness memoirs is the author's literary talent. The writing is spare, with the story told in a series of one- to two-page vignettes and observations. That said, Manguso's final reflections reveal so little of her thoughts and feelings that the work seems incomplete. Young adults will strongly connect, but suitable for all public libraries.—Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib.

As every fan of the Travel Channel knows, Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential), executive chef of New York City's Les Halles restaurant, has spent the last three years hosting the series No Reservations, an entertaining account of his global travels to some of the world's most exotic places in search of food and adventure. He is right to insist that the book is not merely a companion to the series; through 400 stunning photographs, it does far more, chronicling failures along with successes as well as behind-the-scenes drama and some of the crew's downtime. The text accompanying the photos is tinged with all the characteristic Bourdain hallmarks: humor, wit, sarcasm, salty language, innate curiosity, and, above all, his intrepid spirit and lust for adventure. Whether enduring his "worst meal ever"—warthog in Namibia—or savoring steamed shark head in Singapore, the author, with his inimitable style, will ensure that readers enjoy going along for the ride on this irresistible journey. An indispensable addition to travel, culinary, and popular reading collections everywhere.—Deborah Ebster, Orlando, FL

Chen (senior editor, Fortune Small Business) attempts in her first book to explain Americans' conflicted relationship with sweets. Particularly noteworthy are her exploration of the question, "Does eating sweets make a person fat?" and a revealing probe into the connections between money, social class, and sugar. Chen devotes an entire chapter to artificial sweeteners, but she fails to mention the whole class of sugar alcohols, such as xylitol and sorbitol, which have become fixtures in breath mints, gum, and other sugar-free sweets. Her conversational tone frequently veers into the realm of personal anecdote. Although she has done research and includes endnotes, the lack of a coherent thesis undermines the text and reduces the chapters to a series of editorials strung together by one broad topic. An optional purchase for public libraries.—Rosemarie Lewis, Broward Cty. P.L., Fort Lauderdale, FL

This large and informative book by Cohen (The Gefilte Variations) is arranged by the Jewish calendar, starting with recipes and menus for Rosh Hashanah and ending with Shavuot, along with suggestions for weekly Sabbath meals. Cooking from scratch is the point here, although a food processor does speed things up somewhat. There is also a detailed introduction and information on the "Jewish kitchen," including what makes meat kosher and discussions of other ingredients. A glossary and list of web sites and sources are included at the end. The layout is somewhat confusing, though, with similar items under different holidays. Thus, there are several variations on kugel, the sweet or savory noodle pudding, scattered throughout. The recipes themselves sound delicious, with many interesting options augmenting traditional favorites. Purchase where there is interest; a great addition to a holiday-themed display.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

During a period of residence in Israel, Weinstein and a friend kept a kosher kitchen and, using available ingredients, prepared authentic Japanese cuisine. This book includes recipes for making sushi, tempura, appetizers, soups, salads, and desserts, as well as various dishes featuring fish, chicken, beef, and noodles. Weinstein also includes a section on Japanese cooking for informal meals prepared for a group at the table, which covers sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, and others. Instructions are straightforward and generally brief. While some ingredients will have to be specially sought out in kosher health food stores or the kosher section of the grocery, by and large the recipes achieve the author's stated goal of allowing those who keep kosher kitchens to prepare Japanese cuisine "without special ingredients, and the extra expense." Color photos throughout depict each recipe, and in some cases provide helpful insight into technique, as with those illustrating sushi preparation. Rather specialized, but recommended for public libraries serving populations to which kosher cooking is of particular interest.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

With oil nearly $100 a barrel, everyone is clamoring for "energy independence" and a reduction in our reliance on foreign oil. Bryce (Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of Enron) debunks this notion, asserting that none of the alterative or renewable energy sources currently hyped—corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, wind and solar power, and coal-to-liquids—will free America from imported fuels. He blasts Republicans, Democrats, the presidential candidates, Al Gore, Robert Redford, environmentalists, and energy analysts for misleading the public about our energy needs. Providing compelling examples, Bryce identifies numerous reasons why the United States cannot wean itself off foreign energy. He posits that we must accept the reality of an increasingly interdependent global energy market and shift our thinking from energy independence to interdependence. Meticulously researched with copious facts—nearly all footnoted—this illuminating and sometimes witty work offers another view of the current state of energy. Recommended for all libraries.—Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

With Gravity: The Allure of Distance and At Speed already to his credit, Olsen (English, Concordia Coll.) focuses his latest book on pilots flying on the edge of civilization and on the edge, and sometimes in the midst, of danger. The first-person account begins and ends with the author's own adventures in learning to fly, and in between he discusses his involved coverage of dangerous flights at the North Pole, hunting hurricanes, providing airborne ambulance service, and fighting fires. Though Olsen is not doing the flying himself, his narrative is reminiscent in tone of Beryl Markham's early African aviation adventures chronicled in West with the Night. The book might have been even more engaging if Olsen himself was the pilot, but he does a good job of capturing, in a journalistic interview style, the experiences of the men and women who routinely fly these adventurous missions. The stories are good enough to inspire future pilots. Recommended for public and academic libraries with travel and/or aviation collections.—Sara Tompson, Univ. of Southern California Lib., Los Angeles

It takes one kind of skill to pack a book full of scientific information (physical, chemical, emotional) about human sex and sexuality research in the 20th century and to do it with care and thoughtfulness. And it takes another kind of talent to do it with wit, humor, and pure enjoyment. Roach's third book (after Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife) beautifully succeeds in both categories. Working from the early 1900s to the present, Roach carefully and systematically surveys sex research and its findings, examining what was scientific about these studies. She also investigates the sometimes bizarre equipment and conditions devised for the research. There are frequent references to past contributors such as Masters and Johnson and Alfred Kinsey and plenty of information from current contributors both in the United States as well as around the world. Readers will find that Roach's informative and witty footnotes skillfully anticipate questions the text will stimulate. Any side avenue Roach may appear to go down always loops back to her central topic, and she handles the nuances of discussing sex and sexuality very nicely—even when the discussion involves the author and her husband. Highly recommended for all collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]—Michael D. Cramer, Schwarz BioSciences, RTP, NC

Qalqilya is a formerly prosperous Palestinian town with 50,000 or so residents on the edge of the West Bank; it is also home to a decrepit zoo, the victim of years of deprivation caused by the intifada. Thomas, a British correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and other publications, engagingly tells how Sami Khader, the only zoo veterinarian in the Palestinian territories, tries to transform the Qalqilya Zoo from one of squalor into something of beauty. His goal is simple—to re-create a world-class zoo; the implementation is not so simple, given the violence, corruption, and politics in the region. Without criticizing individuals or editorializing on local politics, Thomas has written an enlightening and even entertaining account of a man with a dream during difficult times. The writing is sometimes uneven or rough, especially dialog, but this is easily forgiven for the human interest and desire of the reader to find out what happens next. This book should appeal to readers of Lawrence Anthony's Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo and Diane Ackerman's The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story. Recommended for public libraries.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI