Science & Technology

Damrosch's The Garden Primer has been an essential horticultural read for 20 years, ever since its publication. This completely updated, "100% organic" second edition is sure to be a treasured resource for anyone who has (or wants to cultivate) a green thumb. Because it's so easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of available gardening information, this primer is akin to having a trusted mentor by your side, guiding you step by step along your gardening journey. It starts with the most general gardening information tucked neatly within the first 130 pages, covering everything from planning your landscape; buying plants and learning what they need (and how to make sure they get it); arming yourself with appropriate gardening gear and tools; and fighting weeds and pests organically. The rest of the book digs into specific plants and how to care for—and in some cases, harvest—them. Damrosch's conversational tone puts even novice gardeners at ease; it seems as if she anticipates questions, offering sage answers and advice. Her guide isn't limited to flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables; it also includes grasses, ground covers, vines, shrubs, trees, wildflowers, and houseplants. This new edition is recommended for both novice and experienced gardeners. Public, academic, and special libraries with a strong horticultural interest should acquire it. (Images not seen in color; index not seen.)—Eboni A. Francis, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus

Practicing veterinarian Murray (director of medicine, ASPCA Bergh Memorial Hosp., New York) has written an excellent reference source to give pet owners a knowledge base from which to make informed decisions about the various treatments available to their pets. Each chapter provides a general overview and offers helpful discussions geared toward lay readers. Coverage includes selecting a veterinarian, standards of care regarding vaccinations and other procedures, euthanasia, preventative treatments, health-care costs, determining when an animal might need a particular type of treatment and that treatment's associated risks, and more. This easy-to-read book is full of tips, explanations, work sheets, reviews, and brief case studies to help owners understand what modern-day veterinary medicine is and has to offer. While primarily written for cat and dog owners, much of its information is applicable to other companion animal species as well. Highly recommended for all libraries. [Library marketing planned.—Ed.]—Kyrille Goldbeck, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Lib., Blacksburg

Licensed acupuncturist Davis contributes to the burgeoning publishing area of Chinese medicine with her guide to Qigong for women over 40. In Part 1, readers take in the basics and theory of Qigong and how the practice "combines three elements—focused breathing, posture or movement, and mental concentration—to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit." Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with a special interest in treatment plans for over 30 diseases, Davis details routines for nine specific health conditions, e.g., depression, cancer, and menopause, for the age ranges of 40–49, 50–64 (perimenopause), and 65 and beyond. Readers go step by step through each movement, breathing technique, stance, or healing sound, with photographs and diagrams. Davis uses a few anecdotes from her practice to illustrate how practicing Qigong can affect a person's health. However, there is no conventional or traditional evidence given to support the claims. Although accessible, this book would best suit those who have had some experience with Qigong, as phrases such as "it's more important to move with the energy and follow your body's innate wisdom" may alienate beginners. Recommended for alternative health collections and specialized Chinese medicine collections.—Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Los Alamos P.L. Syst., NM

From "powdered millipedes in butter" to cryonics, Haycock (curator, 17th-century imperial and maritime studies, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England) introduces readers to the life-extending tools and tricks suggested by Western scientists and philosophers from Elizabethan scholar Sir Francis Bacon through today's cutting-edge scientists. Crafting his narrative with scholarly expertise and an engaging sensibility, he includes the characters of the legendary "Old Parr," whose death in 1635 at the alleged age of 152 led to the honor of burial in Westminster Abbey, European alchemists who sought the elixir of life, eugenicists who tried to make humankind into their own intolerant images, surgeons who transplanted monkey glands with the aim of restoring virility to aging alpha males, and contemporary researchers who advocate freezing the dead for future revival or following a rigorous regimen of extreme calorie restriction. Haycock sensibly points out the ethical implications of multitudes, if some claims prove true, of 150-year-old senior citizens crowding the planet and offers time-honored recommendations for regular exercise, weight control, and moderate alcohol consumption. A serious look at an ancient and sometimes peculiar enthusiasm, this is recommended for larger public and academic libraries.—Kathy Arsenault, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

Registered physician assistant and family lifestyle therapist Hendel here tackles America's growing waistline, teaching families to change their eating habits and lifestyles collectively rather than individually. With her Healthy Family for Life (HFL) diet and "four Ps"—plan together, prepare together, play together, and portion together—she provides readers with a map to a healthy future. Hendel uses a mixture of personal recollections and patient vignettes to demonstrate that these ideas are doable; readers and their families do not need to remove themselves from day-to-day life in order to lead a healthy lifestyle when simple meal planning will suffice. Furthermore, her HFL and four Ps are adaptable to include small children and teenagers. Readers will find plenty of other books on diet and obesity, but this one, with its many sidebars for quick reference, may become a favorite. Completing the text are recipes and exercise programs (including a nice review of exercise DVDs and videos) as well as health-profile forms to be filled in by readers and their family physicians. Recommended for public libraries with consumer health collections.—Rachel M. Minkin, Walnut Creek, CA

Legato (clinical medicine, Columbia Univ.; Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget), a pioneer in the field of gender-specific medicine, here makes the surprising claim that men, "from the very moment of their conception until their death, are inherently more fragile and vulnerable than women." She draws on some of the following points to support her argument: males are more susceptible to instances of premature birth and low birth weight, more susceptible to developmental disabilities, and more likely to have autism. Not only is the fundamental biology of the male more vulnerable than that of the female, Legato continues, but his lifestyle and societal expectations combine to favor the odds that he will die first. Males are encouraged to be aggressive, take risks, identify with violent characters in computer gaming, and, in athletic sports, are often exposed to physical injury. Further, Legato writes, male-dominated careers in such areas as the military and construction also make men prone to engage in higher-risk lifestyles. This clearly written book, with its informative coverage of the male perspective on gender-specific medicine—and ironically written by a female physician—is a good purchase for public libraries and consumer health collections.—James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York

The Arthritis Foundation estimates that some 2.1 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis. Here, Rosenstein, a water fitness instructor and author of Water Exercises for Osteoarthritis and similar books for those with Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia, gives a good overview of rheumatoid arthritis and presents dozens of water exercises to help those living with the condition maintain flexibility and mobility, reduce pain and swelling, slow the progression of the condition, and even increase bone density. The exercises, all with photographs illustrating the instructions, include warm-ups, flexibility and range-of-motion exercises, stretches, aerobic exercises, strength-training exercises, and cooldowns. Many are designed for specific areas affected by rheumatoid arthritis—the neck and shoulders; the arms, elbows, hands, and fingers; the upper, middle, and lower back; the hips; the knees; and the ankles, feet, and toes. The buoyancy of water facilitates pain-free range of motion, making water exercise ideal for people with rheumatoid arthritis. A unique and helpful book recommended for general consumer health collections.—Marcia Welsh, Dartmouth Coll. Libs., Hanover, NH

Schwartz (founder & director, Rocky Mountain Hypnotherapy Ctr.) is a board-certified hypnotherapist. Through his work with infertility clinics, he created the program Hypnosis To Promote Fertility, which focuses on healing any emotional barriers possibly affecting conception. That program is the basis for this work. While some of Schwartz's premises may have merit, his scientific "evidence" is not always current and more often includes citations from the popular media than from medical and scientific literature. He discusses alternative strategies such as energy work, guided meditation, and visualization, and he emphasizes the practice of hypnotherapy to help maximize the likelihood of conception. Each chapter concludes with a testimonial from an individual who has used these alternative techniques to become pregnant. Schwartz's encouraging style may be helpful for women struggling with infertility; however, the rigor of his work is somewhat questionable. For example, he identifies stress as a possible cause of uterine fibroids; but a quick search of the first 48 review articles on Medline did not confirm this assertion. Optional for public libraries.—Mary Grace Flaherty, Sidney Memorial P.L., NY

This book by Amis, the late British writer best known for the classic Lucky Jim, is a collection of three out-of-print works written between 1971 and 1984 about drink, its history, social mores, and etiquette. There are background details as well as a glossary for those unfamiliar with British terms such as bitter and off license. Some chapters are entertaining and occasionally hilarious, but taken as a whole the essays are an uneven mix of opinion, wry humor, and practical know-how; they clearly reflect the period in which they were written, particularly those having to do with wine. California and other wine-producing regions that took the international stage in more recent years receive no mention, naturally. Additionally, appreciating British humor is an acquired taste, so the volume may be perceived as having limited appeal. There are, however, insightful and funny observations, such as those having to do with the relationship among a country, its cuisine, and its alcoholic beverages. Recommended for large public libraries.—Christine Holmes, San Jose State Univ. Lib., CA

Chef Ballon is an émigré from the New York City restaurant scene; since 1989 he has owned and runs Castle Street Café in Great Barrington, MA. The recipes here are arranged by type of food that is served at the café—soups, salads, vegetables, pasta, seafood, poultry, meat, sauces, and desserts. All have been adapted for the home cook. One of Ballon's tenets is simplicity, so most of the recipes use no more than ten ingredients. He also stresses the use of indigenous, seasonal produce; he includes recipes using Berkshire Blue cheese, wild ramps, blueberries, tomatoes, and shad roe. An additional plus for this cookbook is the inclusion of a separate chapter of essays written by the chef. In two or three pages for each essay, he writes on carbohydrates, braising, farming fish, giving the gift of food, and more. Recommended for libraries in the Northeastern United States or those that have regional collections.—Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.

Americans eat an average of 260 pounds of meat each year and have developed what investigative journalist Bourette calls "a culture of meat." Fascinated by this, she was determined to share experiences with a variety of meat-eating groups. The Inupiat north of the Arctic Circle, those affiliated with a slaughterhouse and a pasture-based farm, and (the most bizarre) devotees of the Primal Diet, who believe that meat should only be eaten raw—these are a few of the groups sharing their carnivorous attitudes. Bourette also proposes that each American generation seems to reject the foods of its preceding generation, an idea to ponder. We can't ignore the conflict between our treatment of animals—factory farms, growth hormones, etc.—and the pleasure we take in the consumption of meat. Both a personal story and a study of human behavior, Bourette's book is something like a cross between Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. Love of meat is not required to enjoy this; it will be satisfying for members of most food cultures. Recommended for all libraries.—Elizabeth Rogers, CEF Lib. Syst., Plattsburgh, NY

In her latest book, psychotherapist Mayer (The Everything Health Guide to Controlling Anxiety) addresses the myriad sources of school-related anxiety. She explains the symptoms, causes, effects, and treatments for separation anxiety, school refusal, panic disorders, phobias, homework anxiety, test anxiety, perfectionism, and bullying. She discusses how life issues such as low self-esteem, family conflict, or physical and emotional challenges can exacerbate school anxiety. Belly (diaphragmatic) breathing, mindfulness, and facing fears are the major techniques delineated to overcome these problems. Parents should learn the exercises and then guide the child through them in daily practice. A School Anxiety Scale helps children rate their anxiety level. The impact of nutrition and exercise are briefly outlined. Descriptions of therapies, medicines, and alternative treatments complete the book. Because so many topics are mentioned, this is not a conclusive resource, but it complements books like Aureen Pinto Wagner's Worried No More. For parents whose children are emotionally and physically sick about school, this book will help them examine the problem and introduce solutions. Recommended for public libraries.—Janet Clapp, Athens-Clarke Cty. Lib., GA

Cultural historian Ozersky (food editor/online, New York magazine) examines the hamburger—the bellwether, and later stalwart, of the fast-food establishment in America—as a cultural signpost for American cultural and social values. He includes meaty research on the personalities (e.g., Ray Kroc, Dave Thomas) and the corporations (e.g., McDonald's, White Castle, Big Boy) that not only perfected the delivery of the assembly-line sandwich to the masses but also profited from their ability to connect to the power of the individuality, ingenuity, and ambition inherent in the American dream, even as the shape of that dream has shifted throughout the 20th century to today—where McDonaldization and gourmet Kobe beef burgers coexist. Compelling reading, this clearly written book will attract a wide range of readers, from those with an academic interest in popular culture, U.S. history, sociology, or company histories to those generally interested in the American sociocultural landscape and the origins of McDonald's. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

Norco, LA, situated between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, is home to a Shell Oil refinery and chemical plant the size of nine football fields. The facility is located in the neighborhood of Diamond, an all-black enclave. Foul odors, blazing flares, thick smoke, noise, explosions, and endless truck traffic were daily occurrences in Diamond for decades and contributed to serious illnesses, cancer, allergies, and deaths among Norco's residents. In this, his first, book, Miami Herald journalist Greene writes of how a woman named Margie Richard, who lost her sister to a rare lung disease linked to the area's environmental hazards, helped organize the citizens of Norco to challenge Shell's domination of their town and demand compliance with environmental regulations and monetary compensation for those who chose to leave. Over time, Richard gained the support of state and federal government officials, environmental organizations, activists, attorneys, and even some Shell employees, who joined the effort to force Shell to take responsibility for decades of environmental racism in Norco. A fascinating account of a remarkable woman's ten-year battle with Shell and the ultimate victory that transformed a company; recommended for environmental health and social science collections. [Patrons interested in environmental activists may also enjoy Diane Wilson's An Unreasonable Woman.—Ed.]—Irwin Weintraub, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., NY

Unlike most insects' transformations, which are largely hidden from view, those of butterflies can take place before our eyes if we know what to look for, where, and when. Photographer Marent (Rainforest) and writer Morgan do know the what, where, and when of butterflies—from all corners of the globe—and they share their knowledge of and reverence for these insects in this magnificent work of visual poetry. More than 500 stunning color photographs and beautifully crafted, scientifically accurate captions track and immortalize the butterfly's metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and, finally, to that most spectacular event, the magical emergence of the adult butterfly and expansion of its wings to full glory. Equally celebrated here are moths, whose adults emerge from a pupa in a silk cocoon. Following a preface titled "A Photographer's Passion," the photographs are arranged into four groups: "Identity," "Transformation," "Maturity," and "Survival." There is also a list of butterfly and moth families. With an accompanying four-color poster, this title will appeal to children, students, teachers, gardeners, photographers, naturalists, conservationists, and anyone who appreciates beauty.—Annette Aiello, Smithsonian Tropical Research Inst., Panama

McWilliams (history, Texas State Univ., San Marcos; agrarian studies, Yale Univ.) knows how to address unusual historical topics in rich detail. His previous book, A Revolution in Eating, delved into the evolution of food in colonial America. This time he uses his talent for detailed research across time, beginning with the colonial era and ending with the present, to describe the ongoing and ever-changing battle with insects. It is particularly poignant that his description of the colonists' struggle with insects shares similarities with problems people still face today. The early settlers had to deal not only with pests new to them but, more important, also address the invasive species that they inadvertently brought with them from the old country. Regarding pest management today, the author cogently argues that government regulations have influenced current approaches as much as the science itself. McWilliams has a lot of ground to cover and could have written about the topic as a grand time line. Instead, although the narrative shifts quickly across the years, he gives each event thorough coverage and enough facets to put the story on a human scale. Recommended for all academic and larger public libraries.—Marianne Stowell Bracke, Purdue Univ. Libs., West Lafayette, IN

Shevelow (Univ. of California, San Diego; Charlotte: Being a True Account of an Actress's Flamboyant Adventures in Eighteenth-Century London's Wild and Wicked Theatrical World), a noted scholar of 18th-century British literature and culture, has written a richly engaging narrative on the individuals and social conditions that gave rise to the animal protection movement in England. With warmth and charm, she nimbly chronicles how the work of charismatic reformers and the public's emerging concern with animal suffering gave rise to the first animal welfare legislation. The setting is London in the 1700s, a city of splendor and squalor where horrendous animal abuse was sanctioned by philosophy and tradition and highly visible because the lives of its animal and human citizens were closely intertwined. Among those who took notice and protested were the earliest animal advocates, unique characters who lend human interest to the story as they face contempt and ridicule in championing their unpopular cause. Because then, as now, indifference and selfishness were the greatest obstacles to ending cruelty to animals. Lively, readable, and unique, this is a valuable addition to the literature on animal welfare history. Recommended for all libraries.—Leslie Patterson, Chicago P.L.

The wild horse, or mustang, is an important part of the culture, history, and imagination of the American West. The title of this well-written equine tribute is somewhat of a misnomer: only the book's last section focuses on mustangs, concentrating on Nevada, where the majority of the country's remaining wild horse population resides. The first two-thirds treats readers to a history lesson, both about the evolution of the horse through the centuries and the history of the horse on the North American continent. Also introduced are some of the legendary horses and riders and handlers who have been part of American culture: Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show; the great war horse Comanche; Fritz, a Nevada mustang who was the first equine movie star; and many others. These tales can be frustrating to the reader as parts of them are based on conjecture. Where written records were incomplete or contradictory, Stillman (Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines, and the Mojave) has filled in the details with what might have happened. However, the author draws on extensive research, and her speculations are well supported. She also grew up around horses and feels a strong affinity for the desert. This book will appeal to serious horse enthusiasts, especially those who are interested in the history of human interaction with these noble animals. An optional purchase, where interest warrants.—Deborah Emerson, Rochester Regional Lib. Council, Fairport, NY

Winn, author of the popular, well-received Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park, continues to chronicle and celebrate the surprising abundance of wildlife in the midst of New York City's massive urbanization. She engagingly describes the park's crepuscular and nocturnal owls, bats, moths, frogs, cicadas, katydids, rodents, and much else. The sex lives of slugs even rate a chapter. Despite living in a city bright with light pollution, Winn writes of the abundant and quite visible astronomical phenomena: planets aligning, how to tell a waxing from a waning moon, and more. The three stages of twilight and their proper nomenclature are also included, as are the different classes of clouds. She even works in a little neurophysiology. As interesting as this night wildlife is the diverse and abundant cast of human characters who observe it: the expected naturalists as well as astronomers, musicians, celebrities, couturieres, and even a secretary of the treasury. Winn is witty, literate, and extremely well informed and writes with flair. Highly recommended for all popular natural history collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/08.]—Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia