Science & Technology

Have you ever wondered how to plan your garden so that you can enjoy beautiful blooms throughout the gardening seasons? What about properly caring for perennials so that they continue to delight year after year? How about creating and displaying fresh-cut flower arrangements to share with neighbors and friends? Andrews, a master gardener and contributor to Bloom magazine, helps with all that and more in this handy volume. The 25 perennial flower profiles are arranged by season (according to when they bloom), and within each season they are arranged alphabetically by botanical name. Each profile contains a brief description, information about cultivation and care, and even short literary quotations to round it out. Harris's detailed, full-color illustrations provide a touch of whimsy to a book that speaks to hands-on gardeners and armchair enthusiasts alike. The appendixes help the reader identify plants for specific garden needs, e.g., perennials by color, those that are heat- and drought-tolerant or that need constant moisture, those that are deer-resistant or that flower in shade. There is also a short list of mail-order resources. A USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map is also included. Recommended for public libraries and special horticultural libraries serving both new and avid gardeners, especially where there are spring, summer, and fall blooming seasons—and cold winters.—Eboni A. Francis, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus

As food prices climb, Americans have shown renewed interest in vegetable gardening, but urban residents may not have space to grow their own food at home. Community gardens are a time-honored solution to this problem, and they can serve many other purposes, too. Peters, Brooklyn Botanic Garden's director of publications, and horticultural therapist Kirby provide readers with something like a wildlife field guide that illustrates garden types rather than bird or flower species. With ten readable essays by community gardening experts and enthusiasts, the book takes a broad view of what constitutes a community garden. Chapters devoted to food gardens, youth gardens, therapeutic horticulture, gardens welcoming new immigrants, pocket parks, and habitat gardens introduce readers to the characteristics of each garden type, discuss its benefits, and offer tips for garden organizers. Other sections cover soil health, inclusive garden planning, sustainable community organizing, and environmental concerns. Rich with examples and illustrations from real gardens, highlighting the experience of gardeners of many different stripes, this book is invaluable for public libraries, horticultural collections, and high school libraries.—Emily-Jane Dawson, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

While some offer broad-stroke suggestions for reforming the U.S. health-care system, Luft (Palo Alto Medical Fdn. Research Inst.) has taken the time to craft a proposal in staggering detail. Acknowledging the reality that any reform would face opposition from a wide range of entities and would emerge only after multiple compromises, he presents a complete, carefully thought-out system that, he argues, provides universal coverage without discarding what works currently and is grounded in improving quality. Among those affected, hospitals would work more closely with doctors, becoming Care Delivery Teams (CDTs), and insurance companies—potential big losers—could choose to transform themselves into Payment Intermediaries (PIs). Much of the financing, but not all, would be handled at the national level. As the explanation evolves, the many new names and acronyms make the glossary included here a necessity. The plan is unique, but the amount of detail may be far more than a casual health-care consumer would want to wade through. Most appropriate for academic libraries or public libraries with large health-care reform collections.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp. Lib., Denver

Martensen (The Brain Takes Shape: An Early History), a physician, medical historian, and medical ethicist, reflects upon how patients confront illness in a time when so many treatment choices are available, incorporating stories of real patients he has encountered. He discusses one patient with advanced breast cancer who chooses aggressive treatment and lives her final time with harsh side effects, while another patient with advanced cancer chooses a less aggressive approach, "freeing himself" from the medical system and focusing on quality of life at the end. While Martensen does not prescribe an approach, his reflections on experiences show readers that a combination of high expectations from patients, new high-tech medical technology, and a lack of communication with doctors can lead to patients believing that they can win a battle with an advanced disease with aggressive treatment; yet, they may be sacrificing a higher quality of life in their last days. While this is a worthy read for anyone faced with a difficult diagnosis, the level of writing may be too complex for the average reader, making it inaccessible to some patients. Even so, recommended for most larger public libraries.—Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs. & Health Syst., Richmond

For many women, hormonal fluctuations accompanying menopause cause a variety of unpleasant, sometimes debilitating symptoms—hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, night sweats, forgetfulness, osteoporosis, and diminished sex drive. Yet the end of a woman's reproductive life can also be a time of "personal rebirth," an opportunity to "experience unlimited pleasure that creates vibrant physical and emotional health," writes Northrup (Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom; The Wisdom of Menopause). Her goal here is to demonstrate "how pleasure heals the body," and she argues that living life as a sexual, sensuous woman "will enhance every aspect of your health." Northrup offers a variety of techniques for cultivating pleasure: personal pampering, engaging in creative activities (repainting the bedroom; keeping a journal), letting go of the past, practicing forgiveness, and exploring the "Seven Secret Keys" that enhance sexuality and sensual pleasure. Not all women will appreciate Northrup's breezy girl-talk writing, and some may find the self-help techniques reminiscent of junior high. Recommended for comprehensive women's health collections.—Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland

This compilation of caregivers' personal stories should prove inspiring, supportive, and informative to those responsible for family members or others unable to care for themselves owing to disability or disease. Similar to Nell Casey's An Uncertain Inheritance: Writers on Caring for Family, this book is nevertheless unique because it is not a guide and is not limited to a specific disease, condition, or demographic. Divided into four parts arranged by attributes like commitment, patience, humor, etc., the book also incorporates an informative essay, "Palliative Care and Hospice," broken up into ten segments that are frustratingly difficult to access with no listing in the table of contents. The contributors present disparate aspects of the caregiving experience that range from anger to transcendence. Readers will glean valuable information from each vignette, including pertinent web sites. A resources section features annotated contact information for associations, groups, and organizations supporting caregivers. The entry for the Alzheimer's Foundation lacks a web site listing, although there is one. Suitable for public or health-oriented libraries, especially where other books in the "Voices of" series are popular.—Lois K. Merry, Keene State. Coll., NH

A spark could be a talent, an interest, a skill—the reason we're in the world; the goal of this book is to show parents and teens how to find that spark and develop it. A well-respected author and psychologist, Benson (All Kids Are Our Kids) trains educators and other professionals as CEO of the Search Institute in Minneapolis. He fills his chatty text with stories of kids who have recognized their spark and how their parents nurtured it. To help parents understand their teens, he turns to the Myers-Briggs test. The idea is excellent, the presentation upbeat, and the anecdotes inspiring. In the end, though, the book is simply too repetitive; readers will feel as if they are reading the same definitions and stories over and over. Perhaps this should have been a periodical article instead of a 256-page book. All Kids Are Our Kids is a more important work.—Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA

Containing many of the 300 recipes from Scouting magazine's national cooking contest, this is a unique cookbook for all campers. The Connerses (Lipsmackin' Backpackin') have arranged the recipes by the three major meals plus breads, snacks and desserts, and drinks. Each recipe has a "challenge level," required equipment, and preparation at home and at camp. Many of the recipes use a 12" or 14" Dutch oven, which may not be appropriate for backpacking. Other methods of cooking are also used—foil, frying pan, plank grilling, and cooking in cardboard. Hot dogs, spam, and box cake mix are popular ingredients, and the results are not for the weight conscious. A description or anecdote precedes the recipes, which conclude with the contributor's name and scout affiliation. The index is arranged only by the name of the recipe, so if you're looking for one of the numerous chili recipes it is necessary to do some browsing. Recommended for public and school libraries that have active scouts or campers as patrons.—Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.

Every Italian American favorite and some new surprises are generously served up in this warmhearted cookbook, which conveys the close-knit Danza family's passion for food. Family anecdotes accompany the recipes, which range from lasagna to pizza, with guacamole and Tangerine Chicken with Chipotle Glaze for those wishing to move beyond the Italian idiom. The recipes are well explained, and there are plenty of pictures throughout the book of TV star Tony Danza and his son Marc, a chef, as well as extended family members. Readers already familiar with Italian cooking will find many favorites here and will enjoy the family-style recipes, which won't be that daunting to less experienced cooks. There is even a simple dessert chapter that offers some easy yet classic desserts, like tiramisu and ricotta cheesecake. Recommended for public libraries that need a boost to their Italian American cookbook collections.—Shelley Brown, New Westminster P.L., B.C.

Created in the 1990s, the Vermont Fresh Network was the first statewide program that linked local farms to area restaurants. Food writer Medeiros illustrates how the program works, describing the farms that produce the food and the restaurants that use the products. The 145 recipes here were developed by both chefs and individuals on the farms and are arranged by ingredients: vegetables, fruits and berries, milk and cheese, beef, pork, lamb and game, poultry, desserts and other baked goods, and, of course, maple syrup and honey. Many recipes are quick and simple, but Rond de Nice Squash Stuffed with Potato "Risotto" and served with red and yellow tomato sauces will require time and skill. In addition to the indexes, there is a directory of recipe contributors and suppliers with addresses, phone numbers, and web sites. A beautiful, inexpensive cookbook; recommended for libraries building a regional collection.—Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.

Reinhardt's (Don't Sleep with a Bubba) third book takes the reader on a brash, audacious tour de force of Southern-fried anecdotes from the kitchen, the bedroom, the grocery store, and everywhere in between. Ostensibly a book about cooking—or not cooking—this is a series of Dixie-flavored, chick-lit memoirs aimed at working moms; chapters include "When Roadkill Meets Mikasa" and "If Your Kids Like School Lunches You Suck as a Cook." While the stories are presented with humor and sometimes pathos—as in her feeling presentation of Barbara the cafeteria lady in "We'll Serve Ya a Meat but No Advice"—they are often broadly written and occasionally rather bawdy. (If you don't find humor in bodily functions or roadkill, you won't enjoy this book.) Each chapter does include a few related recipes of varying complexity; some are more like supporting characters in the narrative. Recommended for public libraries.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream" are lyrics many kids can be heard saying on any given summer day. This book presents 52 frozen dessert recipes appropriate for the entire year. Sampson (Throw Me a Bone) has written numerous other books in this series; she's also a senior writer for Cooks Illustrated and was nominated for the James Beard Award. Her concoctions range from the classic store-bought French Vanilla to the exotic Avocado Gelato, Grape-Nuts® Ice Cream, or an Orange Granita. Each recipe contains a clear ingredient list, step-by-step directions, and often a beautiful photograph of the treat. Each week one could sample a new ice cream, progressing through the seasons (though eggnog ice cream is listed halfway through), as the recipes are listed to take advantage of spring and summer fruits and later hearty nuts and heavenly chocolates. Sure to fly off the summer display shelves when accompanied by other summer food favorites such as grilling, this text is a solid collection of unique frozen treats.—Kristen Mastel, MINITEX Lib. Information Network, Minneapolis

There are a plethora of titles promising to reveal everything one needs to know about parenting, so kudos to journalist Scalise for actually delivering a truly valuable, accessible, and witty book that will be indispensable to parents of newborn twins. She takes a no-nonsense approach, presenting what looks like a manager's checklist, and instead of the usual organization by age, her text is arranged by task, such as "Stocking Up," "Getting Through the Night," "Making Errands Possible," and "Air Travel." This makes the book easy to reference but no less interesting to read from cover to cover. Scalise thoroughly outlines what twinspecting (this reviewer's term) parents should purchase and what can be borrowed or purchased singly, followed by good product recommendations. Her boot-camp sense of humor is fun and effective, and her advice is wise, practical insider stuff (e.g., prepare formula in the blender and warm it in a Crock-Pot, then feed the quiet baby first). Despite the completely unimaginative title, this is one of the more valuable twin books to be published recently. Highly recommended for all parenting collections.—Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

Pediatrician Steiner (Tufts Medical Ctr.) has created a step-by-step plan to help parents who want their children to learn a second language. The book is geared to bilingual parents who no longer live in their birth country but want their children to learn their native language—though monolingual parents who want their children to learn a second language will also benefit from the information presented here. Steiner starts off by exploring common myths about bilingual education and how the brain processes learning a second language. She then proceeds in an organized fashion to show parents how to establish a language action plan. Using charts and work sheets throughout, she explains how to set goals, decide on a language, eliminate obstacles, find resources, and finally implement the plan. Real-life situations are addressed, and Q&A sections are scattered throughout. Online and community resources are listed at the end to supplement the language plan. Recommended for large public libraries and libraries serving diverse cultures.—Phyllis Goodman, West Chester P.L., OH

The Wellses have lived an enviable life in France for over 30 years. Patricia is one of the most widely recognized American writers on French food, a former food critic for the International Herald Tribune, and the author of ten books, including the classic Bistro Cooking. Her husband spent 25 years at the International Herald Tribune, working his way up to executive editor. Their latest effort is a joint affair, offering alternating reminiscences about their decision to move to France and chronicling the adventures life has thrown at them since. Although food features heavily through the book, and most sections are capped with a recipe—there are over 30 scattered throughout, including Almond Macaroon and Fresh Berry Cake and Fish Cheeks with Polenta and Parmesan Crust—the book is about their lives, with food—not food, with a little life thrown in. Photographs from their private collection enhance the personal nature of the memoir. An optional purchase for most libraries. (Index not seen.) [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/08.]—Rosemarie Lewis, Broward Cty. Public Schs., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Where the brain is concerned, does size matter? Until recently, research into the evolution of hominid species into Homo sapiens has focused on physical features, with the study of cognitive evolution limited to speculating how brain size affected psychosocial capacities. Advances in modern neuroscience reveal that the unique capabilities of the human mind are only possible through much more complex and subtle differences than just size. Neuroscientist Gazzaniga (The Ethical Brain) discusses the brain functions underlying the defining characteristics of what makes us human: arts, ethics, empathy, conceptual thinking, and self-awareness. The first three parts of his book ("The Basics of Human Life," "Navigating the Social World," and "The Glory of Being Human") explore the neural mechanisms that make humans different from other species. The final section, "Beyond Current Constraints," speculates freely on future brain evolution, both natural and technology-enhanced. Although the text can be a bit dense in places, readers attracted to this subject are generally more than willing to invest the neural energy required to follow it and will be rewarded for doing so. Recommended for academic and larger public library science collections.—Gregg Sapp, Science Lib., SUNY Albany

Disease spread by human waste is the major cause of death worldwide, and British freelance journalist George (A Life Removed: Hunting for Refuge in the Modern World) was determined to find out what can be done to alleviate this public-health emergency. She traveled to Japan, China, India, Tanzania, London, New York, and other locales observing customs and attitudes regarding the disposal, handling, processing, and use of human waste. She discovered that humans dispose of excreta in toilets, pit latrines, buckets, fields, roads, backyards, and streets. She was also shocked by the appalling lack of adequate public toilets and aging sewage-handling systems in both developed and developing countries. She praises the heroes of Third World sanitation movements who are devising modern methods of human waste disposal to alleviate the crude and unsanitary habits that lead to illness, food contamination, and death. Readers may be surprised to learn that recycled water, fertilizer, energy, and biosolids (sludge) are major industries that depend upon human waste for survival. George leavens her serious, if unpalatable, topic with an elegant and witty prose style. An important book for a world that will have to face the consequences of human waste disposal in an age of rapidly expanding populations; strongly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08; see also "Editors' Fall Picks," p. 28-33.—Ed.]—Irwin Weintraub, Brooklyn Coll. Lib.

Starting with the notorious cloud bank that first engulfed the city on July 26, 1943, Los Angeles writers Jacobs and Kelly chronicle six decades of smog and human attempts to destroy it, control it, and live with it in the City of Angels. Writing in a hip, lively style, they recount the efforts of city and state officials, governing boards, scientists, and citizen groups to rid L.A. of the smog with a can-do spirit and an unlimited faith in science, technology, and human ingenuity. This has included mass transportation, electric cars, and huge smoke stacks to carry the smog high above the city. However, the authors note that few people wanted to accept the fact that they, as part of a consumer-driven society based on the automobile, were the reason for "the enemy of their own making," which today contributes to global warming. This intriguing social history of an environmental problem that won't go away is recommended for libraries with regional and environmental collections.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley Coll., Mt. Carmel, IL

Following the death of his father, Mee took on the challenge of helping his 76-year-old mother find a new home. This relatively simple task resulted in life-altering, unexpected outcomes, not the least of which was taking on the responsibility of owning and renovating a dilapidated zoo in rural England. Mee has a strong interest in animal behavior and was trained as a science journalist, which influenced his decision to move his family to a run down 30-acre zoo complete with animals. Readers will delight in his anecdotes, most notably about escapees Sovereign the jaguar and Parker the wolf, who attracted a fair share of media attention and antizoo feeling from the public. While the Mee family dream was coming to fruition, Mee's wife, Katherine, suffered from the return of a brain tumor and died before the zoo was restored and reopened. The author's touching description of this tragedy stands in contrast to his otherwise conversational tone and the humorous events depicted in the book. The Dartmoor Zoological Park now attracts thousands of visitors annually. This engaging adventure will appeal to animal lovers and is recommended for public libraries.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI

Journalist Schuster, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) founder Willie Smits, and renowned photographer Jay Ullal have collaborated to create a stunning, beautifully photographed documentary describing the plight of today's orangutan. The text is informative, but one word of caution: the prose is written to gain the reader's sympathy, not just to educate. While there's no dispute about the hunting, abuse, and loss of habitat taking place, sometimes this feels like a "save the children" commercial. The book's main goal is to highlight the negative impact humans have had on the orangutan, exemplified in the vivid tale of the horrors and mistreatment endured by one particular animal, Bali, in human captivity. However, the rest of the text delves into the research on the daily lives of wild orangutans, focusing on their behaviors and culture, all supported by captivating photographs. Readers will gain a new appreciation for these creatures. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Kyrille Goldbeck, Virginia Polytechnic & State Inst. Lib., Blacksburg

Shapin (history of science, Harvard Univ.; The Scientific Revolution) here examines science as a vocation. The practice of science, once a calling from God or, perhaps, a mere amateur's hobby, has come into its own as a profession, particularly following World War II. Shapin's sociological history documents this vocational evolution as he raises the following questions: How does the practice and authority of science relate to the virtues of its practitioners? Is academic science superior to the commercialization of science? How does industry compete for the best minds in science? Can the practice of scientific research be organized, team driven, and accountable to investors? Shapin addresses all these questions without weighing in with his personal opinions on the topic. The result is a thought-provoking challenge to the assumptions of scientific objectivity by science's practitioners and an acknowledgment of just how important the morality of scientists may be in the advancement and authority of knowledge. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Scott Vieira, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS