Science & Technology

Griffith, curator of plants for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, has drawn on a wealth of historical research and his own experiments in the field to craft a work that explores how 56 different flowers and herbs were grown and used in early America. With the intent to entertain as well as inform, Griffith discusses how early Americans viewed plants: they primarily focused on a plant's perceived usefulness. Griffith explains that his book is not meant to cover all Colonial plants but only those that he successfully grew in his own field trials. The entries are organized by how the plant is viewed today; thus, Griffith writes, most (47) of them now fall into the ornamental category. Each section features a sidebar containing plant facts and tips. Also included are a lengthy section on the historical sources used, a section on general planting information, and endnotes. The strength of the book lies in its solid historical research, smooth writing, and beautiful color photographs—by Colonial Williamsburg photographer Lombardi—and period images. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.

This is a basic book on choosing, training, and caring for a dog, but instead of addressing puppy buyers who purchase their pets from a reputable breeder, this resource assembled by Petfinder.com, a popular pet adoption web site, is for the millions of people who acquire their dogs secondhand. Vice president of shelter outreach at Petfinder.com, Saunders draws on a knowledgeable panel of contributors, including dog-care authors Sheila Boneham, Liz Palika, Sue Sternberg, and others, which adds to the book's credibility. The information covers the usual basics but is substantial, and owners with further concerns or questions are referred to other organizations or their local veterinarian or trainer. Well organized and illustrated, the 22 chapters cover a comprehensive range of topics, from where to find the right dog, breed characteristics, and guidelines for selecting the dog to retraining, modifying undesirable behaviors, and routine care and health considerations. This is a worthwhile purchase for all sizes of public libraries and suitable for both first-time and seasoned dog owners. Highly recommended.—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI

Pet behaviorist and winner of the 2002 Dog Writers Association award for best training article, Swager has written a manual that debunks the idea that independent-thinking, dominant dogs must be trained using aversive methods. She begins by explaining characteristics that make certain breeds more difficult to train. She then discusses how a dog's pack position influences its desire to comply, and she demonstrates how a person can become the leader of the pack. She covers basic obedience commands and addresses problem behavior, e.g., housebreaking accidents, excessive barking, biting, and guarding. Unlike TV dog-training personality Cesar Millan, who believes in the alpha roll (holding a dog down on its side or back), or Kathy Santo (Kathy Santo's Dog Sense), who recommends the "jerk and pull" correction method, Swager espouses positive reinforcement. Other recent books such as Tamar Geller's The Loved Dog and Dale Stavroff's Let the Dog Decide also explain motivational methods; however, the beautiful and sometimes humorous color illustrations, the easy-to-read style, and the emphasis that all dogs, regardless of temperament, can benefit from reward-based training make this book an outstanding addition to public library collections.—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

Ever wonder if Botox, Restylane, or Olay Regenerist serum works? Boston dermatologist Dover tries to answer all of the questions surrounding the latest and greatest in youth-enhancing dermatological treatments. He includes a quiz to determine your skin's "virtual age" and presents his home-treatment plans for cleaning skin and treating skin damage. He discusses commonsense items like the effects on the skin's appearance of smoking, sun damage, and a healthy diet. Be aware that Dover does include his own skin-care line (CVS Pharmacy's Skin Effects) in his list of recommended products; however, the conflict of interest this might normally cause seems to be negated by the breadth of his list of recommended products, including low-priced items like Dove soap and high-priced La Prairie, and his insistence throughout the book that you don't have to use expensive products or office procedures to have good-looking skin. For those interested, this is a nice take on all of the anti-aging treatments and products available and a good overview of how skin ages and how to care for it. Recommended for public libraries.—Elizabeth Williams, Washoe Cty. Lib. Syst., Reno, NV

Back pain is the second most common reason for doctor visits. Neurosurgeon Gokaslan and orthopedist Riley provide an overview of spinal anatomy and why it is so susceptible to injury. The authors cover common ailments such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and degenerative disc disease as part of the aging process as well as injuries and less common disease processes like cancer, infection, and spondylolysis. They frequently reassure readers that back pain is usually self-limited, without major treatments or surgery, and they offer recommendations for finding authoritative information, including web sites from national spine organizations. Diagnostic and imaging tests are described, as are pain relief and nonsurgical treatments; physical therapy is strongly promoted both as treatment and as prevention. Gokaslan and Riley give a general overview of back surgeries, placing particular emphasis on matching patient and physician expectations of realistic outcomes. A large amount of information is packed into this slim volume. Although the reading level is high, it should be a popular addition to consumer health collections. (Illustrations not seen.)—Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa

As increasingly resistant microbial organisms are frequently discussed in the news, many of us look for reasonable ways to protect our health. Saldmann, a food sanitation specialist, recommends a return to the "three golden rules of hygiene": hand washing, cooking food thoroughly, and adequate refrigeration. In his brief book, a 2007 best seller in France, Saldmann provides, among other things, tips on food care, personal hygiene, tattoos, and improving indoor air. He describes the impact of recent epidemics and concludes with his thoughts on how to prepare for a possible pandemic. Although many of his suggestions are common sense or already covered in the popular literature, his easy style and practical advice may prove appealing for general readers. Since many of the entries are extremely brief, a bibliography or list of supplemental sources would have been useful for those wanting additional information. The lack of citations and the brevity will frustrate academic readers, who might find Nancy Tomes's highly regarded The Gospel of Germs more useful for a scholarly look at hygiene and society. A marginal purchase for public libraries.—Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

Steidle, a urologist, and Casperson, a nurse practitioner, offer the simple message that erectile dysfunction (ED) should not be evaluated and treated as an isolated problem but as a warning of potentially more serious issues. While other factors may be the cause of ED, the serious consequences of silent and progressive atherosclerosis make it essential for the cardiovascular system to be included in any workup of erectile dysfunction. The authors make their point early and then devote most of the book to brief discussions of risk factors common to both situations, useful lifestyle changes, and references to diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions that can be related. Both medical and surgical options are discussed, and one chapter focuses on female sexual dysfunction. Ten appendixes offer a variety of self-assessment questionnaires. The information, while it doesn't break any new ground, is clearly presented and includes useful photos and diagrams. This stands apart from other books by physicians on the topic, such as J. Stephen Jones's Overcoming Impotence, because of its emphasis on the ED-heart connection. Recommended for large public libraries.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp. Lib., Denver

Stoppard, popular UK broadcast personality and the author of 42 books on pregnancy, parenting, and child care, offers a new edition of her best-selling pregnancy handbook, first published in 1986. This edition covers step by step every aspect of pregnancy from conception to birth and the first weeks of life. Information and guidance on each stage of pregnancy is highlighted by a calendar listing physical, emotional, and developmental changes that occur in a woman's body during pregnancy and accompanied by photographs of a pregnant woman. Special health concerns and common complaints are well delineated. Stoppard also includes information on the latest fertility treatments, antenatal tests, and obstetric procedures as well as sections on family concerns, working expectant mothers, and returning to work after the baby's birth. Although edited for American readers, the book includes references that may confuse them, especially those relating to midwife teams, more prevalent in England than the United States. Many pregnancy and birth books cover the same information, but this book stands apart with the inclusion of the month-by-month calendar.—Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Alumni Lib.

Two groundbreaking guides explore a burgeoning parenting topic. Executive functioning/executive skills are a series of cognitive skills that regulate behavior and help accomplish tasks, e.g., impulse and emotional control or planning and organizing work. When these skills are weak, children's behavior can be frustrating and vexing for parents who show strength in the particular skills with which their child struggles. Both guides emphasize children's nonperformance as caused by inability, and both illustrate how to improve functioning. Clinical psychologists Cooper-Kahn and Dietzel offer a practical approach through detailed explanations, explorations of causes and effects, and strengthening techniques. Especially helpful are a professional assessment how-to and abundant tips for advocacy at school.

Using a similar tack, Dawson, a psychologist, and Guare, a neuropsychologist, follow up on their clinician-specific Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, with more compassionate and parent-friendly results. They include age-specific questionnaires to assess skills in both child and parent and focus on the fit between children's and their parents' strengths and weaknesses in skill-building techniques and daily living. Notable are several useful checklists and a clear framework for intervention. While both titles include resource lists and clinical examples, Dawson and Guare's personal anecdotes lend immediacy. They also provide lists of toys and games to promote skill development and several relevant web sites. Overall, Smart but Scattered is the more comprehensive, accessible, and hopeful title. Donna Goldberg and Jennifer Zwiebel's The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond showed the tip of the iceberg, and other books devoted exclusively to Asperger's syndrome or ADHD cater to a specific audience. As the first books on the subject to speak directly, comprehensively, and universally to parents, both titles are recommended for parenting collections in public and school libraries; Dawson and Guare's work should be considered essential.—Shawna Thorup, Fayetteville P.L., AR

Two groundbreaking guides explore a burgeoning parenting topic. Executive functioning/executive skills are a series of cognitive skills that regulate behavior and help accomplish tasks, e.g., impulse and emotional control or planning and organizing work. When these skills are weak, children's behavior can be frustrating and vexing for parents who show strength in the particular skills with which their child struggles. Both guides emphasize children's nonperformance as caused by inability, and both illustrate how to improve functioning. Clinical psychologists Cooper-Kahn and Dietzel offer a practical approach through detailed explanations, explorations of causes and effects, and strengthening techniques. Especially helpful are a professional assessment how-to and abundant tips for advocacy at school.

Using a similar tack, Dawson, a psychologist, and Guare, a neuropsychologist, follow up on their clinician-specific Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, with more compassionate and parent-friendly results. They include age-specific questionnaires to assess skills in both child and parent and focus on the fit between children's and their parents' strengths and weaknesses in skill-building techniques and daily living. Notable are several useful checklists and a clear framework for intervention. While both titles include resource lists and clinical examples, Dawson and Guare's personal anecdotes lend immediacy. They also provide lists of toys and games to promote skill development and several relevant web sites. Overall, Smart but Scattered is the more comprehensive, accessible, and hopeful title. Donna Goldberg and Jennifer Zwiebel's The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond showed the tip of the iceberg, and other books devoted exclusively to Asperger's syndrome or ADHD cater to a specific audience. As the first books on the subject to speak directly, comprehensively, and universally to parents, both titles are recommended for parenting collections in public and school libraries; Dawson and Guare's work should be considered essential.—Shawna Thorup, Fayetteville P.L., AR

Author of six books, including The Classic Italian Cookbook, Hazan has written a memoir giving us a sweet sense of life in northern Italy. Her talent for descriptive writing, coupled with her experiences, makes this an especially charming account. Although one gets the impression that working with Hazan would be more a lesson in precise kitchen practices (think Martha Stewart) than learning creative cooking, there's no question that the woman is a marvel in the kitchen. We share pleasant memories of a childhood spent in a small Italian village, where a resourceful community makes even the hardships of World War II bearable. We get culinary descriptions, methods, and recipes from her family, which became the standards for her successes as instructor and author. There's more in these pages than just recipes and tips for good Italian cooking—the pleasure of experiencing life in different cultures and insight into a captivating and powerful figure in the culinary world. Highly recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Elizabeth Rogers, CEF Lib. Syst., Plattsburgh, NY

Couture and ready-to-wear fashion designer Mizrahi knows style. In addition to designing his own collections for over two decades, he brought one of the first budget fashion lines to a mainstream retailer (Isaac Mizrahi for Target). Here, Mizrahi stresses that having style is about trusting instincts and investing time; he begins by encouraging readers to create an inspiration board and complete a style questionnaire. This process was used successfully with 12 "case studies" (makeovers) for women of varying ages, body shapes, and style needs. Entertaining and surprisingly practical, How To Have Style competes with recent similar titles such as Nina Garcia's The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, Rachel Zoe's Style A to Zoe, and Kim France and Andrea Linett's The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style. Recommended for larger public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Meagan P. Storey, Virginia Wesleyan Coll., Norfolk

The latest entries in the series aim to entertain as well as provoke discussion and controversy. A variety of international food/wine writers contributed to both books. Becket (editor, The World of Fine Wine magazine) organizes chapters in 1001 Wines by red, white, sparkling, and fortified wines, listing entries alphabetically by producer. Both vintage and nonvintage wines are included. Advice is given on whether to drink specific wines now and how long the wines should age. The list is not of the greatest wines or of authors' favorites; instead, it includes intriguing, historical, and influential wines. All of them can be purchased, although some are rare and expensive.

In 1001 Foods, London-based food journalist Case covers a wide variety—from meats, vegetables, cheeses, and desserts to condiments and aromatics, from the everyday to the rare and exotic. Each essay includes a description of the expected taste. If necessary, the entry will inform the reader whether the item is rare or endangered. Overall, both books are fun to read, with descriptive writing and excellent photography. They are meant to be enjoyed, not necessarily read cover to cover but skimmed or read selectively. These aren't essential for public libraries, but the other books in the series are widely held.—Kimberly Bartosz, Univ. of Wisconsin at Parkside Lib., Kenosha

Peterson was trained as a chef in France and has worked in both France and the United States, opening his own restaurant in New York in 1979. He has published 13 books, including Glorious French Food and Cooking. It's easy to see why this book has become a classic; it can be used by both professional chefs and home cooks. In plain language, Peterson gives the basics of making over 400 sauces, from salad to entrée to dessert. In the third edition, the sections have been organized so the entries are easier to use as a reference. Peterson has also added 60 recipes that showcase the sauces with a variety of foods. He has included the charts from the first edition that were not in the second edition, and he has added more sections on Asian sauces. Highly recommended for most libraries.—Ginny Wolter, Toledo-Lucas Cty. P.L.

Written in two sections, this beautiful coffee-table cookbook offers contemporary French cuisine for chefs, restaurateurs, and experienced nonprofessionals. Every page is filled with stunning photographs and beautifully laid out with step-by-step instructions and personal commentary by French chef Piège. This is his first book, and he shares his professional kitchen and home recipes. Located at the foot of the Champs-Élysées, the Hôtel de Crillon is a historic five-star luxury hotel; its restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs, was voted 45th best in the world. Although the Crillon section may be intimidating for the novice cook, keep browsing to find traditional, manageable dishes from eggs to pizza to orange cake. Recommended for large libraries and as an update to French cookbook collections.—Ann Schade, Edgewood Coll., Madison, WI

This collection of questions and answers centering on environmental issues is just what the subtitle indicates: a simple, straightforward series of answers to common questions posed by readers to E/The Environmental Magazine's (www.emagazine.com) nationally syndicated Q&A column "EarthTalk." Broken down into ten palatable chapters on topics ranging from organic veggies to organic undies, global warming, and transportation, this handy paperback covers a wide range of environmental topics. Specific questions ("toothpastes without artificial sweeteners?") are answered with names of sources, whereas more obscure questions like "Is the world running out of oil?" are answered with facts and statistics without any sense of hysteria or pandering. The E editors' answers are succinct, informational, and followed by contact information specific to each topic. This contact information—names, phone numbers, and web addresses of important resources—is a wonderful resource, which may be difficult to navigate without an alphabetized list. The book's index was unseen by this reviewer, and may remedy this issue. Recommended for public libraries.—Jaime Hammond, Naugatuck Valley Community Coll. Lib., Waterbury, CT

Journalist Faris recently traveled the globe to report on some current effects of global warming. As he puts it, "The future of our planet can be found now, on the frontiers of climate change." The author briskly covers drought in Sudan, deforestation in Haiti and Brazil, tropical storms in the Florida Keys, refugee camps in Italy, anti-immigrant politics in the UK, changes for U.S. and European vineyards, rapid warming of arctic Canada and Norway, and flooding in and water control for Bangladesh. Faris concludes that while there will be short-term benefits in some areas, the global effects will be overwhelmingly negative. Poor nations will suffer most, and wealthy nations will be confronted with climate refugees. This eyewitness account of practical concerns that add up to a climate emergency is recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/08.]—David R. Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.

Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) was a veritable Renaissance man, whose interests and skills ranged from science to religion to politics. Science writer Johnson (The Ghost Map) weaves together all of these themes and how they played out in his life, in early America, and among the Founding Fathers. He tells the story in a reader-friendly manner that also encourages readers to think about how these themes apply in today's world. This work covers different ground from Jerome D. Bowers's 2007 Joseph Priestley and English Unitarianism in America and discusses more of the culture of the times than the more costly but thorough 2008 collection of essays edited by Isabel Rivers, Joseph Priestley, Scientist, Philosopher, and Theologian. Recommended for all large public and all academic libraries.—Eric D. Albright, Tufts Univ. Health Sciences Lib., Boston

The National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America first appeared in 1983. Now in 2008 it is also available in East and West editions. Conversely, Roger Tory Peterson's classic guides (East since 1934; West since 1941) after five and four editions, respectively, have finally been slightly revised and combined to cover all North America in Houghton Mifflin's recently published Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America. Regional or national guides, which are best? Most advanced birders prefer guides that cover all of North America, while inexperienced and occasional birders like regional guides, which are easier to handle, with fewer birds. These new National Geographic Society (NGS) guides employ minimal revision from the fifth edition of the North American volume. The range maps are slightly larger. The paintings, text, and maps are all of high quality and are suffused with the expertise and current, vast knowledge of the highly respected authors and their wide network of authoritative consultants. The NGS guides invest heavily in detailing subspecific (race) differences and include Latin trinomials, more than most lay birders want to know. But birds in life are complicated and defy the oversimplification inherent in most guides. The NGS basic guide includes all North American species, even the rarest, in contrast to any other guide. Whether to choose a regional or continental edition is a matter of personal preference. Highly recommended either way.—Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia

This lavishly illustrated volume revisits ten natural history explorations through the artwork these voyages generated. Some of these expeditions will be familiar to many, such as Darwin's trip on the Beagle or Cook's Pacific travels, but others that are depicted are less-high-profile journeys to Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Surinam, and Australia. Rice, formerly a curator at the Natural History Museum of London, draws on the museum's rich collection of botanical sketches, maps, paintings, photographs, and other images for each of the voyages. Including brief text, Cook puts the beautiful artistry of natural history front and center. Readers will enjoy these rare images, which would likely be difficult to view in person, and some of these images have never been seen by the public before. The book's only disappointment is the small format. It is about the size of a textbook, thus some of the images are correspondingly small and the finer details of the botanical images are lost. Recommended for all public and undergraduate libraries, as well as other academic libraries with natural history collections.—Marianne Stowell Bracke, Purdue Univ. Libs., West Lafayette, IN

Tyson is the director of the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium and the author of several popular astronomy books (e.g., Death by Black Hole). In 2000, the planetarium opened a new solar system exhibit that presented Pluto not as a planet but an object in the Kuiper Belt, a ring of icy bodies in the outer solar system. This new classification went largely unnoticed until a critical New York Times article appeared a year later. The ensuing controversy and the discovery of several other Pluto-like objects in the Kuiper Belt led astronomers to redefine what constitutes a planet. This book is Tyson's personal account of the exhibit controversy and of Pluto's 2006 demotion from planet to dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union. Many who grew up learning that Pluto was a planet resisted the reclassification, and the discussion divided scientists and nonscientists alike. Tyson documents Pluto's fall with editorial cartoons, letters from schoolchildren, song lyrics, and dialog among disagreeing scientists. He also expertly relates the history and science of Pluto and its discovery. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/08.]—Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado, Denver

Sand has a sense of vastness, mystery, and power. It is both a nuisance and a powerful tool as the smallest grain on a beach or as vast desert landscapes. Welland, a professional geologist in the oil and gas industry, weaves an insightful narrative about one of our planet's most ubiquitous and fundamental materials. He discusses the science, geology, and cultural significance of sand as a critical ingredient in so many aspects of our lives. Learn about arenophiles, sand forensics, extraterrestrial sand, Udden-Wentworth scale, Bagnold formula, and how sand shapes our environment. A highlight of the book is the chapter "Sand in Our Lives," in which Welland documents the use of sand as the basic building block for many products including stone, glass, toothpaste, cement, and pharmaceuticals. Anyone who has walked on a beach, run up a sand dune, or built a sand castle will be fascinated by this excellent book written for amateur scientists and the general public. Highly recommended for all undergraduate and public libraries.—Ian D. Gordon, Brock Univ. Lib., St. Catharines, Ont.