Science & Technology

Agriculture

Although most Americans are used to a seemingly endless supply of industrially grown and imported food, many fail to realize that this abundance is neither sustainable nor reliable. Industrial agriculture depletes the soil, poisons the environment, relies on petroleum-based fertilizers, and is controlled by a handful of large corporations. Small-scale farmer Astyk (Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front) and Newton, a sustainable systems land planner, argue that it is both possible and necessary to stop the harm caused by industrial agriculture. They show how the food crisis is tied to the energy crisis, global warming, and resource depletion and conclude that worldwide food shortages are imminent. What the authors propose is a victory farm and garden movement, one similar to the World War II undertaking in which Americans grew their own produce in home gardens. They discuss the many advantages of growing one's own food and of cooking nutritious, flavorful meals from scratch. Their book includes informative discussions of other pertinent works as well as interviews with authors like Richard Heinberg and Bill McKibben. This outstanding and well-written compendium of insights and recommendations, of fervent idealism and practical solutions, is highly recommended.—Ilse Heidmann, Washington State Lib., Olympia

The title of Duffy-Korpics's memoir conjures up visions of a mean-spirited civil servant netting strays and taking them to a dingy shelter where a dire fate awaits. The author, a social studies teacher, worked her way through college as an animal-control officer in an upstate New York town. Writing in a style reminiscent of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, she recalls her experiences in 22 vignettes that dispel and replace stereotypes with an image of a compassionate individual concerned with animals and people alike. Like Herriot, she is a gifted storyteller and an astute observer. While describing incidents involving a constantly barking Pekinese, a hostage-taking feral cat, marching turkeys, voyeur raccoons, and many other creatures, she gives us a peek into the loving relationships we have with our pets and the sometimes cruel and careless ways we treat them. At times amusing and heart-wrenching, this memorable book deserves wide readership. Highly recommended for public libraries.—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

Young (deputy editor, The Garden, Royal Horticulture Soc.), with several contributors, has put together a work that takes readers through all phases of designing a garden, seeking to aid them "not only with the nuts and bolts of garden making, but also the focus and vision." The "How To Design" section introduces topics from using shape and color to establishing mood, evaluating sun/shade and heat, and understanding soil and managing slopes. The second section looks at garden styles, including Cottage, Family, Modernist, Urban, and Sustainable, among others. The elements and layout of each type of garden are discussed and richly photographed. The book's third section turns to the construction of garden elements such as paths, decks, fences, and more. Young ends the work with an encyclopedic, 74-page "Plant and Materials Guide," complete with color photos. While this well-illustrated work covers much ground, it isn't overwhelming or intimidating but practical and extremely useful. Recommended for horticulture collections in public and academic libraries.—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy may treat cancer but can also necessitate huge changes in lifestyle and body image and predispose the patient to other diseases, recurrence, and death. Block (medical director, Block Ctr. for Integrative Cancer Treatment) lays out a comprehensive complementary-therapy program designed to enhance conventional treatments, and he provides advice that will better a patient's life and improve chances of a full cure. Block stresses that patients should not abandon traditional medicine and should consult their health-care team before adding less traditional treatments. He details an anticancer diet, with specific recommendations for foods and supplements, as well as exercise plans and spiritual maintenance. Methods of boosting one's immune response while providing a less friendly "bioterrain" for cancer cells are suggested, as are techniques to counteract the ill effects, e.g., nausea and fatigue, of traditional cancer therapies. This dense book may overwhelm some readers, but considering the prevalence of cancer, it's sure to be a popular title.—Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa

The number of children diagnosed with autism is rising, and parents of autistic children often discover that it is difficult to find solutions. Nutrition is frequently neglected because physicians receive little training in the subject, but many parents and nutritional therapists find that using special diets helps children to calm down, focus, and communicate better. These three books written by parents of autistic children provide useful information about nutrition therapy for children on the autism spectrum; Converse and Lord are registered dietitians certified by the American Dietetic Association. Converse's Special-Needs Kids Eat Right is the most comprehensive, including information about the diagnosis and treatment of autism, special diet plans, and the use of supplements, as well as explanations of the various special diets being used. Lord and Silberberg concentrate on the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet. All three books provide sound advice about getting children started on the diet, shopping lists, recipes, and dealing with picky eaters. Silberberg offers an excellent list of web sites, including sites providing information about sticking with special diets while visiting other countries. Converse provides an extensive resource guide with materials on both traditional and alternative therapies. All three books are highly recommended; buy Special-Needs Kids Eat Right if you can afford only one.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L.

Green (director, Celiac Disease Ctr., Columbia Univ.) and Jones, a science writer and celiac disease patient, have added new information to this revised version of one of LJ's Best Consumer Health Books of 2006. The authors organize this edition the same way as the first, explaining the diagnosis, genetics, and possible complications, with seven chapters devoted to the gluten-free diet. Sections on the diagnosis and management of the disease are updated, and reports of more recent scientific research into a treatment or cure are included. There is a revised list of safe grains and ingredients and tips on reading labels as well as an expanded list of gluten-free product manufacturers. The 2006 edition, which has been a staple in library collections on celiac disease and gluten intolerance, is still a valuable resource worth keeping. This new edition is highly recommended for all libraries, even those that own the first edition.—Lisa Felix, Mishawaka-Penn-Harris P.L., IN

Guides on food advice during pregnancy abound, and expectant mom and dietitian Largeman-Roth's contribution covers all the basics: the nutrients you need when you're trying to conceive, foods to avoid, and foods that offer the most nutrition for mom and baby. But this book tries to become more than just a guide filled with dos and don'ts. It has a practical streak to it, including tips for eating out, basic kitchen training, and a whole chapter on healthy weight gain and exercising for two. There is also a brief chapter with advice specifically for women with food allergies. The recipe section offers up some familiar dishes with twists that make them a bit healthier (e.g., banana bread with flaxseed and meatloaf with apple cider vinegar) and some spicier options for those who crave curry but don't want all the sodium and oil often present in takeout. A good book for expectant moms who aren't as experimental in their food choices but want some basic tips for making healthier decisions.—Mindy Rhiger, St. Paul

Michaels (Making the Cut; Winning by Losing), the strength trainer for television's The Biggest Loser, here addresses the influence that hormone balance—affected by estrogen, insulin, testosterone, cortisol, epinephrine, leptin, and others—has on weight loss. Various internal and external influences can cause hormones to over- or underproduce, resulting in not only weight gain but serious illness. Michaels's plan emphasizes natural foods, organically grown and unprocessed. She describes which foods affect which hormones and how plastics and pollutants in our air and water and additives in many different products can also cause imbalances. She makes a good case for not using bioidentical hormones. Michaels claims that most prescription drugs should be eliminated but does recommend doing this under a doctor's supervision. This generally responsible program is bound to be popular with the public. Not an essential purchase, but a good one if you need this type of material.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

Grivetti (nutrition, emeritus, Univ. of California, Davis; Food: The Gift of Osiris) and Shapiro (global director of plant science & external research, Mars, Inc.) compile 57 essays by 100 experts—all members of the Chocolate History Group, a UC Davis-Mars collective—in fields ranging from art history to molecular biology; despite these connections to a major U.S. candy producer, branding does not taint this scholarly text on the evolution of chocolate. Antiques aficionados will find four separate studies of chocolate pots engrossing, while crime buffs may be surprised to learn that 13 people were once executed in England for chocolate-related crimes. Ancient chocolate recipes, the role of chocolate in the Inquisition, and an analysis of early chocolate advertising are of particular use to historians. The chapters are arranged in rough chronological, geographical, and topical order, as dictated by the subject matter, and are backed by extensive references. Eleven appendixes, including a comprehensive chocolate time line and a guide to library research etiquette; an index (not seen); and 64 pages of color plates complete this impressive textbook. Recommended for academic libraries and large public libraries.—Rosemarie Lewis, Broward Cty. Pub. Schs., Ft. Lauderdale, FL

In her first book, Reed—the style director for Grazia, a weekly UK fashion magazine, and a seasoned fashion journalist—incorporates all the great elements of many books in this genre: bright, bold images, a fun, informative tone, and tips most women can apply to their own wardrobes. Peppered with pictures of celebrity fashionistas like Sarah Jessica Parker, Style Clinic is as fabulous as the personal style it promotes. In Style Evolution, stylist and former fashion editor Farr narrows her focus to helping women in their forties and older create lasting personal style. This follow-up to The Pocket Stylist targets specific styles and body types, relying on enduring designs, fits, and clothing lines to teach readers how to avoid trends and build wardrobes to meet the changing physical and lifestyle needs of middle age. Farr even names individual designers and stores most appropriate for women over 40. This original approach makes for an educational though text-heavy guide. Readers may be put off by this denseness and by the illustrations, which are vague and do not have the appeal of the photographs in Style Clinic. Both are recommended for larger public libraries where similar titles circulate well.—Meagan P. Storey, Virginia Wesleyan Coll., Norfolk

Barash (evolutionary biologist & psychology, Univ. of Washington) and his wife, Lipton, a clinical psychiatrist specializing in women's health, have written several books considering men and women in the light of evolution (The Myth of Monogamy; Making Sense of Sex); here, they concentrate on females. By examining the many explanations, which they call "just-so stories," for various female enigmas (menstruation, ovulation, breasts and hips, orgasm, and menopause) and putting forth the research that may or may not support those explanations, the authors present an intriguing exercise in how evolutionists think and develop their ideas. Older titles addressing these female characteristics include Sarah Hrdy's Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and How They Shape the Human Species and Elaine Morgan's The Descent of Woman, but this new title updates the research and incorporates some new ideas. Recommended for larger university and public library collections of women's studies materials.—Margaret Henderson, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Lib., Richmond

Critically acclaimed writer Bass (The Book of Yaak) writes again about his beloved Yaak Valley, only this time with a sense of celebration as he ushers in the new millennium with a month-by-month record of observations, events, and thoughts from this remote, wild section of northwest Montana. He writes of each month's distinctive character—silent January, lusty May, and April, as we northern readers can attest to, the month of dashed hopes when sudden snowstorms hold spring at bay. Bass, whose life seems shaped by the Wendell Berry poem "The Peace of Wild Things," presents a work of wonder, praise, and thanksgiving for all the marvels of nature, where every aspect is connected and every process has its place. Bass, grounding his book in science well, takes the facts and transforms them, as a musician transforms musical notes, into a work of great beauty. This walk through a year is a walk through the author's soul, filled with passions, dreams, fears, and the exuberance of Walt Whitman. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/09.]—Maureen J. Delaney-Lehman, Lake Superior State Univ. Lib., Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Since the industrial era, our connection with the environment has been one of utilitarianism and capitalist interests. Recently, however, the greening of our culture has been moving from society's fringes to become prominent. Gibson (sociology, California State Univ., Long Beach; Warrior Dreams: Paramilitary Culture in Post-Vietnam America) has deemed this renaissance of ecoworship "reenchantment"—where humans once again recognize their spiritual and emotional connections with nature. His own sense of reenchantment palpable, Gibson details each of the major American connections with the earth. Spanning from Native American lore to the Gaia hypothesis of the 1970s and on to today, he weaves the work of the most prominent writers in the field of earth sciences with the artistic works of poets, photographers, and songwriters. Gibson's synthesis of the green movement's varied components offers an insightful new perspective on the modern-day reenchantment with our planet. Lengthy endnotes provide an excellent resource for more information. Highly recommended for academic libraries and larger public libraries. (Index not seen.)—Jaime Hammond, Naugatuck Valley Community Coll. Lib., Waterbury, CT

To his latest work, Heinrich (biology, Univ. of Vermont; Winter World) brings an immense curiosity about nature's summer as well as the biological knowledge needed to describe what that curiosity discovers. Moving sequentially from late spring/early summer to late summer/early fall (as defined in Vermont and Maine, where his family has a home and a vacation cabin, respectively), he probes into the lifecycles of various creatures and discusses what role summer plays for that creature. From ants to flies to beetles to caterpillars to hummingbirds, phoebes, and woodpeckers, Heinrich notices everything around him in the woods and sets out to investigate; his skillful writing and delight in the season and nature are obvious. Highly recommended for all collections.—Michael D. Cramer, Schwarz BioSciences, RTP, NC

In his sixth book on Gaia, the eminent 91-year-old British scientist who originated the Gaia Theory to explain the interconnectedness between our planet's climate and life takes an elegiac tone and cosmic perspective in predicting our near future. Challenging the scientific consensus of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he believes it is too late to reverse global warming. We must accept that Earth is moving inexorably into a long-term "hot state." Most humans will die off, and we must prepare havens like northern Canada, where some climate refugees can survive. Lovelock rejects the results of climate computer modeling when they clash with scientific observation. For example, he points out that sea levels are rising significantly faster than models predicted. Lovelock advocates solar thermal and nuclear power as the best substitutes for burning fossil fuels, and he suggests emergency global geoengineering projects that might cool the planet. But Lovelock also avows today's ecological efforts are futile. This is a somber prophecy written with an authority that cannot be dismissed. Recommended for all academic and public libraries.—David Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.

As reflected in the number of companion books being published (e.g., Deborah Cramer's Smithsonian Ocean), the world's oceans appear to be a hot topic for television specials and museum galleries. This latest volume accompanies a series recently broadcast by the BBC (which will likely be seen on U.S. television in the near future), and it has a twist. Instead of basic oceanography, this title examines "anthropological oceanography," the impact of humankind and the oceans upon each other; one member of the dive/production team is even a maritime archaeologist. The emphasis here is on the team's experiences, rather than on the science in which they might be engaged, as they explore their filming locations in each of seven oceans and seas of the world. The light tone and lack of a bibliography and further reading suggestions don't recommend this for academic libraries, but abundant beautiful photographs and extensive, well-written text will make this a good addition to public libraries (willing to deal with its large size, 29 × 23 cm) where there is interest in diving or the oceans.—Margaret Rioux, MBL/WHOI Lib., Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst., MA

While visiting a primate sanctuary for a story on captive chimpanzees, Siebert (Wickerby: An Urban Pastoral) encounters Roger, a chimpanzee formerly used in the entertainment industry, who seems to remember him. In one transformative night, Siebert sits up until dawn with Roger, repairing their apparently severed bond, pondering the meaning of humanity's relationship to nonhuman animals, and recounting some of the ugly history of exotic animals killed, captured, bred, and abused by humans in the name of entertainment and research. While Roger seems to find healing in the interaction, the human finds metaphysical escape. Seeing in Roger reflections of himself, Siebert concludes that a self-centered humanity may stop abusing nonhumans if we perceive them to be part of ourselves. While his musings occasionally come across as self-absorbed, Siebert's writing is fresh and evocative, and his sensitive and sustained attention to Roger is moving. Given the popularity of human/animal friendship stories, this book will likely be of interest to readers in both public and academic libraries.—Leslie J. Patterson, Chicago P.L.

Just as a seed contains the ability to create a whole plant, the evolution of seeds can serve as a microcosm for plant evolution. British ecology professor Silvertown (Demons in Eden: The Paradox of Plant Diversity) begins with a discussion of how seeds evolved to adapt plants to a fully terrestrial life when they emerged from the sea. In the process, he covers many relevant topics, including sexual and asexual reproduction, plant genetics, plant self-defense and seed dispersal, plant poisons, and seeds as food. The author also explains the coevolution of plants and animals, as in using and perceiving color. He covers some plant products humans use, such as sunflower oil, grain for beer, and coffee. Like Michael Pollan in The Botany of Desire, Silvertown cites historical attitudes and quotations about particular plants. But he focuses primarily on the science of plant evolution rather than human history or anecdote. Endnotes suggest further reading. Silvertown writes both elegantly and clearly, and the book is as pleasurable to read as it is informative. For academic and public library botany and natural history collections.—Marit S. Taylor, Auraria Lib., Denver

In this exceptional book, Weiss, who grew up in the Baltimore suburbs and moved to Homer, AK, with her boyfriend, gives us an intimate look into the lives of Alaskans living in small coastal communities. Unlike most "life in…" memoirs, which leave the reader viewing from the outside, Weiss takes us there with her delightful prose style, giving us the feel of the people, the place, and the kind of life that draws nourishment from the land and sea. We can see the textures of the ocean, smell and taste the salt air, and feel the cold crisp snow. We are there as Weiss, the suburban newbie, struggles to fit into the community and make the hardy lifestyle her own. Alaska is a captivating land, and this book does justice to it. Highly recommended for school, public, and university libraries.—Betty Galbraith, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman