Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

Next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m, the Youth Department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library will present the final treat ending its "Readopoly" summer reading schedule that attracted 707 pre-schoolers and kindergartners through high school-age students. The Bubble Truck from southern Indiana (that had to be postponed) will be the entertainment in the new parking lot to celebrate the successful six-week program. The Youth Services staff oversaw crafts, story times, and games and helped the young patrons and their families register their reading for rewards that included books, 14 different game puzzles, special tic-tac-toe commemorative T shirts, even four bicycles. Financial underwriting came from the Friends of the Library's proceeds from its monthly Second Saturday Bookstore donations. The staff thanks the Crawfordsville Masonic Lodge, Dairy Queen, Kiwanis, Krogers, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Random House, and Walmart for their generous support. Karen says, "Many parents have complimented this year's program that encouraged their children to read a variety of topics and challenged them."

Lots of new history books look interesting. Victor Hanson's "The Father of Us All" uses "deep knowledge of military history to shed light on present-day controversies". "Sacred Violence" by Jill Claster explains the European Crusades to the Middle East in the years 1305-1396. "The Roads to Modernity" by Gertrude Himmelfarb covers the British, French, and American Enlightenments, which she says, created a "social ethic-humane, compassionate, and realistic-that still resonates today especially in America". Gary Hart's "James Monroe" is a new volume in The American Presidents series. "Henry Clay, The Essential American" is David Heidler's biography of the "greatest U. S. Senator", serving under ten Presidents and campaigning unsuccessfully for President five times. "Russia Against Napoleon" by Dominic Lieven tells the story of the 1812 attack on Russia with material from Russian archives.

In "The Last Stand" Nathaniel Philbrick recognizes the Battle of the Little Bighorn as one of the most potent and embattled episodes in American history involving George Custer and Sitting Bull. "Wild Romance" by Chloe Schama is a Victorian story of Scotland, Yosemite, and Hong Kong, centering on a self-made woman. "Elsie & Mairi Go to War" by Diane Atkinson tells about two extraordinary women on the Western Front in World War I. John Samples' "The Struggle to Limit Government" is modern political history and a guide to the political battles of today and tomorrow.

Mireille Guiliano's first cookbook, "The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook" includes a secret family recipe from her aunt for a delicious breakfast that melts away pounds effortlessly. Laura Bush tells her story in the memoir "Spoken from the Heart".

Guidebooks are available on almost any subject. "How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously" by Jerrold Mundis is based on principles and techniques of Debtors Anonymous. "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" by Andrew Tobias is "so full of tips and angles that only a booby or a billionaire could not benefit" (quoted in The New York Times). Jonathan Pond offers "Grow your Money" with 101 tips to plan, save, and invest. Stephen Covey includes a DVD bonus in his new book "The 8th Habit" leading readers from effectiveness to greatness. His classic fifteen years ago was "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People".