Library News and Notable New Books

Library Offers New Patriotic Readings - The Crawfordsville Library will be closed Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th for the Independence Day holiday.

Here are new books in the Library's collection with patriotic themes. "What So Proudly We Hail" by Kass, Kass, and Schaub was written to help all Americans realize who they are as citizens of the United States; selections by our country's greatest writers and leaders express patriotism in stories, speeches, and songs. The book is a great review of American literature from present day reflections to federal period essays. "The Idea of America" by Gordon Wood is made up of reflections on the birth of the United States, showing why it remains the most significant event in our history by studying the fears and hopes of the Revolutionary generation. An interesting related book this week is "Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation" by Andrea Wulf which shows the founding fathers "as they've never before been seen."

Timothy Ferris' "The Science of Liberty" makes a case for science as the inspiration behind the rise of democracy; it surveys the forces that have opposed liberty, from communism and fascism to postmodernism and Islamic fundamentalism. "Abraham Lincoln: Great American Historians on our Sixteenth President" offers 86 short essays on every aspect of his being' sponsored by C-Span which became "the television network of the Lincoln bicentennial." President Ronald Reagan's "The Notes" a book edited by Douglas Brinkley was written from Reagan's 4-by-6 note cards where he recorded his favorite nuggets of political wisdom and, from which it's clear, his methods helped him be "The Great Communicator." "Freedom at Risk" is James Buckley's reflection on politics, liberty, and the state, having held high office in each branch of the federal government as a senator, an under secretary of state, and a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals. He lists the steps that must be taken to save constitutional government.

"The Encyclopedia of Country Living" by Carla Emery holds all kinds of data many people, even city people, can use; there's a section on Garden Vegetables that describes each of them, tells how to use them in foods, which of their greens to eat, how to plant them, and their food values in "From Fava to Peanut, Garbanzo to Soy" for instance. Then under Poultry there's "Some of My Favorite Goose Recipes". Under Grasses, Grains & Canes there's "Unleavened Egg, and Acid-Base Leavened Breads."

From Rodale Press "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies" specializes in quick fixes, clever techniques, and uncommon cures to get you feeling better fast. Sheri Williamson has written the latest Peterson Field Guide called "Hummingbirds of North America." Next comes "Take Charge of your Nursing Career: Open the Door to your Dreams" by Lois Marshall contains information to use along the path to success and/or change. The "MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers" comes from the Modern Language Association which now has online access. "The 2011 Poet's Market" shows over a thousand updated listings to help poets get their work published. "Warman's Antiques & Collectibles" for 2012 by Mark Moran is a trip among beautiful things along with their stories and values. If you plan to visit Hawaii, there's Frommer's full-color Hawaii tour guide which includes a pocket map.

Stella Cameron's Court of Angels novels "Out of Body" and "Out of Sight" are suspenseful fantasy stories about a killing force attacking New Orleans.

Library News and Notable New Books

The Crawfordsville District Public Library has a helpful collection of books about computers. Two new offerings are now available. Brian Christian tells what talking with computers teaches us about what it means to be alive in "The Most Human Human". "iPads for Seniors for Dummies" and "Laptops For Seniors for Dummies", both by Nancy Muir, look useful too.

"The Shape of Inner Space" by Shing-Tung Yau explains string theory and the geometry of the universe's hidden dimensions. "The Black Hole War" by Leonard Susskind tells about his battle with Stephen Hawking to make the world safe for quantum mechanics. "Alone Together" by Sherry Turkle discusses why we expect more from technology and less from each other (because technology drains us of human purposes). Then, "Dance of the Photons from Einstein to Quantum Teleportation" comes from Anton Zeilinger who tells about his life work in a lively style, relying on simple cartoons, anecdotes, and a sense of humor, rather than abstruse mathematics, to convey his recent findings. The latest DK book is "Starfinder" the complete beginner's guide to exploring the night sky (the book's cover is clever and fascinating in itself). "Super Structures" the science of bridges, buildings, dams, and other feats of engineering features photos of famous examples around the world.

Three books about food lure us. "The One-Block Feast" is an adventure in food from yard to table by Margo True and the staff of Sunset magazine with 100 recipes made from ingredients in your yard. There are garden plans for all four seasons too. "The Skinny on Losing Weight without Being Hungry" comes from Louis Aronne.

"Sugar Changed the World" is Marc Aronson's title for his story of "magic, spice, slavery, freedom, and science." Peter Gleick offers "Bottled & Sold", the story behind our obsession with bottled water. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" delivers James Carroll's research about how that ancient city ignited our modern world. Francis West's "The Wrong War" explains grit, strategy, and the way out of Afghanistan.

Dick Van Dyke's "My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business" is his memoir of work during the golden age of television. He's always been known for his beaming smile, physical dexterity, good timing, ridiculous stunts, and unforgettable roles.

Here are the latest novels on the shelves. Jeff Shaara's "The Final Storm" opens a new front in his gripping chronicle of World War II as soldiers, sailors, and Marines sacrifice all for one final push toward decisive victory in the fierce maelstrom of the Pacific theater. John Sandford's "Buried Prey" is a mystery in which an entire block on the edge of the Minneapolis loop is being torn down for development, when an unpleasant surprise is unearthed: the bodies of two girls, wrapped in plastic, underneath an old house. Another mystery, "The Complaints" by Ian Rankin, reveals a detective division whose sole occupation is to investigate accusations against fellow police officers. A case comes up linking a promising young police officer with a child-abuse ring.

Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

Still Time to Join Adult Summer Reading - "Take Your Chances at the Library" is the summer reading challenge for adults at the Crawfordsville Library on 205 SouthWashington Street. The first prize winners have been notified; they are Chris A., Angela B., and Debra W. Weekly prizes will lead up to the Grand Prize. The winner will be chosen from those finishing ten books by July 29th. Throwing dice results in the kind of book to be read, such as fiction, CD or tape, or non-fiction in one of the following genres: suspense, fantasy, western, romance, comedy, or your choice of subject. This way the book selection becomes a creative challenge too.

"Examined Lives" by James Miller contains short lively biographies of 12 famous philosophers from Socrates to Nietzsche confirming the continuing relevance of learning about philosophy and especially about what it means to live a good life. Ralph Keyes' "Euphemania" discusses "mild or indirect expressions instead of those that are harsh or unpleasantly direct (euphemisms)", and he writes about the surprising and inventive ways these phrases are created and enter our language. According to Guy Kawasaki, "Enchantment" is the art of changing hearts, minds, and actions, converting hostility into civility, and changing skeptics and cynics into believers. In "The Social Animal" David Brooks takes a couple from infancy to school, through adulthood to leadership, revealing the social aspect of the mind and exposing the bias in modern culture that influences individualism and IQ, while also trying to demolish conventional success by looking toward a culture based on trust and humility. A look at the four points of the compass, the high Arctic to Antarctica and across the tropics from the Caribbean to the west Pacific looking at the natural world of Eskimos, bears, and reefs, "The View from Lazy Point" by Carl Safina reveals the importance of human progress seeing the world as a sacred place.

"Masters of the Game" by Kim Eisler takes us inside the world's most powerful law firm, Williams & Connolly, focusing on five members and their cases like David Kendall's winning acquittal for President Clinton in the impeachment saga. "Cricket Radio" is John Himmelman's discussion of the creatures that lure and warn, hearing each other, attracting potential mates, warning off competitors, and evading predators.

Several new novels with Amish plots are "Rachel's Garden" by Marta Perry, "The Bridge of Peace" by Cindy Woodsmall, and "The Journey" by Wanda Brunstetter. The Amana Colonies are featured in "Somewhere to Belong" and "More than Words" by Judith Miller. "The Raven's Bride" by Lenore Hart is a novel that adds to the legend of Edgar Allan Poe and his ill-fated marriage. "Letters from Home" by Kristina McMorris is a World War II Greatest Generation romantic fiction.

"Miles to Go" by Richard Evans finds an injured former-executive kept from his plan to walk cross-country; a lady befriends him and they both search for hope to heal each other. "The Farm" by Walter Honsinger is about some destitute acreage where communal effort at a rural market might save it. Daniel Abraham's "The Dragon's Path" is book one of the Dagger and the Coin, a fantasy about Free Cities and the Severed Throne.

Interesting studies include "Oceana" which is Ted Danson's well-illustrated essay about endangered bodies of water and what we can do to save them. "The Complete Book of Mustang: Every Model Since 1964 1/2" is a suave and colorful catalog of automobile history. Another gem is "Weaponry: An Illustrated History" by Chuck Wills in association with the Berman Museum of World Art in Anniston, Alabama, featuring the vast collection of Colonel Farley Berman (1910-1999).

Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

Everybody's Invited to Summer Reading Programs - At the Crawfordsville Library "the game is on" in the adult summer reading challenge, so "Take your Chances at the Library!" Roll dice to find out your reading categories, earn points, and reach the challenge goal by completing ten books in eight weeks. The circulation desk area is decked out in dice, and full of patrons finding out about the weekly prize drawings and one Grand Prize. You'll find room to be helped, even when the children's area is crowded with its own prize winners and craft makers. This is a great kind of cool community summer school, and you're very welcome there.

Regarding new fiction on the shelves, Phillip Margolin's "Supreme Justice" offers suspense; a woman on death row in Oregon has appealed her case just as a Supreme Court justice is attacked. One of three, newly requested novels is Australian author Pamela Freeman's "The Castings", a fantasy trilogy in one volume about what's right and what's wrong including lessons on how to live a good and decent life. Strong female characters and a story told through multiple points of view center around how one group dominates another group. "Skating around the Law" by Joelle Charbonneau is a look at a small town murder investigation that's laugh-out-loud funny. "Heart of Lies" by Jill Landis takes us to New Orleans where a girl who grew up in a tribe of street urchins moves to the bayou where she's forced to hide a kidnapped child.

New manuals about high tech objects begin with "Five-Star APPS" by Glenn Fleishman, promoting the best iPhone and iPad apps for work and play. "Facebook the Missing Manual" (that should have come with the site) has materials collected by Emily Vander Veer. "The Cellphone" contains Guy Klemens' "history and technology of the gadget that changed the world". "Cloud Computing Bible" is designed by Barrie Sosinsky for those who know about basic computer operations and theory and tells what cloud computing is and why you should be interested in it, then proceeds to "Using Platforms", "Exploring Cloud Infrastructures", and "Understanding Services and Applications."

More books about food appear all the time. This time "Blood, Bones & Butter" is Gabrielle Hamilton's "inadvertent education of a reluctant chef", during twenty years leading up to opening her New York restaurant "Prune". ”Rustic Fruit Desserts" (crumbles, buckles, cobblers, pandowdies, and more) by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson also feature slumps, grunts, dumplings, and fools. "Ethan Stowell's New Italian Kitchen" is another great adventure in soups, polenta, and risotto, made with unusual and appealing ingredients.

Serious stuff might be "She-Wolves" Helen Castor's research about the women who ruled England before Elizabeth I. "The Fires of Vesuvius" about Pompeii lost and found is presented by Mary Beard as the puzzling, intriguing, violent element from the sixth century BC to the present day. "An Exclusive Love" is a memoir by Johanna Adorjan about her grandparents, Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust, fled Budapest in 1956 to Denmark and later to Copenhagen where they took their own lives in 1991, a fascinating couple honored in print. Last on this list of four is Andrew McCarthy's "The Grand Jihad" in his view of "how Islam and the Left sabotage America".

"Betting the Earth: How We Can Still Win the Biggest Gamble of All Time" by John Kunich talks about our views pro and con, the term "global warming", and how we can draw rational, evidence-based conclusions about it. NBC's The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper's "Are You Ready!" is another compelling title about taking charge, losing weight, getting in shape and changing our lives. A nostalgic look back is Beckey Burgoyne's look at "Perfectly Amanda: Gunsmoke's Miss Kitty: To Dodge and Beyond" including photographs of Amanda Blake's other interests in her particular causes.

Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

Crawfordsville Library's Summer Program Has Begun - It's time to sign up for this year's summer reading program at the Crawfordsville Library. The theme is "America Reading Coast to Coast" designed with age-specific goals for toddlers through high school aged patrons. Come in any time to register. In the elementary program you'll read for a certain length of time in each State. Delaware requires five minutes, while Pennsylvania requires fifteen minutes of good reading. The states are listed in the order they joined the Union, so you'll be almost done when you "reach" Alaska and Hawaii.

Lots of new library books are addressed to the individual reader. "You Are What You Speak" by Robert Greene traces the role that "language beliefs" play to identify us; there's the French Academy with its own standards, the Zionist revival of Hebrew, and our present-day efforts to provide education in foreign languages essential to business, diplomacy, and yes, intelligence organizations. The author wants us to put effort into our ways of communicating. Paul Bergman's "Represent Yourself in Court" tells how to prepare and try a winning case.

Learning to be creative is Ken Robinson's goal in "Out of our Minds" and he offers a groundbreaking approach to leadership, teaching, and professional development especially in Big Picture programs in schools. In "The Same Thing Over and Over" Frederick Hess comments on school reformers who get stuck in yesterday's ideas, and he urges us to create a much wider variety of schools to meet a greater range of needs for different kinds of talents, a developed challenge in our more complex and demanding society. There's a book about the CIA and the world of arts and letters called "The Cultural Cold War" in which Frances Saunders exposes the campaign where exponents of intellectual freedom became instruments of the American government.

"Curation Nation" is Steven Rosenbaum's title discussing why the future of content is context and how consumers can be creators by zeroing in on information that's specifically helpful amongst the enormous amount of data in this technical world. John Ortberg's "The Me I Want to Be" has a spiritual base for each of us including chapters on "finding my identity", "flowing with the spirit", "renewing my mind", and "transforming my experience."

"Miami Beach Deco" by Steven Brooke displays buildings protected by an Art Deco District which has enabled restoration of 1930s architecture, now a magnet for world-wide artists, designers, and travelers.

Requested novels begin with "Snowdrops" by Andrew Miller, a psychological drama about the irresistible allure of sin: a British lawyer working in Moscow doesn't ask questions about the shady deals he works on; the sordid portrayal of that city features characters whose hearts are as icy as the Russian winter. "Loom" by Therese Chehade introduces a newly resident Lebanese family trying to Americanize itself while drawn to a neighbor who exhibits his own isolation and loneliness. "The Accountant's Guide to the Universe" by Craig Hovey subtitled "Heaven and Hell by the Numbers" is a guided tour through the world of finance as a "quirky morality tale." "Minding Frankie" by Maeve Binchy tells of a motherless girl collectively raised by a closely-knit Dublin community. "The Adults" by Alison Espach shows an intelligent high school student exposed to the world of grown-ups who perform contemporary acts not based in highly moral principles.