The book: Fort Stanwix National Monument is a reconstructed log-and-sod Revolutionary War fort located in the center of the city of Rome, New York. Initially undertaken as part of Rome’s urban renewal effort to revive a failing economy through tourism, the fort’s reconstruction exemplifies how a regional interest successfully engaged the National Park Service in achieving its goals. This book looks at the history of Fort Stanwix and documents how the people of Rome partnered with the National Park Service to create the fort.

The author: Joan M. Zenzen is an independent scholar and the author of “Battling for Manassas: The Fifty-Year Preservation Struggle at Manassas National Battlefield Park.”

The book: The Caribbean “market woman” is ingrained in the popular imagination as the archetype of black womanhood in countries throughout the region. Challenging this stereotype and other outdated images of black women, this book offers a more complex picture by documenting the history of independent international traders—known as informal commercial importers, or ICIs—who travel abroad to import and export a vast array of consumer goods sold in the public markets of Kingston, Jamaica. Both by-products of and participants in globalization, ICIs operate on multiple levels and have made significant contributions to the regional, national, and global economies.

The author: Gina Ulysse is an anthropologist, poet/performer and multimedia artist. Haiti is the main focus of her works. She is also a professor of anthropology and African American studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

Web site: http://www.ginaathenaulysse.com/index.html

The book: Few issues affect the future of China—and hence all the nations that interact with China—more than the nature of its ruling party and government. This timely study assesses the strengths and weaknesses, durability, adaptability, and potential longevity of China's Communist Party. It argues that although the CCP has been in a protracted state of atrophy, it has undertaken a number of adaptive measures aimed at reinventing itself and strengthening its rule. This investigation draws on a unique set of inner-party documents and interviews and finds that the CCP is resilient and will continue to retain its grip on power.

The author: David Shambaugh is professor of political science and international affairs and director of the China Policy Program at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. He is also a non-resident senior fellow in foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution. He has written and edited many books.

The book: Mucking around in the messy terrain of American trash, the author tells the story of the United States during the Great Depression through evocative and photo-rich portraits of four locales: Reno, Key West, Harlem and Hollywood. In investigating these Depression-era “dumps,” places that she claims contained and reclaimed the cultural, ideological and material refuse of modern America, she introduces the concept of “depressive modernity.” This enduring affective component of American culture exposes itself at those moments when the foundational myths of America and progressive modernity—capitalism, democracy, individualism, secularism, utopian aspiration—are thrown into question.

The author: Jani Scandura is associate professor of English and co-founder of the Space and Place Research Collective at the University of Minnesota. She is a co-editor of “Modernism, Inc.: Body, Memory, Capital.”

The book: The cartoons in this book were created to help adults change mindsets and bring more laughter back to their lives. The book contains mostly adult humor, in good taste, based on adult situations. While enjoying this book, the reader is encouraged to take another look at the situations he or she faces every day, find some humor in them and laugh.

The author: After several years of cartooning for business associates, friends and family, Tom Pliner wanted to share his art and humor with a larger audience and decided to publish this book. He and his wife, Gail, live in Bonita, California and have two grown children.

Web site: www.tepeetoons.com

The book: In 1964, Carl Oglesby, a young copywriter for a Michigan-based defense contractor, was asked by a local Democratic congressman to draft a campaign paper on the Vietnam War. Oglesby's report argued that the conflict was misplaced and unwinnable. He had little idea that its subsequent publication would put him on a fast track to becoming the president of the now-legendary protest movement Students for a Democratic Society. In this book, Oglesby shares the triumphs and tribulations of an organization that burgeoned across America, only to collapse in the face of surveillance by the US government and infighting.

The author: Carl Oglesby was president of Students for a Democratic Society between 1965 and 1966. His previous books include “Containment and Change” and “The JFK Assassination.” He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The book: Introducing chemistry in its simplest terms, this six-volume set provides an overview of some fascinating areas of research, supplementing information that students may have received from classes in general science, physical science or chemistry. Current and comprehensive, it covers topics ranging from the most fundamental fields of chemistry to those with important applications to everyday life. Emphasis is on recent research and advances in each of the fields of chemistry covered in the set. These books offer students an engaging reference to a complicated science in language that is easy to understand.

The author: David E. Newton taught mathematics and physical sciences, was a professor of chemistry and physics at Salem State College, and was an adjunct professor in the College of Professional Studies at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of more than 400 textbooks, encyclopedias, resource books, research manuals, trade books and other educational materials.

The book: The musical distinctiveness of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been shaped by individuals and ensembles, record label and radio station owners, announcers and disc jockeys, club owners and sound engineers, music journalists and musicians. The area's output cannot be described by a single genre or style. Rather, its music is a kaleidoscope of country, blues, R&B, rockabilly and rock. The authors present that evolution in a collection of scholarly and popular writing that covers institutions and people who nurtured the musical life of the city and surroundings.

The author: Tracey E. W. Laird is associate professor of music at Agnes Scott College and the author of “Louisiana Hayride: Radio and Roots Music Along the Red River.”

The book: We live in a world that is marked by the twin processes of economic globalization and cultural globalization. This thought-provoking book explores the impact of cultural globalization on second- and foreign-language education. Grounded in Western and non-Western perspectives, and written in an easily accessible style that combines personal narrative and academic genre, this book is indispensable for graduate students, practicing teachers, teacher educators, researchers and others who are interested in exploring the complexity of cultural globalization and language education.

The author: B. Kumaravadivelu is professor of applied linguistics and TESOL at San José State University. His previous book, “Beyond Methods: Macrostrategies for Language Teaching,” was published by Yale University Press in 2002.

The book: Schnaiberg’s concept of the treadmill of production is arguably the most visible and enduring theory to emerge in three decades of environmental sociology. Building new extensions and applications of the treadmill theory, this new book shows how and why northern analysts and governments have failed to protect our environment and secure our future. Using an empirically based political-economic perspective, the authors outline the causes of environmental degradation, the limits of environmental protection policies and the failures of institutional decision-makers to protect human well-being.

The author: Kenneth A. Gould is professor and chair of sociology at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and professor of sociology and earth and environmental sciences at the CUNY Graduate Center. He is coauthor of “Environment and Society: The Enduring Conflict” and “Local Environmental Struggles: Citizen Activism in the Treadmill of Production.”

The book: With 76 million baby boomers on the cusp of retirement, it's time to look beyond finances and examine how ending traditional, full-time work affects every aspect of life. Hundreds of retirees weigh in on the subjects of home, marriage, family, friends, hobbies, health and even going back to part- or full-time work. Their insights will help readers create their personalized strategy for an active and fulfilling retirement. A workbook format makes it easy to access the practical information that makes this an essential guide to this exciting new phase of life.

The author: Miriam Goodman is a public relations consultant, journalist, radio producer and Emmy-nominated television producer. She has interviewed more than 1,000 people, from celebrities to diplomats, during her career. She has served on boards of nonprofit organizations in the fields of women’s rights, children’s rights and politics and is known in the San Francisco area for her work in social action causes.

Web site: http://www.reinventingretirement.info

The book: This book explores the elements of language, style, rhythm, sound and the choice of the right word. It paints an image of how language can produce a life and meaning that otherwise cannot exist in the symbols themselves. The author collects examples from writers of the past and present and uses them to illustrate how each element of our written language can be used. The volume, written with humor and clarity, is an indispensable source of creative inspiration and instruction for writers and a guide to understanding the tools and devices of great writing for literary critics.

The author: Richard Goodman is the author of “French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France" and has written for many national publications. He has taught creative writing in New York City for a number of years and is now associated with the New York Writers Workshop. He teaches writing at Spalding University’s MFA in Writing Program.

Web site: http://richardgoodman.homestead.com

The book: This book examines how efforts to provide the elite of Puerto Rico and the Philippines a practical education in self-government played out in the early years of American colonial rule, from 1898 until 1912. It is the first systematic comparative analysis of these early exercises in American imperial power. The author unravels how American authorities used “culture” as both a tool and a target of rule and how the Puerto Rican and Philippine elite received, creatively engaged and sometimes silently subverted the Americans’ ostensibly benign intentions.

The author: Julian Go is assistant professor of sociology at Boston University. He is a coeditor of “The American Colonial State in the Philippines: Global Perspectives,” also published by Duke University Press.

The book: This book examines how efforts to provide the elite of Puerto Rico and the Philippines a practical education in self-government played out in the early years of American colonial rule, from 1898 until 1912. It is the first systematic comparative analysis of these early exercises in American imperial power. The author unravels how American authorities used “culture” as both a tool and a target of rule and how the Puerto Rican and Philippine elite received, creatively engaged and sometimes silently subverted the Americans’ ostensibly benign intentions.

The author: Julian Go is assistant professor of sociology at Boston University. He is a coeditor of “The American Colonial State in the Philippines: Global Perspectives,” also published by Duke University Press.

The book: Showcasing diverse voices and experiences, this book explores how women respond to a breast cancer diagnosis. Drawing from interviews in which women describe their journeys from diagnosis through treatment and recovery, it explores topics ranging from women's trust in their doctors to their feelings about appearance and sexuality. What emerges is a compelling picture of how cultural messages about breast cancer shape women's ideas about their illness, how breast cancer affects their relationships with friends and family, why some of them become activists and more.

The author: Julia A. Ericksen, herself a breast cancer survivor, is a professor of sociology at Temple University and an author, with Sally Steffen, of “Kiss and Tell: Surveying Sex in the Twentieth Century.”

The book: These are the stories of some 400 men and women, all profoundly affected by World War II. The book reflects the experiences of male and female veterans, civilians on the home front, conscientious objectors, survivors of the torpedoing of the USS Indianapolis and of typhoons, and participants in the Normandy Invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. From the first stirrings of war through its aftermath, this book captures how Americans lived, felt and believed during the 20th century's most brutal conflict.

The author: Marilyn Mayer Culpepper is the author of “Trials and Triumphs: The Women of the American Civil War” and “All Things Altered: Women in the Wake of the Civil War.” She is professor emeriti at Michigan State University.

The book: Moscow’s Arbat neighborhood has been home to many of Russia's most famous artists, writers and scholars as well as several leading cultural establishments. This book explores how the neighborhood changed during the period of ideological relaxation under Khrushchev that came to be known as “the thaw.” This book finds that, while the period is typically remembered as a golden age, it was instead characterized by confusion and contestation. It is a window onto the complex beginning of a process that is not yet complete: deciding what to jettison and what to retain from the pre-Soviet and Soviet pasts as Russia moves into the future.

The author: Stephen V. Bittner is associate professor of history at Sonoma State University. He is the editor of “The Kremlin’s Scholar: A Memoir of Soviet Politics Under Stalin and Khrushchev” by Dmitrii Shepilov.

The book: Among Southern sympathizers after the Civil War, Father Abram J. Ryan’s celebrity placed him in a pantheon of Confederate figures. His verses investigated faith and propagated a romanticized view of the Southern cause, and Ryan himself became a near-mythical figure. His posthumous influence extended to such writers as William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. This biography of the enigmatic Confederate poet examines the man behind the myth and separates Lost Cause legend from fact. Scholars of the Civil War, the Irish in America and American religious history will find this a fascinating examination of a controversial figure.

The author: Donald R. Beagle is a director of library services at Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte, North Carolina, and curator of the Father Ryan Archive. His many articles have appeared in journals such as Catholic Library World, Journal of Academic Librarianship and Libri: International Library Review.

The book: It's 1976, and while the country prepares to celebrate the bicentennial, Daniel Truitt's family is falling apart. His father, Pete, has been fired from yet another teaching job, and his mother is close to leaving for good. But when Pete lucks into a crumbling mansion in the nation's capital, he makes a bold plan to start a school under his own roof where students and teachers will be equals. Replete with the wry humor, human insight and cultural resonance, this book will resonate with anyone whose family has lived through an idealistic time and ended up in an era of compromise.

The author: In the 1970s, Porter Shreve’s family started an alternative school, and some of this book draws loosely on that experience. His first novel, “The Obituary Writer,” was a New York Times Notable Book, and his second, “Drives Like a Dream,” was a Chicago Tribune Book of the Year. He lives with his wife, the writer Bich Minh Nguyen, ’96, MFA’98, in Chicago and West Lafayette, Indiana, where he directs the Creative Writing Program at Purdue University.

Web site: http://www.portershreve.com/

The book: Set in Malaysia, "Evening Is the Whole Day" introduces us to the prosperous Rajasekharan family as its closely guarded secrets are slowly peeled away. It moves gracefully backward and forward in time to answer the many questions that haunt the family while it offers an unflinching look at relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, the wealthy and the poor, a country and its citizens. This spellbinding and acclaimed debut novel illuminates in heartbreaking detail one Indian immigrant family’s story while exposing the complex underbelly of Malaysia itself.

The author: Preeta Samarasan was born and raised in Malaysia but moved to the United States in high school. After spending several years working on a dissertation on gypsy music in France, but all the while writing fiction, she decided to switch tracks. An early version of this novel received the Hopwood Novel Award; she’s also won the Asian American Writers’ Workshop short story award.

The book: Set on the shores of the Detroit River, this book creates an obsessive (and obsessively rendered) song about a man, a boat and a fish—a contemporary retelling of Moby Dick.

The author: Peter Markus is the author of three books of short fiction, “Good, Brother,” “The Moon Is a Lighthouse” and “The Singing Fish.” His writing has been published in a number of anthologies and journals. Markus lives in Trenton, Michigan, with his wife and two children and is the senior writer with the InsideOut Literary Arts Project of Detroit.

The book: In Berlin 1865, Eva Frank has a secret affair with a mercurial artist that has devastating consequences. Desperate to escape her situation, she marries a merchant who has returned to Germany for the first time since establishing himself in the American West. The 18-year-old bride leaves for an unfamiliar life in Sante Fe, New Mexico. This novel is a gripping and gritty portrayal of urban European immigrants struggling with New World frontier life in the mid-19th century. Vivid and emotionally compelling, it is a beautiful narrative on how far one must travel to make peace with the past.

The author: Joanna Hershon is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University and the author of “Swimming” and “The Outside of August.” Her short fiction has been published in One Story and The Virginia Quarterly Review. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, the painter Derek Buckner, and their twin sons.

Web site: www.joannahershon.com

The book: This collection of short stories chronicles the lives of people on the margins—from a street hustler in Montreal and a priest in Burkina Faso to the mother of a bride in Boston and a blind woman in Amsterdam. These characters span the globe and are united by family and friendships that bind them (and us) together. The offbeat tales offer insight into how we deal with love and loss, and how crisis can sometimes give rise to moments of magic.

The author: Art Corriveau’s short stories have appeared in literary journals in the United States and the United Kingdom. His first novel, “Housewrights,” was published in 2002. As a travel writer, Corriveau has lived throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. Descended from one of Quebec’s oldest families, he lives in New Mexico.

Web site: http://artcorriveau.com/

The book: A young woman hired to keep the books at a down-at-the-heels nightclub is taken under the wing of the infamous Gloria Denton, a mob luminary. Cunning and ruthless, Gloria shows her young protégée the ropes, ushering her into a glittering demimonde of late-night casinos, racetracks, betting parlors, inside heists and big money. Suddenly, the world is at her feet—as long as she doesn't take any chances, like falling for the wrong guy. As the roulette wheel turns, both mentor and protégée scramble to stay one step ahead of their bosses and each other.

The author: Megan Abbott has taught literature, writing and film at New York University and the State University of New York at Oswego. “Queenpin,” her third novel, won the 2008 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original. She has written two other novels and a nonfiction study of white masculinity in fiction and film noir. She lives in New York City.

Web site: www.meganabbott.com/Queenpin.htm

The book: Aslaug is an unusual young woman. Her mother has brought her up in near isolation, teaching her about plants and nature and language—but not about life, especially not how she came to have her own life and who her father might be. When Aslaug's mother dies unexpectedly, everything changes. She is a suspect in her mother's death, and the more her story unravels, the more questions unfold. Addictive, thought-provoking and shocking, this is a page-turning exploration of human nature and divine intervention.

The author: After working in grassroots development in Africa, Christina Meldrum worked for the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, Switzerland, and as a litigator at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her family and is on the advisory board of Women of the World Investments. This is her first novel.

Web site: www.christinameldrum.com/

The book: Linda Gregerson, poet and U-M professor, writes of this book: Oh the fine, brawling, pungent observation of these poems: “the smog-brown sea, the baggies-drooping sea”; Homer would be exhilarated and appalled. Greg Rappleye revives the language and revives our powers of seeing. “Figured Dark” is shot through with light.

The author: Greg Rappleye is corporation counsel for Ottawa County in Grand Haven, Michigan. He’s the author of two poetry collections, “Holding Down the Earth” and “A Path Between Houses,” and two chapbooks. A past Bread Loaf fellow in poetry, he has won a number of awards, including a Pushcart Prize, the Paumanok Poetry Award and the Brittingham Prize, and was the first runner up for the 2007 Dorset Prize.

The book: Reviewer Alicia Ostriker states the following about this chapbook: “Tornado” is a book of ravishing and precise beauty. Death, said Wallace Stevens, is the mother of beauty, and so it is here; around the loss of a beloved sister in childhood, Ted Lardner has spun a radiant web of language by which he reveals what does not and cannot die, in the scale of nature above and underground, in the movements of time, and in the ongoing reach of human tenderness that “glides through our skins like a wave, lighting it up from inside.”

The author: Ted Lardner's poems have appeared in Arsenic Lobster, 5am, Rhino, Luna and Pleiades and in a previous chapbook, “Passing by a Home Place.” He teaches writing at Cleveland State University.

The book: One of the lines from this chapbook is the following: "I couldn't see the far shore, but / directly before us a suspension bridge arched out over the dark waters."

The author: Joe Fletcher lives and teaches in North Carolina.

The book: Written for cooks who are younger, budget-minded, food-conscious and socially aware, this book expands your culinary education. Even experienced gourmets will learn new techniques and tips. Readers are guided through seven chapters of food preparation, starting with the simplest (no heat) to chapters on vegetarian food for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike and on one of the most popular cuisines for college-age cooks: grilling. Each chapter adds a new technique or style, culminating in recipes for themed feasts and, of course, dessert.

The author: Max Sussman has a wide range of culinary experiences, from cooking with his brother, Eli, at a summer camp, to his experience in upscale establishments. It is this range that gives him his unique attitude toward food, unpretentious and yet passionate about creativity and quality.

The book: The keys to success in work and in life are the same: self-awareness, self-mastery and being on purpose. Without these, you’ll experience the same things over and over, both personally and professionally. This book gives you the tools to banish habitual, counterproductive thinking to change your way of life and the way you conduct business so you can achieve what’s important to you. You’ll learn to identify thoughts not consistent with the results you intend; identify thoughts that waste your time, energy and money; and shape your thoughts to achieve clarity of purpose and sharp focus and to overcome obstacles.

The author: Mary Lore is the founder and CEO of Managing Thought, a consultancy that works with CEOs and senior management. She is also an executive management consultant and mentor, and serves as a chair for TEC, an international organization for the personal and professional development of CEOs. She has appeared numerous times on television and radio and in magazines.

Web site: www.managingthought.com

The book: The authors cover the causes of and prognosis for spinal cord injury through case studies, review common courses of rehabilitation and answer the “what now?” questions—from daily routines to larger issues concerning sex, education and employment, childbearing and parenting with spinal cord injury. Rich in clinical information and practical advice, the book shows how real patients and their families are living full lives after spinal cord injury.

The author: Michelle J. Alpert is director of rehabilitation medicine at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and clinical instructor in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. She was the founder and first director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

The book: The best companies use the creative application of research to produce big ideas with significant impact on the market and on the people, employees, partners, retailers and customers. Readers will learn how brand managers and their agencies use research to drive new brand insights, redefine problems or markets, support risk-taking ideas, and illuminate diverse audiences. This book will be an invaluable resource for business executives looking for market strategy, consumer psychologists, teachers, students, and practitioners looking for a trusted guide for study in advertising, marketing and promotion.

The author: Raymond Pettit is senior vice president of MarketShare Partners, based in Los Angeles, California. He also is an at-large member of the Alumni Leadership Council and continues to marry business and musical pursuits with his wife, Beth Hall, a professional trumpet player in the New York City metro area.

The book: This book shows how to take a conscious, systematic approach to networking. After a short quiz to measure your “networking quotient,” it identifies three distinct kinds of networks: personal, professional, and virtual. The book examines their specific characteristics and offers strategies, tools and resources for building up and making the best use of each one. Stories from the author’s 20 years of experience running networks as well as interviews with executives, researchers and thought leaders, provide insights and advice about how networks function in the real world.

The author: Before acquiring Executive Networks, Mike Dulworth was vice president of learning services at The Concours Group. Before that, he was a founder and CEO of Learning Technologies Group, Inc. He is the author, co-author or a contributor to seven books and lives in San Francisco, California, with his wife, Teresa Goodwin, and son, Theo.

Web site: www.theconnecteffect.com/

With 76 million baby boomers on the cusp of retirement, it's time to look beyond finances and examine how ending traditional, full-time work affects every aspect of life. Miriam Goodman interviewed hundreds of retirees, who weigh in on the subjects of home, marriage, family, friends, hobbies, health and even going back to part- or full-time work. Their insights will help readers create their personalized strategy for an active and fulfilling retirement. Goodman is a public relations consultant, journalist, radio producer and Emmy-nominated television producer. She has interviewed more than 1,000 people, from celebrities to diplomats, during her career. She has served on boards of nonprofit organizations in the fields of women’s rights, children’s rights and politics and is known in the San Francisco area for her work in social action causes.

AAUM: Why "reinvent" retirement?
Goodman: We need to reinvent retirement because boomers say they don't want to have the same kind of retirement their parents and grandparents had. Too often in the past, retirement was followed by deterioration—physically and mentally—and boomers are more experienced, educated, healthier, wealthier and, we think, wiser than the previous generations. We reinvented so much along the way, when or whether to have kids, how often we change jobs and spouses, how to question authority—these are all reinventions of boomers. Also, retirees who are 65 today have a good chance of living 30 more years, and we want them to be exciting years, not ones filled with dread.

What are the keys to a successful retirement?
Most of all, one should be free to follow his passion, whether it is music, golf or gardening. You must find something that is meaningful for you. Next, if you are fortunate enough to have a partner, you must both communicate your feelings about your retirement years and not make assumptions about what the other person wants to do. We also must recognize what we took from our work—structure, purpose and a community—and find ways to replicate these things in our post-work lives. So finding a purpose, establishing some kind of structure and participating in your community are other keys to a "successful" retirement.

What’s your best advice to someone preparing for retirement?
We need a plan. It is not good enough to say, "Oh, when I stop working I will find plenty to do." It doesn't work that way. You should have outside interests all through life, whether it is gardening or photography or singing, and then use your retirement to pursue the things you really love. Also, talk to your children about your plans. They may assume you want to be full-time babysitters and then will be disappointed when you take off on a long trip. Communication is key.

What were some of the common problems or challenges you heard about retirement when you wrote your book?
There is a great deal of anxiety involved with retirement. Some women say, "My husband is not allowed to retire." Wives don't want their husbands invading their "space" 24 hours a day, and too many men have no plans and just assume their wives will give up their lives and careers just because he is now home. Another problem is that many people think they must move to a new location without considering the advantages of where they are now. Perhaps the home is already paid for, they know how to get around on public transportation, they like their neighbors and neighborhood. Or they move to be near grandchildren only to discover that the kids are so busy with school and other activities that there is often little time for them to be with grandparents. The biggest challenge is to be true to yourself, understand your own limits and interests, and follow those.

There’s more to retirement than financial planning. What are some of the issues that retirees will have to deal with that they might not anticipate?
Looking for another job, dealing with the loss of self-image that was connected to their work, deciding how they are going to relate to their families. People tell pollsters they want to "give back," but they don't really investigate the volunteer activities and end up in a place where they are unhappy or not needed. People need to “play” again—at sports, at other recreation—and not feel guilty about it.

Were there any interesting stories about retirement that you heard when writing your book—an unusual path someone is traveling during retirement?
I talked to a retired attorney who moved his retirement up to 62 when he realized that most of the people in his mother’s retirement home were women and he wanted to have time to do things before it was too late. He and his wife began studying Italian for a few years and then they moved to Italy for a year. They would have stayed longer had the economy not interfered, but they came back and live full-time in their "vacation" house in the mountains where they have become involved in local politics and where he works on his collection of old cars. They travel every year to some place new. I have to say that women do much better in retirement than men do, perhaps because they have always been multitaskers while many men were involved in only their careers.

The book: Harbor Hill in Roslyn, Long Island, was commissioned by the beautiful and imperious Katherine Duer Mackay, wife of one of the country's wealthiest men. The mansion and its magnificent furnishings, art and gardens—and the owners' striving, hubris and ultimate failure—are the dramatis personae of this saga. Architect Stanford White wrote that "with the exception of Biltmore, I do not think there will be an estate equal to it in the country." Harbor Hill's story includes elements of farce and tragedy; in a sense, it is an American portrait.

The author: Richard Guy Wilson is commonwealth professor at the University of Virginia.

Web site: www.wwnorton.com/npb/nparch/073216.html

The book: This book is a study of mass movements that aimed to bring the German people into closer contact with nature. In the early 20th century, organized hikers, nudists and conservationists all looked to nature for solutions to the nation's political crises. Following these movements over three political eras—the Second Empire, the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich—the book shows how manifestations of popular culture reflected the concerns and hopes of their time. Williams argues that naturists were calling for Germany to find a way to navigate the treacherous waters of contemporary life and strive toward a brighter future.

The author: John Alexander Williams is associate professor of history at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Web site: www.sup.org/book.cgi?book_id=0015%20

The book: Reports of school shootings, gang violence, dysfunctional family life and adolescent suicide indicate that many teens live troubled lives. Even those who live a "normal" life face adult challenges while also establishing independence and finding their identity. Building from the idea that story is a powerful source of meaning, this book begins from the perspective of young adults by sharing the results of a survey of more than 1,400 teens and includes the insights of authors of young adult literature. It presents more than 120 novels that teens have identified as meaningful as well as books recommended by authors and experts in the field of young adult literature.

The author: Mary Warner teaches young adult and children's literature at San José State University, where she also works with the English credential programs and serves as associate director of the San José Area Writing Project. She has published numerous articles and is the editor (and author of two chapters) of “Winning Ways of Teaching Writing.”

Web site: www.scarecrowpress.com/Catalog/SingleBook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0810854309

The book: “Custer came to me and said: ‘Porter, there is a large camp of Indians ahead, and we are going to have a great killing.’” The words of army contract surgeon Henry R. Porter are chilling today in their matter-of-fact reference to the battle to come—a battle of which Porter would be one of the few white survivors. Drawing on his writings, this biography tells the story of Porter’s transformation from young easterner to ambitious frontier settler and medical practitioner in mid-19th century America. It includes details of frontier life, the Battle of Little Bighorn and Porter’s travels around the world.



The author: Retired surgeon LG Walker Jr. lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a professor of clinical surgery, emeritus, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has published widely on scientific topic and articles.

Web site: www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3171-7

The book: In the highland region of Sullk'ata, located in the rural Bolivian Andes, activities such as sharing food, work and stories create a sense of relatedness among people. Through these day-to-day interactions—and more unusual events—individuals negotiate the affective bonds and hierarchies of their relationships. This book reveals the ways in which relatedness is evoked, performed and recast among the women of Sullk'ata. Portraying relationships of camaraderie and conflict, it argues that narrative illuminates power relationships, which structure differences among women and between women and men. It also contends that in the Andes gender cannot be understood without attention to kinship.

The author: Krista E. Van Vleet is associate professor at Bowdoin College. She teaches courses in anthropology, some of which are also cross-listed in Latin American studies, women's studies, and gay and lesbian studies. Her research focuses on the practices and politics of kinship and gender among Native Andeans in Bolivia. She lives in Bath, Maine.

Web site: www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/vanper.html  

The book: From crocodiles and penguins to seals and whales, this synthesis explores the function and evolution of sensory systems in animals whose ancestors lived on land. The contributors explore the transformation of smell, taste, sight, hearing, balance, mechanoreception, magnetoreception and electroreception that occurred as lineages of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals returned to aquatic environments. Each chapter integrates data from fields including sensory physiology, anatomy, paleontology and neurobiology. A one-stop source for information on the sense organs of secondarily aquatic tetrapods, this book sheds new light on both the evolution of aquatic vertebrates and the sensory biology of their transition.

The author: JGM Thewissen, professor of anatomy at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, is editor of “The Emergence of Whales: Evolutionary Patterns in the Origin of Whales”and coeditor of “The Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals.”

Web site: www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10407.php

The book: This book instructs the reader on using charitable giving strategies for loved ones with multiple sclerosis. It tells readers how they can specifically tailor charitable giving to accomplish tax and charitable goals, and to achieve vital personal and human goals like protecting a grandchild living with multiple sclerosis or leaving property to fund MS research. The book is written in easy-to-understand language and offers practical examples of charitable giving. While the concept is simple and the focus is narrow, the book is of great interest to those with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones.

The author: Martin M. Shenkman is an attorney in private practice in Teaneck, New Jersey, and New York City. The author of 32 books and more than 700 articles, he has appeared on “The Today Show,” “NBC Evening News,” CNBC and CNN-FM and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Money, The New York Times and other publications.

Web site: www.demosmedpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=9781932603484

The book: This book is a wide-ranging must read for students of the game as well as a technical primer for the professional seeking an understanding of the science of golf. Much more than a technical book, it also gives the history of the sport, tells how to master the golf swing and provides practical keys to lowering your score.

The author: Leon Z. Seltzer spent 40 years as professor of aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech, West Virginia University and St. Louis University, from which he retired as dean of engineering in 1981. He used his technical knowledge of both engineering and golf to serve as a golf physicist consultant to several firms in the San Diego, California, area.

Web site: www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60247-848-0

The book: This book examines the major junctures at which the lives of gay and lesbian people intersect with the law. It looks at stereotypes, how they operate under different areas of the law and the ways in which they impede gays’ and lesbians’ basic rights and entitlements. Interweaving discussions of relevant legal cases and authorities with studies in psychology and sociology, it details areas of family, employment and constitutional law, and shows readers the adverse impact they often have on the daily lives of homosexuals.

The author: Amy D. Ronner is a tenured professor of law at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida.  She has served as president of the Federal Bar Association (South Florida Chapter) and has been listed as a leading American attorney in Civil Appellate Law. She is married to Dr. Michael P. Pacin. 

Web site: books.apa.org/books.cfm?id=4316050

The book: This how-to book reveals lessons the author learned from almost two decades of successful vacant land investing. His strategy involves acquiring out-of-favor rural vacant land, creatively adding value to that land and selling at profit levels traditionally associated only with high-risk investments. Detailed descriptions of investment techniques illustrate the basic principles of vacant land investing. The book guides readers through a process that includes deciding whether investing in vacant land is appropriate for them and developing a strategy that is unique to their circumstances.

The author: In 1990, John Pehrson "discovered" vacant land investing, which has been his career ever since. Licensed in real estate and a real estate broker, he is a member of many associations of Realtors and has been designated an accredited land consultant by the Realtors Land Institute and an equity marketing specialist by the National Council of Exchangors.

Web site: www.investinginvacantland.com

The book: Why can teams of people find better solutions than brilliant individuals working alone? And why are the best group decisions those that draw upon the qualities that make each of us unique? The answers lie in diversity. This book moves beyond politics and shows how groups that display a range of perspectives outperform groups of like-minded experts. Diversity yields superior outcomes, as the author shows using his own research and surprising examples, from the redesign of the Chicago "El" to the truth about where we store our ketchup.

The author: Scott E. Page is professor of complex systems, political science and economics at U-M and an external faculty member at the Santa Fe Institute. He is the coauthor, with John Miller, of “Complex Adaptive Systems.”

Web site: press.princeton.edu/titles/8353.html

The book: This book tells the story of Jerry and Mary Newport, who both were diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that affects millions of Americans and makes social contact painfully unbearable. When they married, they were catapulted into the limelight and soon were known as "superstars in the world of autism," shining examples of two people who refused to give up in the face of their mutual challenge. But just when it appeared that their lives would enjoy a fairy-tale ending, their marriage fell apart. After years of soul searching, they remarried. This story chronicles their journey together and apart.

The author: Jerry Newport, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in 1995, is the author of two books on the subject, “Asperger’s and Sexuality: Puberty and Beyond” and “Your Life Is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.” He and his wife live in northern Arizona with their birds. 

Web site: www.jerrynewport.com/

The book: This study provides an account of the highly contested process through which the Tibetan Buddhist region of Labrang became incorporated into the People's Republic of China. Drawing on 13 years of archival research and fieldwork in and around the famous Geluk sect Tibetan Buddhist monastery, this book situates the process of incorporation in the violent upheavals of Maoist socialist transformation that took place from 1950 through the 1970s and in the transition to globalization via Deng Xiaoping's capitalist market reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Synthesizing social theory, the book finds that incorporation had different effects for Tibetan men and women, creating painful dilemmas across generations.

The author: Charlene E. Makley is associate professor of anthropology at Reed College.

Web site: www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10818.php

The book: This book analyzes the fall of Rome and other Western civilizations and compares the phenomena with what is happening in America today. The author then calls on insight from history, religion, literature and philosophy; gifted contributors who share the truths about love, marriage, democracy and freedom; and personal accounts of his own spiritual failures and successes as he invites and motivates the readers to explore a relationship with God personified in Jesus Christ. This survivor’s manual shows the way to live in an ever-changing and faithless world with a sense of direction, purpose and peace of mind.

The author: Frederick Mahan is a retired trial attorney, an active supporter of the arts and higher education, and a lifetime advocate of philosophy and religion. He is a founder and board member of two nonprofit corporations and the former president of one. He is married, has two grown children and lives in San Francisco, California.

The book: With 2.9 million sophisticated readers, Harper’s Bazaar has an audience with an eye for style. That’s why this book—an elegant and lively guide filled with fabulous fashion and celebrity photography demonstrating the best looks—will quickly capture their attention and become the must-have accessory of the season. The book reveals the secrets of the world’s most fashionable women and how to identify the look that’s just right for you: not the here-today, gone-tomorrow fads, but practical advice on timeless style. Each chapter includes insider information and styling tips, along with quotes from top designers.

The author: Jenny Levin was the senior fashion news editor at Harper’s Bazaar from 2002 to 2007. She previously worked as the fashion editor for Us Weekly magazine. Currently, she is a freelance writer living in Hong Kong.

The book: This anthology brings together classic perspectives on violence, putting into productive conversation the thought of well-known theorists and activists. The book proceeds from the editors’ contention that violence is always historically contingent; it must be contextualized to be understood. They argue that violence is a process rather than a discrete product. It is intrinsic to the human condition, an inescapable fact of life that can be channeled and reckoned with but never completely suppressed. Above all, they seek to illuminate the relationship between action and knowledge about violence, and to examine how one might speak about violence without replicating or perpetuating it.

The author: Aisha Karim is assistant professor in the Department of English and Foreign Languages at Saint Xavier University. She is a coeditor of “Poetry and Protest: A Dennis Brutus Reader.”

The book: What begins as a search for a simple upright piano becomes a grand obsession. The author’s quest leads her into an international subculture of piano aficionados—concert artists, passionate amateurs, dealers, technicians, composers, designers and builders—intriguing characters who have also been transfixed by the spell of a piano. For example, in Austria, she hikes the Alps to learn how trees are selected to build pianos and how they are grown and harvested. Along her journey, Knize finds that reason can't account for what calls us, but that heeding that call can lead to life's most profound experiences.

The author: Perri Knize is an award-winning environmental policy reporter whose articles and essays have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Audubon, Sports Illustrated, Conde Nast Traveler and Outside. She lives with her husband in Montana.

Web site: www.grandobsession.com/

The book: Part one of this book contains sociological thought from the pre-9/11 world; the theories of 20th century sociologists Robert K. Merton, David Riesman, Erving Goffman and Elise Boulding and anthropologist Margaret Mead are exemplified by anecdotes, stories and accounts drawn from educational settings. Part two continues with three of the classical social thinkers of the 19th century, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx, applying their theories to schools, classrooms and higher education settings. Part three covers the extensive writings of feminist educator Peggy McIntosh and her adherents as central to education in the post-9/11 era.

The author: Edith W. King is professor of educational sociology at the University of Denver. She has been a member of the American Sociological Association for more than 40 years and has contributed to the teaching of the sociology of education throughout her career. She is the author of more than 18 books and numerous articles, monographs and multimedia in education.

Web site: mysite.du.edu/~eking

The book: This biographical work examines the factors that have shaped and formed the life and music of Paul Manz, one of the most influential organists of the latter half of the 20th century. Constructed in four parts, this book includes a full biography; an analysis of his chorale-based organ and choral works; a collection of essays by composers, theologians, musicians and family; and Web access that includes sound clips, radio interviews, manuscripts, video, articles and programs. This book will be of great interest to anyone who knows and enjoys the music of Paul Manz.

The author: Scott M. Hyslop is director of parish music for St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan. He studied with Paul Manz at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the Paul Manz Institute of Church Music. Hyslop has published numerous compositions and served congregations in Minnesota, Illinois and Florida.

He and his family live in Birch Run, Michigan.

Web site: www.morningstarmusic.com/viewitem.cfm/item_id/90-39

The book: This book reformulates the psychoanalytic concept of the "female oedipal complex" and gives it a new name, “The Persephone Complex.” The authors integrate traditional psychoanalytic theory, contemporary theories and data about female development and psychology, and clinical experience into a comprehensive theory that is not based on male models. They touch upon the ways women cope with their sexuality and feelings about their bodies; with feelings of anger, competition and jealousy; and with their ever-evolving relationships with their mothers, fathers, peers and lovers.

The authors: Nancy Kulish is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, at Wayne State University and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Detroit. She is in private practice in Birmingham, Michigan. Deanna Hotzman is a training and supervising analyst and past president of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She is associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, at Wayne State University.



Web site: www.rowmanlittlefield.com/Catalog/Singlebook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0765705648

The book: As young women today wrestle with decisions about work and family, they need all the support they can get. But the person whose support they crave most—their mother—often can't get on board. Why does a mother's approval matter so much? And why is it so painful for mothers when daughters choose paths different from theirs? This book answers these questions by focusing on the issues of dating/marriage, career and child rearing. Relying on interviews with nearly 100 mothers and daughters, and offering tips from more than two dozen therapists, the book explores a range of communication issues and how to resolve them.

The author: Julie Halpert is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for national publications, including The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Self, FamilyFun and Parents. She has been a contributor to public radio programs such as “The Environment Report,” “Marketplace” and “Living on Earth.” She lives in Michigan with her husband and three children.

Web site: www.makingupwithmom.com

The book: This collection of stories is sure to have something for every fan of mathematics. Included are two opposing views on the purpose of mathematics, “The Strong Law of Small Numbers,” the treatment of calculus in the 1771 Encyclopaedia Britannica, several proofs that the number of legs on a horse is infinite, a deserved refutation of the ridiculous Euler-Diderot anecdote, the real story of Π and the Indiana Legislature, the reason Theodorus stopped proving that square roots were irrational when he got to the square root of 17, an excerpt from “Mathematics Made Difficult” and a glimpse into the mind of a calculating prodigy.

The author: Underwood Dudley is the best-selling author of several books, including “Mathematical Cranks,” “Numerology (or What Pythagoras Wrought)”and “The Trisectors.” He retired after teaching at DePauw University for 37 years and currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

Web site: www.maa.org/news/011408imi.html   

The book: This memoir describes the author’s life, beginning with his childhood during the Depression in rural Wisconsin. It then relates his family’s move to a remote farming community in Michigan, his struggles during the World War II years and his early marriage. Being drafted into the army gives him his first glimpse of personal freedom. From there, studying at U-M and teaching are his engines of growth. He eventually migrates to the North Shore of Chicago and becomes superintendent of schools in Highland Park. Along the way, Paul pushes a school bus off the railroad tracks, sees the US Office of Education name his schools as exemplary and attends the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention.

The author: Fired at the age of 8 from his first job hoeing weeds, Paul Buchholz learned about the Depression the hard way. Using his education, he helped hundreds of children, parents and teachers identify their assets and goals. He and his wife live in the Chicago area near their children and grandchildren.

Web site: www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-35958-2

The book: Mathematical craftwork has become extremely popular, and mathematicians and crafters alike are fascinated by the relationship between their crafts. The focus of this book, written for mathematicians, needle workers and teachers of mathematics, is on the relationship between mathematics and the fiber arts (including knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and quilting). Each chapter starts with an overview of the mathematics and the needlework at a level understandable to both mathematicians and needle workers, followed by more technical sections discussing the mathematics, how to introduce the mathematics in the classroom through needlework and how to make the needlework project, including patterns and instructions.

The author: Sarah-Marie Belcastro co-directs the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, a six-week intensive summer enrichment program for talented high school students. She is currently a visiting assistant professor and the associate director of the Center for Women in Mathematics at Smith College. Carolyn Yackel is associate professor of mathematics at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She has developed a general education course in mathematics through fiber arts and regularly teaches for the Interdisciplinary Studies program.

Web sites: www.toroidalsnark.net (Belcastro) and www.mercer.edu/math/faculty/yackel/yackel.htm (Yackel)

The book: What did the Romans know about their gods? Why did they perform the rituals of their religion? This book proposes simple answers to these questions: In contrast to ancient Christians, who had faith, Romans had knowledge, and their knowledge was empirical in orientation. They acquired knowledge of the gods through observation of the world, and their rituals were maintained or modified in light of what they learned. After a preface and opening chapters that lay out this argument and place it in context, the book pursues a variety of themes essential to the study of religion in history.

The author: Clifford Ando is professor of classics, history and the college at the University of Chicago and author of “Imperial Ideology and Provincial Loyalty in the Roman Empire,” winner of the Charles J. Goodwin Award of Merit from the American Philological Association, among other books.

Web site: www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10773.php

The book: By scouring genealogical sources, researching local and regional history, and exploring old family tales, the author unearthed the history of his ancestors—hardworking people who left few traces of their lives. He tells their highly personal stories, revealing the intersection of their individual paths with the continuum of national history. While tracing his roots, Amato offers a history of the American poor and vindicates ordinary men and women whose loyalty was to family and who struggled daily to find and establish a home in a changing world.

The author: Joseph A. Amato, professor emeritus of history and rural studies at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota, is the author of “Rethinking Home: A Case for Writing Local History,” “Dust: A History of the Small and the Invisible,” “On Foot: A History of Walking” and 12 other books.

Web site: shop.mnhs.org/moreinfomhspress.cfm?Product_ID=1766

The book: Dr. Lili Quan, an American and a passionate idealist, takes an extraordinary trip to China filled with remarkable discoveries, including finding Dr. Ni-Fu Cheng, the grandfather Quan believed had died years ago. But Cheng has made the most remarkable discovery of all—the secret to long life. As Cheng’s only relative, Quan’s life is in jeopardy. As greedy and unscrupulous men vie for control of the most earth-shattering discovery of the century, Quan could become a pawn in a deadly and dangerous international game.

The author: Deborah and Joel Shlian have collaborated in both their vocations and avocations. They practiced medicine together before returning to UCLA to earn their MBAs. They have since balanced medical management consulting with writing, producing medical mystery/thrillers, nonfiction books, and magazine and journal articles on health care and medical management issues. Two of their novels have been optioned for Hollywood films.

Web site: http://www.shlian.com/

As young women today wrestle with decisions about work and family, they need all the support they can get. But the person whose support they crave most—their mother—often can't get on board. Why does a mother's approval matter so much? And why is it so painful for mothers when daughters choose paths different from theirs? Julie Halpert and Deborah Carr answer these questions by focusing on the issues of dating/marriage, career and child rearing. Relying on interviews with nearly 100 mothers and daughters, and offering tips from more than two dozen therapists, they explore a range of communication issues and how to resolve them.

Julie Halpert is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for national publications, including The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Self, FamilyFun and Parents. She has been a contributor to public radio programs such as “The Environment Report,” “Marketplace” and “Living on Earth.” She lives in Michigan with her husband and three children.

AAUM: Why is the mother-daughter relationship so intense?
Halpert: Mothers and daughters historically have had a closely knit, tight bond. And they tend to share their feelings with one another more than men do. Daughters often look up to their mothers and care about how their mothers view their choices. Mothers often see their daughters as a reflection of themselves, more than they do with their sons.

Why is the relationship between mothers and daughters more strained today than it has been in past generations?
Mothers and daughters have always squabbled. What’s unique about mothers and daughters today is that the two generations have had vastly different upbringings, opportunities and life experiences. Mothers of a generation ago faced far more limited opportunities in the areas of romance, work and childbearing. The two generations are making such fundamentally different life choices today that it inevitably spills over into how mothers and daughters treat one another.

Do you see these problems in certain types of mother-daughter relationships or are they universal?We focused on mothers and daughters who had a fundamentally solid relationship. But the common thread was there were disagreements that created stresses and got in the way of a harmonious mother/daughter bond. Problems were more pronounced when one of the two women took a “my way or the highway” approach and couldn’t understand, respect or validate the other’s choice.

Your book focuses on the core issues of dating/marriage, careers and child rearing—why?Those were the main hot-button issues among the women we interviewed. That’s because women today have so many more options in these areas than their mothers did. So we had many situations where mothers could not relate to their daughters’ choices in these areas. And that made the situation ripe for conflict.

You interviewed nearly 100 mothers and daughters in preparation for writing your book. Can you share one or two interesting or touching stories?I was particularly moved by situations where mothers and daughters rallied around each other. We had one woman who was put on bed rest when pregnant with her twins. Her mother drove three hours round-trip and stayed with her daughter half the week for several weeks to take care of her. The daughter said she instantly felt a feeling of calm once her mom walked through the door. The mother said when you have children you should “be behind them right to the bitter end, through school, going through college and afterward.” It was a moving instance of how the mother-daughter bond can help you weather a crisis.

How can the two generations find common ground or at least learn to get along?
Communication is key. Think before you speak. Word your messages in ways that are empathic and understanding, without anger. Try to understand what the motivations are behind the message. Try to learn more about each other. That will pave the way for better understanding.

Did you have a personal motivation to write this book in light of your own relationship with your mother?
My mother is like so many mothers out there today. She is caring and wants what’s best for me. She sees my life as far more chaotic than hers was as a young mother. And she often feels compelled to give me advice on everything from home decorating to how my kids and I wear our hair. I tend to interpret this as criticism, so I’m quite defensive. I wanted to explore a way that other mothers and daughters could get past the sniping and improve their relationships. This book got me there.

Our main message is that two people get along best when they truly understand each other’s motivations for why they’re doing what they’re doing. We encourage mothers and daughters to learn more about one another; those insights will help both generations to be empathetic rather than judgmental.

We also recognize that emotional intimacy and a Lifetime TV mother-daughter moment can’t happen magically. And for some women it won’t happen at all. Some mothers and daughters may have to accept that a “good enough” relationship is just fine.

The book: Stress. We know it can shorten our lives, age us prematurely and make us fat—yet we can't seem to escape it. We also know that, ultimately, we're the only ones who can stop stress from taking over our lives. This book offers 10 solutions based on positive psychology, mind-body medicine and cognitive behavioral therapy that you can put into practice immediately to reduce stress. These practices and stress-rescue techniques will help you cope effectively with stressful moments throughout your day. Try them and you'll start to enjoy better health and a balanced, more fulfilling life.

The author: Claire Michaels Wheeler lives in Portland, Oregon, and is a faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC, founder of Mind-Body Medicine of Portland and an assistant professor at Portland State University’s School of Community Health. Her work is guided by a fascination with the relationships between psychological processes (thought, emotion) and physiology.

Web site: www.stresshappiness.com/index.php

The book: Imagine how much easier life would be if children listened better. This book was created to help children ages 4-7 improve their listening skills and pay attention. Readers will meet Howard B. Wigglebottom, a curious rabbit who just doesn't listen. Educators, parents and children alike will laugh and learn as Howard B. Wigglebottom learns to listen.

The author: Howard Binkow has had successful careers in home building, radio, sales and being a bum. He is passionate about more effective listening because it has led him to everything he needs in life, including more than enough money, better relationships and other goodies.

Web site: www.wedolisten.com

The author: Freddy Sweet is a television/film producer and a former assistant professor of comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is co-president of Live Wire Media and Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

Web site: www.livewiremedia.com

The book: Determined not to be stuck in the house where her mother died 10 years earlier, 16-year-old Julia Hamilton begs her father to take her with him on his next expedition. This book takes us along on Julia's travels across the sands of the ancient world known as the Levant. She meets a French antiques collector, a British horticulturist and a dashing young student—each harboring secrets as elusive as a mirage. As she learns more about her companions and the dangerous world she's in, Julia must decide whom she can trust and what she is willing to fight for.

The author: Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including “Homeless Bird,” winner of the National Book Award; “Listening for Lions”; and “Summer of the War.” She lives in northern Michigan.

Web site: www.gloriawhelan.com/