This Week in Reading Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

This week, as in most, there are more novelists than poets and playwrights, but only a few and several of these wrote in various forms, If you throw in story writers, essay writers, literary critics, historians, editors, biographers, politicians, celebrity journalists, and celebrity humorists it's a well rounded group.

Some of the more well known novelists are Stephen Crane, Evelyn Waugh, Sylvia Plath, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Pat Conroy. Genre writers are historical mystery writer Anne Perry, mystery writer Dick Francis, and fantasy / science fiction storyteller Frederic Brown.

Big names in poetry are John Keats, Ezra Pound, Dylan Thomas and Paul Valery. Restoration comedies by Richard Sheridan and fantasies by Jean Giraudoux played in many theatres. James Boswell, Henri Troyat, and Edward Said's literary ruminations have been studied in many a college.

This Week's Question: Two of this week's authors, contemporaries in the first half of the twentieth century, were extremely influential writers for patrons of libraries. Emily Post was the first name to go to for etiquette advice and Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, about how to achieve success, has been one of the most frequently requested books in libraries. Many other books have been created in their names to continue offering advice about success and behavior. Both Hill and Post published more than one book and both many wrote columns and articles for magazines. One of them even edited a magazine. Which of them, however, also wrote novels?

Answer to Last Week's Question: We asked you to look at the Recommended Reads of the Glendale Public Library online resource Novelist Plus to tell us which of twenty-seven types listed there you might like. Nothing official there, but besides the usual categories of historical mysteries, flatfoots and gumshoes, noir or cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths and police procedurals, you can find mysteries around many kinds of themes. There are mysteries with humor, mysteries with seniors, mysteries about food, about books, about dogs ...

"Woof what?" says Taz, the Glendale Library Blog Dog. "Hey, there's too many cats in here!"

Okay, about pets of many kinds. From the Novelist Plus recommender: "If you enjoy pampering your own pets, you might like these light mysteries. In some, the story is told from the animal's point of view. While in others, the owner solves the mystery."

Give it a look. Before you set your clock an hour back this Saturday night you might find a new series or mystery writer with whom you'll really like to spend your extra hour.

Tempting Titles - Nonfiction - 800s - 900s

Here, in usual Dewey Decimal system order from your librarian book selectors, are some Tempting Titles of recent nonfiction books the library has either ordered or received in the past few months. Click on any title or image link to go to the online catalog and place a request for the book to be held for you when it becomes available.

800s Literature

How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read by Pierre Bayard

Bayard (Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?), a professor of French literature at the University of Paris openly (if not entirely convincingly), confesses to having neither the time nor the inclination to do much reading. Yet he is all too aware that in his profession, one is often expected to have read the literature one is teaching or talking about with colleagues. In this extended essay, a bestseller in France, Bayard argues that the act of reading is less important than knowing the social and intellectual context of a book. He is so convinced of this that he claims there is great enjoyment—and even enlightenment—in discussing a book one has not read with someone equally unfamiliar with it. Despite appearances, Bayard's volume is not a self-help book or a bluffer's guide to great literature, but instead serves to warn people not to try to impress others with how much they have read. The truth is, most of the time they're fibbing and there are many gradations between total reading and complete nonreading, he declares, including hearing about a book, skimming it and forgetting its contents. A little too much impenetrable psychoanalytic jargon sometimes threatens to overwhelm Bayard's argument, but Bayard's at least partly tongue-in-cheek argument about not reading is well worth reading. (Publisher Weekly)

Good Dog, Stay by Anna Quindlen

"The life of a good dog is like the life of a good person, only shorter and more compressed," writes Pulitzer-winning author Quindlen about her beloved black Labrador retriever, Beau. With her trademark wisdom and humor, Quindlen reflects on how her life has unfolded in tandem with Beau's, and on the lessons she's learned by watching him: to roll with the punches, to take things as they come, to measure herself not in terms of the past or the future but of the present. Heartening and bittersweet, this book honors the life of a cherished and loyal friend and offers listeners a valuable lesson: Sometimes an old dog can teach a person new tricks.-- (Publisher description)


"Four woofs for Quindlen! But a dog doesn't have to be old to teach. If only more humans would understand us." This from Taz, who, somewhat embarrassingly, insists he just reads the following for the articles.

Howl: a collection of the best contemporary dog wit from the editors of The Bark.

The second literary salvo from The Bark magazine (after Dog is my Co-Pilot), a mostly-miss compendium of dog-related scribblings, opens with a spectacularly unfunny standup routine performed by a dog named Gracie. ... Those with fortitude will be rewarded, albeit sparingly. Marc Spitz's essay on how his dog changed his life, riddled with pop culture references and self-deprecating humor, is truly a joy. Kinky Friedman's all-too-short piece on the trials and tribulations of sharing a bed with animals will have dog lovers smiling and nodding in recognition, and Nancy Cohen's "The Seven Month Itch" masterfully incorporates the multitude of nicknames owners have for their companions in a story about the search for the cure for a rash. Unfortunately, the gems are all too few. (Publisher Weekly)

900s Geography, Travel, History

The Smart Traveler’s Passport: 399 tips from seasoned travelers by Erik Torkells

A nifty, chunky, pocket-sized guide, offers a wealth of travel-related tips from the silly to the sublime. Organized into nine chapters that cover trip planning, packing, travel-time, safety, lodging, transport, spending, sightseeing and connecting with fellow travelers and family. From suggestions for using Ziploc bags to an unusual use for a Frisbee both savvy and novice travelers will find all sorts of information that will help ease the discomforts—and enhance the delights—of any journey. (BookPage Reviews)

A Man’s Life: dispatches from dangerous places by Mark Jenkins

Jenkins, widely-published travel writer and author (The Hard Way: Stories of Danger, Survival, and the Soul of Adventure), is always up for a challenge, wherever it may be. He’s been almost everywhere, frequently at his peril, and these captivating essays take readers up the most forbidding mountains, through ice caves in Greenland, along India’s "road of blood," and into Afghani war zones, proving Jenkin’s courage, conviction and humanity along the way. (Book jacket)

The Geography of Bliss: one grump’s search for the happiest places in the world by Eric Weiner

Part travelogue, part personal-discovery memoir and all sustained delight, this wise, witty ramble reads like Paul Theroux channeling David Sedaris on a particularly good day. Intent on finding the happiest places on Earth and learning what makes them that way, globe-trotting NPR correspondent Weiner discovers some surprises. ... The author's pronouncements on the nature of happiness are not exactly world-shaking: It depends on cooperative relationships and community; it has spiritual value; it can be attained as a conscious choice. But the author's conclusions are hardly the point—as with all great journeys, getting there is at least half the fun. (Kirkus Reviews)


Autonauts of the Cosmoroute: a timeless voyage from Paris to Marseille by Julio Cortazar

New translation of a whimsical 20th-century travelogue. In 1982, eminent Argentinean writer Cortázar embarked on a 33-day journey with wife Dunlop. Their plan? To travel the autoroute from Paris to Marseille, a distance usually covered in a single day, in a beloved red VW camper van nicknamed Fafner, or "Dragon." They vowed not to leave the autoroute until they reached their destination; to take advantage of motels, restaurants or gas station shops en route; and to stop twice a day, camping at every second rest stop. The couple were anti-explorers in a mundane landscape, slowing down a journey that had been modernized and sped up. What emerges from their trip is a playful, surprisingly intimate account of a marriage in all its ranging vicissitudes. (Kirkus Reviews)


Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide by Peter Allison

In this fun, fearless memoir, Allison shares his experiences taking "guests" through the African wilderness, trips that often don’t go quite as planned-due especially to the unpredictability of the animals around them. Allison is a skilled, funny and vibrant storyteller, dishing arcane bits of wisdom. (Book jacket)

Slicing the Silence: voyaging to Antarctica by Tom Griffiths

As the climate changes and polar ice caps shrink dramatically, author and environmental historian Griffiths provides essential background for understanding how we reached the current state of meltdown. Griffiths weaves journal entries from his own voyage to Australia's Antarctic stations in 2002–2003 with extended chapters on the history of human exploration in Antarctica. (Publishers Weekly) Tags: travel, South Pole, ecological adventure

Alexander the Great Failure: the collapse of the Macedonian Empire by John D. Grainger

A low-key, authoritative look at the factors that ushered Alexander the Great to power, then brought his empire crashing down. (Kirkus Reviews)

Byzantium: the surprising life of a medieval empire by Judith Herrin

Drawing on letters, journals and other primary documents from both political figures and ordinary citizens, Herrin splendidly recreates an empire whose religious art, educational curriculum, tax and legal systems, and coronation rituals preserved the best of the empire’s pre-Christian Greek past while at the same time passing along advances to the rest of the world. Herrin’s history is hands-down the finest introduction to Byzantium and its continuing significance for world history. (Publishers Weekly)

Lincoln and Douglas: the debates that defined America by Allen C. Guelzo

Guelzo gives us an astute, gracefully written account of the celebrated Lincoln–Douglas debates of 1858. These seven debates between two powerful attorneys and statesmen, Abraham Lincoln and Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, starkly defined the stakes between sharply different positions on slavery and union on the eve of civil war and offered examples of serious, deeply reasoned exchanges of views rarely seen in American politics. (Publishers Weekly)

America 1908: the dawn of flight, the race to the pole, the invention of the Model T, and the making of a modern nation by Jim Rasenberger

Nearly one century ago, a year full of inspiring, thrilling, sad and sordid events left Americans eyeing the future with a remarkable optimism. Rasenberger demonstrated a knack for capturing the zeitgeist in a nation determined to grow, and his unique talent is on display again in his take on a year for which he makes a compelling case: More than any other year in the 20th-century's initial decade, 1908 portended America's destiny. (Kirkus Reviews)

The Teapot Dome Scandal: how big oil bought the Harding White House and tried to steal the country by Laton McCartney

A probing study of a scandal that spread even deeper than the standard histories claim—and one that has plenty of lessons for today. (Kirkus Reviews)

Forgotten Continent: the battle for Latin America’s soul by Michael Reid

The forgotten continent -- The Latin American conundrum -- The seed of democracy in the land of the caudillo -- Cold War and revolution : the United States and the left reject democracy -- Failed reformers, debt-ridden dictators : the right rejects democracy -- The rise and fall of the Washington consensus -- The populist challenge -- The reformist response -- Changing societies -- Evolving states -- The stubborn resilience of flawed democracies -- The loneliness of Latin America (Table of Contents) ... A vivid, immediate, and informed account of a dynamic continent and its struggle to compete in a globalized world. (Book jacket)

This Week in Reading Sept 30 - Oct 6

Quite a week, indeed. There are more Nobel prizewinners this week, two presidents (of different countries), a couple of literary giants known as much for their erudition and charm as talk show guests as for their writing, some other literary giants, and some bestselling women authors.

It's also Banned Books Week this week and October is National Book Month and National Reading Group Month, as well. It's also the anniversary of the founding of the American Library Association and the international writers group, PEN. Among the authors born this week is the creator of the world's first major encyclopedia, so librarians are celebrating. It's even a chance to bring out the tried and true, but favorite, quotations about reading.

This week's question: This is Taz, the blog dog's, favorite quotation. Which author, born this week, said it? "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

Answer to last week's question: George and Ira Gershwin won the Pulitizer Prize for their 1931 musical "Of Thee I Sing." The show satirized presidential politics and included a poke about the Supreme Court with the question "What is more important - justice or corn muffins?" For more about the show see the Library of Congress web page about it, or better yet, read it. It's the month to do so.

Nonfiction Tempting Titles - August (3 of 3)

This is the last of this month's Tempting Titles - nonfiction goodies our librarians have selected for you. Happy reading!!

The books are either already in the system or on the way. To get to the online catalog record, click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

Dewey Decimal 700s

Oscar Micheaux: the The Great and Only: the life : The Life of American’s first black filmmakerAmerica's First Black Filmmaker, by Patrick McGilligan.

"The frankly amazing story of the black D.W. Griffith. Biographer McGilligan, (Alfred Hitchcock: a life A Life in darknessDarkness), gives a fascinating account of the eventful life of Oscar Micheaux, the first significant African-American filmmaker." (Kirkus)

Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: the rise and fall of Phil Spector by Mick Brown

"This eminently readable and thoroughly researched biography from UK journalist and author Borwn chronicles the roller-coaster life of legendary, (and legendarily bizarre,) music producer Phil Spector, a man propelled by genius, insecurity, paranoia and rage. (Publishers Weekly)

Dewey Decimal 800s

Shaggy muses: the dogs who inspired Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Emily Bronte by Maureen B. Adams.

"By using diaries, letters, illustrations, and sometimes passages from these women's writings, Adams provides a unique perspective of her subjects as pet owners. A recurrent theme is the comfort the dogs provided. Often, they kept these writers grounded during times of intense creativity and deep psychological distress—e.g., Dickinson viewed her dog as a protector, while Barrett Browning's dog helped lift her out of depression." (Library Journal)

Taz, the Blog Dog says "As the Library Journal reviewer said - ' these writers all had in common dogs that provided stability and consistency in their lives.' - Could there be any other kind? This book earns four woofs. Hawrf! Hawrf! Hawrf! Hawrf!"

Everything I needed to know about being a girl I learned from Judy Blume edited by Jennifer O’Connell

"By turns funny and poignant, this essay collection captures the essence of YA author Judy Blume's appeal. Pieces were contributed by a raft of women writers—many firmly established in chick lit—who were deeply influenced by Blume's works in their youth. Many focus on dealing with changes in bodies, relationships, and situations." (Library Journal)

"After growing up from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing into Smart Women, these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors." (Book jacket)

"Readers who similarly found solace and support in Blume's work should relate easily to these writers through the Blumian characters and themes they evoke. Writing in the spirit of Blume, these women present their experiences as a series of personal truths: 'girl moments. Woman moments, Human moments.' (Publisher's Weekly)

Dewey Decimal 900s

30 Days in Italy: True Stories of Escape to the Good Life by James O’Reilly

Thirty true stories of other travelers will give you ideas of where to go, what to do, and what it’s like to be there. (TravelersTales.com)

The Handsomest Man in Cuba: An Escapade by Lynette Chiang

"For American adventure travelers, there is the excitement of traveling to a place your country basically forbids you to go. For solo female travelers, there are the pleasures and horrors (beware of flashers in the city of Cienfuegos) of exploring a place on your own terms. For cyclists, there is perhaps the challenge of bicycling Cuba's long and varied terrain. Although Chiang sees fantastic sites, it is really the people she meets who provide her with her fondest memories." (Library Journal)

Young J. Edgar: Hoover, the Red Scare and the Assault on Civil Liberties by Kenneth D. Ackerman

"Ackerman captures well the pathological character of the young Hoover and argues effectively that there is a cautionary tale in the corrosive effect of the denial of civil liberties and extralegal measures employed in the red scare raids." (Publishers Weekly)

Fateful Choices: Ten Decisions that Changed the World 1940 - 1941 by Ian Kershaw

"From May 1940 to December 1941, six world leaders arrived at key decisions that heavily affected the outcome of World War II. How were these decisions reached? What influenced these decisions? Rather than writing what he would call a "counter-factual," or speculative, history, Kershaw explores whether or not such decisions were inevitable and identifies other options and their possible outcomes." (Library Journal)

The Dragon and the Foreign Devils: China and the World, 1100 B.C. to the Present by Harry Gregor Gelber

"A fluent and thorough, though understandably brief, survey of Chinese history. It is a daunting task for a historian to compress the history of 'a collection of tribes in the Yellow River valley' grown to 'the largest state of the globe, comprising one-quarter of the human race.' Uncowed, Gelber traces the rise of a discernibly Chinese state some 3,000 ago, from which emerges his overarching theme: China's constant negotiation with, and sometimes conquest by or absorption of, a stream of foreigners, from the Hsiung-nu riders beyond the walls to the European concessionaries of Shanghai and, lately, American entrepreneurs." (Kirkus)

92s - Biographies

Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power by Ross King

"King’s book is everything a short biography should be and more, due to King’s sharp wit and zesty anecdotes. It provides a strong sense of the history of both the man and his times and a nice introduction to Machiavelli’s writings. Moreover, like one of Machiavelli’s bawdy plays, it is a riveting and exhilarating read, full of salacious details and brisk prose." (Publishers Weekly)

Einstein: A Biography by Jurgen Neffe

"A comprehensive, sympathetic and very readable portrait of the man, the celebrity, the scientist and the theories that transformed physics and the modern world." (Kirkus)


The Verneys: A True Story of Love, War and Madness in Seventeenth-century England by Adrian Tinniswood

"Civil war and religious reform sometimes divided the family, but Tinniswood is equally interested in narrating their private dramas: a scandalous out-of-wedlock pregnancy, coming-of-age conflicts between fathers and sons and arguments about whether one should marry for love or money. Although Tinniswood isn't afraid to reveal the less likable qualities of his protagonists, such as the men's sexual liberties, readers will find themselves genuinely enjoying the Verneys. Throughout, Tinniswood ably explains the basics of 17th-century English politics, so that even readers unfamiliar with English history will be able to enjoy this absorbing family history." (Publishers Weekly)

Nonfiction Tempting Titles - August (2 of 3)

Here are some more tempting titles of nonfiction goodies our librarians have selected for you recently.

The books are either already in the system or on the way. To get to the online catalog record, click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

Dewey Decimal 300s

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

"The imagined scenario presented here offers a provocative perspective on life on Earth and the degree to which human activity has shaped the planet. If every human on Earth suddenly vanished, what would become of this world? Science journalist Weisman ponders numerous questions, e.g., How long would it take for nature to reclaim dense urban areas, like Manhattan Island? What endangered fauna would recover, and what new species might evolve? What would become of humankind's most enduring pollutants, such as plastics, greenhouse gasses, and nuclear wastes? The book's strength lies in its audacious willingness to confront uncomfortable questions while offering glimpses of answers in areas of recent wars, diseases, and ecological disasters. This is neither a warning to human beings to change their errant ways, nor a wishful paean to returning to the Garden of Eden; instead it is a sober, analytical elucidation of the effects of human dominance on this planet, intriguing if not especially comforting. This book should be broadly read and discussed." (Library Journal)

Dewey Decimal 400s

Um – slips, stumbles and verbal blunders, and what they mean by Michael Erard

"Erard plots a comprehensive outline of verbal blunder studies throughout history, from Freud's fascination with the slip to Allen Funt's Candid Camera. Smoothly summarizing complex linguistic theories, Erard shows how slip studies undermine some well-established ideas on language acquisition and speech. Included throughout are hilarious highlight reels of bloopers, boners, Spoonerisms, malapropisms and eggcorns." (Publishers Weekly)

Dewey Decimal 500s

Chasing Kangaroos: a continent, a scientist, and a search for the wold’s most extraordinary creature by Tim Flannery

“They are, in my opinion, the most remarkable animals that ever lived, and the truest expression of my country,” [Flannery] writes. [His] untamed youthful adventures … provide the frame here for lively chapters filled with colorful Australian characters and occasionally perilous encounters with the continent’s scattered Aborigine population." (Kirkus)

Dewey Decimal 600s



The Lonely Patient: How We Experience Illness by Michael Stein



'Beautifully written, this is a look into the hearts and minds of people suffering serious illness: into the terrors that they often don't express directly. This is a moving and eloquent testimony from a caring practitioner." (Publishers Weekly)

Going Home without Going Crazy: How to Get Along With Your Parents & Family (Even When They Push Your Buttons) by Andra Medea

"Medea, a renowned conflict management expert, offers a variety of creative strategies for resolving family conflicts and strengthening relationships." (Book Summary)


Balance: In Search of the Lost Sense by Scott McCredie


"Balance is the first book written for a general audience to explain not only the multilayered mechanisms that allow our bodies to counteract the force of gravity as we move through space, but also the myriad ways balance has been studied, practiced, and perfected - in the audacious experiments of Henry James, throughout the public parks of China, and behind the scenes at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus, to name a few. Scott McCredie elevates this intricate human faculty to its rightful place in the pantheon of the senses." (Book jacket).

Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz


"Not only has Katz written 16 books, he cohosts Dog Talk on public radio, freelances for a variety of newspapers and magazines, and operates the eponymous Bedlam Farm in upstate New York—sometimes with his wife, but always with dogs and chickens and sheep and even a few donkeys and cows. Readers familiar only with Katz's suburban mystery novels will find that his farm memoirs set out to do basically the same thing, bring order to chaos. Anyone who loves animals or country life, but maybe can't have a pet or actually live in the country, will find Katz a perfect armchair companion. (Publishers Weekly)



"Hawrf!, Hawrf! Hawrf and a half hawrf!" (That's three and half woofs to you) - Taz, the blog dog

Rogues, Writers & Whores: dining with the rich & infamous by Daniel Rogov

"The title is not the only thing saucy in this rich collection that matches 69 brief, punchy biographies of historical foodies with the recipes for which they are associated. Several of the subjects are, themselves, the essence of sauce. There's Louis de Bachameil, for whom the famous French concoction was named; the mysterious Suzette, she of the flaming crepe; and tart-baker Franz Sacher, 'a fun-loving man who consumed enormous amounts of his own pastries.' (Publishers Weekly)


The Essence of Chocolate: recipes for baking and cooking with fine chocolate by John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg

"In their first cookbook, the founders of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker are clear from the start: chocolate is their passion. Every section of their book reflects that, from the recipes drawn from the Scharffen Berger Company and various pastry chefs to the detailed sections on how chocolate is made and where its future lies. Throughout the book are 'Legends & Lore,' delightful one-page chocolate trivia facts (such as how Devil’s Food got its name), and 'Quick Fix' pages, with instructions on fast and easy chocolate treats like chocolate-dipped potato chips and pretzels. (Publishers Weekly)

Cooking from the Hip: fast, easy, phenomenal meals by Cat Cora

"Although she has worked in a number of high-profile California restaurants, Cora is no doubt best known as the only female chef on Iron Chef America. The recipes in her second cookbook are divided into four categories—'Fast,' 'Easy,' 'Fun,' and 'Phenomenal'—and most of them are quick and easy, even the 'phenomenal' ones, which are for special occasions. She has a young son, and some of his favorite dishes are included here; other recipes are more sophisticated but still simple to prepare. Cora encourages flexibility and spontaneity, and she includes variations as well as other useful suggestions to that end." (Library Journal)

Picasso & Lump: A dachshund’s journey

How can you resist a book about one of the world’s most famous artists and a small dog? Taz, the Blog Dog, could not resist and he wants to make sure you all check out Picasso & Lump: a daschund's journey:

Lump, the diminutive and somewhat distracted fellow with the long ears over there on the artist's left, originally belonged to Picasso’s photojournalist friend, David Douglas Duncan (author and photographer for the book) but one day in 1957 the duo went to visit Picasso at his Villa La Californie and Lump never left! The dachshund and the artist were soon a part of each others lives and Lump made several appearances in Picasso’s works.

The book, with over a hundred images, is an insight into the daily life of Picasso at his home in Cannes including intimate pictures with Lump, contemplative moments in his studio, and quiet time with wife Jacqueline Roque, friends and family. Duncan’s elegant black and white photographs and personal captions let us see a side of Picasso that few have seen, and in showing how he related to our four-footed brethren, "humanizes" the artist. Naturally.

Reproductions from Picasso’s series based on Velazquez’s Las Meninas are also included and a joyful Lump is featured in several of these paintings. All you art fans and dog lovers, share my excitement about Picasso & Lump! -- Taz, Blog Dog.

Tempting Titles: Nonfiction 600 - 700

Continuing Summer fun in Dewey Decimal order:


To get to the online catalog record click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

600 - Health, Technology, Business

Into the Black: JPL and the American Space Program, 1976-2004 by Westwick, Peter J.

A well-written work showing how a preeminent US space laboratory has coped with change as a new era of international competitiveness has evolved from earlier national emphasis on military and political competition. Choice

Introduction to Dog Agility by Bonham, Margaret H. with illustrations by Michele Earle-Bridges.

Written especially for beginning canine Agility competition enthusiasts, this manual covers all aspects of the competitive sport. The author starts with instruction on evaluating a dog's physical fitness and overall readiness for Agility training... Glendale Public Library Catalog Summary

Taz, the Blog Dog, says: "Want to have more fun with your person than you can possibly imagine? Plan to have them take you to do agility! Those tunnels, jumps, and tires are way cooooollll!!! Go dog go!" See you at the next trial-- Hey, look! Ice cream! Can I have some? Huh? Hawrf!"

The perfect scoop : ice creams, sorbets, granitas, and sweet accompaniments by Lebovitz, David

Lebovitz, who was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA, for 12 years, is the author of three other cookbooks, including Room for Dessert. Here, he offers dozens of recipes for delectable frozen treats, from Chocolate-Peanut Butter Ice Cream to Cherry Sorbet to Blood Orange Granita. All the classics are here, along with more innovative creations. Parsley Ice Cream, anyone? Library Journal

SEND : the essential guide to email for office and home by Shipley, David

From this essential guidebook's opening sentence—"Bad things can happen on email"—Shipley and Schwalbe make all too clear what can go wrong. Brisk, practical and witty, the book aims to improve the reader's skills as sender and recipient: devising effective subject lines and exploring "the politics of the cc"; how to steer clear of legal issues; and how to recognize different types of attachments. Publisher's Weekly

Time power : a proven system for getting more done in less time than you ever thought possible by Tracy, Brian

Assuming that readers don't have the time to camp in an armchair and mull over his advice, Tracy "chunks up" the book by using headings to subdivide chapters and peppering his prose with numbered lists, such as the "12 Proven Principles for Peak Performance" and the "16 Ways to Overcome Procrastination." On occasion, his motivational bent can be too bubbly, especially in the "action exercises" found at the end of each chapter: "Resolve today that you are going to work and practice until you become one of the most efficient, effective, and productive people in your field," or "Resolve today to dedicate yourself to lifelong learning; decide to pay any price, invest any amount of time required, to be the best at what you do." Publisher's Weekly

700 - Arts, Sports, Entertaiment

Why Classical Music Still Matters, by Kramer, Lawrence

By focusing on the themes of life, (love and death, memory, war, identity, suffering and longing, solitude and community) he provides readers with the essential vocabulary to understand, actively engage with, and give meaning and value to classical music in our contemporary popular culture. Library Journal

It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks by Parish, James R.

Brooks's probing self-insights and clever quotes abound. While his sense of timing, delivery and charming goofiness may not always translate to the written page, readers will be satisfied with the details unearthed by Parish's exhaustive research. Publishers Weekly