Braille Book Review

September-October 2003
Books for Adults

The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Note: For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, as in "some strong language." Nonfiction

Typing and Keyboarding for Everyone with Typing Tutor 6 BR 13757
by Nathan Levine
2 volumes
A home study course with complete instructions in the fundamentals of touch keyboarding. Contains information on business letter format and advice on using a computer. 1998.

The Story of Mathematics BR 13805
by Richard Mankiewicz
2 volumes
Highlights of the history of mathematics from some of the world's great civilizations. Relates the contributions to culture of scientific, philosophical, and mathematical concepts. Traces the development of math from its use as a means of counting in agricultural societies to its modern importance in digital technology. 2000.

Stroke-Free for Life: The Complete Guide to Stroke Prevention and Treatment BR 14058
by David Wiebers
3 volumes
Renowned Mayo Clinic neurologist describes strokes, prevention, and emergency treatments with drugs and/or surgery. Advocates lifestyle changes including the reduction of stress. Also provides a stroke risk assessment test. 2001.

The Difference Engine: Charles Babbage and the Quest to Build the First Computer BR 14093
by Doron Swade
3 volumes
London Science Museum director describes the efforts of British mathematician/inventor Charles Babbage (1791-1871) to construct a calculating machine for use in navigation, science, engineering, and banking. Chronicles not only his life and times but also the latter-day building of the first working Babbage engine--in time to celebrate his bicentenary. 2000.

The New Eight-Week Cholesterol Cure: The Ultimate Program for Preventing Heart Disease BR 14096
by Robert E. Kowalski
3 volumes
In a follow-up to his 1987 bestseller The Eight- Week Cholesterol Cure (RC 26029) the author uses updated nutritional information to refine his system of preventing coronary heart disease through diet, exercise, antioxidants, and stress management. Includes recipes. Bestseller 2002.

The Only Menopause Guide You'll Need BR 14097
by Michele Moore
2 volumes
Physician's counsel on women's health concerns that accompany aging includes a range of treatment from traditional to herbal, homeopathic, or complementary. Discusses peri- and post-menopause and hormone replacement therapy. 2000.

Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities BR 14098
by Richard Nelson Bolles and Dale S. Brown
2 volumes
In this updated edition of the popular guidebook first published in 1991, the authors explain the hiring process in the context of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They present job- hunting strategies and tips, offer advice for the interviewing process, including research and face-to-face issues, and suggest other resources available. 2001.

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain BR 14143
by John E. Sarno
2 volumes
Physician describes treatment and psychology of "an emotionally induced physical disorder known as the Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)." Basing his ideas on Freudian theories, Sarno asserts that unconscious emotions cause ailments such as headaches, allergies, and gastrointestinal and skin problems.1998.

The Handbook of the New Eastern Europe BR 14144
by Michael G. Kort
2 volumes
Overview of the nations that comprise eastern Europe since the 1989 fall of Communism including the former Yugoslavia, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. Includes information on history, economics, culture, ethnic groups, and social upheaval. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

The Joy of Signing: The Illustrated Guide for Mastering Sign Language and the Manual Alphabet BR 14148
by Lottie L. Riekehof
4 volumes
Second edition of the comprehensive guide for mastering the basic signs used to communicate with deaf people in either the word order of the English language or in the American Sign Language pattern (ASL or Ameslan). Provides the vocabulary needed for persons entering interpreter-training programs and for families and professionals. 1987.

The Life of Mendelssohn BR 14179
by Peter Mercer-Taylor
3 volumes
Biography of the German composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847). Discusses his career from childhood as a prodigy to maturity as composer, performer, and scholar. Examines his Jewish heritage in the culture of the era, his heavy obligations to his young family, and his compositions during the decade preceding his early death. 2000.

What It Felt Like: Living in the American Century BR 14181
by Henry Allen
1 volume
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer evokes the social and spiritual tenor of the twentieth century. Captures each decade's tone through the smells, slang expressions, and political issues of the era. 1999.

Martin Luther King Jr. BR 14184
by Marshall Frady
2 volumes
Veteran journalist and biographer profiles the American civil rights leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Portrays the events that fixed King in the public's attention, from bus boycotts to the March on Washington to his murder. Also reflects on the minister's private spiritual conflicts. 2002.

Crocheting in Plain English BR 14215
by Maggie Righetti
3 volumes
Commonsense approach to this handcraft that is appropriate for beginners and informative for more advanced crocheters. Covers its history and basic preparations; planning projects and stitch techniques; easy-to-follow lessons; finishing touches; and sensible solutions to nagging problems. 1988.

A Practical Guide to Impractical Pets BR 14216
by Barbara Burn
4 volumes
Advice on sharing your abode with any of eighty-four exotic pets- -mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and even some insects. Focuses on their care, health, feeding, and breeding. Categorizes the pets as easy, difficult, or impossible. 1997.

Relationship Rescue: A Seven-Step Strategy for Reconnecting with Your Partner BR 14219
by Phillip C. McGraw
3 volumes
The author of Life Strategies (BR 14289) presents a plan for saving a marriage or other intimate partnership by taking personal responsibility for the situation. Lists ten "relationship myths," provides questionnaires and other tools to analyze problems, and suggests steps to achieve a balance and mutual respect. Bestseller 2000.

The Same Sea BR 14227
by Amos Oz
2 volumes
Israeli novelist combines prose and poetry to explore themes of love and loss, desire and memory. A young man sets out on a spiritual journey towards Tibet. He leaves behind his girlfriend, who moves in temporarily with his widowed father, awakening many pent-up emotions. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

Charles Dickens BR 14255
by Jane Smiley
2 volumes
Portrays the nineteenth-century English novelist from his contemporaries' viewpoint and through his literary works. Smiley's approach is "a friendly desire to get to know" Dickens and his Victorian world and to comment on the role of writing in his life. 2002.

When Every Moment Counts: What You Need to Know about Bioterrorism from the Senate's Only Doctor BR 14265
by Bill Frist
2 volumes
A physician who is a senator from Tennessee offers advice on what citizens should do in case of a biological or chemical attack. Describes the steps taken when anthrax was discovered in the U.S. Capitol, the nature of various bacteria available to terrorists, and precautions to be taken in the home. 2002.

Healing the Addictive Mind BR 14268
by Lee L. Jampolsky
2 volumes
A psychologist defines addiction broadly as "pursuing happiness in things (people, places, substances) external to myself." Based on A Course in Miracles (BR 10835), the book focuses on enabling readers to find peace of mind and love. Includes daily lessons. 1991.

Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters BR 14289
by Phillip C. McGraw
2 volumes
Behavioral scientist McGraw, an advisor to Oprah Winfrey, demonstrates how to take control over your life: assume responsibility for past actions, change bad habits, and reverse negative conditioning to prepare the mind and body for greater happiness. Describes ten "life laws" that improve the chances of success. Bestseller 1999.

Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis BR 14296
by Dominick A. Pisano and F. Robert van der Linden
1 volume
Celebrates the twenty-five-year-old American pilot who made the first solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris across the Atlantic in 1927. Discusses his aviation career, his flying skills, his political ineptitude, and his environmental concerns. For senior high and older readers. 2002.

James Madison BR 14305
by Garry Wills
2 volumes
Explores how a successful Founding Father became an ineffectual fourth president. Views James Madison (1751-1836) in his role as the first executive to lead a war (in 1812) and the circumstances that influenced his time in office. Traces his life of public service afterwards. 2002.

Martha, Martha: How Christians Worry BR 14309
by Elaine Leong Eng
2 volumes
Handbook for Christian counselors who treat mentally disturbed clients by integrating psychology with theology. Uses anecdotes to describe symptoms and suggests appropriate treatments by using biblical references. Lists sources for dealing with obsessions, post-traumatic stress disorders, social phobias, anxiety, PMS, and depression. 2000.

Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder BR 14314
by John Gilmore
2 volumes
Investigation of the infamous 1947 Hollywood case of a murdered aspiring starlet. Nicknamed the "Black Dahlia" by her party crowd, Elizabeth Short was twenty-two when she was killed. Traces her life and that of the main suspect, who was never convicted. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1994.

Repair BR 14318
by C.K. Williams
1 volume
A collection of thirty-eight poems about love, death, and forgiveness. In "King," the author explores his feelings at a 1968 memorial service for Martin Luther King Jr. Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. 1999.

My Love Affair with America: The Cautionary Tale of a Cheerful Conservative BR 14319
by Norman Podhoretz
2 volumes
Former Commentary editor examines his childhood and school years in New York, his acculturation, and his shift of political alliances from liberalism to conservatism. He attributes his change in philosophy to his faith, long-standing love of country, and strong antipathy to anti-American statements and activities. 2000.

A House in Sicily BR 14320
by Daphne Phelps
2 volumes
Memoir of the Englishwoman who owns Casa Cuseni, a popular pensione in Sicily. Phelps, barely able to speak Italian and with little money, traveled to Taormina to sell her unexpected inheritance. Instead, she fell in love with the estate, its gardens, community, and the Italian way of life. 1999.

The Olive Farm: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Olive Oil in the South of France BR 14322
by Carol Drinkwater
3 volumes
A British actress recalls how she and her soon-to-be husband, Michel, a pair of romantics, purchased a rundown property near the Mediterranean. Describes their restoration adventures transforming derelict orchards to excellent olive-oil producers and creating a wonderful living space for family and friends. 2001.

Get Strong! Body by Jake's Guide to Building Confidence, Muscles, and a Great Future for Teenage Guys BR 14327
by Jake Steinfeld
2 volumes
Fitness trainer uses anecdotes from his own life to inspire teens to concentrate on improving their bodies as well as their social and inner lives. Explains how to take charge, set goals, realize one's dreams, and build values. Includes sample workout and diet. For senior high and older readers. 2002.

Fooling with Words: A Celebration of Poets and Their Craft BR 14341
by Bill Moyers
2 volumes
In interviews with eleven poets, Moyers probes the experiences and creative processes that led to particular poems by each of them. The poets are Stanley Kunitz, Coleman Barks, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Mark Doty, Deborah Garrison, Jane Hirshfield, Kurtis Lamkin, Shirley Geok-lin Lim, Paul Muldoon, Marge Piercy, and Robert Pinsky. 1999.

God's Leading Lady: Out of the Shadows and into the Light BR 14362
by T.D. Jakes
2 volumes
Using stage metaphors, well-known pastor and evangelist encourages women to overcome imperfections and low self-esteem. Drawing on stories of women in the Bible and in contemporary life, he recommends confronting trials, recognizing the Lord's calling, and claiming one's God-determined role. 2002.

Dirt under My Nails: An American Farmer and Her Changing Land BR 14364
by Marilee Foster
1 volume
Deep, rich detail colors a celebration of the author's decision to return to a career on the family farm in Sagaponack, New York (on eastern Long Island), after attending college in Wisconsin. Contrasts the area's natural beauty, described in seasonal progression from winter to fall, with the negative effects wrought by encroaching development. 2002.

Let's Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage BR 14374
by Lisa Beamer
2 volumes
The widow of Todd Beamer, who led his fellow passengers against the terrorists on September 11, 2001, on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, describes her late husband's life. Todd, a devout Christian family man, was raised with some traditional values that enabled him to risk his life for others. Bestseller 2002.

Coping with Social Anxiety BR 14378
by Heather Moehn
1 volume
Describes a self-consciousness disorder that can lead to impairment in social situations. Describes some social phobia causes and remedies and offers suggestions for professional help. For junior and senior high readers. 2001.

Dr. Wayne Dyer's Ten Secrets for Success and Inner Peace BR 14380
by Wayne W. Dyer
1 volume
Offers ten principles by which to achieve inner peace through changing one's outlook on life and embracing spirituality through meditation. Proposes that feeling the daily presence of God will lead to contentment and satisfaction. 2001.

Revere Beach Elegy: A Memoir of Home and Beyond BR 14382
by Roland Merullo
2 volumes
Depicts Roland Merullo's youth in an Italian American home in the working-class neighborhood of Revere, Massachusetts. Class and family figure prominently in Merullo's life as he follows his fate to the Ivy League, the Peace Corps, and beyond. Merullo endures poverty and familial disapproval while struggling as a writer. 2002.

Nietzsche BR 14384
by Ronald Hayman
1 volume
Short biographical interpretation of the work of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), who declared, "God is dead". 1999.

Locke BR 14385
by Michael Ayers
1 volume
Interprets An Essay Concerning Human Understanding by British philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) and its impact on European thought. 1999.

Mattanza: Love and Death in the Sea of Sicily BR 14489
by Theresa Maggio
2 volumes
Combines natural history, travel, and personal experience to describe the centuries-old ritual trapping of the bluefin tuna that swim into the Mediterranean Sea. During fifteen years of visits to the fishing village of Favignana in Sicily, Maggio lost her heart to the tuna and to the virile local fishermen. 2000.


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