November is the month we begin to think about holiday gifts for family and friends. Books are always great gifts.

I have always liked “coffee table” books because their size permits them to deal with various topics in a large format that is particularly useful for those that feature photography and art. Since I also love history, Chasing Lewis & Clark Across America ($45.00, Windsock Media) by Ron Lowery and Mary Walker, just knocked my socks off. Lowery, an experienced pilot and photographer, along with Walker, a pilot and writer, decided to celebrate the bicentennial of the famed expedition that opened up the West to the then-fledging American nation. Retracing the expedition’s route, these two have produced a book filled with the most stunning color photos of America’s still breathtaking prairies, vast forests, abundant farmlands, and western mountains. Lowery shot more than 4,000 photos of their journey from an open cockpit twin-engine plane called “Cloud Chaser.” His partner has written an inspiring text to accompany the photos, providing a history of the expedition and telling who this team came in contact with along the way. This is a book about America, then and now.

As Americans went to the polls this month, there was no more central issue at stake than the widely diverging views of the two candidates on the subject of national sovereignty. President Bush has asserted a policy that America has the right to go to war to protect itself against its enemies, even if that does not include the approval of the United Nations or is disputed by some of its member nations such as France and Germany. The Democrat candidate expressed the view that America should not take such action without such approval and without securing, in effect, the permission of other nations. (This is written prior to the November 2^nd election and thus without knowing its outcome.) The Case for Sovereignty: Why the World Should Welcome American Independence by Jeremy A. Rabkin ($25.00, the AEI Press, American Enterprise Institute), as the title reflects, explores the many aspects of national sovereignty, the right of our government or any government to protect its citizens and assert other prerogatives acknowledged by the international community of nations. This is one of the most intellectually challenging books you may ever read, but it comes with rich rewards as Rabkin, a professor of government at Cornell University, takes you into the minds of the Framers of the Constitution, looks at the history of how the concept of sovereignty evolved, and at today’s world in which some nations, i.e. Europeans, are inclined to transfer their sovereignty to multinational organizations, while others are ready to defend it no matter what the cost, i.e., the U.S. and Great Britain, accompanied by more than thirty other nations.

The single, most comprehensive book on the war being fought against the Islamist Jihad is America’s Secret War: Inside the Hidden Worldwide Struggle Between America and Its Enemies by George Friedman ($29.95, Doubleday). He is the founder of Stratfor, a firm that provides some of the best intelligence analysis available today. If you really want to understand why 9-11 happened, why we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, and why al Qaeda is going to lose the war, you must read this fascinating book. Friedman reveals how fragmented and ineffective our so-called “intelligence community” really was, despite costing us $40 billion a year. He explains the need for its reorganization. He puts in perspective our future relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East. This book goes well passed the flag-waving rhetoric and pragmatically examines the strengths and weaknesses of our military and our foreign policy to meet current and future challenges. Mostly, however, its message is a very positive, encouraging one. We are going to lead and win the war of the Islamic Jihad. We are going to become an American Empire whether we want to or not. The author has written the final chapter and posted it on www.AmericasSecretWar.com to insure it is as up-to-the-minute as possible. It is a pragmatic, thought-filled and, yes, exciting book to read.

For those who are interested in economics, Cowboy Capitalism: European Myths, American Reality by Olaf Gersemann ($22.95, Cato Institute) is full of surprises insofar as the author, examining trends from the late 1970s to 2003, demonstrates that the American model for prosperity and growth is working very well indeed, while the model followed by France, Germany and Italy is not. “Over the last 25 years, the US economy has enjoyed an average annual real growth rate of 2.9 percent. That’s 55 percent more than the German economy mustered, 48 percent more than in France, and 39 percent more than in the European Union as a whole.” Thus, all the criticism leveled against the way we do business, i.e., create jobs, pioneer technology, sell our goods, et cetera, is simply not based in the statistical picture that has emerged over the years. This despite the occasional recession and even with the blow suffered on 9-11 that temporarily sucked a trillion dollars out of the economy. This is a book that is well worth reading for anyone with doubts about our economy and is recommended by Nobel Laureates such as Milton Friedman and James M. Buchanan. And now by me!

I love large reference books, filled with useful information. When William Safire’s collection of great speeches in history, Lend Me Your Ears, arrived ($39.95, W.W. Norton) is was like having a birthday and Christmas combined. Safire, best known as a columnist for The New York Times, gained fame as a White House speechwriter, so he is the right man to make this selection of more than 230 speeches, from the days of Pericles to modern times. These are the words that spurred crowds to action, rallied the troops, honor the dead, celebrate victory, justify or condemn war, fight injustice, uplift the spirit, convince a jury, educate and inspire. In short, there are worlds of wisdom to be found in this great volume, now updated and expanded. The one by Gen. George S. Patton, given before they went into battle, is worth the price of the entire book. This is the stuff of greatness. It is also hours of some of the most insightful reading you will ever spend.

Cats and dogs have long been human companions and several books examine what can be learned from that experience. Dogs Don’t Bite When a Growl Will Do byMatt Weinstein and Luke Barber ($11.95, Perigee/Berkeley trade softcover) offers the view that dogs know how to relax, to have fun, to be loyal and to openly show their love. This is book about how to live life to the fullest from a dog’s eye-view! For those seeking to interpret what their dogs are telling them, The Rosetta Bone: The Key to Communication Between Humans and Canines by Cheryl S. Smith ($24.99, Howell Book House/Wiley Publishing) explains much about the way to increase the dialogue between human and dog by deciphering canine communication or, as the author puts it, “Doglish.” The Cat Guru by Naina Lepes ($16.95, Red Wheel/Weiser softcover) tells of her experience when a stray cat found her way into her sixth floor rooms at the Prasanthi Nijayam Ashram in India and gave birth to kittens. This led the author to explore her spiritual belief in Hinduism over the course of her 14-year friendship with Sweetie. It is a delightful story, particularly for anyone who believes that fully realized beings can wear fur coats and walk on all fours!

An extraordinary series of books devoted individually to all fifty States is being published by DK Publishing, These oversized, large format books feature stunning photos that depict life in each of the States and are the product of the innovative team of Rick Smolan and David Elliot Cohen, best known for last autumn’s bestseller, America 24/7 that showed life in America through the lenses of more than 3,000 professional photographers. My edition, New Jersey 24/7 ($24.95) has photos from dozens of cities and towns throughout the State that capture life here. This is repeated in the other forty-nine editions, one of which is bound to be your home State. Through the miracle of computers, anyone can put their own picture on the cover of any America 24/7 State book! You take a digital photo, upload it to the book’s website, and they will turn it into a personalized cover. What a great gift this would make.

Environmentalists and others will enjoy The Sacred Balance: A Visual Celebration of Our Place in Nature by David Suzuki and Amanda McConnell, with Maria DeCambra ($$24.95, Greystone Books, large format softcover.)  This coffee table book is filled with eye-catching illustrations that range from electron micrographs to satellite photographs, as well as drawings, the text identifies seven elements that all humans need and are part of the web of all life on the planet. The book is based on a four-part PBS television series. The Harmonious Universe: The Beauty and Unity of Scientific Understanding by Keith J. Laidler ($28.00, Prometheus Books) examines how the main branches of science come together to provide an understanding of our universe. Written for the lay readers, the author explains the major facts, principles, and theories of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and astronomy. For anyone with an interest in science, this book will prove to be both fascinating and entertaining at the same time.

In July I met Jim Brunner in Reno and he told me about his book, Good Times and Bad ($14.95, Wildland Workers Press, 391 O’Gara St., Medford, OR 97501-3744). I asked for a copy and began to enjoy what he calls “novelettes” and the rest of us call short stories. Brunner is best known for his “Wildland Worker’s Handbook”, a how-to manual for those who live or work in the wilderness. His stories reflect his love of nature, his shrewd observations about people, and what he calls his “very speckled past”, that includes having worked in a baker, fought forest fires, been a cowboy, sold cars, and lots more that have provided grist for his skillful storytelling. He can now add talented fiction writer to his list of accomplishments.

This month’s selection for audio book honors is How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) by Ann Coulter ($29.95/CD or $26.95/Cassettes, Random House Audio). It is hilarious. Of course, liberals won’t find it all that entertaining because this gal has built a reputation for being one of the most acerbic and controversial political commentators of our times. Drawing on her weekly columns, Ms. Coulter ranges far and wide in her analysis of the American political scene as seen through the eyes of someone who may be the most clever conservative observer of the battle of political ideologies and personalities raging today. With three bestsellers to her name, this new book is sure to be a fourth.

What would Christmas be without a new story? A Christmas Visitor by David Saperstein and George Samerjan ($12.00, Kensington Books softcover) tells of a family who lost their son in the Gulf War and has been unable to celebrate the holiday since. For a dozen years, the mother has refused to send cards, decorate the house, or have a tree. On Christmas Eve, the father offers a lift a young man walking along the road in the midst of a sudden snowstorm. About the age the son would have been and a veteran of the war, the presence of the visitor transforms the family, reigniting the joy of the holiday for them. You can enjoy this also as a made-for-TV movie that airs on The Hallmark Channel.

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To Your Health!

As Americans live longer, enjoy an abundance of food and other things that enhance life, they have also become obsessed with anything and everything that might pose a threat to their health. Ironically, the greatest threat to life is old age and the disabilities that flow naturally from it. Still, it must be said they are many fine books being published all the time to help improve and prolong life.

The cost of health care is a great concern for all Americans and a new book by Sally C. Pipes, president and CEO of the Pacific Research Institute, provides some practical, sensible answers to reform our current health system in Miracle Cure: How to Solve America’s Health Care Crisis and Why Canada Isn’t the Answer ($14.95, Pacific Research Institute). The author advocates giving consumers greater control over their health-care spending and decisions. “The remedy,” she says, “is less government intervention.” A Canadian, Ms. Pipes is in an excellent position to compare their system to ours and warns against introducing price controls for the pharmaceutical industry, noting that new lifesaving drugs are expensive to develop and introduce, and unless priced competitively, “we won’t enjoy the next generation of innovative and life-enhancing drugs.” She also recommends moving away from employer-provided health insurance and embracing options that allow individuals to control their own health care such as Health Savings Accounts, and reducing costly federal and state regulations and mandates. She uses Canada’s system as an example of what not to do. For anyone who wants to understand what is wrong with our current system and how to fix it, this book will prove insightful and useful.

Medicine, Mind and Meaning by Dr. Eve A. Wood, a psychiatrist, reflects the fact that, in any given year, more than 75 million Americans will suffer a common psychiatric illness such as depression, addictive illness, and eating disorders. The tendency is to treat these problems with pharmacological prescriptions, but the author shows how one can put the spiritual dimension together with medical care, and other therapies. Published in June, ($21.95, www.MedicineMindandMeaning.com) the book is a step-by-step guide that lays out an integrative approach to healing that combines traditional psychiatric practices and universal principles. It offers tips, tools, and resources for those seeking help. A useful companion to this book is The New Antidepressants and Antianxieties: What You Need to Know About Zoloff, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Clonazepam, Ambien, and More ($14.00, Plume softcover). Written by Dr. William S. Appleton, a Harvard Medical School professor, the book shares the latest research findings and treatment techniques, along with case histories to answer a reader’s questions about these drugs, including how and when to get off them. The Irritable Male Syndrome:  Managing the 4 Key Causes of Depression and Aggression by Jed Diamond ($22.95, Rodale) looks at problems men encounter that are often dismissed with advice to “get over it” instead of being recognized as serious threats to the sufferer and those around him. The book is full of practical solutions for men and their partners, offering as well both psychological and spiritual wisdom. Here is a man who has really thought about and studied what it is to be a man.

Cancer is often called the “Big C” or some other name to mask the fear it engenders. The Answer to Cancer by Dr. Carolyn D. Runowicz, MD and Dr. Sheldon H. Cherry, MD, with Dianne Partie Lange ($24.95, Rodale) is filled with information to stop it before it starts, arrest it in its earliest stages, and keep it from coming back. This husband-and- wife team has written an excellent book from the front lines of cancer research. It’s filled with news of the potent new weapons in the fight against cancer that are transforming this once lethal disease into one that can be overcome. If you are into prevention and the maintenance of good health, this is an excellent book to read. Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond ($14.95, Rodale softcover) by Marc Silver is a practical guide for the husbands who need to understand the disease and what to do when it occurs. Another problem that afflicts women is bone loss and Reversing Osteopenia: The Definitive Guide to Recognizing and Treating Early Bone Loss in Women of All Ages ($15.00, Henry Holt and Company softcover) fully lives up to its title. Written by Dr. Harris H. McIlwain, M.D., and Dr. Debra Fulgham Bruce, Ph.D., it is an easy to understand guide that should probably be read by all women, particularly younger ones who can learn how to avoid this common malady.

Mary Kittel has written Stay Fertile Longer ($13.95, Rodale softcover) that takes note of the way many women today are putting off childbirth into their later years. Once menopause occurs, there is no way to conceive naturally, but this book discusses how to reduce one’s chances of entering menopause prematurely, based on the latest advice from scores of fertility experts. It is a completely natural program to optimize fertility and get pregnant quickly and easily whenever one is ready. And, once pregnant, there’s What If I Have a C-Section? ($12.95, Rodale softcover). Written by USA Today medical reporter, Rita Rubin, this book provides the answers regarding how to decide on this option and how to recover quickly from it.

What are Old People For? That’s the question and title of a book by Dr. William H. Thomas, MD ($24.95, VanderWyk & Burnham) and happily this specialist in treating old people like me thinks that old age is something we should embrace and enjoy as much as possible. We live in a youth-oriented society, one that tends to want to warehouse the old and ignore them, but, as the author points out, most of us are living to an age that was unthinkable not long ago. There are problems that old age imposes and the author addresses them as well. For anyone in their sixties or older who wants to explore the issues and answers about the years, indeed decades, ahead of them, this is an important book to read. And then there is The Encyclopedia of Elder Care: The Comprehensive Resource on Geriatric and Social Care ($30.00, Prometheus Books) edited by Dr. Mathy D. Mezey, R.N., Ed.D.  As the name suggests, this a fat compendium of more than 300 articles that provide practical information on how to care for elders. This book has it all, resource addresses, all kinds of information about home care, nursing home care, rehabilitation, social services, assisted living, and more, and more. Just about any question one might have is answered in this book and isn’t that why such books are so wonderful? Another huge tome is Fantastic Voyage by Ray Kurzwell and Terry Grossman, MD ($24.95, Rodale) that looks at all of the innovations that have or will extend life. The poet Dylan Thomas wrote the famous line, “Do not go gentle into that good night” and Kurzwell is determined to do whatever it takes to avoid what most of us have come to accept as the ravages of old age. In the process, he has written a fact-filled, fascinating book on the new technologies that are emerging to make old age a lot easier and, by golly, a lot longer!

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Kid Stuff: Great Books for Younger Readers

Toys of all descriptions rate high on the list of what every kid (of every age) wants for Christmas, but books, if they are wisely chosen, can be slipped in among the other items and provide a long lasting gift for the memory of a particularly good story or by providing the tipping point in a young reader’s choice of what he or she might want to do with their lives.

Don’t wait until next month to pick up a copy of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Carols for Christmas ($7.95, Frances Lincoln softcover). This book is distinguished by its presentation of favorite carols because, in cooperation with the National Gallery in London, (the publisher is British) the book is illustrated with great works of art. If there’s a youngster in your life who reads music and plays an instrument, this is a beautiful gift filled with full color reproductions of the works of artists like Botticelli and others. Come to think of it, this isn’t just for young people; it’s a superb gift for anyone!

I have always loved atlases and I can recommend the National Geographic United States Atlas for Young Explorers ($24.95, National Geographic) not just for the wonderful maps, but for the wealth of information that accompanies them. This is a feast for the eye and a great way to make learning fun. In too many of our schools, students barely learn anything about geography and the nation. This book is so gorgeous that it is just irresistible as one turns the pages. Also from this publisher comes Our Fifty States

($24.95) which, like the atlas, is a great introduction to the history, geography, and other major facts about each State. It has more than 300 full color photos and illustrations, an illustrated time line of history for each state, and for anyone eight to twelve it will awaken an interest in our great nation. Another National Geographic book is With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote by Ann Bausum ($21.95) It took 72 years to achieve the passage, in 1920, of an amendment to the Constitution permitting women to vote. That may seem astounding in our times, but it means my Mother came of age just around the time women gained this great privilege and duty for all democracies. Some of those who campaigned for this right were put in jail. Their story is quite inspiring. These books will be enjoyed by readers aged around twelve and up.

Younger readers, around seven to nine, will enjoy The Salem Witch Trials ($24.50, Simon & Schuster) by Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple, and illustrated by Roger Roth. This is the fourth book in an “Unsolved Mystery” series by the author, a prolific writer of books for younger readers, and her daughter. This is a great way to encourage an interest in history as the authors explore the many reasons why the Puritans lost their wits in a series of trials of innocent women accused of witchcraft. Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale ($16.95, Bloomsbury). For readers age around twelve and older, this isn’t a huge Harry Potter tome, but it is a wonderful story of a boy who leaves London to visit his mother and her “new” family for Christmas. On the train, he meets up with a coven of witches, also headed for Canterbury, and befriends a young witch-in-training, becoming caught up in a conspiracy concerning the greatest magic book ever written. It’s an exciting adventure. For the somewhat younger set, there’s The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and Even Smaller Ant) by the noted children’s writer, Avi, the winner of the coveted Newbery Medal. ($14.95, Harcourt Children’s Books) The title pretty much tells you what it’s about, but it begins with Avon, a snail that has never had an adventure and yearns to have one. He and a friend, Edward, an ant, set out on a journey and meet all manner of wise, weird, and intriguing creatures, including a dragon. This is a completely original story that may well join the classics, but mostly it is just great fun to read.

I just love big, beautifully illustrated storybooks and Mr. Maxwell’s Mouse by Frank and Devin Ash, writer and illustrator respectively ($15.95, Kids Can Press) was great fun. The thing is, Mr. Maxwell is a cat. In his favorite restaurant, he decides he doesn’t want baked mouse, but rather a live one. “Good afternoon, sir”, says the mouse when he is served on a slice of toast. What follows is a secret. You just have to read the story for yourself or give it to a youngster who is sure to love it. Also from this publisher, there’s Fantastic Feats and Failures ($15.95) by the editors of Yes magazine. For the future engineer or architect in your family, this book tells the stories of some spectacular structures, some of which went awry while others are with us still. Extensively illustrated, it should hold the reader’s attention from cover to cover.

Bloomsbury, a publisher of an excellent line of books for young readers, has some for all ages. For the younger crowd that prefers pictures, there’s Hard Hat Area by Susan L. Roth ($17.95) that tells what it is like to work on the construction of skyscrapers. For the city child who wants to know the lingo of the ironworkers who put them together, this book should prove a treat. Margaret Atwood is better known for her award winning novels, poetry and nonfiction, but who knew she also writes children’s books? Rude Ramsey and the Roaring Radishes ($16.95), wonderfully illustrated by Dusan Petricic, uses what seems like every “R” word in the dictionary will prove to be great fun for younger readers, aged eight and up, as they make their way through a story filled with sentences like “She had a ruffled frock, raven ringlets with ribbons, and ribbed leg wear. Over her arm she carried a receptacle for roses and raspberries.” It will have them rolling riotously ‘round the room. For even younger readers, there’s The Day the Dog Dressed Like Dad by Tom Amico, illustrated by James Proimod, ($16.95) that will work well for those to whom it can be read while sharing the illustrations. Among those who read and loved it are The Amazing Kreskin, singer Cyndi Lauper, and famed baseball catcher, Yogi Berra!

First Light Publishing, Chesterfield, Virginia is a new independent publisher of children’s books and is off to a great start with Don’t Play With Your Food! Written by Brian Rock and illustrated by John Moerner, ($14.99) it is a stroll through various foods that is purposefully silly in ways only a kid could fully appreciate. From spaghetti to potatoes, broccoli to a cheeseburger, it is page after page of poetic punditry. One of the great pleasures of TV watching was the beautiful Giselle Fernandez who anchored NBC’s weekend edition of the Today Show and had other assignments that garnered her five Emmy Awards. Who knew she also wrote children’s books? Well, now we do and her series, about Gigi, a little girl began with Gigi and the Sunstone Adventure ($16.95) and now includes Gigi and the Birthday Ring ($16.95, Renaissance House, 9400 Lloydcrest Drive, Beverly Hills, CA). Illustrated by Sheli Peterson, these two books will delight any little girl. For more information, visit www.renaissancehouse.net

One can give no greater gift to a child than to teach them to read. A wonderful way to encourage that among the very young (4-8) is A is for Ark: Noah’s Journey by Colleen and Michael Glenn Monroe ($17.95, Storytime Press, Inc.) It is wonderfully illustrated and offers an entertaining way to learn the alphabet, as each letter becomes an element in the biblical story. There’s J for Jackrabbits and S for Skunks, part of the menagerie, plus U for Umbrella to keep Noah dry. Among other books by this author-illustrator team are The Christmas Humbugs ($17.95) and A Wish to be a Christmas Tree ($16.95). To check them out, visit www.storytimepress.com.

Regular visitors to Bookviews know that I have a particular affection for the books published by Pleasant Company, known for its American Girl titles. They publish books for girls of all ages and, starting with the youngest, there’s the wonderful “Angelina” series by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig. Among of the latest additions is Angelina, Star of the Show, Angelina’s Dance of Friendship, and Angelina Ballerina’s Tiny Treasury ($12.95) for ages three and up. Angelina is a mouse working on becoming a prima ballerina, spreading sunshine where she goes, and learning some useful lessons of life along the way.  Many of American Girl books offer some good advice and a really good one is Real Beauty: 101 Ways to Feel Great About YOU for girls eight and up ($9.95) that will help explain how to cope with the constant media messages of who is beautiful and who is not. Overcoming unrealistic images of beauty is now an essential ability for today’s girls. Failure to do so leads to lots of anxieties. I highly recommend this book. There’s some good fiction for girls eight and up in Meet Samantha and Nellie’s Promise, both set in the early 1900s. This month, these two become characters in movies that can be seen on the WB Network. These are heartwarming tales that will spark any girl’s interest in reading. There are also arts and crafts books available that will make great fits. They include Coconut’s Cookbook: Fun and Fluffy Treats to Eat ($7.95). Developing baking skills will reinforce self-esteem and win all kinds of friends. Room Crafts: Add Some Simple Style to Your Space ($9.95) is a spiral bound book filled with do-it-yourself ideas for decorations, pretty pillows, and lots more fun projects. Sticker Art ($19.95) comes with more than 1,000 stickers and supplies to design jewelry, glamorize sunglasses and more. Ideal for girls eight and up, these books let them discover talents and develop skills that will prove useful. To learn more, visit www.americangirl.com.

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Getting Down to Business (Books)

For most of our adult lives, the worlds of business and finance are those in which we live and try to understand in order to gain some security for our old age and pay the bills while we head there.

Two how-to books will give beginners a leg up as they enter the corporate workplace. They Don’t Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something’s Guide to the Business World by Alexandra Levit ($14.99, Career Press softcover) teaches those skills one must acquire if they are to move up the corporate ladder without having a nervous breakdown on the way. These range from good job-hunting techniques to coping with difficult people, as well as finding a new position while gracefully exiting the old one. In brief, this is a very useful book. Another one that fits this description is Be on Your Best Business Behavior: How to Avoid Social and Professional Faux Pas by Colleen A. Rickenbacher ($13.95, Brown Books) that will prove very useful to both a newcomer and someone who is encountering problems that can be traced to a failure to pay attention to those many signals that tell people a lot about you and by which you are often judged for good or ill. Here’s the lowdown on etiquette, travel, dress, tipping, entertaining, networking and organization.

Women face different problems in the corporate world than men and Trudy Bourgeois has written Her Corner Office: A Guide to Help Women Find a Place and a Voice in Corporate America ($19.95, Brown Books). Given the fact that women comprise almost fifty percent of the workforce, it may come as a surprise that only eight percent hold senior positions within the Fortune 500 companies. Or maybe not? The author says a woman must craft a strategy that works “with your whole life plan.” She has enjoyed success and now shares her experience and knowledge. Possibly you’re thinking of going into business for yourself? Is Self-Employment for You? That’s the title of Paul E. Casey’s book ($15.95, Hara Publishing Group) and one I’d recommend anyone contemplating self-employment should read. You will discover, among other things, that more than half of new businesses fail within a year and 95% within five. It is this kind of realism, combined with good advice on how to succeed that makes this book the first place to begin as you weigh the options. Of course, success is the goal and there are plenty of books that offer advice. One of the latest is The Wisdom of Alexander the Great by Dr. Lance Kurke, Ph.D. ($21.95, Amacom) that extrapolates from how he built an empire by the age of 33. Using him as a compelling role model, the author explores the elements of leadership development and strategic management. A clever little book by Rodney Ohebsion does it in a different way. The Get-To-The-Point Success Reader ($6.95) is available from www.immediex.com and provides the best passages from those authors who in the past have explored the topic of success. It’s like having a small library boiled down to a very readable volume at a very affordable price.

New editions of two really great little guides are available in The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Personal Finance and The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money & Investing ($15.95, Fireside Books, a division of Simon and Schuster.) Kenneth and Virginia Morris have done a masterful job of guiding the reader through everyday financial matters, from banking and credit, to investing and planning for education and retirement. After reading both guides you will be infinitely well prepared to make the right choices. Investor Skills Training: Managing Emotions and Risk in the Market ($24.95, Traders Press) by Dr. Rob A. Ronin, a financial consultant and clinical psychologist will prove a useful guide and, considering that 78 million people in the US own stocks or mutual funds, and most of these investors have lost money during the past two years, I would think there would be a lot of people who might want to read this book! Despite the vast resources of information available, including cable channels entirely devoted to business and finance, it can be very daunting, but also very exciting and rewarding. This book filled with good advice on how to survive in the financial jungle. Another good book on the subject is The (Mis)Behavior of Markets by Benoit Mandelbrot and Richard L. Hudson ($27.50, Basic Books). This is not light reading, but it does provide a world of useful insight to the way the marketplace operates and how, with that understanding, one can be a better investor.

Real estate has always been the best investment and for those contemplating buying a home these days, I would advise you to pick up a copy of Mortgages 101 by David Reed ($16.95, Amacom softcover) which provides quick answers to more than 250 critical questions about your home loan; the kind of answers that can save you a lot of money and grief. The author is a veteran loan officer who knows the ins and outs of dealing with banks, attorneys, real estate agents, sellers, and credit bureaus. In the event you want to become or are already a landlord, you would be doing yourself a favor if you read The Landlord’s Financial Tool Kit by Michael C. Thomsett ($18.95, Amacom softcover). It provides valuable tips for getting started and advice on how to include real estate in your overall investment portfolio. Being a landlord and earning top dollar on investment properties requires attention to detailed financial issues, regulations, and efficient, accurate paperwork.

Finally, in America the marketing of anything and everything has become an art form as well as a science. Few people are more highly regarded than Christian Mikunda when it comes to the skills and knowledge required for marketing and he has now shared them in his new book Brand Lands, Hot Spots & Cool Spaces ($39.95, Kogan Page US, Sterling, VA). The author says that one has to establish an emotional bond with a customer and that requires a good knowledge of their mind and heart. He reveals how public spaces, locations apart from home and work, have learned how to get people to visit. This is mood management and its application to creating places where the merchandise moves off the shelves or the services are eagerly purchased is the subject of this book.

That’s it for November! Don’t forget to visit our unique Featured Books section before you leave. And come back in December as we look at some excellent new fiction and a whole host of other books that would make great gifts for friends, family and yourself. You’ve just joined more than 50,000 others who visit Bookviews every month. Share word of this website with your friends!