Bookviews by Alan Caruba, September 1999

Of cookbooks and those about diets there is no end. Let’s take a look at a number of both I have received.

Viking Penguin is producing many new fine cookbooks and among their titles of late are two by Elizabeth Rozin, one new and a previous one now in soft cover. They are Crossroads Cooking ($27.50) and Ethnic Cooking ($14.95). Rozin has brought together many recipes from different cultures from around the world and both books represent an opportunity to sample widely. They reflect the restaurant trend of "fusion" cooking, combining tastes from different nations. Few authors have the depth of knowledge that Rozin brings to this and both books represent taste treats of every description.  

Penguin is publishing a softcover series featuring the work of Elizabeth David, another expert on international cuisines. They are Italian Food ($13.95) and French Provincial Cooking ($14.95) both with a foreword by Julia Child. These are thick books filled with the kind of information that a true lover of fine food will enjoy for hours. From Rebecca Wood comes an extraordinary reference, The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia ($18.95, softcover) that is an A to Z compendium of information about more than a thousand common and uncommon fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs. A vegetarian’s delight for sure, but also a comprehensive resource on healthy eating for anyone.

Don’t have a lot of time for food shopping and preparation, but still want to eat well? Then pick up Rozanne Gold’s Recipes 1-2-3 ($15.95, Penguin softcover). An award winning cookbook author, Gold shows, with more than 250 recipes, how to prepare a full meal from appetizers to desserts, using only three ingredients for each part of the meal. This is a cookbook for people trying to eat well in our time-squeezed era. Tasting Pleasure: Confession of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson ($15.95, Penguin softcover) will provide hours of reading pleasure for others who love wine. Internationally famed for her depth of knowledge, she shares it with you in a delightful fashion,

Bantam has also published two paperbacks for the health conscious food lover. New Foods for Healing by Selene Yeager and the editors of Prevention magazine looks at the way more than a hundred common foods hold healing power ($7.90). Once, long ago, I gave Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, MD and his wife a lift to an airport in Hawaii in a limousine that had been put at my use while on an assignment there. Dr. Cooper, at the time, was enjoying considerable fame for his book on aerobics. His most recent book, now in paperback, is Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way ($6.99) and it’s filled with information about the latest medical research can help you control your cholesterol, often reducing a reliance on medications.

Dr. Norman B. Ackerman, MD, PhD, has authored Fat No More: The Answer for the Dangerously Overweight ($19.95, Prometheus Books) that addresses the issues that significantly overweight people must deal with because, as he points out, the standard responses for these folks often just don’t work. His book is the story of the surgical solutions that many can access. For the obese, this has to be "must" reading.

I am a great fan of the wonderful Mary Engelbreit’s books. She has turned her attention to cookbooks, beautifully illustrated, as is her trademark. Andrews McMeel Publishing has three new titles, Mary Engelbreit’s Cookies Cookbook ($l6.95), Mary Engelbreit’s Queen of the Kitchen Cookbook ($24.95) and an accompanying Queen of the Kitchen Journal ($l4.95).

As gifts, these books have few rivals. Ideal for the new bride or anyone who needs a little encouragement to get into the kitchen and learn both new skills and recipes to please herself and someone special in her life.

With the Y2K panic seizing folks who just don’t believe that January 1, 2000 is just another day, there’s a cookbook! Y2Kitchen: The Joy of Cooking in a Crisis ($24.95, Summit 2000, PO Box 26602, Federal Way, WA 98093-3602) Featuring over 600 recipes, the book by J. Candy Arnold is purportedly about emergency planning to be able to eat your way through various natural and manmade disasters. The emphasis, however, is on the recipes, as opposed to preparedness procedures and, in this respect, the book fails to do more than tell you to stock up on the basics.

In a world of computer "Spell Checking" capabilities, it’s worth remembering that, while the machine can tell you how to spell something (often it comes up with several notions of what word you’re using), it cannot tell you what it means. However, a really superb dictionary speaks to one’s love of language and, frankly, I was thrilled to receive the Webster’s New World College Dictionary in its fourth edition ($21.95, Macmillan, a bit more for the leatherkraft, thumb indexed version at $27.95). This is a magnificent book with real "heft" to it. Even sitting on a shelf or table top, it has an aura of authority. What more perfect gift for a student? What more perfect gift for oneself? It is the dictionary of choice for the Associated Press and, as one peruses it, there is the delight of discovering any one of its 7,400 new entries, its many revisions for a new century as the English language evolves. The simple fact is the language is changing and, if you have an older dictionary around, it is most surely outdated.

I have received any number of interesting new books on various aspects of health. Elder Care: What to Look For, What to Look Out For! is by Thomas M. Cassidy, a former senior special investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Published by New Horizon Press (PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931-0669) the book is only $14.95, but for anyone with an aging parent or for anyone who is a senior citizen, Cassidy’s twenty years of experience investigating crimes against elder citizens is evident on every page. As the older population grows, so do the numbers of people who prey on them, stealing their life’s earnings and worse. Some in so-called retirement homes are beaten and drugged. This is an important book and I only wish Cassidy could get some television coverage for it and himself to get his message out to as many people as possible.

It’s a dreaded affliction and one affecting former President Ronald Reagan. It’s Alzheimer's and a book, Between Two Worlds by Ellen P. Young ($24.95, Prometheus Books) addresses the problems of those who live with and care for those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It is often an agonizing experience for family members and caregivers. Young, a veteran hospital social worker, offers some encouragement and advice for those who face these challenges and, for them, I believe this book will prove a great blessing.

This is a society where the dispensing of drugs for everything, but particularly for emotional problems, has become epidemic. Up to 800,000 antidepressant prescriptions were written last year just for children! The percentage of children on psychiatric medications for the so-called Attention Deficit problem jumped from 55% in 1989 to 75% in 1996. Surely, drugging and sedating children is not a good thing. Now, Dr. Peter R. Breggin, M.D. and Dr. David Cohen M.D., have teamed to write Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications ($24, Perseus Books). The authors have written a controversial yet substantiated polemic on the hidden hazards of psychiatric drugs. There can be no doubt that some do solve serious mental problems, but, as with anything else in life, there can be too much reliance, to much use, to much prescribing under the relentless pressure of drug companies to sell their products. An interesting, provocative book for patients and professionals alike.

We’ve come to think of alcoholism as a disease these days, so it came as a surprise to receive Marianne Gilliam’s interesting book, How Alcoholics Anonymous Failed Me ($12, Eagle Brook/William Morrow softcover). The author, now 35 years old, recounts how she spent l4 of them as a drunk. She tells a personal story of her journey to sobriety, leaving AA to search for other ways to heal her addictive behavior. As she says, if the twelve-step model is so successful, then why are so many people still drinking? Her book is a look at an addictive personality and how she fought her way to sobriety by not accepting a one-size-fits-all solution. Know someone with this problem? Give them this book. It will give them hope.

Inside Chiropractic: A Patient’s Guide is by Samuel Homola, D.C., edited by Dr. Stephen Barrett, M.D. The book denounces the cultism in chiropractic, but supports the appropriate use of spinal manipulation for certain types of back and neck pains, and related problems. It is not, the authors say, a cure-all for over-all health. Since I know nothing about it, I will let you decide by reading the book for yourself.

Two interesting books involve men and women. The first is The Sexual Male: Problems and Solutions ($25.95, W.W. Norton & Co.) It is a complete medical and psychological guide to lifelong potency by Dr. Richard Milsten, M.D., and Dr. Julian Slowinski, Psy.D. The advent of Viagra has certainly got everyone talking about the most essential element of male sexual behavior. Even Bob Dole is on a television commercial discussing it. Well, this book goes way beyond that and explores the physical and psychological components that are essential for a healthy male sexual function, offering excellent advice for anyone who needs it. Homeopathy for Women by Dr. Barry Rose and Dr. Christina Scott-Moncrieff ($l9.95, Firefly Books Ltd., 4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880) was published in October of last year and I am a bit late getting around to it. If you’re a woman, you shouldn’t be. This large softcover will guide you through the many aspects of health that are specific to women, providing detailed information, along with the author’s recommendations of homeopathic treatments. An excellent reference.

Of course, health and food are linked and that makes for lots of diet books, but one that is quite amusing is Geneen Roth’s When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull up a Chair ($9.95, Hyperion). It’s a wise and witty guide to the way we sabotage ourselves every day when it comes to the battle for eternal slimness. On the serious side, we’re learning that some people are just going to be "fat" (not obese which is a genuine health threat) according to society’s standards, but that does not mean they are doing harm to their health or life. It may just, in fact, be their correct weight! That’s what Roth’s book points out, along with some good advice about how we allow our emotions to control our eating habits. I recommend this book!

There is, of course, a great deal of concern about the nation’s health system and, in particular, HMO’s. One of the best books I’ve seen on this subject is Health Care 2020: The Coming Collapse of Employer-Provided Health Care by William Stryring III and Donald K. Jones of the Hudson Institute, an extraordinary study of health care’s financial future. To secure a copy, write to the Hudson Institute, 5395 Emerson Way, Indianapolis, IN 46226 or check out their Internet site at www.hudson.org. As the Baby Boomers near retirement age, they will force dramatic changes in American life, especially in the health care system. Hudson Institute is an internationally recognized public policy research organization that develops solutions and forecasts for governments and organizations.

I live and work off the Internet. Love it! So, naturally, I was delighted to receive the inaugural edition of e-shopper, A Consumer’s Guide to Shopping the Internet by Richard J. Crowley, Jr. ($11.95, James Publishing Ltd., 73 Coleman Ave., Elmira, NY 14905) which you can acquire by visiting www.the-e-shopper.com or by ordering from Amazon.Com. It’s also available from Barnes & Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks and B. Dalton outlets. That said, it is filled with the Internet addresses of a wide variety of stores with some 28 shopping categories that cover just about anything you need or want. In addition, there are toll free numbers, fax numbers and email addresses. Bravo!

The Name’s Familiar by Laura Lee ($14.95, Pelican Publishing Co.) is a great book for anyone who wonders how various sites, products, et cetera, got their names. Was there a Mr. Leotard or a Chef Boyardee? How did Barbie get her name? Lee’s book serves up the real story behind many names that have become part of our daily life. It is very enjoyable reading.

It being September, I would be remiss if I ignored a good football book. Check out Oiler Blues: The Story of Football’s Most Frustrating Team by John Pirkle ($$24.95/$19.95, hard and softcover, Sportline Publishing, 3346 E, TC Jester Blvd., Suite A-16, Houston, Texas, 77018) It’s the story of the Houston Oilers. Back in the 1960’s they had picked up two championships in the then upstart American Football League, but after that everything that could go wrong, did. After 37 years, they moved to Tennessee and changed their name to the Titans. If sport has its moments of glory, the Oilers are the flip side and that’s what makes this true-life story so interesting. If you love football, you are going to enjoy this book, even if the Oilers didn’t enjoy living it. Taylor Publishing has just release the revised edition of The New York Giants ($24.95, softcover) by John Steinbreder. From their first game in 1925 to the latest statistics and facts, this is the book for their fans.

One of the most popular entertainers of this century was Will Rogers. Whole generations have been born since his untimely death, but his legacy lives on in an excellent book, Will Rogers, Performer by Richard J. and Mary Buckingham Maturi ($60, McFarland & Co. Inc. Publishers, PO Box 6ll, Jefferson, NC 28640. It can be ordered by calling 800-253-2187).

Rogers had a great career in vaudeville and then moved on to movies. He’s famous for lines like "I never met a man I didn’t like" and "Politics is the best show in America. No nation likes hooey like we do." For many years, Rogers wrote a very popular newspaper column. This is a book for the true Rogers fan.

Some story telling CD’s have arrived as well. For children aged three and up, there’s An Odds Bodkin Musical Story: Little Proto’s T-Rex Adventure and for more information you can visit   www.oddsbodkin.com or call Rivertree Productions at 800-554-1333. This musical story collection is now up to fifteen audio titles and three children’s books. Mr. Bodkin has performed at the White House and his newest children’s picture book, "Ghost of the Southern Belle", will be published by Little, Brown this fall. If you love Halloween as much as I do, you will want to pick up the perfect CD for the holiday.

To introduce a child to foreign cultures, I recommend Kane/Miller Book Publishers who have just announced their l999-2000 catalog of books for younger readers. With a selection of both English language and Spanish language titles, these are truly wonderful stories from nations such as Australia, China, Japan, England, Venezuela, and France, to name just a few. Kane/Miller can be reached at PO Box 85l5, La Jolla, CA 92038-85l5 or call 858-456-0540. Or you can visit www.kanemiller.com.

From Alaska Northwest Books comes a delightful and beautifully illustrated children’s book, Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon and artist Evon Zerbetz ($15.95/$8.95 hard or softcover, 203 West 15^th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 9950l) or check out their Internet website at www.gacpc.com. Idea for children age three and up, it’s a story of a family visit to the woods to gather blueberries, a lost shoe, and its recovery. The artwork is delicious!

A wonderful 2000 calendar for adults and children is The 365 Kittens A Year from Workman Publishing ($10.95). Who can resist these cuties? Now you can enjoy the first year of the new millennium with a large size calendar filled with great full color photos of many different breeds for each day of the new year. Know a cat lover? This is an ideal gift.

I am a huge fan of audiobooks that are ideal for listening while commuting, jogging, gardening or otherwise occupied. New Random House Audio book titles include Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything by James Glieck who takes a look at our fast paced world for an exploration of the human condition as we enter upon a new millennium. Talking about the human condition, you might want to check out The Force of Character by James Hillman who looks at the way aging and our final years have a very important purpose, the fulfillment and confirmation of our character. On CD there’s Memoirs of a Geisha, an enormous bestseller by Arthur Golden. It’s an original novel written as the true confessions of one of Japan’s most celebrated geisha. Great listening!

From BDD (Bantam, Doubleday, Dell Audio Publishing) comes an excellent rendition of Sandra Brown’s The Alibi about a woman suspected of murder who may have found the perfect alibi. Stephen J. Cannell’s latest novel, The Devil’s Workshop is read winningly by the author and Thomas Cahill’s interesting take on history, How the Irish Saved Civilization, is also available. From Audio Renaissance comes John Darton’s The Experiment, a suspense filled scientific adventure by this best-selling author. Lovers of the Miss Marple stories will enjoy Agatha Christie Unabridged: A Caribbean Mystery read by Joan Hickson, the actress who plays the role in the television series. It’s available from The Audio Partners Publishing Corp. Reviewed below; Stephen Coonts’ Cuba is available from Dove Audio along with other fiction including Ivan Doig’s Mountain Time, and J.A. Jance’s Outlaw Mountain.

Soon to be released are audio recordings of some great theatre from LA Theatre Works, 68l Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291. Among the plays offered are The Odd Couple and Chapter Two both by Neil Simon, The Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein, and Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. The bonus is that these plays feature major actors and actresses such as Alan Alda, Sharon Gless, Eric Stoltz, and Jamie Lee Curtis, to name just a few. For more information, call 800-708-8863.

If you love Halloween, here are the stories to listen to. It’s the new Little Evil Things, Volume III, a CD from Little Evil Things, 180l North Lima St., Burbank, CA 91505 or call 877-LIL-EVIL. Complete with music from the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, this is great entertainment and scary stuff for anyone from about age 13 on up. Definitely not for little children. To learn more, its Internet address is www.littleevilthings.com.

The world of science is well served with an excellent, timely book, Voices Of The Rocks by Dr. Robert M. Schoch, PhD with Robert Aquinas McNalley. The recent earthquake in Turkey is a reminder that the Earth has its own way of putting its mark on history and Schoch looks at the way catastrophes shaped ancient civilizations ($25, Harmony Books/Crown Publishing). Humans have come to believe that they are "in charge" or "in control" of the Earth, but the simple fact is floods, blizzards, hurricanes, and other natural catastrophes, including asteroids and meteorites, have significantly and often abruptly influenced the course of human civilization. One, in fact, wiped out the dinosaurs, making room for use humans to evolve. For this reason, this book is a valuable learning experience and, I might add, fascinating reading.

Do Fish Drink Water? Puzzling and Improbable Questions and Answers by Bill McLain ($22, William Morrow) is a fun-filled collection by the official Webmaster for Xerox and he has written an entertaining book about some of the questions he has had to field, along with the facts, observations, and unusual anecdotes that resulted. This book also includes dozens of website address for finding information. In Strange Brains and Genius, science writer Clifford A. Pickover ($14, Quill/Morrow softcover) takes us on a tour of the lives of the brilliant and often eccentric lives of science and philosophy geniuses who shaped our thinking with theirs. Pickford is a columnist for Discover magazine and holds a Ph.D. from Yale. Fun reading!

A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature ($22.95, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill) is a memoir by Linda Spalding who traveled to the jungles of Borneo with her two daughters to spend time with Birute Galdikas who was one of three women encouraged by Louis Leakey to study the great apes in the wild. The other two were Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. She takes you into a world few of us will ever experience and, in doing so, provides a fascinating story of the struggle to save these creatures.

Environmentalists and others will enjoy All of Us, edited by Jack Freeman and Praney Gupte ($29.95/$l4.95 hard and softcover, Earth Times Books, 205 East 42^nd St., New York, NY 10017.) The book is devoted to issues involving population, gender, health, habitat, development and the environment in a "Globalized" world. Its official publication date is September 15^th. Freeman is formerly with NBC News. Gupte was with The New York Times and is now the editor and publisher of The Earth Times; a monthly newspaper devoted to environmental and other global issues. Contributors are familiar names to those who advocate solutions to various problems of concern to the Greens. This is a big book, a 480-page anthology, selected from the pages of The Earth Times, and will surely prove of great interest to many people. For more information, visit their website at www.earthtimes.org.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s Bookviews. Tell your friends about Bookviews.Com so they can learn about the best new books being published today. Publish a newspaper or newsletter? Feel free to "borrow" any section of Bookviews you want to share with your readers. (Let me know, okay? Permission is required, but always granted. My email address is acaruba@aol.com.)

And come back next month to get the inside word on the newest books being published this autumn!