The Last Lecture:
A Love Story For Your Life
QA76.2 .P38 L3 2008 DVD
Center Video Collection, 1st floor
This week’s featured item came highly recommended from Char… almost a month ago. She said that we had just gotten it in and that I should feature it on the blog. Well, now it is now in my possession after being checked out right away. And instead of writing anything, I’ll let the focus of the video, Professor Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon University, speak for himself.
For the background to Pausch’s amazing story, check out the ABC News website. In addition to the video, we also have the book by the same title in the McNaugton Collection - 2nd floor (call number MCN Pau).
Healthcare Tsunami:
The Wave of Consumerism That Will Change US Business
by Dean Halverson & Wayne Glowac
RA410.53 .H35 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
The skyrocketing cost of oil isn’t the only concern of the minds of many Americans. Access to adequate and affordable health care for families and individuals is also a hot topic these days and the theme of this week’s featured book.
The healthcare industry is a complex animal, with the many hands in the pot. You’ve got the providers, insurance companies, government regulators, legislators and of course, the consumers. Halverson and Glowac, experts in the areas of market research and residents of Wisconsin, argue that the industry in for a wave of change - and not just any wave, a tsunami. As they explain in the introduction, the term tsunami generally pertains to an ocean wave caused by underwater earthquake or volcano. After seeing the aftereffects of the tsunamis in Asia, apply it to the context of business and it gets messy. They detail the past and present of healthcare and what the future holds. The question is, “Who will survive the tsunami?” (no pun intended) Check out the authors’ website for the book for more information.
Gusher of Lies:
The Dangerous Delusions of “Energy Independence”
by Robert Bryce
TJ163.25 .U6 B79 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
With oil prices nearing $143 a barrel, one has to wonder about this energy independence that has been buzzing around Washington and the rest of the world. This week’s new book has some beef with this notion of a self-sustaining United States.
“All of them are full of methane,” states the book description, in reference to Bush, Obama, Greenpeace and everyone that supports weaning the country off of foreign oil. Bryce, fellow at the Institute for Energy Research and managing editor of the Energy Tribune, takes issue with the idea of energy independence, saying that it’s neither possible nor advantageous. Furthermore, he holds nothing back against its proponents, which are not limited to just the crazy liberals or the staunch conservatives. He examines both the past, current and future alternative energy sources and their viability (or lack thereof). The book includes references and a bibliography for further reading.
The Library also has another book by Bryce, Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of Enron, available in the Main Collection (HD9502.U54 E573 2002).
The Book of Salsa:
A Chronicle of Urban Music from the
Caribbean to New York City
by César Miguel Rondón
translated by Frances Aparicio with Jackie White
ML3475 .R6613 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
We’re going to spice things up a little here on New Stuff Tuesday with a little salsa - and I’m not referring to the kind that you eat (although that sounds tasty right now… is it snack time yet?).
One of the more popular paper topics for students is music, as it generally has a major impact on their lives and can provide enough inspiration to write ten pages. We just received an excellent book for those students. César Miguel Rondón, a Venezuelan journalist and media personality, has provided the world with a comprehensive history of salsa music, a prominent aspect of Latin American culture. Thanks to translator Frances Aparicio, professor of Latino Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, this definitive compilation is finally available in English and at your University Library.
You’re going to be excited this week - we’re featuring not one, but two new electronic resources for the university community to utilize. I know, contain yourself.
First up, we have a fantastic Reference Collection here in the Library. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether a book is useful until you actually look at it yourself. That’s all changed - we now subscribe to Reference Universe. Reference Universe is like one big index of many of the titles right here in our collection. Now you don’t have to guess if the particular book covers your topic. For example, if you search in the Library’s catalog for snowboarding and limit to the Reference Collection, you’ll only find one book. Using Reference Universe, it turns out that there are really TEN titles that have sections on snowboarding. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
Reference Universe
The other new resource that we have to offer is SAGE eReference. Instead of coming to the library, you can browse the entire reference material online! Being reputable sources, you can rest assured that you’re getting quality and up-to-date information from a credible source. Although we currently only have two titles through Sage, we are looking to expand this collection - make sure to use it!
SAGE eReference
The Fine Art of Small Talk:
How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression!
by Debra Fine
BJ2121 .F5 2005
New Book Island, 2nd floor
I’m heading to Seattle to a conference this weekend, which provides a source of inspiration for this week’s New Stuff Tuesday, as networking and socializing is a large part of attending such gatherings.
Every social occasion presents an opportunity for mingling with new people and… those awkward pauses, uncomfortable fidgeting, stuttering. Whether you find yourself in these situations often or not, handling those conversations can be critical. Fine, successful corporate trainer, presents this quick read on how to master ’small talk.’ As she points out, you never know if those fleeting encounters can turn into contacts, business partnerships or social relationships. The book goes in detail on not only initiating conversations with perfect strangers, but also how to maintain the talking, which is sometimes more difficult than the approach. So if you don’t feel like your social skills are quite up to par, you might want to take a look at this book.
Major:
A Black Athlete, A White Era, and the Fight To Be the World’s Fastest Human Being
by Todd Balf
GV1051 .T3 B35 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Ahh, the first day of classes for the summer. Some of you might be taking/teaching these courses, some of you may not. This week’s featured book will appeal to both researchers and pleasure readers.
Balf, former editor of Outside magazine, takes on the story of Marshall Major Taylor, a man that aspired to be the “World’s Fastest Human Being.” The author chronicles not only the life of the athlete, but also the surrounding time period. The turn of the twentieth century saw the world riveted with cycle racing, with large crowds and full stadiums watching six-day events. Taylor not only faced his opponents on the track, but also faced discrimination and segregation due to the color of his skin. Major tells his story as America’s first black sports celebrity.
The Transgender Phenomenon:
by Richard Ekins & Dave King
HQ77.9 .E55 2006
New Book Island, 2nd floor
After attending the UW System LGBT Conference in Green Bay last month, I came away with lots of think about. I also realized that I don’t know much about the T in LGBT. Conveniently, I found this book to fill in the gaps.
The authors, professors in the UK, have been following the “transgender phenomenon” for over thirty years, back when researchers didn’t pay serious attention. That all has changed and the featured book is the result of their dedication to the subject. The researchers presents the historical background of the relatively ‘new’ area of inquiry, as well as define ‘transgender,’ which means different things to different people. They then launch into their study, using personal narratives to illustrate the “four major modes of transgendering,” from “crossing the [gender divide] temporarily” (oscillating) to “crossing the [gender] divide permanently” (migrating). This volume provides an excellent scholarly view and tons of references for further research.
Who’s Your City:
How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life
by Richard Florida
GF21 .F56 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Leave it to a guy with the last name Florida to write a book about where to live. All jokes aside, Dr. Florida, Professor of Business & Creativity at the University of Toronto, examines how deciding where to live tops the list of most critical choices in one’s life. As the author contends, globalization has opened up the world, but where you live directly affects every other aspect of your life. He introduces the concept of “mega-regions,” which “range in size from 5 to more than 100 million people and produce hundreds of billions—sometimes trillions—in economic output.” This well-researched book contains a wealth of information and top places to call home for every stage of your life. And the book’s companion website offers a brief snapshot of Florida’s research if you don’t feel like reading the entire book.
So apparently, I’ve been slacking on my responsibilities to the blog, namely New Stuff Tuesday. I missed the past two Tuesdays, and I hope to not repeat that. To make up for it, I have some really big news this week that I hope will make a lot of people happy.
We are excited to announce that we now have electronic access to Science Online, one of the most influential journals for the scientific community. The weekly publication from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) contains cutting-edge research, global news and commentary to keep up-to-date. Articles in Science reach far beyond researchers. As Bob Benjamin, UWW professor of physics, says, “If you want your grandmother to know about what you’re up to, you publish in Science.” The subscription was made possible by using funds from the Library Fines & Fees account.
Science Online from AAAS
