New Books (Scott Northern Wake Campus Library): Fall 2014

Trendsetting sustainable architecture from the world's leading eco-architecture firms. The process of executing an architectural plan, a building or a landscape, can be disastrous for the environment. The construction process, whether it is erecting a building or excavating a landscape, is destructive. Toxic land sites are disturbed, trees are removed, bedrock is shattered, watercourses are altered. And it goes on--buildings cause erosion and ongoing water pollution and worldwide they consume a quarter of all energy produced. Fortunately there are numerous ways through which buildings and landscape can be designed to mitigate such negative impacts. 1000 Tips by 100 Eco Architects shows how forward-thinking design and environmentally sound construction practices can create outstanding results. Coming from the world's leading eco-architecture firms, these real-life projects demonstrate the pinnacle of progressive design and eco restraint. Working from the essential objectives of economy, sustainability, beauty and function, the 1000 ideas display a wide array of outcomes. Design plans illlustrate the concepts and captioned photographs display the results. Examples include: Reveal Earth's history--Wire-sawing bedrock horizontally creates a beautiful outdoor terrace. Produce white noise--A water curtain buffers city sounds while also creating a place for carefree play. Create new activity--A new island in a lake presents options for activities close to town. Introduce the unexpected--Wavelike wood installations create spots to sit, slide or ride a bike. Echo history--The layout of a new water park recalls the former agricultural plot. Alter scale--Irrigation ditches are transformed into waterways in a water park. Seize opportunity--A quarry is recovered and carved into a pleasing linear landscape. Mix function--A string of water through an education and sports facilities beautifies and encourages recreation. Fully illustrated and featuring the highest standards of world eco architecture, 1000 Tips by 100 Eco Architects is a practical, inspiring and provocative reference ideal for anyone practicing or interested in architecture, environmental conservation and design.

“Welcome to Rockwell Land,” writes Deborah Solomon in the introduction to this spirited and authoritative biography of the painter who provided twentieth-century America with a defining image of itself. As the star illustrator of The Saturday Evening Post for nearly half a century, Norman Rockwell mingled fact and fiction in paintings that reflected the we-the-people, communitarian ideals of American democracy. Freckled Boy Scouts and their mutts, sprightly grandmothers, a young man standing up to speak at a town hall meeting, a little black girl named Ruby Bridges walking into an all-white school—here was an America whose citizens seemed to believe in equality and gladness for all. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Who was this man who served as our unofficial “artist in chief” and bolstered our country’s national identity?nbsp; Behind the folksy, pipe-smoking façade lay a surprisingly complex figure—a lonely painter who suffered from depression and was consumed by a sense of inadequacy. He wound up in treatment with the celebrated psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. In fact, Rockwell moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts so that he and his wife could be near Austen Riggs, a leading psychiatric hospital. “What’s interesting is how Rockwell’s personal desire for inclusion and normalcy spoke to the national desire for inclusion and normalcy,” writes Solomon. “His work mirrors his own temperament—his sense of humor, his fear of depths—and struck Americans as a truer version of themselves than the sallow, solemn, hard-bitten Puritans they knew from eighteenth-century portraits.” nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Deborah Solomon, a biographer and art critic, draws on a wealth of unpublished letters and documents to explore the relationship between Rockwell’s despairing personality and his genius for reflecting America’s brightest hopes. “The thrill of his work,” she writes, “is that he was able to use a commercial form [that of magazine illustration] to thrash out his private obsessions.” In American Mirror, Solomon trains her perceptive eye not only on Rockwell and his art but on the development of visual journalism as it evolved from illustration in the 1920s to photography in the 1930s to television in the 1950s. She offers vivid cameos of the many famous Americans whom Rockwell counted as friends, including President Dwight Eisenhower, the folk artist Grandma Moses, the rock musician Al Kooper, and the generation of now-forgotten painters who ushered in the Golden Age of illustration, especially J. C. Leyendecker, the reclusive legend who created the Arrow Collar Man. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Although derided by critics in his lifetime as a mere illustrator whose work could not compete with that of the Abstract Expressionists and other modern art movements, Rockwell has since attracted a passionate following in the art world. His faith in the power of storytelling puts his work in sync with the current art scene. American Mirror brilliantly explains why he deserves to be remembered as an American master of the first rank.nbsp; nbsp;

Today's world textile and garment trade is valued at a staggering $425 billion. We are told that under the pressure of increasing globalisation, it is India and China that are the new world manufacturing powerhouses. However, this is not a new phenomenon: until the industrial revolution, Asia manufactured great quantities of colourful printed cottons that were sold to places as far afield as Japan, West Africa and Europe. Cotton explores this earlier globalised economy and its transformation after 1750 as cotton led the way in the industrialisation of Europe. By the early nineteenth century, India, China and the Ottoman Empire switched from world producers to buyers of European cotton textiles, a position that they retained for over two hundred years. This is a fascinating and insightful story which ranges from Asian and European technologies and African slavery to cotton plantations in the Americas and consumer desires across the globe.

Fresh water is one of the essential natural resources on Earth, and groundwater constitutes 98% of the liquid fresh water on the planet. Yet, throughout the world, groundwater resources are being depleted, allocated, squandered, contaminated -- but rarely is their fundamental value to humankind thought about or understood! Groundwater for the 21st Century is an effort to increase the groundwater literacy -- from local to global scales, among laymen, students, and professionals -- of citizens of planet Earth. Groundwater for the 21st Century provides two very important perspectives on the resource -- (a) a thorough yet accessible introduction to basic groundwater science and (b) a current, concise but comprehensive overview of groundwater resources and their importance, uses, status, management, and prospects in today's world. The book is well organised, substantive, clearly written in accessible language, and richly endowed with numerous illustrations and tables. An overview of the book is provided at www.mwpubco.com/titles/groundwater.htm -- and we especially invite readers to review the Author's (a) Detailed Table of Contents and (b) Expanded Description, both of which are available at the link provided. Why is this Book Important? Groundwater for the 21st Century is the most comprehensive overview available combining groundwater science and groundwater use by humans, and it has been organised and written specifically for use by a wide range of readers of all ages, places, interests, and nationalities who might wish or need to be informed and literate about freshwater issues. The health, food, financial security, and habitability of homes and communities -- the lives -- of billions of human beings depends upon the availability of sufficient amounts of fresh water. This book provides much material with which to inform readers about the nature of water, its distribution, and its uses and abuses by humans. From this, readers will be better prepared to evaluate their own actions and those of their neighbours, communities, and the hierarchy of decision makers that lead, guide, influence, and otherwise shape the present and future world. Who is this book intended for? Groundwater for the 21st Century is intended for the working bookshelves of a very broad audience of readers. After all, groundwater is of often unrecognised but unquestionably absolute value to all of humankind. That broad audience includes (a) individual readers of diverse ages and backgrounds who will seek out this volume on their own to pro-actively inform themselves of freshwater resources and their importance; (b) those who teach, lead, and direct others with respect to informed natural resource management; and (c) those with more advanced knowledge of the subject who might wish to acquaint themselves with some of the broader aspects or relationships of their speciality.

The theory that human activity is causing the earth to warm is broadly known. Yet while the vast majority of scientists who study the issue think that global warming is both real and dangerous, nations have done very little to halt - much less reverse - the process. The main reason for this isthat crafting policies to reduce global warming presents a serious collective action problem: the threat today seems minor, yet taking it on alone puts nations at a competitive disadvantage with those who simply elide the issue. Moreover, amidst this environment of buck passing, there is a vocalminority that contends that global warming is not even occurring. And there are others who admit that while it might be occurring, it is an entirely manageable threat. In Overheated, Andrew Guzman stresses that a major problem facing proponents of global warming reduction policies is that it remains an abstract issue for most. Yes, it might occur, but ordinary people really do not have a sense of how it will impact their lives. Guzman moves beyond abstractions andspells out the real-world consequences for human societies if we continue on the path that we're presently on: pandemics resulting from escalating urbanization and migration, massive flooding, the impact of rising sea levels on coastlines, and oscillations in food production. Guzman argues that onlyby establishing the increasing likelihood of these sorts of catastrophes can we begin to implement changes in national and international policy. By shifting the discussion away from scientific evidence that has no apparent effect on people's daily lives to global warming's wide-ranging impact onhuman societies, Overheated brings global warming down to earth. In doing so, it forces us to confront the very real ways in which climate change will negatively transform the lives of billions of people if we fail to institute effective policies to mitigate it.

All the classic French pastries made accessible for the home cook, with 3,200 photographs. For every serious home baker, French pastry represents the ultimate achievement. But to master the techniques, a written recipe can take you only so far—what is equally important is to see a professional in action, to learn the nuances of rolling out dough for croissaints or caramelizing apples for a tarte tatin. For each of the 210 recipes here, there are photographs that lead the reader through every step of the instructions. There has never been such a comprehensive primer on patisserie. The important base components—such as crème patisserie, pâte à choux, and chocolate ganache—are presented as stand-alone recipes. Once comfortable with these, the home baker can go on to tackle the famous and more complex creations—such as Éclairs, Saint-Honoré, Opéra—as well as feel empowered to explore new and original combinations. An entire chapter is devoted to decoration as well as sauces, syrups, and fillings. Whether used to develop skills or to refine techniques, to gain or simply broaden a repertoire, Patisserie dispels the mystery around classic French pastries, so that everyone can make them at home.

In Uttar Pradesh--known as the "badlands" of India--a woman's life is not entirely her own. This is one explanation for how Sheelu, a seventeen-year-old girl, ended up in jail after fleeing her service in the home of a powerful local legislator. In a region plagued by corruption, an incident like this might have gone unnoticed--except that it captured the attention of Sampat Pal, leader of India's infamous Gulabi (Pink) Gang.Poor and illiterate, married off around the age of twelve, pregnant with her first child at fifteen, and prohibited from attending school, Sampat Pal has risen to become the courageous commander and chief of a women's brigade numbering in the tens of thousands. Uniformed in pink saris and carrying pink batons, they aim to intervene wherever other women are victims of abuse or injustice. Joined in her struggle by Babuji, a sensitive man whose intellectualism complements her innate sense of justice, and by a host of passionate field commanders, Sampat Pal has confronted policemen and gangsters, officiated love marriages, and empowered women to become financially independent.In a country where women's rights struggle to keep up with rapid modernization, the story of Sampat Pal and her Pink Gang illuminates the thrilling possibilities of female grassroots activism.

Perhaps no other advancement of public health has been as significant. Yet, few know the intriguing story of a simple idea-disinfecting public water systems with chlorine-that in just 100 years has saved more lives than any other single health development in human history. At the turn of the 20th century, most scientists and doctors called the addition of chloride of lime, a poisonous chemical, to public water supplies not only a preposterous idea but also an illegal act - until a courageous physician, Dr. John L. Leal, working with George W. Fuller, the era's greatest sanitary engineer, proved it could be done safely and effectively on a large scale. This is the first book to tell the incredible true story of the first use of chlorine to disinfect a city water supply, in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1908. This important book also corrects misinformation long-held in the historical record about who was responsible for this momentous event, giving overdue recognition to the true hero of the story-an unflagging champion of public health, Dr. John L. Leal.

Diabetes is a complex disease--but learning about it shouldn't be! A Type 2 diabetes diagnosis can be daunting, but it is also manageable. With this all-in-one guide, you will get expert advice on establishing a healthier lifestyle and getting control of your diabetes. The Everything Guide to Managing Type 2 Diabetes provides easy-to-follow advice on all aspects of living with diabetes, and helps you: Recognize the symptoms of prediabetes and diabetes Monitor your blood glucose levels Learn about the types of insulin and insulin-delivery systems Understand the importance of nutrition and exercise Reduce the short- and long-term effects of diabetes Filled with reliable advice and the latest information on medication, therapies, blood sugar monitoring, and more, this invaluable guide shows you how to take control of your diabetes and enjoy your life!

An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom.An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought. This new history explains why the Norman Conquest was the most significant cultural and military episode in English history.Assessing the original evidence at every turn, Marc Morris goes beyond the familiar outline to explain why England was at once so powerful and yet so vulnerable to William the Conqueror's attack; why the Normans, in some respects less sophisticated, possessed the military cutting edge; how William's hopes of a united Anglo-Norman realm unraveled, dashed by English rebellions, Viking invasions, and the insatiable demands of his fellow conquerors.This is a tale of powerful drama, repression, and seismic social change: the Battle of Hastings itself; the sudden introduction of castles and the massive rebuilding of every major church; the total destruction of an ancient ruling class. Language, law, architecture, and even attitudes toward life itself were altered forever by the coming of the Normans.

A free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere: this is the goal of the Khan Academy, a passion project that grew from an ex-engineer and hedge funder's online tutoring sessions with his niece, who was struggling with algebra, into a worldwide phenomenon. Today millions of students, parents, and teachers use the Khan Academy's free videos and software, which have expanded to encompass nearly every conceivable subject; and Academy techniques are being employed with exciting results in a growing number of classrooms around the globe. Like many innovators, Khan rethinks existing assumptions and imagines what education could be if freed from them. And his core idea-liberating teachers from lecturing and state-mandated calendars and opening up class time for truly human interaction-has become his life's passion. Schools seek his advice about connecting to students in a digital age, and people of all ages and backgrounds flock to the site to utilize this fresh approach to learning. In THE ONE WORLD SCHOOLHOUSE, Khan presents his radical vision for the future of education, as well as his own remarkable story, for the first time. In these pages, you will discover, among other things: How both students and teachers are being bound by a broken top-down model invented in Prussia two centuries ago Why technology will make classrooms more human and teachers more important How and why we can afford to pay educators the same as other professionals How we can bring creativity and true human interactivity back to learning Why we should be very optimistic about the future of learning. Parents and politicians routinely bemoan the state of our education system. Statistics suggest we've fallen behind the rest of the world in literacy, math, and sciences. With a shrewd reading of history, Khan explains how this crisis presented itself, and why a return to "mastery learning," abandoned in the twentieth century and ingeniously revived by tools like the Khan Academy, could offer the best opportunity to level the playing field, and to give all of our children a world-class education now. More than just a solution, THE ONE WORLD SCHOOLHOUSE serves as a call for free, universal, global education, and an explanation of how Khan's simple yet revolutionary thinking can help achieve this inspiring goal.

Although a host of adventurers stormed west in 1806 after Lewis and Clark's safe return, seven of them left unique legacies because of their monumental journeys, their lionhearted spirit in the face of hardship, and the way their paths intertwined time and again. The Perilous West tells this riveting story in depth for the first time, focusing on each of the seven explorers in turn - Ramsey Crooks, Robert McClellan, John Hoback, Jacob Reznor, Edward Robinson, Pierre Dorion, and Marie Dorion. These seven counted the Tetons, Hells Canyon, and South Pass among their discoveries. More importantly, they forged the Oregon Trail-a path destined to link the Atlantic coast with the Pacific, spurring national expansion as it carried trappers, soldiers, pioneers, missionaries, and gold-seekers westward. The Perilous West begins in 1806, when Crooks and McClellan meet Lewis and Clark, and the vast expanse from the Dakotas to the Pacific coast appears a commercial paradise. The story ends in 1814, when a band of French Canadian trappers rescue Marie Dorion, and even John Jacob Astor's well-financed enterprise has ended in violence and chaos, placing the protagonists squarely in the context of Thomas Jefferson's monumental opening of the West, which stalled with the War of 1812.

Four score and seven years ago . . . Are any six words better known, of greater import, or from a more crucial moment in our nation's history? And yet after 150 years the dramatic and surprising story of how Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address has never been fully told. Until now. Martin Johnson's remarkable work of historical and literary detection illuminates a speech, a man, and a moment in history that we thought we knew. Johnson guides readers on Lincoln's emotional and intellectual journey to the speaker's platform, revealing that Lincoln himself experienced writing the Gettysburg Address as an eventful process that was filled with the possibility of failure, but which he knew resulted finally in success beyond expectation. We listen as Lincoln talks with the cemetery designer about the ideals and aspirations behind the unprecedented cemetery project, look over Lincoln's shoulder as he rethinks and rewrites his speech on the very morning of the ceremony, and share his anxiety that he might not live up to the occasion. And then, at last, we stand with Lincoln at Gettysburg, when he created the words and image of an enduring and authentic legend. Writing the Gettysburg Address resolves the puzzles and problems that have shrouded the composition of Lincoln's most admired speech in mystery for fifteen decades. Johnson shows when Lincoln first started his speech, reveals the state of the document Lincoln brought to Gettysburg, traces the origin of the false story that Lincoln wrote his speech on the train, identifies the manuscript Lincoln held while speaking, and presents a new method for deciding what Lincoln's audience actually heard him say. Ultimately, Johnson shows that the Gettysburg Address was a speech that grew and changed with each step of Lincoln's eventful journey to the podium. His two-minute speech made the battlefield and the cemetery into landmarks of the American imagination, but it was Lincoln's own journey to Gettysburg that made the Gettysburg Address.