LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: Zoobiquity
Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health and the Science of Healing By Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, M.D. and Kathryn Bowers
"Our ancestors knew that animals suffer the same diseases as humans, but as modern medicine developed, a great schism grew between physicians and veterinarians. Cardiologist and psychiatrist Natterson-Horowitz now calls for a new “species-spanning” approach to medicine and health. She and science writer Bowers coined the term zoobiquity for this emerging field, and they present their case with winning enthusiasm and expertise.Natterson-Horowitz, astute and funny, recounts her mind-expanding zoobiquitous expeditions involving a remarkable array of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects and explicates the genetic and evolutionary roots of her revelatory discoveries. Not only do animals faint but fainting can be essential to survival, leading Natterson-Horowitz to modify a classic phrase to “Fight, flight, or faint.” Even more arresting are her revelations about animals, intoxication, and addiction (including a Texan cocker spaniel who loved to lick cane toads for the hallucinogenic toxin in their skin). Her investigation into animal sex redefines "natural acts," and her coverage of animal adolescence and eating disorders is fascinating and instructive.
Clearly, we have much to learn from animals and from this profoundly illuminating “new fusion of veterinary, human, and evolutionary medicine."
Seaman, Donna. "Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health And The Science Of Healing." Booklist 108.18 (2012): 9. Education Research Complete. Web. 4 June 2013
This book will be shelved at RB 125 N388 2012 once it is not a "New book." The books in the "R"s are about medicine. Books on animals are also found at "SF." Ask a librarian to help you find this or other resources on this topic.
Ask a librarian for help finding this book or other sources on this topic.
See our previous Books of the Week here.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: I See the Promised Land
I See the Promised Land: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr. By Arthur Flowers. Illus. by Manu Chitrakar, and Guglielmo Rossi
"Both evocative and factually rich, this presentation of the career of Martin Luther King Jr. shows the man on an authentic world stage and as a leader who learned from his travels to both India and Africa. Flowers provides an incisive and succinct text that steadily maintains the propulsive griot narrative style of King’s African ancestry.Chitrakar’s free-floating images, which juxtapose and amplify the text, are deeply steeped in the Patua scroll-painting tradition, from the Bengali faces to the panoply of browns and yellows and pinks that differentiate individuals rather than races. The choice of props and scenery speak more of India than America, and protesters’ signs are written in Bengali script rather than English. Rossi’s graphic layout intersperses black pages in which King’s quotes are set in large white type with bright pages tracing his education as a preacher, his entry into the nascent civil rights fray, and his ascendancy to martyrdom. King’s doubts about himself and others, adultery, and relationships with political leaders all receive just due. Older teens, in addition to adults, will find this to be a standout both as a distinctive graphic narrative that combines two world storytelling traditions and as an examination of King’s life and its enduring legacy across the globe."
Goldsmith, Francisca. "I See The Promised Land: A Life Of Martin Luther King, Jr." Booklist 107.8 (2010): 35. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 May 2013.
This book will be shelved with other books about Martin Luther King, Jr. at E 185.97 K5 F59 2013 once it is not a "New book."
Ask a librarian for help finding this book or other sources on this topic.
See our previous Books of the Week here.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: The Battle for the Arab Spring
The Battle for the Arab Spring: Revolution, Counter-Revolution and the Making of a New Era By Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren
"Sparked by the protest of a single vegetable seller in Tunisia, the flame of revolutionary passion swept across the Arab world in what has come to be called the Arab Spring of 2011. Millions took to the streets in revolt: the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya fell, other regimes remain embattled, and no corner of the region has escaped unchanged. In this informed and accessible book, Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren explain the economic and political roots of the Arab Spring, assess what has been accomplished so far, and consider the many stumbling blocks that confront the Arab nations as they try to shape their futures.Through research, interviews, and a wealth of firsthand experience, the authors explain the unique set of obstacles that endanger stability in each country. They analyze the challenges many Arab nations face in building democratic institutions, finding consensus on political Islam, overcoming tribal divides, and satisfying an insatiable demand for jobs. In an era of change and uncertainty, this insightful guide provides the first clear glimpse of the post-revolutionary future the Arab Spring set in motion."
This book will be shelved with other books on Arab countries at JQ1850 A91 N68 2012 once it is not a "New book."
Ask a librarian for help finding this book or other sources on this topic.
See our previous Books of the Week here.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: Under the Surface
Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale by Tom Wilbur
"Right now, in New York and Pennsylvania, few subjects are more controversial than fracking (hydraulic fracturing) of shale for the recovery of natural gas. The process has become immensely profitable for some and immensely disruptive for others.Journalist/educator Wilber has managed to collect and organize most of the pertinent information about the geology, drilling practices, leasing of mineral rights, laws and regulations, politics, and people involved in this ongoing drama about the Marcellus Shale and its exploitation. He allows all sides--industry, government, and individuals (both winners and losers)--to have their say and state their case. It becomes evident that there are no true heroes and few true villains in all of this, but everyone involved has made plenty of mistakes and misjudgments. Although parts of the book read like a novel, the author carefully documents the book's content, including more than two dozen pages of endnotes and an ample index. A valuable work for anyone who has heard of fracking or of shale gas and wants to learn more.
Dimmick, C. W. "Under The Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, And The Fate Of The Marcellus Shale." Choice: Current Reviews For Academic Libraries 50.3 (2012): 514. Web. 14 May 2013.
This book will be shelved at HD 9581.2 S53 W55 2012 once it is not a "New book." Books at this call number are about chemical industries.
Ask a librarian for help finding this book or other sources on this topic.
See our previous Books of the Week here.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: American Tapestry
American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama by Rachel L. Swarns
"Michelle Obama's family saga is a remarkable, quintessentially American story—a journey from slavery to the White House in five generations. Yet, until now, little has been reported on the First Lady's roots. Prodigiously researched, American Tapestry traces the complex and fascinating tale of Michelle Obama's ancestors, a history that the First Lady did not even know herself. Rachel L. Swarns, a correspondent for the New York Times, brings into focus the First Lady's black, white, and multiracial forebears, and reveals for the first time the identity of Mrs. Obama's white great-great-great-grandfather—a man who remained hidden in her lineage for more than a century.American Tapestry illuminates the lives of the ordinary people in Mrs. Obama's family tree who fought for freedom in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars; who endured the agonies of slavery, the disappointment of Reconstruction, the displacement of the Great Migration, and the horrors of Jim Crow to build a better future for their children. Swarns even found a possible link to the Jewish Reform movement.
Though it is an intimate family history, American Tapestry is also the collective chronicle of our changing nation, a nation in which racial intermingling lingers in the bloodlines of countless citizens and slavery was the crucible through which many family lines—black, white, and Native American—were forged."
From the Back Cover
This book will be shelved at E 909 O24 S93 2012 once it is not a "New book." Books at this call number are about U.S. history in the Obama era. Books on African American history are shelved at E 185 and other locations. Genealogy books are shelved at CS. We also have many ebooks on these topics.
Ask a librarian for help finding this or other books.See our previous Books of the Week here.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: Predator Nation
Predator Nation: Corporate Criminals, Political Corruption, and the Hijacking of America by Charles H. Ferguson
"In Predator Nation, Ferguson exposes the networks of academic, government, and congressional influence—in all recent administrations, including Obama's--that prepared the path to conquest. He reveals how once-revered figures like Alan Greenspan and Larry Summers have become mere courtiers to the elite. And based on many newly released court filings, he details the extent of the crimes--there is no other word—committed in the frenzied chase for storied wealth that marked the 2000s. And, finally, he lays out a brief plan of action for how we might take it back.
(From the Publisher's website)
"A tightly argued, profusely footnoted and deeply enraged castigation of everyone involved, Predator Nation isn’t just a factually unchallengeable account of how Wall Street blew up the global economy. It's a denunciation, a call for justice and a warning."—Salon
Other books on economics and business can be found in the HB section. This book will be shelved at HB 3722 F458 2012 once it is not a "New book." Ask a librarian to help you find this or other books.
See our previous Books of the Week here.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: Net Smart: How to Thrive Online
Net Smart: How to Thrive Online by Howard Rheingold
"Prominent technology writer and critic Rheingold (Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution), who in 1993 coined the term "virtual community," here examines the impact of our increasingly Internet-centric society on the individual.While books like Nicholas Carr's The Shallows and Jaron Lanier's You Are Not a Gadget warn of the Internet's negative long-term effects, Rheingold (though he agrees there are potential problems) argues that mindfulness--or users taking control over and applying critical thinking to how technology is used—can make our increasing use of digital media a positive change.
Hoover, Rachel. "Net Smart: How To Thrive Online." Library Journal 137.5 (2012): 130. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
- This book will be shelved in the at HM851 .R52 2012 with other books on sociology and social change once it is not a "new book."
- The Shallows is shelved at QP360 .C3667 2010 with books on neurophysiology and neuropsychology.
- You Are Not a Gadget is available from other CUNY libraries. Ask a librarian if you need help finding these or other books."
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: Working without Commitments
Working without Commitments: The Health Effects of Precarious Employment by Wayne Lewchuk, Marlea Clarke, and Alice de Wolff
"This book comes at an especially appropriate time, given the debates in the US over health care and the disputes over the rights of unions in the public sector. It begins by summarizing the evolution of the "employment-relationship," indicating that society may be returning to an earlier time of less-secure employment and employee benefits. The hypothesis, referred to as the "job strain" model, is that workers' rights to a job are determinants of workers' health. The more precarious and tentative jobs are, the less healthy and therefore less productive the workers…. The authors discuss how changes in the employment relationship and the idea of job commitment have significant implications for the role of government in the labor market."
O'Connell, J. F. "Working Without Commitments: The Health Effects Of Precarious Employment." Choice: Current Reviews For Academic Libraries 48.11 (2011): 2150. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.
Other books on working and labor can be found in the HD section. This book will be shelved at HD 5858 C2 L49 2011 once it is not a "New book". Ask a librarian to help you find this or other books.
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LaGuardia Library Book of the Week: No Enemies, No Hatred: Selected Essays and Poems
No Enemies, No Hatred: Selected Essays and Poems by Liu Xiaobo
When the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded on December 10, 2010, its recipient, Liu Xiaobo, was in Jinzhou Prison, serving an eleven-year sentence for what Beijing called "incitement to subvert state power." In Oslo, actress Liv Ullmann read a long statement the activist had prepared for his 2009 trial. It read in part: "I stand by the convictions I expressed in my 'June Second Hunger Strike Declaration' twenty years ago—I have no enemies and no hatred. None of the police who monitored, arrested, and interrogated me, none of the prosecutors who indicted me, and none of the judges who judged me are my enemies."
That statement is one of the pieces in this book, which includes writings spanning two decades, providing insight into all aspects of Chinese life. These works not only chronicle a leading dissident’s struggle against tyranny but enrich the record of universal longing for freedom and dignity.
(From the Publisher’s website)
This book will be shelved at PL2879 .X53 A2 2012 with other Chinese literature. It is also available as a free ebook (via a Library subscription).
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New Books!
There are a number of new books in the circulating collection this year. Be sure to visit the New Books display in front of the Reference Desk to find something fresh to read. If you are interested in seeing a list new titles, try this link to a command search in the CUNY+ catalog: New Bookscomments powered by Disqus
Try EasyBib for your citations and bibliographies
If you didn't get a chance to attend the EasyBib workshops on 4/9, there are a lot of online guides to introduce you to this great new library research tool. Our Library provides access to the School Edition which has a lot more features than the free version. When you get a chance, it is worth checking out.
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EasyBib Workshops Today!
Please join the Library for a workshop on EasyBib. Learn how to organize citations quickly and accurately. EasyBib is a complete citation management composer. When: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 Two sessions to choose from: 1:00 - 1:30 pm 4:00 - 4:30 pm Open to All ~ Facilitated by Alexandra Rojas, Catherine Stern and Chris McHalecomments powered by Disqus
Community Building from New York to Vermont
Congrats to Lydia Willoughby, former adjunct here in the Library, who has been honored as one of this year’s “Movers & Shakers” by Library Journal for her community outreach work in libraries both urban and rural. We were also really happy to hear that she has fond memories of LaGuardia via a tweet from January:
thank you! @acornsandnuts @westfordvt_pl was an awesome place to start in #VT and i'll always have love for the mentorship at @lagcclibrary
— Lydia Willoughby (@Willoughbrarian) January 13, 2013
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Short Takes on Literature is Back!
"Family" comes in all forms, flavors and colors. Join us on selected Thursdays in Spring 1 as we engage with stories about the world of family.
All sessions will be held in the Library Conference Room from 2:30-4:30. Feel free to drop in or stay for the entire session. All students, faculty, staff and friends are welcome!
This Thursday, April 4, we will discuss:
Toibin, Colm . "Summer of '38." New Yorker 4 March 2013: 58- 65. and Hill, Nathan. "The New Year's Child." Antioch Review 65.3 (2007): 482-495. Academic Search Complete.
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Library Hours Spring Break 2013
The Library will be open Monday, 3/25 through Tuesday, 4/2, from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. CLOSED on Saturday, 3/30 and Sunday, 3/31.
Regular hours resume on Wednesday, 4/3. Our schedule is here. Enjoy the holidays and the break!
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