Do You Watch Those Shows About Hoarders?

I do. I confess, it makes me look around at all my stuff and want to get rid of a good portion of it.And “stuff” is the perfect word for it, so says the book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy O. Frost and Gale Steketee. Since they’re two of the leading researchers on hoarding, this book is an excellent account of the incredibly debilitating condition of being unable to part with anything, from clothes to trash. One account even shows a pair of rich brothers who have to keep buying expensive art until there’s no room in their apartments to even sleep. Hopefully this book can provide some insight a disability that seems to be increasingly in the spotlight.

Miles Davis and Changing Music

Kind of Blue was recorded quickly by Miles Davis’s group, and the result would influence music well beyond the genre of jazz. Going backwards to show its roots and forward to define its influence, Blue Moment: Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue and the Remaking of Modern Music‘s author Richard Williams expands what one can take from this legendary album.  Good for music fans of any kind, as well as American-history buffs.

The Breaking Up of India

Some of the most long-term effects of British colonization can be seen in India.  The book, The Partition of India by Ian Talbot and Gurharpal Singh, looks at the separation of India that occurred in 1941, as the British relocated many communities and created, among other things, what has become Pakistan.  The book tells of the events leading up to it, the effects it had, and the long term violence, political, and identity problems that have resulted from it.

Black Soldiers, Racism, and World War I

Black Soldiers in Jim Crow Texas: 1899-1917 is an historical look at the racism African American troops encountered in Texas during their service to the United States between the times of the Spanish-American War to World War I. Following four different regiments of black soldiers, author Garna L. Christian compiles many unique resources to describe the different obstacles presented to them within their own nation. From clashing with white Texans to Hispanic populations, life was anything but easy for these soldiers.  Its an interesting look at military history and race relations in the United States at the turn of the century.

I Heard it was Earth Day

So the only new book we added to the catalog today that was relevant to Earth Day was actually about biological warfare… Not quite the upper we were hoping for.

So digging back a little to earlier this month, I found this gem: 100% Renewable: Energy Autonomy in Action, edited by Peter Droege. This book takes a comprehensive look at what we need to do to make all of our energy-using necessities and conveniences independent from non-renewable resources. From buildings to power to city structure to transportation: Droege shows the measures necessary to ensure our species sustainability.

So read a book like this, or plant a tree, or hug Ed Begley, Jr., and have a great Earth Day!

Leading Academic Change

Faculty chairs are a new thing at JCCC, so there’s still some realizing that needs to take place about what the job can entail.  So grabbing a book like today’s BotD, Leading Academic Change: Essential Roles for Departmental Chairs by Ann F. Lucas (and friends), can only help. The library is currently creating LibGuides for this and other faculty-related concerns, which will appear in the Education section when available. There are, of course, tons of resources in there for students, as well, so hit up our LibGuides for some quality readers advisory and subject-based reference!

The Most Important Book You’ll Read Or Have Shouted At You

So there’s a lack of images in a lot of our new books, and not really a lot of new material.  Therefore, I’ve taken the liberty to plug one of the best books in our collection:

I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU!) by Stephen Colbert.  But perhaps reading isn’t your thing. That’s cool, we also have the audio version “as shouted by the author” (it says it right on the cover). I’ll confess to personally owning both versions of the book. Heck, I even have the book on my iPod, and when it is on shuffle, a short portion will pop up and keep me entertained.

Our catalog is up today! That’s the rumor going round! Of course, you can always check our Twitter feed to keep updated on these types of things as they occur.

A Book About F-Bombs!

Well, there’s really no getting around this title, is there? Author Christopher Fairman wrote an entire book about the history of the f-bomb, its origin and many uses, and how protecting it in the name of the First Amendment and free speech is essential. Even though I’m out of words to describe it, the book is well thought out and an interesting defense of the word from beginning to end.

Addressing Eating Disorders in the Book of the Day

Reports from campuses are saying that students are having a harder time not just financially, but also emotionally. Because of this, the rise in disorders or behaviors with stigmas attached means that we all need to understand what people around us might be going through.

One book, Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa by Alexander R. Lucas, can help people with friends, colleagues, students, loved ones, or those suffering from anorexia understand the science behind the disorder and separate it from myths or stereotypes about it. More importantly, the book can assist people in beginning the process towards recovery.

Campus Assessment: It’s On!

There’s a big push to implement assessment on this campus, and while you might think this only concerns faculty, students can play a very important part in this. How are we to know what we’re awful at without students letting us know? How can we tell what’s improving unless we know how bad it started?  Student input is so essential, and if you have any interest in what we’re trying to get done here, you can always flip through a book like Educational Assessment in the 21st Century.

Of course, if you’re a faculty member, these materials are critical to establishing a positive environment for assessment on campus.  For that, check out our LibGuides for a run-down on our material.