Dr. Wayne McMullen recommends:
For those who have an appetite not only for eating cake, but also the "how" and "why" of cake-baking, you will find a useful resource in Harold McGee's culinary classic, On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. [See chapter 10 for cakes, pastries, and breads.] The text was revised in 2002, which is the edition I recommend; this tome is a standard reference for many cooking professionals and home cooks alike. It's a lot of fun to read, and may make you want to go straight into the kitchen, dust off those burners and start your oven!
(1st Collier Books edition: Vairo Library TX651.M27 1988)
(Revised and updated edition: Penn State Libraries TX651.M27 2004)
If you can't get enough of Dancing with the Stars and always wondered how modern ballroom dances developed, you should check out Dawn of a New World: Two-Step to Lindy Hop (1890s-1940s). This DVD traces popular social dances "from bygone eras that are professionally reconstructed, smartly choreographed, and skillfully executed" by members of the Centuries Historical Dance troupe. It features famous dances like the Tango, Charleston, and Fox-Trot and more unfamiliar ones such as the Grizzly Bear, Cakewalk and Turkey Trot. The 60 minute film goes beyond dance moves with brief discussions about "how changes in politics, economics, behavior, and dress molded and shaped the way people moved and expressed themselves" (cover description). Come in and ask for this video at the circulation desk.
If you're looking for a book about beauty and intrigue, you may be surprised to find it in Galapagos: The Islands that Changed the World. The color photographs in this book are awe-inspiring. From giant tortoises and iguanas to lava flows and ocean sunsets, the beauty of the Galapagos is vividly illustrated. But it goes far beyond pretty pictures. Galapagos discusses the islands' geological origins and tells its facsinating history of human discovery that includes explorers, pirates, whalers (Herman Melville), and scientists (Charles Darwin). If you enjoy biology, geology, history, or just love beautiful photography, this is the book for you.
(Vairo Library QH198.G3S74 2006)
The September/October issue of Technology Review selects the magazine's annual TR35, a list of 35 outstanding innovators under the age of 35. A panel of judges selected these brilliant individuals from a pool of over 300 nominees. The top honor of "Innovator of the Year" goes to David Berry, a 29 year old who "helped develop a way to treat stroke, thought up a new approach to cancer theraphy, and...created a system to genetically engineer microbes to produce biofuels" (p. 48). The rest of the list includes young people who made extraordinary advances in medicine, telecommunications, nanotechnology, software, energy and the internet. These profiles not only highlight many great accomplishments, but showcases how young talented minds can have a huge impact on our society.
Visit the Vairo Library New Center and pick up this copy of Technology Review to learn about all of the amazing innovations.
The cover story of Business Week's September 24th issue is the second annual ranking of the 50 best companies for new college graduates. The ranking is based on surveys of students (which counts as 25% of final ranking), employers (50%), and career services directors at colleges (25%). Many of the top companies are striving to attract Generation Y workers (born between 1982 & 2000) and are using a wide range of initiatives to do so. The big surprise in the results this year is that accounting firms dominated the list. Taking the first 3 spots were the accounting firms: 1 - Deloitte & Touche (with an extensive recruiting effort that includes a rap video of office life made by interns), 2 - PricewaterhouseCoppers (requires bosses to consult a second opinion on new hire evaluation to ensure clear feedback), and 3 - Ernst & Young (where employees can uses Facebook to attract new hire).
If you're not interested in accounting, don't worry. There are plenty of other industries on the list including technology (IBM, Google), manufacturing (Boeing, General Electric), hospitality (Walt Disney, Hyatt), retail (Kohl's, Macy's) and many more. Stop by the Vairo Library News Center to read the whole article and see the rest of the list.
If you haven't picked it up Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change yet, you're missing out. This book is one of two works selected for the "One Campus, One Book" program at Penn State Delaware County which focuses on global climate change this year. If you're not reading it already for a first-year seminar, swing by the library to ask for the copy on reserve that has a 3 day loan period.
For more information about the books and films of "One Campus, One Book", visit the One Campus, One Book website.
If you're interested in finding out more about global climate change, you can consult the Global Climate Change Research Guide for ways to find more books, articles, and websites on the topic.
Celebrate the unique experiences and cultures of the Philadelphia region. Check out some of our new books about local interests.
Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River by Beth Kephart is a short collection of prose inspired by the history and geography of the Schuylkill River.
(Vairo Library F157.S33K47 2007)
In The Philadelphia Mummers: Building Community Through Play, Patricia Anne Masters traces the Mummers' colorful history and describes how the community reaffirms itself annually with the city's famous Mummers Parade. Masters, a Professor of Sociology at George Mason University, spent five years with the Mummers and the end result is a fascinating ethnography that would make any Philadelphian proud.
(Vairo Library GT4013.P5M37 2007)
Filmadelphia: A Celebration of a City's Movies showcases films, television shows and artists of the Delaware Valley, from Center City Philadelphia to the Jersey shore. Author Irv Slifkin, local writer and radio personality "Movie Irv", uses reviews, anecdotes, and location notes to show the Philly film scene goes far beyond Rocky.
(Vairo Library PN1993.5.U775S643 2006)
"You don't have to be a genius to be a successful teacher"(p. 280). That's a main point of the book It Doesn't Take A Genius: Five Truths to Inspire Success in Every Student in which two award-winning educators advise teachers on how to mold successful, motivated students. Randall McCutcheon and Tommie Lindsey discuss their experiences of helping students realize their potential and move on into productive careers. This book will assist seasoned professors in fine-tuning their skills and inspire both education majors and new teachers. With the beginning of a new semester, its a great time to reflect on how to inspire others.
(Vairo Library LB1062.6.M43 2006)