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Check out a few books before you leave for winter intersessions! There are over 100 great titles to choose from in the New Books Area.

The Making of Black Lives Matter : a Brief History of an Idea
by Christopher Lebron
Oxford University Press, 2017
Call Number: New Book Shelf E185.615 .L393 2017

Started in the wake of George Zimmerman's 2013 acquittal in the death of Trayvon Martin, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has become a powerful and uncompromising campaign demanding redress for the brutal and unjustified treatment of black bodies by law enforcement in the United States. The movement is only a few years old, but as Christopher J. Lebron argues in this book, the sentiment behind it is not; the plea and demand that "Black Lives Matter" comes out of a much older and richer tradition arguing for the equal dignity - and not just equal rights - of black people.

The Making of Black Lives Matter presents a condensed and accessible intellectual history that traces the genesis of the ideas that have built into the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Drawing on the work of revolutionary black public intellectuals, including Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston, Anna Julia Cooper, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King Jr., Lebron clarifies what it means to assert that "Black Lives Matter" when faced with contemporary instances of anti-black law enforcement. He also illuminates the crucial difference between the problem signaled by the social media hashtag and how we think that we ought to address the problem. As Lebron states, police body cameras, or even the exhortation for civil rights mean nothing in the absence of equality and dignity. To upset dominant practices of abuse, oppression and disregard, we must reach instead for radical sensibility. Radical sensibility requires that we become cognizant of the history of black thought and activism in order to make sense of the emotions, demands, and argument of present-day activists and public thinkers. Only in this way can we truly embrace and pursue the idea of racial progress in America.

-- review provided by publisher 

New Books Available

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We have 174 new books to browse online, or stop by the Library's New Book Area to browse them in person! To check out any new book for four weeks, bring your SWC photo ID card.

We are open on Saturday from 10 am - 2 pm.

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“You have the opportunity and also the responsibility to create a better world, a happier world,” said the Dalai Lama last Friday, June 16, at a commencement ceremony at UCSD. He continued, “No longer violence. No longer this huge division. You can do that.” (Source: http://bit.ly/2rSVp4Q).

Interested in discovering more about the Dalai Lama's philosophy of happiness and how to contribute to creating a better world? Check out The Book of Joy: A Lasting Happiness in Today's World by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It's available in the New Book Area of the SWC Library. The call number is BL65.H36 B78 2016.

You may check out any new book for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

Summary of The Book of Joy from the publisher:

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships -- or, as they would say, because of them -- they are two of the most joyful people on the planet. In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: How do we find joy in the fact of life's inevitable suffering? They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. We get to listen as they explore the Nature of True Joy and confront each of the Obstacles of Joy -- from fear, stress, and anger to grief, illness, and death. They then offer us the Eight Pillars of Joy, which provide the foundation for lasting happiness. Throughout, they include stories, wisdom, and science. Finally, they share their daily Joy Practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives.

Over 300 new books!

Which ones will you take home?

New books are to the left of the main entrance to the Library. Bring your SWC photo ID card and you can check out up to 25 books for four weeks!

 

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Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant
by José Ángel N.
University of Illinois Press, 2014
Call Number: New Book Area F 548.9.M5 N3 2014

"A day after N. first crossed the U.S. border from Mexico, he was caught and then released onto the streets of Tijuana. Undeterred, N. crawled back through a tunnel to San Diego, where he entered the United States forever. Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant is his timely and compelling memoir of building a new life in America. Authorial anonymity is required to protect this life. Arriving in the 1990s with a 9th grade education, N. traveled to Chicago where he found access to ESL classes and GED classes. He eventually attended college and graduate school and became a professional translator. Despite having a well-paying job, N. was isolated by a lack of official legal documentation. Travel concerns made big promotions out of reach. Vacation time was spent hiding at home, pretending that he was on a long-planned trip. The simple act of purchasing his girlfriend a beer at a Cubs baseball game caused embarrassment and shame when N. couldn't produce a valid ID. A frustrating contradiction, N. lived in a luxury high-rise condo but couldn't fully live the American dream. He did, however, find solace in the one gift America gave him--his education. Ultimately, N.'s is the story of the triumph of education over adversity. In Illegal he debunks the stereotype that undocumented immigrants are freeloaders without access to education or opportunity for advancement. With bravery and honesty, N. details the constraints, deceptions, and humiliations that characterize alien life 'amid the shadows.'" - Summary from publisher.

This book (and others available in the New Book Area) may be checked out for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

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Airbrushed nation : the lure and loathing of women's magazines

by Jennifer Nelson

Seal Press, 2012.

New Books: PN4879 .N47 2012

"Glamour. Cosmo. SELF. Ladies’ Home Journal. Vogue. In an industry that has been in a downward spiral for years, these magazines—and other women-focused magazines like them—have not only retained their readership, they’ve increased it. Every month, five million-plus women peel back the slick cover of their favorite magazine to thumb through pages filled with tidings and advice about fashion, beauty, sex, relationships, dieting, health, and lifestyle. But do women’s magazines offer valuable information, or do they merely peddle fluff and fantasy—and in either case, do women take their messages to heart?

 In Airbrushed Nation, Jennifer Nelson—a longtime industry insider—exposes the naked truth behind the glossy pages of women’s magazines, both good and bad. Nelson delves deep into the world of glossies, explaining the ways in which these magazines have been positive for women, highlighting the ways in which their agendas have been misguided, and asking the questions that have long gone unasked: What do women think and believe about the retouched photos, the ubiquitous sex advice, the constant offensive on aging, and the fantasy fashion spreads featuring unaffordable clothing and accessories? Do the unrealistic ads, images, and ideals that permeate glossies damage women’s self-esteem—and is it intentional? Critical, clever, and full of tantalizing insider information, Airbrushed Nation is a book for every woman who reads these magazines—those who hate them, those who love them, and those who live by them." review from publisher

This book is available for four-week check out with your SWC photo ID card.

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Rome: A Cultural, Visual, and Personal History
by Robert Hughes.
Knopf, 2011.
New Books: DG808 .H84 2011

Available for four week check out with your SWC photo ID.

"This book is a comprehensive, and deeply personal history of Rome, as city, as empire, and, crucially, as an origin of Western art and civilization covering the span from the city's origins more than two thousand years ago through the twentieth century. The founding of Rome is shrouded in legend, but current archaeological evidence supports the theory that Rome grew from pastoral settlements and coalesced into a city in the 8th century BC. It developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and finally the Roman Empire. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the most politically important, richest and largest city in the Western world. This book tells the story of the Eternal City, from its earliest days right up to the present." (summary from publisher)

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Coming for to Carry Me Home: Race in America from Abolitionism to Jim Crow, by J. Michael Martinez. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012. New Books E 185.18 .M335 2012

Check out this book for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

"After the long and agonizing struggle of the Civil War, with its lukewarm resolution of the issue of slavery, why did the nation fail in its efforts to take the next steps toward full citizenship for the formerly enslaved? Martinez examines the politics of race relations in the nineteenth century, from Lincoln’s struggles with his personal conscience and with the Radical Republicans to economic, social, and political factors that contributed to unfulfilled promises of Reconstruction and the political atmosphere that resulted in severe injustices codified into law. Martinez focuses on the Radical Republicans, particularly Thaddeus Stevens, Charles Sumner, and Benjamin Wade, and a host of fiery figures who fomented the issue of racial justice, including William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown, Wendell Phillips, and Frederick Douglass. This is a compelling look at the heat and vituperation still evident in contemporary politics, with historical particularities of the nineteenth century, and the underlying issues of race that resonate today. Photos and illustrations, including political cartoons, offer a feel for the political sensibilities of the time." Review from Booklist.

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The Victor's Crown : A History of Ancient Sport from Homer to Byzantium by David Potter. Oxford University Press, 2012.
New Book Shelf: GV573 .P67 2012

"[This book] presents the role of sport in the classical world from both the competitors' and the spectators' perspectives. Discusses how sport became a social force through its roles in religion, politics, and culture. Includes descriptions of conditioning, training, and competitions." (Summary from publisher)

You may check out this book and other new books for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

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Life Upon These Shores : Looking at African American History, 1513-2008

by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Knopf, 2011

New Book Shelf: E185 G27 2011 

"In this work, the author gives us a sumptuously illustrated, landmark book tracing African American history from the arrival of the conquistadors to the election of Barack Obama. Informed by the latest, sometimes provocative scholarship, and including more than eight hundred images, ancient maps, art, documents, photographs, cartoons, posters, this book focuses on defining events, debates, and controversies, as well as the achievements of people famous and obscure. The author takes us from the sixteenth century through the ordeal of slavery, from the Civil War and Reconstruction through the Jim Crow era and the Great Migration; from the civil rights and black nationalist movements through the age of hip-hop on to the Joshua generation. By documenting and illuminating the sheer diversity of African American involvement in American history, society, politics, and culture, he bracingly disabuses us of the presumption of a single 'Black Experience.'" review from publisher

Take home this book and other new books for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card. Have a question? Ask a librarian!

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The Record Players : DJ Revolutionaries
by Brewster, Bill.
New York, N.Y. : Black Cat, c2010
New Book Shelf: Call Number ML3534 .B74 2010

Check this book out for 4 weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

"Acclaimed authors and music historians Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton have spent years traveling across the world to interview the revolutionary and outrageous DJs who shaped the last half-century of pop music. The Record Players is the fun and revealing result—a collection of firsthand accounts from the obsessives, the playboys, and the eccentrics that dominated the music scene and contributed to the evolution of DJ culture.

It started when, instead of a live band, someone turned on the record player, and suddenly partygoers had more than one style of music to dance to. With discographies, favorite songs, and amazing photos of all the DJs as young firebrands, The Record Players offers an unparalleled music education: from records to synthesizers, from disco to techno, and from small groups of influential music lovers to arenas packed with thousands of dancing fans.

A history told by the visionaries who experienced the movement, The Record Players allows a rare glimpse into the sound, culture, and craft that developed into a worldwide industry."

Review from Amazon.com

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Looking for a job? Explore the possibilities with Find Your Federal Job Fit, by Janet M. Ruck. (2012)
New Book Shelf JK716 .R85 2012

"This little book shows you how to analyze your skills, experience, and values. It introduces you to the mission and values of key federal departments and agencies. And it tells you how to create a match between you and a target job destination." (publisher)

Ruck includes relevant and up-to-date information for the job seeker, including:

• Understanding Federal job search basics. 
• Common mistakes that Federal job seekers make
• Skills the Federal government is seeking

Once you are familiar with the jobs that meet your skills, Rusk outlines how to create your career plan, fill out your application, and prepare for an interview.

Find Your Federal Job Fit is currently available to check out for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

Have a question? Ask a Librarian!

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Hard Times Require Furious Dancing: New Poems
by Alice Walker. New World Library, 2010. New Book Shelf PS3573.A425 H37 2010.

“The poems sing of joy and pain, loss and grief, love and transformation, with results that are redemptive.…Highly recommended for all readers of contemporary poetry and for anyone interested in African American literature.”
— Library Journal

This book is available for four-week check out with your SWC photo ID card.

Have a question? Ask a Librarian!

October is National Book Month

What are you reading?

"Embark on the journey of a lifetime, travel to exotic places, mythical lands and experience adventure beyond imagination. Or escape to another era altogether. All without luggage, tickets, a passport or leaving home. All you need is an open mind. And an open book." (National Book Foundation)

• SWC Library Catalog - Find books and e-books
• SWC New Books - Browse the latest additions
• Local Public Libraries - More books for you and your family
• Ask a Librarian - 24/7 help

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Wall and Piece by Banksy. London : Century, 2005. New Books N6797.B363 A4 2005.

Book review by Jamie Lin.

“Nobody ever listened to me until they didn’t know who I was.”

When I lived in LA a few years ago, I went to a downtown warehouse after receiving a text message with the address. Banksy was in town, and in true clandestine fashion, the location of his show was a secret until just hours before it opened. I was impressed. I had never heard of Banksy, but his highly successful guerilla marketing intrigued me. I did a Google search on him and was even more impressed with the images of his work. He was a famous graffitti artist from Britain, but the work I found also included beautifully and painstakingly altered oil paintings from the previous century -- work that conveyed intelligence, humor, and political intent. Who was this guy?

The LA show was dominated by an elephant in a room. A live elephant, elaborately painted in pink, in a staged living room. Brilliant!

“I like to think I have the guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy and call for things no-one else believes in -- like peace and justice and freedom.”

I loved every page of Wall and Piece. Banksy’s work encompasses different styles and techniques, but all capture the mind of an engaged and passionate artist. Every image evokes a reaction from me. Some are laugh out loud funny, some are disturbing, all are clever and thought provoking. His words are just as effective.

Banksy ends this book, “People either love me or they hate me, or they don’t really care.” I’m part of the first category, and I honestly don’t know how anyone can go through this book and not have an opinion. What’s yours? Check this book out to find out!

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Inflated : How Money and Debt Built the American Dream, by R. Christopher Whalen. Wiley, 2011. New Book Area HJ8101 .W43 2011

"When it comes to matters of money, most Americans tend to view themselves as reasonably prudent people, reflecting the puritan roots of their European ancestors. Yet, at the same time, Americans also seem to feel entitled to a lifestyle, individually and nationally, that is well above the rest of the world's, and well beyond our current means. Inflated: How Money and Debt Built the American Dream explores more than two hundred years of American politics and monetary policy to examine this conflict. In doing so, it asks whether the current understanding of the American Dream, one of entitlement, is so ingrained that to expect Americans willingly to live in a 'deflated' world is unrealistic. This book simply and directly tells the story of inflation and public debt as enduring, and perhaps even endearing, features of American life." (from inside flap)

Books may be checked out for four weeks with your SWC photo ID card.

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Born 1977 - 1997? You are officially a member of the Net Generation.

Tapscott, Don. Grown Up Digital : How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. NY : McGraw Hill, 2009.
New Book Shelf QA76.9.C66 T29 2009

Tapscott interviewed 10,000 people to better understand who this generation is and where they're headed. “As the first global generation ever, the Net Geners are smarter, quicker and more tolerant of diversity than their predecessors. They care strongly about justice and the problems faced by their society and are typically engaged in some kind of civic activity at school, at work or in their communities.”

Bring your SWC photo ID to check out this book and others for four weeks.

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Culinary careers : how to get your dream job in food with advice from top culinary professionals
by Rick Smilow and Anne E. McBride. Clarkson Potter, 2010.
New Books TX911.3.V62 S62 2010

Are you a top chef?

"Smilow, president of the Institute of Culinary Education, and McBride (coauthor, Chocolate Epiphany) offer a combination of solid advice, written in a personable style, and interviews with successful people employed in several different culinary niches, including pastry and baking, catering, management, food artisans, marketing, nutrition, and education. The book closes with listings of culinary/hospitality programs, continuing education programs, professional organizations, and scholarships. Many books for those researching careers in food focus on only one area; however, like Ken Mondschein's Food and Culinary Arts, [this book takes] a broader view. VERDICT Smilow's book is recommended for readers seeking a thorough introductory exposure to today's professional possibilities in the culinary world."—Eric Petersen, Library Journal book review.

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The Facebook effect : the inside story of the company that is connecting the world by David Kirkpatrick, Simon & Schuster, 2010
New Book Shelf HD9696.8.U64 F335 2010

In just six and a half years, the Internet social networking site Facebook has amassed half a billion users, making it what author David Kirkpatrick says is probably the fastest growing company ever in terms of customers. This book, describing how Facebook keeps evolving, the controversies it has faced, and what the future holds, and was written with Facebook's founder, Mark Zuckerberg's knowledge and is based on extensive interviews with him.

The book chronicles Facebook's surprising Ivy League beginnings in a Harvard University dormitory and how it spread to other college campuses and high school audiences to its present status as a grassroots global phenomenon with the power to shake business and government.

The Facebook effect : the inside story of the company that is connecting the world is currently available for 4-week check out. You can find it in the New Books Area (call number HD9696.8.U64 F335 2010).

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Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service, by Heather Krasna. JIST Works, 2010.
Call number: New Books JK716 .K686 2010

Krasna (director of career services, Evan School of Public Affairs, Univ. of Washington) offers a guide to finding jobs in the public sector. She writes, "In this book, I define public service careers as those that make a significant contribution to solving problems in society or the world." Krasna covers careers in human services, health care, civil rights, education, worker protections, natural-resource management, parks and recreation, urban planning, transportation, financial resources, world international development, law enforcement, international security, and arts, culture, and religion. The book provides self-assessment exercises and work sheets to decide on specific career goals, along with case studies on those who have achieved success in public services. ... First-time job seekers and career changers should benefit from Krasna's information. Her book fills a niche for those concentrating on working in the public sector.—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY (Review from Library Journal)