Reviewer's Choice

The Communist Chasm
Nan Wisherd
Cable Publishing
https://cablepublishing.com
9781934980842, $18.95, PB, 226pp

https://www.amazon.com/Communist-Chasm-Dreams-Terrible-Nightmare/dp/1934980= 846

Synopsis: By the thousands, they followed a dream, a dream of a better life=
promised to them by agents of North America's booming industry owners. It = was a dream that led many of them into the Upper Midwest's deep, dangerous = mines and into fierce labor strikes and ruinous blacklistings. Then years l= ater and deeply disillusioned, they were promised a Worker's Paradise by co= mmunist recruiters who sent them to Russia's Karelia, where their fate was = sealed by Joseph Stalin.

"The Communist Chasm: How the Dreams of a Better Life became a Terrible Nig= htmare" by Nan Wisherd is their story told in documented detail.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized, and presented piece of inf= ormed and informative history that rescues an horrific episode in the Ameri= can communist experience for uncounted numbers of Finnish emigrants and the=
ir families whose high expectations and idealistic hopes were to be cruelly=
abused by a disillusioning and hostile reality that would lead to their de= aths, "The Communist Chasm: How the Dreams of a Better Life became a Terrib=
le Nightmare" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to per= sonal, community, college, and university library American Communist Histor=
y collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted=
for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interes=
t in the subject that "The Communist Chasm: How the Dreams of a Better Life=
became a Terrible Nightmare" is also available in a digital book format (K= indle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Nan Wisherd (https://cablepublishing.com/nan-wisherd), who =
is currently residing in Brule, Wisconsin, spent her earliest years in nort= hern Wisconsin's Finnish community of Waino where stories of early pioneer = life are still vividly recalled.

Don't Count Me Out
Rafael Alvarez
ILR Press
c/o Cornell University Press
512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
9781501766350, $26.95, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Count-Out-Baltimore-Miraculous/dp/150176635X

Synopsis: "Don't Count Me Out: A Baltimore Dope Fiend's Miraculous Recovery=
" by Rafael Alvarez chronicles the life of Bruce White from the beginning o=
f his drug use in elementary school through criminal acts fueled by his nee=
d for drugs, to his miraculous recovery three decades later and involvement=
in the treatment of addicts, where he is now a leader in the rehabilitatio=
n field.

Author and biographer Rafael Alvarez's recounting of White's journey should=
inspire those dealing with the fallout of addiction. Alvarez, a journalist=
and screenwriter, allows the reader to get inside the head of an addict wh=
o was stealing alcohol from his parents at the age of nine, selling drugs a=
nd tripping on LSD and PCP by the time he hit seventh grade, and hooked on = morphine before he turned fifteen. "Bruce White? I thought he was dead?" is=
a response encountered in many of the interviews Alvarez conducted.

"Don't Count Me Out" showcases an improbable and stunning miracle. Though t= his is just one person's story, the contributing factors of early sexual as= sault, the role of permissive preoccupied parents, and the need for peer ap= proval, among others, will resonate with many -- especially as the opioid c= risis continues to haunt us.

Critique: Of special interest to anyone who has themselves had to deal with=
the scourge of drug addiction within themselves, a family member, or a fri= end, "Don't Count Me Out: A Baltimore Dope Fiend's Miraculous Recovery" is =
a compelling, informative, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring read=
from first page to last. While highly recommended for community and academ=
ic library Drug Dependency/Abuse Recovery collections, it should be noted f=
or personal reading lists that "Don't Count Me Out: A Baltimore Dope Fiend'=
s Miraculous Recovery" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, = $10.99).

Editorial Note: Rafael Alvarez (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Alvare=
z) is a former City Desk reporter for the Baltimore Sun and former writer f=
or the HBO drama, The Wire. He is the author of many books of fiction and n= onfiction.

Getting Along
Amy Gallo
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781647821067, $30.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Along-Anyone-Difficult-People/dp/1647821061

Synopsis: Work relationships can be hard. The stress of dealing with diffic= ult people dampens our creativity and productivity, degrades our ability to=
think clearly and make sound decisions, and causes us to disengage. We mig=
ht lie awake at night worrying, withdraw from work, or react in ways we lat=
er regret in the form of rolling our eyes in a meeting, snapping at colleag= ues, or staying silent when we should speak up.

Too often we grin and bear it as if we have no choice. Or throw up our hand=
s because one-size-fits-all solutions haven't worked. But you can only endu=
re so much thoughtless, irrational, or malicious behavior -- there's your s= anity to consider, and your career.

With the publication of "Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Diffi= cult People)", workplace expert and Harvard Business Review podcast host Am=
y Gallo identifies eight familiar types of difficult coworkers (the insecur=
e boss, the passive-aggressive peer, the know-it-all, the biased coworker, = and others) and provides strategies tailored to dealing constructively with=
each one.

She also shares principles that will help you turn things around, no matter=
who you're at odds with. Taking the high road isn't easy, but Gallo offers=
a crucial perspective on how work relationships really matter, as well as = the compassion, encouragement, and tools you need to prevail on your terms.=
She answers questions such as: Why can't I stop thinking about that nasty = email?! What's behind my problem colleague's behavior? How can I fix things=
if they won't cooperate? I've tried everything -- what now?

Full of relatable, sometimes cringe-worthy examples, the latest behavioral = science research, and practical advice you can use right now, "Getting Alon=
g" is an indispensable guide to navigating your toughest relationships at w= ork -- and building interpersonal resilience in the process.

Critique: Timely, informative, insightful, 'real world practical', and thor= oughly 'reader friendly' in narrative style, organization, and presentation=
, "Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)" is essen= tial reading for anyone experienced workplace friction, discontent, bullyin=
g, or unrealistic expectations and demands. Enhanced with the inclusion of =
an informative Introduction (Can't We All Just Get Along?), sixteen pages o=
f Notes, and a four page listing of
Acknowledgments, "Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult Pe= ople)" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professiona=
l, corporate, community, college, and university library Business Managemen=
t, Communication, and Conflict Resolution collections and supplemental MBA = curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Getting Along: How to Wo=
rk with Anyone (Even Difficult People)" is also available in a digital book=
format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Amy Gallo (www.amyegallo.com) is a contributing editor at H= arvard Business Review. She is the author of the HBR Guide to Dealing with = Conflict and a co-host of HBR's Women at Work podcast. Her articles have be=
en collected in dozens of books on emotional intelligence, giving and recei= ving feedback, time management, and leadership. As a sought-after speaker a=
nd facilitator, Gallo has helped thousands of leaders deal with conflict mo=
re effectively and navigate complicated workplace dynamics.

Who Shot Van Gogh?
Alan Turnbull
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500024843, $24.95, HC

https://www.amazon.com/Who-Shot-Van-Gogh-Counterfacts/dp/0500024847

Synopsis: Van Gogh is one of the most famous artist in the world, yet our u= nderstanding of his life is full of contradictions. Art historians, filmmak= ers, journalists, psychologists, and conspiracy theorists have offered theo= ries on his life and work, yet their views are often poles apart. Van Gogh = has been described as a suffering genius; a nature-loving innocent; a man o=
f violence, a danger to himself and others; the embodiment of peace and com= passion; a religious fanatic; a Marxist; a madman; a cultural commodity; an=
d an investment opportunity. Where does the truth lie and the myth begin?

"Who Shot Van Gogh?: Facts and Counterfacts About the World's Most Famous A= rtist" by Alan Turnbull is an original and wide-ranging study that provokes=
new questions about how we see his life and work. Divided into the recurri=
ng themes that run through the artist's life and legacy, Who Shot Van Gogh?=
" presents a collage of facts and "counter-facts" about the artist, dating = from his lifetime until now, from a wide field of sources: fellow artists, = friends and family, doctors and psychoanalysts, actors and writers, theoris= ts, crackpots, and scholars. Conflicting statements go hand in hand with an=
unconventional curation of images: featuring postcards of locations associ= ated with the artist, photographs of a fraudster's legal trial, a children'=
s toy, a bottle label, and a rusty revolver.

Turnbull's biographical study presents a intermingled kaleidoscope of fact = and fiction about the world's most discussed artist (sometimes funny, somet= imes heartrending, always revealing) giving readers new insights into the a= rtist, his work, and his legacy. Van Gogh himself would be amazed not only =
to see what people have said about him, but also to grasp the global phenom= enon that he has become.

Critique: Enhanced for the readers' enjoyment with 57 illustrations, "Who S= hot Van Gogh?: Facts and Counterfacts About the World's Most Famous Artist"=
is essential, informative, and thought-provoking reading for dedicated art=
lovers and museum goers. "Who Shot Van Golgh?" invites all readers familia=
r with Van Gogh to challenge received ideas about the man and his work -- m= aking this fascinating study especially and unreservedly recommended for pe= rsonal, community, and academic library Artist Monograph & Biography collec= tions in general, and Vincent Van Gogh supplemental curriculum studies list=
s in particular.

Editorial Note: Alan Turnbull is a practicing artist who has lectured in pa= inting and printmaking at Newcastle University and numerous other art schoo= ls.

Playing Mantis
D'Ann Katsu Davis
https://earthsoundjourney.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639884179, $17.77

https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Mantis-Workbook-Playbook-Revolution/dp/16398= 84173

Playing Mantis: A Workbook For Inner Peace And A Playbook For The Revolutio=
n is an allegorical autobiography of a mantis that comes with an added bonu=
s: embedded original music by D'Ann Katsu Davis, specifically designed to a= ugment the story.

Asked to write a music bio, Davis quickly realized an even greater interest=
in writing a bio of the music, as well. Nobody can synthesize the feel and=
special perspective of this book than the author, who easily defines its m= ercurial form: "Playing Mantis is a story within a story within a story wit= hin a story. It is the spiritual autobiography of a praying mantis, and an = allegorical memoir, while at the same time answering the question of "what = the hell" am I doing with my music and sounds? Which was a central goal. Bu=
t it also came to embody larger social and even cosmological themes."

Its main characters are an amalgamation of various spiritual teachers and i= nfluences that also incorporate an unusual countenance as events are relate=
d from the points of view of a male Buddhist and female indigenous praying = mantis. The first strength to note in this story is a powerful sense of peo= ple and places. These are vividly captured in first-person observations. Th= ese power a transformation work that adopts a different perspective about t=
he world, the healers and spiritual forces that move through it, and those = that educate and carry the narrator through life.

Readers may not expect the full-bodied flavor of this experience, which con= trasts diverse concerns such as Eastern and Western philosophy, presents su= ccinct round-up words of wisdom by various 'mantis' incarnations (Medicine = Mantis Says 'When people and nature are in perfect harmony magic and beauty=
are everywhere'), and blends musical notes of enlightenment and creative s= pirit into its experiences and observations: "She inhales air, and exhales = music. She is a Native American flute - mystic and enchanting - haunting an=
d hollow. She is full of heart, peace, and gratitude as she plays her offer= ings of praise to all who reside in the Seven Sacred Directions of her Soun=
d Medicine Wheel." The result is a lyrical work that begins and ends with m= usic, infusing this into high notes of spiritual revelation and life inspec= tion that will prove particularly attractive to readers interested in more = than just memoirs of personal enlightenment.

Playful, thought-provoking, and spiritually revealing, Playing Mantis lives=
up to the weighty promise of its subtitle (A Workbook For Inner Peace And =
A Playbook For The Revolution) with a format that is at once easy to access=
and hard to define within the usual genre boundaries. Libraries and reader=
s interested in spiritual, philosophical, and artistic explorations will fi=
nd the language and focus of Playing Mantis exceptional, representing a fre=
e fall into healing and growth that is unusually lively in both perspective=
and presentation.

Heat: A Tale of Love and Fear in a Climate-Changed World
Matthys Levy
Rsbpress LLC
9781937667276, $16.95, PB, 204pp

https://www.amazon.com/Heat-Tale-Love-Climate-Changed-World/dp/1937667278

Synopsis: In a retirement home on the fringe of Miami after decades of risi=
ng seas, the remaining residents struggle with the prospect of being reloca= ted as a hurricane approaches. The world you know is under water - so where=
do you go?

"Heat" by novelist Matthys Levy follows an environmental scientist, an engi= neer, a former ballerina and her husband/manager, a couple obsessed by a co= mparison to the holocaust, a widow warning about the end of times, the owne=
r of the home distraught by the consequences of his inescapable loss, and t=
he nurse who looks to a future with a sense of cautious optimism.

All are forced to leave and seek new homes away from the excruciating heat = and invading seas. As they move north, they encounter distrust, hardships a=
nd masses of refugees competing for the last habitable places on Earth. The=
y also confront an administration unable to find a positive path to the new=
world resulting in a developing police state with government troops trying=
to control, often harshly, the movement of the refugees.

The characters are all transformed by their experience as some find love, s= ome develop new bonds while others remain resigned to their fate. But all a=
re changed through this voyage of self-discovery as seen from the perspecti=
ve of an older generation that struggles to process this climate changed wo= rld.

Critique: "Heat" is a prophetic novel that takes for its inherently fascina= ting storyline a logical extension of what we are now seeing in terms of th=
e dramatic impact of climate change and a warming Earth, the melting of gla= ciers and the rising of sea levels. While also available for personal readi=
ng lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "Heat" is an especially = and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Dis= aster Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Matthys P. Levy (https://patents.justia.com/inventor/matthy= s-p-levy) is a co-author of Why Buildings Fall Down; Structural Design in A= rchitecture; Why the Earth Quakes, Earthquakes, Volcanoes & Tsunamis; and E= ngineering the City. He is also the author of Why the Wind Blows: a History=
of Weather and Global Warming, published in 2007.He published his first no= vel, Building Eden in 2018. He is a founding director of the Salvadori Cent= er, which teaches New York City youngsters mathematics and science through = hands-on learning about the built environment.

Mexican Rhapsody
Shogo Onoe
Independently Published
9798842241873, $20.00 Hardcover/$13.25 Paper/$3.50 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6XSNTHK

Mexican Rhapsody: Having a Second Chance is at once a travelogue and a biog= raphy, and deserves a place on either shelf as it follows Shogo Onoe's move=
from native Japan to Mexico.
Faith, growth, and spiritual revelations flow in this story as Onoe reveals=
what he loves about Mexico, what he hates about his country of origin, and=
the revelations that marked his journey between them.

It's an autobiographical novel approach that injects drama into the adventu= re, and which incorporates cross-cultural observations in a manner few trav= elogues, memoirs, or novels can match: "You know, we're very open. We don't=
care where you hail from, for we know in our hearts that we're all brother=
s. We welcome everyone who wants to enjoy what our fatherland can offer. Bu=
t alas, goddamn Japanese have discriminated against us in the right our fac= es. I still don't fathom and will never be okay with such a godawful assail= ment!"

From the evolving realization that Onoe has always loved writing, feeling t= hat it is his passion, to his foray into being a prankster, his obsession w= ith self-improvement, and his ribald enjoyment of life, Mexican Rhapsody's = adventures translate to a thirst for not just the written world, but new ex= periences and growth. This, in turn, provides readers with a hearty blend o=
f entertainment and revelation as philosophy, adventure, travel, cross-cult= ural experiences, and religious beliefs dovetail and evolve into the odysse=
y of the author's lifetime.

Mexican Rhapsody turns the traditional travelogue on end as it incorporates=
all these facets into a lively survey of relationships and experiences. Wh= ile some would be surprised at its description as a 'novel' despite its rea= lity-driven basis, this serves to reflect Onoe's ability to represent the d= rama and changes inherent in everyday experiences and interconnected lives.=
The result takes pieces of different genres to incorporate their strongest=
qualities into a story of discovery, change, and faith.

It's a winning biographical novel of exploration and enlightenment that lin= gers in the mind long after reading, and deserves a place in libraries stro=
ng in cross-cultural and faith-based revelations alike.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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