^{A feast for the eyes! I was inspired just by flipping through a few pages of this neat new book.}

^{Let potter, writer and designer Jonathan Adler show you how to use what you’ve already got in order to create tablescapes and pillowscapes. Learn to style consoles, shelves and mantles, and make the most of screens, mirrors and artwork, too. A series of visually arresting photographs will help you to understand the basics of rhythm, scale, proportion, colour, content, shape and tension. I found myself saying “Oooohhh…..I want that!” at almost every turn! Why would I need a giant gold chair in the shape of a hand? Ask Jonathan Adler, the man who’s convinced me. What I like most is that all the accessories featured within are distinctly modern. This is not the book for those who love French Country style. Rather, this is the book for fans of zebra print, ecclectic artwork and bright colours. Check it out if you believe that more is more!}

^{Need a new look? Put this book on hold today, and be inspired!}

A new book caught my eye this afternoon: “The World’s Best Massage Techniques: The Complete Illustrated Guide”, by Victoria Jordan Stone. It features innovative bodywork practices from around the world, and includes lots of helpful images.

And now…I’ve got plans for the weekend! I’m going to grab my guy, light some candles, and get ready to have my meridians thoroughly stimulated! “Ahhh….”

This book covers Swedish, Thai and hot stone massage techniques. It also discusses Shiatsu, Tantsu and Lomi Lomi. I’ve never even heard of some of these, but I’m excited to learn more!

If you’ve got an interest in massage (and who doesn’t love a good rub-down?!) then drop by your local library and browse section 615.

I’ve been downloading the Philosophy Bites podcast from BBC radio, for a while now. Philosophers from around the world deliver twenty-minute lectures about a wide variety of topics, from consciousness and personhood, to rights and obligations, and even concepts such as cannibalism!

I really enjoy these brief introductions, and you might, too! Check out the new Philosophy Bites book for the following lectures:

• Julian Savulescu on ‘Yuk!’
• Simon Blackburn on Relativism
• Peter Singer on Animals
• Michael Sandel on Sport and Enhancement
• Alexander Nehamas on Friendship
• Kwame Anthony Appiah on Cosmopolitanism
• Miranda Fricker on Credibility and Discrimination
• Anne Phillips on Multiculturalism
• Will Kymlicka on Minority Rights
• Wendy Brown on Tolerance
• A.W. Moore on Infinity
• David Papineau on Scientific Realism
• Hugh Mellor on Time
• Time Crane on Mind and Body
• Timothy Williamson on Vagueness
• Derek Matravers on the Definition of Art
• Alain de Botton on the Aesthetics of Architecture
• Barry C. Smith on Wine
• Alex Neill on the Paradox of Tragedy
• Don Cupitt on Non-Realism about God
• John Cottingham on the Meaning of Life
• Stephen Law on the Problem of Evil
• Keith Ward on Eastern and Western Idealism
• A.C. Grayling on Atheism

Not Quite Adults: Why 20-Somethings Are Choosing a Slower Path to Adulthood, and Why it’s Good For Everyone

I’m excited to read this new book! Of course I am – I’m the 20-something that lived at home, saved money, and delayed (actually, I’m still delaying!) marriage and childbearing. So, it feels great that I can read a book that argues against the stereotype of lazy, entitled children and the helicopter parents who allow them to mooch.

My own mother gave me unconditional love and support, and that’s because she recognized that attending university while working a part time job required me to be diligent and responsible. And I was! (Well…most of the time…)

Check out this book and gain insight into how living at home affects the financial, familial, social, and economic futures of grown children.

If you can’t make it to the library, put the book on hold and have your mom pick it up for you!

I read this neat little book in about 2 hours. What a treat!

Ken Watanabe left his job as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, and wrote a book for Japanese children, about problem solving and critical thinking skills. The book became wildly popular among adults in the business community and is now an international bestseller.

Full of illustrations, diagrams and charts, this is a book that is clearly written and widely applicable. We all solve problems in our daily lives, but not many of us are equipped with the tools that will allow us to do it most effectively.

Watanabe presents readers with instructions for creating logic trees, methods for working with a pros/cons list, and strategies for closing the gap between where we are now, and the goal we’d like to achieve. It may sound strange that something called a “logic tree” is incorporated into a book for children, but don’t be intimidated! These tools are very, very simple.

Check out Problem Solving 101 today! Here’s the last paragraph:

If you make problem solving a habit, you’ll be able to make the most of your talents and take control of your life. You can solve not only your own problems, but the problems of your school, your business, and your community – and maybe even the world.

Sounds hopeful, doesn’t it?

It’s no secret that in Canada, marijuana is an enormous industry. It’s suspected to be British Columbia’s largest industry - although it’s hard to measure what people try to keep hidden – and there is no shortage of Calgary news stories featuring grow-ops and the police task forces who try to combat them. From the Trailer Park Boys series to the immensely popular comedy Weeds, it seems that dope and those who love it have come out of the closet (a good place to grow it, apparently!) and into the mainstream.

People who use marijuana are typically thought of as lazy, unmotivated, and above all: hungry! The stereotypical stoner is a forgetful, slow minded Bob Marley fan. But does this widespread stereotype reflect the truth about those who relish a toke? I doubt it.

This week, The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to Cannabis: Its Role in Medicine, Politics, Science, and Culture is one of the titles on our shelf of new books. It is edited by Julie Holland, M.D., and there are contributions by Andrew Weil, Michael Pollan, and several other MDs and PhDs.

Check out this book and learn about medical risks, toxicology, arrest statistics, botany, compassion clubs, and more!

This is the kind of book that will make you reconsider...wait...what was I saying?

(For information about drugs, health and pharmacology, visit your local library or use our online databases!)