Fitzpatrick, Joe (Author) and Potter, Steven (Photographer). Strictly Sundays: Making Every Cook a Hero on Sundays.

Book Publishers Network. 2009. c.152p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-1-935359-19-7. $19.95.

In this generously-illustrated publication (27 color reproductions), Fitzpatrick (www.strictlysundays.com), also known as the “Blue Collar Gourmet,” a real estate agent living in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, who cooks on Sundays for his wife, children, and grandchildren, compiles the recipes that have won him accolades from his family, friends, and coworkers. Dividing his cookbook into six chapters, the author presents recipes for many types of foods with the exception of desserts. He covers appetizers, main dishes, salads, soups, side dishes, and salsas. The chapters featuring main and side dishes are the longest, whereas the ones on salsas and soups are the shortest, with the fewest recipes. Most of the recipes that Fitzpatrick sets forth are comprised of vegetables, meat, seafood, and/or pasta. Covering basic, American, old-fashioned dishes that every amateur chef probably should master as well as more sophisticated, contemporary, innovative creations, the author includes many recipes for comfort food, “real food that fills the belly, satisfies the soul, and wins the day,” (back cover) as well as for gourmet concoctions. Some of the down-home dishes Fitzpatrick showcases include Buffalo wings, beef and pork pot roasts, cabbage rolls, corned beef and cabbage, lasagnas, chicken cacciatore, goulash, fish and chips, Caesar salad, potato salad, clam chowder, chili, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, baked beans, and more. The author’s gourmet-style fare are not limited to mustard seed pancakes with salmon and caviar, lamb stew, butter poached lobster, and salmon in cranberry Dijon sauce. The author’s creations are accompanied by the recipes for their marinades, sauces, and toppings. While many of Fitzpatrick’s masterpieces include ingredients that are commonly found in most supermarkets, others may have more exotic constituents or are comprised of wine or beer. The author unfortunately does not list possible, alternative substitutions, nor does he set forth the serving sizes for all his recipes. With the exception of the aforementioned exclusions, this book is nicely-illustrated and presented as well as sufficiently-documented. Instructions are complete, concise, and easy-to-follow. This publication will interest beginner and intermediate cooks. Written for men, it makes a great gift for the man, who may want to learn how to cook or who wants to cook for his loved one(s), thereby becoming a “hero on Sundays,” weekends, special occasions, or whenever. Women also will find this cookbook useful and worthwhile, even though many of the recipes may not be suitable for everyday meals. Highly recommended for many public library book collections. Review copy. Availability: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com

Koepsell, David. Who Owns You? The Corporate Gold Rush to Patent Your Genes.

Wiley-Blackwell. 2009. 187p. index. ISBN 9781405187312. $79.95. ISBN 9781405187305. $24.95

“Who owns you?” According to Koepsell (Assistant Professor, Philosophy Section, Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management, Technology University of Netherlands, Delft; Senior Fellow, 3TU Centre for Ethics and Technology, The Netherlands; Ph.D, Philosophy, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1997; J.D., SUNY at Buffalo School of Law, 1995; B.A, Political Science/English, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1990; author of several books including The Ontology of Cyberspace as well as scholarly articles; www.davidkoepsell.com), an author, attorney, philosopher, and educator, whose research has focused on the nexus of science, technology, ethics, and public policy, you may be surprised and alarmed to learn that biotechnology companies, universities, and other research institutions now own the exclusive rights to many parts of you. As the aforementioned entities rush to patent the human genes comprising the human genome—the genetic code that largely defines the distinct features of humans, of which one-fifth is fully patented-- gene patenting threatens to infringe upon the rights of individuals and hinder scientific and technological progress. It also violates international agreements and is contrary to historical and legal norms. In this noteworthy publication, the author provides the first, nearly comprehensive study of the practices and implications of gene patenting. Koepsell maintains that gene patenting is harmful and needs to be reexamined. Using scientific findings, philosophical conclusions, and ethical determinations based upon his examination of the ontology of genes, the author advocates immediate legal reform. Among other solutions, he argues in favor of partly revoking intellectual property laws in order to establish the naturally-occurring, human genome as a “commons by necessity” that will not be patentable by companies, universities, or other research institutions. Divided into nine chapters, covering the science of genes, their ontology, the legal dimensions of gene ownership, intellectual property laws, pragmatic considerations, and more, this accessible, expertly-argued, insightful, nicely-presented, sufficiently-documented, interdisciplinary study on the practices and implications of gene patenting will interest general readers as well as students, scholars, and professionals. It will serve as a significant resource for further understanding, knowledge, and research. This book belongs in many large, public, academic, and law library book collections. Highly recommended. Review copy. Availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com

Gazdig, Joan. The Kingdom of Hungary (‘Ten Arrows’ United Military Strength): the Beautiful Mistress.

Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.. 2009. c.136p. illus.
ISBN 978-0-8059-7758-5. $21.00.

Generously- illustrated with many photographs and other reproductions (thirteen black-and-white and eighty-six color), this brief publication by Gazdig, a family genealogist, retired legal secretary, and Hungarian- North American, whose father, uncle, and their two cousins immigrated to “the new world,” (p. 2) provides an overview of Hungarian history and heritage. In fifty-one, very short chapters that average two pages in length, the author covers diverse subjects, not limited to her family’s ancestry, Hungarian history, Hungary’s kings and queens, soldiers, statesmen, liberators, famous buildings, monuments, composers, painters, wines, foods, customs, dogs, and more. While this book may serve as an introductory guide, it lacks the comprehensiveness and depth of coverage that are found in general reference resources. Also, the author uses her text as a means for arguing that Hungarian lands and cultural artifacts that were lost during and after various wars should be restored to the “kingdom” of Hungary, as it originally came to be established as early as 896 C.E.. Devoting the first three chapters of her publication to family matters, Gazdig sets forth how her family’s history fits into her approach. According to the author, her father, uncle, and their cousins immigrated when their land was dismembered by the signing of the Treaty of Trianon (June 4, 1920) in Paris after World War I. (p. 2) Gazdig prepared her text “out of respect” for her father and his desire to re-live his past and introduce his children to his ancestors as well as to “help others to re-live their heritage.” (pp. ix-x) Lacking scholarly documentation such as footnotes, an index, and a selected bibliography, but including a “Dates to Remember” timeline as well as excerpted addresses by statesmen and a message delivered by Pope John Paul II (b. May 18, 1920- d. April 2, 2005) to the Hungarian nation in August 2000, this book will best suit readers who may have some prior knowledge of Hungary, its cultures, heritage, history, peoples, and more. Sufficiently well- illustrated and thoughtfully- conceived, but not authoritative, it is recommended as an additional, supplementary resource for some large, public and special libraries serving the needs of immigrants, ethnic groups, genealogists, and others. Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. Availability: Dorrancebookstore.com