The Reading List: January '11

Democracy Burning?: Urban Fire Departments and the Limits of Civil Society in Late Imperial Russia, 1850-1914
(McGill-Queen's University Press, hardcover, $95)
By Nigel Raab
With cities built of wood, Russia’s nineteenth-century firefighters were a visible presence, and they cooperated with the authoritarian state in surprising ways according to the LMU professor.
Out: Jan. 1

The Film That Changed My Life: 30 Directors on their Epiphanies in the Dark
(Chicago Review Press, paperback, $17)
By Robert Elder
Rebel Without a Cause inspired John Woo, Raging Bull lit the fire for Richard Linklater, and Apocalypse Now did it for Danny Boyle.
Out: Jan. 1

Skintervention: The Personalized Solution for Healthier, Younger, and Flawless-Looking Skin
(HCI, paperback, $15)
By Scott-Vincent Borba
The celebrity esthetician shows you how to glow.
Out: Jan. 1

Tales from the Yoga Studio
(Plume, paperback, $15)
By Rain Mitchell
The owner of a Silverlake yoga studio and four of her devoted students grapple with life’s dilemmas in this first novel in the author’s planned yoga series.
Out: Jan. 1

365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life
(Hyperion, hardcover, $23)
By John Kralik
At the age of 52, the author found himself going through a divorce, living in a crappy apartment, and on the verge of bankruptcy. Instead of whining, he decided to be grateful for what he had.
Out: Jan. 1

The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II
(Berkley, paperback, $15)
By Gillian Bagwell
Restoration-era buffs will delight in this debut historical novel from the founder of the Pasadena Shakespeare Company.
Out: Jan. 4

The Emotional Calendar: Understanding Seasonal Influences and Milestones to Become Happier, More Fulfilled, and in Control of Your Life
(Times Books, hardcover, $26)
By John Sharp
The Harvard and UCLA medical school professor explains how moods can be triggered by the weather -- and also by memories of specific holidays – and describes what to do about it.
Out: Jan. 4

Epiphany: True Stories of Sudden Insight to Inspire, Encourage, and Transform
(Harmony, hardcover, $23)
Edited by Elise Ballard
The L.A.-based filmmaker interviewed both famous people (Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Ali MacGraw, and Barry Manilow) and personal acquaintances to discover how lives are changed through moments of realization.
Out: Jan. 4

Soul Trapper
(Atria Books, hardcover, $25)
By F.J. Lennon
In 2008, the L.A.-based author and entertainment software designer created the IPhone app, “Soul Trapper,” featuring ghost hunter Kane Pryce. Now, fans can read about the adventures of their favorite detective of the paranormal.
Out: Jan. 4

Exploiting My Baby, Because It's Exploiting Me: A Memoir of Pregnancy and Childbirth
(New American Library, paperback, $15)
By Teresa Strasser
The L.A. media personality says she took a cue from other actresses cashing in on their babies and got herself (and baby) a book deal.
Out: Jan. 4

Fallout: The True Story of the CIA's Secret War on Nuclear Trafficking
(Free Press, hardcover, $26)
By Catherine Collins and Douglas Frantz
The investigative journalists (Frantz is the former managing editor of the Los Angeles Times) expand on their previous book, The Nuclear Jihadist (2007), to show how the CIA concealed its failure to shut down a known proliferation ring.
Out: Jan. 4

The Feynman Lectures on Physics
(Basic Books, hardcover, $195)
By Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, and Matthew Sands
This New Millenium Edition is a three-volume boxed set of the lectures from the Nobel Prize winner and former Caltech professor who popularized physics through his fascinating and accessible approach.
Out: Jan. 4

The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can Change Your Life
(Howard Books, hardcover, $20)
By Henry Cloud
The L.A.-based Christian radio host describes his pathway to joy.
Out: Jan. 4

Mr. Monk On the Road
(Obsidian/NAL, hardcover, $23)
By Lee Goldberg
Adrian drugs his agoraphobic brother and takes him on a road trip in this 11th book in the tie-in series to the television show.
Out: Jan. 4

Nocturne
(Vanguard Press, hardcover, $20)
By Syrie James
A handsome stranger saves a woman whose car plummets off a mountain in this latest from the L.A. author of The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen.
Out: Jan. 4

The Return: Russia's Journey from Gorbachev to Medvedev
(Free Press, hardcover, $30)
By Daniel Treisman
The UCLA professor explores the paradoxes in Russian history and culture – from politicians like Putin, to the Chechen wars, to its sacred Vodka – and argues that Russia’s cooperation is key to solving many of today’s international problems.
Out: Jan. 4

Roseannearchy: Dispatches from the Nut Farm
(Gallery, hardcover, $26)
By Roseanne Barr
The comedienne unleashes her observations about menopause, pharmaceuticals, and her grandkids.
Out: Jan. 4

The Solution: Conquer Your Fear, Control Your Future
(Sterling, hardcover, $23)
By Lucinda Bassett
Learn how to chill this year with the L.A. author’s 21-day emotional makeover.
Out: Jan. 4

Woman Lawyer: The Trials of Clara Foltz
(Stanford University Press, hardcover, $45)
By Barbara Babcock
L.A.’s Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center is named after the woman who became the country’s first female deputy district attorney when she was appointed to the L.A. office in 1910. Foltz also was an active suffragist and raised five children, mostly as a single mother.
Out: Jan. 7

Gideon's War
(Touchstone, hardcover, $25)
By Howard Gordon
A special envoy battles Islamic terrorists on a deep sea oil rig in this debut novel from the executive producer of the television show 24.
Out: Jan. 11

Girlvert: A Porno Memoir
(A Barnacle Book, paperback, $18)
By Oriana Small
The L.A. artist and self-proclaimed “girl-pervert” describes her experiences in the adult film industry and her surreal life.
Out: Jan. 11

The Sentry
(Putnam, hardcover, $27)
By Robert Crais
Former cop Joe Pike gets himself in a pickle in more ways than one in a Southern California sandwich shop.
Out: Jan. 11

Veganize This!
(Da Capo Lifelong, paperback, $19)
By Jenn Shagrin
Accustomed to snacking on butter and beef? The actress (Reno 911) serves up some sass while showing you satisfying substitutes.
Out: Jan. 11

Bringing Up Oscar: The Story of the Men and Women Who Founded the Academy
(Pegasus, hardcover, $28)
By Debra Ann Pawlak
In 1927, a group of 36 viciously competitive Hollywood moguls gathered to create the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Out: Jan. 15

The Poetics of Sovereignty: On Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty
( Harvard University Asia Center, hardcover, $50)
By Jack W. Chen
The UCLA professor explores notions of the self and dynastic identity in a Chinese emperor’s poetry.
Out: Jan. 15

My Father at 100
(Viking, hardcover, $26)
By Ron Reagan
As the 100 ^th anniversary of President Reagan’s birth approaches next month, his son offers a portrait of the enigmatic man with whom he played touch football and went for horseback rides.
Out: Jan. 18

Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward
(HarperBusiness, hardcover, $26)
By Henry Cloud
The L.A.-based psychologist and leadership consultant advises pruning away elements in your life and career that aren’t working.
Out: Jan. 18

The New Reagan Revolution: How Ronald Reagan's Principles Can Restore America's Greatness
(Thomas Dunne Books, hardcover, $26)
By Michael Reagan and Jim Denney
The former President’s eldest son, who lives in L.A., explores the similarities between the Reagan era and today.
Out: Jan. 18

Photography as Fiction
(J. Paul Getty Museum, hardcover, $25)
By Erin Garcia
Photography is a surprisingly theatrical medium, and the museum’s former photography curator illustrates her point with 76 color plates from the museum’s collection.
Out: Jan. 18

The Sriracha Cookbook: 50 “Rooster Sauce” Recipes That Pack a Punch
(Ten Speed Press, hardcover, $17)
By Randy Clemens
The L.A.-based food writer shows you how use your favorite Southeast Asian sauce in all kinds of unexpected culinary spots – from a spicy ceviche to a Sriracha burger and a peach-Sriracha sorbet.
Out: Jan. 18

Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land): Overcoming Betrayal and Dealing with Revenge
(Harper, hardcover, $26)
By Laura Schlessinger
The L.A.-based radio talk-show host has written books about kids, whining, and tending to your marriage, among other topics; in her latest she tackles traitors and backstabbers.
Out: Jan. 18

Vice: One Cop's Story of Patrolling America's Most Dangerous City
(St. Martin's Press, hardcover, $26)
By John Baker and Stephen Rivele
The highly-decorated former Compton police officer (Baker) remembers his harrowing experiences in one of the most violent and crime-ridden cities in the country.
Out: Jan. 18

The 10 Commandments of Money: Survive and Thrive in the New Economy
(Hudson Street Press, $26)
By Liz Weston
If the financial crash left you anxious and confused, the L.A.-based finance columnist provides understandable tips for planning and investing.
Out: Jan. 20

The Official Booty Parlor Mojo Makeover: Four Weeks to a Sexier You
(Harper, paperback, $15)
By Dana Myers
Forget dieting in the new year and try on this resolution: get sexier with tips from the L.A. lifestyle expert.
Out: Jan. 25

House Divided
(Grand Central Publishing, paperback, $14)
By Raul Ramos y Sanchez
The Cuban-born host of MyImmigrationStory.com and author of America Libre (2009) again imagines an L.A. torn by racial strife in his latest about a father’s complicated struggle for justice.
Out: Jan. 28

Every month LAmag.com highlights titles of local interest that are hitting the bookshelves. Here’s what’s new

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