Don't Dump the Dog and Other Great Nonfiction at JCPL

Looking up at me with the most innocent expression ever, the evidence hanging out of his mouth gives him away. Spud the dog may be small, but he is mighty, and the messes he makes are even mightier. Remnants of what may have once been a soccer ball litter the living room floor, because Spud the dog has struck again. The arm cover to my couch is also a casualty of Spud the dog. Putting things up out of his reach can only accomplish so much, because he has discovered that with just a little perseverence, he can finagle his way into toy boxes, jump until he can reach countertops, and generally wreak havoc on anything that fits in his mouth. I must check my watch several times a day, wondering, "Is the pound still open!?"

Randy Grim emphatically believes that dogs are worth their weight in gold, and that any and all behavior problems that come from pooches of all types can be solved. In "Don't Dump the Dog: Outrageous Stories and Simple Solutions to Your Worst Behavior Problems," Grim provides dog owners with everything they need to turn things around with their dogs, offering solutions to even the worst habits that Man's Best Friend may have acquired. This dog friendly guide is full of humor, but is written with the experience of a veteran dog trainer who can help you to connect with the Bowser in your life. Read on for more, great, new nonfiction titles, designed to enrich your brain and make your life easier!

Stick with what you know...that's the advice given to writers; and as a general rule of thumb, it's good advice no matter what you attempt to do, and that includes making a living. Having a passion can be profitable, and "Crush it! Why NOW is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion" by Gary Vaynerchuk offers sound advice on how to convert what you're truly passionate about into cash, with step by step instructions on using Twitter, Facebook, and other online networking systems to become profitable, no matter what line of business you choose to make your living.

In her lifetime, Geneen Roth has gained and lost over a thousand pounds. From being seriously overweight to extremely underweight, Roth has been plagued most of her life with feelings of shame and self-hatred because of her body image and eating habits. Finally, she ended the struggle by trusting her body and realizing that our relationship with food is directly related to our feelings about love, fear and our core beliefs. In "Women, Food and God," Roth leads readers to the doorway to freedom, demystifying the weight loss puzzle by trusting your own belief system, bringing peace and ending the compulsions once and for all.

Investigative reporting at its best, "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine" by Michael Lewis combines logic with the timely topic of today's financial crisis to give an overview of the head in the sand investment strategies that led the inflated egos running many of today's top financial institutions to make the colossal cash blunderes that required a government bailout. Covering a dizzying cast of characters, Lewis even covers "where are they now," updating readers on the various heroes and villains that were instrumental in some of the worst financial debacles of our time.

"In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving" by Leigh Anne Touhy is the astonishing tale of Leigh Anne and Sean Touhy, and their mission in life to raise their children to be cheerful givers. With their deep Christian faith and their commitment to make a difference, Leigh Anne invited a homeless young man into their lives, making him a part of their family, transforming his life by opening their hearts, and ultimately, their door, showing that the power of giving can teach unforgettable lessons to us all. This book is the inspiring story of one couple who truly believes that "Everyone has a blind side, but a loving heart always sees a path toward true charity." Based on the movie, "The Blind Side," this incredible, true story will touch your heart.

We've really debated as to what "mixed breed" might be Spud's parentage, and have decided that no matter what breed of dog he may be, Billy Goat must be somewhere in the mix. Anyway, Spud (a.k.a. "Scud," as in missile) the dog gets another chance because "Don't Dump the Dog" says so. He should be breathing a sigh of relief...but he's kind of busy right now, chomping on some unidentified household item.