2010 living now award winners

Jenkins Group is proud to announce the results of this year's contest, recognizing "Books for Better Living." The Living Now Book Awards are intended to promote newly-published lifestyle books that will help readers enrich their lives in wholesome, Earth-friendly ways.

These second annual awards were announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2010, and a celebration was also held at BookExpo American in New York on May 25th. 

Back in 1970, the first Earth Day was held against the backdrop of a terribly polluted America. Lake Erie was on fire, litter was everywhere, and dirty industries dumped waste into our soil, air and water. Many battles were won: the EPA was formed and Clean Air and Water Acts helped avert environmental disaster. Most importantly, our collective consciousness was raised to let us imagine a better world, and we realized we had the power to bring about change.

That’s what great books do -- they help us imagine change, and give us the knowledge we need to make change happen.

Listed below are the 103 gold, silver and bronze Living Now Award medalists, arranged by category.


1. Cookbooks/General

Gold: A Well-Seasoned Kitchen: Classic Recipes for Contemporary Living, by Sally Clayton and Lee Clayton Roper (MLC Publishing LLC)

Silver: The Flavor of Wisconsin: An Informal History of Food and Eating in the Badger State, by Harva Hachten and Terese Allen (Wisconsin Historical Society Press)

Bronze: Symply Too Good To Be True – The American Version, by Annette Sym (Symply Too Good)


2. Cooking/Natural (Nutrition, Organic, Vegetarian, etc.) 

Gold: The Full Plate Diet: Slim Down, Look Great, Be Healthy! by Stuart A. Seale, M.D., Teresa Sherard, M.D., and Diana Fleming, Ph.D., LDN (Bard Press)

Silver (tie): Get Naked Fast! by Diana Stobo (Bree Noa Publishing)

Recipes for Health Bliss: Using NatureFoods & Lifestyle Choices to Rejuvenate Your Body & Life, by Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D. (Hay House)

Bronze: Colorado Fit Kitchen, by James Rouse and Debra Rouse (Be Alive & Well LLC)


3. Cooking/Ethnic/Holiday

Gold: Chocolate for Breakfast: Entertaining Menus to Start the Day with a Celebration, by Barbara Passino (Hoberman Collection)

Silver: Flavors of Friuli: A Culinary Journey through Northeastern Italy, by Elisabeth Antoine Crawford (Equilibrio)

Bronze: Forking Fantastic! Put the Party Back in Dinner Party, by Zora O’Neill and Tamara Reynolds (Gotham Books)

 


4. Crafts/Hobbies/Collecting

Gold: Quilts: Unfinished Stories with New Endings, by Gyleen X. Fitzgerald (FPI Publishing)

Silver: Celebrating with Jewish Crafts, by Rebeca Edid Ruzansky (Self-published)

Bronze: Oh My Stars! by Marci Baker (Alicia’s Attic, Inc.)


5. Gift/Specialty/Keepsake

Gold: The Nutshell Guides: Yoga, Astrology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, I-ching, by Lorie Topey, Susan Hui Auyang, and Ines Laimins (The Nutshell Publications)

Silver: Everything Happens for a Reason, by Warren Hanson (TRISTAN Publishing)

Bronze: My Thoughts, by Sandra Nascimento (I Journal Publications)


6. Gardening/Farming/Landscaping

Gold: Tomatoes Garlic Basil: The Simple Pleasures of Growing and Cooking Your Garden's Most Versatile Veggies, by Doug Oster (St. Lynn's Press)

Silver: How-to-Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins, by Don Langevin (Annedawn Publishing)

BronzeMinnie Rose Lovgreen’s Recipe for Raising Chickens, by Minnie Rose Lovgreen (NW Trillium Press)


7. Animals/Pets/Livestock

Gold (tie): Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets, by Dr. Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M. (Forge Books)

Dr. Greg’s Dog Dish Diet: Sensible Nutrition for Your Dog’s Health, by Greg Martinez D.V.M. (Riparian Press)

Silver: The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer: Lessons on Living and Dying from My Canine Brothers, by Doug Koktavy (B Brothers Press)

Bronze: The Horse Lover’s Guide to Massage, by Megan Ayrault, LMP (All About Animal Massage)


8. Green Living (Alternative energy, Conservation, Cleaning, etc.)

Gold: The Big Picture: Reflections on Science, Humanity and a Quickly Changing Planet, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor (Greystone Books: an imprint of D&M Publishers, Inc.)

SilverA World Without Ice, by Henry Pollack, Ph.D. (Avery Books)

Bronze: Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent, by Andrew Nikiforuk (Greystone Books: an imprint of D&M Publishers, Inc.)


9. Outdoor Recreation (Sports, Camping, Hiking, Paddling, etc.)

Gold: Recreational Kayaking: The Ultimate Guide, by Ken Whiting (The Heliconia Press)

Silver (tie): The Practical Cyclist: Bicycling for Real People, by Chip Haynes (New Society Publishers)

Saving Sailing: The Story of Choices, Families, Time Commitments, and How We Can Create a Better Future, by Nicholas D. Hayes (Crickhollow Books)

Bronze: A Walk for Sunshine: A 2,160 Mile Expedition for Charity on the Appalachian Trail, by Jeff Alt (Dreams Shared Publications)


10. Home Building/Remodeling/Decorating

Gold: Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator, by Elaine Griffin (Gotham Books)

Silver: Avoiding the Con in Construction: How to Plan for Hassle-Free Home Building, Renovation and Repair, by Kia Ricchi (Centerline Production)

BronzeDesigning Your Own Kitchen, Volume 1 and 2, by Kathleen Shiloh (The Fourth Addition)


11. Family (Parenting/Health/Safety)

Gold: Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids: A Guide to Getting Your Kids Active in the Great Outdoors, by Eugene Buchanan (The Heliconia Press)

Silver: Getting Over It! Wisdom for Divorced Parents, by Len Stauffenger (MacKenzie Publishing)

Bronze (tie): The Art of Conscious Parenting, by Jeffrey L. Fine, Ph.D. and Dalit Fine, M.S. (Inner Traditions/Healing Arts Press/The New Parenting, Inc.)

The Smarter Preschooler: Unlocking Your Child’s Intellectual Potential, by Renee and Mike Mosiman (Brighter Insights)


12. Family Activities/Travel

Gold: The Complete Walt Disney World 2010, by Julie and Mike Neal (Coconut Press)

Silver: Homefun, by Miss Oh (Honeyman Enterprises)

Bronze: My Golfing Day With Dad, by Carol Abbott (Abbott Golf Photography)


13. Finance/Budgeting

Gold: Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is: Finding Financial Happiness, by Sue Stevens (Booksurge)

Silver: How to Make a Fortune From the Biggest Bailout in U.S. History: A Guide to the 7 Greatest Bargains from Main Street to Wall Street, by Ron Insana (Avery Books)

Bronze: A Pocket Guide to Laid-Off Living: Finding Happiness by Reducing Your Monetary Footprint, by Linda Rohrbaugh and Bradley Neff (RK Wolff, LLC)


14. Social Activism/Charity

Gold: Social Change 2.0: A Blueprint for Reinventing our World, by David Gershon (High Point/Chelsea Green)

Silver: One of Us (Hurricane Katrina), by Chris Usher (Bokeh Books)

Bronze: Luna’s Life: A Journey of Forgiveness and Triumph, by Luna Kaufman (ComteQ Publishing)


15. Personal Growth

Gold: 8 to Great: The Powerful Process for Positive Change, by MK Mueller (Insight Inc)

Silver (tie): How to Save Your Own Life, by Michael Gates Gill (Gotham Books)

Living Life as a Thank You, by Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons (Viva Editions)

Bronze (tie): Managing the Worry Circle, by Ocean Palmer (Airplane Reader Publishing Company)

How to Forgive When You Can’t, by Dr. Jim Dincalci (The Forgiveness Foundation)


16. Relationships/Marriage

Gold: Autumn Romance: Stories and Portraits of Love After 50, by Carol Denker (A-Shirley Publishing)

Silver: The Conversation, by Hill Harper (Gotham Books)

Bronze (tie): What is Love? A Book for Men and the Women Who Love Them, by James Robinson (Divine Light Publishing House)

This Path We Share: Reflecting on 60 Years of Marriage, by Lois Tschetter Hjelmstad (Mulberry Hill Press)


17. Femininity/Sexuality/Style

Gold (tie): The Body Scoop for Girls: A Straight-Talk Guide to a Healthy, Beautiful You, by Dr. Jennifer Ashton (Avery Books)

Ophelia’s Oracle, by Donna DeNomme and Tina Proctor (Inlightened Source Publishing)

Silver: Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex, by Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah (Avery Books)

Bronze: Heart on my Sleeve, by Jodi Hill (TRISTAN Publishing)


18. Enlightenment/Spirituality

Gold: Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path, by Mariana Caplan, Ph.D. (Sounds True)

Silver: Circle of Catholic Women - Journal One, by Karen Pavlicin (Juloya)

Bronze (tie): Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, by Ariel and Shya Kane (ASK Productions)

Pause Now: Handbook for a Spiritual Revolution, by Lyla Yastion (Hamilton Books)


19. Motivation/Inspirational

Gold: One: How Many People Does it Take to Make a Difference? by Dan Zadra and Kobi Yamada (Compendium, Inc.)

Silver (tie): Get Unstuck & Get Going…on the stuff that matters, by Michael Bungay Stanier (Box of Crayons Press)

Beauty Muse: Painting in Communion With Nature, by Lisa Lipsett (Creative by Nature Books)

Bronze: Choose on Purpose for Twentysomethings, by Susan Berg, Ph.D (Neff Mountain Productions)


20. Exercise/Fitness

Gold: The Happy Body: The Simple Science of Nutrition, Exercise, and Relaxation, by Aniela and Jerzy Gregorek (Jurania Press)

Silver: The Art of Hojo Undo: Power Training for Traditional Karate, by Michael Clarke (YMAA Publication Center, Inc.)

Bronze: The Body Fat Solution, by Tom Venuto (Avery Books)


21. Nutrition/Dietary

Gold: The Dole Nutrition Handbook: What to Eat and How to Live for a Longer, Healthier Life, by David H. Murdock (Dole Nutrition Institute)

Silver: Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat, by Michelle May, M.D. (75 Steps Publishing Company)

Bronze: Mama’s Home Remedies, by Svetlana Konnikova (Aurora)


22. Health/Wellness

Gold: Heal Your Mind, Rewire Your Brain, by Patt Lind-Kyle (Energy Psychology Press)

Silver: The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, by Cyndi Dale (Sounds True)

Bronze (tie): How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care, by Richard P. Brown, M.D., Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D. and Philip R. Muskin, M.D. (W.W. Norton)

Simple Chinese Medicine: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Healing & Well-Being, by Dr. Aihan Kuhn, C.M.D. DIPL. OBT (YMAA Publication Center Inc.)


23. Survival/Recovery

Gold: Winged Victory: Altered Images: Transcending Breast Cancer, by Art Myers (Photographic Gallery of Fine Art Books)

Silver (tie): Busting Loose: Cancer Survivors Tell You What Your Doctor Won’t, by Cheryl Swanson (Zumaya Publications LLC)

Redeeming Our Treasures: Finding Joy in the Shadows of an Abusive Past, by Linda Settles, M.A. (Edict House Publishing)

Bronze: Back to Life After a Heart Crisis: Rebuild Your Courage & Feel Strong Again, by Marc Wallack, M.D. and Jamie Colby (Avery Books)


24. Meditation/Relaxation

Gold: The Mini-Retreat Solution: How to Relax & Refresh Anytime, Anywhere, by Julia James (SPARK Publishing)

Silver: Simple Wisdom for the Not So Simple Business World, by Lynda Barbaccia (Simple Wisdom Works Publishing)

BronzeRomancing Sleep: Methods for Deep Sleep and Profound Dreaming, by Constantine Darling and Terri Salvatore-Swahn (Living Toolbooks)


25. Yoga/Pilates/Bodywork

Gold: Vital Yoga: A Sourcebook for Students and Teachers, by Meta Chaya Hirschl (Prajna Publishing Company)

Silver: You Don’t Have To Stand On Your Head: Creating An Inspired Life Through Yoga, by Dee Gold (Inner Reaches Press)

Bronze: Yoga In No Time At All, by Joel DiGirolamo (PranaPower, LLC)


26. Mature Living/Anti-Aging

Gold: Harvest the Bounty of Your Career, by Deborah F. Windrum (Axiom Action)

Silver: September University: Summoning Passion for an Unfinished Life, by Charles D. Hayes (Autodidactic Press)

Bronze: Hesitating at the Gate: Reflections on Aging, by Ann Tudor (Molten Gold)


27. Grieving/Death & Dying

Gold: Living Fully Dying Well: Reflecting on Death to Find Your Life’s Meaning, by Edward W. Bastian and Tina L. Staley (SoundsTrue)

Silver (tie): As We Grieve: Discoveries of Grace in Sorrow, by Jan Groft (Graham House Books)

Life With Pop: Lessons on Caring for an Aging Parent, by Janis Spring, Ph.D. with Michael Spring (Avery Books)

Bronze: Sacred Living, Sacred Dying: A Guide to Embracing Life and Death, by Sharon Lund (Sacred Life Publishers)


28. Women’s Fiction

GoldSwallow, by Tonya Plank (Dark Swan Press)

Silver: Stressed in Scottsdale, by Marcia Fine (L’Image Press)

BronzeShaken and Stirred, by Crystal Black Davis (Hudson Row Publishing)


29. Men’s Fiction

Gold: Quiet Teacher, by Arthur Rosenfeld (YMAA Fiction)

Silver: Elijah’s Coin, by Steve O’Brien (A&N Publishing)

Bronze: Cannabis North, by Dick Callahan (Harbor Seal Press)


30. GLBT Fiction

Gold: Stonewall: Stories of Gay Liberation, by Jack Fritscher (Palm Drive Publishing)

Silver: Glad Hand Saloon, by Steve Scott (Smoke Tree Press)

Bronze: Sazzae, by J.L. Morin (Harvard Square Editions)