Art can take many forms and shape as the following selection shows. The Duchamp book sheds ligt on one of the most enigmatic artist of the XXth century: Marcel Duchamp. Associated with Cubism, Dada and Surrealism, he avoided being too closely allied with any one art movement, and this book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of this invaluable artist. Fra Angelico is the perfect resource for readers interested in art history and the life and works of one of the most famous religious painters of the Renaissance. If you love Paris, you will appreciate Graffiti Paris, a collection of pictures rendering the street art that adorns the walls of the French capital city. Rajput painting : romantic, divine, and courtly art from India compiles a collection of illustrated works that convey the spirit of the great Hindu classical tradition that existed in painting, literature and all the arts from the 16th to the 19th centuries. And Russian Avant-Garde reflects the art that flourished in pre-revolutionary Russia. If you want to know more about these titles, do check this month’s Recent Art Picks.

We have quite a few recent publications concerning graphics at Wellington City Libraries. Illustrators 49 is a volume that showcases the year’s finest illustration work, but also delves into the ideas behind the art as stated by the artists themselves. Lemon poppy seed : multitasking creativity is a compilation of work by a new generation of talent that has developped a visual vocabulary of its own. Works : Jame Hayon features projects by the Spanish designer and artist Jaime Hayon. Fashionize 2 : illustration will rule the world shows how many young fashion designers apply their talent and skills to fashion illustrations where photography is pushed to the limit. Design matters : brochures 01 : an essential primer for today’s competitive market allows designers to learn not only how to create work that is aesthetically appealing, but also strategy-driven and smart. Check out our Graphic Recent Picks for more!

If you can’t wait to get away, check out our extensive geography and travel collection! Where underpants come from : from check-out to cotton fields -travels through the new China recounts the author’s first year in Middle Kingdom. Cholas in bowlers : a journey to Bolivia is a story of elopement to the Tibet of the Americas where futbol, witchcraft, cocaine, llamas both dried and alive, and more changes of government than any other country are not unusual. Red tape and white knuckles sees the author undertaking a grand trek by motorbike from London through to Africa which paints a vivid picture of travelling through the vast African landscape. Avoiding prison and other noble vacation goals is the amazing adventures of an American young woman who goes through prison to find love and is ready to do everything to save it from hopeless South American bureaucracy and the judicial system. Gone to New York : adventures in the city is an evocation of the Big Apple through essays spanning over thirty years that depict the author’s journey from the Midwest to Manhattan, Brooklyn and eventually New Jersey. B-road Britain is a unique outlook on the people, places and events that make this country so special. And if you want to know more about Beijing, check out this month’s Travel Recent Picks.

Sports fans are trully lucky with the diversity of the selection at Wellington City Libraries. If you’re already missing the Olympics, immerse yourself in The complete book of the Olympics and find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this event. The austerity Olympics : when the game came to London in 1948 is also a great opportunity to find out how the Olympics were organised in the aftermath of World War II. If you’d like to be as good as Kiwi gold medalist Tom Ashley, then The complete yachtmaster : sailing, seamanship and navigation for the modern yacht skipper is the book for you. Once you have practised all these sailing skills, you might want to read Fifty places to sail before you die : sailing experts share the world’s greatest destination to enjoy the world’s best sailing venues. If you prefer sports on solid ground, check out Judo for basic and more advanced combat techniques, or Soccer alive and Soccer - goalkeeper for tips and tricks about the Beautiful Game. Of course, mind games are also challenging and you can get to know more about chess with Play the English, sophisticated opening which is very popular at all levels of chess. Check all these books out and more in this month’s Sport and Fitness Recent Picks.

Religions, beliefs, and spirituality are well catered for at Wellington City Libraries, as well as the supernatural. In Gods, genes and consciousness : non-human intervention in human history, the influence of ‘Advanced Beings’ over humanity’s myths and history is explored. The Qur’an is regarded by Muslims as the direct word of God, and Mona Siddiqui considers how the scripture of Islam has been understood by Muslims in the intellectual traditions of Islam as well as in popular worship.  Making the Hours : English people and their prayers 1240-1570 explores the difficult, controversial topic of the private devotional life of England. AD 33 : the year that changed the world reveals what the world that saw the inauguration of Christianity was like, and allows the reader to obtain a vivid picture of the year of Jesus’ death.  The Oxford handbook of religion and science introduces the long lasting debate between religion and science, with each chapter defending and attacking some major intellectual positions. If you want to know more about these titles and find out about others, check out our Religion & Beliefs Recent Picks for August.

If anything related to Sciences interests you, you will be pleased with our selection this month. The rise of animals : evolution and diversification of the kingdom Animalia takes you on a journey to the most important fossil sites that serve as unique windows to the earliest animal life. The Archimedes codex : revealing the blueprint for science tells the story of how the purchase of a 13th century prayer book led to the discovery of Archimedes’s original writings that are still being translated today. If you are a fan of  “The dangerous book for boys” , The Wholly irresponsible exploits : 65 ways to muck about with science is a book you will not want to miss as it features amazing experiments demonstrating the magic of science. Amazon expeditions : my quest for the ice-age equator is the memoir of an ecologist who recounts an adventurous tale of exploration from the Alaskan tundra to steamy Amazon jungles. On the health side, The human body book : the ultimate visual guide to anatomy, systems and disorders is an essential manual of human biology and healthcare suited for students, family as well as professional use.  Finally, Good calories, bad calories will challenge your views concerning the effectiveness of the diets available on the market, and The rough guide to the Universe is ideal for night sky gazing. Get to know more about these titles in this month’s Science Recent Picks.

Personal development is a topic that has got plenty of coverage at Wellington City Libraries. Even if you are doubtful, you might want to read Helping me help myself : one skeptic, ten self-help gurus and a year on the brink of the comfort zone, as Beth Lisick experiments with her life-long phobia of self-empowerment philosophy. For the adepts of the Mars & Venus series,  check out Why Mars and Venus collide : improving your relationships by understanding how men and women cope differently with stress. If you are into Eastern influences, The wisdom of your face : change your life with Chinese face reading will lead you one step further along the path of self awareness. If you are afraid you are losing your memory, there might a simple explanation that Where did I leave my glasses? The what, when, and why of normal memory loss can provide. In her new book Secrets of the Monarch : what the dead can teach us about living a better life, Allison DuBois shares the secret of how to live a good life and create a better future for our children and our children’s children guided by those who know best : the dead. If you want to know more about these titles, check out this month’s Personal Development Recent Picks and find out more about What’s happening to our girls, A life at work : the joy of discovering what you were born to do, and Happy for no reason : seven steps to being happy from the inside out.

There is a wide variety of New Zealand books to check out at Wellington City Libraries. This month, Bulgaria is shown with all its contradictions under the pen of Kapka Kassabova in Street without a name . Mates and lovers : a history of gay New Zealand tells the evolving story of New Zealand gay men through the lives of men of all classes whose lives were vibrant, complex and often surprising. The Bolger years : 1990-1997 gathers accounts that portray the man who led the government that succeeded Lange’s Labour government. Moonlight : New Zealand poems on death and dying is a collection that illustrates the powerful way New Zealand poets address the subject of death, dying and grief. Family trusts : a New Zealand guide brings together all the information you need to know about how family trusts work, their benefits and disadvantages. The University of Auckland : the first 125 years highlights the history of the institution and reflects the growth and development of tertiary education in New Zealand itself. And Baby names for New Zealanders is the comprehensive 21st Century guide to choosing a name for your baby. You can learn more about these items in this month’s New Zealand/ Aotearoa Recent Picks here.

Who would have thought non-fiction would cover so many subjects? 101 things you wish you’d invented — and some you wish no one had enables you to expand your knowledge and learn about everything from the most common everyday object to inventions which changed society. Confessions of an eco sinner : travels to find where my stuff comes from is the story of Fred’s travels accross the world as he searches for traces of his carbon print and finds out more about what it is to be ‘green’. Quiet, please : dispatches from a public librarian is a memoir that challenges “librarian” cliches and gives a surprising and sometimes hilarious look at the lives of the people who work within this famed social institution. Hell and high water is a critique of American environmental and energy policy and a call to action by a writer with a unique command of the science and politics of climate change. McMafia : crime without frontiers is a compelling journey through the new world of international organised crime. And the list goes on! If you are also interested in pirates, honeymoons, prehistoric civilization, sustainable living, organising your own funeral, and body language, then check out our Popular Non-Fiction Recent Picks!

There are plenty of books about business that can help you to be a better manager, or a better employee, and improve the prospects of your company. Built to serve : how to drive the bottom line with people-first practices shows how to unlock the true potential in each individual at your company which in turn drives success. Toyota talent : developing your people the Toyota way shows you how to get the most out of people who live and breathe your company’s philosophy - and who work together toward a common goal. Trump : never give up : how I turned my biggest challenges into success reveals how obstacles can be overcome with hard work, discipline and personal leadership. What does somebody have to do to get a job around here! shares the insider secrets from preparing the resume/cover letter, interviews, offer negotiations, and things to pay attention to after being hired. Yes! : 50 scientifically proven ways to be persuasive illustrates well-researched, scientifically proven methods of influence with many examples and case studies. You can also find out more about customer service, marketing, career management, business coaching and performance strategy in the books featured in this month’s Management Recent Picks.