Renegade artist Harp Spillman has ruined his reputation as one of the South's pre-eminent metal sculptors through his love of drink. With the help of his wife, he understands it's time to prove that he can get back to creating metal arts again. Along the way some very unusual characters and situations crop up. The author uses humor to reveal the struggle for individual value and identity.

"OF A FEATHER: A Brief History of American Birding," by Scott Weidensaul, Harvest Paperback, 368 pages, $15

Weidensaul traces the evolution of American birding from the frontier ornithologists who collected eggs between border skirmishes to the awkward schoolteacher Roger Tory Peterson, whose "A Field Guide to the Birds" prompted the explosive growth of modern birding.

"GIVE ME LIBERTY: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries," by Naomi Wolf, Simon & Schuster $13.95 (paperback)

Wolf investigates the roots of a growing national malaise that has bred "fake Democracy" in the United States over the past three decades. She incites concerned people of all ages to lead a new American Revolution, based on actions of men such as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Patrick Henry, who faced charges of sedition in their quest for liberty. The final section of this book is step-by-step instructions for making a difference, from running for office, to using the media effectively, to organizing protests.

"THE GET 'EM GIRLS' GUIDE TO THE POWER OF CUISINE: Perfect Recipes for Spicing Up Your Love Life," by Shakara Bridgers, Jeniece Isley and Joan A. Davis, Simon & Schuster Trade Paperback, $19.95

The authors define a "Get 'Em Girl" as an ambitious woman who uses unconventional ways to get what she wants. Their premise is that good food plays an important role in relationships and in life, and to that end the book has recipes, such as curried chicken and sweet potato biscuits, along with helpful tips designed to help women bring something new to the table. Covering everything from pantry essentials and basic kitchen tools to creating the perfect meal in 30 minutes or less, the book offers step-by-step guidelines.

"ANGLER: The Cheney Vice Presidency," by Barton Gellman, The Penguin Press, 484 pages, $27.95

Barton Gellman shared a Pulitzer Prize for his series of articles on Dick Cheney's domestic agenda in The Washington Post. In this book, Gellman goes beyond that series to write about Cheney's work and its consequences, including his role in the Bush administration's choices in war. "Angler" is the vice president's Secret Service code name. The book is a study of the Bush administration through the lens of Cheney.