VOICES FROM THE HOME FRONT by Felicity Goodall (David and Charles, £19.99): THE Second World War was when the Home Front truly came into its own and there were as many heroes and heroines in dear old Blighty as there were on any Front line.

Now, through letters, diaries, records and personal reminiscence, Felicity Goodall gives the Home Fronters the chance to tell their tales of civilian wartime life. There were bankers in the Home Guard searching for bombs in the fields, housewives searching for nettles to nourish their families; girls who fell for the kissable and well-heeled GIs and whole communities who opened their hearts and homes to refugees. This is a very 'ordinary' book in many ways, without the high drama of a battle, but it does an extraordinary job in showing how civilians needed almost as much courage and determination as any member of the armed forces.

CONTEMPORARY ART by Julian Stallabrass (Oxford University Press £6.99)

A VERY short whizz round the world of contemporary art, but Stallabrass does a great job of outlining its many forms, its development, its relevance to modern life and its worth. Many artists and art lovers with be outraged by his comments and conclusions. Many outside the enclosed world of Art will find him refreshingly honest.

Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show by Rachel Shteir (Oxford University Press 17.95)

The black and white photos of girls clad in ostrich feathers and sequins speak more eloquently than any words of how old hat and passe striptease now is in a world in which porn is the norm. What was once the ultimate in titillation now struggles to get a second glance, so why devote a book to this dead zone of the entertainment world? Because, argues Rachel Shteir, the art of burlesque, or striptease, offered an outlet for women to achieve not only financial security but also to establish control of their identity and sexuality. Its a very plausible theory and it is intriguing to think that every bump and grind by the likes of Gypsy Rose Lee not only put cash in her purse but also enabled her to become a more liberated and complete woman.

The Complete Kabbalah by Paul Rowland (Foulsham £8.99)

Your chance to share in the benefits of this Jewish system of mysticism currently being enjoyed by the likes of Madonna.

This entry-level guide is definitely designed for the beginner but the exercises focus on the Kabbalah's simple and practical methods of increasing spiritual growth and self aware. There's really nothing to fear here.

Published: 18/04/2006