วันศุกร์ที่ 20 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

The Impact Zone: Mastering Golf's Moment of Truth

The Impact Zone: Mastering Golf's Moment of Truth

The Impact Zone: Mastering Golf's Moment of Truth

“Bobby Clampett is one of the most knowledgeable golfing minds in the game.”
—Tom Lehman, 1996 British Open Champion, 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Impact has long been called golf’s “moment of truth,” and great golfers have spent countless hours working on their swings trying to upgrade their impact dynamics as the golf club approaches, contacts, then swings through the ball. For the first time, with The Impact Zone, golfers will have a book that focuses their attention on the very same region of the swing on which professional golfers have always concentrated.  
The Impact Zone is a unique instructional guide in that everything in it either focuses on or applies to improving a golfer’s understanding and execution of impact.  Here, acclaimed professional golfer Bobby Clampett concludes that the overwhelming bias and convention of today’s contemporary teaching environment is to value swing styles over swing dynamics, and in so doing, the overwhelming majority of golf teachers miss the boat in terms of teaching the game effectively.  Ultimately this emphasis on swing style comes at the expense of helping golfers to develop sound swing dynamics, which are the real keys to consistent ball striking and better golf.
            With the help of CBS’s Swing Vision high-speed camera—using images from many of the game’s greatest contemporary players (including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, and more)—The Impact Zone takes an unprecedented look at the most important six inches in golf, those that immediately precede, contain, and follow impact. To further demonstrate these principles, Clampett presents photos and drills that convey the five essential dynamics golfers need to produce and reproduce solid impact 
            Throughout these instructional pages, Bobby Clampett—teamed with veteran golf writer Andy Brumer—relays his own personal story of straying from swing dynamics and how he found his way back.  He recalls memorable stories from the Tour, blending innovative instruction with his colorful, engaging anecdotes.
            Clampett and Brumer create an essential instructional guide with clear, concise advice—on creating great swing dynamics through the impact zone—the universally acknowledged key to more consistent and better golf. Advance Praise for The Impact Zone
 
“I had played many times against Bobby on the PGA Tour and was always impressed with his in-depth approach to the golf swing. But after working with him at CBS for several years, I have come to understand why. The Impact Zone will reveal to the golf world Bobby’s unique insight as to why so many different ‘styled’ golf swings work. God knows my swing isn’t one the named teachers are having their students copy, but it was good enough to win twenty-one PGA Tour events and the ’77 PGA Championship.    It’s about time someone finally put in print to refute the myths about ‘style of swing’ and get down to the meat of the matter—impact! It’s no surprise to me that Bobby was the one to get it done right!”
—Lanny Wadkins, lead golf analyst for CBS Sports
 
 
“It’s great for all golfers that someone has finally structured an instruction book around dynamic impact. Nor does it surprise me that Bobby Clampett is the one to have done it.  He is as good a student of the game as I’ve ever known.  What’s more, he was a great player in his day, and his journey as he struggled with his swing, as well as his experience as a commentator and observer of the contemporary game, qualifies him more than most as a teacher to whom all interested in improving their golf games should listen.  I know I will.  His unique perspective will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the golf world for years to come.”
—Johnny Miller, lead golf analyst for NBC Sports and author of I Call the Shots
 
“Back when we were both in college, Bobby was a boy genius in golf. For fifteen years as his colleague at CBS, I have continued to be amazed by his comprehensive knowledge of the golf swing. He remains as erudite about the technical nuances of the game as anyone on the planet, and I am thrilled he is now sharing his expertise with the rest of the world!”
—Jim Nantz, CBS Sports golf anchor
 
“Bobby Clampett is a true and loyal friend as well as one of the most knowledgeable golfing minds in the game. He has always known that the strike is what matters most. What the swing looks like is really of no concern; the quality of the impact between club and ball is the heart of the matter.”
—Tom Lehman, 1996 British Open Champion and 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team captain

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #26419 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-04-03
  • Released on: 2007-04-03
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 240 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    From the Inside Flap
    “Bobby Clampett is one of the most knowledgeable golfing minds in the game.”
    —Tom Lehman, 1996 British Open Champion, 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Impact has long been called golf’s “moment of truth,” and great golfers have spent countless hours working on their swings trying to upgrade their impact dynamics as the golf club approaches, contacts, then swings through the ball. For the first time, with The Impact Zone, golfers will have a book that focuses their attention on the very same region of the swing on which professional golfers have always concentrated.  
    The Impact Zone is a unique instructional guide in that everything in it either focuses on or applies to improving a golfer’s understanding and execution of impact.  Here, acclaimed professional golfer Bobby Clampett concludes that the overwhelming bias and convention of today’s contemporary teaching environment is to value swing styles over swing dynamics, and in so doing, the overwhelming majority of golf teachers miss the boat in terms of teaching the game effectively.  Ultimately this emphasis on swing style comes at the expense of helping golfers to develop sound swing dynamics, which are the real keys to consistent ball striking and better golf.
                With the help of CBS’s Swing Vision high-speed camera—using images from many of the game’s greatest contemporary players (including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, and more)—The Impact Zone takes an unprecedented look at the most important six inches in golf, those that immediately precede, contain, and follow impact. To further demonstrate these principles, Clampett presents photos and drills that convey the five essential dynamics golfers need to produce and reproduce solid impact 
                Throughout these instructional pages, Bobby Clampett—teamed with veteran golf writer Andy Brumer—relays his own personal story of straying from swing dynamics and how he found his way back.  He recalls memorable stories from the Tour, blending innovative instruction with his colorful, engaging anecdotes.
                Clampett and Brumer create an essential instructional guide with clear, concise advice—on creating great swing dynamics through the impact zone—the universally acknowledged key to more consistent and better golf. Advance Praise for The Impact Zone
     
    “I had played many times against Bobby on the PGA Tour and was always impressed with his in-depth approach to the golf swing. But after working with him at CBS for several years, I have come to understand why. The Impact Zone will reveal to the golf world Bobby’s unique insight as to why so many different ‘styled’ golf swings work. God knows my swing isn’t one the named teachers are having their students copy, but it was good enough to win twenty-one PGA Tour events and the ’77 PGA Championship.    It’s about time someone finally put in print to refute the myths about ‘style of swing’ and get down to the meat of the matter—impact! It’s no surprise to me that Bobby was the one to get it done right!”
    —Lanny Wadkins, lead golf analyst for CBS Sports
     
     
    “It’s great for all golfers that someone has finally structured an instruction book around dynamic impact. Nor does it surprise me that Bobby Clampett is the one to have done it.  He is as good a student of the game as I’ve ever known.  What’s more, he was a great player in his day, and his journey as he struggled with his swing, as well as his experience as a commentator and observer of the contemporary game, qualifies him more than most as a teacher to whom all interested in improving their golf games should listen.  I know I will.  His unique perspective will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the golf world for years to come.”
    —Johnny Miller, lead golf analyst for NBC Sports and author of I Call the Shots
     
    “Back when we were both in college, Bobby was a boy genius in golf. For fifteen years as his colleague at CBS, I have continued to be amazed by his comprehensive knowledge of the golf swing. He remains as erudite about the technical nuances of the game as anyone on the planet, and I am thrilled he is now sharing his expertise with the rest of the world!”
    —Jim Nantz, CBS Sports golf anchor
     
    “Bobby Clampett is a true and loyal friend as well as one of the most knowledgeable golfing minds in the game. He has always known that the strike is what matters most. What the swing looks like is really of no concern; the quality of the impact between club and ball is the heart of the matter.”
    —Tom Lehman, 1996 British Open Champion and 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team captain

    About the Author
    A native of Carmel, California, Bobby Clampett turned professional in 1980 after one of the finest amateur careers in American golf history.  The two-time California State Amateur Champion, World Amateur Champion, and low amateur in both the 1978 U.S. Open and the 1979 Masters, Bobby was a two-time winner of the Fred Haskins Award while in college at Brigham Young University. As a member of the PGA Tour, he won the 1982 Southern Open, and in 1984 became the Tour’s youngest player to exceed $500,000 in career earnings. In 1991, he joined the CBS Sports and TNT Sports golf broadcast teams, where he continues today. He is returning to competition while pursuing his interests in golf course architecture, aviation, Bible Study, and charity work. He also is a sought-after speaker and host at corporate outings and clinics. He lives with his wife and children in Raleigh, North Carolina.
     
    Andy Brumer has written for most of golf’s major magazines, including Golf Digest, Golf Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Golf Plus, Travel and Leisure Golf, Links Magazine, Golfweek, and others.  He has been editor of Golf Tips and Petersen’s Golfing, and is the author of the book Guide to the Golf Revolution: How Technology Is Driving the Game and a forthcoming book of essays titled The Poetics of Golf. He competed on the Rutgers University golf team and presently plays to a 2 handicap.  He lives in Alhambra, California.


    Customer Reviews

    The moment of truth -- the Impact Zone4
    This is the only book specifically focused on that part of the golf swing that Bobby Clampett calls "The Impact Zone" i.e. the dynamic interrelationship between the golfer's body, the golf club and the ball at the moment of impact. All the very best ball strikers exhibit nearly identical form in the impact zone regardless of their swing style differences. Clampett defines the impact zone and has written his suggestions for achieving the form required by it. A duly diligent enthusiast, intent on improving his ball-striking, will enjoy this book -- and make headway in direct relation to the time he spends with it (at the practice range.) Illustrations (while technically correct) are weak but important. The central message of the book could probably be condensed but then it would be hard to meet the publisher's mechanical criteria. If you're intently interested in the golf swing, this is the essential book.

    clear explanation of fundamentals5
    This volume clearly elucidates the elements of a good golf swing in a stepwise manner. I have read several books about the swing, but this one by far is the best. It is a beginner level book but also good for the high or mid handicapper.

    The Impact Zone5
    If you have trouble reading The Golfing Machine (TGM), you need to have this book - it is a fabulous read for any golfer and compliments TGM with a basic approach!

    Price: $16.47 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 19 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    Golf Courses: Fairways of the World 2009 Wall Calendar

    Golf Courses: Fairways of the World 2009 Wall Calendar

    Golf Courses: Fairways of the World 2009 Wall Calendar

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #77520 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-08-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Calendar


  • Price: $6.74 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    Death in the Silent Places

    Death in the Silent Places

    Death in the Silent Places

    Already recognized as a master of adventure writing for his classic Death in the Long Grass, former big-game hunter Capstick now turns from his own exploits to those of some of the greatest hunters of the past. With his characteristic color and flair he recalls the extraordinary careers of men like Colonel J.H. Patterson and Colonel Jim Corbett, who stalked legendary man-eaters through the silent darkness on opposite sides of the world; men like Karamojo Bell, acknowledged as the greatest elephant hunter of all time; men like the valiant Sasha Siemel, who tracked killer jaguars though the Matto Grosso armed only with a spear. With an authenticity gained by having shared the experiences he writes of, Peter Capstick eloquently recreates the acrid taste of terror in the mouth of a man whose gun has jammed as a lion begins his charge, the exhilaration of tracking and finding a long-sought prey, the bravery and even nobility of performing under circumstances of primitive and savage stress, with death all around in the silent places of the wilderness.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #26420 in Books
  • Published on: 1981-05-15
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 288 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    Review
    "Few writers have matched Capstick's flair for describing the hunt...in gruesome, realistic terms...A page-turner that is absolutely spine-tingling." --Publishers Weekly

    "This book had me on the edge of my seat. . .297 pages of spine-tingling yarns." --New York Times Book Review

    "Death in the Long Grass is an exciting book, superbly written." --Guns & Ammo

    "Capstick...is brilliant in his description of his hunts for some of Africa's most vicious killers...The terror produced by some of these pieces is almost too real. As the pages turn, breathing grows shallow, adrenalin is pumped into the veins, the palms sweat until the outcome is resolved and there is time to drag a handkerchief across a damp brow." --Chicago Sun-Times (Triple Recommendation Rating)

    "Death in the Long Grass will excite you, scare you and make you laugh...as a source of information it surpasses itself, and as a narrative it will hold the reader spellbound. . ." --Guns Magazine
    -- Review

    Review
    "Few writers have matched Capstick's flair for describing the hunt...in gruesome, realistic terms...A page-turner that is absolutely spine-tingling." --Publishers Weekly

    "This book had me on the edge of my seat. . .297 pages of spine-tingling yarns." --New York Times Book Review

    "Death in the Long Grass is an exciting book, superbly written." --Guns & Ammo

    "Capstick...is brilliant in his description of his hunts for some of Africa's most vicious killers...The terror produced by some of these pieces is almost too real. As the pages turn, breathing grows shallow, adrenalin is pumped into the veins, the palms sweat until the outcome is resolved and there is time to drag a handkerchief across a damp brow." --Chicago Sun-Times (Triple Recommendation Rating)

    "Death in the Long Grass will excite you, scare you and make you laugh...as a source of information it surpasses itself, and as a narrative it will hold the reader spellbound. . ." --Guns Magazine

    From the Publisher
    7 1.5-hour cassettes


    Customer Reviews

    Suspenseful, but poorly-placed humor4
    My review hits the middle of the gamut of earlier reviews. Not a hunter, with no desire to be one, I still thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and details of the stories recounted here. I also love the variety, from lions to German cruisers to man-eating leopards. (I must admit to being less favorably inclined to the story of Bell's elephant killing, as those huge animals were less of a threat to humans than the tigers, leopards, and lions described elsewhere.) Overall, these stories have significant WOW impact throughout and I found myself wondering how I would have fared in similar circumstances. My guess? Rather poorly!
    However, I must agree with the negative comment about the oddly-placed humorous comments. Even as I smiled at some of them, I was struck by the incongruity of the words.
    Still, I've recommended the book to many friends and don't hesitate to recommend it here, as well.

    Not all about hunting4
    The titles of Peter Capstick's books appear very unimaginative and it seems that they are trying to cash in on the popularity of "Death in the long grass". This is not so. I have read three books by this author all of which have titles beginning with "death in....". Each book has something new to say and you do not get tired of reading about the almost countless adventures that Capstick recounts.
    To write about "Death in silent places": it is a collection of short biographies of some of the greatest hunter-adventurers of the last century. Their adventures are described in a very racy style. No doubt Capstick was able to write so well because he could identify with them. Some stories have a racist tinge to them however. May be this is not surprising as the book is set in colonial times.
    The author seems to be a great fan of W.D.M. "karamojo" Bell but this fellow appeared to me to be a great poacher and murderer of elephants. He may have had a very adventurous life but he was a criminal nevertheless.The other people described in this book also have something wrong with them (except Jim Corbett). I guess we all have our faults
    In summation I can say that this book is definitely a very good read and does not have a boring passage in it.

    Mandatory Reading5
    This book was my first encounter with Peter Hathaway Capstick, but it won't be my last. It contains a series of short stories about dangerous game hunting (and World War I scouting) in Africa, India, South America, and Ceylon. The stories Capstick tells are primarily about the exploits of other famous hunters, although he interjects annecdotes about personal experiences and also tells the tale of his own hunting of a cape buffalo with a spear.

    One of the most amazing aspects of this book is that Capstick brings to life the reality that, in the not-so-distant past, people in various parts of the world lived in actual, realistic fear of being killed by large, predatory, animinals, including lions, jaguars, and leopards. That might come as a surprise to some, as might the awesome power and cunning possessed by those animals.

    This book is a must read for anyone who is even remotely interested in exotic places, big-game hunting, adventure, and the history of the British Empire a hundred years ago. I will be recommending it to my father, brother, and father-in-law, as all of them will enjoy it.

    Price: $16.29 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันพุธที่ 18 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    The Fly-Tying Bible: 100 Deadly Trout and Salmon Flies in Step-by-Step Photographs

    The Fly-Tying Bible: 100 Deadly Trout and Salmon Flies in Step-by-Step Photographs

    The Fly-Tying Bible: 100 Deadly Trout and Salmon Flies in Step-by-Step Photographs

    Avid sport fishermen will treasure this book?which is nearly as beautiful as the objects it describes. Fly-tying is a highly prized fisherman?s craft, but it?s also an art form, wonderfully captured in this volume?s hundreds of color photos. Each of 100 fly patterns is presented in a two-page spread: an enlarged photo and textual description on the left-hand page, complemented with a set of step-by-step, clearly captioned photos on the facing page. In addition, fishing enthusiasts will find sections on fly-tying tools and materials plus general instructions for getting started. The author, a well-known fly-tier and sport fisherman gives instructions on making traditional trout and salmon flies?all of them fish catchers of proven effectiveness in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Examples vary in complexity, with patterns to fit every skill level from novice to expert fly-tier. Here are dry flies, nymphs and bugs, wet flies, streamers, and hairwings?a virtually complete selection of traditional and up-to-date examples of the art. The book?s hidden spiral binding keeps its pages opened flat, which makes it ideal for reference at the workbench. More than 600 color photos.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #89070 in Books
  • Published on: 2003-04
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Spiral-bound
  • 256 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    From the Back Cover
    [back cover]

  • 100 top patterns with clearly illustrated step-by-step sequences showing every stage of the fly?s construction
  • Covers all traditional trout and salmon flies as well as the most up-to-date patterns
  • Focuses on proven fish-catchers used successfully all over the world
  • Flies vary in complexity, providing patterns suitable for every skill level, from novice to experienced tyer

    Peter Gathercole is widely regarded as one of Britain?s leading fly-tyers and game-fishing writer/photographers. His articles and photographs have appeared in several top fishing magazines. The Fly-tying Bible is his fourth book on fly-fishing.

    About the Author
    Peter Gathercole is one of Britain’s leading fly-dressers and game-fishing writers and photographers. His articles and photos have appeared in many magazines, and his books include The Sotheby’s Guide to Fly-Fishing for Trout.


  • Customer Reviews

    #1 Pattern Book to Own5
    I have had this book for over a year and it keeps coming off my shelf as my number one pattern book. It is well designed, easy to use and the spiral binding makes it a dream for setting on your tying bench. I was really impressed w/ the quality of the pictures and the step by step instructions for basic, intermediate and adavanced flies. I have given this to several people as gifts and recommend it to everyone!

    Fly tying made easy5
    This is a great book which covers alot of different flies. With the ease of the photos any person should be able to tie all the flies and come up with their own variations.

    Fly-Tying made easy5
    Priced reasonably, this is an an excellent addition to fly-tying literature. It is beautifully printed, illustrated, and bound. Because of the spiral binding it lies flat. It is sturdy. The book's descriptions of fish and the flies that attract them are clear and concise.

    I gave this book to an avid angler who has a small mountain of fly-tying magazines and books. He told me it was the best book on fly-tying he had ever seen. I'll be using it and giving it as a gift again.

    Price: $16.47 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันอังคารที่ 17 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)

    Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)

    Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)

    Now with a fresh design and thoroughly updated information, this nuts-and-bolts guide is designed specifically to address the unique challenges and rewards the sport presents to the fastest growing segment of the market—women runners

         More than 10 million women across the country now identify themselves as regular runners. In response to the dramatic increase in the number of women in the sport, Dagny Scott Barrios and the experts at Runner’s World have created this singular guide—now updated with 25 percent new material—where women will discover how to:
         • train for any race, from a 5K to a marathon
         • eat nutritiously and for maximum energy
         • lose weight permanently
         • deal with self-consciousness and body image
         • run during pregnancy and through menopause
         • choose the best clothes and accessories
         • run anywhere safely
         • prevent and treat injuries, especially those that women are most likely to encounter
         With clear photographs, running sidebars, and testimonials from women runners of all ages and abilities, this comprehensive resource provides the most current practical advice available anywhere for women runners of all levels.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #2904 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-10-30
  • Released on: 2007-10-30
  • Format: Illustrated
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 320 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    From Booklist
    Don't confuse this book with The Complete Book of Running for Women (1999) by former Runner's World managing editor Claire Kowalchik. Now Runner's World has produced its own very comparable guide, written by Scott, running expert and editor in chief of Women Outside magazine. Kowalchik's book has more helpful charts, such as a body-mass index, and a more thorough nutrition section; but both share very similar content, covering the basic nuts and bolts, such as training, racing, proper nutrition, pregnancy, weight loss, and safety. The layout of this title is easier to read, and the use of photos to demonstrate stretching techniques and exercise drills sets it apart. Topical sidebars include "Smart Tips": for instance, after a marathon, drink fluids, get into warm clothes, ease sore muscles with cold water, and don't run for a few weeks. Loyal Runner's World readers will turn to this source for practical, expert advice for women runners at all levels. Brenda Barrera
    Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

    From the Back Cover
    Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance

    "Listen to those millions of women runners. Listen to their quiet breaths as they talk in predawn pairs, before the rest of the family wakes --the lessons and questions they share to the rhythm of steady footsteps.

    'I never thought I could . . . ' 'I feel so much stronger . . . '

    'I'm ready to take on a new challenge . . . '

    Women develop a special sorority on the roads. This bond is an understanding based on acceptance, an appreciation of how far they have come, a knowing wink that says how much is yet to be gained. And so they talk and share and grow and run. Singly and in groups, swiftly and slowly, they run." --Dagny Scott

    Choose the best clothes and accessories Lose weight permanently Train for any race, from a 5-K to a marathon Run through menopause Deal with self-consciousness and body image BE SAFE WHEREVER YOU RUN Prevent and treat injuries Run during pregnancy Eat for maximum energy

    About the Author
    DAGNY SCOTT BARRIOS is a writer, editor, and public speaker specializing in running and women’s sports. She is the author of two other Rodale running books: Runner’s World Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Runner’s World Complete Guide to Trail Running. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.


    Customer Reviews

    Now Calling Myself a "Runner"5
    I am a reasonably active person who has tried several times to take up running. The problem is that it is not that easy! This book has been a wonderful help. It forced me to build up my capacity and realize that you can't just go out and run 5 miles. It provided a great starting program, lots of helpful advice and Scott seemed to predict all of the questions, thoughts that would come to mind. Great for a beginning runner.

    Over rated1
    This is to much book for a lot of useless information. Most of the info is general info most people already know. Even if they haven't run before. I suggest you Pass on this one.

    Ranita's review of Complete Book of Women's Running5
    I love this book!!!! I have only had it for 1 week and I have felt motivated and read some great tips for just about anything you can think of. A great read for runners/joggers of any level.

    Price: $11.53 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    Tom Brown's Guide to City and Suburban Survival (Field Guide)

    Tom Brown's Guide to City and Suburban Survival (Field Guide)

    Tom Brown's Guide to City and Suburban Survival (Field Guide)

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #38916 in Books
  • Published on: 1986-03-15
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 272 pages



  • Customer Reviews

    Tom Brown's Field Guide: City and Suburban Survival4

    The purpose behind this book differs significantly from Cory Lundin's When All Hell Breaks Loose, which I previously reviewed, even though both books are concerned with survival within a city. Whereas Lundin focused on post-disaster survival -- mainly within the confines of your home and backyard and dependent upon your own resources -- Tom Brown differs in that he imagines the reader needing to survive a personal emergency, with the rest of the city essentially unaffected. He allows, therefore, that you may have uninvited access to city resources outside your home, such as water and shelter in public areas, and restaurant or grocery store dumpsters for food.

    He schools the reader in the basics of how electricity and water are supplied in a city and how they move within a house. An entire chapter is devoted to how weather occurs. Avoiding an emergency is as much his intent as surviving one. It is not till the end of the book that he discusses disasters and how to deal with them. Unlike Lundin, Brown briefly shows a debris hut, fire by friction, and a few traps.


    Chapter titles: Introduction, Shelter, Water, Heat and Light, Food, Crime, Weather, Disasters, Enjoying the City. Appendices: Common Urban Edibles, Common Urban Animals, Survival Supplies.

    A great read.5
    This book is a great guide to being prepared for natural disasters in any city or suburb. Much of the content is techniques for wilderness survival that have been adapted for what you find in the city. One thing that you don't find in a wilderness survival guide is crime prevention, which is approached well in this book.

    Excellent field guide5
    Tom Brown Jr. is brilliant. This is an excellent must read, there is so much great information in these pages, amazing reference book, a must have for any personal library.

    Price: $11.20 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันจันทร์ที่ 16 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    Weight Training for Cyclists: A Total Body Program for Power and Endurance

    Weight Training for Cyclists: A Total Body Program for Power and Endurance

    Weight Training for Cyclists: A Total Body Program for Power and Endurance

    Since the publication of the first edition of the only cycling-specific weight training book on the market, time spent in the gym has become a standard part of every cyclist’s training schedule. This new edition, with updated material on core strength and nutrition, brings together the most current research on strength building and the most recent and effective equipment innovations. Authors Ken Doyle and Eric Schmitz explain clearly how strength training in the weight room translates to endurance and power on the road. How should an athlete fit weight training into an already demanding cycling program? How does the approach to lifting change from the beginning of the season to the end? Which exercises are best on what days? How many repetitions are needed? Doyle and Schmitz address all these questions and more in easily grasped, lucid language. More than 60 exercises are illustrated and described in detail, and ten sample programs guide riders through their season.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #27421 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-11-18
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 224 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    About the Author
    Ken Doyle, a licensed coach with the U.S. Cycling Federation, is an exercise physiologist certified by the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He currently coaches a road and a mountain bike team, and is also the head coach of the Santa Barbara Special Olympics Cycling Team. Eric Schmitz has a degree in Exercise Physiology and is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He is a Level I USAT triathlon coach and the creator of two strength and conditioning DVDs.


    Customer Reviews

    Weight Training: A Forgotten Element5
    There are some who feel that weight training is a waste of time for cyclists and the limited scientific studies carried out so far have had mixed results as to whether pumping iron makes you faster. There are fears that the possible addition of muscle mass in the upper body (remember Lance Armstrong pre-cancer?) will provide no tangible benefits and in fact will be just that much more weight to carry around.

    In fact a strong torso contributes to pedalling action by providing rigidity against which the quadriceps can work. Most of the training programs for cyclists I have seen tend to be aimed at building strength rather than mass and as the riders moves into the racing season the weight program becomes one only of maintenance. Increased strength means reduced fatigue although aerobic capacity seems to be the limiter for endurance. Stronger muscles last longer and stabilize the body, improving technique and efficiency, allowing the cyclist to keep in the proper form longer.

    Not to be overlooked is the fact that cyclists typically suffer from low bone density as cycling is not a weight-bearing exercise. Studies indicate that during the Tour de France pro riders can lose up to 25 percent of bone mass, and a surprising number of Masters-class racers suffer from symptoms of osteoporosis. Weight training helps combat this, as do weight-bearing exercises such as running, and calcium supplementation.

    My coach has given me a simple program that provides the periodization recommended, working from light weights to much heavier weights and then backing off to more reps with lighter loads. In addition to my coach's comments, I have found a very useful guide to weight training to be the recently revised "Weight Training for Cyclists: A Total Body Program for Power and Endurance" by Ken Doyle and Eric Schmitz. This 2nd edition of their 1998 book, released in November 2008, incorporates new information on core training and lower body exercises. It is very clearly written and explains how strength training in the weight room translates to endurance and power on the bike.

    Different exercises for the muscle groups are described and illustrated with very good line drawings that are simple but effective. I have photocopied the section on core workouts and have supplemented my coach's suggestions so that I am doing more work with a stability ball. There is also a chapter reviewing the best series of stretches I have seen.

    The last part of the book presents a range of training plans that are time-efficient and look quite effective. I have incorporated parts of them into my own workout and although it is not quite My Year of Abs yet there is a definite improvement in my core strength.

    "Weight Training for Cyclists" is an up-to-date and comprehensive book that is invaluable in building a program to increase strength. Clearly-written, attractively-presented and very reasonably priced, it belongs on the shelf of everyone interested in improving their riding. You may not end up looking like Mr. or Ms. Universe but you might get faster!

    Good book4
    It is a easy and good read especially for the person who wants to get into lifting for a specific sport

    Really Works!5
    I have been following the weight training program in this book and it really works. The words and illustrations are easy to follow yet still effective. I have trained and raced bicycles for 20 years and my climbing and strength on the bike have already improved noticably since following the book's weight training program.

    I used to be skeptical about the benefits of "off the bike" cross training, but I will tell you whether you are a racer or recreational cyclist, you can benefit from the programs this book offers.

    Price: $12.89 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

    Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

    Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

    Lou Gehrig was a baseball legend -- the Iron Horse, the stoic New York Yankee who was the greatest first baseman in history, a man whose consecutive-games streak was ended by a horrible disease that now bears his name. But as this definitive new biography makes clear, Gehrig's life was more complicated -- and, perhaps, even more heroic -- than anyone really knew.

    Drawing on new interviews and more than two hundred pages of previously unpublished letters to and from Gehrig, Luckiest Man gives us an intimate portrait of the man who became an American hero: his life as a shy and awkward youth growing up in New York City, his unlikely friendship with Babe Ruth (a friendship that allegedly ended over rumors that Ruth had had an affair with Gehrig's wife), and his stellar career with the Yankees, where his consecutive-games streak stood for more than half a century. What was not previously known, however, is that symptoms of Gehrig's affliction began appearing in 1938, earlier than is commonly acknowledged. Later, aware that he was dying, Gehrig exhibited a perseverance that was truly inspiring; he lived the last two years of his short life with the same grace and dignity with which he gave his now-famous "luckiest man" speech.

    Meticulously researched and elegantly written, Jonathan Eig's Luckiest Man shows us one of the greatest baseball players of all time as we've never seen him before.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #71248 in Books
  • Published on: 2006-03-28
  • Format: Illustrated
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 432 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    Amazon.com Review
    Lou Gehrig started his professional baseball career at a time when players began to be seen as national celebrities. Though this suited charismatic men such as Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, Gehrig avoided the spotlight and preferred to speak with his bat. Best known for playing in 2,130 consecutive games as well as his courage in battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a disease that now bears his name), the Iron Horse that emerges from this book is surprisingly naïve and insecure. He would cry in the clubhouse after disappointing performances, was painfully shy around women (much to the amusement of some of his teammates), and particularly devoted to his German-immigrant mother all his life. Even after earning the league MVP award he still feared the Yankees would let him go. Against the advice of Ruth and others, he refused to negotiate aggressively and so earned less than he deserved for many seasons. Honest, humble, and notoriously frugal, his only vices were chewing gum and the occasional cigarette. And despite becoming one of the finest first basemen of all time, Jonathan Eig shows how Gehrig never seemed to conquer his self-doubt, only to manage it better.

    Jonathan Eig's Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig offers a fascinating and well-rounded portrait of Gehrig, from his dugout rituals and historic games to his relationships with his mother, wife, coaches, and teammates. His complex friendship with Ruth, who was the polar opposite to Gehrig in nearly every respect, is given particularly vivid attention. Take this revealing description of how the two men began a barnstorming tour together following their 1927 World Series victory: "Ruth tipped the call girls and sent them on their way. Gehrig kissed his mother goodbye." Eig also shares some previously unknown details regarding his consecutive games streak and how he dealt with ALS during the final years of his life. Rich in anecdotes and based on hundreds of interviews and 200 pages of recently discovered letters, the book effectively shows why the Iron Horse remains an American icon to this day. --Shawn Carkonen

    From Publishers Weekly
    Although his record of playing in 2,130 consecutive Major League baseball games (from 1925 to 1939) was eventually broken in 1995, Gehrig is still remembered as one of the sport's greatest figures. But Eig, a Wall Street Journal special correspondent, shows that the life of the"Iron Horse" wasn't quite as squeaky clean as Gary Cooper portrayed it to be in the 1943 film Pride of the Yankees. Still, the blemishes are strikingly minor in comparison to those of today's star athletes: the worst anyone can really say about Gehrig is that he didn't like spending money, or that sometimes he'd just barely appear in a game in order to continue his streak. This meticulous biography also tracks the Yankee first baseman's close family ties and the tensions between his German immigrant mother and his publicity-savvy wife, as well as Gehrig's friction with teammate Babe Ruth. There's a certain monotony to the seasons during Gehrig's peak years, but Eig manages to find lively anecdotes. Moreover, the final chapters, in which Gehrig slowly dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, present his story's medical aspects with powerful sensitivity. Holding its own against recent high-profile baseball bios (e.g., Richard Ben Cramer's portrait of Joe DiMaggio), Eig's book reminds readers that Gehrig's accomplishments are inseparable from the dignity of his character. Photos.
    Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    From The Washington Post
    On June 2, 1941, just days short of his 38th birthday, Henry Louis Gehrig died at his house in the pleasant New York City neighborhood of Riverdale. The disease that killed him, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, was almost entirely unknown at the time, to the extent, Jonathan Eig writes, that "many doctors in the United States had never heard of ALS." Gehrig, the great first baseman of the New York Yankees -- indeed, commonly conceded to have been the greatest first baseman in baseball history -- changed all that. In the years after his death, ALS became near-universally known as Lou Gehrig's disease, as it is to this day; for all the advances medical science has made in the six decades since Gehrig's death, "his" disease still has no known cure.

    On July 4, 1939, two years before his death, a severely weakened Gehrig returned to Yankee Stadium, not long after he had announced his retirement from baseball. The Yankees were determined to hold a day in his honor. Gehrig, who was shy and reserved, dreaded the occasion, but he rose to it. Wearing the Yankees' uniform, he approached the microphones after various tributes had been paid and gifts presented, and stood there in silence. Finally, he spoke. "For the past two weeks you've been reading about a bad break," he told the packed ballpark. "Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." He saluted his teammates, his parents, his wife, and then said: "So I close in saying that I might have had a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for. Thank you."

    Stars of sport often are called heroes but only rarely live up to the name. Gehrig came about as close as any except Roberto Clemente, the magnificent Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder who was killed in a December 1972 plane crash while flying emergency supplies to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Gehrig's heroism lay in the stoic courage with which he accepted his disease and the calm good humor with which he lived out his days. He was an exemplar. One of the first books given to me by my parents (who were not baseball fans) was called Lou Gehrig: Boy Hero; the sentiment expressed in its subtitle is still widely felt and was given voice by Cal Ripken Jr. when, in 1995, he broke Gehrig's "unbreakable" record of 2,130 consecutive games and told the crowd at Camden Yards in Baltimore: "Tonight, I stand here, overwhelmed, as my name is linked with the great and courageous Lou Gehrig."

    So it is entirely appropriate that, after all these years, Gehrig is the subject of a full biography that treats him not just as a superb athlete but also as an admirable, if far from flawless, human being. Many books have been written about him in the past, including biographies by the (now forgotten but once notable) journalists Frank Graham and Paul Gallico, but they are standard sports-page fare, closer to hagiography than to biography. Eig, who writes for the Wall Street Journal, does better. His prose rarely rises above competence, but his research is thorough, and he pays due attention to Gehrig's few shortcomings as well as his many strengths. Eig's biography doesn't do quite as well by Gehrig as Robert Creamer's Babe did by that other famous Yankee, Babe Ruth, but Luckiest Man is good, solid work.

    One important point stressed by Eig but glossed over by most others who have written about Gehrig is that for his entire life he was a mama's boy. His parents, Heinrich and Christina, were poor German immigrants whose life together started in Yorkville, the Upper East Side neighborhood that was then Manhattan's German enclave. Lou was born on June 19, 1903, a bit less than a year after the death of the first Gehrig child, Anna; his sister Sophie was born in July of the next year. Heinrich worked irregularly at best, so it fell to the "muscular, unemotional" Christina to keep the family together and to earn money as a cleaning woman and a cook for the wealthy. To Lou she was a heroine, and to her he was the object of unstinting devotion.

    Lou inherited his mother's stocky build and strong legs. "Each thigh was bigger than many a man's waist, each calf the size of a Christmas ham": Strong legs (along with keen eyes) are a hitter's most important asset, and Gehrig's legs were simply awesome. He was too big to be graceful and was susceptible to mental lapses, so when he started playing baseball as a boy, he was sent to first base; that, along with right field, is where bad fielders are hidden. He was an incredibly hard worker, though, and by the time he got to Columbia University he had begun the process of polishing himself into a better-than-average first-baseman when in the field, an asset rather than a liability, a thinking man's ballplayer if not a baseball genius.

    Gehrig signed with the Yankees in April 1923 for a total of just under $3,000. To the Gehrigs it was a windfall, "a life-altering payday." Lou continued to live with his parents and immediately became the family breadwinner. Before long he moved his parents out to the suburbs and set them up comfortably if not lavishly, a manner to which they quickly became accustomed. Gehrig spent a brief breaking-in period with the Hartford Senators in Connecticut, where he tore up the league; by the end of the 1923 season he was back in New York, this time for good.

    Before one of that season's final games, Wally Pipp, the regular Yankee first baseman, wrenched an ankle, and Gehrig was sent in to play for him. Legend has it that this was when Gehrig's celebrated streak began, but that didn't happen until well into the 1924 season, when Pipp was benched and Gehrig sent in. Pipp never played another inning for the Yankees: "Lou Gehrig and Wally Pipp are forever linked, like the tortoise and the hare. But for all its mythical resonance, the legend does Gehrig a disservice. In truth, he didn't get Pipp's job because the older man had a headache or grew lazy. He got it because he was young and eager and hit the ball twice as hard as the player he replaced. He had an opportunity, and he seized it."

    The Yankees of that time were "rough guys," according to one of the many players who passed through the clubhouse: "They were swashbuckling, tobacco-chewing, cursing tough-guys. They were farmers, country boys." They liked Gehrig well enough but didn't understand him. He was "a worrier, obsessed with pleasing others," he "made little effort to get to know his teammates or the reporters who covered the team," he didn't carouse or womanize, he "did not so much set aside his self-doubt as manage it," he "never grumbled and never cried for attention," he was "sensitive and uncommunicative," to "shopkeepers and delivery boys, he was known as a tightwad," he "took comfort working for strict bosses and following precise rules." Gradually he eased up a bit, and when he became famous his insecurity diminished, but to the end he was sensitive, thoughtful, wary.

    He was rarely seen with women, but he did open up to one, Mary Loeb, the wife of a respected sportswriter: "He liked women, he told Mary, and he wanted to marry someday. But it was complicated. His mother had already suffered so much. She had lost three children and had worked herself to exhaustion to take care of the family, and without much help from her husband. Gehrig could never repay her, and he could never stand to disappoint her. He loved his mother with a great passion, he said, but he wondered sometimes if that devotion would keep him from ever loving anyone else."

    Finally, in 1932, he met Eleanor Grace Twitchell. She seems to have had a good deal more experience of life (and presumably love) than he, and was in danger of becoming "an aging flapper," but he fell for her, and a year later they were married, to his mother's considerable unhappiness. There was "an especially explosive chemistry between these two women" that never went away. Eleanor was not the ideal wife, but Gehrig seems to have figured out how to live happily with her, and she with him, and the marriage grew more and more solid -- especially after 1939, when his ALS was diagnosed. In his time of need she was the wife he needed -- strong, supportive, caring for him without babying him -- and after his death she kept the flame burning. She wrote a popular book about her life with him and "played a powerful role behind the scenes" while the poignant movie about him, "Pride of the Yankees," was written and filmed.

    That Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth played on the same team for fully a decade, usually batting one behind the other, is one of the genuinely amazing facts, or oddities, in American sports history. If two other players of comparable stature did the same in baseball or any other sport, they do not come readily to mind. The two men were friendly but never close, fell out for a while -- Eig raises the possibility that the priapic Babe may have fooled around with Eleanor -- but were friends again as Gehrig's end drew near. More than Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson or anyone else, they defined the New York Yankees for the entire nation, and thus played roles in American culture at least as large as those they played on the diamond.
    Copyright 2005, The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved.


    Customer Reviews

    Awesome5
    service was excellent. and i am so glad
    i have this book. price exceptional.
    go to Cooperstown and compare price.
    this was a bargain. and i received it
    quickly...
    thanks.

    even a sox fan recommends5
    I read this book while in middle school and it inspired me. Yes even a Red Sox fan enjoyed this book. This is not a book about a Yankee or baseball but a story about an amazing person.

    An outstanding biography5
    Author Jonathan Eig has written a fantastic character study of New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig, a shy, Momma's boy who always followed the rules and didn't want to let anyone down. A proud man, Gehrig always handled himself with class. He had few equals on or off the field.

    Eig paints a sensitive portrait of Gehrig while discussing his relationships with his mother, his wife, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and his other teammates as well as Yankees management.

    Never considered colorful enough to merit the press' attention, Gehrig played in the shadows of Ruth and DiMaggio.

    Thanks to locating letters between Gehrig and his physicians at the Mayo Clinic, Eig is able to shed light on the relationship the Yankee great had with his physicians, what the doctors told him about his disease (ALS) and how he handled it.

    After reading Eig's biography, you'll have a deeper understanding of Gehrig, the man, and a better appreciation of Gehrig, the baseball player.

    Price: $10.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันอาทิตย์ที่ 15 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All

    A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All

    A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All

    It was an epiphany: The moment two friends showed Luke Dempsey a small bird flitting around the bushes of his country garden, he fell madly in love. But did he really want to be a birder? Didn’t that mean he’d be forced to eat granola? And wear a man-pouch? Before he knew it, though, he was lost to birding mania. Early mornings in Central Park gave way to weekend mornings wandering around Pennsylvania, which morphed into weeklong trips to Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Florida—anywhere the birds were.A Supremely Bad Idea is one man’s account of an epic journey around America, all in search of the rarest and most beautiful birds the country has to offer. But the birds are only part of it. There are also his crazy companions, Don and Donna Graffiti, who obsess over Dempsey’s culinary limitations and watch in horror as an innocent comment in a store in Arizona almost turns into an international incident; as a trip through wild Florida turns into a series of (sometimes poetic) fisticuffs; and as he teeters at the summit of the Rocky Mountains, a displaced Brit falling in love all over again, this time with his adopted country.Both a paean to avian beauty and a memoir of the back roads of America, A Supremely Bad Idea is a supremely fun comic romp: an environmentally sound This Is Spinal Tap with binoculars.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #52044 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-07-22
  • Released on: 2008-07-22
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 272 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    Review

    “A gentle, contemplative memoir punctuated by frequent bursts of hilarity and weirdness. At some points, the book reads like a cross between Bill Bryson and Dave Barry (or perhaps Patrick McManus), and that’s a very good thing, indeed.”   —Booklist

    “Luke Dempsey’s narrative, as witty and intelligent as vintage Bill Bryson, moves along at a brisk and sometimes breathless pace.  His enthusiastic appreciation of the beauty of the moment makes for compelling reading.”   —Natural History

    “Riotously funny, utterly enthralling.”   —Minneapolis Star Tribune

    “Dempsey succeeds where few authors do.  He masterfully shows how a few chance encounters can transform a seemingly normal guy (or gal) into someone obsessed with birds.  Dempsey chronicles a series of adventures and misadventures that perhaps better capture what birding means in 2008 than any other book.  His success might stem from his ability to seamlessly intertwine history and social book.”  —WildBird magazine

    "Luke Dempsey... has written an engaging story about his introduction to this “quietly heroic” society... his enthusiasm for his new friends and new life are winning." New York Times

    About the Author

    Luke Dempsey is the editor in chief of Hudson Street Press, a division of Penguin USA. He lives in New York City. This is his first book.


    Customer Reviews

    Add to your list of must-reads5
    He had me at chapter one. It's hard to believe this is Luke Dempsey's first book, and I can't wait for another! Luke is heartwarming and irreverent at nearly the same time. Thank you. Please keep writing.

    Uproariously funny story of an avian obsession5
    I will admit it upfront: I too am a birder. Even though I am a birder, this book has great appeal to anyone, even those who can't tell a heron from a sparrow. There seems to be a sub genre of books that could be described as "memoirs of birders and their antics that entertain and educate." "A Supremely Bad Idea" can sit proudly with such books as "The Big Year" and "Kingbird Highway."

    Luke Dempsey never really paid birds all that much attention. Born in England, he took on work in New York City in the publishing world. He started out as one who might not have been able to tell a heron from a sparrow, but met his friends the Graffitis and extended the fateful invitation to visit him at his weekend home in Pennsylvania. Don and Donna took him for a walk through the acreage he owned, acreage they couldn't believe he wasn't properly appreciating. Handing him binoculars and pointing out a small Common Yellowthroat, his love affair with birds began.

    The book recounts their adventures planning trips over the years to try and add to their life lists. The Graffitis already had an impressive life list, but they felt compelled to make sure Luke expanded his. Trips to the the Arizona border, the boreal forests of Michigan and the Pacific Northwest become missions to seek out the rarest of birds to add to Luke's list.

    Throughout their adventures, he paints his friends with a mix of love and quirkiness, admitting perhaps some of his own. At times, usually when he heads out to bird alone, he reflects on his own state of affairs at that moment in time. Any of us who seek out nature as balm can immediately relate to these small digressions, which serve to show that although his passion has its own peculiar quirks, it also gives him space to reflect.

    Will they find the Elegant Trogon? Will Don ever understand whether Luke likes tomatoes or not? Read on to find out, and prepare to enjoy the ride through the life of a birder swept away by the pursuit of feathery happiness.

    Just supremely bad1
    This is not a book for or about birders. It's a boring, and eventually an annoying, account of the British author's type AAA personality and his contempt for the American people- also for the elderly, the obese, the Welsh, and virtually anyone else he names- birding becomes a pretext. Added to that is the fact that the author is a guest worker in the USA, so that he passes beyond the usual 'acceptable-to them' liberal left-wing screed and comes across as totally churlish. Skip this dog and buy a for-real book about birding: this guy actually doesn't know much about it.

    Price: $16.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันศุกร์ที่ 13 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    The Art of Racing in the Rain

    The Art of Racing in the Rain

    The Art of Racing in the Rain

    Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

    Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

    On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

    A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #253 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-05-01
  • Released on: 2008-05-13
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 336 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    From Publishers Weekly
    If you've ever wondered what your dog is thinking, Stein's third novel offers an answer. Enzo is a lab terrier mix plucked from a farm outside Seattle to ride shotgun with race car driver Denny Swift as he pursues success on the track and off. Denny meets and marries Eve, has a daughter, Zoë, and risks his savings and his life to make it on the professional racing circuit. Enzo, frustrated by his inability to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs, watches Denny's old racing videos, coins koanlike aphorisms that apply to both driving and life, and hopes for the day when his life as a dog will be over and he can be reborn a man. When Denny hits an extended rough patch, Enzo remains his most steadfast if silent supporter. Enzo is a reliable companion and a likable enough narrator, though the string of Denny's bad luck stories strains believability. Much like Denny, however, Stein is able to salvage some dignity from the over-the-top drama. (May)
    Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Review
    "Enzo ultimately teaches Denny and the reader that persistence and joie de vivre will see them through to the checkered flag. Stein...creates a patient, wise, and doggish narrator that is more than just fluff and collar. This should appeal to fans of both dogs and car racing." -- Library Journal

    About the Author

    The author of two novels, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets and Raven Stole the Moon, and a play, Brother Jones, Garth Stein has also worked as a documentary filmmaker. He lives in Seattle with his family.


    Customer Reviews

    A joy to read5
    Nothing complicated. Just pure and heartwarming. Can't escape the lump in your throat. Carla La Quinta, CA

    PURCHASE OF USED HARD COVER BOOK5
    The book "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein was purchased as a used hard copy. I am very pleased with the prompt delivery and the book's condition was perfect, like new. Thank you very much.

    Art of Racing in the Rain, The5
    Fascinating book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. The author's portrayal from the dogs perspective was intriguing. It made me look at my own dog in a new light. Highly recommended.

    Price: $16.29 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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    วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 12 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL

    A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL

    A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL

    Drawing on rare access to an NFL team’s players, coaches and facilities, the author of The New York Times bestseller Word Freak trains to become a professional-caliber placekicker. As he sharpens his skills, he gains surprising insight into the daunting challenges—physical, psychological, and intellectual—that pro athletes must master

    In Word Freak, Stefan Fatsis infiltrated the insular world of competitive Scrabble® players, ultimately achieving “expert” status (comparable to a grandmaster ranking in chess). Now he infiltrates a strikingly different subculture—pro football. After more than a year spent working out with a strength coach and polishing his craft with a gurulike kicking coach, Fatsis molded his fortyish body into one that could stand up—barely—to the rigors of NFL training. And over three months in 2006, he became a Denver Bronco. He trained with the team and lived with the players. He was given a locker and uniforms emblazoned with #9. He was expected to perform all the drills and regimens required of other kickers. He was unlike his teammates in some ways—most notably, his livelihood was not on the line as theirs was. But he became remarkably like them in many ways: He risked crippling injury just as they did, he endured the hazing that befalls all rookies, he gorged on 4,000 daily calories, he slogged through two-a-day practices in blistering heat. Not since George Plimpton’s stint as a Detroit Lion more than forty years ago has a writer tunneled so deeply into the NFL.

    At first, the players tolerated Fatsis, or treated him like a mascot, but over time they began to think of him as one of them. And he began to think like one of them. Like the other Broncos—like all elite athletes—he learned to perfect a motion through thousands of repetitions, to play through pain, to silence the crowd’s roar, to banish self-doubt.

    While Fatsis honed his mind and drove his body past exhaustion, he communed with every classic athletic type—the affable alpha male, the overpaid brat, the youthful phenom, the savvy veteran—and a welter of bracingly atypical players as well: a fullback who invokes Aristotle, a quarterback who embraces yoga, a tight end who takes creative writing classes in the off-season. Fatsis also witnessed the hidden machinery of a top-flight football franchise, from the God-is-in-the-details strategizing of legendary coach Mike Shanahan to the icy calculation with which the front office makes or breaks careers.

    With wry candor and hard-won empathy, A Few Seconds of Panic unveils the mind of the modern pro athlete and the workings of a storied sports franchise as no book ever has before.

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #11064 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-07-03
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 352 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    From Publishers Weekly
    Starred Review. Fatsis (Word Freak) is dwarfed by any of the NFL athletes who put their bodies on the line each Sunday. But that doesn't stop him from asking to attend the Denver Broncos' training camp in hopes of learning one very specific athletic skill—that is, placekicking—and not to become an NFL-caliber kicker, but to become a credible one. Fatsis is treated like any rookie, from having to sing his alma mater's fight song minutes after stepping into the locker room to carrying the team's duffel bags and bunking in the hotel with all the other rookies. But his vibrant enthusiasm for improving his kicking ability helps his Bronco teammates accept him as one of their own. With that, the reader gets a glimpse of the true NFL, in the tradition of George Plimpton's Paper Lion. We see the crippling injuries that are kept secret for fear of losing playing time; the heartbreak of standing on the sidelines in camp, just aching to prove one's worth; the tears that come when the NFL dream could be over. Fatsis, too, has his own personal highs and lows through camp, enduring the long days, the trainer's visits and the sting of failure in front of coaches and players. It's an incredibly fascinating read for football fans, squashing the notion that the life of an NFL player is always glamorous. (July)
    Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    From The Washington Post

    Stefan Fatsis, who has covered sports for the Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio, spent the summer of 2006 training as a place kicker with the Denver Broncos. He's allowed to stand on the sidelines for the first pre-season game (but not play), and he melts with childish glee when he sees his locker: "The letters of my last name are stitched individually and perfectly onto the back of an authentic NFL jersey . . . ready to be worn on an authentic NFL playing field and read by thousands of authentic NFL fans." Later that season, the Broncos play the New England Patriots, and Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots, sees Fatsis (now back in journalist mode) talking to a group of Denver players. "So are you a Broncos fan now?" Kraft jabs. "No," replies the author, "I'm a Bronco."

    Well, no. He's not a Bronco, and his own reporting shows why. No matter how often Fatsis practices with the team, no matter how many strained calves, sore hips and aching knees he endures, he still has a life outside of football. He can't be cut; he can't be deprived of his identity and income by a coaching staff that seems inspired by the Soviet gulag. Hey, I sympathize with the author's dreamy self-glorification. Like all washed-up jocks, I have my fantasies (returning to the Little League in Bayonne, N.J., where I hit well under .200, and blasting one -- just one -- home run). But you can't just pull on a player's cleats and become a pro athlete; you have to feel the fear of taking them off.

    Still, give the guy credit. When George Plimpton attended an NFL camp in 1963 and wrote his famous account of that experience, Paper Lion, he was more observer than participant. Fatsis worked hard to become a passable place kicker, and because he shared their training camp regimen -- the pain and pressure, brutality and boredom -- he won the confidence of his teammates. That intimacy produces some candid insights, particularly about the marginal players, the walk-ons and spear-carriers in the NFL's "moneymaking machine," as one Bronco calls it. In fact, the author's physical shortcomings endear him to these very large but very human characters. One day, coach Mike Shanahan announces that if Fatsis can make a field goal from 35 yards, practice will end early. When he misses badly -- twice -- he thinks his chance "to validate my presence here" has been lost. But the opposite happens. Pro players believe that sportswriters never understand how hard their job really is, and once Fatsis fails, they think he finally gets it.

    The magic number threading through these pages is 53. That's how many roster spots are allotted to each NFL team, and with more than 90 players in camp, and thousands more clamoring at the gates, the chances of any one player making the grade are quite small. That's true in all pro sports, but the stress level in football is higher for two reasons: The risk of injury is much greater, and few contracts are guaranteed. You're off the payroll as soon as an old ligament betrays you, or a new linebacker outruns you.

    This means that teammates are forced to root against each other. When Todd Sauerbrun, the incumbent punter, jeers at a youngster trying to replace him, a coach cracks, "Attaway to pump air in his tires, Todd." Sauerbrun spits back, "I'm here to slash his tires." Players hide injuries, knowing that any sign of weakness could mean their demise: "Obviously it's illogical. But players believe they can overcome pain more easily than they can a coach's perception. So they avoid treatment and suck it up." Jason Elam, the team's star kicker, sums up life for even the best NFL players: "You are a replaceable part. It's just that unknown. What are they thinking and how long am I going to be here?" One of the author's closest friends, P.J. Alexander, is cut on the last day of camp. "Before I can say good-bye, P.J. is behind the wheel of his Lincoln Navigator," Fatsis writes. "I knock on the tinted window. He rolls it down and I see him crying."

    Fatsis might not be a real Bronco, but he's a real sportswriter, and this book tells you what brings real Broncos to tears.

    Steven V. Roberts is a professor

    of politics and journalism at

    George Washington University and author of "My Fathers' Houses,"

    a childhood memoir.


    Copyright 2008, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

    About the Author
    Stefan Fatsis is The New York Times bestselling author of Word Freak. He is a sports reporter for The Wall Street Journal and a regular guest on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered.


    Customer Reviews

    Fatsis fun for football fans4
    Fatsis is living out a midlife fantasy, getting a chance to play in the NFL. He's a sports reporter and manages to talk the Denver Broncos into letting him attend training camp and preseason games as a player. As a soccer player, he's enough of an athlete to be able to learn the mechanics of kicking. He ends up being physically able to handle 45-yard field goals, though he never masters the mental side of the kicking game.

    The book interweaves Fatsis' own story and a variety of themes. The main arc of the book takes him from trying to find a team, learning the art of placekicking, training camp, and the preseason. He uses his own story as a point of departure for talking about NFL life in general, from salary caps to playing hurt. Throughout, Fatsis retains a gee-whiz, fan's view of the league, perhaps a bit longer than I would have liked.

    Unlike "Word Freak," his previous book on Scrabble, this book never quite transcends the sport. I think you have to be a football fan to enjoy it -- but if you like football, you'll like this book.

    Fun as the book is, my final impressions remain the inhumanity of the football business. Remarkably, as Fatsis repeatedly notes, the Broncos have a well-deserved reputation as being a good team to work for, classy and professional. I can only imagine the horror of working for a bad organization.

    A few feet over the crossbar4
    I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, and as the 2008 NFL season is winding down, it provided an interesting look at a team that year in and year out is in the thick of the playoff race - the Denver Broncos. Fatsis does a great job touching on a number of different subjects including kicker subculture, coaching approaches to game preparation and roster cuts, the NFL as a bureaucracy, and players who go largely unnoticed from city to city, filling in for injured players and making the league minimum's salary on various practice squads. As a football fan, gaining a better understanding of the off-season, training camp, and the preseason from someone almost entirely on the inside was well worth the time on this page-turner.

    The book is a lot about the mechanics and psychology behind kicking, and as an often-overlooked part of football, that's fine. But while Fatsis seemed to assimilate well with Denver's coaching staff, kickers, Quarterbacks, and a handful of other various position players, much of the book focuses on players toward the bottom of the depth chart who don't even make the 53-man roster. His book relied too heavily on a small group of players, leaving me feeling like there were many other personalities and stories that he either left out or did not have access to despite his presence being casually accepted by the majority of the Broncos organization.

    This is a story of a 43-year old who becomes a member of a professional team as an experiment, and much credit to Mr. Fatsis for pulling that off in a league that is incredibly controlling of its media exposure. But it is also a story largely about the journeymen of the NFL, as Fatsis tries to uncover why these players, many of whom are injured, neglected by the coaching staff, or unlikely to ever find a steady job playing professional football, still show up to fight for roster spots. I would have liked to see more about the players with more job security (non-kickers) and gotten more of a glimpse into the preparation they go through year after year and what their impressions of the game, league, and team were.

    Definitely a great piece of writing and Fatsis' story in this book is just as interesting as that of any of the players.

    football freak4
    Fatsis is one of my favorite sports journalists. His writing for the WSJ and his commentaries for NPR about the industry of sports are always smart and informative. I loved his last book, Word Freak, which even got me to play scrabble again. In his latest book Fatsis tells the story of joining the Denver Broncos as "rookie" field goal kicker during training camp. We get an insider account of the often brutal business of the NFL, a sub-culture largely closed to outsiders despite the fact that teams play in front of millions each Sunday. Grade: B+

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    วันพุธที่ 11 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

    DEER HUNTING 101: The Beginner's Guide to Deer Hunting

    DEER HUNTING 101: The Beginner's Guide to Deer Hunting

    DEER HUNTING 101: The Beginner's Guide to Deer Hunting

    From choosing a weapon to placing the meat on your plate, this book covers every basic element of deer hunting that you should need to be successful in your endeavors. The author has chosen select portions of his hunting regime to share with the reader so they too will have the tools necessary to partake in the fruits of their labor. This book contains enough essential information to become a permanent fixture in the back pockets of every hunter regardless of their skill level, and as indicated by the men who have endorsed it as just that - should be.(Book endorsed by David Hale of "Knight and Hale Game Calls" and Jim Shockey of "Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures")

    Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #180355 in Books
  • Published on: 2006-05-30
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 172 pages



  • Editorial Reviews

    About the Author
    An Indiana native, author Dave Pruet is definitely an avid hunter, but there is a lot more to him than just that. He is also a Christian, Husband, Father, Son, Friend, Widower, Business Owner, Author, Professional Musician, GriefCare Counselor, Sunday School Teacher, Percussion Instructor, Trap/Skeet competitor, Soccer Referee, Sports Trainer, Youth Group Leader, Licensed Taxidermist, Soccer Dad, Dance Dad, HS Band Booster, Fisherman, MADD lifetime member and spokesperson, Adult Education Leader, and a 'Green Bay Packers' NFL football team stockholder. Dave and his wife Donna, have two teen-aged children, Kayla and Kevin. Dave is one of 3 siblings born to parents from Rushville, Indiana and grew up in the booming college town of Bloomington, Indiana - home of the Indiana University Hurryin' Hoosiers. He holds separate degrees in Architecture; Business Management/Marketing, and although he works for a company full-time, he also owns and operates his own Drum Studio where he sells equipment and provides private drum lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. Dave, as previously mentioned, Co-Founded the Monroe County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) after his 26 year old wife Tina, and 5 year old son Eddie, were both senselessly killed by the irresponsible negligence of a drunk driver in August of 1989. Currently, he is completing a book titled, "Standing In The Rain", which depicts the tragic events he has endured throughout his life. This book is due for release in the Fall of 2010. Dave has achieved many goals in his own life, but his new-found passion is writing. With his writings, Dave hopes to be able to help those that are unaware of certain areas of life that he has experienced, and alleviate them any unnecessary steps to reach specific goals of their own. Dave's books are written for the use of learning; healing; and moving forward in life, and can be found at his online website: www.booksbydave.com where you may purchase them for yours


    Customer Reviews

    Good beginer book4
    This is a book for the novice that touches on things without going into great detail (see the negative review about moon phases mentioned but not discused in detail). I read the book as a new hunter and I believe I got a doe partly because of this book. If you have read alot of books on hunting, you will not find anything new. But if you PLAN to read alot of books on hunting, or just read one, this is not a bad place to start.

    Great Book - ENDORSED BY THE BEST5
    All books have good and bad reviews and if they dont, it is only a matter of time before they do. One of the reviews on this site is unfavorable - that is unfortunate, but it also tells us that this review is unresearched and comes from an individual who does not understand the value of such material as 'Deer Hunting 101'. All I can say is that when I look to purchase a 'how to' book, I look to see if it is endorsed. 'Deer Hunting 101' has been endorsed by two of the biggest names in the Deer Hunting industry - if it werent up to snuff, I doubt these two men would have put their names on it. Give it a try - you too can join the vast amount of deer hunters who have been successful as a result of this book. Thank you for your interest and good hunting!

    Not what it claims1
    2008 was my first year trying deer hunting, and I hoped this book would give me some additional knowledge to supplement what I had learned from friends and other sources. Instead this book proselytizes - apparently only God-fearin' people can successfully hunt deer. Much in the way of snide remarks, not so much in the way of education. An example, the author refers to the importance of the phase of the moon... but never actually mentions which phases are best, or anything else at all about moon phases.

    Avoid this book if you are interested in entering the world of deer hunting. I wish I had avoided it. Not even worth being given away free.

    To all reading the reviews - good luck in your next hunt!

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