Games Books


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Games Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Games
Smithsonian Baseball: Inside the World's Finest Private Collections
Published in Hardcover by Collins (2005-10-01)
Author: Stephen Wong
List price: $29.95
New price: $45.92
Used price: $6.50

Average review score:

Smithsonian Baseball
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-08
A very well done book. Big glossy pictures of some of the greatest Baseball artifacts in America. Probably the closest I will get to seeing these in person.

1 picture is worth...........
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-04
As a lover of the old days of baseball (prior to the 1970's) , and with an interest in various types of artifacts pertaining to the old days, this book wonderfully broadened my horizons. The sections on baseball cards was especially fascinating for me as i do some collecting to add to some as i had as a kid (50's-60's).
would recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the old days of baseball or collects baseball memorabilia.

The Ultimate Coffee-Table Book
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-11
This beautiful book belongs in every baseball enthusiast's library, but it would be a mistake to keep it on the shelves. Author Stephen Wong has partnered with the Smithsonian to publish the most stunning book on baseball on the market. It deserves to be on your coffee table not only because of its wonderful photographs but also due to the wonderfully rich way he presents the history of the game. Wong gained remarkable access to the sport's foremost collectors, combing through hundreds of images and memorabilia items. The payoff is tremendous for anyone with an interest in baseball or, for that matter, in American history and culture. Readers will learn the essential facts about the game, and the fascinating tidbits, such as the origins of the curve ball. They then get to see remarkable shots, some most unusual - from folk art statues to Don Larsen's enshrined shoes from his perfect game to the bricks of former stadiums. In fact, this book should be placed in the Hall of Fame!

Smiothsonian Baseball
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-12
I purchased this as a gift and the recipient was thrilled with it. I did sneak a peak before giving it away and enjoyed it immencely.

Yes, It's Beautiful, but It's Smart, Too
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-01
Stephen Wong has created a drop-dead gorgeous look at some of the game's great artifacts, and many will be surprised to learn that they are not at the Baseball Hall of Fame nor even at the Smithsonian (despite the book's title). The game's artifacts extend way beyond the cards and gimcrack collectibles sold at the ballpark, and Wong has deftly toggled his focus from collectible to collector and back again, providing a memorable prose portrait of the lively game played off the field. I cannot recommend this brilliantly conceived book highly enough.

Games
Storm of Iron (Warhammer 40,000 Novel)
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Games Workshop (2008-05-20)
Author: Graham McNeill
List price: $7.99
New price: $3.63
Used price: $4.30

Average review score:

Chaos wins?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-11
One of the first Warhammer 40, 0000 novels I've read that details how Chaos operates. Through out the book there is a fine line between who wins an epic battle for the most prized possession of Mankind.

O.k.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-23
Good book but you probably want to read it BEFORE Dead Sky, Black Sun of the Ultramarines series unless you like knowing the ending before you get there.

The ultimate Warhammer 40,000 "There is only WAR!" Novel
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-12
When I think of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, this is exactly the kind of thing that comes to mind. Epic warfare, tactically described with excellent imagery. This book, as with all good WH40K stories, starts small but evolves into a massively pivotal event that manages to stamp the universe's rich history in a completely remarkable way. This book does not fail to deliver. This book reminds me that Warhammer 40,000 is a slowly disintegrating universe in its very tortured and unstoppable death throes.

In WH40K there are no happy endings. There is only death, struggle, torment, and war.

Imperium vs The Iron Warriors
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-12
This book tells the story of a remote planet hiding a long-forgotten secret defended by the armies of the Imperium and besieged by the Chaos Space Marines of the Iron Warriors chapter.

For the most part the story rushes along at breakneck speed from one huge battle to another as McNeill captures the epic conflict from perspective of the grunt in the trenches to the generals at the lofty heights of command. From the many excellent battle scenes painted in the narrative to the authentic siege tactics (the Iron Warriors' speciality), this book truly brings to life the war-torn age of Warhammer 40,000 and leaves you guessing as the ending approaches if - for the first time in a WH40K book - will the bad guys win?

From a Fantasy fan who admittedly knows little about Warhammer 40k...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-24
I'll start by being honest...I'm not really all that familiar with this genre. I'm a huge fantasy fan, and have read every Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, etc novel. That being said, I'm running out of material, and that is why I've branched into Warhammer 40k.

To make a long story short, I don't regret that decision whatsoever. This is just the second Warhammer 40k book I've read, and both of them were tremendously awesome, 5 out of 5 stars easy. *The other one I read was Grey Knights, in case you were wondering*.

Why I liked the book: One, it was very well written. The grammar was well constructed and I could read it very quickly and fluidly. Another is that there was literally never a dull moment, not once did I ever get bored while reading this book. The book transitioned from Chaos to Imperium and back quite often, each never overstaying their welcome before it transitioned to the next and back again. Also, the characters were all extremely interesting, each one different in their own right yet tied together to influence the novel in one way or another. Another reason is that you didn't have to be a Warhammer 40k expert to understand what the author was referring to, which is great for someone that isn't hardcore into the genre, only once did I actually have to Google an answer to a question. *to understand what a gene seed was* Last but not least, coming from a Fantasy background where characters can often seem to be invulnerable and live forever, it was nice to know that no character could be given immunity from a cruel and violent end, sometimes unexpectedly. There was one other great quality about this novel, but to mention it would be a spoiler. Suffice to say, the book is well worth reading by anybody even remotely interested in Science Fiction.

Games
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Rulebook (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay)
Published in Hardcover by Black Industries (2005-03-29)
Author: Chris Pramas
List price: $39.95
New price: $26.37
Used price: $26.00

Average review score:

Great Game!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-05
This is a great game and a good break from D&D. The flavor is gritty and dark. The fact that characters advance through careers is more logical than D&D. All and all a good buy and fun to play.

Nice Paper and Pencil RPG
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-23
As an avid AD&D player, that has also sampled other RPGs with friends, I enjoy Warhammer immensely. This is a concise core book that is great for players and DMs alike. Being used to a D&D type of world, it's hard to get used to the idea that magic is ultra rare and frowned upon due to Chaos. But, that's a great twist with this game. Those of you looking for a difference RPG system to try, I'd highly recommend this one. The core book is a must of course. ;)

Other Books
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-03
A Fantasy role playing game from those whacky guys that made Warhammer 40K. As a consequence, this is much grimmer, nastier and dirtier than some of the fantasy roleplaying games out there, so if that is not your thing, and you want a more lighthearted high fantasy type of approach, then do not get this game, you likely will not enjoy it at all.

Great Alternative for Fantasy RPG'ing
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-05
Long-time gamers searching for a change of pace should definitely take a look at Warhammer Fantasy RPG's unique setting and d10/d100 system. I enjoy it much more than your typical d20 system, and the Old World "low fantasy" setting feels more gritty and realistic than your typical D&D game. You don't have to worry about picking the right class and skills, either; your starting profession, skill set, and gear is a package mostly determined by the dice and you take it from there. Since everything is based on D10 and percentage rolls, it's easy to determine your character's limitations and strengths. This makes a campaign easy to get started, even for new players that don't know all the rules since game play is very intuitive and moves along smoothly. Experienced GM's- give this one a try. Fun alternative to your d20 games, and it's also a great way to introduce new players to RPG's. The book itself is very high-quality and gorgeous. There's enough information here to put together a variety of campaigns and there's so many careers and paths to take your characters that you'll never be at a loss for something new.

Better than ever
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-23
I was worried when they announced a second edition of the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay rules. Part of the appeal of the WFRP rules is that they are so simple, and I feared fiddling could only make things more complicated. But now, having played several sessions with the new rules, I can honestly say that the changes were a great improvement. They managed to keep the simplicity that encourages role-play over power-gaming while cleaning up some of the more clumsy elements (the magic system is a notable improvement). The same career system is in place, but the careers choices have been balanced well enough that there's a good reason to choose any of them, unlike the old rules where some few careers were hardly worth considering.

Someone who has never played before and doesn't know the rules could have an entire character rolled up and ready to play in as little as 30 minutes. The entire process is die rolls, so you don't have to make decisions that require knowing the rulebook, like when you have to choose skills or spells in other games.

The history of the world is quote a bit lighter than in the previous rulebook, and in my opinion easier to read. Where previously even though it was interesting it was pretty dense and dry, but the history has been rewritten now to be a bit more interesting and relevant for the players.

They've removed a few things that used to be included, for instance in the back of the book there used to be maps and images of common buildings but that has been moved to a supplementary book (the Game Master's screen, I believe). That's unfortunate but I can live with it.

If you're used to playing with more complicated rules, like d20, Rifts, GURPS or similar, I highly recommend trying out the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay system. See what it's like not having to worry whether your mace does more damage than your longsword. In WFRP the story and the lives of the players are the focus, instead of the rules. Less "roll-play" and more "role-play".

Games
The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer
Published in Paperback by International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press (1999-07-19)
Author: Bobby Clark
List price: $16.95
New price: $6.97
Used price: $1.48

Average review score:

Highly recommended
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-26
I was volunteered to coach soccer for older kids. I highly recommend this book if you find yourself in the same position.

The author's recommendations about coaching and drills made the season a complete success.

Helpful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-12
I bought this for my daughter who volunteered to be Soccer Coach for the first time. I say she wanted to do it but perhaps was more stong armed into doing it. She found it helpful.

Great Book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-12
I'm a second year coach with very limited playing experience. I played soccer during elementary school but it was essentially mob ball. This book has helped a great deal. It gives great suggestions for organizing practices and the drills, ahem I mean games, are great. The problem, analysis, solution section is also very helpful.

coaching soccer-a baffled parents guide
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-03
The book gave very helpful information. I have never coached anything and it gave helpful insight into giving the best experience I can into my son's 4 yr old soccer team.

Wonderful! Highly Recommended!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-24
This book helped organize my practices and provided ideas for drills that kept my U8 Boys team interested the entire season. I received numerous compliments from parents that their kids enjoyed the variety of "games" (i.e. drills) we played in practice. My team went 11-2 this past season and all my players chose to return for the spring season over baseball and other sports. I honestly feel this book improved my coaching style and played a large part in the success of our team.

Games
C D B!
Published in Paperback by Aladdin (1987-04-02)
Author:
List price: $4.99
New price: $1.72
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

A classic, and a book for everyone
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-02
This is one of my favorite childhood books, so I was thrilled to share it with my daughter. We have both CDB and CDC now, and she loves them (and thinks it's pretty cool that Steig also wrote Shrek!) Besides the fun of sounding out the phrases and the laughs it provides, I think the books are mentally challenging and verbally stimulating for children of all ages. Educational maybe, but so much fun. Who doesn't love the illustrations?

excellent word fun
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-06
Having enjoyed Steig's first such book as an adult, we sent a copy to a budding linguist at college. Upon ordering I was delighted to find this second enjoyable book available. Steig has such delightful images and twists of humor that I could not pass it up. Great fun in drawings and puzzling out the meanings.

C D B
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-27
I have always chuckled at this book, ever since I helped in my children's school library 20 years ago. William Steig has such a clever way of putting letters together and illustrating what he is trying to say. It is interesting to children of all ages.

Great book, but needs the answers
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-24
I ordered this since my sister received it and thought it was a great book. Unfortunately, this copy does not come with the answers. Look for the hard cover version, that has the answers in the back.

CDB
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-27
CDB! (Stories to Go!)

I was very excited to find this book for my grandbaby. We had great fun with it when her aunts were small. Who would have thought back then that William Stieg invented 'text speak'. I even stumped my youngest daughter with NQ!

Games
Cheer!: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders
Published in Hardcover by Touchstone (2008-03-11)
Author: Kate Torgovnick
List price: $24.95
New price: $1.52
Used price: $1.54

Average review score:

Great Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-26
This book is interesting and informative. If you are a cheerleader or not this book will give you an inside look on the SPORT of cheerleading and the work that goes behind the smiles and poms.

VERY engrossing, but the visuals were hard
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-18
I really enjoyed this book and could hardly put it down. The reason I gave it three stars was that I found the written descriptions of the stunts, etc. REALLY hard to picture in my mind's eye, and it was frustrating. Obviously, I am NOT an ex-cheerleader!

So that's what drags my score down. Now, that "faux movie trailer" here on Amazon REALLY helped me envision the moves. It was cool to see the three teams "come to life." It is AMAZING what these true athletes can do.

Great! even this band geek enjoyed this!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-31
Cheer Three Teams on a Quest for College Cheerleading's Ultimate Prize follows three college cheer squads as they work towards their ultimate goal....a national cheer championship. From tryouts to the final competition Kate Torgovnick accompanies the three teams, all girl team from Memphis State, the Stephen F. Austin coed team, and the team from historically black college Southern University. These squads mirror much of the realities on any college athletic program. The big programs, the proven winners, have school funding, scholarships and heavy expectations from alumni as well as themselves. The all girl squad has to scramble and compete with the coed squad to get scholarships, financial backing, their own coaching and respect, even though they are proven winners. Southern University has to raise the money to travel and to find a championship competition to enter, as the stages Black colleges evaporate, despite being a proven crowd draw. Cheerleaders have their own struggles....leaving school to care for an ailing parent, romances, "ringchasing" (transferring from one program to another in hopes of winning a championship ring), balancing work and school, injuries, pregnancies, eating disorders and coaching changes. No matter what, they are expected to bound onto the field with endless enthusiasm and cheer.


I have to admit a bias; I am a band geek, through and through. After growing up in Texas, I swore no child of mine would do either of these two things... cheerleading or football. I forgot to tell my children! During their high school years I developed a healthy respect for the amount of work and athleticism involved in cheer. I also developed a deep dread that still rises in my throat when watching a particularly dangerous stunt or a missed catch. Torgovnick follows each squad throughout their year and is able to show the inner workings of the sport, warts and all. The challenges each program faces seem insurmountable at times. Ultimately it is the individuals behind the smiles that carry the squad. She treats the participants with respect and steps back just enough to be honest. Cheer was an unexpected good read.

Everything that non-fiction should be
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-27
What do you really know about cheerleading? Not the silly dance-stepping of Lakers girls, but competitive cheerleading, where extreme athletes fight to get into the colleges with the best teams, and train obsessively to compete in National Championships, where trained gymnasts are thrown thirty feet into the air with only the hope that their partner will catch them before they hit the ground. Kate Torgovnick has done a fascinating job of reporting, and this book will open your eyes to a whole new sport.

Critique of Cheer!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-19
In the Authors Note to CHEER!, Kate Torgovnick writes that "I wanted to fell the story of competitive cheerleading." MS. Torgovnick thus informs the reader that hers is to be a non-fiction journalistic endeaver. Kate reinforces this understanding between writer and reader by thanking her high school teacher for making Kate the journalist that she is today.
"Journalism" is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as "[t]he style of writing characteristic of material in newspapers and magazines, consisting of direct presentation of facts or occurrences with little attempt at analysis or interpretation." Think: Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Joe "Nothing-But-The-Facts" Friday; "fly-on-the-wall" reporting.
When Ms. Torgovnick decides to be a journalist, her writing is nothing short of phenomenal. She has an uncanny ability to create images, most notably of people, by the use of unique vocabulary. Her blondes are not the trite and overused "platinum", her large men not "Hercules". The descriptions were all fresh. Kate also has a remarkable talent for conveying emotions simply and efficiently. For instance, when Southern University Coach James is pounding that floor a this teams' final performance, I'm right there with him, ecstatic for both him and his team. (To be honest, I found myself crying?!?) Ms. Torgovnick has a deft ear for conversations. I believe them to be accurate in their retelling. Finally, MS. Torgovnick is a very good interviewer. She asks short, simple, and intelligent questions that compel mor than a "yes" or "no", and then gets out of the way and lets the answers flow.
And for 95% of the book, Kate decides to be a journalist. The book only veers from perfection when Kate occasionally abandons journalist and either (1) becomes an opinionist, or, even worse, (2) becomes part of the story.
As an example of the first cited offense, I offer up the writing on page 64. On her first trip to Stephen F. Austin University, Kate met Coach Brad. On her second trip she learned that Coach Brad had quit to take another job out of state. When discussing the resignation of SFA Coach Brad, team member Kali Seitzer says that she is not good with change. Kate responded "Neither am I. What had seemed like a sure-win year just a few months ago now seems like a gamble." These sentences cause real problems for Kate. First, as a reader I've got to ask: Who cares what Kate thinks? Nobody ever cares what the fly thinks. Just report the facts, i.e. what the team members think! Second, as a reader I've got to be annoyed with Kate: It is awfully presumptuous of her to think that in a few short weeks of watching only three squads she feels capable of assessing a team's chances in nationals when she obviously has no real experience in the field and she has not seen the many other squads. Third, as a reader I've got to ask: On what basis are you making this proclamation? You are a journalist - present me the facts to support your conclusion. But of course, she didn't provide any factual support for her claim.
A fantastic journalistic opportunity on the issue of safety training is lost when Ms Torgovnick merely notes her distaste with the training (page 66), rather than delve into the issue and develop the problem and the proposed cure.
Kate asks what I consider to be a brilliant question regarding steroid, to wit - "I wonder if performance enhancer use could be a side effect of so many coaches right out of college rather than the absolute "adults" who coach other sports?", but then fails to put back on her journalistic cap and do some research and develop the argument. Especially in this testosterone-drenched era, when every participants in cycling to beach volleyball is suspect, Ms. Torgovnicj had, but dropped, the opportunity to blow this subject wide open in the world of cheerleading.
My advice is to either keep your opinions to yourself or make them, but then follow them up with journalistic investigation and reporting.
The other glaring error was in Kate's becoming a character in her story rather than an outside observer. She admits as much on page 85 when, reporting about Southern U's teak prayer for victory the following day, kate writes "...I am no longer just observing. I am a part of the circle holding hands with the team, my head bowed too....All I want in this moment is for them to win tomorrow."
In my humble opinion, Kate, as merely a chronicler of events, should have "no dog in this race."
There was one point in the book that absolutely enraged me; that caused me to want to hurl the book into the roaring fireplace. At pages 140-141, when writing about the feeling of a Southern U. cheerleader from New Orleans whose family was impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Kate wrote "...While the situation in New Orleans got worse, the government seemingly turning its back on rescue efforts because the grand majority of the people remaining in the city were black." This Liberal canard is demonstrably untrue, and the publication of it unfortunately establishes Ms. Torgovnick's ignorance and liberal bias.
I have a small quibble regarding the physical stunts. Although each stunt was adequately described in words, both in the text and in a Dictionary at the back of the book, I still wanted either a picture (or series of pictures" of each stunt, or at the minimum a drawing or graphic.
Finally, I found one spelling error and one grammatical error. This is surprising to see considering the publisher is the well respected Simon and Shuster. An editor is supposed to cover your back, not stab it.
While I seem to have spent the vast majority of this review picking apart this book, it is not really the case. I consider this book to be a major tour de force and the author to be an up and coming star in the field of Modern American Journalism.
So only two questions remain -
(1) What is next for Ms. Torgovnick? I can't believe that Kate wants at the end of her career to be known as the Queen of the cheerleading literature genre. Hopefully she has aspirations that far exceed in seriousness the world of cheerleading. The world of politics beckons Kate to next turn her guns.
(2) Can Ms. Torgovnick grow? Can she attain wisdom in correlation to her biological clock? One does not ordinarily expect such from an "Ivy League" alumna from New York City, but Kate is no ordinary liberal. Kate's May 2006 JANE article, "Welcome to Screw U." demonstrates that she DOES get it, that she is capable of mature (i.e. conservative) thought.
I'm a big fan and I'm look forward to future books!
***Full disclosure: I am Ms Torgovnick's oldest first cousin. Her father and my mother are brother and sister.***
BTW - LCLM - "Land clean, land mean"

Games
Children Just Like Me
Published in Hardcover by DK CHILDREN (1995-09-09)
Authors: Anabel Kindersley and Barnabas Kindersley
List price: $19.99
New price: $8.94
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $19.99

Average review score:

Endless engagement
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-21
My daughters (aged 5 and 7) have loved this book - it has led to long discussions about geography, culture and the ways in which people live. We have written stories about the children in the pictures,and pored over the globe. This book has depth and is an invaluable way of deepening children's engagement and interest in other cultures. We did smile over some minor inaccuracies in the NZ page (not many children in NZ live with their gradnparents!) - but do not hesitate to buy this book for your children and grandchildren. And be prepared for hours of discussion and engagement!

wonderful book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-22
This is a great book. I enjoy it thoroughly, and so does my 4.5 year old daughter. During the Olympics, she has asked for it every night. She loves finding out about the other children and looking at the pictures. It is one of the best multicultural books I have seen. It does not focus on other cultures as historical curiosities or emphasize their differences. Instead, it provides a snapshot of what each child's life is like (parents, home, school, friends, etc.). It shows what is different while emphasizing common everyday life vs. festivals and traditions. It sparks her curiosity (why does that girl paint her face and body, etc.). The book can't begin to answer those questions, but that's what the internet is for.

Very interesting
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-29
My 6 year old loves reading this book. It shows how children around the world dress, live, and play. It is interesting to see what other children like to do for fun, or what they like to eat. It is also teaching her about the different countries around the world.

My daughter's favorite book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-03
This awesome book shows children around the world and what their everyday life is like (homes, schools, families, pets, friends, churches, food). Having a daughter adopted internationally,this book helps us learn more about her birth country and about all the children of the world. We've started giving this as birthday gifts to her friends.

Expanding Awareness
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-21
I hope that all children can someday enjoy this book with their friends and caring adults. It makes real the lives of children all around the world - their hopes, their dreams, their families and their daily routines. It's a delight to see our similarities and a great lesson to learn about our differences. Thank you to the authors and publishers.

Games
Life: The Original Picture Puzzle
Published in Paperback by Life (2007-04-17)
Author: Editors of Life Magazine
List price: $10.99
New price: $4.87
Used price: $2.21

Average review score:

Fun for all!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-30
I have bought all of the picture puzzle books and love giving them for gifts. There is not an age group, gender, or personality type that has not enjoyed them. Great for traveling, waiting rooms, or coffee table. I bought the whole series for my friends 5th grade class room; she "lets the kids play with them as rewards". The kids beg to play! You or the intended receiver of gift will not be disappointed. 100% guarantee A+++++

the orignal picture puzzle(picture puzzle)
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-25
It arrived totaly on time and was in very good form
the book is of high standards and am completely happy with the purchase.

Great time passer
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-05
Bought these for some children who are in the car traveling on a regular basis. Challenges the mind and helps the time pass. Good for all ages.

PICTURE PUZZLE
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-17
I love this PICTURE PUZZLE book. At one time there was a single puzzle in our daily newspaper and, at that time, I mentioned to my husband that there should be a book of these puzzles because they are sooooo much fun. Now I have this one and the previous one that was also published by LIFE. They are not only fun to complete but at my age, 74, they are very good for my brain activity.

Fun, Challenging Puzzle Book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-28
"Life: The Original Picture Puzzle" is the second book to come from the feature in the currently defunct Life Magazine. The book has over ninety puzzles in which readers look at two pictures of the same thing and try to find the differences between the two pictures. A few of the puzzles have six pictures of the same thing and solvers have to find the one puzzle out of the six that has been changed. There are also some new puzzles called "Cut-Ups" in which the editors took a picture, cut it into 4, 6, 9, 12, or 16 pieces and scrambled them up and solvers have to figure out how to unscramble the pieces.

For the most part, "Life: The Original Picture Puzzle" is a fun, challenging book. There are five puzzle levels: Novice, Master, Expert, Genius, and Classic (which features old pictures that once appeared in Life Magazine). The editors do a good job of sorting the puzzles into the appropriate difficulty level. Each puzzle has a suggested amount of time to solve it and a change in this book from the first is a keep score section where you can put a check mark after you've found a change. The answer section should be checked for a couple of reasons even if you find all the changes - for one thing many of the explanations of the changes are humorous. Also, ten of the puzzles have an extra bonus change and the answer section lets you know which puzzles have the additional change. However, in order to find that extra change, you need to go on Life's website to find the answer but I could not find it on the website.

While I enjoyed most of the puzzle book, I did not like the new "Cut-Up" puzzles. The puzzles with four pieces were easy enough, but the more pieces, the harder it was to solve the puzzle just by looking at it. I don't want to ruin the book by cutting up the pictures and copying the pictures isn't all that effective since the pictures are in color.

Outside of the "Cut-Up" puzzles, "Life: The Original Picture Puzzle" is well done.

Games
More Unbeatable Chess for Juniors (Chess)
Published in Paperback by Random House Puzzles & Games (2005-05-10)
Author: Robert M. Snyder
List price: $14.95
New price: $22.51
Used price: $22.06

Average review score:

GREAT LESSONS >>> Using Instructive Games using commentary on every move
Helpful Votes: 103 out of 107 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-31
What to learn how to recognize the most important concepts/patterns and how to plan ahead? "More Unbeatable Chess Lessons" provides 24 complete games that have been tried and tested in actual lessons by one of the most successful chess teachers of all time. This book is most suited for a player who is well beyond the beginning stage (it is more detailed and more advanced than "Logical Chess" by Chernev, and intended as a next book from the same author's best seller "Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors", which is recommended to start out with if you are rated under 1200).

Games are arranged by opening, and there is a nice variety. You can really learn a lot about openings in this book, as the analysis is detailed and deep (some excellent new analysis in a variety of lines). Not that interested in the opening? Well, you can easily skip over some of the long analysis and move right into the middlegame if that is your choice.
Some of the openings with excellent detailed analysis are:
<<< Ruy Lopez, Petrov's Defense, Giuoco Piano, Center Counter, Alekhine's Defense, the Sicilian 2 b3, Pirc/Modern Defense, Queen's Indian and the Benoni >>>

The games were mainly selected to cover important positional and tactical ideas that the author has used in lessons for years. There are a fair number of the author's along with a nice balance of games by other players (i.e. GMs Karpov, Spassky, Korchnoi, Tarjan, Tal, Kalinitchew, Gurgenidze, Chigorin and Ivanchuk). A major difference, besides being designed for more advanced players, over the author's "Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors" is that a lot of the games are newer (some being played after 2000). Together these books cover a massive number of openings and important concepts.

Perhaps understandably, as I have seen in a couple other reviews, the main focus is on openings and middlegames. However, it would be impossible to have too many games going into the endgame using a comment on every move without making the book very massive (and expensive). Though, there are several excellent games with good instruction in the endgame.

I appreciate the care, detail and accuracy that has gone into making this one of the best instructional/game collection books ever written.





TEACHES HOW TO ANALYZE AND PLAN AHEAD - A book for the serious chess student who wants detail and quality
Helpful Votes: 128 out of 128 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-24
If you are looking for a book that will greatly improve your game, and you are a solid chess player, then "More Unbeatable Chess For Juniors" is the answer!
There are a total of twenty four games with nice clear analysis, questions within the games to get you to think and analyze for yourself - and every move is explained.
This book will also help you improve your knowledge of many important openings with some very deep analysis (some games are like an opening book in themselves!). Middlegame strategy and tactics with the general rules being applied and explained is neat.
For a solid player this book is tops to continue to improve. On my Junior High School Team I am the top player rated over 1600 in the USCF (I started off with "Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors" when I was rated about 1000, and a year later got this book with my rating going up to 1300, then improved in a year to 1600). These two books were by far the most helpful in helping me improve the way I analyze and plan ahead.

EVEN AN EXPERT WILL LEARN A LOT FROM THIS BOOK: Clear, Accurate and Comprehensive - top book using games in lesson format
Helpful Votes: 178 out of 180 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-30
Rated as an Expert by the USCF I at first thought, "a book for intermediate and advanced kids could never appeal to an experience adult player". I picked up the book for a couple of kids I have worked with but then started looking it over more carefully. And, soon I was deep into the analysis and games in this book! It isn't just a book for experienced chess kids - the analysis is deep where it needs to be, the analysis is clear and the author has great insight into how to teach. Games used in the author's actual lessons prior to writing the book has made the games and analysis tried and tested. This is one thing that makes this book different from the others that have analysis on a move by move basis (and I have seen about 3 others using this idea). This is the book that follows the author's "Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors", which I have also got ahold of. And, actually though the book covers more basic ideas, it was still helpful to me as well.
Just darn good solid lessons and excellent games for instruction! A very solid FIVE STAR BOOK!

AMAZING ANALYSIS: Quality Lessons Using Instructive Games for the mid-range to very strong player!
Helpful Votes: 185 out of 188 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-09
AMAZINGLY CONCISE and ACCURATE analysis turned using instructive games as the format best describes "MORE UNBEATABLE CHESS FOR JUNIORS". As a strong player I got this book, not for a kid, but for myself! I wanted to learn how to handle the Queen's Indian Defense as Black, to handle Marshall Gambit, Petroff's Defense and Sicilian as White and found that the analysis (with much being original and unpublished) on the openings was fantastic. The SNYDER SICILIAN (named after the author of this book), 1 e4 c5 2 b3 is a viable alternative to the more common lines for White to play against the Sicilian. And, the most complete analysis anywhere is found in "MORE UNBEATABLE CHESS FOR JUNIORS". Therefore - if you want to learn your openings, especially if you play 1 e4, this book is an absolute must for that alone.

Now openings aside UNBEATABLE CHESS FOR JUNIORS covers important concepts and themes that the author has in mind to teach. The selected games were tried and tested in actual lessons before being included in this book (I agree with the other reviewers that this is what makes this book unique among others for the great insight the author has in understanding the thinking process of those who will learn from these lessons). You can check out the other reviews for some of the details of the actual material that is covered (I don't have all day to go there!). Therefore - there author tries to focus largely on teaching the openings and middlegame, but there are several excellent endgames included as well.

"MORE UNBEATABLE CHESS FOR JUNIORS" is the most advanced book in the author's CHESS FOR JUNIORS series (about 5 books) and is a continuation of one of the best selling chess books of all time "UNBEATABLE CHESS LESSONS FOR JUNIORS", also excellent, but more basic (would recommend it for players rated between about 700 and 1600, with "MORE UNBEATABLE CHESS LESSONS FOR JUNIORS" recommended for those who have completed and understood the previous book, or as a stand-alone only for those rated 1200 and 2400 - yes up to 2300!). The tiered analysis is unique and allows both books to appeal to a wide range of playing skill (unlike "UNDERSTANDING CHESS", which I would recommend for players over 1600 - though I personally feel "MORE UNBEATABLE CHESS FOR JUNIORS is superior).

*If you have read "UNBEATABLE CHESS LESSONS FOR JUNIORS" or are 1200 up to 2300 ability, then this book is a MUST READ for you!

GREATLY IMPROVE YOUR GAME - Quality Lessons/Instruction for the 1000 to 2000 USCF ability player
Helpful Votes: 93 out of 93 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-19
Writing from the view of an experienced tournament player I have found this to be the most helpful book on chess I have ever read. Its target audience is for players who are already are beyond the basics. If you are under a 1400 player then you might start off with the book before this one, "Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors" then graduate to this one.
I am not going to get into examples of the material covered in the book - way too much material to do that.
What I will say is that the author has a great way of understanding YOU, a chess player of an intermediate (or advanced) ability and the usual mistakes YOU make in your analysis and why! I have seen this pointed out in some of the other reviews along with the fact that the games used in the lessons have been used by Robert Snyder for many years. I also agree that it takes this kind of experience and time to learn how to be a top chess teacher.
I am not a kid, but even though this book is written so that a kid can easily understand it, it is for adults as well. The lessons/games are arranged by the type of opening. The openings have been very well analyzed and I have found some of the lines to be unpublished elsewhere. I haven't found any errors in the analysis and I didn't spot any typos - so it must have been well proofread.
The games in the book are not just instructive, but I found them to be an enjoyable read (entertaining too!). A well-rounded selection of games containing many important ideas that will help you improve your game.
Because the openings in many cases contain very deep and complete analysis (a good thing if you are interested in that specific opening) you can skip through it without losing the ideas of what is going on in the game. I in particular like the mixture of some of the author's own games (the games are generally much newer than those found in "Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors") with games even coming from world champions. Some games are unpublished elsewhere!
You will find yourself greatly improving your game after reading this book!

Games
Origami Sea Life (Origami)
Published in Paperback by Dover Publications (1991-07-09)
Authors: John Montroll and Robert J. Lang
List price: $16.95
New price: $8.78
Used price: $4.56

Average review score:

My favorite origami book so far
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-04
The finished models in this book are great, they are clearly identifiable species, not just generic fish, crabs, etc.
What really makes the book stand out, however, are the folding sequences. The steps flow with a natural rythm, and every tricky step is clearly explained. Because the authors have created unique bases for each model, the results of a given step are often pleasantly surprising.
I have a pile of origami books, and this is my favorite so far by a pretty wide margin. When I finish folding everything in it, I will probably fold them all again because they are so much fun.

One of the best
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-21
This book is well written with easy to understand diagrams. The models range from easy to extremly hard, but most of the animals are high intermediate.Most of the diagrams are so specialized that they can't make other models from the base, but the end result is an elegant model that isn't bulky like other models of this difficulty. I have most of Montroll's and Lang's work,and this is one of the best.The deep sea angler fish is my favorite with a full set of teeth. The binding is breaking apart because I've used it so much. Overall this is a book with the best models!
(Watch the binding of the Dover books!)

Wonderful origami book
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-29
This superb book contains an enormous range of origami models representing various forms of sea life. These range from sea urchins and starfish through to the Blackdevil Angler Fish and the almost impossible to fold Chambered Nautilus Shell. I have in my time folded most of the models and my favourites include the Angler Fish, Goldfish and the Murex shell which is wonderful in a textured foil.

Most of the models will require some folding experience, even the easier ones and the most difficult ones like the Atlantic Purple Sea Urchin and Blackdevil Angler Fish are really for experts only, but most folders of intermediate level and upwards will find something to enjoy. It is definitely a book which will help you to develop your folding skills but be sure to have plenty of paper on hand!

Each section includes an interesting introduction to the natural history of the life forms it is covering and the book is well laid out with clear computerised diagrams. It's an origami book I've come back to again and again over the years and which remains one of my treasures. I recommend it.

Not Impossible, but a Challenge
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-17
I've owned this book for a number of years and only recently have I been able to fold most of the creatures in it. This book is definitely not for greenhorns, but if you look closely at every single diagramme in the book, and interpret them exactly and are very careful, every model in the book is foldable. The end result is gorgeous paper sea creatures that can impress basically anyone--yourself included. I've been amazed at how beautiful the things I'm folding from this book turn out.

Great Book
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-03
This is one of my favorite Origami books ever. If you are thinking about getting it you should. This book will appeal to any body, from beginner to advanced. I love the models in this book. It contains various models of many genera and cover many of the marine phylums such as variety of gastropods, cephalodops, crustaceans, and many fish from Angler Fish to sharks to Sun fish.


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