Training Books

this book gave me the understanding on how to take it to the next step. currently I climb 5.10 but I am ready for the next step and I feel this book gave it to me.

I bought this and the "Training for Climbing: The Definitive Guide to Improving Your Climbing Performance" from the same author and I think it is a lot better than how to climb 5.12 beacause it has everything and a lot more things. I don't regret buying both, but If I knew It maybe I would just buy one of them. But both are excelent.

This is a great book. Just a heads-up though.

The book "Training for Climbing" is an equally excellent reference - it contains much the same information as this book, only in more detail, with sections on anatomy, physiology etc. If you want to dispense with those discussions, buy this book. But I'd say buy one or the other, and save your extra money for another reference.

This the authoratative text for the advanced climber who wishes to boost his/her skills to the maximum potential.

Explaining the basics of medical knowledge the author lucidly shows how to apply this to climbing.

The book is rife with plenty of exercises and routines to keep even the most experienced climber busy.

By applying the principles in this book and training consistently you should see your climbing level jump by at least 4 grades within a few months ( eg - 5.10a - 5.11a ).

Be sure to mix your routines and not overtrain.

This is definitely not a book for beginner rock climbers.

If you're getting into climbing and getting into it fast, there are about five books to get, and this is one. Eric Horst gives a solid overview about how to speed progress and avoid typical mistakes such as overtraining, a common problem that kept me in 5.9 longer than I needed. The progression from grade to grade is more a mental one than a physical one, as my weeklong slothfest followed by a near full number jump in climbing ability will attest. Buy this, Performance Rock Climbing by Dale Goddard, the Heather Sagar book, and as much John Long as you can afford, and you will move more quickly up the ladder. Or, you can lift and jog yourself to death and spend your money on fingerboards, supplements, and other dubious methods, and hang out at your current level for a few more months or years like the other groundlings. Success requires effort; efficient effort requires knowledge. Get some.

I always wondered how in the world did they train a dolphin to jump, flip and do all those fancy moves and now I have some idea. I mean afterall, the dolphin is in the water and you are on land? With dogs, at least, you can say commands with your voice and reward it by petting it. Well, this book answers all those questions you wondered about how they trained dolphins but were to afraid to ask or afraid to look stupid by asking. It is written in a very friendly, easy to read language and I was very pleasantly surprised with the book. I would highly recommended to to anybody and who knows, you might pick up a pointer or two on how to train other animals!

As someone who has loved dolphins her entire life (when I was little I wanted to be a dolphin trainer), this book intrigued me just because it was about dolphins and written by a dolphin trainer. I was pleasantly surprised on how much I was actually able to learn by reading it. Not only is it a great wealth of information about cetaceans (dolphins), it is also a very interesting read on training. It is full of anecdotes, making the book entertaining, and scientific data and fact, helping to lend a bit of seriousness. The unique training ideas that Karen Pryor discovered by trial and error can be, and are, used on every animal from a dolphin to a cat to a human. I highly recommend this book.

This book was great!!! Karen Pryor is a great writer and a wonderful scientist!!! I have never read a more inciting book! It was great, it gave me different perspectives on dolphin training and even some insight on careers!! Buy this book, you won't regret it!!

I first read this book almost 20 years ago, when I was a kid and in love with dolphins. I have re-read it two dozen times since then and enjoyed it just as much every single time. It will help the reader understand behavior in general...of your pets, your kids, your co-workers, your spouse...and how you can affect that behavior with timely and positive reinforcement of desirable responses. A delightful book! Hugely entertaining throughout.

This book provided a great insider's look to what is means to be a dolphin/marine mammal trainer. I would recommend this book to anyone who is considering this for a career path. I know I am and that this book has helped me gained a great perspective and tips on dolphin training. The stories are really touching and before you know it, you're feel like standing right next to the author feeding and playing with the dolphins. This book is a definite must-have!

i like this book. it's informative and brings the workouts from several top trainers together. there are great pictures and there are several different pieces of equipment (including your own body weight) utilized in the exercises. there's a good discussion on nutrition. i refer to the book frequently. like now when i'm focused on my arms. well done!

Alyssa Shaffer is the fitness director of Fitness Magazine, and here interviews top celebrity trainers who reveal how they work out to achieve their maximum body style. From developing attainable goals to keep you motivated and exercising to incorporating a fitness routine into a busy schedule and targeting specific problem areas, THE A-LIST WORKOUT is no single program, but an orchestrated approach culled from the successful experiences of celebrity stars. Black and white photos throughout explain exercise routines.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is a great idea book. I took it to the gym and used the techniques. It is a great beginners book.

Very good book, lots of great excercise ideas, and understanding of how the muscles work, and how they work for the celebs

Don't be decieved by the cover! Something about the name and the picture on the front threw me. I thought it might be one of those books of how the celebrity worked out and never really explaining the workout to the reader, just so the author could make a quick buck.

This is very well written with weekly workout routines and every exercise has photos to follow up on. They separate your goal into different routines.

What I love most about this book is that they don't use the default strength training moves! They use band resistance (or tubing) and do different, unique moves to tone the body! This is really a workout you could do at home in your living room. You don't need a treadmill, if you have a nice place to walk and run or jump rope even!

The star's trainers, for example, Mike Alexander (Jessica Simpson's trainer) writes a whole section for abs and the exercises he uses. In another chaper, another trainer writes about the best shoulder toning moves.

I felt like the nutrition section wasn't gimmicky or to hard to follow. They were real in their advice, following a natural whole foods diet with fish and lean meats to get your protien.

All in all- I might have an addiction to buying diet and fitness books, but this is a great one to add to my collection. Especially because I love using the Physioball (think that big, pop resistant workout ball) and resistance tubing!

This is like the handbook version of the Being and Doing book by the same author. Something like a fist-aid kit in case of an "emergency" on stage or during a take. Break glass before storming off the set in disgust.

This is one the of the best approached to acting. It makes everything clear.
Also an easy read.

I am personally an Eric Morris actor. I live in Los Angeles and I attend his workshop weekly. Having actually experienced his Craft personally and by watching hundreds of others come and go, and succeed and fail: it has become strikingly obvious to me that his Work works. One of the elements of this uniquely personal Craft is that it can be very overwhelming and emotionally draining. Through my two plus years of experience in the Work, I have found that very few Eric Morris actors actually uses the Craft exactly as it is intended. I believe as do many of my contemporaries that the Craft provides the actor with a limitless supply of "acting" tools, which encourage the actor to experience truthfully. It is painfully obvious that "truth" or an organic expression of impulses and emotions is severely lacking in theatre, television and on screen. There is not one person who has come to class and gone on stage who has not gone through a substantial growth. Being a student of acting my entire life, on a constant pursuit of truth in my work, and having over 25 teachers since first grade: I have found the one teacher on the planet who can answer all of the difficult questions actors ask about the mysterious art of acting. If you have a thirst for truth in your acting and in how you live your life, you foolish to remain ignorant of Eric Morris.

I give this book a fairly high rating because all acting technique is personal. An actor's job in receiving training is to simply find the approach that works best for the individual. Method acting simply means to find one's own method. While responses to acting texts, approaches and classes are always subjective, one should always remain open for new ideas.

That said I reject Eric Morris' approach to acting on a personal and professional level.

As every actor knows (or at least should know), his/her job is "to do nothing more than to be believable while telling the best possible story that serves the script" (Bruce Morris). Or as Stanislavski defines acting: "Acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances". The root of an actor's technique must always be action. Again with Stanislavski: "while on stage, an actor must always be enacting something". Action verbs are the basis of all acting/storytelling craft. An audience does not pay precious money to watch an actor have an emotional moment, but rather to have the moment themselves.

All the great acting teachers, building upon the work of Stanislavski, have stressed the importance of finding and playing an action as opposed to an emotion. Robert Lewis, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, Uta Hagen, Michael Checkov and even Lee Strassberg (although he ventured too far into the emotional realm) all taught students to find the appropriate action and embrace that reality as the basis for their storytelling craft. Emotions are the by product of a person engaging in an action and either failing or succeeding in the quest to fulfill that action.

Eric Morris' approach, centers on "Being" exercises. He asks his students to simply get up in front of a group of people and simply "Be". As related in this book, he proceeds to grill them about their day and call them on the carpet for any false emotion as he dredges for some emotional moment. Morris' approach, at least to this reader, comes off as simply another example of acting teacher "power tripping" as well as pseudo-therapy hidden in the guise of acting. This approach simply leads to the teacher holding such power over his/her students as they become obsessed with pleasing the teacher as opposed to truly pleasing the audience.

This approach leads to emotionally crippling an actor. Actor's become obsessed with evaluating their acting on the basis of whether or not they "felt" the scene. If an actor finds they cannot reach the emotion, they immediately fill themselves with a great sense of guilt and personal disgust at their inability to produce an emotion. Acting should ultimately be a freeing experience as well as a fun and celebratory bit of life. Many acting teachers and actors, bowing under the weight of thousands of years of social stigma feel that they must deny the "fun" factor of acting and make it a painful and serious affair.

As any director or acting teacher can attest, when one simply asks an actor to "be" on stage, one will watch an actor squirm, blink and fold inside him/her self. Put an actor on stage and ask him/her to push a giant stone up a mountain, one will watch a fantastic story filled with all the emotional truth an audience could ever hope to find.

The key to acting is not "being" it is in fact "doing". Apparently Morris has a workbook that combines the two concepts. I will certainly read that as well- again the justification for the high rating. I am still learning my craft and I pray I will always continue to do so.

NO ACTING PLEASE is certainly worth reading and worth trying though so that one can form their own opinion. After trying Morris' approach, this review is simply my opinion. Proceed with caution.

I'll admit that at first glance Eric Morris's System can seem scary and misaligned. But I believe it to be a very misunderstood system.

I too was skeptical in the beginning, but after studying this technique (with Eric, but mostly with Anthony Vincent Bova in NYC, Eric's protégé), and after seeing the difference from "acting" and what this Work creates, there's no way I'd ever go back to the "acting" form.

Eric Morris teaches the actor how to react honestly and in the moment, including everything that's going on inside and out-the other actor, the props, the imagined objects that one might be working for-that impels you to "do" whatever the character is required to "do", but out of a real reaction, not just because you're doing it.

I've studied Adler, Strasberg, Meisner, and with Robert Lewis. I've hashed through the process of verbs, actions, objectives, obstacles, and onward; and they're all good and dandy for figuring out what's going on in a script, what the characters are doing and why; but other than that, these techniques never helped me figure out HOW to make it real to ME... How to get to a place where I'm actually functioning from a real, organic, truthful state ... How to get to the point where I am "doing" all the script tells me to do, fulfilling the "actions," out of an honest REACTION to what's going on.... Not just "playing" as if I am; how, in essence, creating the realities of the character....

No matter where you go, all the great teachers (and actors) say the same thing, "Acting is reacting." Even the most used and cherished word in the actor's language, LISTENING, is about focusing outside of yourself and REACTING to what is there. This Work trains the actor to create the stimuli that will fulfill the demands of the piece, specifically, wholly, and with Truth.

For the most part, plays and movies are imagined circumstances, and we as actors, have to create stimuli to react from, so we're not just faking, or indicating our performance. I'd rather watch two people have a relationship on film or on stage, than two actors reciting words, no matter how well they "act" it. If they don't believe it, I won't. This System trains you to create those stimuli and REACT to them honestly, fully and truthfully.

A crucial part of Eric's System is based on Instrumental Work, which is the process of identifying blocks and fears and tensions to expression and, one-by-one, through the use of hundreds of exercises, eliminating them. It's really about self-awareness-learning about yourself and how you function, so you can "get out of your way" and function truthfully on stage or film and get to where you need to get to in a scene. I think this is the aim of every method, but I feel that this System is the only one to address the issues of the actor on a personal level. If I'm tense and depressed (in real life; me the actor), I'm not going to be able to REACT truthfully in a scene where the character has just won the lottery and is jumping with joy. If I push for the emotion, I'll be faking and will "act" that I'm joyful. If this is enough for you, then Eric's work is definitely not your thing. But if you're looking for creating reality and REACTING with truth, nothing surpasses this Work.

I know that Meryl Streep, Brando, Ed Norton, Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and a handful of other amazing actors don't fake it, don't just indicate the realities of the character and the circumstances. They create them. Be it imagined stimuli they are creating, or through the available stimulus around them, they open themselves up and REACT truthfully to everything -the other actors, the set, the space, the props, the object or person via Sense Memory, etc. I KNOW they do this for a fact! They've talked about it for years.

Eric helps you get to the place that they do-where you can function truthfully, where your instrument is accessible and available, where you are open and are willing to go where the character needs to go, emotionally, psychologically, and physically.

My advice is read Eric's books. If they pique any interest in you, if they strike a cord, study with Eric or Anthony, or at least contact them for further information about the system. I think you'll be quite surprised and utterly amazed at the tools this Work can provide you as an actor.

Book in perfect shape. Arrived in very timely manor. Thank you for your great service.

It is definitely for beginners. The authors explains every detail about everything so you will be succesful in teaching which tricks you want and doing it correctly and efficiently. It displays a few pictures of dogs performing the tricks but its not a visual book, but more of a guide book that you have to read most of to understand who to do things properly. All in all its an amazing book if you want to teach your dog great, fun things.

This is a very good book. It has may good points about tricks and teaching your dog.

I've purchased many dog behavior and trick books over the years. This little gem is definitely the best trick book. My golden and I have had many great times learning some of the tricks. Easy to follow and the progressive technique makes great sense. I'm amazed at how fast he can learn following the simple directions. Patience and consistency as always is the key.

This was a great book. Easy to follow steps. Needs more pictures. A DVD to go along with it would be better.

If you don't feel closeness with your child, can't get them to open up even with the kindest efforts, feel like you can't imagine why your relationship isn't good because of all the love you give, and your child would rather spend time with the computer than with you, and they won't listen to you....YOU NEED THIS! I was able to understand instantly the unintentional messages I have been sending! I've read MANY parenting books, never have the results been so immediate--almost magic, and so simple to understand and use. In four days, while still reading, I used/practiced the techniques described--and my 15 year old has responded with profound openess and helpfulness. Because I am respecting his needs as a person (and have learned how to comunicate this), he is in turn respecting my needs! Brilliant! Buy it at ANY cost!!

I read this book in a communications class in junior college. I do not have kids, but it is the foundation of the way I relate to people and to my students. So many people do not know how to talk with others without blaming. This book shows you how to own your power and let others have theirs, too.

Tom Gordon's communication and problem solving based approach to raising children is undoubtedly one of the most powerful aids ever devised. The book alone is not enough. Communication and solving problems is behavior and it has to be learned and practiced.

I believe all parents or would be parents should have a copy of this book. It would be a great baby shower gift. Helps you understand yourself and children, and actually makes you like yourself and children. I can't say enough on this book. It brings the best out in you, and also makes you feel like you are not the only parent on earth who goes through tough times in your home raising kids. The book was written over thirty years ago but still works in this day. I use the skills almost all the time with my daughter who is fifteen and I have had the most conversation I have ever had with her since applying the skills the book suggested. Truly the most effective book on parenting I have ever read.

Every person alive can benefit from reading this book. I've just finished it & already see improvement between me and my 3 teens(and feel more forgiving toward my own parents, teachers). Parent Effectiveness Training translates into ALL relationships and makes them BETTER! Thank you a MILLION times.

This small book does a good job covering many relevant topics about Pekes. I was pleased with the contents and would recommend the book to individuals who are considering on buying a Pekingese. The pictures alone will charm you into making the purchase.

I am buying a pekingese and this book is so helpful! I feel more knowledgeable and will be able to purchase with more confidence. I will also be able to get the grooming aids, etc. prior to the puppy coming home.

This does what it says and is a good guide for pet owners who have not had a peke before. You could do worse than sell it with each puppy, if you are a responsible breeder.

Yes, this is a pleasant, short, brief book about the Pekingese. However, it's not any different than any other book about the Pekingese breed. The information is very generic, and if you search around personal sites online or just visit breeder's pages, you'll find the same info. At points, I felt like the book became a generic dog care book, giving advice for any breed of dog. It isn't peke-specific enough. For example, they should've had a chart that listed how many calories of food or vitamins pekes need at different life stages and weather. Pekes may be small dogs, but they are heavier and require different nutrition than other breeds. One would expect a book titled "Pekingese" to be tailored to a Peke's needs but the info that is provided for feeding can also be found in a book for any other dog. Do you think a peke needs the same nutrition as a Dalmation? No. It's a good book for those that have never had a dog before, or don't have the slightest clue about the Pekingese. However, if you are already a peke-companion and were looking for helpful peke-specific info, this book doesn't provide info that you don't already know.

This is an excellent book for a first time Pekingese owner!! For someone who knows the breed(and I truly mean knows- I've had my boy for a year and a half and I still learned things), it might not be as helpful. It's easy to read and at times shows a little humor. It covers everything a responsible pet owner should know. It even included first aid techniques in case of emergencys, some basic training steps, grooming, etc. Definately an A+ book written by someone who knows what they're talking about.

I've looked everywhere for books or video's that would provide instruction on the proper way to play Straight Pool. There were dozens of players that offered dozens of home-spun versions of the game, but until now, I have been spinning my wheels. This is the best and most comprehensive book that I have ever seen on ANY game of pool. I'm well aquainted with Mr. Capelles previous publications, but none of them even come close to this one. I think the knowledge that a Player gains in Straight Pool is vital to his/her overall growth & skill potential. This book gives more and better information than many Instructors provide. It's worth every penny!

I have skimmed all of the book, have read parts of it carefully, and will continue to consult different chapters from time to time. I seldom play straight pool but practice it quite often. This book showed me some things I didn't know and pointed out some things I knew but hadn't paid enough attention to. It's detailed and thorough. I may not reach my lifetime goal of running 100 balls but this book will put at least a few balls on my occasional high run. It's a good book to read just before going out to hit balls.

This reference guide for pool will show you every possible shot you may have to take. Your game will greatly improve with the tips in this book.

If you want to improve your game, no matter what you play, this book will
greatly help you. This is the difinitive book on straight pool. It leads you through every possible situation you could run accross and shows you how to deal with it. The book can be used as a reference for
any pool game. This book belongs in any serious pool player's library.

i am a above average pool player, this book covers everything. if your looking to excell at pool get this book better than any video you could watch. excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So well written! If you are considering or own a piggy it is a must read. Images are fabulous! Information is priceless and clear cut. Very happy to have made this small investment. Thank you, Nellie and Valentine Piggers:-)

Well worth the money for new pig owners or people thinking of adopting one. Read it before the pig comes home with you!

I like this book. Detailed helpful information for the pet pig owner. Buy this book.

This book is a great addition to have in your library if you own a potbellied pig. I want the best for my pbp and so I have quite a few books on the porkers. It has a great section of tips listed A-Z. Also, the behavior section is good. I especially like the colored pictures of all the little piggies.=)

I ordered this book because I have recently started training a potbellied pig. Having never met a pig up-close-and-personal in my life, I felt a need to educate myself. I was delighted with Ms Valentine's book. It is informative and highly accessible. The animal training principles outlined in it are absolutely sound and can be applied to the training of any animal, pig or otherwise, with the utmost confidence. She gives excellent advice on how to both prevent and cure common behaviour problems. Everyone who owns a pet pig absolutely must own this book! You will save yourself a lot of grief and have a very rewarding with your very special pet.

This is a book written with courage and conviction. It addresses the potential for harm in the supervisory experience in a way that raises awareness of this dynamic, and names the experience and resultant trauma for those who have been mistreated in these important and powerful relationships. Our human desire to possess certainty, which is illusion at best, is part of what fuels these abuses of power. This book brings such issues to light, using both personal story and professional, theoretical understanding. It will be helpful to anyone in any role of the supervisory relationship.

In the model of corporate whistle blowing, Richard Raubolt tells his story of psychoanalytic training; exposing abuses of power, authority, status and control. In Power Games, he brings together respected analysts who weave a pattern of similar training experiences told with personal angst along with professional theory. Together, they identify the areas of training abuse and propose an alternative method of training that incorporates democratic principles of empathy, and respect for subjective experiences. This is a must read for individuals, like me, who are outside of the professional community of clinical psychotherapy. With an "insider's" help, the shroud is removed and we begin to understand the inner workings of this mental health profession. Collectively we should support the evolution of training practices that will inevitably develop therapists with greater self-understanding, knowledge and a voice of their own.

Richard Raubolt has authored a unique book. The perspectives of the prominent contributors to the book regarding the potential for abuse in psychotherapeutic training and supervision are diverse and eye-opening. The pitfalls of ego and authoritarian teaching on the part of trainers can be devastating and demeaning to potentially talented students of psychotherapy. Dr. Raubolt's courage in his documentation of his own toxic experience in clinical supervision is to be commended. He demonstrates in a very personal and powerful way, the potential for the misuse of power in the very institutions that are mandated to educate and support clinical excellence. This book is well written, informative and boldly honest. It is a "must read" for anyone that is involved in training; educators and students alike.

This is an original,brave book, which does what so many mental health books fail to do: it is unflinchingly honest and personal. Most books on psychotherapy discuss the dynamics of the patient or patients in intricate detail in order to support the author's or authors' version of "Truth"or at least what has been defined as Truth by instructors, supervisors and training analysts. The person of the therapist is homogenized and relegated to a "Stepford" professional existence in far too many training programs. As a result, both psychoanalysis and good writing are dying.
Well, this is not the case in this refreshing and frank discussion of training. While a number of theories are presented that are well articulated they follow rather than diminish the deeply personal experiences of those seeking advanced training and supervision. Complex, ornate and rarified theoretical nuances are not allowed to interfere with descriptions of effective, respectful and democratic training.
Senior supervisors, instructors and training analysts should be among the first to read this book. Candidates may also do well to study the experiences of other professionals before selecting a program of training. Honesty and learning go together best when done hand in hand for both student and teacher. -Dr. Becki J. Telford

In paper after varied, interesting paper, this book stitches together a picture of the painful underbelly of life in psychoanalytic institutes. Even where the best and brightest gather at the pinnacle of mental health thought and treatment, power corrupts as deftly and unconsciously as it does anywhere else in the human species.
For all our scholarship and dedication and aspirations to facilitate healing insight in our patients, it turns out that we have trouble walking our talk with each other. And worse yet, our candiates develop in our shadows.
As Raubolt demonstrates in this relevant and riveting collection of psychoanalytic experience, at least we have the wherewithal to turn an
analytic eye to our own fragility and our possibilities for reform and redepmtion. Both 'cult' and 'culture,' after all, derive from 'cultivation' ---of our own human soil, in this case. Luckily, we keep on tilling, often with humor, courage, resolve. This book speaks deeply to the task before us.

Nancy Spohn, LCSW, May 15, 2007