Games Books

The Ancestral Path Tarot is a visually stunning and spiritually fascinating deck. The Majors are pretty much standard fare; the figures are in the usual poses, although they are shown as belonging to diverse ethnic groups. For example, the woman depicted on Strength is African; the Empress evokes the Middle Eastern mother goddesses; the Star is a Native American. This is one of the few decks I've seen where the Minors are better than the Majors. The artist and author assign a culture to each of the suits: Egyptian and sub-Saharan African cultures for the Staves; Japanese feudalism for the Swords; the Arthurian legend of Britain for the Cups, and a Native American vision quest for the Sacred Circles (pentacles, traditionally). The art is beautiful, and the pictures evoke deep spiritual meaning. Even the suit of Earth (the Sacred Circles), generally interpreted as being "about money", is here a profound exploration of community, resources, isolation, and discovery. Tracey Hoover, the writer of the accompanying booklet, recommends going through the Minors in reverse order, from 10 to Ace. Going through the Sacred Circles, you see the focus shifting from a community to an individual, a young woman who draws aside into seclusion to meet her spirit guide. I'm no Native American expert, but the cards are moving nonetheless. And all of the other suits are just as good. Because every card carries a deep meaning, this is more a deck for spiritual concerns than for mundane ones. Highly recommended to anyone who uses the Tarot for mystical purposes.

Ancestral Path is the most used deck in my collection and I find myself always returning to it. Julia Cuccia Watts has succeeded brilliantly in creating imagery that speaks to the Oversoul and of the many pasts we, as the human body of the world, have shared.. The paintings are exquisite and simultaneously express many levels of meaning. The individual cards often follow traditional symbolism, although there are also quite a few original visual interpretations.

The 4 suits of the minor arcana are represented by four different cultures each in a different period of time; Cups - Arthurian England; Swords - Japanese Samurai cult; Sacred Circles - Native American 1700's; Staves - Egyptian 19th Dynasty of Ramses II. The minor arcana cards are just as detailed and lovely as the majors in this deck and truly come alive in the process of reading with them. I've also found that people I've read for are very drawn to the imagery and seem to connect with the cards in very meaningful ways. This is a deck that could evoke the intuitive aspect in everyone.

In the accompanying book by Tracey Hoover, an "Ancestral Path Wheel Of The Year" using all of the minor arcana cards is delineated. Watts (the author of the Wheel system) does not follow any other astrological/seasonal method I've seen, and yet this Wheel of the Year has proven to lend some valuable insights. As an astrologer, I've found it enlightening to use Julia Cuccia Watts attributions with natal charts linking each planet and house cusp with its corresponding card. A card for ones birth date can also be used for additional insights without delving into astrology.

One of my favorite cards in this deck is key 18, The Moon, showing a huge glowing moon shining over a night-time landscape with a large body of water running north to south. Out of this ancestral pool rises a grey haired grandmother who is weaving patterns of fabric on a loom. This imagery really spoke to me about the emotional habit patterns we weave and have woven in the past and how in becoming more conscious and aware of them and in connecting with the Source, we could choose to weave the fabric of our lives more purposefully.

I've enjoyed using this deck so much! Ancestral Path is a tried and true treasure.

I have a collection of >150 tarot cards. My two favorites are the Ancestral Path Tarot and the Gilded Tarot. However, I do not use the books (although both of these decks came with books). I learned to read cards by intuition and perception of the images from the cards themselves, so I have no opinion on the book. These cards are non-traditional, and I find them best suited to spiritual/karmic/life path questions. I would choose another deck for more grounded questions.

"The Ancestral Path Tarot" by Tracy Hoover is a book of different nature. An anomaly is that The Hanged Man card is changed to The Hanged One. The first part of this little book gives a brief background of the author & the artist. Also presented is why different aspects of the deck are changed. Part two lists all the Major Arcana cards & their correspondences. The correspondences are broke into several parts "Description," "Cultural Images," "Numerology," & "Trump Correspondences." Part three list all the Minor Arcana (swords, staves, cups, & sacred circles) cards along with their "Description," & "Meaning." Part four of the book gives two sample readings & part five talks about the different spreads. In conclusion this book gives a fresh new look upon the Tarot Cards. However if you are a traditionalist then you'd better look elsewhere. The book didn't seem to be anything special however the cards are very well done with beautiful artwork. I personally enjoy working with Tracey Hoover's Ancestral Path Tarot Cards & I'd recommend them to anyone.

The artwork in this deck is truly amazing!! They look like tiny oil paintings.. The deck is multi-cultural and has a feel most people can related to.. Sometimes a deck specifically of one culture can alienate those not of that ethnic background... I think those familiar with traditional Rider-Waite cards would have an easy time transitioning to this deck. Highly reccomended!!!!!

The Best Angel cards...

When we are alone...with no one to talk too...these cards were like having an intelligent... un-conditional... loving....Best Friend...who was not only kind...but...also wise...

We honestly do not know what that kind of healing energy can feel like...as humans...we do not possess this energy...'it is'... a learned skill...So...not only will "We" `See...&...Feel' what true kindness... "IS"... "WE" will also learn how to be it...

AnnE

When I bougth this oracle kit, I expect much more than it can offers, frist the angelic descriptions are poor and weak, they are flat and don't give you any thing new.
The majority angel's faces in the cards are coarse, they have no innocence or tenderness or peaceful or the attributes suppose they have.
But when you use it, It can give you a good advice, this is the only thing good about, maybe is the most important thing, but if you are talking about angels or with them, trought the cards or any other way, You'd expect they be heavenly.
I've this kit in spanish, but I don't think this differ much from the english version.

Every morning, my fiance and I light a candle and draw a card. He asks specific questions, I usually just ask for guidance for the day ahead. They are so inspirational and it reminds us to acknowlege and thank God and the Angels for each new and wonderful day

This is the first angel oracle deck/book I ever bought and I still use it. I love the artwork. The book is excellent on it's own. I have never had a reading with these cards that was bad or un-true. They always come up right. I would recomend this deck to anyone looking for an accurate oracle. If you've never bought angel oracle cards before, I recomend you start with this deck. The spreads listed are easy to remeber and the cards are beautiful and accurate. The info for each card is easy to understand. But like I said I would recomend this to anyone - beginner or advanced.

It's been a long time since I'm looking for a steady reference on Angel Cards, as one more of the personal 'tools' I use to enlarge my study and interest on forms, symbols, ancient and contemporary myths and art images. As I deal with fine arts and artists on my daily work on broadcasting , I felt that all the angel cards and oracles I found only seemed to give me a more or less limited and personal view of each author and some quite futile information. In spite of that, A. Wauters does an honest job when she mentions R.Steiner texts - an historic reference on philosophy and spiritual matters, sometimes not very well known -, or when she collects some simple ancient jews prayers on her book. By choosing a set of beautiful images associated with the past times, she makes us focus not on 'chocolat or fashionable angels' as several other oracles and books do, but on a much more archetypal and neutral visual representation. So, I'll say that A.Wauters book and oracle really matches well on a consequent set that gave me the visual freedom to enjoy the inner 'intuitive realms' of my own and the will to know more about the subject.

Yes!!! This is the type of book I've been waiting for. I work independently at my animation projects and live in an area that is quite isolated so I often have to rely on reference material. ANIMATION UNLEASHED is of great benefit to me. Ellen Besen has created a wonderful work that deals with a lot of material that isn't covered in the other books that I own. I find it fills in many of the blanks that existed in my other reference material.

This book follows the film process from beginning to end discussing the thinking process and the questions one must consider when developing your ideas. Everything from writing a script, developing characters, film structure, sound, animation techniques and performance right through to backgrounds and special effects are treated in the same exploratory manner. Each chapter is broken up into very informative, concise, and well written sections all accompanied by Bryce Hallett's wonderful illustrations. It doesn't necessarily dig deeply into the nuts and bolts of technique, but explores the decisions one should consider during the creative process to best communicate your story.

It takes off like a rocket with some very important and helpful information. It begins with a discussion of analogy and its relationship with animation. In the first few sentences the author begins to lay a new foundation for thought on how to take advantage of your story idea. The book explores the role caricature plays in animation, twisting and turning the subject in ways that open your mind to aspects of its use that aren't always obvious, but very essential to a successful film. The same process is applied to encourage new thinking about movement in your animation, the use of fantasy and reality, as well as creating your own universe. There is a discussion concerning the uncovering of core ideas by encouraging the use of visual exploration to avoid generic thinking. I have found this book very helpful from beginning to end in helping me avoid just that.

Ellen Besen and Bryce Hallet have done a wonderful job here. This book will be a valuable and essential tool in my library. I would encourage anyone interested learning about film making to add it to their library as well.

As someone that doesn't know a whole lot about animation, this book was an incredible find.
I am not an animator, but I easily applied the principles outlined in this book to my creative writing and comic production. It is amazingly inspiring and the topics discussed are backed by illustrations that make the points unbelievably clear and easily understood.
I think this book is excellent for anyone creative, or anyone interested in improving their craft. I will also, shamelessly admit that its become my new favourite colouring book.

I don't "get" animation. Oh, sure, I enjoy the stories. One of my favorite all time films is "Pinocchio." I love the Pixar films - a solid run of quality production that is unparalleled (though I think that "Wall-E" was not their best effort).

What I don't "get" is the time and energy put into it. I recall watching a behind the scenes segment on Ardman Studios and the production behind the short "Wallace and Gromit" films. Making those stop-motion claymation films would make my head explode.

After reading "Animation Unleashed" I get it. "Animation Unleashed" with wonderful illustrations by Bryce Hallett, goes into fine detail on all things animated. Showing the reader what goes into it, from the nuance of a raised eyebrow, to the detail that goes into computer generated fare.

Touching on everything from character development (whether your character is a life-like person...or is a chair) to the aspects of sounds, shadows, details (both large and small).

This book is an extremely thorough reference book and a must for anyone who is thinking about animation.

My only issue with the book is that Ms. Besen references a LOT of animated films that I am not familiar with. Though she lists them at the end of the book, it would be great if, at some point, a DVD is packaged with the book to include the animated films she mentions. Or, a reference at the beginning of the book to go on-line and try to view (assuming they're on YouTube) the animated films she mentions.

All-in-all, this is a very interesting book about nearly all aspects of animation.

I'm not an animator, but for me-- as a writer-- the strength of "Animation Unleashed" wasn't that it explained animation (it actually delves very little into the practical processes of animation or how animated films get made), but how it teaches you to think like an animator. In animation, the book explains, everything is analogy... everything takes place in alternate or heightened reality. As a result, artists and writers approach animation slightly differently... it's more visual, sound and music are used in unique ways, characters are larger, the types of stories that succeed are slightly different, etc. That's where "Animation Unleashed" is invaluable... by detailing how animators and animation writers create cartoons, it helps non-animation writers think about traditional writing and storytelling in new ways. This is a book I'll reach for whenever I'm blocked... or can't break a story... or can't get my ahead around a particular character. It's also a book I'll use just to get my imagination thinking differently. Whether you're an animation writer or not, this is a great addition to your writing-book library!

I must admit that I have always regarded animation as a lesser form of filmmaking, so the analysis in Animation Unleashed caught me by surprise. Who knew that Disney animated features, Warner Bros shorts, NFB animated shorts, etc were so full of innovative filmmaking techniques?

Part of what's interesting here is how deceptively simple many of the key points seem: for example, the idea that you can use caricature not only in the character design but in the acting, the scenery, the soundtrack and even the editing seems obvious once it has been pointed out but is not necessarily an easy idea to arrive at in the first place.

It's also worth noting that a lot of what is presented here is equally applicable to live action filmmaking, particularly hybrid filmmaking, like the importance of creating a history for imaginary characters which encompasses not just personal background but the evolution of the character's entire species in order to invest such creatures with logical characteristics.

In total, a real eye opener which has already changed the way I view and make film.

I've been designing games for more than 20 years and I've read a ton of books on the subject.
This one is unique.

Most game design books focus on teaching you how to make a good game, detailing what techniques and processes one must master to understand an audience, to design a product that will satisfy their needs and aspirations, and to work with a team to produce it. "The Art of Game Design" goes beyond that: It teaches you how to become a better designer.

Here's an excerpt from the Deck of Lenses' instructions (it's the deck of cards sold separately that illustrates the 100 design "lenses"):

How to Design a Game
Step 1: Think of an idea for a game (it's easy, it can be anything!)
Step 2: Try it out (no really - try it out - you have to play games to see if they work)
Step 3: Figure out what's wrong with it, and change it so it is better. Then go back to Step 2!

That's what game designers do, over and over again, until they're satisfied with the game or they run out of time or money. However, if there are lots of books out there that explain how to increase the quality of whichever aspect of the game you want to change, it's the first one that so directly and so thoroughly addresses the problem of "figuring out what's wrong" with a game at each iteration.
In the book, Jesse Schell presents one hundred ways of looking at your game in order to figure this out, one hundred lenses. Even if this number seems big, it really isn't, because the book covers every domain touched by design: from the nature of the playing experience itself, to understanding the player, the game mechanisms, interface, story, technology, theme, etc.
For instance, here's the sum-up of a lens taken at random:

Lens #82: The Lens of Inner Contradiction
A good game cannot contain properties that defeat the game's very purpose. To remove those contradictory qualities, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the purpose of my game?
- What is the purpose of each subsystem of my game?
- Is there anything at all in my game that contradicts these purposes?
- If so, how can I change that?

The book doesn't give answers but helps you ask the right questions. I think of this book as the Tao of Game Design, a path toward understanding, each step its own path that can be explored and perfected. The one hundred lenses are one hundred design domains in which a designer can become more proficient. Jesse Schell's knowledge, experience and talent are obvious when he clearly explains how to consider all these questions, why they are important and how they are linked together.
This book makes and helps me think. To me, that's the best things a book about design can do.

It's rare to find an instructional book on any topic that takes such a broad, holistic view of it's subject matter. Not only is it loaded with useful info on game design, but many of it's methods can easily be applied to the creative process in general. It's depth and breadth of thought set it easily above any other game design book I've come across.

The Art of Game Design is a book which provides an easy read, it has a simplistic elegance to it, yet the depth of the book is quite deep which will keep you thinking for hours upon end. For me one of the most impressive things about the book is that it pretty much covers everything that a game designer should be aware of and how their decisions will effect the real world (it even talks about the moral obligations which I have never seen covered in a book about game design!). If you really want to learn the depth of being a game designer this book is a must read.

The Art of Game Design is simple in its language yet intriguing in its concepts. Jesse's well written book is equivalent to a four year undergrad degree in the same subject. The bulkiness of the book might seem overwhelming, but once you start reading, you delve right into it without you even knowing it.

The book draws inspiration from a myriad of topics and fields and definitely provides life lessons on a deeper level. The philosophy and its understanding helps in knowing yourself better, first as a person and then as a designer.

The Art of Game Design will inculcate a positive design perspective to the way you observe everyday things and events. Even if you are not a designer, it certainly is an excellent addition to collectibles that broaden your horizon. A must-buy for those aspiring to be a designer.

good things come to those who wait - and i have been waiting for this book for years. jesse schell has managed to compose not only a game design guide through an idealized design process, but also a handy catalogue of "lenses" that will help designers to inquire whether their game is enjoyable, or not, and how to improve the design. most importantly, 'the art of game design' provides intellectual as well as practical inspiration throughout - what more can you ask from a book in this field?

Many players played for the Pied Piper(Holcombe Rucker).No one was has great as him though.He was a great man and founder of the Rucker Tournament.Most people who ended up playing in the Rucker Tournamet was better then most players in the NBA.They first started playing just in Harlem,New York then went to playing more teams in New York then more and more teams.They played as far as Mississippi.

this book talks about problems the players and coaches had with racism.Most players got started in the Rucker Park Tournament.After the park tournament they went on to college ball even some went to the NBA!
Asphalt Gods by Vincet M. Mallozziwas a great book about players before professional ball games.This book is a excellent book to pick up and read.

An excellent book. Well worth the read. Great read on the history of the fabled blacktop and the man who dedicated himself to making a difference in people lives. Great read on some of the characters to grace the early days of the tournament. you won't be dissapointed getting this book

Asphalt Gods is the best book on the planet.If you love basketball you should read this book.It is a true story which took place at Rucker Park.Rucker Park is named after the brother named Holcombe Rucker.Who was born in Harlem on March 2,1926.He was raised by his grandmother.It is interesting because Mr.Rucker brought some of the best players ever to play there.

I've read Heaven is a Playground, City Game, and seen On Hallowed Ground, for anyone that is a "real" basketball fan this is by far the "BEST" story of the best streetball.

Great subject, great storytelling. By the way, I played with Rucker legend Billy Rieser (aka White Jesus) and he was hands down the most incredible basketball talent and the most compelling personality I have ever been around. His story is worthy of a volume in itself.

Having inadvertently restarted my acquaintance with C. Dale Brittain's tales of the wizard of Yurt with a late tale (Mage Quest), I decided to go back to the beginning and fill in the gaps. This book, 'A Bad Spell in Yurt,' is the first, and introduces us to Daimbert, a young mage who barely passed his exams out on his first job in the miniscule kingdom of Yurt.

Daimbert's nice enough, even if he has to die his hair grey to look authoritative, but his skills are meager. And Yurt for all its small size, has major problems. King Haimeric is under a curse and wasting away. Magical locks keep coming undone. The castle needs a phone system, and Daimbert cut that class in school. And, lest I forget, the previous royal magician is a very sour old man who has too many secrets.

Daimbert, for all his affection for his new kingdom, is up to his neck in trouble. His only salvation is an uneasy alliance with the castle priest. Both find they are in it for more than the bargained for as they discover that the problems they thought they had were a walk in the park when compared to the darker secrets lurking below.

For some reason the publisher has chosen to market these tales as humorous. While Brittain has a light touch, the real meat of her stories is quite serious. People die or come very close, unhappy secrets are discovered, and sometimes there is a serious lack of hope. This mix of styles is what makes these books more than a confection. Daimbert develops quite a bit in this book alone, and further volumes will see him become the kind of character one is always glad to meet again.

The Royal Wizard of Yurt series by C. Dale Brittain is an entertaining one. The first book is called A BAD SPELL IN YURT and stars the young wizard Daimbert.

Daimbert has just barely graduated from the wizard's school but he manages to find a post as royal wizard in the tiny kingdom of Yurt. In this world, only recently have wizards been taught in a school. Previously the apprentice program was the way to wizardly learning. Also strong in this world is the Christian church (although this is otherwise not really Earth).

In Yurt the young Daimbert (who is dyeing his beard grey) is commissioned to set up telephones and magic lights. But the real reason he was hired was not for minor luxuries, but because a spell is killing the king. Daimbert must analyze the spell, seek help from his predecessor, befriend the local chaplain and convince an evil demon to leave his world.

The story is paced like a mystery with the reader finding things out as Daimbert does and trying to solve the puzzles of the plot. Although many scenes are light-hearted, this is not a comedy series. t is, however, a very good read and I recommend it for fans of fantasies with a bit of mystery and magic.

A wizard who manages to graduate from Wizard's School gets a job in a small kingdom far from the city. It looks like a good job, but when he gets there the first thing he is asked to do, he hasn't a clue of how to do. He learns as he goes and finds that he can do what is asked of him. He goes so far as to invent "new" magic because he didn't listen as well as he should have in his classes. As a teacher, I find that kind of sad, but kind of hopeful in that those students who have potential can overcome their lack of interest in education and find that their instructors do know what they are talking about. I have all the books in the series and look forward to finding the time to read more of them. So many books and so little time, if it catches and holds my interest, it has to be a good one.

Humorous/light fantasy is a much-neglected subgenre, and talented writers in it are quite rare. ...I was delighted to find "Bad Spell in Yurt," a lovely book by a talented author.

Daimbert is not a particularly good wizard, but it doesn't matter so much because Yurt is not a very big kingdom (as he informs us on the first page). He answers an ad requesting a Royal Wizard in the kingdom of Yurt, where the old wizard has just retired. When Daimbert arrives, at first he thinks that the worst problem he'll have is having to perform magic that he doesn't know, due to his skipping classes. He meets the weakened King Haimeric, the amazingly holy chaplain, the young queen, the flirtatious youthful queen's aunt Lady Maria, the king's sullen-looking nephew Dominic, and various other characters. On the surface, all seems fine, except for Daimbert's problems installing telephones.

However, something is rotten in the state of Yurt. Daimbert finds that he is not the only source of magic in the castle -- someone or something is causing the king to grow weaker and weaker. When he asks the old Royal Wizard about the problems, the only thing the old man will say is that no one can go into the north tower. Daimbert must unravel the mystery, and find who is responsible for all these problems. But can a class-skipping young wizard face evil and win? Hopefully!

C. Dale Brittain adds a little spice and flavor to the usual wizards and medieval settings. There are no strained attempts to make this tale ultra-different, but rather Brittain simply lets it flow. We have kings, wizards, demons, courtiers, and political plotting. Yet the plotline never becomes bogged down or too serious.

Humor in this book is never blatant or overdone, eliciting chuckles rather than belly laughs. I loved Daimbert dyeing his beard gray and buying the threadbare red-and-black top, writhing when the constable announced that they wouldn't expect telephone magic for at least a few weeks, and noting that his "Christmas suit" is ruined after slaying a dragon. It's wry and understated, but very realistic. Readers could definitely imagine someone thinking this way.

Daimbert is a delightful character. He's not flawless, or even very skilled, but his brainpower and niceness overcome the fact that he's not too good at wizardry. The supporting characters are a little less defined, but all are great, especially aging (sometimes NON-aging) ingenue Lady Maria, the solemn chaplain (who is as likeable as Daimbert in a very different way), and the ex-Royal Wizard, who is the sort of crotchety, capable wizard that everyone likes.

Descriptions are pretty good, evocative when describing action but never overdone. The dialogue is also realistic; too many fantasy books take themselves too seriously, resulting in silly melodramatic language, but this book is full of characters who talk like real people. The conversation with the demon is especially well-done, as is Daimbert's debate with the chaplain.

... Fans of Discworld ...should check out the adventures of Daimbert.

This book is not as lighthearted as the title might indicate, but it still has a great deal of charm. It is a light, engaging read, but there is nothing light about the subject matter. Kudos to Brittain for being able to pull it off! The depth of the characters and view really surprised me-- very rarely are fantasy books, especially light fantasy books, written like "real life," where sometimes there ARE no easy answers or ready-made villains. The characters are very real people, and their relationships and reactions to each other are complicated and not always easy to define (just like real life). I don't want to scare anyone off by this "heavy" review because it's not a "heavy" book at all. I found "A Bad Spell in Yurt" to be an excellent light fantasy that can be appreciated on a deeper level (if one is so inclined). It is worth noting that my twelve-year-old brother liked it as much as I did, in his case without doing all the complicated analysis.

A great collection of information, but I'm struggling to keep up on all these publications and which one is the best. Too many baseball books giving you the same thing for about the same price. And this one doesn't really stand-out.

As a veteran fantasy leaguer and two-time defending league champion, I have been looking to broaden my horizons when it comes to projecting player stats. This was my first year buying Shandler's book, and I am amazed at the wealth of valuable information he includes.

In his projections, Shandler includes a host of statistical measures that you won't find anywhere else, and they have led me to a lot of insights I wouldn't have had without the book. The highlight for me was the PQS pitching log, which turns a subjective look at starting pitcher performance into a valuable quantitative tool. I also enjoyed the essays that he and his staff put together, looking into the minutia of baseball performance.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain an edge in fantasy baseball or to anyone with an unsatisfied curiosity about predicting baseball players' stats.

I started participating in fantasy baseball last year. It was a great time, but I became inundated with magazines and endless articles on what to do. It was too overwhelming that in retro I choked when it came to picks from rounds 5-10.
This book puts the mind at ease and also is a great read if you're getting into baseball and wanna understand the natural progression of talent and skill. Yes, it does come with an oh-so-handy spreadsheet and chart, but it does give you the tools needed to make educated choices and sleeper choices that are above "sleeper" quality.
Definitely a great tool to use and parlay come draft day. If anything you'll appreciate the number 26!

I just got the 2005 Baseball Forecaster. The tech analysis is great and it broken down very well.

It wiil be a great addition to your fantasty baseball draft overall.

Have subscribed to Shandler's Forecaster since 1997. Believe me, I've been through all the other mags and publications, both by noted fantasy gurus such as Bill James, John Benson, etc in addition to Spoting News, Fantasy Sports and so on. I still read and buy the others, as I consider them interesting and enjoyable reads. Yet, when I want the crucial info that will lead me to league titles, I refer to Baseball HQ. The Forecaster has guided my preseason and in season ship for 6 yrs now. The best, no questions asked. Projections based on empirical data, trends and base skill indicators. I could go on and on..... Play Ball!!!!!!!

Baseball Prospectus is a must-have for any hard-core baseball fan. These guys do a fantastic job of stripping away the nonsense and the myths and really analyzing the facts to come up with some really useful observations. Also, the manner in which they do it is fun, funny and engrossing; never just a cold statistical survey. All fantasy league players should buy this book immediately, but it will be a great read to any fan of the game.

Where once there was only Bill James, now it seems there are oodles of annuals offering scientific analysis of baseball, and a zillion more offering fantasy advice. What makes Prospectus far and away the best? Yes, its analysis is spot on, and contrary to the review above, they have nothing against the Colorado Rockies. Yes, its comments would be helpful at a fantasy draft, although this book is much more about "Real" baseball. No, what makes the Prospectus the best book is the humor. You'll laugh out loud more often than reading any comedian's book on the NYT best sellers list, that's for sure.

If every general manager in baseball (Ed Lynch, are you reading this! ) was forced to study this book, entire paradigms of baseball lore would suddenly be pushed aside in favor or fresh, rational, and rigorous principles of management. All of the statistics provided in the prospectus are, of course, second to none, but Michael Wolverton's relief ratings (ARP, ARA, etc.) are truly something special. I have always been amazed at how even the most "knowledgable" baseball minds accept simplistic statistics like ERA and saves as valuable appraisals of a relief pitcher's talents. It's as if the baseball gurus have failed to adjust to post-1950 baseball with its growing reliance on bullpens and decreasing reliance on starting pitchers, and the completely different conditions in which relief pitchers work in comparison to their starting compatriots. Yet these same "experts" have accepted without question the notion that a team must have a real "closer" in order to be a contender. Wolverton blasts these assumptions to smithereens with his analyses, and his elaborate calculations, yet pristine conclusions should revolutionize how the later innings of games are viewed. Throw in the authors' passionate defense of wise treatment of young pitchers, their funny yet consistently incisive comments about hundreds of players, their willingness to challenge age-old fallacies like "veteran leadership" and the genuinely historical perspective they bring to the table of baseball debate, and you have one of the most informative and entertaining baseball books I've ever read.

BP debunks myths, explodes fallacies, and takes sabermetrics to a new height. It has an excellent method for evaluating and projecting performance, but many other credible methods can found elsewhere. BP's riches are found in the essays and player commentaries. Its insights will reshape the baseball debate in the coming years. Roster management, pitcher abuse, big markets v. small markets, tools v. skills -- the debates defining our age and the age to come are all discussed fully and insightfully here.

BP readers will in short time find themselves looking at baseball in a much more complex and accurate way. They will find themselves at greater and greater distance from the newsstand knowledge of those who rely on magazines and Baseball Weekly. They'll be better fans for having read BP. No other book provides so much. BP2K is the best value on the market.

All of the reviews of Baseball Prospectus above are spot-on -- it's easily one of the most insightful and ENTERTAINING baseball publications (are you listening, John Benson?) and a must-read for those who take the game seriously.

But be warned -- if you think that baseball analysts "look at stats too much" or still believe that batting average is a pretty good way of assessing a hitter's performance, then you will be way out of your league. Even after 2+ years of studying the Prospectus' methodology, I'm still occasionally befuddled by the statistical measurements used.

Let's just put it this way: there are NO REAL STATS in Baseball Prospectus -- all stats are adjusted (based on park factors, team factors, etc.) or projections for the upcoming year. It's the ultimate in "fantasy" baseball -- yet it tells you more about the "real" game than any non-STATS book out there. And -- to repeat -- it's extremely well-written, provocative and hilarious.

I would just like to confirm what a previous reviewer stated for Mr. Wirkmaa's book. I took the reviewer's advice, bought the book on Amazon, and also went ahead and bought "The Scorekeeper's Friend" available at Mr. Glasco's website. The two taken together offer a winning combination for those aspiring to become competent baseball/softball scorekeepers. The former comprehensively explains the reasoning behind the scoring rules of baseball, while the latter shows you how to do it on a scorecard. Two thumbs up!

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the basics of score keeping. It is about as simple as it can get as the offensive numbers goes.

If you're an official scorer at any level you need this book. I'm an official scorer for a minor league baseball team, and I keep mine handy during the games. Every now and then I'll need to pull it out to check a rule when something odd happens. Without it I would have been able to find answers in the official rule book, but not nearly as quickly or definitively.

I hope the author is working on an updated edition to reflect the scoring rule changes put into place in 2007! I'll buy this book again if he does!

This book does a very solid job of clarifying some of the finer points of scorekeeping that are somewhat vague and difficult to comprehend in the baseball rule book. I highly recommend it for anyone who is truly serious about improving the accuracy of their scorekeeping skills. Even novice baseball fans that like to score a game just for kicks while sitting at the ballpark can benefit from reading it.

Mr. Wirkmaa patterns his book directly on the Rules of Baseball, therefore making it simple to go from the Rules to his interpretation of how the scoring would be handled for that particular situation. This type of editing lays out what is still a complicated subject in at least a methodical fashion.

My only disappointment on receiving the book was that he includes no diagrams on the scorekeeping itself. I wanted to see the actual scribblings when someone "runs the book." Not in there. I purchased another excellent book (not available through Amazon) entitled "The Scorekeeper's Friend" by Bill Glasco that has the level of diagramming (and explanations) that I was initially seeking.

All in all, any person serious about their scorekeeping should own Mr. Wirkmaa's book. I hope he follows it up with another.

What a great book. Gary Smith isn't a writer, he is a poet. His articles are something to be savored, not skimmed. Each and every word has a purpose. In today's world of "blurbs" it is refreshing to read a book by someone who has honed his craft so superbly you never want to finish reading the book. He's not a sportswriter, he's a writer of human nature. By far the best book of collected articles I have ever read.

Gary Smith, a veteran of the sports writing game has brilliantly pieced together this collection of past articles that have made him the most popular sportswriter in the business. A gift to Sports Illustrated Magazine, Smith goes beyond the game to capture the truth in situations the reader never knew about sports legends as well as sports tragic failures. Smith writes about John Malangone a.k.a. the "Damned Yankee," who was foreseen to be the next Yogi Berra. Malangone's story shows Smith's ability to add emotion to his writing, especially in this first instalment to this collection. Muhammad Ali's story is a great one but in Smith's book, he looks at the lives up the people around the public life of Ali. The lives of Ali's entourage according to Smith had it's ups and downs through Ali's struggles and triumphant moments. Perhaps the most fascinating piece in Smith's book is his view of the young Mike Tyson growing up in Brooklyn. From Tyson's ill-temper, and petty theft to his encounter with the great Cus D'Amato, Smith shows the reader what made Tyson a raw and gritty character in the boxing world today. Smith's magnificent collection of sports writing takes the average sports fan to a new level as he truly takes the reader beyond the game.

I recently received this book as a gift, after having raved for years about the quality of Mr. Smiths writing. Sports happens to be the world in which these stories are set, but he writes about what it is to be human. His compassion and understanding of his subject is so complete that I feel as if I know these people better than most of my friends. His ability to indicate the unspoken thoughts and feelings of his subjects leads the reader to a deeper understanding of humanity, triumphs and failures both.
My only disapointment, as pointed out by an earlier reviewer, is that the collection is not long enough.
I recently re-read a story he wrote for Sports Illustrated back in march of 2001, about a black man who became the basketball coach for a high school in a small Amish community and how he affected the entire town.
I challenge anyone to read this article without feeling uplifted.
A must read for anyone who enjoys great writing.

Gary Smith is a great writer who happens to write about sports. My only complaint: I wish the collection was twice as long as it is. Whether or not you're a sports fan, you should read this book to get a feel for what a master prose stylist can accomplish. Terrific reading.

i'm thrilled to see gary smith's work in a nice collection like this one. in an age of writing catered to us as if we have attention deficit disorder, it's refreshing to have such illuminating work readily available. in college a few years back i was working on a very touchy feature about an athlete, so i called sports illustrated just hoping to consult with mr. smith to get a better understanding of entering intimate and personal boundaries. amazingly enough, he called me back the following day and we talked for about a half an hour. and for a young writer to speak with one of the greatest, i was deeply inspired. needless to say, the story ended up winning a feature award and i am very grateful to him. i hope he not only gets his writing out to more people now, but that he makes a nice buck off it too! the book is worth every cent!