Sports Books

Best approach to doubles ever. Highly recommended.

I bought your book "Unlimited Doubles"last winter. I loved it and showed it to the pro at our club. He was impressed with it and said he liked the way it was presented. I have used everything in this book and passed it around to all my friends.

But, what I want to tell you is that at the time I bought the book, I had just been elected captain of a 2.5 women's USTA team. This was our first year playing competitive tennis. Well, in four weeks, our team is going to the National Championships in Palm Springs. We won the Pacific Northwest Sectional Championships last month.

Your book really helped me get a good grasp on the doubles strategies needed to improve my game. Thank you again,

Fran Wooldridge
Salem, Oregon

After reading or hearing many good things about this book, I thought it was a no-miss. However, this book has to rank in the bottom quarter of my collection, not to mention overpriced. Other doubles books are far superior in translating the essence of doubles. Tourdo simplifies doubles to twelve lessons (aka Point Control System): the essence is being proactive in moving in and to the ball, taking control of the tempo, and aggressive consistency. There is very little on the importance of serving and returning, neutralizing volleys vs attacking volleys, different poaching cues and doubles formations, etc. Since it is so simple, it is actually quite palatable for the singles player trying to become a bit better at doubles or for the 3.0 player trying to become a better doubles player. However, since it offers so little, most players might be wanting to digest a bit more (check out Blaskower's or Braden's doubles books which are superior). I would also recommend it to "mindless" players since often 2-3 (rather than 50) simple cues might make a significant difference. Not recommended for serious players, doubles specialists, or coaches.

Dear Steve, The book was fabulous. This book is for everyone wishing to improve their doubles game and definitely helped both my teammates and I improve our games. Speaking for myself the three areas it helped me with were: 1) better understanding of the 3 zones from baseline to net 2) the basics of service angles i.e. emphasis on serving down the middle more often and 3) the do's and dont's of poaching -- on both serve and returns. With my partner now serving down the middle more, I have become a more aggressive and smarter poacher -- again, on both serve and returns. Never in any other book, article, or video has a book helped my doubles game so much. Thanks Steve!

I've read several of the popular books on doubles including The Art of Doubles by Pat Blaskower, Laugh and Win by Vic Braden, ect. In my opinion these other books are interesting at best but don't hold a candle to Unlimited Doubles. The author's way of breaking down the game into simple concepts REALLY helped me to understand. I no longer worry about all the other things most coaches try to get you to think about like "Who takes the ball in the middle?", and "Should I play the add or deuce court?" I no longer worry about all that because I FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE GAME! I'm poaching more than I ever have, I'm taking the initiative to win and I LOVE IT! No longer do I stand on the court hoping something good will happen. I'm closing into the net and using angles for the first time in my life! I'll be reading this book over and over again. Thank you SOOO much!

This is an excellent book to use to teach students to write their biographies no matter what their age!

I read When I was young in the mountains, then took it to my father, who read it. Rylant is slightly older than me, but she grew up near where my dad was born and raised. My father said after reading that he'd pretty much grown up the same way. He left the poverty of Appalachia as a teenager via the poor man's college-- the service. I was born and raised in Utah. Books such as When I was young in the Mountains were a way for me to connect with a way of life I knew very little about, and I am very thankful for Rylant's work, especially since Dad died recently.

Growing up in West Virginia myself, I relate to to this book. Although I'm now 20 and currently attending college, I still love to read it. It is something I plan to read to my children.

This work is rather realistic. For anyone who grew up in similiar surroundings, it brings on waves of nostalgia. Growing up in the Ozark Mountains was quite similar to the setting of this story. These were simpler times, for good and bad, and it is good that we have something like this to pass on to our children. The illustrations in this book are soft and wonderful. The text is quite to the point and quite readable and understandable. The book leaves much room for open discussion, although it helps a lot if you actually grew up in these conditions, when discussing it with the young ones. I find that the simple fact there there was no electricity, no T.V., no radios, no running water, etc. quite difficult for children to understand and grasp. This book helps a lot. Recommend this one highly.

This book showed us what is best about the mountains and the traditions of those living in those mountains. It has been so easy for our society to stereotype Appalachian mountain people as ignorant, backwards hillbillies that it is refreshing to see a depiction that shows mountain people in a different light. The old ways are disappearing. So are the mountains. The Appalachian mountains are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, containing one of the most diverse hardwood forests on earth. Mountain top coal removal, strip mining, and valley fills are destroying these mountains. Soon, the only way we will be able to show our children the beauty and wonder of these mountains will be through books and memories. "When I Was Young in the Mountains" will be a treasure in our house for generations. I encourage everyone to not only read this book, but also to support efforts to stop destructive, non-sustainable coal mining practices so we will be able to show our children and grandchildren more than just beautiful pictures of what once existed!

the book was great son and husband read it fast shipping and in good shape

this is a must read for the bill elliot fan and nascar fans

i am reading the book and so for i have enjoyed it very much and i am finding out what a hard time bill had in his racing career

It was very interesting to read Bill's own story on NASCAR racing and his career. He has not ordinarily been to loose with his words in the past, so it was refreshing to get his views and opinions first hand. He was generally very complimentary towards his fellow competitiors, but was quite critical of NASCAR concerning the safety issue and the death of Earnhardt. A good read from one of racings finest and classiest drivers.

All I can say is...AWESOME BOOK. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 15.

I learned lot from this book. While watching baseball I was having a difficult time understanding all the terms and moves. This book helped me understand all of it and more.

This book makes sense out of the disorganised mess that is the Offical Baseball Rule Book. Good indexing and graphics clear up the confusion most fans have about balks, interference, and other fine points of the game. A must for the serious fan.

I have attended minor league baseball for 15 years. It is amazing what I didn't know.

The illustrations in this book are excellent. The visual layouts of all the major league fields alone is worth the price of admission. All of the visulas are excellent. Makes the book enjoyable to peruse even if you know the rule. The book is smart enough to know the difference between the official and actual strike zone too.

This book is full of interesting information for beginners and long-time fans. But what makes it especially appealing to read is the design and the layout of the book. It's beautifully done. I've given away many copies to serious fans.

I found this incredible interview regarding how the game of Golf has changed over the years. You wouldn't believe the evolution! If you have any interest in the history of Golf, this is a must read. If you want to become even more knowledgeable on the subject, scroll to the bottom of the interview and get in touch with the author. After reading, I guarantee you will be able to lead the most interesting discussions and impress your friends!

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewroden.html

I had read that Hogan would tell other golf pros that came to him seeking golf swing advice that they should "dig it out of the dirt" like he did. What sounded like a brush off may have been simply the truth. Hogan dug his swing out of the dirt by putting more work in on it that anyone else. Perhaps that was his real "secret". Hard work.

This book puts a positive spin on a personality that was respected but was not uniformily well liked. Along the way the author gives enough well reseached detail to put human flesh and bones on an iconic figure. A good read. I recommend it.

I would greatly recommend this book. It is a very comprehensive study into the life of a true legend and is also a very incisive insight into America during the thirties and forties. In the course of reading about such an outstanding career the name Tiger Woods inevitably enters one's thoughts. Just how would Hogan have compared to Woods during the prime of his career. Woods continues his gallop into history but Hogan's name will always be the one who was responsible for taking golf out of the country clubs and into the municipal courses.

An outstanding insight to the life and times of Mr. Hogan. So much was presented that never came to the public eye. And even though a discredit was given by one reviewer in his May 9, 2005 review, based on the fact that 10 birdies in an US Open on a par 74 course was not possible, this individual did not do his homework. The US Open was played on a par 74 course in Savannah, Georgia in the early 1930s. A great book, a wonderful revelation, a must read for those interested in golf history.

As both an avid golfer, and Ben Hogan admirer, I was more than satisfied with this book. Once i turned the first page I couldn't put it down. The information shared on the life of who I consider to be the greates golfer ever is unparalleled. Although this will instantly become a cherished part of any Ben Hogan fan's book collection, anyone who enjoys American history, sports history, sports in general, and golf in particular, as well as those who like true stories of sucess against all odds, will enjoy this book. It's a well-written portrait capturing all the good and bad of Ben Hogan and his life, and there was plenty of both. Anyone who thinks they know anything about Ben Hogan the man owes it to themselves to read this book. As Arnold Palmer himself said of the book: "I thought I knew Ben Hogan pretty well, until this book came along...". If you were interested enough in this book to read the reviews, you should buy it. You will not regret doing so.

While hiking and taking nature photos for a school project, Lisa
stumbles across a badly abused horse in a paddock. She, Carole and Stevie call the local animal rescue league who impounds the mare. As the mare dislikes men, Lisa assumes most of the care for her. This is a very poignant tale, and I won't give away the ending.

This is the most beautiful Saddle Club book yet. It shows how important love is naturally, as ALOT of books do, but it also shows how important it is to be willing and brave to let yourself love totaly. Lisa risked alot of saddness if Eve would have died, but it wasn't until she named Eve and let herself be vulnerable to the saddness of losing her that Eve started to realize Lisa cared and look forward to life.
The part with the brush was my favorite, like one reader said before. It was the first time Eve showed any sign of wanting to live.
I know Lisa loves Prancer, but Eve and her seem like such a perfect match.

This was an excellent book!The story was very heart felt but not as much realistic and correct like most of Bonnie Bryant's Saddle Club books. But overall this was a great story to sit down and read.In my opinion,the problems that Stevie,Lisa,and Carole have are very rare but can put you in a good mood somehow. BUY THIS BOOK! IT'S WORTH IT!

Hi!!! We're the Stirrup Stars. We love this book because it shows that if you just believe and do your best, you can reach your goal. Lisa took wonderful care of Eve. Also, it was full of suspense that made you want to keep on reading and never stop! Please, read this book!!! It's a great example of a horse/rider bond.

I thought this book was really heart warming. It really showed determination and love for a horse. I think Broken Horse is one of the best books in series.

dominique moceanu is the best gymnast anyone could ever know.i'm a gymnast my self,and reading about her,seeing her on tv,seeing her smile,makes me wan't to go out there and do the same.and i do!saying this,you probubly won't believe me,but being a fan of hers,seeing her doing the things she does(smile)has inproved my skills in gymnastics!i hope she has done the same for you,cause if you don't know her.you better know her to day,cause she is the best you'll ever love!i used to hate gymnastics some times,and till i saw dominique moceanu with that beatiful smile.i've loved gymnastics ever since then.every time i compete.i act like her,smile,and show that i love doing what i'm doing,cause i know dominique moceanu~and you gotta know her too!thanks dominique,for making me win my first silver(on floor),cause seeing you smile all the time,and always being happy,has made me do the same,and it improved only because i love you!

You will find this book to give many details on the young gymnast at a professional view point. If you are looking to get more personal information such as characteristics, personality, etc.. Get another book. This is about her and the sport of gymnastics from the time she started up to late '96. I enjoyed the book a great deal and was amazed to find out how very succesful she is in every day living at such a young age. That is much to be said for our day and age!

Also recommended: Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion: An Autobiography Dominique Moceanu

The book was fully detailed and was a very easy to read book. I read it in a matter of hours, and I am 11 years old. I love gymnastics and Dominique. Since the first time I saw her on T.V. I wanted to be just like her. Now I am taking acrobatics at a great little studio. even though we only do floor excersises, I still someday would like to be just like Dominique! The book has really encouraged me too succeed, and I really hope that anyone that wants to be something, jumps on it, you only live once!

This book is perfect for any fan of Dominique Moceanu. You learn so much about her, starting from her birth all the way up to the 1996 Olympics. This was a very vivid and detailed biography. I really thought it was cool to read about the gymnastics school she used to train at before she went to Karolyi's. It tells about all her early compititions and experiences. It felt like I really knew Dominique Moceanu! I learned so much from this book, and like Krista Quiner's other gymnastics biographys, this was a great one!

This book was truly awesome. Krista did an excellent job writing this book. You feel that you actually know Dominique. I reccomend this book for ALL Dominique fans. A must read book!!

Also recommended: Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion: An Autobiography Dominique Moceanu

I purchased this book to give to my husband at his retirement party. We are in the process of purchasing a sailboat to live aboard. We have almost no experience in sailing let alone maintenance of a sailboat. At our recent survey, my husband was able to ask pertinent questions, and have his many questions answered as well. He said the surveyor followed the book almost page by page. This book is a 'must have' for any sailboat owner, beginner or experienced. We plan to buy more of Don Casey's books to keep in our onboard library.

If I had to chose one reference manual to help me take care of my sailboat, this would be the one. The best I have read.

While it really is impossible to have one book that covers everything to do with yacht maintenance, this one comes pretty close. Don's books really are remarkable, they have all the info you need, explained clearly and coupled with excellent large diagrams that are a pleasure to study. If you've considered one of the books in his yacht maintenace series, forget it, just buy this compendium of them all, I guarantee you will not regret it.

It would be even better if it will have a bit more details, but it is good anyway.

Don Casey (as usual) has written a definitive book on maintenance for my aging boat and most important to me, tips to help me shop for my next sailboat. Well organized, illustrated and written, the only negative thing I can say about the book is, that it scared me to learn how much important info I didn't know (ignorance was bliss!) Well worth the full retail price, an even better value when purchased online.

The depth and breadth of this book are astonishing. I just started reading it seriously a few days ago, and rather like the car, it goes quickly. The tone is stiff-British and humorless, although I'm glad it avoids so many of the exclamations and hyperbole usually seen in books of this type.

Much of the text is made up of quotes from the main players involved with the F1 project, but Doug Nye adds much from his knowledge of racing and cars in general. Near the end the author wisely lets Rowan Atkinson, better known as Mr. Bean, give his impressions of the project. The hundreds of captioned pictures, sketches, and notes make for a revealing peek into the car's gestation. Many times I felt as if I were seeing privileged information, to be kept within the company, although its obviously not as sensitive as it once was.

If anything, this book outlines what a torturous and exhaustive process creating a road car from the ground up really is. So much has to come together to make the finished product, and not one of the problems presented an obvious solution. One bit of irony concerns how McLaren were searching for a specialized facility to construct prototypes. By coincidence, such a building was owned by Ferrari, who were looking to sell. McLaren boss Ron Dennis pounced on the deal, avoiding a delay of months or maybe years to the project. Ferrari were perhaps less than pleased by the acquisition... Other than that, there was no luck involved in the McLaren F1 process, just slavish testing, sleepless nights, and an obsessive refusal to compromise anything. The total budget is never given, but it's hard to believe the McLaren F1 ever made any money.

The book also includes a large poster/chart with the F1 GTR's full racing record, as well as the number and body color of each chassis. Not to be missed.

An excellent detailed review of how the McLaren F1 came about. From the basic concept test platforms to the engine design by BMW to the final long tailed race version. Gives a clear presentation of Gordon Murray's philosophies in putting this amazing vehicle together, even shows sketches that go back to his college years. The three seater concept with the driver in the middle was not new to Gordon's mind.

More than a decade have past since the McLaren F1 was on the street. No one has ever surpassed it. Not even themselves, with the new Mercedes SLR Mc Laren. So if you really want automotive history on your house, this is it

This book is a 'must have' for anyone interested in the McLaren road car. It is one the best books to cover a single model that I have ever read.

The 'insiders' view of documents and photographs could never be possible without the help given from the factory.

By reading the book, and seeing the photos, one can truely get into the mind of Gordon Murray and his team.

The comprehensibe book on the Mclaren F1 supercar in great detail.From the ideas,designs,testing right through to the racing models this book covers everything you wanted to know.
Colour photos,diagrams and a story of this unique car make this book everything enthusiasts want.A huge book that belongs on ever car lovers book shelf.

If you love the Mclaren F1 supercar this book is for you.

Unlike other outdoor recreation guides for this area that solely write about one type of activity, this one is different, it offers three. Personally I like to mix biking and hiking up so it really suits my style and delivers all the information I could ever want.

Marin County and San Francisco have to be the most beautiful of all the places to get outside around here. I use this book as a trail finder mostly for dayhikes and coastal rides. It's unfussy and since the authors are natives and know the terrain so well, list plenty of places that are not on the postcards. The writing style is fresh and humor is interjected here in unsuspecting places. It's a unbelievable value for residents.

Last June I became aware of this guide. I hadn't realized that some of the best hiking in the world is in my own backyard....Marin County and San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Trailblazer opens the doors to every trail in the area and even includes bike routes. On Friday evenings my husband and I read over the hikes we want to take on the weekend. So many are shorties and are wonderful outings for our 5 and 7 year olds. There's a trail map for the Golden Gate Park as well as the San Francisco downtown and the design is very reader friendly. For anyone just visiting it makes for an ideal itinerary planner.

If you like getting outdoors for a walk or hike in San Fran or Marin and want to get advice from two Bay Area natives, get this guide. I recommend it for its thoroughness and presentation. For people like me who have just moved here, it's worth every penny.

The authors style puts adventurers at ease as they dissect the complex world of city streets and highways that lead to the trailheads. There's no trolling through pages of dense text. It's all broken up with pictures and maps and cleanly numbered trail lists and descriptions. It's by far the best I've come across for this area.

A great resource and really user friendly. We loved the whole feel and layout. We parked the car in one spot and spent one entire day walking and hopping the cable cars. All the action is grouped so our time was well spent and car expenses kept to a minimum. Strongly recommended for a city fix.

I would say it's one of the most helpful travel books I've ever bought. The detailed descriptions for family walks around San Francisco and through the Marin woods were especially good. It's organized. The writing style is colorful, direct, and amusing. Buy this book and you might want to buy a restaurant guide to to along with it. Going to California is now going to be a yearly ritual.Zagat 2008 San Francisco Restaurants