Sports Books

that's from the muppet column. hilarious. okay first off, the cover is tight ... balls in briefs ... the insides are great too. ive read most of these before, but they're all worth reading again. good stuff

There are a few good sports-writers around but I always get dried ink on my hands from their columns. Chris is different. His wit and facetious charm can be found "in the net" as well as in this book. Come on, give the kid a chance; it's a Great Read!

I'm in tears reading this book, laughing so hard. Pure comical genius. Quality stuff.

Yeah, that's right. You need to judge this book by its cover. The inside is just as hilarious as the outside. 5 stars just for that. Though it is a great read for Wilson fans, sports fans or anyone wanting a laugh.

okay, the book is great. i just keep cracking up from reading the article called "spelling for dummys xxx dummies." the wheel of fortune gag was dope and the redskins ball coach calling ifeanyi ohalete "IO, as in IOU playing time" is just mad funny. the rest of the book is just as goon and worth your reading time. out

My husband loved this book and convinced me to read it...I read his copy to pieces and have had to order another to replace it. This is a laugh out loud novel...grab your copy today!

Welcome to the way NASCAR was when men were men, the cars were men and the women were, well...women. The all-time funniest expose' on NASCAR ever, bar none. This is back before the Politically Correct corporate culture that has taken over NASCAR existed. If you know a little NASCAR history, you'll identify the people (the names were changed to protect the guilty) and howl with laughter. Will someone Pulleezze make a movie that is really based on this book, not the Hal Needham peice of junk that waw released to theaters. Enjoy.

This is the best, funniest book on racing ever. I can't believe it hasn't been memorialized. I hope Neely was paid well for the Hollywood trash-it should have been done by Newman... in the spirit of "Slap Shot".

This book is an absolute MUST READ for anyone who ever wondered how to park their car in a swimming pool. Find out what racers really think just before they smack a wall at 200 mph. Learn how to start racing in a Birdcage and wind up in the big league of NASCAR. Learn out to turn a visit to the infield hospital into a long term relationship. Also, the finer points of racing in reverse gear at night. Seriously, this book is a riot! I read it orginally in the early 70's and have been searching for it ever since then.

Not to be confused with the horrid movie starring Burt Reynolds.

This book is dated now, but it is a great read for folks who were fans of the sport in the 60's and 70's. There were lots of stories from that period that took place on and off the track that are recounted in the book.

It makes me laugh out loud every time I read it!

I love Gaku Homma's books for their straightforwardness. This one is exactly what the subtitle says it is. I wish there were a higher text-to-photo ratio, but mostly I wish Gaku Homma had finished the series of which this was the first book. If you train in aikido already, I suspect there's a good chance you've seen this material already. But if you train in other martial arts and have an interest in aikido, I think this book could be very informative for you.

This book will deepen your understanding of how Aikido techniques are linked to sword fighting. An excellent, visual presentation of Aikido footwork, timing and mental attitude. I wish Mr. Homma would complete the series he had planned with the publication of this book. Highly recommended!

This is the best technique book I have ever read. The book is very practical in the order that it is layed out; and clear in showing the relationship between the the arts. The clearity and order of the photos make it very easy to follow each technique from start to finish. Each technique is true to its Japanese art; their does not look to have any mix of other arts or peronal change to any of the movements. This is an excelent book.

I found the book very good, useful and interesting. It shows that even though Aikido is gracful it is also dangerous.

This book shows in great detail how aikido empty hand techniques related to techniques with weapons.

This is one of the best books I have read. It is simple to read and has amazing depth and clarity. The 12 lessons can be applied to everyday situations as well as the line up. I will pass this book along and recommend it to all my friends.

Great Read. Inspiring. A truely great humble man that has learnt much through his life and has created wisdom that he now emparts to us...

through surf and the beach we have learn and so has the next generation

Shot Shaun...

I don't often read through surfing related books, although I buy them if written by guys like this whom I watched as a kid from a great distance. They typically sit on my coffee table and serve as boredom busters during commercial breaks. But this book was different, fun, and easy to read. Some good life lesson insights from a guy who admits he is nobody's guru. He admits most of his mistakes and passes on some sage advice for young Groms who are just trying to figure it all out. My favorite rant he gave was in the chapter "I will paddle back out". Very good and inspiring. Good job Shaun.

I love this book, I havnt been able to put it down, It brings me back to the days when I surfed, and is filled with the way surfers use to be.

This was one of those books that are impossible to put down until you have reached the unexpected emotional end. I found Shaun's elite level surf descriptions immensely enjoyable. I don't surf, but my beloved husband lives the surfer's code, (both in and out of the water), and now I share an inner understanding.

You don't need to be a surfer to enjoy "Surfer's Code". Shaun's 12 lessons don't only apply in the ocean, they can and should be used in all our lives. The world would be a much nicer place! Thanks Shaun. x Cinnamon Stephens

This is a must read for any serious practitioner of budo.

Dave Lowry is in top form as he explains the the deeper meaning of Kanjis that a budoka might encounter as they progress in their training.

This is an essential guide to understanding what we can learn from the time spent "In the Dojo" and how it could transfer to our daily lives.

Lowry has created a series of 2-3 page mini-essays comparing and contrasting the budo and shodo, the art of Japanese caligraphy.

A wonderful inspiration for the beginning or advanced martial artist alike, he provides another delightful vehicle for reflection. A book to be read slowly and savored.

A lack of familiarity with the written Japanese language is no impediment to the enjoyment of this book. In fact, it may serve as something as a primer for the novice.

Plain and simple - Mr. Lowry lays it all on the line. This book captures the TRUE spirit of the martial arts! It's not about being "bad" or even about self-defense (although martial arts properly studied and used can come in handy when your back's against the wall) - it's about self-development. Nuff sed! Get the book - read it and learn!

Dave Lowry has written an excellent book that I've read on more than one occassion. As a bugeisha (one that studies the traditional Japanese martial ways) this small treatise on terms, kanji and philosophy used in most budo settings is quite enthralling.

I've found that as I've progressed in my own training, Mr. Lowry's "Sword and Brush" becomes even more profound. Going to my bookshelf, dusting off the book cover and reading it each year has proven fruitful. His simple and direct approach provide insight into shodo (the way of the brush), a particular kanji(s) history, which allows the reader to visualize the origins of the pictograph, and its transcendence into the combat ways of Japan. Each philosophical overview imparts a wisdom found by one who has truly studied the arts and can teach intricate meanings to the reader.

Lowry is a true student of the arts; an individual steeped in budo and bujutsu. He gets "it," and tries to share his knowledge with others.

Buy this book, you won't regret it.

This elegant book from renowned martial arts author Dave Lowry is both enlightening and pleasing to the spirit. Mixing examples of his masterful brush work with insightful and thought provoking stories, Lowry delves into the deeper meaning of common martial concepts. It is easy reading yet profound. I read it for the first time nearly a decade ago then recently picked it up again. I do not know if it is the natural maturity that comes with age or through the furtherance of my martial training but I have found it even better the second time around. If you are looking for deeper meaning in from your budo training, this work belongs on your bookshelf!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

Guy Windsor teaches at the fencing school he founded in Helsinki, Finland (School of European Swordsmanship). In this manual, he introduces us to the two-handed longsword, one of the primary close-quarter weapons of the Middle-ages and Renaissance, a weapon highly prevalent in many ancient European martial texts.

Mr. Windsor's text explains the history of this particular sword, with commentary on the philosophies of Italian fencing-masters who wrote some of the most influential early fighting-manuals. Inside, you will recieve instruction in drills of footwork, armed-practice (alone and with a training partner), principles of fencing, and warm-up for sword-practice.

Thoroughly illustrated with black & white photos, as well as historical line-drawings from the original Medieval manuals, you will find this to be a true gem among the new wave of Eurocentric martial-arts books.

Also to be recommended: Medieval Combat by Hans Talhoffer, translated by Mark Rector

This is an excellent book. The demonstrations of the techniques are clear, and easy to understand. Guy Windsor intended for this to be a workbook for the Historical Western Swordsman, and this is. He does an excellent job at conveying the subtlety of the Italian longsword tradition. I look forward to other works by Windsor on the Longsword and other weapons used on the battlefields of medieval Europe.

The broadsword in s good place to start for anyone interested in learning Historic Swordsmanship. This book is well written for those who want to learn the basics. I personally found many new drills and new ways to teach my students.
Personally I have been in the martial arts for over 20 years and have been doing Western Martial Arts for about 8 and I really liked this book. It is always good to return to the basics and make sure they are solid.
I would recomend this book to anyone who is starting or thinking about getting into Historic Swordsmanship, also and well equiped sword library should have this book.

Although I read this a few years ago, it remains for me the best book on the subject of swordplay that I've ever picked up. Although I may disagree with some of his interpretations (and that may simply be the result of his models handling blades too long to accurately demonstrate some of Fiore's guards), his decriptions of the fundamental principles of swordfighting are both elegant and insightful. This book was a pivotal experience in the evolution of my understanding of medieval swordplay.

When I saw this book advertised on Amazon, I said to myself...oh no!!! not another one of those books written by these whackos who think they can swordfight, just because they played with metal bars in their backyard !!!! Then as I looked through it I said .....Finalmente ....Finally....a well researched book written by an intelligent man who has studied the period manuals and presented his theory on the subject!! What is great about Guy Windsor is that even on his discussion forum he admits that he is learning everyday, and that he feels no shame in changing something that he might be wrong on. Great book written by a great author !!! If you want to learn to fight with the Longsword by this book !!!!!!

I first read this book just after it was first published some 50 years ago. It was, I recall, a pleasure to read then and doubly so to re-read the account of Corbett's adventures again today. Jim Corbett's somewhat matter-of fact, understated style is a delight to read and his simple yet vivid descriptions of the Indian locale and the people, who play a part in his story are those of a man that loves and deeply understands this land and its people. Corbett is no wanton destroyer of wildlife but a protector of impoverished and often terrified communities who understands and explains with sympathy, why the prey he hunted were forced to become what they were.

Any book by Jim Corbett is an interesting read. Although, nowadays, big game hunting is a thing of the past (I reckon), yet it is through the eyes of the author that the reader can seamlessly go back to the times when it was not so.

The stories are beautifully detailed in their descriptions of the expeditions, the customs of the hill folks, their traditions, courage, and (some interesting) superstitions. More often than not while reading the book, I have wondered whether whether I would know what happens in the end because of some absolutely incredible situations and circumstances described.

HOW THIS MAN COULD MOVE THROUGH THE JUNGLE SO EASILY I DON'T KNOW..HE MUST HAVE HAD BAZOOMAS LIKE BASKETBALLS...LOL

In a few words Jim Corbett can transport you back 60-100 years & make you feel like you are right there beside him tracking a Tiger in India. There is no bravado, he comes across as very humble. I had read his "Man-Eaters of Kumaon" several years ago & thought it was without a doubt one of the best books I had ever read. Even knowing how good his books were I was still highly impressed with this book as well. It isn't just the tigers he describes but the whole Indian country-side & the people & animals that habitat the place. He takes you there. Don't hesitate to read one of his books.

Once again in this book Jim Corbett has proved it, he was a awesome incredible gentleman. I have never seen anyone who could write like him. Amazing man with amazing courage. His modesty is revealed throughout his book. He goes through so much suffering and pain, but never once writes about it. From his book you can feel how much concern he had for people. People trusted him with with their lives. His book teaches us a lot about jungles. I would recommend this to anyone who likes animals. Once again Jim Corbett you were and still are the best writes of adventures.

I bought this book looking for a guide of some kind to help me know what to exspect, equipment I needed, and how to plan a trip. I got all I was looking for and more, I live and have grown up what most would consider a typical countryboy and have been hunting, camping, and fishing since I was old enough to walk, but I had never been on a long backpacking trip and have really always wanted to try it and this book is a great way to do it, it tells you everything you can think to ask and some you hadn't.I am going to head out on my first trip with confidence and ready for things that are going to happen. I have to say this guy knows what he is talking about andI would recamend you to buy this if you are planning even a short day hike. also the book is made to carry along in your pack with its plastic covered covers and pages. I would like to thank the auther in closing for this book it may have saved me alot of problems and maybe alot of injures.

In 1996 I took my first backpacking trip ever. It was in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Became lost, carried too much weight...but enjoyed myself anyway. Two years later was on Katahdin in Maine. A big smile on my face...had just completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

After that first fun, yet disaster prone trip, stumbled upon the first edition of this book. Read it cover to cover and quickly learned many aspsects of backpacking I was woefully ignorant about. All that summer put into practice what was in the book.

Over the years since I've read that book have done much backpacking. Two end to hikes on the Long Trail, a thru-hike on both the AT and the Pacific Crest Trail. From reading the book was able to get the confidence to tackle longer hikes...and be fired up for them as well.

Now that I head up beginner backpacking trips myself, I always reccomend the book to anyone starting out with this past timne that has become a lifestyle for me.

I rated this book 4 stars, but would actually give it 4 1/2. Why not five? Berger is still skeptical of lightweight hiking (despite her new book about the subject) and it shows in not only in book but hiking videos, articles, etc. But, for the beginner, the solid info about traditional backpacking will get them on to a great start! Worked for me!

This book is a terrific resource for those just starting out or those who would like to know more about hiking and backpacking. The author's topics cover everything from the complete basics like, why you should hike, straight through to the more complex, like how to adjust your compass for declination. She also makes extremely helpful suggestions on purchasing products such as tents, sleeping bags, water purifiers, stoves, and basically all types of gear. The author has a writing style that generates interest in the reading material. She also focuses on particular topics, like handling problems only women encounter in the outdoors, or what you should know before taking children hiking. This book is a must have.

I bought this book recently to expand on what I know about hiking and backpacking. I mainly do day hikes, and living in the desert of the southwest, I obviously end up doing a lot of desert hikes.

This book is very comprehensive, but by no means an all-inclusive description of what you need to know about hiking and backpacking.

It puts great emphasize on backpacking and not so much on hiking, although both activities are very similar in their nature. The book puts its main focus on backpacking in the Northeast of the USA, and talks a lot about the Appalachian Trail, which the author has hiked from one end to another.

The book contains all types of useful and important details about equipment, behavior on the trail, personal safety etc. Personally, I would've liked for it to mention more about travelling by foot in the desert, but that said, you can still find the most important information about desert hiking scattered around the book.

Pros:
* Very comprehensive - Contains information about most things you need to know about hiking and backpacking
* Easy and fun to read - very nice format
* Contains checklists
* Author is very knowledgable on the subject and an accomplished hiker/backpacker
* Good value for money

Cons:
* Not enough information about desert hiking/backpacking
* Very heavy - not something you'd want to bring in your pack unless you had to. On the flip side, it makes it more durable than your average book.
* Not all that good as a reference - best read from beginning to end.

All in all, I would rate it a 4 since it's a quite well written and comprehensive book. It covers what most people would expect to find in this type of book. It falls short of a rating of 5 mainly for the reasons mentioned in CON above.

(This review is of the February 2003 edition)

I'm new to backpacking. I bought a few backpacking books recently, and none of them are more interesting and clearly written than this book. Karen Berger has a great, down to earth writing style without being too "breathy" or wordy. She gets down to the point, shows specific examples,and breaks things down in a way that can be understood by anybody.

This is a no frills approach to success in not just athletics but life in my humble opinion. This is a great learning tool to have for any coach, athlete or someone wanting to just better themselves overall. Many thanks to Mr. Rooney for sharing his knowledge with us.

Ok, this are 11 principles that are important for being succesfull, but there are some more I think. Do the things the author says and you will improve your performance. After implementing all these principles, please search for further improvement. Don't stop exploring.

Greetings
Tom

Train To Win is a great book and I recommend it to any athlete. I read the book in one sitting. It is enjoyable to read, and it seems like you are constantly learning lessons. It touches on so many different aspects, all of which are crucial to your training.

I am playing professionally in France and I still pull the book out for guidance at times. The book is useful to me at 24, but it would also be useful for a 14 year old athlete or a 55 year old one as well.

Sometimes training can seem like a big task. where do i begin? what is most important for me? how do I organize? what is my biggest priority? Rooneys 11 principles really breaks it down for you, and makes things clearer. Another great book and oppurtunity to Learn from Martin Rooney.

This is an excellent book with tons of information on how to create your own training program.

The principles in the book are 100% and it is from these principles that you can design your own regime based on your own strengths/weaknesses and demands of your sport.

The book covers nutrition, workout length, periodisation, variety, economy, amongst other things but one of the real assets of the book is the plethora of inspiring quotes and anecdotes that will you to take and use these principles to create a program to put yourself a class above the rest. Train smart, buy this book, train to win!

As a sidenote, I purchased this book along with Training for Warriors: the Team Renzo Gracie Workout.
Both books are top notch, whether you train martial arts or not, the Warriors book is a great way to see the principles in action and the workouts entailed can be tailored to any sport or training regime. As a combo, these book are unbeatable value.

This is a book who's principals can be used for any athlete. From the pro to casual and from basketball to Mixed Martial Arts and beyond. To many athletes buy a couple body-building magazines and take the workouts from those magazines and implement them into their training for their sport. With no real knowledge why they are doing these workouts other than some pro athlete listed it as what they do. Without knowing what you are trying to accomplish and how to do it you're certain to fail. This book is a great step in the right direction.

I would like to thank Joseph Tomelleri for introducing me to Robert Behnke. Like most fly fishermen, I fish for trout, in large part, because they are so beautiful, and I bought this book for Tomelleri's exquisite illustrations of trout. My first hint that I might have blundered into something more that a great coffee table book was that the forward was written by Tom McGuane. McGuane is one of my favorite authors (most recently Gallatin Canyon: Stories).

Now, I must admit that I am usually skeptical of academics as authors, and Dr. Behnke is a professor emeritus at the University of Colorado. Unlike most of his colleagues, however, Dr. Behnke is able to write well. Consequently, the book is packed with a lot of readable information about trout. I am a Michigander so I knew that the first brown trout in North America were introduced into Baldwin Creek (Baldwin, MI); however, I was not aware of the genetic diversity of the American strain. I was also interested to find out that apparently genetically identical steelhead (anadromous) and rainbow (riparian) trout breed true.

Does all this new knowledge help me select the right fly or land a raging steelhead? No. But it certainly adds richness, clarity and depth to both experiences. And, Salmon and Trout of North America, itself, is richly illustrated and is clearly written in depth. All of that, and Tom McGuane, too. What a bargin!

Mac McCauley
Professor
Wayne State University

The discussion of geologic events by Dr. Behnke, which explain how certain fish species became dispersed is most interesting as well as fascinating.
The paintings of the various fishes by Joseph Tomellari are worth the price of the book alone. All presented on high quality print and paper.

Awesome book. The CSU professor is the best authority on trout & salmon. Period! Also best illustrations you will ever see by Joe Tomelleri. A must have book for any trout & salmon lover!

Wasn't sure this book was still in print and as usual, Amazon came through and I had my copy in 5 days. You can't beat the Amazon Customer Service, delivery, and follow-up, Regards, D.K.Madison

This book is a wonderful piece of work, with great illustrations of the various species of coldwater species found in North American waters. Behnke writes in great detail on the various species of trout, salmon, char, grayling, and a few other coldwater species, and includes much detail on sub-species distribution in a current and historical context, often down to the watershed. He also includes sub-species that have gone extinct in historical times. An excellent introduction discusses such topics as the origins and evolution of Salmonids, as well as their classification, taxonomy, biology, morphology, and anatomy.

The only mild criticism I have is that more could have been written on the distribution of brook trout sub-species in the Midwest and East, along with lake trout of the inland lakes of the Upper Midwest.

The book should be in the library of every serious trout or salmon angler.