Sports Books

Bieng in the Bujinkan for over 10 years, I haven't seen a collection of Soke's insight quite like this. When I first bought the book years ago and read it, some things tried to sink in, but now after years of training, I can see the "shell" of what he is saying. He is a man of many words, but to try and understand them will take a lifetime.Thank you Ben Cole and Soke' for allowing this to come to blossom.
If you are in any part of the marital arts, you should pick up a copy of this book. Find yourself some free time, and let your mind go. Enjoy!

Many people, over many years, have taken Soke's words and moulded them to suit their own ideas and opinions. A lot of Soke's teachings have been interpreted 'on behalf of others' but what is one to do when one has the words in one's own hands? Will those words be willfully transformed? Will they be used to be justify perserverance? Or will they be ignored?

The words in this book are direct from Soke himself and were uttered over many years. To progress in this art, one need only to compare how one thinks about Soke's budo to what the master himself has to say. Naturally enough, if one encounters a divergent path, then the question needs to be asked, 'Who has strayed?'

Use this book as a guide and reminder to stay on track. Accept it as natural that as with Soke's art itself, the words within will adapt themselves to the reader. Depending on that person's nature (and dare I say quality?), the same words will continue to unfold and blossom into newer and fresher meanings.

Non-martial artists with a venturesome spirit ought to be able to find poetic and artistic value in this book. Yet it must be remembered that Soke is a martial artist and those who can come to grasp the sense of Soke's martial 'feeling' will come to realise just how direct and forthright Hatsumi-sensei actually is. The evidence is in the words.

The dragon's tail is hot but if you can grab on to it and not let go...

This is not the sort of book that you sit down and read straight through. It's not a training manual, not a "how to" ready-made recipe book for ninja enthusiasts. In fact, if you haven't seen Hatsumi or his better students train, then much of this may be plainly unintelligible. In this way it is reminiscent of the densho of old- they only make real sense to the initiated (something I suspect is at play in nearly all of his books, especially the ones with lots of photos and diagrams). Rather, it is a collection of related (and unrelated) snippets into the teaching and training philosophy of Hatsumi.

Topics include themes on fighting multiple attackers, use of blades, foot work, throws, training diligence, the transmission of the essence of the art and much more. There are also nice caveats in the text devoted to the perspectives of his top students.

While I mentioned that the point of the book is not instructional in the "step here and pull here" sense, it certainly would be a welcome addition to most martial artists' reading lists and is instructional on a deeper level, if you have the ability to see and understand.

And this brings up the point of yugen, that mysterious realm of life that isn't quite understood, but rather experienced. Much of this book reminds me of the intuitive approach we must have in our training. I find myself reading parts over now and again and each time I draw something else out. Like an icon or a great novel, it speaks freshly every time. Understand? Good. Play!

Gambatte!

There are a lot of books on Ninjutsu out there, but none compare to this one in it's authenticity and insight. It's easy to see why considering that practically every word here was spoken by Soke himself at some point and then translated directly by the author Ben Cole (a practitioner of the art for years and not just a journalist or novelist).

This book has been hailed by those of the highest level within our art both in Japan and abroad who know Hatsumi sensei personally and can hear his voice speaking to them from these pages. It is definitely a must read for anyone who takes their Budo seriously. It is teeming with knowledge and will keep you wondering for years about Soke's mysterious teachings. Get it, read it, read it again, and again...

As many other people have said, this book really isn't for the casual reader. If you don't know japanese martial art's phrases, it'll be hard to place a lot of the japanese words. It's a collection of quotes that Maasaki Hatsumi and a few other instructors have said, and it's broken up into different catagories. I'm trying to find this one quote in the book as I write this but I can't find the page...anyway it was one quote that of the hundreds, really stuck with me. It was something like "Taijutsu is not the techniques. Taijutsu is knowing how to take yourself to a safe place." I always thought that was an interesting quote--I sort of interptered it as taijutsu is not the throwing/arm locking/pressure point hitting so much as it is keeping yourself out of harms way. The nice thing about these quotes is their meaning changes over the years as you train for longer and longer periods of time. At first I didn't get a lot of the quotes, but now they're starting to make sense. It's hard to explain why I like this book...some of it is the humor. Some of the quotes really make you think not just about training but about how we see things and treat the world. I'd highly recommend it to anyone in the Bujinkan. I'm only a green belt, but I still get a lot of wisdom out of this book.

I first read this book early in my private pilot training, many years ago. Needless to say, I did not really understand what I was reading. Coming back to it now, with a number of additional ratings and many more hours of flight time to my name, was a revelation. Almost on every page, I found myself saying, "Yes, that's how it is." Buck really knows what he is talking about, whether it be ice, thunderstorms, turbulence, or transitioning from instruments to visual on the approach. Taking to heart what Buck has to say will first and foremost help you to survive as a pilot by making good weather decisions. Just as importantly, he imparts a great deal of wisdom on how to get maximum utility from the airplane while keeping risk to a low level. However, as indicated earlier, the book is definitely not for beginners. A solid understanding of basic meteorology and a considerable amount of piloting experience are needed to interpret it correctly--and safely.

As a CFI I have numerous books in my aviation library. This book details flying in weather and the mindset required to be a safe and competent instrument pilot.

Recommeded to me by my instructor after I received my instrument rating I now recommend it to students and associates whenever the subject of flying in weather (or not flying in weather) comes up.

I read Northstar Over My Shoulder prior to buying this book so I had an understanding of Captain Buck's history and experience which added weight to the wisdom obvious in Weather Flying (buy that book too!)

Not a lesson on meteorology; more of a lesson on judgment and decision-making. In other words, how does one deal with the weather? What does one do with the information one has?
Bob Buck is a man of authority, vast knowledge and experience when it comes to weather flying. His advice is, therefore, not to be taken lightly.
The book is readable, Buck writes "as he talks and flies, with an easy touch...he makes it simple and plain". The only thing that frustrated me at times was the fact that due to the sheer amount of information and knowledge he wants to impart, he occasionally jumps from one issue to the other, picking up new subjects while seemingly leaving others unfinished.

... and will remain so after you read this book. Everything in Buck's book is useful but it is tough to remember all of his rules without a solid grounding in meteorology. The cover's subtitle "a practical book on flying in all kinds of weather" is accurate. This book is about practice, not theory. However, after finishing the book, I was disappointed to find myself as ignorant as ever about weather and completely at the mercy of the FAA briefers.

It is hard to imagine a pilot with more weather flying experience than Captain Robert Buck. And much of this flying was in the old days: in the early years of the Army Air Corp and a young company called TWA. Much of this flying was accomplished without the assistance of modern instrumentation. Captain Buck travelled the world seeking the most ornery weather he could find, and then flew into it time and time again, compiling the experience and collecting the data that no one else had at the time. Captain Buck shares that experience here. This book is interesting and engaging to the flying enthusiast, essential to the VFR pilot, and absolutely priceless to the aspiring instrument pilot. Every discipline and every pastime has its classics, and WEATHER FLYING is, without a doubt, one of the classics of aviation.

The language of WEATHER FLYING is simple and straightforward. The lessons are practical more than theoretical, though Captain Buck keeps his readers briefed on essential weather theory as well. Virtually every weather situation that a pilot can encounter is covered in this book, from the ordinary to the exotic. Then Captain Buck instructs you how to fly it. The concept is simple and direct; the lessons are comprehensive and pragmatic.

In short, this is not a book to read once and then shelve. The lessons are too important to be forgotten. This is a manual to be taken down and read over and over again by any sort of pilot who flies any sort of aircraft.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

I just received this book and I am very pleased with the presentation and the size. I will be giving it to my grandchildren and I am sure they will love it.

Both my sons played hockey and their little sister lived at the rink watching their practices and games. My advice to parents is the younger you get em started the more fun they'll have and the better players they'll be. This is a great book to get them interested early. The story line and illustrations will have them begging you to read this over and over. My wife and I spent 14 years watching our sons play and now my son's a coach and our grandson plays. I can't think of a better book to get your child started.

My 3 yr old grandson loves this and is among his favorite night time readings. I have bought several hockey related books for your website.
Thank you for your prompt service and great selections.
Jan

This is a wonderful book for your little hockey star. Filled with beautiful vibrant pictures and following an excellent story, this is a must have for your kid.

If your child LOVES hockey - they will enjoy this book. Very easy to read (I suggest for kids 7 and under), with great artwork/pictures.

Absolutely the best, most accurate and most user friendly book ever published on worldwide ski resorts. Wish they would print an updated version but this is still worth purchasing.

This was an invaluable guide for going to europe and enjoying some classic and wonderful skiing. The book was so worth the cost that I packed it with me to review plans for the next day while we ski bummed through the french and italian alps. The book pulls together the information you can find and gives a real experience feel to it. It also allows you the freedom to be able to travel on your own without a group, it also allows you to take a trip to europe for less than a resort in the US! Great book, great time.

Trust me on this one folks. If you have gotten this far, pulled up this ski guide and are reading this review, just save your time and order the book immediately. While on sabbatical from a corporate job last winter I skied in Europe at 28 resorts over 4 months and used this guide exclusively. It was simply invaluable for the complex decision making required when laying out a ski trip especially if you have flexibility in choosing resorts. The layout and design of the book is first rate and gives 1 to 5 star ratings by resort for snow, size, terrain (expert, intermediate, beginner), food, liftlines, scenery, resort charm and off slope activities. The uncannily accurate judgement of the editors on these many points really clinches the value of this book. (Why are you still reading?) The book is about 70% Europe, 20% USA, and 10% rest of the world. There is an enlightening write-up on Europe vs. US ski experience differences. There is a synopsis of the skiing peculiarities of each country. There are useful high level road maps showing the geographical location of each resort. In the front section of the book there is an excellent matrix synthesis of the top 100 or so resorts for a high level view of where you might want to go. There are just enough small but clear trail maps to be useful but not cluttered. There are some accomodation listings with punchy accurate quotes from recent visitors. Because of the high efficient layout and design, all this info is easily accessible and clear.

The book is missing pricing info which is a bit of a gap but everything else is done so well its hardly a complaint. There are some real bargains to be had, especially in Italy and Austria, and less so in Switzerland and France. ... The pricing gap can be resolved by calling the local tourism boards for the resort you are interested in or accessing the local websites. Most of the tourism contact info is in the book also.

The guide is even aesthetically pleasing....very much so.....with nicely placed original small high end (whew!)photographs from some of the resorts giving a pleasant intuitive feel for the area you might be choosing. If you are planning a ski trip in N. America or Europe, buy this guide. Highly Recommended

With all the resources on skiing available on the web, printed guidebooks have almost become obsolete. Resort web sites and ski portals such as DCSki typically provide most of the information found in guidebooks. Web sites also contain up-to-the-minute information on weather and conditions plus timely reviews and firsthand accounts for just about every ski resort on the planet. Finally, many web sites are true communities of practice, places where devotees to snow sports come together and exchange information and ideas.

With that being said, I must confess that I have finally found a guidebook worth purchasing. Where to Ski and Snowboard Worldwide is the ultimate reference for those contemplating a ski trip to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The book features full length chapters on every major destination resort in Europe plus additional chapters covering major resorts in the rest of the world, including the U.S. and Canada. Within each chapter, a reader will find a general review of the resort; a description of slopes for each ability level; and a guide to accommodations, dining, and aprés ski.

Readers will appreciate the no-nonsense candor of this book. At the beginning of each chapter, the guide provides a 1-5 star rating for various aspects of the resort ranging from slopes to aprés ski, and also a quick list of pluses and minuses for each resort. The authors, for example, give Courchevel lots of stars for snow, slopes, and lifts, but only two stars for charm. In its plus/minus matrix, the authors note that Courchevel has "extensive, varied local terrain to suit everyone from beginners to expert," but then notes in the minus column that the resort is "expensive," and that its villages are "soulless." In short, Where to Ski calls the shots where it sees them, offering both compliments and criticisms for each resort profiled.

Where to Ski also offers a nifty "Mountain Facts" sidebar in each chapter that allows one to quickly compare resorts by benchmarks such as skiable vertical in both meters and feet, number of lifts, and kilometers/miles of trails. There is also a "resort ratings at a glance" section at the beginning of the book that brings together the ratings the book gives to each resort in an easy to read table format. If that were not enough, the book provides 200 resort photos, 125 full color trail maps, 70 scale village plans, and general maps for most of the world's major ski regions.

The major weakness of the guide is that it is very Eurocentric. The majority of the 400 resorts covered in detail are in Europe, primarily in the Alps. The book devotes a mere 38 chapters to resorts in the United States, and only four East Coast resorts receive chapter-length treatment: Killington, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe, and Sunday River. I nearly returned the book when I did not find a single Mid-Atlantic venue listed in the table of contents. Shame on Reuters! How can this book devote a chapter to ski resorts in Romania and not mention the great skiing of West Virginia and Pennsylvania?

On the plus side of the matrix, what the books lacks in its North American coverage, it more than makes up for in its coverage of Europe. Furthermore, the guide does a superb job of comparing skiing on both continents with an introductory chapter entitled, "Transatlantic differences." From it, I learned that few resorts in North America possess skiable vertical greater than 3,330 feet whereas some of the biggest European resorts offer verticals of over 6,600 feet. The large resorts in Europe also dwarf the biggest resorts in North America in terms of ski terrain. On the other hand, it snows much more in North America, and North American resorts have far more advanced and comprehensive snowmaking than anything found in Europe. There are many other differences that this book describes, but you will have to purchase the book to get a complete rundown.

Whether or not this book will be useful to you depends on what type of skier you are. This doesn't mean what ability level, but whether or not you cherish the same things that the writers of the book do: good snow, good trails, good atmosphere ("charming village"), and most amusingly, good lunches. (Maybe it's because they're Brits, but these guys love a serious meal in the middle of their day and will mark it as a real minus if the resort has bad food!)
Basically, the book is fantastic. It's well organized, well laid out, and crammed full of carefully researched descriptions. If they don't have info about a particular aspect of a place, for example, the ski schools, they will say so upfront. But this is a rare occurance; usually they have clear, concise and dead-on accurate information about resorts literally worldwide. They know their own preferences well enough to state them clearly, so that you can easily figure out how your take on things compares to the authors'.
As another amazon reviewer suggested, reading the reviews of resorts that you've skied will give you a standard from which you can guage their perspective. They review trails for all levels: beginner, intermediate (see below) and expert. They are particularly good at breaking up that catch-all term "intermediate", and describing trails at different resorts as appropriate for the "aggressive" intermediate or "timid" intermediate.
I would not suggest reading this book on the fly; there is just too much information in there. Read through it before you plan your trip, if you want to get the most out of your time and money.

This book is one stop shopping for parents and coaches. In simple language with ample case studies, Whose Game Is It Anyways, covers everything, positive and negative, that adults need to know when working with youth in sports. Everything from child developmental psychology to difficult conversations with coaches and parents is covered in a no nonsense manner. I refer to this book often in a workshop I call "For the Love of the Game".

Disclosure: I'm personally acquainted with one of the authors.

For parents who have kids who aren't particularly athletic, this book can be an entertaining read, but it's not intended to show parents how to make athletes out of kids who have no aptitude or interest. I have no children at all, but I did enjoy reading the book for its anecdotes and insights.

The book's authors, clinical psychologists with plenty of hands-on experience coaching youth, give authority to common sense ideas that many well-read, psychologically sophisticated parents tend to honor more often in the breach than the observance. One hopes that this book will stimulate such parents -- who, no matter how intelligent, frequently fail to appreciate the intensity of the pressures besetting young people -- to more thoughtfully evaluate the actual influence of organized athletic activities on the development of their children.

The book is commendable for its relaxed, informal style and its refusal to prescribe bromides so typical of "self-help" books. There are no easy fixes for the myriad problems associated with growing up. But this book contains valuable advice to parents to assist them in helping their children who are involved in organized sports to (1) maximize the value of their positive experiences, and (2) acquire a healthy perspective towards the negative experiences that are an inevitable component of childhood.

I think this book is great. As the mother of two young girls, both of whom are participating in sports, I am grateful for the guidance it offers. Sports have played a hugely beneficial role in my own life and I want the same for my daughters. I intend to re-read it every year, and have ordered several for all my friends with kids!

This book is helping me and my son to conquer the obstacles that are set in his way. This book is helping him to follow his dreams and have fun playing the sports that he loves. It is helping me with my role as a parent of an athletic child. I am so glad for the publication of this book. I could have used it 5 years ago. At times things can get very difficult; that is why we need this book to help us through our problems. The book should be mandatory for every person involved in the development of an athletic child.

As a clinical psychologist, sports fan and father of 3 young children, I found this book to be an extraordinary resource for any parent who wants their children to get the most out of sports, at any age. It is an extremely well written and organized book by a leading expert in the field of sports psychology and child development. I highly recommend it.

Last I checked, website Grips Etc was still selling new copies of this book for $35. So before you drop $240+ on a used copy, I suggest you investigate that avenue.

Not quite a coffee table volume, but more than a mere history, this is easily the most comprehensive, thoroughly illustrated, and ambitious history of the sport I've ever encountered. With its play-by-play of every major gymnastics event, it threatens to be TOO detailed. But who can really complain, especially when there's so much interesting stuff on offer (particularly the fascinating "where are they now" interviews with the legends of the sport)? And it's all printed on glossy white paper. Classy.

Book has some drawbacks. There isn't an index, which is a sin considering there's 400 pages of detailed text to sort through. The prose is frustratingly passive in tone and, at times, chaotically arranged (quoting paragraphs-long passages from other sources really breaks the flow). This robs the book significantly of dramatic power. The photography is good, but not breathtaking, and most of the images are relatively small, which might frustrate fans seeking something more, er, coffee-tably. In other words, this is a history for fans of 1966-1974 gymnastics only--which must be a very small audience indeed.

But that small audience will be hugely impressed. You realize how special this book is when you consider how most gymnastics history books today are just heavily authorized biographies, "inspirational" works that, quite honestly, are very dull (the only really good reads lately have been those that criticize the sport--at least there's *drama* when things go horribly wrong). It amazes me that there is a void that has yet to be filled for a great illustrated history of gymnastics (even the International Gymnastics Federation has failed to address that, preferring to put out coffee table photo books that are frustratingly devoid of detail--more propaganda works peppered with inspirational writing than real histories).

So, this book stands alone. There's never been anything like it--making the fact that the sequels seem fated never to materialize all the sadder. The thing really is (almost) worth $240. But go to Grips Etc. first for your $35 copy anyway. ;-)

The most wonderful women's gymnastics book written.
I have been waiting for a long time for volume II, and that is the ONLY dissapointing thing about this book. Worth every cent.
Mr. Simons----please put out Volume II soon!!!!

It just does not get any better than this. This book is an absolute must for any gymnastics fan. I bought it as soon as it was published and do not understand why volume 2 is not yet available. I understand four volumes were originally planned. I really hope they will be out soon.

For those who dispair that there are no books for the gymnastics fan written for an average age above 10, here is your book! I love the sport as a fan. Beyond back issues of gymnastics magazines, it is hard to find good information. This book is excellent! It describes in detail the competitions, routines, and competitors of its time. My only disappointment is that it ends in 1974, and I have yet to see Volume 2 hit the shelves. A great read!

For all you fans of women's gymnastics, this is the book you have been waiting for! It leaves no stone unturned in the gymnastics happenings between 1966-1974. We see the descriptions, both in word and in Code of Points illustrations, of the routines performed by famous gymnasts such as Caslavska, Tourisheva, Rigby, Korbut, Zuchold, Janz, and many others. The pictures are terrific! So are the bio's.

This book takes you back to the glory days when women's gymnastics was performed by WOMEN, not by anorexic teenaged dwarves. In fact, it inspired me to resume gymnastics after an 18-year hiautus!

I got in touch recently with Mr. Simons, the author, to order Volume II, but it has not yet been released. Please do so immediately, sir!! So many people are waiting eagerly for it!

My son is in his 3rd year of wrestling, and my husband helps coach him and some other boys in the program (they are part of AAU youth wrestling). They both have gotten a lot out of this book that neither one really "got" at practice. There have been a lot of "oh...so that's why that move hasn't worked for me" stuff like that. Great book, glad we got it.

the wrestling drill book is a great tool for any coach at any level from youth wrestling to varsity. easy to understand from start to finish. a must have drill book.

As the editor and author of "The Wrestling Drill Book," I first want to thank the wrestling community throughout the country for nationwide acceptance of the book. It's a no nonsense, "cut to the chase" book that emphasizes the importance of drill work and perfecting wrestling moves in the neutral, bottom, and top positions. The book fundamentally teaches the science of "memorization," physical memorization of move development in the mat sport.
One hall of fame coach put it bluntly, "If I have to yell at you what to do, it's probably too late. A wrestler must react to situations, not think and then react. The Wrestling Drill Book stresses this doctrine, along with the importance of 'hip position' in all areas of the sport."
I, as the editor and author, was very fortunate to secure the expertise of some of the finest "drill work" technicians in the country, with many, many years of coaching success to back their methods of training.
Chapter 7 demonstrates how to incorporate "drill work" into the daily wrestling practice format, and much more. The final segment of the chapter gives the astute coach and dedicated wrestler a solid framework for off-season activities that will complete their development into championship wrestlers.
Finally, I want to share with all wrestling enthusiasts [...]

"Wrestling USA Magazine understands the value of THE WRESTLING DRILL BOOK to aid and assist the wrestling coach and wrestler to build championship programs. We have run several excerpts in WUSA to get out to the wrestling world this valuable information found in Welker's book."

Lanny Bryant
Editor-In-Chief
Wrestling USA Magazine

"The Wrestling Drill Book" is a comprehensive guide for wrestlers at the youth and high school levels. The guide is easy-to-follow, with excellent photo diagrams explaining moves, positions and drills. For those of us who believe 'visualization' is a crucial aspect of wrestling, you couldn't have a better book to read and review.

I grew up a Met fan in the 70's but his career in NY was a bit vague to me. I knew him better down the pike in Philly while unfortunately having to root against him. I learned so much about him while turning every page and he made me laugh and later brought me close to tears. The book was splended and showed many of his peaks and valleys, reminded me and informed me of his baseball career. Its often said that "this (one) is unique," but Tug truly was one-of-a-kind and apparently a joy to many. The adversity he experienced was wide-spread and unfortunately it may've trickled down to his children, specifically the now renown, Tim McGraw. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those that knew him during his sports career; the final 100 pages were riveting as you get a front row seat at his final months riding a bad roller-coaster.

First off I will admit to no small amount of prejucice when it comes to this book. I have been a Phillies fan since the 1970's and was a huge fan of Tug Mc Graw's growing up. In saying this perhaps this book had a deeper effect on me than the average person as I was aware of a lot of the events that Tug relates in this narrative of his life. What I was not aware of was his incredible courage while he was fighting this illness and the amazing warmth and generosity of his son, C&W star Tim Mc Graw. I feel you have to have grown up as part of Tug's generation to understand his motivations and behaviors. I am not saying that excuses the mistakes he made but it did help me to understand the WHY of what he did. In addition it made me appreciate all the more the courage it took him to admit those mistakes and the effort he put forth trying to correct them. This is an extremely moving and emotional tale with tremendous highs and lows and should effect everyone who reads it. Also this is an incredibly honest insight into the psyche of professional athletes in the 70's and 80's. Highly recommended for its' passion and honesty.

Tug McGraw has had a shameful life story that not many people have known about. He had done some very bad things like neglecting his son, country singer Tim McGraw, because he refused to believe that he was his son. When he was dying he forgave everybody and was nice to all of his relatives, and admitted to all of the wrong things he did. He really showed that he was sorry for everything and he would have changed a lot if he could.

I was truly impressed by how he handled everything when he was dying. He is definitely an amazing man, in more than one way.

He had many family-related problems that he got through. He was a little crazy too, but a motivational speaker really got him to the World Series by telling him, "Ya Gotta Believe!"

Tug McGraw was a bonafide original. From his thigh slap to his screwball to his love of a good time, Tug did things his way. But as he says during the book, sometimes his way was the selfish way. The most compelling part of the book for me was him discussing his relationship with his son Tim. From refusing to acknowledge his fatherhood to completely ignoring him (other than one visit in Houston) to finally coming around and taking responsibilty for himself and his son.

That's a main theme in this book, taking responsibility. Unlike his ex-teammate Pete Rose who seemingly blamed everyone under the sun for his problems other than himself, Tug steps up and admits his mistakes. He says that he was not a good husband or father. He was determined not to make the same mistakes with his youngest son Matthew. His children all rallied around him as he battled brain cancer.

Sadly this story doesn't have a happy ending as Tug passes away in January of 2004, a month before this book was released. The final chapter of this book is very touching as Don Yaeger describes Tug's final days. This book shows that it's never too late to say you're sorry and it's never too late to make things right. An excellent book, highly recommended.

Wow! I'm not a baseball fan, or a Tug McGraw fan for that matter, but I read this book in a day. I love, love, love Tug's son Tim McGraw and it was amazing to read how Tug treated his children, Tim especially and they way Tim loved Tug so unconditionally-even paying for his medical bills, rent, furnishing a home for his father and spending hours on end just holding Tug's hand in Tug's final days. It makes me an even bigger fan of Tims. Tug's own childhood/family life was heartbreaking to read about, as well. The baseball parts were interesting, but not very exciting for me, as I am not a big fan of the sport, but baseball fans will definitely enjoy this book.
There are some great pictures in the book also.

Craig Mathew's brief but detailed writings for each water is just great and stating plain facts. It's even just fun to read. Also, his store "Blue Ribbon Flies" is probably the best in West Yellowstone. Fly-fishing guides are very experienced and the store has lots of fly-tying material in high grades. I also recommend to review Craig's other book "Fly Fishing the Madison". That's also well-written with his smooth and detailed explanation. SY

Craig Matthews gives you great information and helps the reader pick and choose where to fish in YNP. With Matthews knowledge of the Park and insect activity it's hard to go wrong with this book. Great information on hatches,locations and whether the hike is worthwhile to take make this a great book. If you are planning on fishing YNP you need this book. I would also purchase his dvd on fishing Yellowstone National Park and on fishing the Madison.

This guide provides very detailed information on the rivers, streams and lakes in Yellowstone National Park, the fly hatches and terrestrials found on each (by month of year) and the best patterns to fish with. It also shows which fishing areas can be accessed by car and which require a long hike. I found it invaluable for planning a fly fishing trip to Yellowstone.

The "Go to Book" for fishing in the Park. Has all the information one needs to find "backcountry waters" as well as the "hotspots". I've fished Montanna for the last 7 years, but have never fished in the Park until last year. This book cut the learning curve by a considerable margin. Not only does he unleash his considerable knowledge of the "spots". He is very complete in informing the angler of the certain flies and times of the year to use them. I read this book practically every time I sit down to the flybench. Just to jog my memory on what to prepare for the coming trip. I wsih I had bought this years ago and fished the park alot earlier in my years. Could have cut alot of corners! Thanks Craig---great job!

This book is easy to use and extreamly useful. It splits the park up into four regions, tells you where (or not to) fish, and where to start looking in your flybox. I have used it the last 3 or 4 years and will use it as long as I vacation in Yellowstone. I have looked at several books on fishing in Yellowstone and this is by far the best that I have found.

In this age of video games and cartoons, its wonderful to see a room full of 80 second grade students fascinated for a full hour by Matt Travares reading his old fashioned tale about baseball and describing the writing process. No technology can replace the power of a good book!

The plot of ZACHARY'S BALL is basic enough: it tells the story of Zachary and his father attending a baseball game, Zachary's father catching a ball, and the dream that the young man has when he falls asleep. Tavaraes accomplishes three things in this book. First, he beautifully tells the story of a touching father/son memory. He also writes about his love of baseball. Perhaps the book's greatest accomplishment is the way in which he brings Fenway Park and the Red Sox to life. The Red Sox are one of the more magical and mythical teams in baseball and fit well into Tavares' tale.

Young readers will love the book, but it will definitely touch a chord with Red Sox fans young and old.

Like all good baseball stories, this one is a little corny. The somewhat smarmy illustrations tell a story better appreciated by adults than by kids, about nostalgia and Fenway Park. This book is sure to be most popular in the Boston area, but all baseball fans may enjoy its hopeful tone.

Matt has captured the magic of attending a game at Fenway Park in splendid fashion. It brought back warm memories of attending my first Red Sox game with my father almost 25 years ago. With a sweet story and the amazing drawings, this is a must-read book for any young kid. It will surely start a love affair with the game of baseball.

I often read these reviews, but I've never written one before... I got this for my 4 1/2 year old boy and he loves it. I'm not a big baseball fan, but I get choked up every time I read "Zachary' Ball." I've just ordered more copies to have on hand for gifts. The sense of innocence, magic and timelessness remind me of "The Polar Express." I look forward to more from Matt Tavares.