Training Books

I have just read this book and it's excellent. Mr. Walker gives great tips on how to become a better speaker. Also, he lets the reader know that if someone wants to become a better speaker, the person needs to make a lifetime commitment to it. Anyone wanting the basics on giving a speech should read this book. But only do so if you are serious about improving your public speaking.

T.J. Walker is the very best of his breed. His advice, based on decades of experience, is sharp, insightful, accessible and immediately applicable. His books, CDs and his personal coaching have been invaluable to me and my business.

Presentation Training A-Z is the #1 book I've found on this topic and I recommend it highly to beginners who want to learn the basics of good presentation skills, regular speakers who want to take themselves to the next level, as well as expert presenters who are going for the gold!

T.J. Walker's Presentation Training A-Z takes the mystery...and the terror...out of making presentations. More importantly, it made my realize I'm not the hot shot speaker I thought I was. With a straightforward, practical style, T.J. offers pearls of wisdom and experience on how to move from good to GREAT with your presentations. Now, whenever I have one coming up, I hit the sections that address the weaknesses from my last presentation and fine tune performance. Response to my presentations has become much more enthusiastic and requests for speaking have picked up so much that I'm now charging more. Thanks to T.J.,I have reason to be comfortable in front of an audience and no one has to know my dog-eared copy of Presentation Training A-Z is in my briefcase.
Roger Landry MD

In a world that is over-crowded with Information, Mr TJ Walker's simple yet lucid style of preseneting a fairly complex subject comes as a refresher! Goes well beyond the plethora of 'how to ' books, thus creating a new bench-mark.
His ability to convince the reader, that this, is an opportunity to combine 'Substance and Style', goes down rather well, with effective examples. The Author's ablity to enable the reader 'experience' his examples and test the methodology of this art and science of story telling makes it compelling and extremely readable.
A must read for pro's who want to 'make it' in life!and pass the 'Water-cooler' test that he so clearly enunciates!

After reading Walker's excellent Media Training A-Z, I decided to see if he had any other interview or presentation resource materials. I was happy to find Presentation Training written in the same easy-to-follow style, packed with tips. There is relatively little overlap between the 2 books, though they do complement each other. I also liked the up-to-the-minute topical references that make the book feel extremely current and relevant. Another very handy reference.

For years there was a void in the horse book market about Racehorse Care. With Landers book the void is now filled. This book is unbelievable in its content. I've never read a better Ho -To book in my life on any subject as that of PROFESSIONAL GROOMING & CARE OF THE RACEHORSE. The reader will become a better all around horseperson after completion. I reccommend without a doubt

This book is an excellent sorce of information concerning both Thoroughbreds & Standardbreds,As an owner I now have a good insight as to the level of care my horses should get while on the racetrack , Thanks to Landers. I truly reccommend this book to anyone remotely connected with horseracing.

This book has got to be the best HorseCare book on the market. Easy to read and understand, Anyone connected with racehorses should read it. The author puts you in the place of a groom and indicates the important role of the groom in a racing stable. It is sad that the professional groom gets little recognition for their efforts but this book surely places the spotlight on their skills. Anyone can learn how to perform the skills stated in the book by following the step by step instructions and illustrations. A must have book for any horseowner,

I have received Professional Grooming And Care Of The Racehorse, and it was much much more than I expected it to be. The best literature on this topic that has ever been published. Hands down. Never have I seen an author put so much meticulous time, effort, and knowledge into creating an informative book. Everything you could possibly want to know about racehorses is just a few pages away.

here at last is a reference volume that deconstructs all the mysteries of how and why we work around horses. starting with the premise that the reader knows nothing, it goes step by step though every process that a groom would ever have to perform. although written for the racing industry, this book belongs in the tackroom of every owner, trainer and groom - regardless of discipline! constantly stressing safety for both horse and groom, it cannot help but impart a competent professionalism to those who chose to read it and practice these techniques.

This book describes the way to assess a project management improvement initiative following the concept of the balanced scorecard. It uses a change stage approach that leads to a real ROI: from reaction/satisfaction (acceptance), learning, application/implementation, business impact and quantified ROI. It also provides advice on how to measure each of these stages. I have found the project follow-up questionnaire especially insightful.
At first, I found this book a bit confusing about whether it was trying to assess projects themselves or the project management initiative, but after a second look at it, I see it as is really useful if you need to show the benefits of implementing/developing project management in your organization.

Having read and then reviewed three books co-authored by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton (The Balanced Scorecard, The Strategy-Focused Organization, and Strategy Maps) as well as Paul R. Niven's Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step, all of which I highly regard, I was especially interested in reading this book which the authors explain how to measure the success of project management solutions.

In the Preface, they assert that, currently, "there is no book that offers a comprehensive, practical presentation on a project management scorecard, using a process that meets the demands of [project managers, clients and senior managers who must approve project budgets, and evaluation researchers who develop, explore, and analyze new processes and techniques]. Most models and representations of the scorecard process ignore, or provide very little insight into, the two key elements essential to developing the scorecard: isolating the effects of project management solutions and converting data to monetary values." Others (notably Kaplan, Norton, and Niven) are far better qualified than I am to verify or dispute that claim. Of greater interest to me is how well organized and written this book is, and, how helpful I believe it will be, at least to project managers as well as to those who must approve project budgets. My Five Star rating speaks for itself.

Phillips, Bothell, and Snead present their material within four Parts: Setting the Stage (e.g. "Project Management Issues and Challenges), The Seven Measures (e.g. "How to Capture Business Impact Data"), Key Issues with the Measures (e.g. "How to Convert Business Measures to Monetary Values"), and Challenges (e.g. "Overcoming Resistance and Barriers to the Project Management Scorecard"). They conclude with an Appendix in which they suggest how to establish an effective project management culture. In it, they identify 16 "Best Practices" and include a brief case study example for each.

What I especially appreciate about this volume is the fact that the authors devote the bulk of their attention to explaining how to implement effectively the various concepts, strategies, and tactics they present. They are also to be commended for concluding each of the 16 chapters with a "Final Thoughts" section. This facilitates a convenient review when a reader wishes to review key points. In fact, I strongly recommend to project managers that they complete such a review at least every 90 days but, preferably, every 30 days throughout their project's duration.

As the authors correctly point out, "One of the greatest challenges is deciding which costs should be included in the project solution cost calculation. For some projects, certain costs are hidden and never included in the cost calculation. Our preference is a conservative one: Account for all costs, both direct and indirect."

There are several major cost categories:

Initial analysis and assessment
Development of solutions
Acquisition of solutions
Implementation and application
Maintenance and monitoring
Administrative support and overhead
Evaluation and reporting

For most projects, the authors recommend this sequence by which to convert data to monetary values:

1. First, define a unit of measure
2. Determine the monetary value of each unit
3. Calculate the change in performance data
4. Determine the annual rate (and amount) of change
5. Calculate the annual value of the improvement

"Costs are important and should be fully loaded in the ROI calculation. From a practical standpoint, some costs may be optional based on an organization's guidelines and philosophy. However, because of the scrutiny involved in the ROI calculations, it is recommended that all costs be included, even if this goes beyond the requirements of the policy."

In this volume, Phillips, Bothell, and Snead offer a wealth of information and counsel which can help achieve the ultimate success of almost any project in almost any organization. That success can then inform and guide efforts to create throughout the same organization a "project management culture."

I love this book! Why?
1. It is written in easy to read style, simple and direct; anyone with minimal PM expertise, culture will understand it
2. It is covering a wide range of tools and possibilities
3. Anyone can start design, or adjust her/his own tools immediately
4. A great refference for future, to come and review it from time to time
5. It is obvious the author has experience in practicing what he is preaching

Begginer PM practitioner will find a lot of good points, easy to catch and study for future.
Experienced PM experts will have an useful guide to improve or design their own PM tools and ideas to adjust their appeoaches and processes. Highly recommended!

This book is ROI-focused and integrates the people and process elements of project management with a balanced scorecard approach. One of the authors, Jack J. Phillips, has extensive experience and a large published body of knowledge in the domains of HR, ROI and scorecard development. This book has his touch, and covers the essentials of a mature project organization, what to measure and how to measure it.

The approach is as follows:
1. Measure:
* reaction and satisfaction
* skill and knowledge churn during the project
* implementation and progress metrics throughout the project
2. From the metrics capture:
* business impact data
* ROI
3. Identify both tangible and intangible benefits and apply them to an aggregate 'true cost'.

The book also shows how to translate business metrics to dollar values, build a business case, and communicate status, based on the scorecard, to clients and stakeholders. This is essential for anyone who is setting up or managing a program management office or who wants to improve internal project managment processes. It also provides one of the best methods for communicating status to clients and upper management.

This book has a mundane title but could be titled "Everything you ever wanted to know about project success and then some". The Project Management Scorecard focuses on how to evaluate and measure the success of project management solutions. Given that failed projects are far more common than successful projects, executives are investing more time and money in developing project managers. This book recognizes the challenges in measuring the return on project management investment and provides clarity and techniques on how to overcome this obstacle.

The book is very thorough in its examination of the problems, process, and solutions to measuring project management success. First the authors break down the problem into its component parts, then they take a look at the project management process steps, and finally they present multiple approaches on how to create an effective scorecard and to use it to achieve desired results. The book includes not only straight-forward steps to follow, but also questionnaires and forms that can be easily used. Success stories and case studies are also included to illustrate major points.

Some of the topics include the following:
o Project management issues and challenges
o Changing corporate cultures
o Measuring reaction and satisfaction
o How to calculate and interpret and ROI
o Capturing business impact data
o Measuring skill and knowledge changes during the project
o Monitoring the true costs of the project
o Converting business measure to monetary values
o Forecasting ROI

This book provides a straight-forward approach to setting up and measuring project success. The authors have taken an onerous topic and provided clarity through simple techniques that can be easily adopted. If implemented, the solutions presented should siginificantly contribute to overall organizational success.

I book this book back in 1973 and then lost it in a flood but was able to get a copy at a used book store.These were the real champions and pioneers of bodybuilding; Arnold, Nubret, Columbu, Zane, Corney, Waller, Katz etc.You rarely see training photo's like this and heretofore, never saw bodybuilders depicted as real people as Gaines and Butler did with this work and the movie that followed.Pumping Iron and a Mega-Superstar German with a hard to prononunce last name literally took bodybuilding into the mainstream and turned the stars of our sport into household names.While I was lucky to find a copy of this book at a used book store, I really feel that Gaines and Butler should have a reprint for people who would like a new, first class copy; perhaps even a revised version showing where those champions are today.Great book Mr. Gaines and Mr. Butler.

It is no overstatement to attribute to the publication of this book much of the fitness revolution that first began in the 1970s. It lionized the then relatively obscure sport of bodybuilding, and in particular made much notice of the then only marginally known figure of a relatively young Austrian muscle freak with the unlikely name of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The book proved such a trenchant and penetrating look into the shadowy subculture of fitness freaks and muscle-heads that it created a boom in the gym business, which previously existed only in a few locations where the numbers of bodybuilders reached enough of a critical mass to allow such a commercial venture. In fact, as Gaines points out in the narrative, most of the gyms were owned by guys like Joe Gold, who weren't in the gym business to make a profit, and who merely managed to eke out a living, and who rarely made much of a return on their original investment.

Of course, this affectionate and knowing look at the life and lifestyles of several serious competitive bodybuilders was so successful that it encouraged the photographer, George Butler, to try to find backing for a film version of the book. And it was a difficult sell, for the movie mavens had little appreciation for the degree of public interest in muscles and muscle men then. Indeed, the movie was never released for wide commercial viewing, but was rather relegated to showings at art cinemas and other venues. Yet the book was a resounding success, and was on the best-selling trade books for months and months.

The book can still be found in used bookstores, and is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in the history of bodybuilding or the lifestyles of the most famous musclemen of the late 1960s and 1970s. I have several copies, although I lost one in a fire last year. It is a shame it is now out of print, for the book (and the subsequent movie) capture the essence of the exotic little world of competitive bodybuilding as it existed in the days when the sport was marginalized, before it became big business, and before eager young men who want fame and riches got involved for that reason rather than because they just wanted to be bodybuilders. Ah, the good old days! Enjoy!

This engrossing documentary/commentary of bodybuilding is the Bible of what bodybuilding IS. It does not drown you with technical detail, nor attempt to teach you HOW to bodybuild. What it does is bring you inside the gyms, (where the competitors work out) the arenas (where they compete) and inside their minds, where the peculiar and fascinating drive for the physical ideal finds its germination, growth and finally fruit on the posing platform. Why they do what they do, and just a smattering of detail of the equipment they use to accomplish their ends, rounds out this book. It is centered around a not-then-well-known Arnold Schwarzeneggar in his quest for the ultimate bodybuilding title, the Mr. Olympia. A few other competitors are also featured along with their quest for physical perfection and recognition of that by the bodybuilding contest judges. The well-placed and very informative pictures of the athletes at work in the gym, at play and in competition were a constant source of fascination to me as a teenaged boy, and I spent uncounted hours slowly flipping through the pages and examining every detail of what I thought a physique SHOULD look like. If you have ever been mildly curious of what essence makes men into bodybuilders, or have wondered WHY they do this, this book is for you. I recommend it very highly, and would probably be flipping through it right now if I had it, so inexhaustible is its supply of interesting information!

I agree with all above that this is a fine book. I wish there were more such insightful forays into other sports. My one quibble with Pumping Iron is that whistles past the graveyard of the great dark evil, steroids. One reading this book would get the impression that all of the bodybuilders within had sculpted their physiques with weightlifting, diet, dedication, and genetics. The truth is, all the stars of that era relied heavily on steroids, as subsequent admissions by such as Arnold Schwarzenegger have revealed. That, and the near-death disaster to Steve Michalik from steroid overdose (the book attributes his great "sea change" gain of muscle mass to heavy weight training and eating a lot of chicken and tuna fish) are crucial facts for the reader to know. To ignore the dirty little secret of big-time bodybuilding is dishonest, and presents a disservice to the readership. I would enthusiastically welcome another edition of Pumping Iron, as suggested above- it's a fine book- but I would repect Messrs. Gaines and Butler the more if they would address the steroid issue.

Before this book, bodybuilding was an obscure sport that nobody cared about or was interested in. Pumping Iron changed all that with it's realistic look at the sport with many pictures of the champions of the 70's & early 80's at work and play. Shattered many of the myths that people believed about bodybuilders and presented them as ordinary people with an intense drive and competitive will.

There are a couple problems I have with this book. First, it is really only for those who wish to train their dogs for competition, it isn't for the pet owner looking for ways to deal with problem behaviors.

The second problem is the religious, preaching tone throughout. It isn't enough for the author to teach positive reinforcement based training methods, she feels the need to constantly berate any form of correction.

The author does well to indicate that not all treats have the same reinforcement value to all dogs, but fails to indicate that a simple 'No' as a correction doesn't have the same effect on a dog as being beaten to an inch of it's life just to exert dominance. Corrections of any kind are against the religion being preached.

Behavioral/learning theory isn't value based, but the author sure does spend time passing judgment on any training method that doesn't involve constantly shoving food treats down a dog's throat. The author even goes so far as to say training methods that allow for the use of corrections do not work. This lets any experienced trainer know immediately that the author has no clue what she is writing about.

If you are one of those who believe corrections of any kind are from the devil then you can pick up this book and have the choir preach to you. Otherwise there really isn't much to be gained from this book.

This is the best dog training book I have read amongst many, and yet it is so much more. It is a blueprint for a wonderful relationship of understanding with your dog. Written with a sense of humor that really struck my funny bone, it says so much that you can't absorb it all on the first pass. Read it again and again, and then use it for reference. You won't regret it!

I found this book not only easy to read, but the authors genuine love and appreciation for her dogs is evident on every page. The information regarding how and why dogs react to emotional energy, body posture, breathing and even eye contact is fascinating, and the training techniques in part 3 are extremely useful. The underlying and best quality about this book is how the fun times and the relationship a person has with their dog is the most important part of dog ownership.

I've read many dog training books and this is by far the best. If people could just understand how well positive training works then they could understand why negative punishment isn't the best idea.
I have an BS in psychology and specialized in behaviorism. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement is the best way to train. I am not going to say that punishment doesn't work but I think all to often it actually harms the dog. To be the pack leader doesn't mean you beat the dog into submission. To gain respect you have to earn respect and using punishment inspires fear
not respect. Fear makes the dog obey but is that what we really want? for our dogs to fear us?!

This is one incredible book. It is exactly as the title states, Companion to Competition. The book starts out with basic rules or concepts that apply universally to teaching your dog good house manner or competitive obedience. The techniques are foolproof and can be easily incorporated into every day interactions with your dog. I started reading this book when my most recent dog was 8 weeks old. This book has allowed me to achieve a bond and level of trust with my dog that I did not realize was possible. I have read many dog training books and this book is the best by far.

This is a tremendous book for the beginning soccer referee. Like a mentor, Jeffrey Caminsky does an excellent job of letting the new referee know what to expect, how to be a referee, and all the other things that they don't teach you in class. This book is full of good advice and addresses a lot of the situations that I had been unclear or unsure about during my first twenty-five matches and had to learn the hard way. This book is also very readable; not a dry treatise on Laws of the Game. Caminsky has a sly wit that he reveals on occasion to keep things interesting.

For the intermediate referee, there are some "best practices" that can be drawn out; for example, the section on match control or some of the nonverbal communication techniques for use with ARs.

Advanced referees would be better suited with Evans & Bellion's "For the Good of the Game", an outstanding book in its own right but one that requires much more experience to fully appreciate. I read Evans & Bellion first, then Caminsky. Having now read both, I wish I had started with Caminsky first, then as I gained game experience, moved up to Evans & Bellion.

This book should be part of every new referee's starter kit.

I truly enjoyed this book. While it does have some useful tidbits for the experienced referee, I think that its greatest impact will be for the new or beginning referee.

This book will help referees understand the traditions and meaning of the game from the referee standpoint; case in point: Two instances of deliberate handling of the ball. One, the keeper strays outside the penalty area whilst booting the ball downfied. Two, the keeper reaches outside the penalty area to scoop up the ball with his hand and breaks up an attack. Both can be penalized with a direct free kick but, but which infraction requires that play be stopped?

The beginning referee will say "BOTH!", but the author recommends that, since the keeper really gets no significant advantage by using an extra few inches to send the ball downfield a verbal warning may be the best result - while breaking up an attack truly deserves the free kick.

It is these insights that I feel are well told. I liked the genial tone and amusing byplay of the book, and truly recommend it!

This book is brilliant. It has very useful advice and information for referees across the breadth of experience, from first year novices to 20+ year veterans.

Very helpful, wish I had this book when I started as a ref.

As a first year referee, this book has been invaluable to me. I have been able to apply many of Jeffrey Caminsky's tips. If you are a new referee, or wish to enhance your current skills, read this book!

Owning a business where alcohol is served, while profitable, has never been more dangerous than it is today. From under-age drinkers to inebriated customers and everything that falls in between, a business must be proactive in protecting their assets. All it takes is one honest mistake to land yourself on a "watch list" or even worse - fines and license suspension.

This book is a wealth of information and resources for everyone from a small pub to a concessionaire at a major baseball stadium. Dugan provides a step-by-step training manual that is easy to follow and simple to implement. There is even a CD included that contains every chart and form in the book so that you can print it out and put it to use in your daily routine.

Dugan gives us a comprehensive training program covering issues such as management responsibilities, types of customers, training and staff concerns, legal matters, and assessing customer. Following the policies and procedures outlined in this book is a solid step towards protecting your future, growing your business, and avoiding litigation. This book is a must-read for anyone who serves alcohol as a business. People who host private parties would do well to read this book also, especially during this holiday season!

Restaurants that sell alcohol work with a double edge sword. The alcohol sales are beneficial because it ups the revenue for these businesses but there are also many laws which govern the industry which can cause headaches if these laws are not followed. The authors of this book do a fabulous job of how to serve alcohol properly to protect not only the restaurant but the individual who is selling the alcohol as well.

The book is easy to follow and to understand. It begins by having simple definitions which everyone who serves alcohol must know such as what alcohol is, what the effects are on the body, what BAC stands for and what it is important. It also goes into detail about the different things that can affect the BAC in an individual; how many drinks, if they have eaten food, amount of alcohol in a drink, and the size of the person. It also goes into complete detail on the types of alcohol regulations that are out there.

The second section of the book goes into how the managing of the alcohol should occur and how to deal with those issues which are bound to come up such as minors, how to hire good bartenders, what type of licenses are needed, and how to cut someone off when need be. It also has a section on what to do when a legal issue comes up, such as hiring a good lawyer, and keeping documentation.

Section three is how to train the employees which are going to handle the alcohol. It goes into detail about the many parts of the training process from checking identification to watching the client for signs of having too much drink. The authors also suggest that each of the employees also have refresher courses every so often when needed. The book will likely benefit many in the restaurant industry and show that with responsible service of alcohol, everyone wins.

College-level collections with schools strong in culinary and food management courses will want to keep THE RESPONSIBLE SERVING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: A COMPLETE STAFF TRAINING COURSE FOR BARS, RESTAURANTS, AND CATERERS in the collection both as a reference and as a circulating item. Two years have gone into the making of this comprehensive manual which blends the legal issues with the ethical issues involved in serving alcohol professionally: management and liquor service staff receive all the knowledge allowing them to responsibly serve alcohol in licensed premises, from understanding BAC levels and the law to checking ID, handling difficult customers, and more. While the price tag may be hefty for a standard-sized paperback, its specific, well-detailed information is priceless for any serious food industry holding.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

Stop, Look, and Listen! should be the subtitle of this excellent resource guide. Beth Dugan starts with a chapter called What is Alcohol?, and does not let up until she concludes with a creative section of "modules." These training modules contain the most valuable information this guide provides. From calculating drinking ages, checking ID's, understanding state laws, identifying intoxication and understanding a customer's rate of consumption, she offers a resource guide that can assist new as well as experienced bar owners. Serving alcoholic beverages at your establishment can increase revenues and turn into an enjoyable experience; but can also open you up to a myriad of legal issues. This invaluable book walks you through the steps on how to responsibly serve alcohol, how to train a competent and responsible staff and how to handle emergencies. Although included in the book, the accompanying CD-ROM presents handy details such as state law information, easy to read charts on calculating alcohol content, and the previously mentioned modules. As an extra, the CD-ROM also offers printable versions of the posters included in the book that promote responsible drinking. Overall, this book is a must-have tool for any bar owner, restaurant operator or caterer; a resource that has the information to prepare you for the many challenges faced when serving alcoholic beverages in your food service business, and one that encourages you to responsibly embrace the opportunity.

This book is an excellent read for anyone that will be serving alcohol in a professional capacity. I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up, but I was happy to find tips on detecting whether someone is drunk, suggestions on how to keep up profits while limiting the amount of alcohol a customer consumes, and much more.

There is a guide for training staff members on how to recognize fake IDs, pouring drinks properly and just about anything else you can think of that would help keep patrons from becoming too inebriated.

I like that the author makes a point to say how things differ in various states and then has an appendix which shows each state and what categories they fall in. I also liked the CD-ROM that came with the book. It has charts in it that were used in the book - such as the alcohol absorption rate diagram. It's really great stuff. There are also worksheets on the CD-ROM that can be used in combination with the suggested training.

The only thing that I didn't love about the book was that in the beginning the author provides some information that isn't entirely relevant - such as what alcohol is, what it means to be drunk vs. alcoholism. Things like this are common sense to most people. But all in all, this is a very helpful book that anyone looking to start up a restaurant, bar or catering service should look into.

This book was great in letting me know how my dog was thinking and responding to me. It's different from other training books I've read. Read Chapter 5. It worked wonders on my shepherd. I also have a 6 month old puppy and this book gave me patience. It was a quick read and had great tips I wish I had learned years ago. Definitely worth the read.

I found this book to be a great help in trying to understand why my dog does the things she does. The author really helps me to see that my dog thinks differently than I do, and that for me to really train her and bond with her, I need to understand where she is coming from. I liked the way the author trains me to train my dog, too - no hostility or anger towards my dog - just total acceptance of who my dog is.
It's a book that will teach you about dogs in general and then apply to your own situation. I highly recommend it.

This book really taught me to understand my dogs. It's easy reading. So many methods out there to train dogs are hostile. This approach to training is much nicer for dogs and people. Many techniques in this book are easy to implement. My dogs responded immediately. The author's pretty cute too. If I had a trainer like that when I first started training my dogs, I'm sure I would have completed their training. Instead, I hired a trainer who scared both me and my dogs. After the first lesson, we all called it quits.

I work with shelter dogs and recommend this book to other volunteers and owners alike. The methods are completely positive, easy to follow, and fun for the dog and handler. This is a must have book for owners and shelters. Nancy B.

This is a wonderful book. I have been looking for a dog training book that is easy to follow, shows a thorough understanding of canine behavior and uses only positive reinforcement techniques. This book is it! It not only includes all of the above, it also includes a large dose of love, compassion and humor. You can tell that Alana Stevenson knows what she is doing and loves what she is doing. The language is simple and clear. I have learned so much about how dogs see the world which helps me actually enjoy training and not get so frustrated. And, best of all, the techniques work! I would recommend it to anyone.

THE RISE AND FALL OF DODGERTOWN: 60 YEARS OF BASEBALL IN VERO BEACH is a specialty item for baseball collections and Vero Beach area residents who enjoy game history. It charts the history of the Dodgers, who have been coming to Vero Beach every spring since 1948, and it tells of an entire culture and community which sprang up around the rise of 'Dodgertown'. Baseball fans will find this an engrossing history.

This book really captures the spirit of Dodgertown and the special bond that grew and splintered between the community of Vero Beach and the Dodgers there. This book is packed with pictures and stories of Dodger greats, past and present. It's a shame they had to leave it, Spring Training will never be the same. But at least it's captured in prose!

This is a fascinating story, well researched by the author and laced with historic pictures. The book is full of anecdotes that vividly evoke the sixty years of Dodgertown and much more. Fay Vincent got it right: "It's a story that deserved telling. Rody has told it--and told it well."

Clearly a labor of love, this book tells not only Dodgertown's story, but baseball's and America's. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys forays into the cultural and economic evolution of the game. While baseball's players and facilities may have undergone dramatic changes through the years, Johnson's love of the sport clearly has not. A masterful work.

Tom

P.S. I also recommend "Spring Training Handbook" which goes to similar lengths to detail baseball's history in Florida.

At exactly the stroke of midnight last night, I read the last page of Dodgertown and laid the book aside. It was a wonderful read. I was sorry it ended.

The book is a winner in so many ways. Obviously, a tremendous amount of research went into it. But at the same time, it wears its research well, never becoming a tome. Knowing virtually nothing about Vero, the Dodgers, or the history of baseball, I kept learning on each page, while growing familiar with the place, the people, and the wonderful mystique of spring training. I really felt I was there.

And so, I was saddened, I mean really moved and at times angry, during those final chapters when everything seemed to fall apart. Your own last pages indicate that you, and probably others, have philosophically come to grips with the passing of the good old days, but for a reader like me, new to it all, it's terribly difficult to let go. I kept wanting to go back to the O'Malley days. I felt personal loss in that I'll probably never be able to experience the special nature of Dodgertown. Oh, sure - another team may come in. For a while it even looked as though it might be the Orioles. But even if the Os' had moved to Vero, the camp wouldn't have been the same.

I was looking for some new training ideas
and this book gave me plenty. While not big on
diet and nutrition (plenty of other books cover that)
it did give me lots of ideas on how to change my
workouts.

After reading it, I think the goal of the book is to
give people different workouts to try and from those
workouts give women and men some new and different
choices that can help keep them motivated and
working out and not quitting because of boredom or
no results.

I enjoyed the author's web site....
He seems like someone who's down to earth, very
knowledegable and speaks about the mental aspect
and its importance unlike any of the other
fitness and health experts out there.

This book is perfect for anyone who is into bodybuilding, or just lifting weights to get into shape. It offers workouts for people who can make it to the gym only 3 times a week, those who can go more often, and those who can't make it at all!

Normally the most difficult thing for me to overcome when working out is boredom. However, with this book, I can change up my routine whenever the old one gets boring. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

I have been lifting for 18 months now, I have varied my routine about every 8-12 weeks or so and was running out of ideas,this book is full of great workouts each for different goals and a lot of usefull tips for lifting, a little bit of general nutritional info but definitely great for the weight lifters.

I won't go nuts with this review because it is simple -

This author and this book is the first step to take...PERIOD!
I had been working out since I was 14, and I honestly did not know what I was doing until I was about 24 or older. Lots of wasted time! I had read many books, tons of those popular "magazines". All of them left me confused and going in circles.

My advice - start with this book and read it cover to cover. Then go buy his other books Bodybuilding 101 and Bodybuilding 201. These 3 books alone will give you all you need to know for your first 2 or 3 years of training. After that, your experience and knowledge will guide you from then on. I also recommend buying any other book Dr. Wolff has written. Also, this guy is no pasty pale, 100 pound Doctor reading from a textbook. He has used these methods himself and as you can see by the pictures of him in the books, he is huge and healthy. He walks the walk.

Robert Wolff gives you proven and time tested material, coupled with his own personal experience. He goes over proper diet, proper technique and methodology to get you started off on the right foot. All of us are different and what works in the magazine interviews of the Pro bodybuilders probably will not work for you.

Did I mention that the author really will answer your e-mail questions!! Yes, I have had actually direct communication with him. He answered my questions and was more than happy to help!!!

Forget Atkins, South Beach, and all the other hype out there. Read and learn from Dr. Wolff.

I'm so tired of the old three sets of this and three times a week of that. I almost wanted to stop training. And I'm not too excited at the thought of spending more money on personal trainers, so I bought Robert Wolff's Great Workout book. Best money I ever spent.

I kinda feel uncomfortable writing where everyone can read what I'm saying, but I will say that the workouts are different, some of them are tough, but they work really, really well and that's all I was looking for in a workout book.

I bought his other book called Bodybuilding 101 and found it to be more informative as far as information for a beginner to advanced. But having said that, I think this next book offers a lot more in the way of workouts than Bodybuilding 101 did. For that reason and because it's worked really well for me, I give it five stars.