Sports Books

I wish this great book was available when I first started skiing back in the 70's!

For years I tried to keep up with my friends in the moguls.
They were expert skiers, but they were not expert instructors;
and their teaching philosophy was watch and learn and try to keep up!

There were many times that I would be left in the dust picking up my gear
after a spectacular crash and yard sale.
I would get tips here and there, but getting real instruction from my friends
or ski magazines was like bleeding a rock. Plus, there was a lot of misinformation
that made mogul skiing even more confusing.

Then, Dan's book came out cleared up all of the misconceptions about mogul
skiing that I had "learned."
It was like Toto pulling the curtain on the Wizard of Oz!
Thanks to Dan, my bump skiing has hit a new level and now I'm ripping through the moguls.

My 12 year old son has benefited as well and we never go skiing without taking
our "mogul book!" In fact, the book is dog-eared and tattered from so much use
that I may have to order another!!

Thanks Dan for writing and publishing this great book. I can't wait to ski the moguls
again and now look forward to each new season with anticipation!!

I want to change the title to "Everything your husband never told you about mogul skiing".My husband and I ski groomed trails together with about the same proficiency. I have tried for years to follow my husband down mogul runs,with very little success.He skis fast through the bumps and I am left behind to "survive" the bumps. Last season I took a ladies clinic and granted little time was spent on moguls, but what they did teach was all about where to turn on the mogul and somrthing about going in a door and out a door!Just like with my husband it was lots of talk about "choosing my line" meanwhile no one ever says it is a totally different way to ski from CARVING the groomed slopes. Now in defense of my spouse he learned to ski as a kid and has a very Austrian (pre-shaped ski) legs close together steering (not carving)style of skiing so maybe it never occured to him to tell me that I needed to change my stance and the way I ski to do the moguls. I read the book on the way up to Vermont and tried to practice the drills as much as I could on the groomed stuff and felt great. It was a crowded weekend and I was with my 4 kids and so I didn't get as much time to traverse the moguls and practice some of the skills, but I can already say that my mind-set is totally different and I am confident that I can ski the moguls because now I "get it!" I just wish I had a few hours to myself and a soft mogul run to go at it!

The author does a great job of contrasting mogul technique with carving techniques used on groomers. For those who have been working at moguls and are looking for the final pieces to go over the top, this seems like a great resource. Mogul and race techniques are both hugely enjoyable things to learn and great skills to develop -- the author does a great job of helping those who have only learned one way of skiing (based on racing/carving) to learn a hugely enjoyable skill that can really fill out a skier's tool box. Thanks for writing something that makes it so clear.

For most skiers, there is nothing more terrifying than accidentally emerging at the top of a field of steep and deep moguls. If you're like I used to be, you deal with the situation by first shedding some tears, then bucking yourself up for the task ahead.

Resolute, you push off, then quickly panic as you watch the mogul and your skis drop away in front of you. Scared, you lean away from the horrifying chasm, the tails of your skis dig into the snow and you slam into the next mogul, fall, and cartwheel down the hill until you finally come to an ignoble stop.

That used to be my experience with moguls. I could do the steeps, I could do the deeps, but moguls constantly defeated me. My friends were more than eager to tell me what I was doing wrong. I practiced and practiced but it always seemed the key was beyond my grasp.

Then I read "Everything The Instructors Never Told You About Mogul Skiing" by Dan DiPiro. It's a short book but it's full of great information.

One of the most important points is that you cannot use the same form on the moguls that you use on groomed slopes. It's important to change your stance to a "tall" position so your legs can absorb the bumps.

Another great tip is when Dan explains how to do the "rotary-powered" turns that are critical to mogul skiing. He debunks the idea that you can "carve" through the bumps.

There's a lot to learn from this book. Dan describes a series of techniques and exercises that will definitely help your bump skiing. I'm still not an expert but I've improved dramatically. I've had several great (but short) mogul runs where I made it through fairly smoothly on a good line. The feeling is exhilarating. I now seek out moguls so I can practice and, hopefully, re-experience that feeling.

Thanks Dan for writing this book.

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Michael Mihalik is the author of Debt is Slavery: and 9 Other Things I Wish My Dad Had Taught Me About Money. Learn how to gain control of your finances, pay off your debt, and create financial security!

I read some other books about moguls and then I figured I'd give this one a try as well. It turned out this one was superior, by far. The author not only competed in moguls (was once ranked 21st in country), but is able to share and explain the necessary techniques needed for effective mogul skiing. This is a must for an aspiring mogul skiier.

Read this book!!!

George Foreman's personality, style and charisma make this perhaps my favorite book of all time. Why? Because George gives us a detailed look at his personal journey to finding spirituality and happiness in life and how he has shared that lesson with others in an attempt to improve their lives.

I liked George Foreman before reading this book but afterward, I achieved a higher sense of respect for a selfless man who gave up his boxing career to preach and follow the path to God. He even started the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in 1984 with retirement money that he had "tucked" away during his 8-year retirement from boxing. His goal was not to indoctrinate local kids but to give them a place to come and follow a productive direction.

Though George "un-retired" from boxing several times, he continued as a minister in his own local church and spreading the word of God in many ways. In fact, George illustrates that money, wealth and power do not necessarily create a sense of fulfillment; it's the spirituality that brings joy and contentment. George lays the advice out for his readers, plain and simple:

"I am convinced that God gives us all a chance to know Him. He gives us the opportunity and if we say "yes" to Him, He will choose us. But He won't force Himself on anyone".

"God is merciful and will always give us a new beginning if we are willing to change."

Clearly, this advice comes from a man who was transformed in that locker room in 1976.

I have never been a fan of boxing, but the name George Foreman has become a household name. From boxing to grilling, George tells his story of being born in poverty, to living on top of the world, only to have everything lost and be penniless once again, and back on top. He deals with his issues of hate, and overcoming all his obstacles to be the man who lives Christ. Some of his writings become repetitive through out the book, but it is a good read of how a man's life was change,gone to Hell and back, and now pastors a church and operates a life saving center for youth.
I am glad that I read this book. You will see both sides of George of what he once was, to what he is now.

I'm a boxing fan, which was part of the reason I was interested in this book. But the author's story goes well beyond boxing. He book is filled with lessons to be learned from a man who was a most lost soul and a downright mean-spirited person. He found God, and his life was changed forever. But the story doesn't end there. Once he had a relationship with God, he still had to pick himself up time and time again. And it was his relationship with the Lord and his Faith that saved him.

The way he interjects his boxing career into the story makes this an amazing read. It's a biography filled with spirituality. And you'll learn a lot about yourself as well as George Foreman after reading it.

Fight The Good FightForeman writes a great book about his life. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone. I loved the Big Bass analogy for success. A lake was stocked with many Bass at the same time. Several months later some of them were much bigger than the others. Foreman's explanation as relates to success also. The bigger ones were more hungry. Wow! What an analogy.

What a thoroughly uplifting and inspiring book.
This book has been a pure delight to read.
George provides spiritual solutions to lifes challenges via
his real life experiences.

This is a really cute book for toddlers/preschoolers/K-2 kids. It helps with colors for the really little ones, then with short sentences to read or write later. I actually bought this for my 10 year old daughter - lol - she always loved this book. I guess the bright colors and sparkle of the foil cut outs of the eggs appealed to her in Kindergarten when she saw it in the school library - she's checked it out every year at least 6 times ever since (4th grade now). Every kid has a few books that they just adore and can't get enough of, so I got it for her to keep and give her own kid(s) some day (she has my old copy of "Bambi's Fragrant Forest" - a 1970's scratch 'n sniff book). It's a visually pleasing book and little ones will enjoy it.

I love the illustrations in this book!!! My 2-year-old may be a little too young for the story, but she loves looking at the pictures.

My son learned his colors because of this book! Each page has a different color of egg, the story rhymes so well, and its a lift-the-flap book! The pictures have so much detail sometimes we spend extra time looking in the background for other animals and talking about what they are doing. We've had this book for a year and it is still very popular at our house!

I purchased this book for my nephew and he absolutely loves it. Beautiful illustrations and a very cute story for children from 1-6 years old. However, the book seemed a bit warped when I purchased it but I attributed it due to the delivery process.

One of the nicest things about this book is how well it is designed. Children love beautiful materials and this book delivers. Today, electronic media is so prevelant in childrens' lives. This book, though, offers children the opportunity to relax and read pages filled with awe and wonder. Quality colors, papers and decorations invite children into the Natural Easter world of the forest and imagination. It's beautifully adorned with sparkling, jeweled pages made to entertain and peak interest.

We just discovered this great hiking book. Our weekend trips have been put on hold and we're finding some pretty places along the Marin coastline to explore. Doubles as a tourist guide for our out-of-town friends. They look at the pictures and tell us where they want to go.

There's alot of advice and information in here and it's nicely arranged for reference. Chunky and spunky, good to go!

For us, this guide is our number one source for dayhiking around here. We bought it after seeing it on the shelves of our Marin REI. It's a total package with it's photos, bulging content and honest appraisals of ALL our trails. Most of our terrain is on the rolling gentle side and the mountain trails are well marked once you get on them. We have two dogs and their "Doggie Trails" section has been well used. It's nice to know where the pups are welcome and can run free.

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

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

Our carcamping trip to the West Coast last month was a big success. Our first stop in the San Francisco Bay Area was Muir Woods where the Trailblazer untangled the trail system for us. Our Marin campsite was a perfect staging area for our daily outings.

This book is fully illustrated with photos and locater maps and they've even included a little California history to spice it up. Clean graphics, well organized. You can dip in and out of the pages and get clued in on the fly. The route from Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge by bike provided beautiful views of the bay. For us an excellent way to see the area on a limited budget.

This book is a great resource tool. A fairly inclusive area guide with historical, geological and physical details. More than adequate for most visitors to choose an advanced plan of daily activities. It is not attempting to be a USGS map nor a hikers bible. It is a fairly descriptive summary of things to see, do and where they are.

I purchased this book for helping us plan a 5 day stay in Stove Pipe Wells. Well worth the money spent.

This is a really good comprehensive guide that doesn't give away too many secrets. All the standard destinations are well covered, plus many out in the sticks, but it leaves plenty for you to discover on your own. Will definitely stay in my library, get loaned to friends, get destroyed or lost...all signs of a worthwhile guide.

A rare guide that is so complete i can stop looking further. I don't know how he has covered so much ground in one lifetime. Digonnet's love of Death Valley shines through. A pleasure to read but heavy for the backpack...i am ordering a fresh copy cuz the old one is beat up and has many pages torn out. Also, take care to assess your idea of strenuous against his to avoid finding yourself in over your head.

Be aware that Digonnet omits a few common destinations in this book. But it's by far the best guide to the huge number of hikes that he does include. Rely on this book for the majority of your destinations, but get another guide to fill in the gaps. Also keep in mind that areas described as "easy scrambles" for someone with a technical climbing background like Digonnet may be more difficult for flat-ground hikers.

I have been visiting Death Valley for 35 years, and I have been there more times than I can remember. This includes many back-country and dirt road trips thoughout the region. I love the place. I have also been an avid hiker, backpacker, mountain climber and general wilderness enthuthiast for 40 years.

I got this book a few years ago, and it was a revelation of new opportunities and information about Death Valley backcountry. It was also one of the best hiking guides I have ever read. I cannot recommend it higher for someone interested in taking their exploration of Death Valley to a new level. It also has enough easy hikes that someone interested in dipping their toe into the world of desert wilderness exploration can still get a good taste of it, and also know that the particular hike will not expose them to dangers beyond their skill level.

It is not an ideal guide for a beginner, nor is it sufficient in and of itself to enjoy Death Valley. You would need a good overall map of the park -- the NPS topo map of the whole park is ideal for that purpose. You should also have some familiarity with the rigors of exploring desert wilderness -- the book seems to assume that the reader already has some of this background, though it does have a useful discussion of this subject. But for the enthuthiast who alrady has this info or is already familiar with it, the book is incredible.

If you are a neophyte, don't be intimidated and not buy this book. It will serve as a wonderful portal to a world that you have heard about -- just be careful since desert wilderness exploration can be daunting.

this book was written from someone who probably had to experience these things. Im white, im sometimes immature, but that doesnt mean that you bust on every white kid whos friends with a black kid! Hell, im friends with a black kid.

The Hoopster is a good well rounded book about love, family, sports, racism, and finding yourself. Andre Anderson is a good basketball and also a good writer and he writes for his local magazine but when his boss assigns a project to write about racism he writes his report but then he gets beat up by some racist white people he learns alot about himself and life i think this book is really good

This is a very original and well thought out book. It has many twists and turns and really makes us look @ our society today and our acceptance of different cultures.
This book is a very daring topic to write about. This book is about racism, and how it nearly stops someone from fulfilling his destiny. It makes us change our minds and rethink sterotypes. It is a awesome book and u wouldthink so too. my favorie part about this book is that it teaches about racism and how people sterotypem others

5. The Plot:
This is a very original and well thought out plot. It has many twists and turns and really makes us contemplate our society today and our acceptance of different cultures. My favorite line in this book is "If a black person is caught walkin' 'round 'da street at night....he's up to no good. If a white man pays for a cup of coffee with a twenty dolla' bill...he's wealthy. If a hispanic don't speak english while shopping in a store... they're illegal."
4. The imagery:
The way the author uses words to depict an image in your mind is extodinary.You can hear, feel, see, taste, and smell the basketball games. It is an amazing book filled with tons of imagery.
3.The characters:
If you are a very multi-cultural person this book is perfect for you. If you are not very interested in other cultures this book is pefect for you. These characters are people who anyone can relate to. These characters are so true to life. When you read this book it's almost as if you known these people for a long time. The characters are phonmonal.
2.The layout:
The way this book is formated is so something can be happenning one moment, and then in the next paragraph it's two years later.
This is a good layout because it leaves in air of mystery. But don't worry, there is a very complete ending.
1. The reality to our generation:
This book is a very daring topic to write about. This book is about racism, and how it nearly stops Andre from fulfilling his destiny. It makes us change our minds and rethink sterotypes. It is a very well-written book.

In Alan Lawrence Sitomer's novel we meet Andre Anderson, an African-American teen nicknamed, "The Hoopster." Andre is athletic, does well in school, and is an aspiring writer. He has landed the internship of his dreams, working for a small local magazine. His next door neighbor Shawn, although white, is like a brother to him, and at the open of the book, they are enjoying a happy and relatively uneventful summer.

When Andre is asked to write a feature story about racism for the magazine, initially he is put off by the topic. He doesn't think he has experienced racism personally, and feels that a lot of people use race as a crutch instead of assuming personal responsibility. When his boss refuses to let him off the hook, Andre works hard and creates a heartfelt article that gains him a lot of attention. Unfortunately, his article catches the eye of a local hate group and he becomes the victim of a senseless and brutal hate crime that threatens to change his life forever. He must rely on his family, friends (Shawn in particular), and all of his strength to overcome his physical and emotional wounds.

THE HOOPSTER is the first of a planned trilogy of books. The story is well-written, with believable characters and a good pace. As I read, I found myself thinking over and over, how nice it would be to see this book played out on the silver screen. The book has an urban feel, yet it doesn't buy into the prevalent stereotypes and includes young people with positive dreams and goals, who live in two-parent households with caring adults. While the main character is black, the supporting characters come from diverse backgrounds, making this a story that will attract a diverse audience of readers. While girls may enjoy this book, boys, even those who tend to be more reluctant to read, will especially like this engrossing and realistic story.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

After reading several excellent reviews of this book, I purchased it for
my nepbew's birthday. I have not read the book myself since I lived through that period.

It was a year of Fire and also the year of Grace for Jackie Robinson!! It is an amazing book to read about a great person who changed history and loves baseball!! It is more than just baseball and it has so many things to show that shaped Jackie's life so much. It is also spiritual and emotional book that leaves you to become a stronger person to make a great difference in the world.

I really liked this book and normally I dont like reading. Ijust wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. I think Jackie Robinson is a vary good romodel because no matter what, you should never give up. Because Jackie never gave up he ended up being one of the best baseball players to ever play the game. But most of all he broke the color code for all professional sports.

This biography does an outstanding job of giving an overview of Robinson's life and times, from his early, awnry but talented years in Pasadena, through UCLA, then the military, and then the Brooklyn Dodgers and beyond. It paints a picture of a strong willed gentleman with enormous pride, dedicated to his family, and dedicated to the idea of racial integration and equality. The influences of his mother on his early, somewhat (understandably) confrontational character, that allowed him to ultimately be the individual who paired with Branch Rickey to integrate "America's Pastime" are clearly laid out.

Some reviewers have faulted the author for not being more interpretive of Robinson's politics - specifically, that he was a Nixon supporter in 1960 and a Rockefeller supporter in 1968 (while also being a strong supporter of Civil Rights, active in almost every civil rights organization) and Humphrey supporter as well. I think the book lays out all the facts for the reader to see for themselves. Robinson's coming of age - in an era when a Dixiecrat from a Jim Crow state (LBJ) led the passage of the Civil Rights Act - was a time of a shifting political landscape that didn't settle out until near his death (he also broke badly with Nixon later in Nixon's career). The Republican party's mantra of self-reliance, and Robinson's determination to succeed in business in the same way he did in sports, made his attraction to the party not a big leap; the alienation of this country's African American establishment from big business was not a pre-ordained fact in the time Robinson lived.

Finally, Robinson's own family struggles were also a reflection of the confusing and troubling times in which he lived.

Robinson died too young for us all. This is a great book and I would highly recommend it..

i'm not particularly interested in baseball, but i am particularly interested in American history from the human perspective. i could have read a much more dry account of the turmoils that dominated American race relations throughout the middle of the 20th century, but instead i've read this fascinating account of those terrible, backward days from the perspective of a true pioneer, Mr. Jackie Robinson.

of course he is looked back on now as a symbol, a mythological figure. i always knew peripherally of Jackie as the same thing most people do: the first black man to play major league baseball, a step forward & up in the painful struggle of the times. but this book presents him as a human being, a fallible man who lived most of his life not on the baseball field, but in a relentless pursuit of his ideals and desire for a better life for himself and everyone around him.

the reviewer before me questions the biographer's lack of judgement of Robinson. i am curious as to why he feels Rampersad should insert his own analysis; the biography presents analyses of Robinson by many of Robinson's contemporaries, and then presents the recorded facts available to clarify incidents & statements. yes, this is an intensely personal biography, perhaps too personal in places. it is very much centered on Jackie's private correspondences. it is absolutely told from Robinson's persepctive, as best can be reconstructed from his widow Rachel & the papers he left behind, but it feels very honest, not at all like an airbrushed bit of hero-polishing. it is in places very blunt about Jackie's shortcomings as observed by his peers & contemporaries.

before i stretch this out any longer, i'll just say that this is the most engrossing biography i can ever recall having read. it's an account of a fascinating life in an amazingly recent time, in an America that seems so long ago but is still discouragingly recent. readers will learn not just about Jackie Robinson, but about two American eras as well.

I received this book in excellent condition at a good deal. This a great book that shows a sensible and easy way to improve your swing. This is one book I always recommend for those asking for help.

I have read many books and taken many lessons, but this is the first book on the golf swing that finally has made sense. Although taking a personal lesson would be best, this book explains in plain English what the golf swing is about. Study it and it should help your golf game.

I started playing golf 2 years ago and have spent a lot of money trying to learn from local pros and on other books. I bought John Redman's book and a couple of months later I spent a rainy Saturday reading this book and practicing in my den. You wouldn't believe how it change my swing. It is SIMPLE and PURE! Went to the range on the following Sunday and practiced John's techniques. I hit the ball straighter and longer than I ever have. Buy it and read it.

Great book! Very simple and easy to understand. Redman teaches a relatively strong grip which will help you SQUARE the club face effortlessly and stop slicing. He will also teach you to become tension-free and SWING the club instead of hitting at the ball. This will help you avoid coming over the top so your previous slilce does not turn into a pull. I play way to little to be really consistent but on good days - and using 'the Redman swing' - I hit the ball squarely, cleanly and with a fairly low, penetrating trajectory.

I happened to catch about 10 minutes of Mr. Redman on the Golf Channel. Every word he spoke rang true. After reading his book I rediscovered many of the swing feels I had accidentally discovered during my first three months playing but could never consistantly replicate. Three years and many lessons involving "modern" swing theory later, I have come home. This is the simplest and least physically demanding swing out there and Mr. Redman explains it in a way that any duffer can understand and quickly implement. I also appreciate the fact that he steered me towards Percy Boomer's book. The only drawback is that I can't find a golf pro locally who teaches this method. Right now I don't feel like I need a pro. This book is like having a teaching pro on my bookshelf. BUY THIS BOOK. It will take a few weeks to "unlearn" all the modern crap you've learned, but you'll end up with a more consistant, powerful, and easily repeatable swing. I'd give it six stars if they'd let me.

Although I have never been to Charlotte Motor Speedway, after reading this book I felt as if I had.

and now I feel like I could drive it. This is the book that lays it all out in a logical order, explains the terms, the rules and the strategies while taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Will the car qualify for the race? You can feel the tension because for that week Huler lived it. This isn't a book full of old stories that drivers told a writer - this is an observation, full of detail - it's good old particaptory journalism like Plimpton wrote, talking to (and about) everyone from the owners and spnsors to the fans and the scalpers. What a great book!

I'd never heard of NASCAR, never wanted to know anything about it. But when I heard a short reading by Huler (the writer) from this book, I had to buy/read it. His writing could be on any topic: ice, dirt, race cars... it's just facinating in an accessable, fun, fast read. I'll read anything he writes now, and gain an appreciation of worlds I never knew. Great read. I just may join the 200,000 on site NASCAR fans next year because of it!

If you want to read one book about NASCAR, I recommend this one. Not because it's a hand-holding introduction, but because it's the best. It just does such a great job describing so many aspects of NASCAR. The organizing principle of the book is to examine a week in the life of Kenny Wallace's Square D Racing Team, but along the way, the author looks at NASCAR's personalities, history, technology, tracks, and fans. Huler has a real flair for description, and a genuine but not fawning affection for the sport.

I've also read Shaun Assael's "Wide Open" and Paul Hemphill's "Wheels," which are similar in many ways but to my mind are both inferior. Assael's book seemed flat compared to Huler's, though fans of Dave Marcis and Bobby Hamilton may enjoy the coverage that those drivers receive in "Wide Open." Hemphill's book spent a lot of time on a thesis that I soon found repetitively handled: NASCAR was once the province of the Southern working man but is now corporate entertainment. Both Assael and Hemphill follow NASCAR for a whole season and seem to get bored with it. Huler stays focused on a shorter timespan to much better effect.

I've read some more technical approaches to NASCAR as well, and found that Huler almost always snuck the information in those books into "A Little Bit Sideways."

Although I find this the best introduction to NASCAR because it's so engaging to read and so comprehensive in the bargain, those who are interested in learning more about NASCAR might also try "NASCAR for Dummies" by Mark "Awesome!" Martin and Juliet Macur. That book lacks Huler's style and story-line, but it does have a lot of interesting information about NASCAR, including some tidbits on strategy and technology that I haven't seen elsewhere.

I lived in the South all my life, always aware of NASCAR, watching races every now and then. Even so, I haven't tuned into to a NASCAR race in probably 25 years. Because of this book, I will when the next season starts.

One can truly begin to understand the mystique of NASCAR after reading A Little Bit Sideways. Scott Huler's obvious love for the material really shines through. His writing transforms what, in lesser hands, could have been a dry and boring recitation of minute details into an interesting and compelling human interest story.

Read it. You won't be disappointed.

Sifu Starr's book is an experience suitable for any martial art practioner. His vivid descriptions of training, when a youth with W.C.Chen are very special. I await the release of his next writing.

I had the good fortune to train under Sifu Starr for a couple of years in the early 90's before time and circumstance took my life in other directions. From personal experience, I can attest both to his great skill as a martial artist and healer, and to his teaching presence in the dojo. I will always remember him with great fondness and respect, which is odd when you consider that he spent most of my time in his school kicking my butt with old school traditional kung fu training protocols. I think that is what the Zen tradition calls "grandfatherly kindness" - where a lot of martial arts diploma mills just put you through the motions and handed you your black belt, Sifu Starr assumed that you were worth the investing the time and effort to really TRAIN.

This book brings back a lot of memories from that time; it is very much written in Mr. Starr's "voice", and it showcases his wry humor, zest for life and training, and his larger than life personality. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in what really goes into the training of a real martial artist. I also hope that the book brings Sifu Starr some of the recognition and acclaim he deserves after a long, distinguished career.

Pete reminded me that it has been over 38 years we have know each other, and I stand corrected. On the third reading of the book I began to remember myself as one of Pete's students and how he taught us with the nearly same mannerisms of his teacher. I having no experience then in the arts, learned not only the physical rigors of the training but of the philosophical aspects as well. What age has taken from me, the knowledge still remains strong .

Now it has been almost 40 years later and I still can visualize the teachings, both mental, spirtual as well as physical. This book is valuable for the stylist as well as a parent wishing to know how to work with or understand their teenagers. The method and learning is the same nurturing Chen gave to Pete, and Pete sharing it with us.

I gave a copy of it to one of the people I work with and it is a copy in my classroom as well for my more difficult students to read as well.

This was an absolutely wonderful text. It really drives home what the martial arts teach. The stories are thought provoking, entertaining, humorous and motivational. Thanks Sifu Starr!

As a ShoDan-level assistant karate instructor, I'm always looking for good books to help me become a better teacher and practitioner. I've found martial arts-based memoirs to be particularly helpful and encouraging. I recently stumbled across "The Making of A Butterfly," and it was no exception.

Phillip Starr began his martial arts journey in the 1950s. His family moved a lot due to military service, so he studied at a couple of different clubs. In 1961, his parents finally settled into a more permanent living situation in McLean, Virginia. There, the author began looking for yet another dojo (they weren't easy to find back then). He finally found a karate school and resumed his training. However, Mr. Starr was fascinated by kung-fu, and so after more searching he discovered a Chinese Sifu (master) who taught out of his home.

Mr. Starr approached Sifu Chen and respectfully asked for instruction. After some initial rebuffs to test his resolve, he was taken on as Sifu Chen's only Caucasian student. Sifu Chen demanded much from his students, so the training sessions were often physically and mentally challenging. Despite some resentment from the other Asian students, Mr. Starr eventually earned their grudging respect. And more importantly, he became a surrogate son to Sifu Chen and his wife Mei. He often learned as much at their dinner table as he would during a typical class.

Mr. Starr writes well - the book is an easy and informative read. Each chapter encapsulates a principle learned from Sifu Chen, such as chi, discipline, and courtesy. Of course, these lessons were usually learned the hard way. Sifu Chen used many methods to impart both his knowledge and his character to the author. I found the inclusion of Mr. Starr's thought responses toward his teacher (denoted by italics) to be quite fascinating. It was easy to identify with his honest internal expressions of incredulity, or appreciate ah-ha! moments when a lesson hit home.

Unfortunately, Sifu Chen passed away in 1971 from a kidney ailment. But in 1982 Mr. Starr took what he learned from Sifu Chen and created another martial art called Yilichuan (One Principle Boxing), thereby continuing his teacher's legacy. "The Making of A Butterfly" lets us in on Sifu Chen's timeless martial arts principles, and provides insight into a good student's mentality. It's a recommended addition to every martial artist's library.