Outdoors Books

This book was recommended to me by a friend who knew I was interested in the natural history of Texas. Smoothly and cleverly written,Gayne Young's book is both informative and entertaining. I have given several copies as gifts, even to friends who don't hunt. I hope there will be more from this author.

Although I am not a hunter, there were always hunters in my family. I found the book very interesting and Mr. Young's stories are so funny, I found myself laughing out loud. I gave several copies of the book to the young men in my family for Christmas.

If you've ever thought about hunting in texas, this is a must have. Its a great read, and a perfect reference for anyone in or interested in the lone star state. It has a little bit of everything,from humor to history, and its brilliantly put together. Texas is the most diverse state in the country to hunt or to explore, this book helps from everything to terrain, to poisonous critters and much more. pick it up and get huntin'

I just completed Mr. Young's book, Texas Safari: The Game Hunter's Guide to Texas. Having taught history for several years and still having an abiding interest, I was glad to see the combination of hunting and historical information. I don't know where he found this information but really enoyed it and he has some humor in it to balance it out. Great read!

This was one of the better hunting books I've read in the past few years. I especially liked the historic anecdotes about hunting jaguar and grizzly in Texas.

I think I have all of Geoff Thompson's technical books now, and I believe this is the best one. In this book, Mr. Thompson covers the difference between a match fight, a gratuitous assault, and a pre-planned mugger's approach of disarming; the effects of muscle memory and action triggers; the different kinds of adrenaline and how they effect a fighter; why you should have a 'main artillery' weapon and how to use it; and training for incorporating these newfound principles.

One of the most valuable parts of this book is how to deal with the law when it comes to post-fight conditions.

Once again, Mr. Thompson, a karate black-belt turned bouncer, covers his 'fence' system and how to use it.

Overall, this book gives the reader a terrific game plan for self-defence by giving him or her true knowledge of how fights go down and what to expect.

This book includes surprisingly much concept-level information about self defence and real life fighting in less than 100 pages. There are no techniques included, unless you count three different ready positions as techniques. What this book does instead, is teach you about the concepts and principles of fighting, and more importantly, how to avoid fighting in the first place.

The book handles many essential skills and sectors of self defence, like awareness of one's surroundings, the anatomy of a fight and so on. There is also some information on non verbal communications, but out of necessity the information is not very profound. There are also some very good training exercises in the book.

In short, this book includes surprisingly large amount of information, given the low page count. And the information is of excellent quality. As this book is very quick to read, it can be recommended to anyone who wishes to get solid information about real-life self defense.

If you are among those souls that view streetfighting as an opportunity to prove your mettle in some highly idealized exercise in hypermasculinity, or somehow view the activity as a right of passage, then "3 Second Fighter" is probably not for you. On the other hand, if you are a serious student of Urban Combatives or concerned with what works in the "Real World", then the strategy outlined in this book would be classified as imperative. Save the Honor and Glory bit for the appropriate field of battle. Line-up fighting is a highly specialized art form that views such notions as counterproductive. This book is in essence, "The Shining Path."

I have nearly all of Geoff Thompson's technical books, and I believe this is the best one. In this book, Mr. Thompson covers the difference between a match fight, a gratuitous assault, and a pre-planned mugger's approach of disarming; the effects of muscle memory and action triggers; the different kinds of adreneline and how they effect a fighter; why you should have a 'main artillery' weapon and how to use it; and training for incorperating these newfound principles. Off hand, I'd say the most valuable part of this book is how to deal with the law when it comes to post-fight conditions. Once again, Mr. Thompson, a karate black-belt turned bouncer, covers his 'fence' system and how to use it. Overall, this book gives the reader a terrific game plan for self-defense by giving him or her true knowledge of how fights go down and what to expect.

This is an excellent book and should be in the library of every serious martial artist. It features realistic techniques from real life and street defenses that are easily learned.

Great, great book. Both for the new rugby player and the old hand. Only criticism I have is that more illustrations and diagrams would be helpful for the total newbie. However, since that wasn't the intended audience it only becomes a problem because there's nothing else comparable out there. Like the Bible, everytime you read it, you learn something new every time. Or something that you weren't ready to understand before becomes suddenly clear. A must-have for the rugby obsessed.

I've been playing rugby for almost 6 years, and I wish I read this book earlier. While I think this book is a lot more useful for coaches than for players, it is still a great reference- for example, diagrams outlining the best way to drive in a scrum, explanations of drift defense- all important stuff, and he also goes into detail about what each position should do- which is great for beginners, who are often out there not understanding their roles. Being a passionate rugger, I finished this book in one day!

Mr. Greenwood has all the basics in here, and it serves as a useful reference beginners wanting to get the basics of the game down, to more experienced ruggers who want to read up on strategy and training tactics.

"Total Rugby" is essential reading for players and coaches - and useful for fans. The book covers the essentials of play, from novice to advanced. "Total Rugby" plus a rulebook will take you a long way in the sport. It's not just for 'students of the game'! Leave behind the 'it's just smear the queer' and 'if I hit 'em hard enough we'll win' attitudes and learn something about your sport. You'll never win against skilled teams until you ingrain the information encompassed by "Total Rugby". If you're ready for advance tactics and strategy, check out "Think Rugby" by the same author.

This is a great book. It's has tons of valuable information. Not for the guy who loves pictures. Your coaches and captains should have this book. It will make you a better coach, and improve the quality of your club's play. If you want to keep losing, but have the best parties, get some other book.

Bob

This is likely one of the best titles on the subject of mental preparation for successfully dealing with criminal threats and behavior. While it was orginally written for those who spend time in the great outdoors, it has direct application to any type of potentially dangerous situation and activity. It's suitable for anyone interested in increasing his/her own personal safety. The title is NOT a self-defense book and doesn't even cover physical skills. However, the title does go into great detail on all aspects of personal safety that should be utilized before a situation turns physically violent. Highly recommended!

This is a well written book about being safe while hiking, camping, or backpacking. It wisely provides guidance on how to avoid or retreat from potentially bad situations and likewise has a frank but practical discussion on the merits of self defense on the trail. It does not hype the crime that happens on trails and at campgrounds which is good and bad. Good in that it does not try to present the outdoors as a "war zone" but bad in that more stories about bad situations would provide readers with more guidance on how things go wrong and how to avoid bad situations.

On a 1-5 scale, it is a six (6*).

Bane's writing is clear and to the point. He sets up a system for logically analyzing your situation _before_ you get into a situation.

His step-by-step process applies to the urban jungle as well as the Amazon or Congo. I'm sure he would rather have you read a different book for the urban jungle, but his rationale applies there as well as the "Outdoors."

His procedure will help you decide what you want to carry, when you want to carry, and how to use it.

If you have already decided that you will never use lethal force, read the book anyway. It will help you be prepared for _any_ level of outdoor misbehavior. With or without a gun.

As a very mildly competitive tactical pistol shooter, I know that I must decide, before I enter the wild, or the urban jungle, whether or not I'm going to carry, and when or not I will shoot, or run, or whatever.

Bane gives his readers the tools to use, and a plan to use, before ultimate danger is encountered.

Don't get me wrong, this is NOT a judo/bali-song/44 magnum how-to fight book, it is a how-to use the weapon between your ears book.

Order the book, lock the door, and read it before you go out.

Bane's TRAIL SAFE is a must read for anyone that spends time in the wilderness. Forget about the scary animals, it's more likely that a two legged predator will ruin your hiking experiance.Bane's sage advice will keep you safe if you should have an unpleasant encounter miles from the nearest policeman.

Michael Bane's writing style is easy to follow, interesting and throws a humorous light on what could easily be a very dark and intimidating subject. TRAIL SAFE makes the perfect gift for loved ones that enjoy hiking and other wilderness activities. This is the book that Ned Beatty should have read!

Michael Bane's Trail Safe: Averting Threatening Human Behavior In The Outdoors is the first title specifically designed to prepare the outdoorsman and vacationer to defend themselves against criminal behavior in our nation's public parks as well as other rural and wilderness areas. Trail Safe presents the three-pronged self-defense mechanism centered around intuition, awareness, and fear; the nuts and bolts of risk assessment and planning; and a self-defense decision tree that will enable the reader to determine appropriate reactions to a violent encounter, should one occur. Trail Safe is essential, potentially life-saving reading for anyone spending any time in wilderness areas whether hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, or any other recreational purpose.

This book exudes a zest for living I've seldom come across. Written by an outdoorsman/professional guide/hunter/trapper/rancher, the quality of writing is surprisingly good, in fact,superb. I don't recall any dull pages in this book. It is brim-full of tales of the wilderness and all the denizens thereof; ranchers, trappers ,Indians ,horses ,grizzlies and more. There are lavish descriptions of the wilderness itself. The depiction of growing up in this unspoiled(at that time) wilderness was very refreshing. Five stars because it is the best of its kind I have read.

Trails Of A Wilderness Wanderer are true stories from the West blending the autobiography of an outdoorsman with accounts of living in the wild places of the Rockies, following old trails and meeting hunters and explorers. An absorbing outdoorsman's diary filled with nature and observations of the wild.

Good book. Would like to see a complete set of his works as well as a biography written by one of his cronies, or an outdoor-life chronicler.

Mr. Russell takes you back to the early days when only Indians and bears roamed the land, through his youth and adulthood as an outdoorsman in the wilds of early Canada. He tells of living a life we can only dream of now. The people he writes of were real and made Canada what it is today. I have reread this book almost yearly since it came out in 1971. You will feel as if you have walked his trails with him and love the life he led. An excellent gift for the city-bound outdoorsman!!!

I don't usually write book reviews, but as I came across this book for sale on Amazon, it brought back wonderful memories. I purchased this book back in 1973. I loved it then and I love it now. I re-read it for maybe the fifth time. I decided to write this reveiw.
I am not well educated or well traveled, but I know adventure when I read it and this book is of a great adventure. It is a group of short stories written by Andy Russell, who was born in 1915, more importantly at the foot of the Great Rockies mountains in southwestern Alberta Canada.
He describes his childhood growing up on a farm there, where he learned very young how to take care of himself. Fishing, hunting and trapping in a country of great beauty, that he describes as no one else could. Some stories are of breaking, riding and training horses. This is a book for someone who loves animals and the great outdoors, and especially for someone who loves adventure. His travels take him from the farms of the great plains to the beautiful mountains of the west and north to the cold of the frozen tunda. It is also about animals small and large, from weasels and minks to bears and elk, as well as fishing, the kind of which is very hard to find these days. There are stories told around camp fires, of cowboys and of the English Remittance men. Thrills vary from forest fires to the stalking of a trophy elk.
He went on to become a great guide of the Rockies, both for hunting and for those who hunt with a camera. This is a great adventure and a must read. If you read this book you should also read another book by him called "Grizzly Country". It is said by many to be one of the best books ever written about bears, both from the scientific point of view and by someone who was a conservationalist and a naturalist. I love bears and I loved that book also. I loved them both. I hope to read other by him. Enjoy and thank you Andy Russell.

I'm only about 1/3 through, but I can tell that this is an awesome piece of work. I'm surprised not to see more feedback here.

Tanner does an excellent job of presenting the Confederate deatils of the early valley campaign. He gives an excellent quick history of the valley as far as original colonization, American Revolution tie-ins, etc. He also paints a good picture of the strategic importance of the valley. So far reading, I'm surprised that more action did not take place within the 2 mountain ranges that make this "valley."

Tanner covers every level of the campaigns from simple private, to captains, to regimental colonels, to brigadier generals, all the way up to division commanders and of course General Jackson. Detailed troop movements are given, yet I did not find myself lost in details. Maps are excellent and numerous.

Also, very important, is reference to other Eastern developments which caused the ebb and flow in the Valley. You get the details as to why certain troops found themselves headed in or out of the valley, especially for the Union side.

The writing is very clear, concise, and at times very poetic. I wouldn't say Tanner is another Catton or Foote, but he comes pretty darn close. Much better than a typical dry account of campaigns you usually see out there.

I've been doing a lot of reading on ACW lately. I wasn't quite sure whether to read this because there seemed to be so many other more important works out there. But I'm glad I'm reading it as Tanner does an excellent job of briging this often forgot and vital campaign to life.

Remember it is Jackson's brilliance in the campaign which delays McCellan from striking Richmond by causing panic in Washington and delaying troop concentrations, and more importantly, it is his superiority in the Valley which allows him to break loose and help kick off the 7 Days (although he was MIA in helping).

Any serious ACW student should read this book.

Very well written, detailed account of Jackson's dazzling Shenandoah valley campaign. The valley campaign, Jackson's last significant independent activity before attaching himself to General Lee, makes for great civil war history. The author writes in a way that makes you feel like you're a part of Jackson's army, from lowest private to brigadier general. The maps, most of which are reproductions of Jed Hotchkiss's maps drawn at the time, could stand a little more detail but the narrative fills in most of the gaps pretty well. Focuses entirely on Jackson during the campaign and his place in the overall picture at the time. While this book is probably not for novices, it is an excellent and informative read for those with an interest in Jackson and/or the Northern Virginia theater of the war.

I have always been fascinated by the Valley Campaign, and surprised that nothing appeared to have been written specifically on the Campaign itself - at least nothing definitive.

I just knew Tanner's book was what I was looking for, just by the appearance of it. And in fact it is THE definitive account of the Shenandoah Campauign of 1862.

This is a remarkable campaign history. Never does Tanner's pacing seem off. He tells the reader precisely what he or she wishes to know. At proper moments he gives a literary touch to th writing; at other times he tells us what the soldiers were thinking; and at other times he tells amusing anecdotes.

THe sheer amount of research that must have gone into this book is phenomenal. Most books on civil war battles and campaigns tend to rely on accrued secondary evidence, and those pieces of primar evidence that are already widely known.

Tanner, on the other hand, has miraculously discoverd sources NEVER before seen. He is so thorough that the bibliographu and notes take up a seriously large portion of the book. And the information is important - a good deal of it clarifies points that have always been puzzling. For example, he proves that the famous Staunton maneuver, where Jackson seemed to deliberately leave the Valley on foot, only to return by train, was actually ad hoc, and probably not intended.
On the other hand, the new evidence regarding the march south from the Battle of Winchester really makes you feel sorry for the Valley soldiers - my feet really almost felt sore even reading about walking that fast, and going without sleep for so long.

Jackson himself comes across as a flawed genius, which he undoubtedly was. While he was a remarkable soldier, one must admit that there were certain aspects of his character that nearly defeated him on occasion; his almost continuous friction with his subordinates, his extreme strictness, his extreme inflexibility, his religious fervour, his inability to know when his soldiers were past breaking point.
Yet we also see Jackson's incredible energy, his strategic genius, his unerring instinct for what to do next.

Ultimately Tanner's book is about as definitive as a campaign book can get, and is highly recommended to anyone interested in the Civil War.

Tanner has written an excellent summary of the Valley Campaign that established Jackson as a Civil War legend. He manages to describe the experiences of privates and officers who fought in the campaign. While the majority of the book focuses on the Southern side, Tanner is fair and objective in his description of the abilities of the main characters.

Before going into the campaign study, Tanner describes the early history and importance of the Shennandoah Valley and why the area was such an important objective during the Civil War. The maps were okay but could have been more detailed and numerous to enable the reader to better understand the campaign movements and locations.

I particularly appreciated Tanner's fair treatment of Jackson: while we Southerners tend to idolize Jackson, Tanner points out Jackson's most serious flaws: secrecy and inability to get along with subordinates. Indeed, both tendencies probably would have kept Jackson (had he survived the war) from attaining the status of Lee, Grant, Sherman, Thomas, and Johnston. Admittingly, I have read of Jackson's tendencies in several other books.

I highly recommend the book as the standard for a study of the 1862 Shennandoah Valley Campaign. Read and enjoy!

A well-written and thoroughly researched account of one of the most impressive military campaigns in history. Mr. Tanner's portrayal is an enjoyable read without the sappy hero worship yet with all the details that gave us the Stonewall legend. No one can doubt the genius of this unlikely military leader nor his place in military history. Few could compare to the Elder Jackson's pious and quiet humility in victory and genious of maneuver. The valley campaign is studied to this day as a model of the indirect approach and the importance of maneuverability. Mr. Tanner gives us the best account yet of that campaign to thrill and inform. Very highly recommended.

I love this book! I have just started venturing out but so far it has now steared me wrong. Good directions and maps. Very happy with the detail.

Jimmy Jacobs is an excellent writer and trout fisherman who does a great job of detailing the many fine trout waters we have in the state of Georgia.I refer to this book often and when I head to north Georgia to trout fish this book gets packed in my bag for the trip! It is the best Georgia trout fishing guide available for the novice or advanced trout fisherman and I highly recommend it.

Every Georgia trout fisherman should have this book. There is loads of information and it is well organized. All public waters in Georgia holding trout and open enough for fly-casting are covered. Each destination is covered for several pages with fishing conditions, rules and regulations, and driving directions all covered. There is also a "how to" sections for novice trout fishers.

You will not find the off the road fishing locations without this book. I have past this book on to many others who have shown an interest in fishing north Georgia.

This book is a must have for anyone interested in seeking the sly trout in North Georgia. He is very complete in his technique and equipment sections and his maps are very thorough and easy to read. I never go fishing without it.

This book is for any climber at any level - sport, trad, whatever. I am a 48 year old novice climber, and this book has provided an enormous amount of information I never considered or found in any other book or class. Essential stuff.
My son is quite advanced and has added his endorsement - great info, cool pictures.
We just got back from Lander, Wyoming where we met and climbed with George. He's the real deal! He climbs with passion and teaches the same way.
Climbing is a dangerous sport. This terrific book provides the means to minmize the hazards, and increase the pleasures. Get it now! It's a GREAT - and useful - read!

I just completed an AMGA Course and I have to say this is one of the finest consolidations of safe climbing advice that I've seen to date. The suggestions are simple to follow and make you wonder 'Why didn't I think of that?' I've been a traditonal lead climber several years now and I can honestly say I'll be implementing some of the authors safety pointers the next time I'm on the rock.

I was a novice climber when I met George Allen: George taught me how to climb. Along the way George also revealed climbing safety. He insisted.

What I recall most about climbing with George is that he was always consistent with his competent instruction. That consistency and competency carries over into the book.

The instruction included within "Ultrasafe: ..." is crucial information for climbers of all skill levels. In fact, even experts need to be reminded the fundamentals, fundamentals found within the text. The falls I have witnessed, the injuries, the deaths, were typically the result of disregard for safety fundamentals. How much is your life worth? One nut? A Friend? One more anchor?

Since climbing with George, I have applied many of his insights to my daily life. For example: Don't walk on ice with your hands in your pockets. Good advice, but how many of us walk on ice with our hands in our pockets? After rolling in the cholla I quit approaching with items in my hands. Sound fundamental advice. You will find more within.

I strongly recommend this book. The book is easy to read and the tips herein may save either yours or your partner's life someday, and they are likely to prevent injuries. Thank you George Allen for formalizing these truths.

I have climbed occasionally with George Allen over the past twenty years. His approach on the rock has always been one of caution and complete awareness of his environment without ever lapsing into hyper-paranoia. This thoughtful, cautious approach carries over into this book. No one, particularly those making a transition from the climbing gym to the "real world", should rope up without reading this. Climbing safety is about a lot more than checking your knots and nut placement. Mr. Allen provides the first comprehensive overview of safety for everyone whether they are bouldering or climbing the Yosemite walls.

I am not a climber, so when I had the opportunity to read Allen's "UltraSafe" I planned on a few minutes of reading per evening until it was finished or I just gave up. I opened it up one night and didn't put it down until I had reached the back cover. Yeah, some of the technical terms made whistling noises as they flew over my head, but I managed to catch most of the concepts. What makes this book fascinating is the author's overall approach to climbing safety. He recommends the climber develop a attitude of safety, or a safety culture, rather than just run down a checklist to insure some vital piece of equipment is functional or refraining from doing something obviously stupid. He explains how to encorporate safety into all facets of the sport without turning the endeavor into some sort of perverted govermental compliance exercise. The text has enough tech-talk in it to keep the attention of the hard core crowd but is written so well that it kept my attention (remember me - the non-climber?). The personal anectdotes make it real and the Wizard Tips ("Master" to the "Grasshopper" tidbits of wisdom) leave no doubt that this guy knows what he's talking about. If you're a novice climber, Read The Book before you develop any bad habits. If you're an experienced climber who wants to be around long enough to become more experienced, Read The Book. If you're an experienced climber who thinks you already know enough about safety, Read The Book. Don't let Darwin win.

Urban picnics are a trend and following right along is The Urban Picnic, a cookbook designed to inspire both cooks and kitchen novices to introduce the 'urban picnic' concept into their lives. A history of the picnic, accounts from across the centuries, and musings on picnic appeal compliment over 200 recipes suitable for picnic foods: salads, sandwich spreads, portable pies, muffins and much more. Expands upon and provides fine insights into modern picnic food options - which are many.

Urban picnics are a trend and following right along is The Urban Picnic, a cookbook designed to inspire both cooks and kitchen novices to introduce the 'urban picnic' concept into their lives. A history of the picnic, accounts from across the centuries, and musings on picnic appeal compliment over 200 recipes suitable for picnic foods: salads, sandwich spreads, portable pies, muffins and much more. Expands upon and provides fine insights into modern picnic food options - which are many.

Urban picnics are a trend and following right along is The Urban Picnic, a cookbook designed to inspire both cooks and kitchen novices to introduce the 'urban picnic' concept into their lives. A history of the picnic, accounts from across the centuries, and musings on picnic appeal compliment over 200 recipes suitable for picnic foods: salads, sandwich spreads, portable pies, muffins and much more. Expands upon and provides fine insights into modern picnic food options - which are many.

I got this book as a gift, and I'd really recommend it. I'm not a picnic person (yet) and eating outside is not usually my thing. Apologies to the authors. Anyways, the info and history at the beginning of this book made me smile. Recipes like "Broiled Chicken" might seem really obvious to some people, but I followed their instructions and I was amazed at the great stuff I could offer my friends. Maybe I'll take some things to eat outside, but whatever, this book is interesting and has lots of good and easy recipes. thanks

After reading the Urban Picnic my boyfriend and I have become picnic maniacs. We picnic in our yard, in the park, on park benches, at the beach or the lake. The recipes are great, the musical selections excellent but more than that The Urban Picnic makes you want to stop and enjoy life. Thanks for the inspiration!

Reading this book filled me with inspiration to get out and enjoy the outdoors. John Husar's writing is absolutely poetic. He was an artist who painted with humble words. It's an easy read -you can pick up any page and start from there, because it's a collection of his columns. Thank you for making this book!

After reading a few columns, I took my kids out for a walk in the woods for the first time this year. This book is not just for the fisherman/hunter, it's for anyone who loves the outdoors and appreciates natural beauty. It's timeless and classic. I even gave it to a few friends for Father's Day.

What a wonderful book.....Mr. Husar has a way of capturing the essence of the outdoor experiece in a artfully brilliant and often humerous way......showing great respect for all God's creatures.

The writings of John have been missed in the Chicago Tribune. Thank you for the wonderful book ! I look forward to the next book with more stories.
He has taken me on advertures around the world with such respect for nature and the environment.

Mr. Husar was an avid hunter and fisherman but this book should appeal to anybody who loves the great outdoors. He didn't write about how to catch big fish but about how to have fun while doing it.

I really like that it's a collection of newspaper columns -- you can grab it and read one or two columns at a time, depending on how much free time you have, or read it straight through.

I'll keep this one on my shelf for a long time.

John Husar's writings don't only apply to fishermen, hunters, or any denomination of people, but to anyone who loves to experience travels, adventures, or living in general, because he wrote not just about the outdoors, but how extraordinary life is. This book is a must-have for anyone who likes good stories told by an exellent storyteller. And who knows, you might learn somthing. Read it, you won't regret it