Outdoors Books

Dr. Scranton is an excellent author. Playing Hurt is well written and captivating.

He brings you behind the scenes of the NFL, and describes the entire process of an athlete's life in well written detail. Medical knowledge is helpful, but not reqired. You can reference the medical terminology on the internet if need be.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is curious about sports medicine, or even the casual NFL fan (like me).

The descriptions of some injuries may be difficult to those without a background in common athletic injuries (eg. buckethandle cartilage tear). But, this is a great insight into one team physician's experiences in the NFL. I would agree with one review that said he focuses on his drinking, but having limited exposure to the world of sports medicine, as a collegiate student trainer, this is very much a part of the atmosphere. He discusses the bonding of a medical staff in a bar setting, that hazy arena where information on potential players is shared and war stories abound.

I would whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone that is even the slightest bit interested in the world of sports medicine.

The title of the book caught my eye. I see all these players getting hurt on Sundays. What is really happening? As I read the book I found it was something different. The medical aspect servers more as a backdrop into how the NFL works. Stranton talks about what really happens at the combines, what is draft day like, how do game days go, etc.

On the down side the book drags in a few places. He talks too much about all the drinking he does. Also, the book focuses almost exclusively on the Seahawks. On the up side he does not pull his punches. He is not afraid to say so owner or coach is a jerk.

Fun quick read.

I confess an interest - I have skied to the North Pole with Weber and Malakhov. By contrast with the experience outlined in this book, however, my trip was a walk in the park - plenty of food, fuel and sunlight, temperatures above -25C and only 8 days on the ice. No number of words, or for that matter photographs, can even begin to describe the achievement of these two, or the hardships they endured. Weber described to me his experience on their (failed) 1992 attempt to get to the Pole and back as "being a frozen packhorse". There are no more experienced polar explorers in history than these two; they are surely amongst the most modest. For anyone who has romanticised over Peary, or even merely enjoyed an armchair read of the experiences of expeditioners, this book is mandatory. The prose is not perfect (and in large part translated from Russian), hence I have marked it down to a "9"; but this imperfection gives the tale an added air of authenticit

The North Pole is called "the place that wants you dead" for good reasons. Yet these two men are like the "Energizer Bunny" of Polar trekkers. They continued to walk for weeks, from drifting ice flow to ice flow, during the spring breakup while authorities wanted to declare them insane and force their air rescued. They resisted this by satellite radio, partially because they didn't want to pay the $100,000 cost! I am still stunned at the skill, determination and humor these guys displayed. They did what has always been considered impossible - but went about it like ordinary people who get up everyday and commute to work. They even referred to the ice as their "office" where they went to work every morning from their tent. The writing is very good, the achievmentranks as a worlds record, and the travelers are at peace with themselves and with life itself. They won my heart and sincere admiration

What an exciting and amazing story this is! Against all odds these very strong and tenacious adventurers have skied across a nearly impassable collection of mobile ocean ice to the North Pole and back under conditions of extreme cold - as cold as -72 degrees! All supplies for 4 months for this completely self-sufficient expedition were carried in backpacks and dragged along in sleds. Their pre-trip planning was so complete they knew in advance when every morsel of food would be consumed! That totaled enough for a daily calorie allotment was 7000 calories. To eat less would incur a dangerous loss of strength.

The book is well written and very exciting. It kept me riveted to my seat until I finished reading it. When I was done, I felt as if I had been part of the adventure - except I was still warm and comfortable, with no aching muscles!

This book has a great variety of pool designs from contemporary to rustic designs. Fabulous book with alot of great pictures.

This is a great book for pool ideas. It contains ideas for just about every kind of pool and there are lots (350, at least) of photographs. This is just what I was looking for since we are planning to put a pool in our yard and it's a blank slate. This books is great for those without a lot of imagination, like me.

I looked through lots of pool idea books in my local book store and none of them had as many pictures as this book. There are a few pages of text in each chapter, but the bulk of this book is 4 (or so) pictures per page which is exactly what I wanted in an idea book. I recommend highly.

"Preferred Lies", like a once-in-a-lifetime round of golf on a special golf course, is something one savors as you move through it. Andrew's wit, insight, depth, humor, and choice of words delight the reader with their imagination and intention. It is an honest book - and therefore one that was easy to relate to and come away with impressions and thoughts that shall last. This is a work of art that comes not only from Andrew's creative and entertaining spirit, but from his heart. That is the highest recommendation that I think one can give for any endeavor.

Andrew Greig, a Scot, is a poet, a nonfiction writer and a novelist who, as a junior, was a golf champion in Fife. This book combines all that and more. At one point the author states that he's not sure whether he's writing for the golfer or nongolfer. Having read it, I'm not sure either, but I'm a golfer with some familiarity with Scottish golf courses, including a number of those that Greig visits during his journey rediscovering golf and himself, without which background I'm uncertain whether I would have finished the book. Now, having finished it, I expect to be reading it again.

You want beautiful writing? You've got it here. You want "new age" golf? You've got it here. You want a little humor? Same answer. The story line, such as it is, has the author visiting 18 or so famous, not-so-well-known (to Americans such as I) and barely golf courses around Scotland after a 35-year absence from the game and just upon recovery from a life-threatening illness. Although here and there we get some tidbits about the golf courses themselves, the point of the book is "golf and life" -- specifically, Mr. Greig's life.

On the golf side, I think of Scots as social, match play players. Mr. Greig doesn't fit that image. He prefers to play alone, and therefore for him it's medal play against the course and himself. In spite of his long absence from the game, he still cares about the score. He concludes his final round, at Dollar, alone: "My card records 35 out, 37 in. Total 72, six over par. Not that I was counting. Of course I'm counting. There is still something at stake. There aye will be." Pretty heavy stuff, yes?

We went to Gleneagles this year for 10 days holiday staying in a house on the estate which we rented. Lots of emotion driving through Milnathort passing a house of oldest friend and remembering aged 10 playing golf at Milnathort and not finding the ball because the course was covered in white feathers. One day I indulged myself and drove to Dollar, where I had been to school and lived during my formative years, arriving at 08.00am and played a round of golf on my own. I am a very poor player who has never yet broken 100 (the swing mistakes of my youth will stay and haunt me all my life)and so was amazed to go round the course in 82 - more than uncanny. Stopping at the 18th green for 10 minutes to look at the house where I grew up which backed onto the golf course I could see me and my brother playing in the garden and remembered where we had the rabbit hutch and so on and so on. It was very nostalgic and very pleasant. Dollar unchanged etc

Next day we drive 'en famille' to Edinburgh and turn on the radio at 08.45am and pick up a 15 minute reading from a book just come out called 'Preferred Lies' by Andrew Greig (or Grieg). It's autobiographical about a guy who on his (very) sick bed hear's voices from his deceased father telling him to pick up his golf clubs after years of absence as the road to recovery. So he sets off on a tour of golf courses in Scotland which had been meaningful to him and gives us his philosophy on the way (It's not about the score). That day my wife managed to find the book in a book shop and bought it for me for my birthday and... surprise is the last chapter is entitled Dollar. Imagine my surprise - all the golf courses in Scotland and he chooses to end his book playing alone at Dollar in the way I had done just two days earlier. Turns out he had attended Dollar Academy as I had many years ago. So you must please buy the book. It is golfy but you will enjoy it. As this book, golf in Scotland follows the natural lie of the land and is not man made. It is earthy and genuine.

I bought it for a class, then I realized it was the wrong one, however I decided to ready it anyway, it is ver simple and informative. I love it.

Book is great compared to the price, bent corners but everything else is fine...Will be back for more

I took the class that used this book last semester, and I really love this book. It's easy to read (although at times it goes into a little too much detail), doesn't sugar-coat anything, has great pictures, and has labs at the end of each chapter to help you apply the information. From proper nutrition to cancer prevention to strength training to STD prevention, this book has it all covered. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in health.

The book is a great for anyone in the exercise field. It is easy to read and straight forward. It covers every aspect of athletic training, rehab, and injury diagnosis.
A DEFINITE MUST HAVE!

I am the Head Athletic Trainer and Professor of Athletic Training Curriculum at a college in Oklahoma City. This is the best text I have ever read which caters to the education of Athletic Trainers. It is the text of choice for my Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries class, as well as a source of reference for any challenge I face within the training room. This book is the "Trainer's Bible" bar none! I personally used the eighth edition when studing for the NATABOC exam and have used the ninth and tenth editions in my classes. I highly recommend this text for everyone in the sports medicine field. If you are a Student Atheltic Trainer and are debating whether or not to spent the Seventy-something dollars for this book. this book will make the difference between pass and fail!

This book is one of the most important books for an athletic trainer. It covers everything that is in each of the 5 different domains of an athletic trainer. Their sections on sports injuries, and treatments are invaluable to anyone who is preparing to sit for the NATA exam. It is fondly termed by those that I know as the "trainer's bible." And that is exactly what it is.

This book has lots of ideas for unique quilts, combining piecing and applique techniques. Some of the directions may be a little
hard for beginners to follow, but it's definitely worth the effort.

I thought this was a great book. My son who is 10 years old worked on it with me.. He did the applique and I pieced the other pieces. In one day we got most of the squares done. The book was easy to follow and the results are wonderful.. He loves his quilt and I am proud to make it...I reccomend this to anyone who wants to work with their children.

Quilts For Wilderness Kids Of All Ages needlecraft and quilting expert Debbie Field is a thoroughly charming array of simple, practical, easy-to-follow, wilderness themed quilting patterns and applique templates. From the Bear Hugs Pillow to the Wolf Pack Quilt and the Woodlands ABCs Quilt, the patterns are each soothing, colorful, inventive, and make for wonderful finished quilts superb for home use or gift giving. The instructions are so simple and straightforward that quilters of all ages and skill levels can understand and follow them without difficulty. Quilts For Wilderness Kids Of All Ages is enthusiastically recommended for quilting enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.

The well structured narrative of this book nicely interweaves dramatic action surrounding the po'ouli with exposition on the state of wildlife conservation at the turn of the 21st century. The author uses the plight of a vanishing bird to stand in for the current state of human interaction with nature. The prose is simple and direct, presenting scientific and bureaucratic details in ways easy to understand. This book stands out on the crowded science and nature shelf, and I eagerly anticipate Mr. Powell's next effort.

I found this book to be interesting, important and informative for three reasons. First, it documents some of the causes and events surrounding the last few years of the po'ouli's existence and extinction for posterity. Second, it is very engaging; Mr. Powell has written a fast-paced chronicle of events that (despite the somber subject) is entertaining to read. Third, the book provides insight into a government program that is intended to protect endangered and threatened species, but which can fall short of the mark due to political and budget issues - despite the best efforts and intentions of many dedicated field personnel trying to save these rare creatures and their diminishing habitat.

A compelling account of the discovery of a tiny bird in the Hawaiian rain forest and the desperate efforts to save it from extinction. Author Al Powell has allowed us to see in a concrete way man's impact on the environment and the effectiveness of the policies and technologies we use to protect species endangered because of it. His story allows us to work alongside biologists as they celebrate the discovery of the bird in the 1970s and experience their growing horror over its fast-dwindling numbers. By the 1990s only three birds remained in wild. He shows how biologists' attempts to save the bird culminates in captive breeding that fails in 2004 as they witness the last known member of a species die in a cage. Must reading for nature lovers, bird lovers, science buffs and anyone concerned about the world we live in.

Millspaugh and Marzluff's text is the most complete and up-to-date resource for information regarding the application and analysis of radio-telemetry studies. All aspects, from sampling design to analytical techniques, are described in depth. Anyone who is considering conducting a telemetry study or the analysis of any telemetry data should read this book front to back first.

This a good review of radio telemetry techniques and applications.

Radio tracking and animal populations covers all aspects of radio tracking wild animals, from designing the study right through to analyzing results and drawing conclusion from the findings. I have found this book to be the most comprehensively referenced, and in depth piece of literature on radio tracking that I have managed to locate so far.
I have constantly used this book while carrying out a telemetry study as the research for my masters degree, and recommend this book as the ideal starting point for anyone considering carying out a radio tracking study of wild animals.
My only regret concerning this book is that I didn't come across it earlier in my studies.

Phil hates working, so he threw together a desert pad with some cheap (and I mean CHEAP) supplies and spends his day drinking, shooting guns, and napping. AWESOME. I love Phil's honest description of his lack of enthusiasm for work. There are also many tips and tricks for the aspiring desert rat. A fun read!

After reading many disappointing books on survival, dropping out, homesteading and self-sufficiency I got this gem from Loompanics about a guy who is DOING IT. His message is simple: get a piece of desert land (why can you afford it? - it's worthless), built a simple shelter, and actually live the life the you claim to yearn for. No BS, no apologies, no pretending that you've got $10,000 just laying around - just good solid advice. On top of it all, an occasional rant for good measure. Get it.

Phil Garlington, California's answer to Hunter S. Thompson has given us a real gift in this frank, funny and brutally honest how-to-memoir. Destined to be a cult classic with exiled would be back-to-the-landers wherever they may be, 'Rancho Costa Nada' shows, not tells how anyone fed up with modern society can chuck it all and still keep some of the small comforts that most folks run the treadmill to have on a daily basis. It's trade off: Freedom or indentured crawl-on-your-belly servitude and many of the more free-spirited can't stand. I'm one of them, and always have been. Like Garlington in his early years, I left for the wilds of Alaska, chronicled in 'Alaska Tales.' The cold reality of that life makes a desert sojourn a good choice for one's later years. In the irreverant style reminiscent of Edward Abbey this author splits our sides with hilarious interviews profiling colorful folks the mainstream has left behind. Phil's ingenuity cobbling together the hogan and amenities is truely inspiring for those on a limited budget. I first became aware of Garlington from the 'Propwash Chronicle' in the anthology 'Out of the Noosphere' from the editors of Outside Magazine, one of the funniest stories I've ever read. Hopefully we'll get an anthology of more of the travels of Phil Garlington.

Also recommended: Aces and Eights