Scouting Books

Martino's love of the game shows throughout his book. His enthusiasm is addictive. I truely believe that the next generation of ball players and managers could benefit from having this book in their collection.

Martino obviously loves the game of baseball to devote so much thought on the subject. His analytical and straight forward thinking make this a must-read for anyone who is, or ever has thought of a career in the sports industry.Not only are the concepts discussed eye-opening for those who love baseball, but are applicable to all sports. Well done, Paul!

Martino's passion for the sport of baseball is apparent in his in-depth look at the game and his analysis. It is obvious his many decades of studying the game has led to his insightful and keen understanding of the workings shown in this book. A must read for any sports enthusiast.
Tracy N.
New Jersey

Hey, I really enjoyed the section on the breakdown on the Phillies. You Can't Get It 'Cause You've Already Got It!

I've always been a fan of the Western Novel but all too often I've faced poorly written material. Not so with Shadow Warrior!
This is a great western in the old tradition and one can only hope that J. C. Gotcher will visit the keyboard again!

J.C. Gotcher has captured the true spirit of the Western novel. He introduces us to characters and in turn lets us truly get to know them - so well, that we're not always sure who to cheer for and in the end we miss them all. I especially appreciate that Gotcher doesn't force a relationship between reader and character, but allows it to develop on its own. This is a fabulous read and one I will enjoy again.

A great story with non-stop action. You won't be able to put this one down. A unique blend of great story telling with a lot of historical accuracy. You are captivated by the wit and grit of the characters in a clash of cultures. It captures the spirit and realism of the old west.

This book, gripping with non- stop action, reminds me of a story your grandfather might have shared with you on a long road trip.It truly feels and speaks of another time. There are three main characters locked in a three-way struggle.This is not your typical good guy- bad guy western.I liked the freshness the author brings to this genre(and this is from a dyed in the wool Louis L'Amour fan!).This book is picturesque,exciting,and thought-provoking.If you love a great story this book is for you.

After reading Whitetail Wisdom authored by Dan Schmidt who is the Editor of Deer and Deer Hunting magazine I have to say that it is the most informative no BS factual approach to whitetail hunting that I have ever seen. The field proven facts Dan discusses are presented in an entertaining easy to read format that anyone regardless if they are a veteran hunter or if they have never spent a day in the woods can understand and learn from.

I especially like the way Dan speaks from authority without being overbearing, and the manner in which he has woven his great respect for the whitetail and his love of hunting into his writing. It's not often today that I hate to lay a book down but this is one of those rare cases. I think Dan Schmidt has a winner here and fell that Whitetail Wisdom should be read by anyone who hunts or is planning to hunt whitetails. There's no doubt in my mind that everyone who reads this book will learn something from it, I know I picked up several pointers that I cant wait to try this fall.
A very informative and enjoyable read, well worth the purchase price.

H. "Bumper" Bauer

"Whitetail Wisdom" by Dan Schmidt, editor of the top whitetail magazine Deer & Deer Hunting, is one of the few deer hunting manuals both simple enough and comprehensive enough to be called a true handbook. Its subtitle is "a Proven 12-Step Guide To Scouting Less and Hunting More." No question about it -- that gets the attention of any serious deer hunter who has lots of claims on his time.

Schmidt advocates a non-obsessive approach to deer hunting. That's not to say that Schmidt undervalues a serious game plan -- any knowledgeable hunter can list countless details that need to be analyzed and taken seriously. But Schmidt keeps hunting in its proper perspective. He recognizes that any hunter scratching out a living while raising a family doesn't have the time or money he'd like to devote to hunting.

Schmidt offers one statement that suggests the enormous respect he has for the everyday hunter in an age when many are obsessed with high-scoring antlers: "No hunter in North America, especially the so-called celebrities, could regularly kill mature deer from most of the properties most of us hunt.... Most of these guys are merely blessed to have access to great land and unpressured deer." At last -- someone has said what I've long believed.

Another emphasis is on enjoying freedoms -- freedom to appreciate all aspects of the hunt, freedom to hunt without the pressure of living up to someone else's standards of accomplishment, and the freedom of simplicity in an approach to hunting. He prefers a few well-organized cargo pockets rather than a backpack overstuffed with gear that gets little or no use. A bonus of minimalism is the clearing of clutter from the mind.

He brings what he calls a "5-point pyramid" to all scouting. It includes weather, food, habitat, human pressure and deer biology. A scouting effort that includes these basics will always outperform one that doesn't.

Whitetail Wisdom is a 224-page primer (complete with photos) on deer hunting that will school the hunter who's just getting started. It's also a digest of principles for the veteran with many seasons under his belt. And it's organized around a realistic philosophy of hunting that recognizes few hunters will become pros. Like any good guidebook, it's well-indexed and will give you many opportunities to thumb through for the information that almost guarantees you will become a better hunter.

If you hunt public land and enjoy hunting harder than the average "Joe", then this book will help you beat the odds and bag bigger deer. The common sense approach complete with experiences make this a great read.

The busy deer hunter seldom has time to read all the books on the market providing tips on deer hunting strategy: but if only one book were recommended, make it the '12-Step program' of Whitetail Wisdom: A Proven 12-Step Guide To Scouting Less And Hunting More. From insights on how to fool mature bucks to assessing modern hunting gear and using the bow and rifle to better advantage, deer hunters will find Whitetail Wisdom a 'must' for improving their odds.

An interesting book, even for adults. Set in Russian-occupied Hungary, the novel depicts the repression of the citizenry under Communist rule and the hope of a people yearning for freedom. It is told from the viewpoint of a young teenage boy with whom American kids can identify. The skillfully drawn charaters touch the reader emotionally. A definite must buy for parents wanting to help their children, born in a post Berlin-wall era, understand how Communism can tighten its grip over a society.

An excellent portrayal of a story so familiar to Hungarian refugees who left during and after the '56 revolution. It's truly a book for all ages. A book that draws you in, paints a picture and teaches lessons of life.

The Fall of The Red Star is an incredibly captivating book that is applicable today to convey to children of all ages what people go through and the changes seen during a war. This book was read to my daughter's fourth grade class. They were amazed at what this normal kid went through, watching his 'normal' daily activities change from school, homework, parties, and chores into the horror of fighting and killing to protect his family and fighting for his country. It is a story all adolescents should read and a horror I wish no one should ever experience. Read this book. Then read it with your kids.

This may seem a little pricey for what you get (3.5" x 7" inches, and 34 pages), but if you consider the time it would take you to compile 37 VP games and almost 200 pay tables, into a compact little easy to read notebook that you can carry with you to the casinos...it's really a bargain, and a necessary tool for any recreational or serious VP player.

The guide is essential for separating the good VP machines from the bad ones. There are nine pay tables for Deuces Wild that range from 100.76% to 94.82% returns, eight pay tables for Jacks or Better, seven pay tables for Double Bonus Poker, nine for Double Double Bonus Poker, eight for Joker Poker, and many more.

The progressive totals are also a nice feature of the guide. Most of us wouldn't touch a Jacks or Better machine that only had a 95% return, but did you know that you could play it if it was a progressive and paid $3,085 or more? It's the little things like that, and the Multi-Strike and Super Times Pay return percentages that show this was a well thought out guide.

I only have one small complaint about the guide; I wish it were about one or two inches shorter so that it could fit in your back pocket without sticking out. The longer pay tables could easily be continued on the next page, and if they had to add a couple of pages to the guide to compensate for shortening the pages, that wouldn't really be a problem since it is only about an eighth of an inch thick. Jean or Viktor, hope your listening ;)

Finally - just the book I've been waiting for. As long as I've been playing video poker, I've yearned for handy listing of the percent payback for the various games and paytables associated with them. I'd even started building the tables myself from numerous books on the subject of Video Poker. My efforts were never satisfactory because I never seemed to have the value for the machine I was standing in front of at the time - i.e. when I really needed it. This book is nearly perfect. It has numerous precentages for all (I haven't found one missing yet) each of the popular games that you find in casinos these days with various permutations of their paytables - sadly these are mostly NOT to the players advantage, but the authors' can't be faulted for that. My only complaint is the spiral-bound book is a smidge long for the average man's pocket and has a lame textual style for the little prose it contains that uses a sailor-schtick which I found a bit inappropriate. However, you don't buy this for the prose - you buy it for the NUMBERS and the numbers are just fine.

This book is exactly what is claims to be. It's a pocket guide that takes the guess work out of determining the payback percentage on all the popular video poker games and then some. The volatility ratings are a nice touch and are very helpful in determining what games to play based on the size of your bankroll.

Don't let the title mislead you. Every boy who wants to play college ball should read this book. While much of it seems funadmental attitude discussion to us adults, it is positive reenforcement to the young ones. And, it answers some tough questions, like when you should or should not play hurt or sick.

Written by Reds Senior Scouting Director Goldis and by baseball writer, commentator and coach Wolff (both former pro ballplayers), this book demystifies the process of getting that pro contract. It offers hope to those who were overlooked in the free agent draft, explains the scouting system and how scouts evaluate talent--including the specific skills needed to reach the major leagues. There are chapters on marketing yourself, frequently asked questions, and a full treatment of the workings of tryout camps. Great stuff!

This book is for the player who wants to know what pro scouts are looking for in baseball players. What is a scout looking for in a pitcher or outfielder? This book gives you the rundown on each position, as well as give the novice fan an idea of what it takes to become a major league scout. If this sparks your interest, then pick up this book.

I came across this book after telling our local librarian that my son was interested in things that are broken, injured, and subtly dangerous. Weird? Who cares! She pointed us toward "Little Pig," and we wore out its pages. It's so kooky and funny with a meaningful message for today's helicopter parents. Thank you, Denis Roach.

This story was about a little pig that doesn't like how his parents are always worrying about him. He wishes that they will stop worrying so much about him. Little Pig wants to prove that he is capable. So one day Little Pig goes on a hiking trip with his fellow Snout Scouts. It is there that he proves that he is responsible, reliable, and capable of taking care of himself. This story teaches children to be responsible. It also lets them know that one day their parents will stop being as protective over them. The story also teaches children to listen to what their parents have to say because one day it will pay off. This book will catch the interest of many children. I would recommend it to any school teacher or parent that read to their children.

Written and illustrated by Denis Roche, Little Pig Is Capable is a completely charming color picturebook for young readers and is about a Little Pig who feels overprotected by his parents. When Little Pig's Snout Scout troop embarks on a hiking trip with a questionable guide named Ravenous, it is the Little Pig's best opportunity to show just how intelligent, self-reliant, sensible, and capable he really is! A most enjoyable storytime book, Little Pig Is Capable will prove a welcome addition to any school or community library picturebook collection for children.

The Professor creates a robot named Robow robot-of-all-work. Can the scouts stop him before he sends all of Bear country running for cover. Characters- the scouts -acual fauail or professor -Lady Grezzly and Gus.

This book captured my son's imagination and mine too as he read it out loud to me as part of a reading assignment for school. The excitement and the giggles it brought out of my son were priceless. I highly recommend the book for any child whose parent wants them to explore the incredibly fun and exciting world of imagination.

This is a readable and scholarly work that should be part ofthe library of anyone who is an aficionado of the Old West. This bookexplained to me not only who Kit Carson was, but why he was significant. Although the author makes a good case for why Carson can be considered a hero, he also doesn't shy away from commenting on the man's mistakes. The biography seemed thoughtful, balanced, clear, concise, and thoroughly researched. Moreover, this book is particularly special because, in addition to the author's biography, it contains the complete text of Kit Carson's own autobiography, along with biographer Carter's helpful annotations to it. There are also some photos giving the biography and autobiography an added dimension. Two more points: Carson's life is exciting-- he was a mountain man, an explorer, a scout, a cavalry officer, and more! Also, this biography is only about ten years old, so you know that Carter is basing his inferences on fairly reliable, up-to-date research! All in all, I'd say that whether you're a novice or an expert on the subject, if you had to read or own just one book about Kit Carson, this should be it.

Kit Carson is one of my favorite historical figures and this is my favorite book about him. Carter republishes and annotates Carson's laconic autobiography of adventures as a fur trapper, mountain man, indian fighter, soldier, and explorer. Carson went from being an illiterate saddlers's apprentice in 1825 to one of the famous men in America by the end of his life in 1868. A small, unprepossessing man, he never learned to read or write, never made any money, and was modest, even ashamed of his fame. Arguably, Carson lived through more adventures than anyone else in American history.

Carter admires his subject which is good because Kit Carson is sometimes portrayed these days as a monstrous genocidiare because of his role in defeating the Navajos and forcing them to move to a reservation on which many of them died. In reality, Carson was a relatively humane soldier who often defended the rights of the Indians and who became a good agent on their behalf. But, unlettered and overly impressed by the authority, judgments, and education of his superiors, Carson didn't possess the moral courage and confidence to challenge his orders to suppress the Navajos.

Carter's research into Carson's life is thorough. He employs the unusual technique of publishing Carson's autobiography as written and commenting on it in extensive footnotes. Some might find this irritating as your eyes must move from text to footnote constantly. Carter also publishes a large collection of photographs of Carson, examines his fame, and extolls his virtues.

To my mind, Kit Carson is the premier hero of the western expansion of the U.S. Carter's book is one of the most accurate and well-researched accounts of Carson's remarkable life.

This is a wonderful book that I use in my classroom to talk about self-esteem. Loretta is a pinky scout (similar to a Girl Scout or Brownie). She feels the need to be the best due to a rich family heritage of "Ace Pinky Scouts." What follows is a lesson in self acceptance. Great book with great illustrations!

It has been very helpful for my child to hear this story (over and over and over...). The message that even the best human "stinks" at one thing or another is reassuring to someone who is always worrying that his or her project is not quite perfect.