Rock Books

I've been working my way into lead climbing and this is my favorite book on climbing anchors. After taking many classes and climbing with "old schoolers", the book really solidified what I had already learned and taught me many new modern techniques and "tricks". I also appreciate that the book presents the science behinds all the various anchor setups. Although there are hundreds of B&W photos, on occasion they are hard to decipher when showing complex setups. Climbing Anchors (second edition) by Long and Gaines is also an excellent book and covers the same material. Having read both has helped me tremendously!

Luebben's experience, knowledge and research shine through in this informative, accurate book on rock climbing anchors. I found the book to be useful for beginner and expert alike. This work is a full step beyond any other literature that is out there regarding building and analyzing rock climbing anchors.

Very current and well organized book! Craig Luebben has obviously absorbed the new anchoring concepts that have cropped up recently and has helped me understand the advantages and disadvantages to each new method. A better book in my opinion than John Long's new anchor book. Nicely illustrated and un-biased, this is the book I am recommending to my immediate/advanced clients. -Dave Lottmann, EMS Climbing Guide

Craig breaks anchors down into clear concepts, some of which John Long made blurry. The only thing I would have liked were color pictures...simply because some of the anchors were hard to see in B and W.

I've read all the anchor building books and so far, I have found this one to be the best one. Easy to understand, backed up by testing, lots of pictures (a picture speaks a thousand words!), a well-written guide!

I highly recommend this to all climbers out there!

The artwork is beautiful and imaginative, the stories can be read like folktales. This book is really beautiful. I used this as a tool for teaching saints in Catechism class, and loved the book so much I bought it for my own home. I've read this book to 1st graders and to fourth graders and both grades were fully engaged in the stories.

This is a wonderful treasury of stories.

Saints for young readers tells about the life of a saint whose feast day it is that day. It is on the reading level of about a 3rd grader, though, with very few pictures in the book, it may take a 4th grader to be interested in it. These one to two page stories are enjoyable and about a variety of saints. As the back cover says, "In these books [IE. the two volumes which cover the year] you will meet saints from every nation and race, from centuries long past right down to recent times. You will come to know saintly kings and workers, queens and housemaids, popes and priests, nuns and religious brothers. They were doctors and farmers, soldiers and lawyers, mothers and fathers, teenagers and children. These great and humble men and women prayed and worked, and never gave up trusting in Jesus. You can be like them too." At the end of each story there is some way suggested that you can apply some principle of the saint's life into the daily lives of children.
If you are looking for picture books on saints you may want to read my reviews of over 30 books on the saints.

This is a beautifully illustrated collection of stories about saints and faith-oriented legends. The text is easy to read and well-suited to children age 9 years on up to adults. The story-telling style is wonderful...a great book for big kids to read to their younger brothers and sisters, and for parents and teachers to share with their classes.

Saints for young readers tells about the life of a saint whose feast day it is that day. It is on the reading level of about a 3rd grader, though, with very few pictures in the book, it may take a 4th grader to be interested in it. These one to two page stories are enjoyable and about a variety of saints. As the back cover says, "In these books [IE. the two volumes which cover the year] you will meet saints from every nation and race, from centuries long past right down to recent times. You will come to know saintly kings and workers, queens and housemaids, popes and priests, nuns and religious brothers. They were doctors and farmers, soldiers and lawyers, mothers and fathers, teenagers and children. These great and humble men and women prayed and worked, and never gave up trusting in Jesus. You can be like them too." At the end of each story there is some way suggested that you can apply some principle of the saint's life into the daily lives of children.
If you are looking for picture books on saints you may want to read my reviews of over 30 books on the saints.

The previous reviews are about a different book. STandL is not a comprehensive educational manual about the lives of saints. It is a beautifully illustrated collection of inspiring folk tales and saints' stories told in a manner that adults and children will enjoy. This would be a great gift book for ages eight on up, although my five-year-old enjoys having the stories read to him.

I AM A HUGE SPICE GIRLS FAN ( I HAVE ABOUT 340 PICS IN MY ROOM!!!!) AND I HAVE TONS OF MERCHENDICE! THIS BOOK WAS GREAT READING AND WAS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL PICS, ESPECIALLY OF VICTORIA, WHO IS MY FAVE!!! READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!!

this book is the bomb.i think it is the best spice girls book i own.so if anyone plans to get a spice girl book they should pick this one.i especially like the geri and emma chapters because ther my favorite.

this book is filled with pics. it has a seprate chapter for each girl. even geri.

I thought this Spice Girl book was great! Mainly because it has an individual chapter of each Spice, including Geri. Emma is my favorie Spice Girl and there was some interesting information about her. I strongly suggest to get this book and out of all of my Spice Girl books this one is the best!!

I thought that the book was absolutly magnificent it tells about each one of the girls in a chapter and it tell the truth about why Geri left. It has quotes from the spice girls themselves. I think that if you love the spice girls yoou'll love this book.

If you are a lover of turquoise jewelry, this book is a must. Before you waste money buying reconstituted, stablized or totally 'fake turquoise'...learn about the stone and how it is processed. Also the book is cheaper on Amazon than from the author's museum website.

This book has helped me to identify several pieces I have that I have
been wondering about. It has helped me to be able to differentiate
between the real thing and the fake.

Turquoise Unearthed is a well written, very useful guide to this most attractive of minerals. The organization by site or mine is helpful to those with Native American jewelry from different sources. This reader found a number of long standing interests and questions satisfied. A small volume, but a "keeper".

THIS BOOK OFFERS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TURQUOISE. I LOVE BROWSING THROUGH IT AND KEEP IT ON MY COFFEE TABLE. ANYONE WHO HAS A LOVE OR DESIRES A KNOWLEDGE OF TURQUOISE WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. A MUST FOR THE COLLECTOR!! YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A PIECE OF TURQUOISE WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM.

"Turquoise Unearthed" in a brief but thorough introduction to turquoise that would be suitable for anyone interested in turquoise and turquoise jewellery. Although only 74 pages in length, this book is packed full of information, including a history of turquoise, advice on purchasing turquoise, and a guide to the different turquoise mines in the American South-West. There are colour pictures throughout the book, including colour photographs of the turquoise you would find in each of the mines (yes, turquoise does differ between mines); a recommended reading list at the end; and most importantly, it actually has an index. The only thing that could have made this book better would be some sort of pricing guide. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent book and well worth the money I paid.

Geoffrey Norman, This heartwarming book is about the author's experience mountain climbing with his daughter, Brooke. First, they climb the Grand Teton in Wyoming, which Geoffrey gives himself as a present for his 50th birthday. Climbing together becomes an activity that bonds them together as Brooke goes through adolescence and Geoffrey goes through the midlife passage. Norman, a writer for Outside Magazine, shares both his physical and psychological feelings with the reader. He also describes the climbing culture and gives us armchair adventurers a better idea of why people risk their lives for recreation. The book makes you feel like he is sitting down and telling you a story.

I like this book for many reasons, one of which is that it didn't try to mindlessly replicate Into Thin Air as many adventure books have done. Instead, Norman remains very self-deprecating about his own climbing abilities while he focuses instead on his relationships with his daughter. He didn't smooth over the rough edges in family dynamics which I also found appealing. In short, by avoiding adventure cliches, he gives us an exciting account of the thrill of rock climbing, some great climbing stories and some very heartwarming insights into the relationship between fathers and daughters. This book was extremely well written and is a quick read. Congratulations to Norman who avoided all the pitfalls of the genre. His book is unique in the field and gratifying on many levels.

This is a very good book by an editor approaching 50 who decides a mountain climb is just what he needs to prove he's not over the hill. This gets more complicated when his 15 year old daughter decides she'd like to give it a try. Now in addition to his own insecurities, he must confront his relationship with his daughter as she moves to the age where she starts to separate from her parents but also must address the many insecurities that come with growing up. If you are buying this book for a climbing adventure only, this is the wrong book. But if you want detailed climbing info from beginner to the ascent of a continental summit, maybe this will satisfy you.

This book really shines describing his family relationships and watching his young daughter grow into an independent woman. Read this book if you climb or like climbing stories. But more importantly read this book to explore interpersonal relationships with your kids.

Certainly not just another climbing book. Geoffrey Norman paints the human faces with the fine touch of an artist. "Two for the Summit" was one of the most delightful books I've read in a long time. It gently probes the relationship between parent and child as each grows wiser and richer through their shared experiences on the mountain. An interesting and gripping book about real people striving for the highest points in life.

The question "Why do we climb?" has been answered with as many different twists as it has been asked. However, I suspect most of us that climb do it to look inward as much as we do to see the beauty from the summit. Norman shares his personal glimpses of life with family and mountain in a wonderfully refreshing way.

When one picks up a book about mountain climbing, one expects it to emphasize thrill and adventure...In many ways, Norman's book is about thrills and adventure, but they have less to do with the climbing (which Norman does explain in fresh and exciting ways making the reader want to run out and find a huge rock to play on) and more to do with the adventure of loving a daughter, a family, and yourself...I bought this book in a book store before getting onto a plane-- four hours and 1000 miles later I had finished it. It initially appealled to me because it was about climbing, a sport that I am interested in (though still quite a novice), and about the relationship between a father and a daughter from the father's perspective--something which, as a daughter who adores her daddy, interested me very much.

What I found in the book was the simple truth that while we can learn and even begin to master new skills, we will always be negotiating and defining our relationships. Some of the most poignant moments in the book are when Norman expresses his own self-doubts as a climber, feeling limited by aging, and as a father, feeling inadequate to teach anything to his daughters as they become adult women.

Also, as someone interested in climbing, the book did provide me with some direction as to where to look to find out more about climbing and climbers. There are many interesting and fascinating characters that Norman and his daughter, Brooke, meet as they enter the climbing world together, and their stories add much of the humor that can be found in the book. Also, as this is nonfiction, all of the name-dropping will encourage would-be climbers to do some more research and get to know this sport a little better.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in climbing and/or arm-chair adventures, but I would also recommend this book to any father who wants reassurance that there are ways to connect with his daughter(s) in a meaningful way and to any daughter who needs to know what her dad is thinking and feeling as he watches her grow up.

Really well written book. Found alot of friends and family members in the book in the era of which it was written. Very true to it's nature. Purchased 2 books.

It is often common to find in magazines reports: "Carlos Santana. The man who created the latin-rock", as if he had create this sound by his own in a chemical laboratory. Instead, in this book, Jim Mc Carthy gives credit to a lot of people that put their little grain of sand to make this style born and live. Each musician is analicize by a very human view, but always in relation with the musical stuff. The pictures are incredible, and the Glossary... ¡re-grosso!. ¡Aguante el Rock-Latino!.

* LATIN * ROCK * MASTERPIECE *, June 27, 2005
Reviewer: derjenrogers from WILTHIRE
l found long ago, a very special sound,but no one was around totell me about it, no one knew anything, only that the music was so powerful it WOULD change your life. My soul has been searching for 30 years untill Jim McCarthy came and spent four years of his life, writting, hundred of interviews, to bring to life an utter MASTERPIECE, documenting the raw,uncensored passion to the roots of LATIN ROCK. Authenticity and powerful emotion drips off every page,forcing the reader to collect it and greedily drink
down this strong, pungent,wonderful nectar to fill your unknowing soul with THE KNOWLEDGE!

All the peoples names (which i only use to just read on the back of album covers) all come to life and i feel that they are close
friends,as so many are backed-up with the huge amount of photographs in this wonderful book.l now, no longer feel left outside, without The Knowledge, but part of global commune, full of love, warmth and unashamed greed for LATIN ROCK.
Jim McCarthy has pulled off a monumental task with getting to grips with the truth behind the roots of the music to some of the greastest latin rock bands of all time.
Their music will be here forever, as indeed this book will be.

THIS BOOK IS A TOTAL MUST FOR ALL LATIN ROCK LOVERS
DISCOVERING IT'S ROOTS,HISTORY,IT'S MUSICIANS. THIS
MASTERPIECE WILL FOREVER HAUNT EVERY BOOK SHELF ALL OVER THE WORLD, AS THE ONLY TRUE AUTHORITIVE VOICE IN LATIN ROCK

Reviewer: derjenrogers from UK
l found long ago, a very special sound,but no one was around totell me about it, no one knew anything, only that the music was so powerful it WOULD change your life. My soul has been searching for 30 years untill Jim McCarthy came and spent four years of his life, writting, hundredS of interviews, to bring to life an utter MASTERPIECE, documenting the raw,uncensored passion to the roots of LATIN ROCK. Authenticity and powerful emotion drips off every page,forcing the reader to collect it and greedily drink
down this strong, pungent,wonderful nectar to fill your unknowing soul with THE KNOWLEDGE!

All the peoples names (which i only use to just read on the back of album covers) all come to life and i feel that they are close
friends,as so many are backed-up with the huge amount of photographs in this wonderful book.l now, no longer feel left outside, without The Knowledge, but part of global commune, full of love, warmth and unashamed greed for LATIN ROCK.
Jim McCarthy has pulled off a monumental task with getting to grips with the truth behind the roots of the music to some of the greastest latin rock bands of all time.
Their music will be here forever, as indeed this book will be.

THIS BOOK IS A TOTAL MUST FOR ALL LATIN ROCK LOVERS
DISCOVERING IT'S ROOTS,HISTORY,IT'S MUSICIANS. THIS
MASTERPIECE WILL FOREVER HAUNT EVERY BOOK SHELF ALL OVER THE WORLD, AS THE ONLY TRUE AUTHORITIVE VOICE IN LATIN ROCK

i love this book it,s about time a book like this came out i love all the old pics of the bands and of the mission district now people will know the history of san franciscos latin rock and salsa sceen all the bands they mentioned on here like malo santana and sapo azteca tower of power el chicano i grew up listening to them

This was a very professionally written account of the lives of 15 very diverse people who also happen to be professional lacrosse players. The book really makes you view these athletes as interested in their sport, valued members of their community, and very different from the multi-million dollar primma donnas who play other professional sports. I definitely recommend this book.

After the Duke Lacrosse scandal, it was refreshing to see an upbeat well-written book about lacrosse. These players truly honor their sport, and make the casual observer want to learn more. The stories were interesting, and it was a good overview of the NLL, and the players who make the league work. I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more books like it.

This book was interesting, insightful, and sometimes even funny when explaining the lives of 15 "ordinary" people who have jobs, wives, kids, and play professional lacrosse on the weekends. It makes you realize how different pro lacrosse is from other pro sports. (And I mean that in a good way.) The writing was clear and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

It was great to finally read a good book on professional lacrosse. The writing was interesting and insightful, and provided a good mix of lacrosse history combined with people who play the game. I would definitely recommend this book for the lacrosse fanatic, or even the casual observer. I enjoyed it!

This book is filled with stories of professional lacrosse players. The players are atypical from other professional sports players, who are often filled with self-admiration and greed. Yet, they are not exactly everyday people either. The players do have full time jobs and families, but many of them are in noble fields such as teaching, law enforcement, the armed forces, fire fighting... Of course, it takes a noble character to be devoted to such an underpaid and under-appreciated sport. The players sacrifice their bodies, time, and some family commitments for the love of their sport. The writing is clever, and the author gives good insight about the players' individuality, achievements, reminiscences, and dedication.

Everyone in my family is a Beatles fan. Our 6 y.o. daughter does not know life without the Beatles. We decided to buy her this book, so she could read up on them. This book relates on a child's level the story of the Fab Four from when they were children. I loved it so much that I ordered more copies to donate to my daughter's elementary school library, 1st grade classroom library, and I plan to order another for her 2nd grade library. This should be on every child's reading list.

I thought it was great because you get to learn about john,paul,george and ringo the should make a book about the rolling stones but the beatles book is sad too thers a lot of ups and downs

My son who is in 2nd grade had to write a biography report. He chose to report on The Beatles. This book was perfect! It gave him all the necessary information and it was just right for his age level. We both learned a lot from reading this book.

I bought these to use as a reading book with 4th and 5th graders and they are loving it! I am really enjoying it too....a nice change from the traditional reading book. It is high interest at the right reading level for my kids. I would highly recommend this book for use at school or for finding out more about the Fab Four.

I am in fourth grade and I enjoyed reading this book. I read this book for a book report for school. It tells about all the Beatles lives. I learned about John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. When they were twenty-something they were asked to go to Germany, but their parents wouldn't let them. They just went and their dressing room was in the bathroom. I felt sad for them. My favorite part was when they played at Shea stadium. There were 50,000 people! The book doesn't talk all about the Beatles. It talks about the Vietnam War and three famous people who got shot. At the end, there is a timeline of the Beatle's lives and one about the world. You should read this book because it's very interesting.

I enjoyed the artistic expose of what we find in the mineral world. It was informative and will make a excellent source to some one who is intrested in minerals.

This is the BEST ART BOOK I have ever found to give as a present. The photography is stunning. Atkinson has accomplished something wonderous and filled with beauty. This is a unique collection you want to show your family and friends and, perhaps, it will even reconcile your enemies. The accompanying commentary by the famous and near famous is sweet icing on a very substanial and fulfilling cake.

As a photographer-artist I am hapy to come upon this book. Although Atkinson is more of a scientist his impeccable craft presents this part of nature - stones - as rich food for the mind and imagination. For me this book is a companion to The Deep which is filled with photographs of creatures in the deeo sea.

Yes, on enjoying this very fine book one is awed at the origin of "abstract in nature". Many fine observers have been there,in the closeup but not to the extent Bill Atkinson has done. Really inspiring, one can but wonder where it might end... or does it not. Not only a fine addition to a fine library,it is printed to wow!,but a sure continous return will remind any Photographer where they stand.

These photographs look like abstract art at first, but as you study them you realize they have a flow, complexity, and range of colors that paintings can't duplicate.
I also recommend Mineral Masterpieces which shows the sculptural shapes as well as the infinite range of colors in the best crystals.

This book is incredibly entertaining. I'm 25 years old, and need constant excitement to keep my attention. While reading this book I was amazed by the by the numerous experiences Buzz Cason has encountered throughout his life. Any individual one of these expeiences could be a highlight in the "average person's" life, and Buzz has had a countless number of them. You can't help but wonder in amazement how one person had the opportunity to do so many exciting things in a lifetime. No matter your age, this book is incredible!

Heroes are found everywhere in the story of a Nashville kid who made good in the brutal business of music, beginning in the late 50s and still going strong in 2004. Autobiographical in its first person telling, this story regails to us tales of "the early days"...before belly piercing and techno grooves, when some of the biggest names in rock and pop music were fledgling acts, just kids. I found myself asking how one person accomplished all these things and met all these people while turning pages as quickly as my eyes could pass the story on to my eager brain. The creativity of Buzz Cason shines brightly from the pages of this delightful story, pictures being proof of the pudding of the rememberances most of us could only imagine in some fantasy life. The photos alone are worth the cost of the book. Every book shelf should sport a copy of this delightful look back down the road over the long, fun trip it's obviously been for the author. I'm getting it for practically everyone on my Christmas list!

This book, written in the first person, actually invites one into the very thoughts that Mr.Cason has as his memory interacts with some of the most well known and famous entertainers in the entire music industry.
The book is just the "right" length of read - not too long - and full of insight and humor! It includes many photographs too!
I would love to go to one of Mr.Cason's book signing's - I know that this first edition will increase in value over time.

Living The Rock 'n Roll Dream: The Adventures Of Buzz Cason is the autobiography of musician and award-winning hit songwriter Buzz Cason, founder of the Casuals, the first rock band in Nashville. A dazzling true story about the popular music trade Cason embraced for fifty years, shedding light on his career and offering an inside peek at the early days of rock 'n roll. A treasure for rock 'n roll fans looking to experience a primary account of the origins of their wildly popular music, and especially for those who have thrilled to Cason's outstanding talent.

Over the years, I've read dozens of music industry books. This book has to go to the top of the list for history and entertainment, that covers a time like no other on the planet.