Sports and Hobbies Books

I feel any person who is in the hobby of collecting cards or thinking about getting in the hobby should read this book I found it interesting some of the aligations of conterfiting ones own cards interesting. Some people would be shocked to know why there cards have no value.

I enjoyed this book very much. It has two themes: first, it shows how one company with the right idea and the right people behind it can revolutionize an entire industry, against all odds. Second, it tells us that to succeed in today's competitive markets you have to elbow your way in. While the allegations of wrongdoings by trading card companies seem like unsubstantiated hearsay, the book does make you feel that you are on the inside, witnessing how the real entrepreneurs do it. Very entertaining read.

The "Barbarians at the Gate" of the baseball card industry. Fascinating, yet creepy, to see from the inside how a child's hobby has been exploited by sleazy characters. Will definitely turn you off collecting new cards as an investment.

I found the book to provide an interesting history on collecting from early times to present. After the history lesson is over, William's seems to spend an inordinate amount of time dwelling on the various misdeeds of Upper Deck President Richie McWilliam. McWilliam has a very strong (and negative) reputation that is well understood within the industry. Why spend half a book telling everyone that he is dishonest, a liar and a cheat when it is already well understood?

Great book. Takes you through the process and all the thoughts and tricks of doing it right. Not rocket science, but very helpful and confirming of your ability to do this. Good pictures and examples.

I highly recommend this book for anyone considering either or both of these construction methods. The author's experience shows in breath and depth of the subjects addressed in this book. I enjoyed the knowledgable way he writes of determining scantings, deck-to-hull details, and the laminating process itself. The detailed text is accompanied by excellent drawings and illustrations of the author's points. The author's Continental orientation is evident from the boats selected for illustration. The author goes into all facets of building using these methods, including mold building and backbone setup. If you wish to learn about the details and practical issues of using these methods, this is an excellent addition to your library.

The basic information on technique is helpful; however the author uses some odd language for the american reader. It takes some getting used to. For example he uses the word rebate instead of the wood working term rabbet and he says cramps for/or clamps for no apparent reason. He also barely hides his distain for strip planked hulls.

This book is really about cold-molded boatbuilding. There is little useful information about strip-planked methods. He pays cursory attention to it in some chapters, and always at the end, as an afterthought. I am still looking for a good book on strip-planking.

If you are interested in cold-molding or double-diagonal type applications, this book is technical and thorough. Useful as a reference. Buy it thinking of the title as "Cold-Moulded Wood Boat Building, With an Afterword on Strip-Planked Methods"

My kids love this and they can do all the pictures on them because they are pretty easy.

I have just spent over one hour scrubbing my toddler's hands from this permanent ink! I have tried hand soap, soaking in detergent, boraxo, make up remover and brute force, and have yet to make more than a dent in her blue fingers. Don't buy this unsafe product!!!! Now I have to continue scubbing....

This little book comes with a stamp pad and marker so that you can get started immediately. There are a number of cute ideas that incorporate the use of the thumb print, tip of the finger, and a few other simple lines to make interesting vignettes. There is an area on the page for practicing so you can get the hang of it. Simple fun for children as well as adults who are still little kids inside.

My daughter is 6 years old and she spent a lot of time with this book. It was great. As for the previous review....we had no problems removing the ink from her hand. They must have waited quite a while before attempting to remove the ink. I am planning on buying the other books as well. Great idea to take to a restaurant (just remeber to bring a damp cloth in a plastic bag).

I enjoy riddles and I have read a lot of riddle books. My general impression of riddle books is that they contain very few unique ideas. They usually just reword the same set of famous riddles that we are already familiar with.

To my delight, this book was quite different! There was not a single riddle in this book that I had previously heard. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the riddles were broken up into different categories (Math, Logic, Trivia, etc), which allowed me to jump straight to my favorites. I was also pleased with the quantity of puzzles, since you rarely find a riddle book with even a hundred puzzles. This book has over 400!

The riddles in this book are apparently collected from the authors website, which I have visited and have enjoyed. I recommend this book.

I love this book! I enjoy the range of different types of brain teasers and the range of difficulty within teaser groups. The "e" boxes every few pages deliver helpful tips, encouragement, or useful facts. Our family likes to challenge each other with brain teasers and this is a great resource. Recently we got hooked on the rebus puzzles and after working through the ones in the book we started making up ones of our own. This book sits out on the coffee table and is a great favorite of visitors--always gets a good conversation going. Using this book is a great way to keep your brain fit!

I just ordered the book and look forward to seeing the teasers! I know the author is a curator of more than 7,000 of teasers of almost every category of brain teaser of your liking, so I know his book is going to have the best of the best!

w a l
h - e
a - t
t

or, in rebus speak, what a let down

I have dipped in and out of Jakes web site for a couple of years now, and have always found teasers that are both challenging and funny. Regulars such as Mad_Ade, dumbell, mogmatt16, MrIxolite, Tissue, Datra16 (the list goes on), all have become almost real to me over time from reading their banter and reparte. The humour carried over into the tasers, although not all those who contribute do so with teasers.

When I picked up this book I expected wit and humour in the brain teasers. Instead I found badly copied and poorly reconstructed immitations of what is found on line.

I feel Jake has done those who have trusted him a great discredit.

This one is going stright to the second hand shop. It is just a shame there is no option for no stars.

It's really a good book.It was a fast dealivery I will buy more items from Amazon since it was the first time for me.++++++++++++

This is a very old book as far as fiberglass boats go.Must later prcedures,and products not included. There is some usefull info in the book

Of the many boatbuilding and repair manuals I have seen, I would consider this to be the best reference for fiberglass boat repair. The pictures on the dust-jacket alone indicate that a serious treatise is contained within. It would appear that no matter how bad it looks, there is no problem beyond the scope of the competent fiberglass repairman. (Caution - some of the color photos of repairs-in-progress between pages 118 and 119 are not for the faint-hearted!)

Mr. Vaitses has been at this for a long time and with experience in the world of wooden boats (all boats have wood in them somewhere) as well as having been a player in the fiberglass revolution, is able to offer a well-rounded perspective. His honest, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving is refreshing.

Besides the obvious background info and how-to descriptions, this book can be an invaluable asset when examining a used boat. Mr. Vaitses is currently working as a marine surveyor (a person who inspects and evaluates the condition of boats for prospective buyers). All used boats need some kind of work and the challenge then becomes evaluating the nature and scope of needed repairs, e.g. distinguishing structural and safety issues from cosmetics and determining whether one can affect the repairs oneself vs. how much it will cost to have someone else do it.

Studying this book allows one to communicate more effectively with the surveyor and to describe problems more accurately to repair facilities in order to estimate projected costs. We recently completed the evaluation and purchase of a 1974 36-foot fiberglass cruiser. I can honestly say that the knowledge and confidence I gained from this book made the entire process a good bit less nerve-racking than it might have been!

This is a good book. It is complete, to be sure. For the expert fiberglass repair person, I cannot speak, but it is certainly difficult to read for an amateur. Generally, a bit much to swallow. I think that other books have similar information more elegantly stated. The fault is not with the content, but the presentation.

Bloom's well-researched study of baseball collectors in the 1980s is a wonderful text for studying and teaching about masculinity and popular culture. His book raises important questions about the crisis of masculinity in the latter part of the twentieth century, and the ways that popular culture practices like baseball card collecting both challenged and, ultimately, shored up traditional gender boundaries between men and women. Bloom's work also focuses extensively on the issue of nostalgia, particularly the idealized memory of 1950s American boyhoods. An accessible and engaging tone makes this a fine text to use in popular culture classes or in gender studies classes.

Bloom's well-researched study of baseball collectors in the 1980s is a wonderful text for studying and teaching about masculinity and popular culture. His book raises important questions about the crisis of masculinity in the latter part of the twentieth century, and the ways that popular culture practices like baseball card collecting both challenged and, ultimately, shored up traditional gender boundaries between men and women. Bloom's work also focuses extensively on the issue of nostalgia, particularly the idealized memory of 1950s American boyhoods. An accessible and engaging tone makes this a fine text to use in popular culture classes or in gender studies classes.

As a baseball card collector for over 20 years, I have read countless articles in countless publications about baseball cards and card collecting. Almost every one of the has focused on either the financial aspects of the hobby or on how great it is to be a collector. John Bloom has written a thought provoking and academic book which examines WHY we collect.

While I do not agree with some of the authors positions, specifically about race and homoerotocism, I feel that they are well thought out and presented. His description of the MCC, a card collectors club, is very similar to my own experiences in the two clubs to which I have belonged in the past, and offers a unique look at the pettiness and power struggles that often arise in these organizations.

Many collectors and hobby writers came out very strongly against this book, but I think that many of them looked at Blooms' conclusions as an attack on the hobby of card collecting. They are not.

While the academic tone of the book can make it difficult to read at times, the insights that it offers and the fact that it at least makes the reader THINK about the nature of collecting are reason enough to read "House of Cards".

Collecting baseball cards evokes memories of crisp wax paper; the assault of a preadolescent nose with the aroma of sickly sweet, often stale, powder-sugar coated bubble gum; the thrill of your first Ted Williams card; and of clothes-pinning your sixth Pedro Ramos in your bicycle spokes.

In stark contrast, Bloom's book portrays collectors in the angry, white man role; discusses the collector's insecurities about their rapidly declining social position; their disturbing attitudes toward blacks and women; and their apparent inability to get a date in high school. Why is Bloom saying such disparaging things about the people who collect baseball cards?

Bloom spent some time in the late 1980s attending baseball card shows in Minnesota. His observations at the shows, sports card shops, interviews with hobbyists, and secondary research, form the basis for this adaptation of his doctoral thesis.

Baseball card collecting can evolve from a children's hobby to an adult's business. But the hobby took on an entirely new dynamic during the Reagan years. Many American boys collected cards, and in the economic boom of the 1980s, price's escalated, and collectors found (if mom hadn't gotten there first) treasure troves in long-forgotten, old shoe boxes. Unfortunately, many believed, including Bloom, that the newfound wealth corrupted the hobby.

Bloom's typical adult collector is white, male, and lower-middle class. In turn, Bloom blames these card collectors for failed marriages, deceit, deception, the manipulation of children, the exclusion and derision of women, and distancing the races.

But is the assertion valid that adult collectors are sexist, merely because the majority are male? Similarly, are they racist because a majority are white? Is the fact that Mickey Mantle's 1952 Topps rookie card sells at a higher price than Willie Mays' 1952 card, justifiable evidence of racism among the collecting enthusiasts as the author brazenly maintains?

The impact and social ramifications of collecting baseball cards appear to be stretched beyond the realm of plausibility to make an alarming, though questionable, point. Is it possible that collecting bits of cardboard, emblazoned with the images of childhood heroes, really be the cause of this much social discord?

But the author has missed a critical point. Bloom states that the cards, in and of themselves, "are of no real consequence." Most collectors would vehemently disagree. Baseball cards derive their value by resurrecting the reminiscences of the collector's youthful heroes. There is a collective social memory which envelops the collectors and their cards. The fact that trade guides indicate that selected cards may have some extrinsic value is nice, but for the majority of collectors, not paramount. The same native affinity does not permeate collecting spoons, stamps or coins, or even football or basketball cards. The fact that these collectibles are baseball cards matters a great deal.

I am having a problem with one of the patterns in the book and don't know who to get in contact with about it.Mary B

Knitwear designer Kristi Porter presents Knitting Patterns for Dummies, a worthy addition to the exemplary "For Dummies" series of guides designed to make their subject matter thoroughly accessible to beginners. Chapters address how to choose the right yarn and needles, common stitches and pattern shapes, how to measure one's gauge, read a pattern, and understand garment sizing, proper care of completed knitted creations, and much more. A handful of color plates and an assortment of black-and-white diagrams illustrate this step-by-step guide, enthusiastically recommended as a top-notch self-teaching resource.

One of the many things that I LOVE about this book is that while it is great for beginners - with many good graphics and descriptions of stitches and finishing etc - it is absolutely fantastic for those of us who aspire to get past a rigid pattern and want to try and create our own designs. It is very clearly thought out. Instructions, hints and tips aplenty. It genuinely does have something for everybody. What's more it's written in a fun and quirky way. Who'd have thought about using liquorice as a yarn ;-) As I say "I love it!"Knitting Patterns For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))

I'm not a knitter, but I've seen Kristi's work, and every thing she's designed has been colorful, creative and fun.

I can't imagine a better manual. It is well illustrated, and written in an easy-to-follow, personable manner, as if the author is talking directly to you. It book delivers a clear, concise explanation of every step of the reloading process, discusses the different types of reloading components and their uses, impartially reviews the different reloading tools, and discusses the pros and cons of darn near everything covered.

The reloading tables are extensive and cover a wide range of powders and bullet weights. The book even includes a brief history of every cartridge covered (a plus for the curious)!

This is definitely a book that any reloader can use. Plenty of value for the money.

I bought this book on the strength of good reviews in Amazon. The only weakness I have found is the imprecise identification of powder manufacturers in the reloading tables. An example are the references to "No. 9" or "No. 2" powders. These are probably Accurate Arms- series powders but could be mistaken for Hodgdon or Hercules products with similar numeric designations. A preface to the tables, giving the author's abbreviation conventions, would have been useful in a reference used by both beginners and advanced handloaders. Safety and clear, non-ambiguous tables are a must. Check the Measured Density tables starting on pg 45 for powder ID's before using the Reloading Tables.

only about a third of the book is telling you about and how to reload, the other two thirds is reloading data and dated to boot! I would not have bought this If I new most of it is reloading data that you can get off the Powder Mfgs website for free. the information is generalized and not to indepth.
okay for general use. but I would have spent my money elsewhere.
Live and Learn.

It covers a wide range of powders including both older and newer ones. My friends and I have found that this manual's reloading instructions are great for both the novice and more experienced reloaders. I have found that it covers calibers not found in other manuals and also lists bullets from several different manufacturers. I highly reccomend this book to other reloaders.

The Thirty-Seven Interlacements of Hira Kara Gumi by Rosalie Neilson Published by Orion's Plumage ISBN: 0966486307

This delicious little publication is what we call bibliophilistic. As such I think it is unique in the art of braiding. We have, by now, heaps of books; mainly Japanese with luxurious, gorgeous, and perhaps even garish colour-prints. But none of these can be called bibliophilistic -- whilst yours is so.

I admire the paper, the binding, the beautiful typesetting, the unusual fonts. Really everything is exceptional. And in addition (there is) the numbering and signature of the author!

Submitted by Noemi Speiser, author of the self-published book, The Manual of Braiding

Noemi Speiser Ziernerstrasse 25 CH-4424 Arboldswil, Switzerland

As the title suggests, this is an in-depth study of one braid, the result of the author's 18 year journey of discovery. The 37 unique patterns for this braid are for only two colors; were there three, there would be over 400. This gives some idea of the design possibilities within individual kumihimo braids. Most books tempt you with ever more complicated designs, requiring more bobbins or more equipment. This book looks deeply into one eight bobbin braid structure and is never boring.

The patterns are based on the binary number system related to the starting positions of the eight braiding elements. It is astonishing to see the differences that switching just two threads in the set-up can make. On facing-pages 20 and 21, for example, there are two patterns for 6 A threads and 2 B threads. You have to look twice at the change from a pattern of small hearts to a snake-skin pattern.

This is no coffee-table book but rather a book-lovers' book. About the size of a large postcard, it has a printed pattern of stitching on the cover which suggests the spare but useful text inside. The mostly colored pages, one braid per page, are doubled, giving a folio feel to the book. Each book is numbered and signed.

I have Rosalie Neilson's Braid Runner Computer program which will scan through 14 different braid structures in the same way. But having the information for the her favorite braid beautifully condensed to hold in the hand is a pleasure indeed.

Shirley Berlin

Shirley Berlin is a teacher of Kumihimo in Victoria, British Columbia and England. She spends half her year in Canada and the other half in Berkhamsted, England. She is the former editor of Strands magazine, a publication of the Braid Society of England.

This review appeared in Issue 43 Spring 1999 issue of Weaver's Magazine and is reprinted with their permission.

The picture would lead you to believe the book is hand-stiched Japanese syle - those "threads" are printed. This is *not* a bibliophile-quality item. The paper is standard card stock. The colors of the graphics are lurid primary and secondary colors, and the resolution is pretty low. I can' t believe I paid so much for this little pamphlet. Caveat Emptor!

This is a book for who already has some experience in Kumihimo Brainding, but your new method of mixing design patterns is innovative and easy assimilation. Undoubtedly, this book is indispensable for the enthusiasts in the technical of Kumihimo braiding. I advise that you have too the software (Braid Runner) elaborated by Rosalie for your self make elaborates own design patterns. This a some best book for kumihimo brainding in my japaneses armors construction.

Bill Sherwoinit fulfilled my goal of learning more about Denali to help me prepare for my own future climb of this awesome mountain. He covered most of the historical climbs on McKinley, but failed to recognize speed records. Maybe he can include the current speed record in a future printing. If you like reading about high country adventure, you may also like TJ Burr's "Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection". Thanks for the hard work in preparing this great book Bill.

Sherwonit has written an interesting history of the expeditions on Denali. It is not a "page-turner" but anyone interested in climbing will appreciate the stories of successful and unsuccessful first ascents, first winter ascents and first solo ascents.

This book reads more like a collection of short stories. The book covers the first assent of Denali, first winter accent of Denali, first solo accent of Denali, and several other interesting or note worthy asscents. If you have read and enjoyed the book "Into Thin Air" then you should enjoy this book. The book is very enjoyable reading.

This book offers an excellent detailed and informative historical perspective of Denali itself, as well as stories of expeditions, climbers, and a look to the future of the mountain. While well-written and an easy read, some of the stories lack the drama and realism due to the continuing third-person perspective. The book is more of a "factbook" rather than a collection of gripping adventures, and I recommend this read for those interested in true learning about the mountain. The reader is left with a greater appreciation of both nature and human perseverance.