Sports and Hobbies Books

Wonderful text for a traditional course, but too much information for a telecourse. Also makes a great reference text.

If you are from the US, this is the wrong book. This book is based off dietary information from Canada. Therefore, it is the wrong information. I wish someone would have told me before I wasted over a hundred dollars; no one will buy it back because it was printed in Canada.

This book was advertized as used-good condition. I can tell that this book had been opened, but it doesn't really show any wear or any marks or highlighting. It is in better condition than advertized!!

I orderd it on 8/5 and it was shipped on 8/6. I feel bad because the book was sold to me at a reduced cost and then it was shipped standard parcel post...much more expense than 'book rate.'

I will definately purchase college books through Amazon in the future. Thanks.

Roberta

This product arrived quickly and as promised, with no highlighting. The book was in fantastic condition!

Unfortunately I ordered this product on May 10 my class started on May 27 and still no book. I have not even received the book. I received the diet analysis cd but that's it. I have submitted a claim.

I very much enjoyed this third edition of 'Muggles and Magic', and it's great to have a new, up to date issue! I disagree with reviewers who have written, 'This material is all available elsewhere'; that may be the case, but why spend hours searching for it in other volumes, websites or magazines (who has time for that??) when it's all been gathered together for you here? Mr Beahm has taken the time to compile an extensive volume which gives many interesting insights into the world of HP, the thoughts of J K Rowling and even the HP fan base and their activities! If you want a manual which covers all topics related to HP - books, collectibles et al - then this is the book for you! Kirk's illustrations are wonderful and they, together with some great photos, bring extra entertainment to the pages.

I'll admit that I initially bought the book because I'd heard the fan trips were highlighted in it. And when I received the book, was delighted and tickled to find a group photo that I'm in (and it's clear enough to see everyone) was in the book! How cool is that? (Though it's too bad one of my friends got cut out due to poor cropping...and the 2005 group shot was in with the 2004 trip...but we let George know that after meeting him. :) He's very nice.)

The book is interesting in its own right but at times is a little hard to follow. It doesn't seem to be in any particular order.

Having said that, I'm still glad I got the book.

I've also had the pleasure of listening to George Beahm (and illustrator Tim Kirk) speak and they both signed my book. They are both incredibly interesting to listen to, and even if you don't favour this book, give the others by George Beahm a go.

As an adult fan of the Harry Potter series, I am fascinated by Ms. Rowling and her talent as a writer which brought this magical world to life. When I purchased 'Muggles and Magic,' I looked forward to reading more about the author and the pop culture surrounding this phenomenon.

After reading Beahm's publication, I have to say that I'm disappointed. Essentially, this book is a collection of articles highlighting Harry Potter/J.K. Rowling facts that have been featured elsewhere. (I.e. newspapers, magazines, online, etc.) While some of the articles have good information about Rowling, there were times where reading them made me feel uncomfortable. I wondered how Ms. Rowling, a famously private person who is not afraid to speak up to defend her character, would feel about the clippings that delve into her painful past. She makes a point to dissuade such stories on her personal Web page, and reading them in this "fan" book seemed more like reading gossip than fact.

Other articles in the book simply have fraudulent and outdated information that Beahm hasn't bothered to research and update, such as that Dan Radcliffe has bowed out of all of the films after 'Goblet of Fire' (he hasn't, and is telling the press he's signed on for 'Order of the Phoenix'), and that J.K. Rowling's Web site doesn't feature a F.A.Q. (it does, here: http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/faq.cfm).

Another problem I had with this book was the higgledy-piggledy way it seems to have been put together. There's no real rhyme or reason to the selections, and the collection doesn't flow but rather jerks, such as from an article about owning owls as pets to another about Joanne's involvement in a cancer charity.

Beahm is clearly a fan and I can tell he had fun putting this little book of Potter/Rowling odds and ends together. Had a little more research been done and a bit more time spent on fashioning the information together, this would be a fleshed-out companion worthy of the world of Harry Potter.

I like this book a lot, and I am dis-heartened to read all
the unfavorable reviews about it. it's a great general
resource book on the Harry Potter phenomenon.

I like having all this information at my finger tips in book
form. The book is divided into clear concise sections, and
has a wealth of information within each of them.

I especially like the merchandise section. I like to know
what products are out there. there is even a web-site guide
so you know where to go to find all the latest news at the
biggest and best HP sites around.

what this book is not is a theory book. it doesn't delve into
what things might mean in the books or films, it sticks simply
with the facts of the Harry Potter fandom.

there is a ton of information and trivia about JK Rowling
herself, along with a lot of great quotes and pictures.
as well as photos of some of the big Harry Potter events
around the world.

I find it a great resource to have around, and a lasting
tribute to the Harry Potter Phenomenon.

I am the author and this edition doesn't exist -- it never has. At one point, there was a plan to issue a run in hardback for libraries, but that plan was never put into effect. So don't go looking for a hardback edition of this book through used booksellers because you'd be searching in vain.

PS: Amazon.com's policies require that the author "review" his book by giving it from 1 to 5 stars. I believe the author should have his say about his own book on Amazon, but there should be an option to write about it without having to give it a ranking. It has nothing to do with being a "curious bit of self-promotion" (as one reader put it) because there's nothing curious about it, and it's bad self-promotion besides. Amazon is forcing the issue and what can any author do except give himself the benefit of the doubt?

That said, if an author does write a book, he usually feels (as I do) that he's given it his best effort and, at least, in his mind it should rate pretty high on the scale. As to what you can believe on an Amazon review, I have always felt a professionally written review (from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY or LIBRARY JOURNAL) is always fair and impartial, and usually consistent, whereas fan "reviews" (in fact, opinions) vary wildly and are therefore suspect.

Baseball is my biggest hobby! Love this book for beginners or long time baseball junkies...we can always learn something from Joe Morgan!

I had high hopes for this book after reading all the reviews. At the same time, my baseball knowledge is very limited. My biggest disappointment is that the author tried to explain baseball jargons using baseball jargons. In other words, the ideas are not explained in plain, effective language. Maybe the author is "born" to speak the language of baseball. Unfortunately for readers like myself who is trying hard to know more about the sport, the baseball jargon does not come naturally.

If you think someone whose ego is bigger than the Pampas of Argentina can ever be a genius. Because I find that ego usually clouds intellectual process. And if my line of reasoning is correct, Joe Morgan is the stupidest person in the world.

I once met Joe at a Hummel Convention in San Diego. He was going up to people unsolicited saying, "I'm hall of famer Joe Morgan. Would you like me to rub sun tan lotion on your shoulders?"

And before you start saying, "that's not so bad," it WAS mostly cloudy that day!

I got hooked watching the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 post season, but I realized that I was very ignorant about baseball. I bought this book in the spring, and it taught me an incredible amount about baseball. I now watch almost every Red Sox game and enjoy the games much more through understnnding the basics and a lot of the subtleties.
The book is written for multiple types of readers, including people who play baseball or coach. I can't judge how well the book meets the player and coach needs, but for a basically ignorant fan, this book is fantastic! It's well organized, so it was easy for me to choose to skip certain sections on my inital read-through, and then go back and revisit them when I felt there was more that I could learn.
If you're looking to learn more about baseball and increase your enjoyment from being a spectator/fan, then this book will be great for you.

I am a huge Dummies fan. So when I recently decided to learn more about baseball, I naturally turned to the Dummies guide. What I found was a book that, true to its name, does help a person who knows absolutely nothing about baseball. If you knew nothing about baseball, you could pick up this guide and read the first 3 chapters, and become conversant.

It also has a good deal of detailed information for those who play and want to improve their game. Strategy on hitting, pitching, running, and just about everything else about baseball is presented. This is also good stuff.

So aside from a minor though annoying problem in this book - which I will note in a moment - this is an all-around great book. Joe Morgan, hall-of-fame second baseman, and a cast of other well-known major leaguers contributing bits on their own positions make this book an excellent reference on baseball.

My problem with the book is that this book is difficult for me as a person in the middle ground of those who grew up around baseball, playing it occasionally but not seriously, and never having a deep knowledge of the game. For example, he starts using the player numbering system used on scorecards early in the book, but does not explain it until chapter 18. I have found this kind of problem several times in this book. In fact, it's not so much a matter of the information being lacking - it just seems not well organized or indexed.

But this is a relatively minor point. Get this book if you really want to know baseball!

Ideas with class, but practical. That's what I found in this delightful, pretty book. The materials recommended are, refreshingly, things I can actually get (and afford), right here in the isolated, imagination-starved desert of non-creativity where I live. It's so nice to see clearly written, well-conceived craft projects for Halloween that can really be done outside the major coastal metropolitan areas without paying for shipping and waiting six weeks for half the materials!

As far as the style, I grew up on Samantha and company, so it all has a "just right for a grown-up Halloween" feel to it for me. I grew out of gore years ago, but I still know that elegant does not have to equal stiff (as in some of Auntie Martha S's stuff ;->), and cheap doesn't have to equal tacky, if you just add a little personal talent of your own to spice it up. I already had the talent, now I have new ideas, with instructions, pictures, and even text that gently engages my own creative spirit! Lovin' this...

I went through a phase where I ordered a ton of Halloween books. It's my favorite holiday, after all, and I enjoy flipping through books on the topic year 'round. However, I've been disappointed in many of the books I've ordered. Some are too childish (fine if you're looking for projects to do w/ your kids -- I don't have any), some are too lame. This is not one of the disappointments -- it's a favorite.

The book's title is pretty accurate. It offers several themes for grown-up, but not gory, parties. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how many projects appealed to me: not entire themes, but several individual projects.

It's rare to find a book like this that isn't a digest of previously-published magazine articles. (The Martha Stewart book is the only one of this style that I like (I own several).) One of the most annoying things about Halloween books is buying one, then finding out that you've seen every suggestion in a magazine (and weren't all that impressed the first time). As far as I know, this is a "from scratch" book, meaning that the book is the only place you'll find these projects. I like it, because the projects are different from what I've seen in other Halloween Craft/Decorating books.

I agree with some other reviews that the plastic honey bear & "Aunt Jemima" lights are bit ... uhhhh, cheesey; however, there is tons of other stuff that is very classy and it has great photos and interesting tidbits. Despite a few cheesetastiks, it's still WELL WORTH the price and a must-have for any fan of HALLOWEEN!!!

After seeing how many 5 star reviews this book got I began to think there was something wrong with me. I didn't LOVE this book. One of the 1 star reviewers hit the nail on the head. There is just something about this book that I can't warm up to. The crafts were nice, different than most, but they were somewhat repetitive. Many, many pumpkin, squash, and gourd arrangements. There were a couple of other things interspersed, wreaths, figures, recipes. But mostly it was piles of pumpkins. And there was no joie de vive. Please excuse the French, but to say there was "no joy of life" in the book would sound a little stupid. Halloween is more a celebration of death. But most of the arrangements were dull.

The two sections that caught my eye were the 'Old-Fashioned Party Fans and Favors' in Chapter 7, and Chapter 8. I have a weakness for Halloween collectibles and retro designs. And Chapter 8 had good party advice, like sticking to a theme rather than jumping all around.

The authors are talented, and apparently have a feeling for the holiday, but I would like to see a little more fun, and a little less seriousness.

Although this book has one or two interesting projects, overall, it wasn't as wonderful as the other reviews cracked it up to be. I was unexpectedly dissapointed!

I highly recommend this book for beginning-intermediate beaders. The text is both entertaining and informative, with instructions that are easy to read and follow. The book includes several helpful resources, and covers the basics of stringing and bead weaving, including the basic off-loom stitches. A worthwhile investment for beaders.

Excellent product - exactly what it said it was. No delay in shipping - very prompt.

I have 4 or 5 beading books and this is my favorite. It really answers the questions you might have if you are a beginner beader unlike many of the other books that claim they are for beginners. Great Book!

Not good! I was hoping for ideas for beginners. I'm not to creative and thought it might have some examples or ideas. Totally dissapointed.

This book is full of information as the Dummies series always is. I always trust that I'll get a good product when I order a Dummies book. A+

This book provides excellent instruction on land navigation. Even if you know nothing of how to use a compass or map when you begin reading, you'll have a good working knowledge by the time you're through with the book. It is well written, easy to understand and even includes a fold-out topographic map in the back (actually, about a third of a topographic map, but it gets the job done). The map allows you to work the exercises found in the book (which are quite helpful). The book was written some time ago and Hjellstrom does focus on the sport of orienteering, but as the entire point of that activity is navigation using a map and compass, I don't see this as a negative. As others have pointed-out he does not cover newer topics such as GPS or altimeters, but if you're buying it to learn to use a map and compass, that really isn't an issue either. This is a well written book that provides solid instruction and is certainly worth the purchase price.

I think the few pages of map/compass reading, undestanding and wilderness orienteering pale in comparison to all the games, gatherings and contests the author discusses.

For the price, vastly overrated, over priced.

I was mislead by positive ratings. Many better and more detailed books out there.

Learn how to navigate in the woods with this guide to the compass. All boy scouts will love these tips. This is the most comprehensive guide of its kind.

This is the best book I have found on learning to use the Map and Compass and Orienteering. This book teaches you all you need to learn to be an "Expert". There are many exercises offered to help you teach Orienteering to a group such as your Boy Scout Troop.I bought a couple of other books on the subject before this one. I wished I had purchased this one first as I would not have needed another resource.

Very good basic map & compass course. Formal training in the military gave me a good working knowledge and the confidence to use it. This book will help instill those same principles.

I'm still consulting it, but it's a great book. It say what your dealers don't want, or takes you a lot of time to investigate. I'm from Mexico, and mexican coins amateur collector, i have catalogs but this book has been to useful.

I landed the job of cataloging my Father-in-law's coin collection. I didn't know a thing about coins. I got this book to help point me in the right direction. It is extremely helpful in giving me the terms used and explaining the DO's and Dont's (DO NOT CLEAN THE COINS) of collecting coins.

Hello , Covers all the basics quite nicely , easy to read and understand. I would strongly suggest you read this book and at least one other on your specific interest before you spend a dime on coins.

Good information for someone like myself who is just getting started in coin collecting. Would be too general for someone who is a bit more experienced. No buyer's remorse here!

This is a great book if you want to learn the ins and outs of a big time coin dealer/collector...mostly buying and selling.. I'm more into Collecting and learning about diffrent error coins.


"TR"

I just received this book and I am very pleased with the content. Don't worry about tons of fine print and esoteric talk, just a step by step easy to follow, discussion of the contruction of a single model with side steps when needed. You can expand the lessons learned to any size model or even strike out with sxratch building some parts. A OK/

Great book for the first time model ship builder. Full for great tips and short cuts. It's worth the money just for the time you will save and the mistakes you would have made.

I have never built a model ship before, but I got one at a garage sale. The instructions that came with it were skimpy at best. So when I saw this book I bought it. It has been a great help. My only regret is that I didn't read the book before I started building the model. There were a few things that I could have done better. The book is great for the beginner. Sometimes I get confused with the terms used, but between re-reading and the glossary, I figure it out. I highly recommend the book!

Over the past year or so, I've been tempted to adopt wooden ship building as a new hobby. I've modeled for years in other media (plastic, paper) and am also a woodworker, so it seemed like a good fit. Also, my son has been really getting into the Napoleonic wars and life in naval ships, so that was an added inducement. My typical method when becoming interested in something is to read anything I can about the subject. Consequently, I noticed on the net many references to this book and how good it is. So, I bought it.

After reading it, I understand much more about the whole process of building these model ships. The author is (was?) obviously very familiar with the process and had developed many techniques that worked for him. Would those same techniques work for someone else? Maybe...

One of the main problems for a novice looking to get in to this hobby is that the terminology of the time was unique and not necessarily logical. Nor, are the terms carried through to our own day. So, you have to put up with a fair amount of bewildering words. For instance, did you know that the Vangs connected the Gaff in the same way as a Stay?

My biggest two criticisms of the book is that the author used these terms repeatedly and that some of his techniques appear easy but are not. I suppose the use of the proper terms is a good thing, I just wish the approach would have been more descriptive - i.e. add more diagrams or a pictorial dictionary of the terms; this was started with the naming of the various sails and masts, but stopped there. As to the techniques mentioned, some of them were really set up to allow you to build one model after another - but I am not sure that I want to spend the time and money to build these fancy jigs when I might only build one model ship in my lifetime!

Another, more minor nit, is the loose organization of the logic flow in the book. At the beginning of each part, the author gives an overview of the flow. Unfortunately, in the body of the text, he then bounces around and does not necessarily follow his own order. Also, the overall sequence I think is flawed. The last two parts have you attach all the rigging and then add the various boats and their connections. But, in those models that I've seen it seems like adding the stuff on the deck would be easier to do before the rigging is all attached so you do not have to maneuver around that mass of fine wires.

Please do not take these criticisms as reasons not to buy the book. I thought I learned a lot from reading this brief book (only 115 pages). I am now looking at the actual model I purchased and can visualize a lot better what needs to be done and why it needs to be done in the order he recommends. So, I would concur that this is a good book - although not a great one.

Better than the instructions that came with the ship model I was building. Straightened out a couple of misconceptions before they cost me a lot of headache. Wish I'd read it before I started.

I was a bit disappointed in this book. This book showed some very nice projects, however, often only one item from the multi-itemed pictures was actually detailed in the book. So, if you flip through this book and think you're getting instructions on all the beautifully detailed projects that are pictured,- beware. It is usually the simplest item in the picture that actually has instructions included. For example: A beautifully elaborate "candy box" is shown with faux chocolates. The instructions for the box are not included, just the directions on how to push the brown PC into a candy mold to make the candies...
However, the author did a very thorough job of explaining the different types of PC on the market and detailing the properties and strengths of each. I do believe this is a valuable reference for all levels of PC artists. Her discussion on glues was also helpful. For this information, I have given the book 3 stars, but I think people should be aware of what they're buying.

As a Polymer Clay artist and a person who tries to help many other people in real life and on the internet learn more and more about Polymer Clay, Kris Richards Book "New Ways with Polymer Clay" is on my SHORT LIST, of must have books for the PC beginner! If you have a question, you will get an answer from this book! Kris Richards has been writing about Polymer Clay for many years and all of her books give you a wonderful basis to build your knowledge of this incredible medium!

I am relatively new to polymer clays and was feeling abit overwhelmed not knowing what to do next. This book caught my eye after having looked at several books that were just abit too 'newbie'. Kris Richads bridged that gap between 'newbie' and what the heck do I do now phase with this well written book:) The basics section in part one was more than just basics, which was exactly what I was looking for and the projects in part two are simple but could be modified to the intermediate/semi-advanced with ease:):) All around great book and worth every red-cent:)

I was VERY disappointed with this book. This is for beginners. The title claims the techniques are new and it's the 'next generation.' Okay, so it's a few years old--but everthing in it has been written about before this came out. Directions are not complete. Ornaments are 'cutesy.' Get the Weekend Crafter book if you want good projects to learn techniques.

I was eagerly waiting for this book to learn more techniques. 1/2 of the book is just explaining where polymer clay comes from and then jumps to projects that are not relative to what you just read. I don't recommended at all. Not even for beginners.

I like this book because it has a lot of good tips all in one book. I own many rubber stamping books with tips and techniques but they do not have such variety in contents and they are often bits and pieces everywhere across different books which made me end up with too many books on my book shelves. I do not mind if the ideas are originally from Suze or not (as one reviewer brought up)...at least Suze has recognised the need to compile and compact the ideas as much as possible into one book) which I find value for money beyond compare. Her book is easy enough to read and understand and I've been able to come up with successful projects that make a difference and that I'm a proud owner of. I truly have never seen an author so willing to put so much in ONE book for the readers and I'll have to give Suze the credit for that... 5 stars all the way! (This book complements the artsy side of rubber stamping)

I consider myself to be an intermediate/advanced stamper, and I have not run across any other book yet that has intrigued me as much as this! I love the fact that it covers so many techniques, keeps the instructions simple and straightforward, and has great pictures to show you the results that can be achieved. I first got it from the library, and am now ordering it because I know I will refer to it again and again. Take a look for yourself--even get it from the library first for a preview--and form your own opinion. I think you'll love it!

After my initial purchases, I didn't buy many books on rubber stamping because most of them describe the same techniques and just show different examples. This book is different. As soon as I leafed through it, I knew I had to buy it. The samples in this book are works of art. The techniques are advanced, the photos are beautiful and the instructions are clear and concise. This is not a book for beginners. It won't teach you the basic stamping techniques but instead it takes stamping to the next level, from a craft to an art form. I consider myself an advanced stamper but for sometime I have been looking for something that would that would help advance my stamping skills. I think this is just what I have been hoping to find.

Most rubber stamping books I've seen are one of two types; lots of beautiful samples, but little content to be of help to an inexperienced stamper, or good content instructionally with little to inspire. This book has ample amounts of both.

The basic information is presented in the beginning, explaining supplies and techiques. Each technique is clearly illustrated, with supply lists and step by step instructions. The techniques run from bleach stamping through various applications for thick embossing powder, to stamping on art metals, to various brayer techniques. A beautiful sample of each technique is shown in each set of instructions, sometimes more than one example. At the back of the book is a gallery of sorts, showing what several stamp artists have been able to achieve with the use of some of these techniques.

I did notice the missing steps mentioned by another reviewer, and would have liked the missing steps inserted somehow, as it is a technique I'd like to try sometime. Perhaps newer editions have corrected this mistake. Otherwise, whether Suze Weinberg actually created these techniques or not, I am appreciative of a book that has polished examples with clear instructions that even those like myself who are "stamping challenged" can aspire toward.

This book is a gorgeous pictorial and includes step-by-step instructions for each technique shown. I have looked through it over and over just to enjoy the artwork. I've also been able to adapt the designs to my own style and use the instructions to succesfully recreate the projects shown. One of my favorite rubber stamping books.