Sports and Hobbies Books

I was purchasing perler beads for my 5 yr old son, and did not want to purchase perler beads for my 2 yr old daughter. I was at Michaels, so I went over to the Klutz book area looking for *something* for the younger one, and found this book! It is awesome! I also purchased additional beads from Orientaltrading.com. They just came yesterday. My daughter (now 4) still loves it, even though she also helps herself to her brothers perlers! I am buying one of these books for my nieces and I am sure they will find hours of entertainment as my kids have!

This was a great activity for my 5 year old daughter & I to do together. You can follow the patterns or use your own creativity. Very easy directions to follow.

My 5 year old and I fell in love with "melty beads". The only bad thing is the refills are expensive and they aren't very readily available. If you do find the refills, you will want to purchase them at the the same time you get the book. It is guaranteed fun for sure and it's something the adults like to do as well. I am buying another one for a Christmas Gift.

We got three of these for my in-home childcare. What a great investment this is. The kids love to make shapes and key chains for mom and little gadgets for themselves. This is great fun for kids of any age. It is loads of fun.

My 4yr old daughter received this as a gift and loves to make the different shapes. Now my 2yr old is totally into it as well, so I need to buy another book so there is no fighting. I did find refill beads and extra boards at orientaltrading.com (fyi).

If like me you have never played Fantasy football before this book is a must.
It explains in clear easy to understand language the way to go about drafts, run your team etc.
Anyone who is playing on Yahoo will find it especially useful as it is written around the Yahoo format (other leagues are covered as well).
A good buy at the price & big help if you want to get maximum fun out of your 1st season.

Great Book. Taught my husband a few things about Fantasy Football that he didn't know and he has been playing for years. A must have for any wife who wants to learn what occupies hours of their husband's time.

The author REALLY knows his stuff as oppossed to some of the other writers of "for dummies" books! He truly has a love for the subject and it shows!

Highly recommended!


:)

I have always been curious about just what is fantasy football, and have passed up a few opportunities to join in because I lacked the confidence to join a league. Martin Signore spells out all of the ins the outs the dos and the don'ts in a very easy and understandable way. I can't wait for the season to start and hone in my newfound skills!

If you are thinking about playing fantasy football or even if you played a little last year and want to improve those basic skills, get this book! It is a great introduction to fantasy football. It covers everything to get you started including where to play online and look online for information on players. Many of the tips are exactly what you need to draft, manage and improve your team for a winning season.

After reading Fantasy Football for Dummies, it is obvious that Martin Signore has played the game for many years and his love of the hobby shines through. Once again, the winning "dummies" format makes it easy. I am amazed at how much information he provides. Martin even discusses Auction leagues which many of todays FF books ignore. He hits all the right techniques and even includes some advanced draft strategies.

I usually find the "part of tens" pages in a dummies book tedious, but Martin has provided a great Top 10 list of mistakes to avoid and perhaps even more importantly ten fixes to make to your team after draft day. The draft is not the end but instead should be the starting point for a championship team. You should constantly try to improve your team through trades and/or the waiver wire. A great manager can always look back and point out a significant improvement during the season.

This is definitely the book of choice for anyone who wants an introduction to the greatest hobby of all time, Fantasy Football.

Sam Hendricks, author of "Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football" and "Fantasy Football Almanac"

This toy is awesome! The book has several game ideas, but it is just as fun to see how far and how high you can throw and catch the ball! Fun for all ages!

The foxtail is very fun. The book it comes with seems outdated and isn't a fun read, but the toy itself makes up for it. We haven't played any of the suggested games out of the book. We are having fun just doing our own thing. We bought two just in case (trees). All four kids (age 13, 10, 8, and 8) along with my husband and I love it. What a great toy!

I've used a foxtail before and love it! It's lots of fun to play with anyone. I would note that this item is the book only- though the picture shows the toy as well. I ordered this item too quickly and didn't double check that it was included. Enjoy!

One of the reviews tells about the ages of a family playing Foxtail. I cannot agree more that this is a family game that the whole family can play at the same time. My brother and I would play when we were in our 20s. I am now 46 and the last time I was home on leave I played with my children 14, 12, and 2. Granted the 2 year old was just clapping his hands together to try to get the tail but occasionally he could snag it on the second bounce. Each of us played at hard at it as we wanted to which resulted in a lot of running and diving for me as the children learned about throwing an object from a spin. But that is the way I like to play. I was also able to lead them enough to get them moving some and eventually they started to be able to read my throws. A great way for the whole family to play outside together as energeticly as each wants to.

The Foxtail is a really fun toy. The book was helpful on ideas for games, but just playing "catch" with it is great. Even dogs will love to retreive this toy - just don't let them chew!

WOW! Being a huge fan of knitting, and the various social off-shoot knitting circles that evolve from one of the most unlikely of fiber skills, I naturally had to scoop this one up. And I am so glad I did!

This book was great for two reasons:

1) the knitting of course, the patterns are fun and quirky (ex. frozen peas, a fun knit icepack cozy to wrap around boo-boos.) but really well done. Joan of Dark and her Roller girls takes their knitting seriously but enjoy every stich.

2) The entire aspect, a general history and cultural signifigance of Roller Derby is explained in such a way I was aching to dig out my old skates and join up!

Seriously, this book was so much more than I expected. A fun knittng book and a fun Roller Derby book successfully rolled (no pun intended) into one, as unlikely as that may be.

What a great book. I don't knit but my wife does. In any case, KDK is something special for Roller Derby fans. And ff you aren't a fan there are pages dedicated to explaining Roller Derby. Most people have preconceived notions that it's just WWF on skates (It's REALLY NOT!)
Each project in the book is modeled by a member of the Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens. Each girl is also treated to a small informative bio too. (who knew Kitiara was a silver medalist in the World Police and Fire Games!?)
For those of you looking for unique and interesting knitting projects this IS the the book for you. Sweaters, hats, mittens and a beverage holder with a built in glove to keep the drink cold and the hand warm!
Fun stuff! For all of its content, this book is a steal!

This is so different from the knitting books I remember from 30 years or so ago, when they were boring patterns that assumed everyone lived a Ken and Barbie life. They remind me a little of the Alice Starmore knitting books and especially the Celtic collection in that they explaini a little of the culture in addition to offering knitting patterns from that culture. With the Starmore books I own, they're all wearing apparrel and sylistic. With these, I've got some things to wear and a few things to knit for practical uses.

I'm no roller girl, but I am over 50 and I can see lots of practical uses for some of those injury-related knitting projects. I wish I'd had that pea bag pattern when I had knee surgery a couple of years ago.

To quote a friend of mine who doesn't knit or like roller derby but who read the book: What a fun book!

How can you go wrong with a book like this? It has more action than any 'craft' book I have ever read before. It gives readers/knitters a great insight on the girls of the Tornado Sirens/Naptown Roller Girls league as well as some really awesome knitting crafts. I am a Fresh Meat knitter myself and it didn't leave me in the penalty box for finishing a project! There are projects for all levels of knitters.
Even my mother-in-law loved the vast variety of projects offered and the great insiders viewpoint on Roller Derby! It did however, concern her a bit about my safety when she saw all the slings, pillows and crutch pads! Knit & Skate on!

Roller Derby and knitting? What an awesome pair! This book is fun, witty and the pictures are great. The patterns are truly original and I can't wait to try them out.

P.S. Support your local roller derby league. The ladies of roller derby are truly some of the coolest people you will ever meet!

"Production Fly Tying" is the second book you should have in your library (the first being a good beginners book with a few patterns). "Production Fly Tying" doesn't have many complete patterns in it, and the few that are in the book have to be pieced together from section to section, but it has some of the best tips a tyer could hope for. A.K. Best gives the reader tips he has learned from his years of professional tying. Each tip is extremely helpful. Best seems to focus on tips that make it easier and faster for the tyier to increase production while not skimping on the quality of the fly. Best always has plenty of tips on how to improve the action and use of your flies. This is simply a great book.

This book is good in that it goes in detail the whole way through. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it didn't tell you how to tie the whole fly. It only shows bits and pieces (how to tie the tail for a deceiver, how to tie a zonker body, etc), but I still recommend the book for the tyer that likes to flip through for reference. If you really want to absorb the information, you should read the book all the way through.

This book is dynamite for the skilled fly tyer as well as the beginner. A K Best shares with you the little twists and turns of fly tying that the others skip over or don't think are important enough to mention. He also shares with you his techniques that will make you not only faster but much more proficient. I highly recommend this publication.

As noted, the title is very misleading; maybe it should have been called "how to tie the most useful flies in your box in the most efficent way".

Like most tyers, I have dozens of books; there's Marinaro, Kauffman, Proper, and on and on, but this one book probably taught me more about how to actually tie than any other book. Best is a production tyer, but the same techniques he uses to tie a hundred dozen of some pattern are just as useful for the fisherman who needs a dozen assorted flies for a weekend trip.

The descriptions are marvelously clear and the photos reveal every detail. This book and a good vise are probably the first two things a beginner should buy.

I had been tying for a few months when I came upon this book. Until that time I had trouble finding sound instruction. The instruction I did receive was usually at club meetings or from the occasional video. This book made it very clear how flies where to be constructed. This advice on tools is very helpful. And the insight on material selection was also extremly helpful. This is one of the best books on fly tying period. Also he has a selection of videos out that are the best I have seen.

This is the best scrapbooking book that I have ever seen. This huge book is packed with loads and loads of original and very creative ideas. I love all the trick photography ideas, lessons on when to crop and when not to, as well as a LOT of information of journalism. It is an incredible book and probably the only scrapbooking book you will need. Highly recommended.

This book is well worth every penny. From beginner to advanced, it gives you so many ideas you won't know where to start.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to scrapbooking how to books - it always seem they're either TOO BASIC or unpractical, too contemporary, or don't have enough pictures, or don't have enough instruction. This is the the PERFECT book I've found that can work well for anyone's needs.
I have literally found HUNDREDS of ideas just from looking off the examples in this book. I LOVE IT!!!! I think this book has so much variety it could fit anyone's needs. I have had it for over 4 years from the time I was a beginner scrapper to now more experienced and I STILL find myself going back to it for reference and collecting NEW IDEAS even 4 years later! I definitely recommend it! I wish I knew if these authors had created any other scrapbooking books!

This is an very easy to use and understand how to book. It contains a great many ideas that I would never have thought of or attempted without this book. Worth the money. You will use it over and over.

This is a great idea generator for scrapbookers. Nothing is too fancy or involved - just great "anyone can do this" page ideas. Loved it. Gave one as a gift also.

I bought this item for my two grandsons. They really liked it. I had two little superheros running around my house shrieking with glee.

My two sons live in their superhero capes and masks. This is a pretty all-encompassing gift b/c it includes not only the cape, but a selection of very cool colorful masks (you have to supply your own string) and wristbands. My 2- and 6-year olds wear them daily and the masks are still holding up weeks later. Makes a great gift for friends, too.

I have a boy who is on the autistic spectrum. He absolutely loves this book. He wakes up each morning and put on the cape, mask,, and wristbands. It has been great for his pretend play skills!

my son just loves this. loves it! the wristbands fall apart some after too much use, but a little strip of duct tape here and there does the trick. and i jimmied some rubber bands thru the mask holes so a rubber band would loop around each ear. that seemed to work pretty well. (didn't try the yarn. am i the only mom that doesn't own yarn?)

anyway, great price, great product and the book is a fun (and short) read.

My 3 1/2 year old son received this as a Christmas present. He wore the cape non-stop for about 2 weeks. We read the book at least once a week even now and he's got the cape on today (Feb 20). Most Christmas presents come and go, but this one has ignited my child's imagination like no other.

its awsome whith all new levles

It is a very hard game so in order to beet it I suggest you get this stradegy guide. It tells all the specials of every player and tells u how to beet every level step by step. It also has many pictures and other stuff about how to make a sweet skate park and tips on creating a skater.

This book tells you everything to know about this new game. If you buy one book to help you with this game, this is it.

If you like Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 as much as I do, you must get this book. I use this book to help me find things I need In the game. I recomed this for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 players.

This book tells you how to do everything. From level goals to getting all the gaps. It tells you how to create the best park. It's great. The only reason I would give this 4 stars instead of 5 is thet some of the explanations are very hard to understand. I ended up just taking key words and figuring it out there. Otherwise this is so worth your money!!!

This is a great book for ideas and inspiration. It is full of charts for beautiful patterns, and some amazing projects. She included a good variety of modern and vintage style designs which really fired my imagination.This is not so much a book for learning techniques as it is for getting great ideas for your work.

the previous reviewer hit all the highpoints. the charts are wonderful. i particularly appreciate the charts for beaded crochet, since i haven't been able to find many (this is not to say that they aren't out there, just that i haven't found them). a very nice touch is the inclusion of a color key for each chart--you can see at a glance what colors are needed.

there are several sections, including instructions and suggestions for cords, edgings and fringes. even though i have an extremely healthy bead book and magazine collection, i found many useful ideas for cords (one in a technique i hadn't seen before), fringes (with silhouettes of various shapes possible with fringe), and other applications. the projects have a nice range of skill level and variety--not just jewelry, but other uses, such as an embellished box, a scissors keep and a fringed key chain. the projects are not large or to time consuming, but they are well-thought-out and beautiful. the gallery is incredible.

the photos are generally clear and the beadwork is positioned for best viewing. the text is informative, and ms. davis frequently includes information on how a stitch can go wrong and how to avoid or correct the mistake (very very very helpful!).

it really is a must have for beaders, as is her first book, _the complete guide to beading techniques_. if this doesn't get your creative juices flowing, you may be comatose!

This is a beader's reference book, full of great patterns for several types of stitches (brick, peyote, herringbone, crochet, etc.). It's not an instructional book, though it does include instructions for a couple of tubular stitches. Great pictures, great designs, and a great bargain when you consider the price of an individual pattern.

This book has been helpful to me because I am a beginner and there were things that I did not understand. They used pictures to explain the different sizes, shapes and materials used for beads.

Over 200 beadwork graphics and designs, photos, and project ideas contribute to a comprehensive reference for both beginners and beadworkers alike. From large and small beadwork projects to finishing fringes and edgings, each project is accompanied by a graph, instructions, and numerous resources. The color photos of completed results are exquisite embellishments. A Beader's Reference is a unique and highly recommended addition to any dedicated craftmaker or needlecrafter's reference collection.

I bought this after my first trip to a casino. I enjoyed myself there but understood that I could have had a better time if I knew how casinos worked. This book is great at giving a basic knowledge of how casinos work and educates you on the many different games and how to enjoy yourself for entertainment purposes. I highly recommend this book if you a planning a trip to a casino for the first time or if you've been to a casino and you would like to expand your overall knowledge and enjoyment. It has basic tips and strategies for all the casino games and is a good starting point. You can always delve further into the games that you like with other books, but this is a quality broad overview of casinos and their games.

I was mainly interested in slots, video poker, & blackjack. Presented good info in an uncomplicated style. Also full of info for practically any other game that may be your particular choice(s). I recommend it VERY highly for beginners or the more experienced player!!!!!

Kevin Blackwood is an expert blackjack player who has played all over the world; he is an expert poker player as well. His knowledge of the casino games is profound and this book gives you everything you need to know to go to the casinos and play properly. Ignore the title because you are not a dummy if you buy this book.

You are smart!

Frank Scoblete: author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!

I wonder why on page 170, the baccarat rules states that, for example, when the banker's total is 6, then the banker will draw if the player's new total is 6 or 7. The correct version is: the banker will draw when the "player's third card" is 6 or 7, not the "new total". On page 171 though, the table lists it as "player's third card". Incidentally, I found a bug in the Hoyle's Casino 2007 for PC game, with it drawing a card for the banker when it shouldn't... oh well... isn't the rule somewhat important? It is a very basic set of rule... I wonder if we have that sometimes in the casino and nobody noticed.

Otherwise, the book provides basic rules, strategies, and some interesting stories about the various games. It is a pretty good book for beginners, but make sure you pick another one up just to cross reference. Idiot's Guide and the Unofficial Guide also have a good book on casino gambling.

One thing I am sensitive about the book is that it stresses on etiquette quite a lot. Thing like, "don't hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn. After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you". Oh well, a "breach"? so serious? I don't know, I just feel that nowadays, we tend to have too much politeness and etiquette and too little true kindness among human beings, so I don't like to read about etiquette for this and etiquette for that.

Any new book on casino gambling has to contend with a shelf full (virtual or real) of other titles covering the same material, but in Casino Gambling for Dummies, Kevin Blackwood has done a masterful job of bringing a fresh attitude and informative approach that provides solid justification for another title on the topic. This is the 'For Dummies' brand at its best, tackling all the favorites, blackjack, craps, sports betting, as well as many meta-topics (like dealing with the IRS after a profitable run at the tables) with fact-infused, easy-to-read prose that will entertain and inform. People just entering the neon world for the first time will get as much instructional material as they can handle, from rules of the game to strategy. Seasoned gamblers will reap the benefits of Blackwood's expertise and experience at the felt-covered tables around the world. There is particular depth in the blackjack section, likely a product of Blackwood's long resume as one of the top players in the world. The organization is inspired and the writing is top notch, particularly the chapter on horse racing.