Outdoors Books

If you improve your mental performance, you will improve your physical performance, This book will show you how to start with your mental outlook and go from there.

This is one of the best books I have read. It is a psychology book with a sports theme. Loved it!!!

Your Performing Edge is quite simply the best book i have ever read on the subject of improving mental performance. I am a keen amateur golfer with a 4 handicap and a great natural athelete. Like everyone, i was searching for that "miracle" to help me break through the next barrier - my mind. I have read and studied a number of other books and programs about improving mental performance. While many gave you the answers to "what" you need to do, none gave you the answers to "how" to improve. Dr. JoAnn Dalkoetters insights, lessons and tips are the most valuable resource ever produced on the subject. Combine this book with her Personal Coaching Program and you have, what i consider to be, the most powerful program available. I am now playing the golf i have always dreamed of. Your Performing Edge is a must read for anyone seriously considering improving their mental approach to atheletics, life, business or otherwise.

This Audio CD is a Companion to the the "YOUR PERFORMING EDGE book. It contains four guided visualization exercises that helped me to practice what I was learning in the book.
The exercises guided me with:

Energizing my mind and body
Building new confidence and motivation
Focusing and performing my best
Healing and recovering completely

I found this program really works for improving performance in all parts of my life - professionally and personally.
Dr. Dahlkoetter's training exercises on this CD helped me learn to focus on my goals and visualize the results I was looking for. Now that I can see a clear picture of what I want in my life, I am moving forward and making real progress in fitness, personal productivity, and peak performance.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants excellence in all aspects of life.

As a competitive distance runner for the last 25 years, I've focused mainly on the physical aspects of training. Then I came across Dr. Dahlkoetter's book on the mental aspects of training and living. After reading it, I have nothing but praise for this book. It provided a whole new stimulus for my training and life. Helpful mental training exercises are provided along with straight forward information and interviews with champion athletes. I highly recommend this book for everyone, athlete or not.

ESPN always puts out a good almanac, and this is of the same quality of years past. It provides data for the past year for all of the major sports (baseball, football - college/pro, basketball - college/pro, hockey), plus racing, soccer, amateur sports, world sports, and some business information, too. It's nice that it provides a lot of historical data, too, single-season and career records. It's probably not the guide if you want all of the historical baseball information ever (or something like that for any other sport), but it's authoritative in its scope of all sports.

Like any almanac, the yearly data quickly ages. I suppose I would rather them carry data for the 2000-01 NFL season, for example, rather than the 1999-2000 season, but I suppose that given the continuous nature of the sport seasons, they have to make a trade-off for one sport.

It's very good; I highly recommend it for any sports fan with a knack for trivia or who frequently finds themselves asking (or arguing) about records and statistics and superlatives.

This is the best sports almanac you'll ever find! It is full of interesting facts about every sport and all the information you'll ever want to know. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who likes sports.

When it comes to sports, the letters that come to most people's mind are ESPN. Those letters have stood for sports for the last two decades. And the Sports Almanac delivers, every year.

This book is for everyone from the casual sports fan to the stats geek. It covers all sports. (At least every one I could think of!) For the amount of content and the price, you can't beat it!

I own a world almanac for knick-knack arguments and discussions, but I have found that when I am locked up in a heated sports debate, there is NO SUBSTITUTE for this book! It's the best! It's easy to read, and it has info on all of the sports that I care about (and even on some sports I could care less about!). It not only covers the pure stats of the games, but it also covers some facts about the arenas in which they are played! That, coupled with the in depth and far reaching historical material that it houses make this indespensible for the avid sports nut!

ESPN has shown the world once more that it is the beginning and end of sports information. Every sports fan should have this reference, as even the most avid fan will marvel at the breadth of knowledge contained in this must have publication.

The author and illustrator know lots about the backcountry and provide tons of useful information on winter skiing. Even if you've spent much time yourself skiing in the backcountry, you'll find tips here that will make you wonder why you hadn't been doing things that way all along.

This book combines some great humor and excellent line drawings with some great wilderness and backcountry wisdom. All the tips and tricks one picks up over the years are in this book and it is highly recommended reading for newcomers and those already involved.

There are two types of winter campers: those who have this book and those who need it. Perhaps if you are very very experienced you don't need it but otherwise, get it! Allen wrote a short, but information full book, that is easy and fun to read quickly and jamn packed with a mix of basic functional knowledge, extra tidbits that are good to know, and all kinds of little tricks he has discovered over the years.

it is awesome! these guys are nols instructors. one guy provides the incredibly helpful commentary while the other guy provides the humorous illustrations. you will be howling with laughter as you read this great book. my bet is that humor/laughter aids the memorization process. that is key in this case because there are some truly essential tips in this book! not to be without! can't wait to wintercamp this year. they also have a telemark tips book which is very good too...

Well, I just panned a different book and said don't waste your money so now its time to even the score.

This book is great fun. I have lots of winter camping books and do a fair amount of winter camping. Other books may have more information, but none covers all of the basics with as much humor as this one. I do alpine skiing and snowshoeing so the coverage of tele skiing wasn't of particular interest...but I still really enjoyed reading those sections, too.

It is hard to describe the authors' irreverent approach while dealing with serious (life and death) topics, but they somehow pull it off. This is really a great book to engage someone who isn't already a hard-core winter camper...so if you are, buy it for your significant other (assuming you haven't been able to get them enthused about spending a winter weekend outdoors.) If they don't enjoy this book, you may officially give up on them.

Very nice pocket book with clear pictures of each bird. I always have it available when the birds are around the feeder and can clearly find what I'm looking for.

This is an excellant resource book. The descriptions of the birds are wonderful & the author's notes add more personal data for those covered.
I love it!

Quick and easy reference guide, coded by color, and I own two. My first one is worn out! Fits in your pocket.

My family loves this book. We keep it by the window overlooking our bird feeders. We have identified quite a few bird visitors.

This is a great little book. Easy to find birds (by color or name) without having to illiminate all the birds that aren't common in PA. Love the comparison section. Lots of information for the price.

Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide, Second Edition

This book has really helped me to identify birds in my backyard. The pictures are great and I think it's extremely helpful to have the book categorized by colors. I would recommend this book to amateur bird watchers as it has provided me with a lot of joy.

This is a nice, concise book for beginners like me. The size and pics are well done and the book is packed with info & easy to use. If you have small children who are interested in birds this book is a good choice. It only takes a few seconds to flip through the color coded pages to answer-"What kinda bird is THAT?" It will fit easily in the diaperbag or your pocket while walking.

I got this book as a present for myself, and I have been able to recognize more birds with it than the previous 2 I was using. I cannot wait for spring and the chance to become more familiar with the birds in and around our yard.

I rarely write reviews, but I LOVE this book! You can actually find the bird you want to identify! I started with Stan's "Birds of Illinois," which was great. Now I am learning the Birds of Wisconsin (some overlap, of course). And with the addition of the CD, now I can learn their calls too. Stan tells you exactly the identifying feature that helps you tell the birds apart--features that you can actually see! And the book is small enough to carry with you when traveling. Thanks, Stan!!!

Very easy to find the birds your looking at even if you don't what they are. Also includes interesting tidbits about the birds.

This book is a pleasure to read from cover-to-cover. The author clearly loves her subject matter and infuses the history of cheerleading with fun and good humor. I especially loved the photographs. The book would make a great TV documentary. Since reading "Cheerleader", I have ordered all of Ms. Stein's other books.

I loved this book! The pictures are great where did she find them? It's a great gift for anyone interested in cheerleading and a fun read even for people who aren't.

From matching sweaters and pompons to coke and candy posters and ads, the allure of cheerleads in culture and advertising has long been evident in American culture, and here is captured by Elissa Stein in her visual celebration Cheerleader: Ready? Okay! From a history of cheerleading to cheerleader fashion, Cheerleader: Ready? Okay! captures the energy, excitement and changes of the best.

The photographs are amazing. The content is witty and well researched. A great gift for anyone who was a cheerleader--or for those of us who just looked on from the bleachers.

I loved this book! The great illustrations brought back memories of freezing at the big game, yelling myself hoarse when our team made the goal, and thoroughly enjoying myself. It's a must to take to your reunion.

This is an excellent read. I grew up in the small Louisiana town that the author writes about and it was exciting to read about places and people that I knew. The story held my attention from beginning to end.

I was lucky enough to have Mr. Marcum as a 5th grade teacher as well, in 1996. He was a great teacher and a great writer. He would read us this book a lot and gave us valid input with it - he made sure kids were going to like it! It was written for, edited by, and inspired by kids.

I also had Mr. Marcum as a teacher in 2002. I read this book three time while i was in the class, and brought chapters home for my dad to read and he loved it. I think ths could easily be the best book I have ever read. I read the complete version before it was published, so i hope they have not edited out some of the best parts. Go buy this book or order it here, you won't regret it.

Memories of my childhood flooded back as I read this wonderful book. Lance Marcum has written a book that kids of all ages can enjoy. His main character's (Mitch Valentine) first person account of his summertime adventures is pure kid fun from start to finish! Although "The Cottonmouth Club" is a real "page turner", it took me longer than expected to read due to my LOL fits, which erupted with nearly every page! Girls and boys, men and women, this book has something for everyone, and to top it off teaches some valuable life lessons. Read it, you'll love it.

THE BEST BOOK EVER GET IT OR YOU WILL BE SAD YOU DID NOT GET IT SO GET IT BEST AUTHOR EVER NO JOKE

I haven't had a chance to read the whole book however what I have read has been helpful and informative. The book itself was shipped in excellent condition and, like many of the books I've bought through Amazon, I think I purchased it used and it looks new. And, I don't plan on just using it to balance out my washing machine ;-).

I've been running since I was in high school and continued during and after graduationg college. It wasn't until recently that I decided to run my first half marathon. I have read lots of material on training and nutrition, but none have been as complete and informative. The first eight chapters are devoted to all endurance athletes. The last few chapters are each devoted to a particular endurance sport. This book has taught me how to fully prepare and train to successfully reach my goal. I would suggest this book for anyone interested in endurance sports.

Suzanne knows her stuff. I've been an ultrarunner and endurance athlete for nearly 25 years and I find Suzanne's wisdom and advice both on target and incredibly helpful. In fact, as I get older, which I am, her advice is seemingly even more relevant. Following her advice on everything from hydration to nutrition to stretching has been vital to me being able to keep doing what I love to do. The bottom line is that proper nutrition is key to optimal performance and the information in this book can ensure you're geting both.

This is a serious sports nutrition book for serious athletes. It is packed with information for the endurance athlete or those coaching endurance/elite athletes. In addition to providing a complete nutritional overview for the elite athlete, Endurance Sports touches on other related subjects such as hydration, the effectiveness of supplements, food intolerances, eating disorders and even optimal eating for the vegetarian athlete. As a nutrition writer, this book is an integral part of my reference library.

I am in my mid-40s and have toyed with the idea of doing a triathlon for quite some time. Somehow, when I would begin to really get the training ramped up, I would run in to a problem. I believe that I was probably bringing on the problems with less than ideal nutrition. So, though I harbor no aspirations of being a serious athlete, I have found that nutrition is an important--and often overlooked--aspect for even recreational athletes like me. Using the information in this book is allowing me to push my training farther than I ever have before and will get me across the finish line for my first triathlon sometime this summer.

Great for any Internal Martial Art's practitioner, this book can be understood on a different level as your level of understanding increases. This book is one for beginners and experienced IMA practitioners alike.

A wonderful little book of thoughts and peoms to go with T'ai Chi. It's title is extremely apt. I would recommend it to all who love T'ai Chi

Great book! It showcases the Tai Chi Classics from centuries of martial masters.I highly recommend this to all martial artists.

The tai chi classics are essential study for any halfway serious student of tai chi, martial arts, or life in general. There are now many translations of the classics - when this one was published there were few or none.

The nice thing about this version is that the translators let the words speak for themselves. Most others include commentary by the translators (which is, ultimately, their own opinions, and may or may not be helpful). Here you let the words sink in, you ponder and reflect, and gradually gradually develop your own sense of these important ideas.

I found that this book contains the best writings on Wing Chun available. It was recommended to me by my teacher's teacher. I know it's about Tai Chi concepts but the astute Wing Chun practitioner will benefit immensely from it. No it doesn't show any forms. It's not a "how to" book. It's a "learn deeper things about what you already know" book.

This book is just about everything you will need if you are looking for swimming workouts. It takes you right from the very basics to advanced workouts. It also helps you correct swimming positions. I've already decreased my free style lap time just by making little adjustments. Simply Great!

Swimming is one of those curious beasts of the American athetic sports scene: vast multitudes participate (recreational, summer, competitive, etc.), but very few really know how to improve. As in other sports, many parents wind up coaching as their children get involved in swimming as there are too few coaches available. There is much to learn! Stroke technique, using the clock, training the aerobic and non-aerobic energy systems, how to author and conduct a productive and interesting workout, etc.

To those who might feel intimidated by all this, this book brings help in the form of workout structure. The workouts range from basic beginner to advanced workouts for accomplished swimmers. I have used Marianne's book to keep my workouts (as an age-group coach and Master's swimmer) interesting and my swimmers are always eager to swim.

I highly recommend this book for coaches and swimmers who are self-coached.

Like many triathletes I had a bit of swimming in my background when I started racing, but certainly not enough to be competitive. I occasionally swam with organized groups but my consultant travel schedule made sure that was infrequent. I got a copy of The Fit Swimmer, read it cover to cover and made up about a dozen workouts from the suggested routines. The section on open water racing was particularly valuable. While training diligence was definitely part of it, this book was the #1 resource for me in competitively placing in events ranging from local races to National and Ironman distances. Ms. Brems meets 2 imperatives: she explains things simply and she gives you the tools you need to progress from a relative novice to a competitive swimmer. Like a craftsman and apprentice, she leaves it up to the reader to figure out how to best use the extensive toolset in the book. I found that creating about a dozen workouts on 3x5 cards from her suggested routines and rotating them did the trick (store them in a ziploc bag for use poolside). You can experiment with different routines to test how your body responds. I now coach people on an occasional basis, and strongly encourage each of them to read the book before we start.

A good book for intermediate swimmers but offers little technique or help for people just starting out in the sport.

This book has really helped me improve and vary my workouts and make the masters swim class I teach more interesting.