Outdoors Books

In January of 1925, a diptheria epidemic broke out in Nome, Alaska. One Dr. Welch treated three children who were deathly ill. Since the town was under quarantine and an emergency alert was sent to the governor in Juneau outlining the need for the vaccine.

The necessary serum was in Anchorage, which was over 1,000 miles from Nome. This was during the early days of air travel and at that time no planes flew to Alaska during the winter months due to the lack of closed cockpits and the inclement weather would cost pilots their lives.

Trains were the popular mode of transportation. A train brought the serum from Anchorage to Nenana. In Nenana, the mushers and their teams of malamutes and huskies took the medicine for the rest of its cliff-hanging run to Nome.

I like the way a map of the route is included in this book and the way the dogs are introduced to readers. Balto, the most famous dog was the husky who led the team on the last leg of the journey. He has been credited with getting the medicine through in time to save the stricken children. Togo, a beautiful male husky is also featured. He was one of the huskies on the first run. Sadly, his part is eclipsed by Balto's now famous heroic journey. Still, this is not to discount what this brave curly tailed dog accomplished. Togo's stamina got the first team off to a flying start.

I like the way each musher is credited in this book; the distance of each run to Nome and each participant, musher and husky and malamute alike are listed. Each one of these people and curly tailed dogs are given their due recognition. If it had not been for those teams, the medicine would never have reached its destination before deadline. Truly a treasure for all ages. It makes me think of the 1979 song, "Ain't No Stopping Us Now."

Debbie Millerýs masterful retelling of the Serum Run, which saved the children of Nome, Alaska from a deadly diphtheria epidemic in 1925, goes well beyond the facts of this heroic team effort. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail includes well-researched factual information, reference tables, maps, and photographs. Millerýs narrative comes alive as she skillfully interweaves many little known fascinating details of how the mushers and their dog sled teams endured their individual treks from Nenana to Nome in such deadly weather conditions. The story behind this famous dog sled team relay was inspiration for the world famous ýLast Great Race,ý the Iditarod. Jon Van Zyle, the official Iditarod artist, complements Millerýs text with vivid, captivating illustrations. Readers of this book will gain a sense of the unbelievable accomplishment of these dog sled teams. People of all ages will treasure this book. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail should be included as a first resource for teachers interested in providing thought provoking discussions about the Iditarod, teamwork, and manýs interaction and dependence on animals.

About the Reviewer: Ann Morgan has taught lessons about the Iditarod in grades 2- 6 for the last 18 years, and is currently teaching at Chatham Middle School, Chatham, Massachusetts. In 2000, she was in Alaska at the Iditarod and acquired first hand knowledge of the race by following the mushers and dog sled teams with her own bush pilot from Anchorage to Nome.

The Great Serum Race, Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller with illustrations by Jon Van Zyle, the official artist of the dogsled race and a two-time participant in the Iditarod, is a children's book, ages 7 to 10, published in 2002 by Walker & Company. This has become one of my favorite books for introducing children to this amazing race of skill and endurance.

The book is based on the real events of January, 1925, when the population of Nome, Alaska, was in desperate need of diphtheria vaccine. Dr. Welch had not seen a case of diphtheria in twenty years and suddenly he had three young children very ill with the disease. Something had to be done. The community was put under quarantine and an emergency wire went out to the governor in Juneau that the town needed emergency help. This is where the mushers came in. The decision was made to bring serum from Anchorage, over 1,000 miles away, to Nome. In those days, airplanes only flew in Alaska in the summertime because they had open-cockpits and neither plane nor pilot would survive the weather. A steam engine (#66) took the serum from Anchorage to Nenana where the real adventure began. The rest of the story tells of the harrowing experiences of mushers and dogs in their race against time in getting the serum to its destination. At one point, it is believed the serum might be lost.

The front of the book includes a map of the dogsled trail from Nenana to Nome. There is also an introduction to Togo, a Siberian husky and one of the true heroes of the 1925 race. Another excellent feature included in this book, is the complete list of mushers who participated in the original race, each one's race segment, and the distance covered. The race's heroic dogs also have a page devoted to them at the end of the book. This book is a real treasure for both adults and children.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Debbie Miller's masterful retelling of the Serum Run, which saved the children of Nome, Alaska from a deadly diphtheria epidemic in 1925, goes well beyond the facts of this heroic team effort. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail includes well-researched factual information, reference tables, maps, and photographs. Miller's narrative comes alive as she skillfully interweaves many little known fascinating details of how the mushers and their dog sled teams endured their individual treks from Nenana to Nome in such deadly weather conditions. The story behind this famous dog sled team relay was inspiration for the world famous "Last Great Race," the Iditarod. Jon Van Zyle, the official Iditarod artist, complements Miller's text with vivid, captivating illustrations. Readers of this book will gain a sense of the unbelievable accomplishment of these dog sled teams. People of all ages will treasure this book. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail should be included as a first resource for teachers interested in providing thought provoking discussions about the Iditarod, teamwork, and man's interaction and dependence on animals.

About the Reviewer: Ann Morgan has taught lessons about the Iditarod in grades 2- 6 for the last 18 years, and is currently teaching at Chatham Middle School, Chatham, Massachusetts. In 2000, she was in Alaska at the Iditarod and acquired first hand knowledge of the race by following the mushers and dog sled teams with her own bush pilot from Anchorage to Nome.

Debbie Miller did a great deal of research before writing this book, so though it is written for children, it is a great account for all to read. I would highly recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in dog teams and their important role in Alaska. This is the best and most acurate telling of the story of the serum run to Nome in 1925 which I have ever seen. It is a children's book in that it explains what happened from the viewpoint of children. Beyond the story, there are facts presented in the back of the book. Jon Van Zyle is a popular artist, but I did not feel that his oil paintings for this book were all that great.

Rick Browne's 2nd book, Grilling America, is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. His background as a professional photographer is obvious as his detailed photos are nestled in the "mustard" yellow pages and "ketchup" red text. The recipies are well organized and varied in their difficulty so that every cook can find something within their culinary comfort zone. The text is a hoot! While the 'que is on the grill-take the time to really READ this book, especially p163 ("Bubba's got the mop")-a BBQ rendition of Casey at the Bat. Finally, my toque goes off to Rick for the 20+ pages of options/ideas for the vegetarian who still wishes to partake of the American Summer tradition of BBQ.

Rick Browne shares his passion and knowledge of the backyard grill, with easy and fun recipes. Try just one, and you'll wonder why you ever cooked indoors!

But this is much more than just a cookbook. Rick delves deep into the soul of a grilling nation, and reveals essential truths that confirm our shared heritage.

This cookbook is the best for grilling and smoking recipes ever! So many dry rubs, sauces, etc. Something for everyone. Just try the Beer Butt Chicken, it is really awsome, and the Cedar Salmon recipe is out of this world.

Rick Browne has followed up his hugely popular Barbeque America with the sequel, "Grilling America". The difference between the two is that Barbeque involves cooking or smoking over low heat for a long period of time while grilling is actually what most of us our doing in our backyards when were tossing on burgers or steaks or kabobs. Rick and his team have again toured the country visiting barbeque festivals to bring us some of the most mouth-watering grill receipes known to man.

FRom Backyard wizards to true gourmet chefs, the book has over 150 recipes that you can make at home on your charcoal, gas, or electric grill. From meat and poultry, to seafood and veggies, there's even recipes for appetizers like martini oysters and dessert recipes like Barbequed ice cream! In additon to the recipes you'll also find a lot of very valuable tips for grilling no matter what your experience level is. A truly fantastic book for the BBQ and grill fan!

Rick Browne's 2nd book, Grilling America, is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. His background as a professional photographer is obvious as his detailed photos are nestled in the "mustard" yellow pages and "ketchup" red text. The recipies are well organized and varied in their difficulty so that every cook can find something within their culinary comfort zone. The text is a hoot! While the 'que is on the grill-take the time to really READ this book, especially p163 ("Bubba's got the mop")-a BBQ rendition of Casey at the Bat. Finally, my toque goes off to Rick for the 20+ pages of options/ideas for the vegetarian who still wishes to partake of the American Summer tradition of BBQ.

An exciting saga of the fear, thrills, and adventure of sailing the Hawaiian Islands. A delightful and fun read sweetened with delicious bits of local lore and history. The perfect read for ages 10-110 who love the ocean or who have a tropical island fantasy. It is an especially warm and wonderful treat for active sailors and those who dream of sailing the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Voyages of The Ono Jimmy has 16 true sea adventure stories and 32 wonderful color pictures of sailing Hawaii.

1993-4 was a horrible year for Steve Dixon until a 1973 Morgan 27 sloop hove into view & enticed him into the clear & shining waters around the Hawaiian Islands. In this lively & eminently readable first effort, Steve Dixon skippers us on some of the grandest, wettest & funniest voyages around paradise.

With bright energetic writing, an addendum of navigation charts & a slew of vivid snapshots, this latter-day salty dog gives us a winter's worth of sailing yarns, geological & historical sightseeing tips & an invitation to come play around his necklace of tropical islands cast upon a fabulous sea.

This is a warm & personal account of the thrills, history & romance of sailing the Hawaiian passages with his spunky Commodorable Lila & about the lessons he learnt during his passage from despairing novice to joyous seasoned cruiser. Do check out my exhilarating eInterview Skipper Steve Dixon!

This book has it all adventure, romance, history and of course it is very informative for any one wanting to sail the Hawaiian Islands. The book includes many trial and error stories of sailing the Hawaiian Islands. This experienced sailor writes about many do and don't of the Islands. He also writes of some very exciting places to visit and tells of his stories there. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to sail the Hawaiian Islands. It is also very enjoyable to read as entertainment whether you are a sailor or not.

What a wonderful book for anyone interested in the islands of Hawaii. This is not just a book for the avid sailor. I have never been on a sailboat or even had the vaguest desire to do so, but I enjoyed this book because of its descriptions of Hawaii and I am still pondering the fact that geologists claim that the entire Sierra Nevada range could fit in the crater of the volcano Mauna Loa. Steve Dixon incorporates his sailing experiences with his own life experiences and also the history and culture of the islands. I read this book straight through at one sitting and then began to reread several passages that had intrigued me. I can't even imagine what a thrill it must be for someone who understands the intricacies of sailing to read a book like this one.

Don't be put off by the heavy self-promotion (you do what you got to do to survive both at sea and in the realm of publishing...) If you plan on cruising the Hawaiian islands there is much to learn from this book; in fact I would urge the first-time Hawaiian sailor to read this book as you go or before you leave. (We keep a copy on our Hawaii-based sailboat.) If you like a little human interest with your facts and helpful hints, this book has plenty of it. Dixon tells tales on himself and humbly admits when he screws up, which makes the book not only valuable but endearing. There is a little soul-searching done too, but that is one reason we go to sea, is it not? To discover who we are (and why the hell we are doing this!) Without a little humanity, self-effacing humour, and cockpit philosophy, one sea story is much like the next. If you don't like reading a little autobiography with your sailing books, skip this and get a how-to book. But if you want a sampling of one man's invaluable experiences and a taste of real life sailing -- philosophy and all -- by all means get this book.

Here's an inspired how-to volume that really struck my fancy. How to be a Surfer is a clearly organized, graphically attractive, nicely illustrated, well-written, superbly resourced, and pretty damn comprehensive instructional that will help every aspiring surfer, from the cold-turkey novice looking to get started to the competent wave-rider looking to improve his or her game. The supporting cast of photographers attests to the quality of the imagery presented herein: Devon Howard, Will Henry, Patrick Trefz, Carlos Pinto, and Ricardo Bravo. Lots of stills and useful sequences, in all sorts of waves. Mario Belem's illustrations are inspired and fun, with a clarity of purpose reminiscent of Hervé's Tin-Tin comics. As for the author, De Macedo is a world traveler, North Shore veteran, former Euro pro circuit rider, and a founder of the Praia Grande Surf Academia in Lisbon. He's president of the Sintra Surf Association and a writer for SurfPortugal magazine. He lives part of the time in San Francisco, and his English is impeccable. He operates within the parameters of the International Surfing Association (ISA) in this book, and his use of "the 7" coaching method herein is revelatory. Have fun!
- Drew Kampion for The Surfer's Path [...]

Finally a book with a complete and practical method on how to learn how to surf. DeMacedo's 7 moves have actually shown me that getting technique right from the start is absolutely critical! Thousands of surfers out there are getting pounded on the breaks making the same mistakes over and over again - I actually picked up on many of my mistakes from reading just the first few chapters. My only regret is that this didn't come out sooner... Well done Mr. DeMacedo! The surfing world hails you!

My book arrived last Friday and I did not put it down all weekend! De Macedo's "how to be a surfer" is much more than your average uninspiring, theoretical, instruction manual. It has successfully combined in one single book a thorough and revolutionary teaching guide (the "7-move method") with that "feeling" of being a surfer: living life in harmony with nature by respecting your surroundings!

Although a city banker working in London, I love travelling to remote destinations and getting out on the water. This is a book I will take with me to help me develop and improve my skills. It is full of illustrative photos and drills making learning easy and fun - particularly if, like me, you don't get out there as often as you should!!

I salute you Mr. De Macedo - you have delivered where other surfing books have failed: a revolutionary learning method and a thoroughly enjoyable read! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in surfing period, not just avid surfers.

DeMacedo's "how to be a surfer" is a fantastic guide for those wanting to learn or teach how to surf, or simply to improve one's surfing skills.
The 7 moves method is a great and simple goal-led approach to becoming a surfer. Complemented with abundant graphic material it is an easy and useful read even for those who already surf, containing lots of great tips to improve your technique.
Being a long time surfer myself and father of 3 kids, I found this book to be a great help for them in their first steps. It was a great gift for them, they're hooked!
Having looked around for a book on surfing for a long time I welcome this long overdue edition for it is by far the best and most complete.
Enjoy!

This is one of the clearest guides to surfing available, period. The seven-move method is easy to follow and comprehensive; the graphic material is well laid out and abundant. I live in a small coastal Brazilian town where I run a surfing academy and I have used the book to teach students at the beginner and intermediate levels with excellent results. I strongly reccomend this book to all surfing instructors and to anyone interested in learning the sport.

Well written book for a collector and enthusiast. Loads of helpful information for any restoration project. Great photos and checklists.

a great book love it

I can't say enough good things about this book! Of course it has the usual "how to remove a tire" info, but the sections on rebuilding and refinishing a vintage bicycle are plain outstanding! The information is detailed without being overwhelming. And they also make sense to non-gearheads like me. The book also gives lots of sources for obtaining vintage and reproduction parts--with URLs that actually work! One of the things I liked best about the book is that the author places much emphasis on the decision making process involved in cleaning/repairing/restoring an old bike. As we all know, many collectible bikes (and collectibles of any kind!) have been ruined by over-enthusiastic owners wanting to make them "like new." It is obvious that Mr. Love LOVES his hobby, and delights in sharing it with other people. Highly recommended!

I am mainly into restoring classic British cars, but my interest in classic bicycles has always been strong. I have found this to be an excellent book for its coverage of the restoration process, for the many helpful technical tips sprinkled throughout, and for the high level historical information covering major categories of most commonly collected bikes.

Some of best financial advice in the book relates to finding and selecting reasonable project bikes (I have a bad habit of trying to "save" bikes needing major work and/or missing parts). The chapters "Finding and Evaluating a Bicycle" and "Choosing the Right Project" have helped to change my approach. As recently as this morning, after becoming enamoured with a certain 1920s era bicycle needing restoration, I checked page 12 and was tipped off that the expense of the single tube tires might be significant. A quick phone call verified the expense...saved!

This is a well written book and well worth the investment.

Of course there is the basic "how to remove a tire" information, but there are also lots of good tips on how to evaluate a purchase, some really clever and easy techniques for brightening up an old bike's appearance, plus many excellent "insider" resources for information and replacement parts...with URLs that actually work! He uses different "experts" to demonstrate how to do a factory finish on the bike, how to get it replated etc., and the information is detailed, specific and fun to read without being overwhelming. The author places much emphasis on deciding whether to restore or not, which is a good thing-- as we all know many wonderful collectible bikes (or collectible anything!) are ruined by owners eager to make them "like new." This book strikes me as a labor of love by a person who really loves his hobby and enjoys sharing it with other people. The mechanical info might be too basic for die-hard gearheads, but even they will benefit from the wonderful body work sections!

I must have read this and "Ice Princess" the follow-up book at least 20 times in the past few years. Whether you're into skating or not, which in my case, I just like to watch, I'm sure you will love this book. It's a great story of determination and giving it everything you've got. The characters are unbelievable and the storyline is great! I can't wait to read them again! They're well worth buying!

I never got the chance to ice dance, but the way the writer portarys it, I'd love to go sign up. This and his other book, Ice Princess, are awesome! If you have not read them you need to, no matter if your into ice dancing you will be after this!

I must have read this a thousand times between the ages of 10 and 12. Everything about it delighted me. I loved the reality and sharpness of the characters. I loved their friendship. It was comforting.

I love this book! It's great for people who ice dance or figure skate, because they can relate to this! :)

To make it short, the summery of the story was this: Samantha gets really sick even before the book happens which causes her to drop out of a high class dance boarding school. She comes to live back home with her parents who never want her to be part of any kind of spor again. While at her new highschool, she meets Alex, star hockey player. He also does pairs ice dancing, but he just ditched his dance partner, cause shes really bratty. Sam and Alex partner up and compete. Thats pretty much the basics of the story,but with all the details it was a really great book, both Alex and Sam have attitudes, which makes it even more fun.

I wrote this autobiographical book as a result of a lifetime of work locating and shipwrecks and sunken cities in over 60 countries around the world and decided to share my adventures with the readers of this book. It started with my building a home-made diving helmet at the age of l2 and almost getting killed using it, to my first discovery of gold at the age of l5 on a California Gold Rush ship and then on to hundreds of other old shipwrecks dating between l000 BC up to modern day shipwrecks.

My most recent discovery was that of one of Magellan's ships lost in l522 off Borneo. Not only does the reader experience the jubliations of my discovery of countless treasures, but also the hardships such as attacks by modern-day pirates and sharks, treasures found and then lost to unscrupulous governments and being captured by terrorists in Lebanon while working on a Phoencian shipwreck. I hope the reader gets as much enjoyment from this book as I have from living the kind of life that most people would enjoy having done. Robert F. Marx

Another well written book by Robert Marx. Lots of treasure history and adventure. It's always a pleasure to read one of his books. If you are a maritime archeologist fan you will enjoy reading this story. Mr. Marx seems to have a sixth sense about treasure. He has a way of taking tedious daily events and turning them into real adventure. Very interesting reading, I found it hard to put the book down.

I would have rated this book a ten, but Amazon didn't offer that selection. This is easily the best real life adventure book I've ever read. I've recommended it to friends and family as a must read.

Marx takes you on a wonderful adventure in this book ,and it's hard to put down! I've read it twice.As a scuba diver myself,I can only dream of such great adventures. this book is a must read!

I gotta say that I could not put this book down. Bob Marx has to be a real life modern adventure pirate(without the killing and dishonest staff). He has done more in and for maritime history that most academics could only read about. From all points of the compass this man has been there and done that and lived (only just) to write about it. Can wait for the next book Bob !

This is the most comprehensive book that I've found on the subject. This book is a rare find and a must have.

To be brief, as stated above, this book is an absolute MUST for any roller coaster enthusiast, be it novice or seasoned rider. This book is ever-so-difficult to obtain, but it truly covers all aspects of these amazing creations, an extensive and thorough history, as well as loads of rare and significant b & w photos.

This book is simply the most complete treatise on the subject of wooden roller coasters that anyone will ever read. Tracing the coaster back centuries in time, Cartmell then brings us through the complete historical time line of designers and coasters. It would do no good to try to describe the book's contents much further here. Even a non-enthusiast will find this a fascinating read into a very interesting subject. Enthusiasts will find it very difficult to put down once they begin reading.

I agree totally with the above reviewed. Just two things to add: the Notes and Bibliography sections are very good, and a superb resource for scholarly research. This is a "classic" and should be in your library!

This book should be in everyone RollerCoaster Entusiast Collection. Written Dr. Robert Cartmell, The Great American Scream Machine tells about the Golden Age of Rollercoaster and The Legendary Builders. It has some rare photo of Herny Traver's Classics including the Cystal Beach Cyclone. The Book was written in 1986 and it nice to see how far coasters have grown since then Also encluded are is a Chroniclogical history of all PTC coaster building and modification.

Complete and very helpfull to anyone who intend to mix gas dive and enhance the knowledge about this kind of diving

This book takes theory of mixed gas diving seriously. Extreamly detailed you can find all gas and diving related formulas and gas composition data. It's an ideal book for those involved in this matter. The good thing about this book is that it's presented in such a way that even the novice mixed gas diver can understand.

This book will give the desired level of information for the beginner interested in the basics as well as a reader interested in the underlying concepts and physiology of complex dive profiles and physics. Clearly written without omitting the details, broad without being vague, and enough "interesting" examples to keep from being a dry tome.

I have been an active scuba diver for more than 30 years and, until recently, avoided all thoughts of progressing from standard scuba diving to technical diving. At the same time, my quest to write about more and more shipwrecks meant that I would either have to go even deeper on "Air" or find myself writing about wrecks which I had not visited - if only because I considered them to be too deep.

At the age of 57, I finally began to study mixed gas diving and this book was my very first move in that direction. Laid out in an easy-to-follow routine, author Heinz Lettnin takes the reader from the basic sciences of mixed gas diving right up to the most advanced techniques. Read once and the diver will have gained an excellent appreciation of the subject. Read twice and the seabed is the limit to what might now be achieved.

Fully recommended as the next logical step from scuba diving to technical diving.

NM

This book takes theory of mixed gas diving seriously. Extreamly detailed you can find all gas and diving related formulas and gas composition data. It's an ideal book for those involved in this matter like commercial divers and mixed gas blenders. The good thing about this book is that it's presented in such a way that even the novice mixed gas diver can understand.

i first had jerk ribs at a jamaican restaurant in long beach, CA. ever since then, i have been searching for a jerk recipe that tastes as good as the ribs i had there. i tried several recipes i found online, and none of them were even close. finally, i got this book, and made the jerk marinade recipe. bingo. this is it. that's the taste i remember! lots of the other recipes look great too. i'm looking forward to trying more of them.

I have tried at least 10 of the receipes in this book and find it very hard to move on to others. The ones that I have tried are always repeated in some cases many times over. The Dry Jerk seasoning is a staple which I have prepared and given as gifts in fancy found jars (page 16). "Wid It" is a special treat that is a must. My all time favorite "Jerked Spareribs", that I place in a platter, cut ribs into small chunks, mix well with white rice, yellow raisens, cashews, and pineapple rings cut into chunks, smooth,put a flat layer of yellow corn on top, place pineapple rings on top of corn, spill all of the juice from the can all over the top and add a few maraschino cherries for color!! It's the BEST!!

Jerk Barbecue is very easy to follow. I am American and I married to a Jamaican. I wanted to start cooking meals my mate grew up eating. This recipe book is perfect. The dishes always turn out great!

I dare you to find a bad recipe in this book. Every single recipe is a winner. The Jamaican cole slaw is so good everyone who eats it asks me for the recipe. The same for the jerk chicken. I love this book.

My husband and I have tried numerous recipies from this cookbook and each one has turned out 100% successful!! Helen has captured the true taste and flavor of the Caribbean with each and every recipe in this cookbook! This is our favorite cookbook!! We highly recommend her recipe for Dry Jerk Seasoning on Page 16!!!!! If you try her Jamaican Cole Slaw on Pg. 115, we would suggest adding pineapple. The sweet flavor makes it perfect!!! If you are going to buy ANY Caribbean or Jamaican cookbook, this is the BEST one by far!!!!!!