Outdoors Books

My Journey In Karate: The Sabaki Way is a in depth book about Kancho Ninomiya's Journey though Karate. It describes how he won the All Japan Tournment and started the Enshin Karate Style. I am a Student of Enshin and Recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a great book about Karate. Two Thumbs up!

Anyone who has been a serious martial artist will throughly enjoy reading the inspiring story of Grand Master of Enshin Karate Joko Ninomiya. Anyone who has been serious about the martial arts for a significant amount of time can relate to Ninomiya's life story.

Before beginning his study of kyokushin karate at the age of 15, Ninomiya practiced judo. After making the transition to karate, Ninomiya never turned back and had the dream of becoming a karate champion. The book explains how he would go to different karate schools in Japan and challenge the top students to improve his skills. He challenged different schools in a dignified way, he never used bully tactics. After hearing about the all-Japan karate tournement, Ninomiya practiced diligently for years until he was able to win first place. In the book, he talks about his training and preparation, his fights and the people who helped him become better as a martial artist and as a person.

I like the way Ninomiya emphasizes that karate is not about winning tournaments and beating people up, it's about confronting yourself and pushing beyond what you are today. Master Ninomiya admits that he did not realize the true meaning of karate until after he had accomplished one of his goals. Sometimes that's what it takes because after we win something or accomplish something big, we often ask ourselves "now what?" and become complacent. We should fight against this complacency because it will only make things harder in the long run.

Towards the end of the book, Ninomiya gives his opinion of "no holds barred" fighting contests. I agree with Ninomiya that "no holds barred" contests appeal to a morbid curiosity. People often watch these types of contests and are happy to see someone lying flat on their back at the end of a match or seriously hurt in some way. Ninomiya founded The Sabaki Challenge which is a real karate tournament, but he has a point system that emphasizes technique to minimize injuries.

I have been a martial artist for most of my life, and so have always been attracted to stories that outline other martial artists journeys. Joko Ninomiya has written a "must read" for anyone whose chosen path is the Way of the Warrior. He has done an outstanding job of outlining the highs and lows of a life dedicated to the "eight Fold Path". I was also moved by his love and respect for his Sensei and for his father. This book was much more than I expected and a wonderful addition to everyone's library.

Kancho Ninomiya is not only a world class champion, he writes with a certain gift; one that captures the essence of a lesson one could only get from training with him... and make no mistake, this may make for an inspiring read but reading it without training in any martial art is as hollow as reading Shakespeare and never seeing it performed... I began studying karate very seriously as an adult under Sensei Kishi, one of Kancho Ninomiya's teachers and best friends, as well as a collaborator on this book... this text captures the true spirit of martial arts training, something that is very difficult by nature of the difference between the written word and the life of martial arts training. Osu.

Rarely in the martial arts world are biographies rich with insight about both the individual and the training. Normally, -except a couple bio accounts of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris' auto-bio account- the books are very dry and not very telling. Sometimes it is the writing and often it is because the reader is never really let under the skin of the martial artist. In this book - that has changed.

Ninomiya graciously allows the reader to travel in his mind and spirit as he grows from an unfocused (though hardworking)martial artist and somewhat immature teen into a higly skilled and mature warrior.

The reader travels and sees when Ninomiya, through several events and a couple of key mentors, understands himself and his journey through karate. Unlike most auto-biographical accounts, I never felt Ninomiya was boasting about his success. Instead, he shows where his failures and determined manner leads to success beyond winning a "trophy."

An excellent book. I learned much from this extra-ordinary man.

This book is perfect for people wanting to do beginner (and even a couple moderate) hikes in the White Mountains. It is very easy to use and detailed. All hiking books should use the format of this book. I highly recommend it.

If you are looking for more agressive hikes or multi-day trips, get the AMC White Mountain Guide with maps.

Being an avid hiker and an avid reader of hiking guides (when it's too cold and white to hike), I purchased several hiking guides to help me plan my recent vacation to New England. This guide is by far the best of that lot.

This guide describes 50 hikes in the White Mountains (45 in northern New Hampshire, 5 in extreme western Maine) divided into 8 regions by geography. Each hike contains detailed directions to the trailhead, a very good map that shows you almost everything along the trail except contour lines, and a description that usually lasts for several pages. The descriptions are divided into two sections: the first just gives directions for walking the trail along with the major highlights, while the second gives lots of information about the scenery (animate and inanimate) you are likely to see on the trail. In fact, this guide gives you more information on the forest and fauna than just about any guide I have ever read. Length of the hikes range from 0.5 miles to 5 miles with the average at 2 or 3 miles. Also, some of the trails can be combined to form longer hikes of up to 10 miles.

This guide emphasizes hiking with kids, so one might think the appropriate audience is somewhat limited. However, as a single man with no kids, I can attest that this guide will be useful to anyone interested in White Mountain hiking. In fact, much of the information "intended for kids" I found to be just good information about the trail's natural setting (as described above). So don't think this guide is one of the specialized type; it can actually be used by a very broad audience.

If there was one drawback to this guide, it would be the significant changes that have occurred on some of these trails since the book went to press. On my personal hiking journeys, I discovered:

1) the trail to Arethusa Falls (highest in NH) has been rerouted and
2) the Old Man profile in Franconia Notch has collapsed.

So there will need to be an updated version published in a few years. However, the publication date is still fairly current, and trail changes are beyond the author's control.

In summary, this is an excellent guide that anyone interested in White Mountain dayhiking should own. Very highly recommended.

This is a terrific book to use when you are going to hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is rich with information presented in an easily accessible format. Useful introductory chapters tell you how to get the most out of the book, make suggestions for hiking with children, and discuss the natural history of the region, including line illustrations of plants and a few animals. A map shows the location of each of the 50 hikes, which are divided up between the Franconia Notch, Waterville Valley/Squam Lake, Kancamagus, Crawford Notch, Pinkham Notch, North Conway, Evans Notch and North Country regions. An easy-to-read chart lists all the hikes and their difficulty level, distance and whether or not there is a river, a waterfall, a lake or pond, a view, rock ledges, wooden bridge, blueberry bushes or special geological feature on that particular hike. A short introduction to each region details facilities available such as camping sites and visitor centers. Several pages are devoted to each hike, including length, elevation gain, time requirement and difficulty level, a description of the trail, highlights for kids, directions to get there, a map and a photograph. The book concludes with a bibliography and index.

If you get one book to help you explore the White Mountains, it should be this one, particuarly if you are hiking with children.

Now in an updated and revised second edition, Robert Buchsbaum's Nature Hikes In The White Mountains continues to be the premier guide to New England's White Mountain waterfalls, mountain ponds, blueberry patches, and outdoor adventures for the hiker, backpacker, and nature enthusiast. Mixing trail descriptions with natural history, Buchsbaum provides a series of hiking opportunities including a map, distance, estimated hiking time, elevation change, and level of difficulty. Nature Hikes In The White Mountains offers natural sites and activities for children; sidebars on natural features along the trail; detailed driving instructions to reach each trail; and a quick reference chart for selecting the perfect hike. Whether for a day hike, a weekend excursion, or to plan an outdoor vacation, Nature Hikes In The White Mountains will prove a much appreciated, practical, and even inspirational guide!

Went to the White Mountains with another adult friend and picked this book because the walks looked about our speed. The directions are great, descriptions and nature discussions also very informative and entertaining. I particularly liked the "what the kids get out of it" feature for each walk. I particularly recommend the walk to Diana's Baths, a waterful near North Conway, NH.

With the emphasis on labratories and expereinces, this book provides many ideas of how to use our own outdoors for science.

When the book No Student Left Indoors arrived, I immediately read it and thought it would make a wonderful course for a few of our students who learn best outdoors! Since Mr. R is a "new" teacher, I felt the well-developed structure of the book would provide him with the sequence he needed to turn it into a course. It has been a joy to watch this young teacher, empowered with this book, take students outdoors to learn. Other students keep asking if they too, can be involved in the course! Eileen A. Card, Principal/Academic Dean, Scenic Land School, Chattanooga, TN

I have this book & most of the other books by Jane Kirkland. I took a workshop with her as a presenter- it was fantastic! With this new guide, I was able to have my students create a field guide to the wildlife that they are able to find in our school district. Our kids think that they we don't have many species around here, they sure learned that there is more out there than they thought! This book was crucial to the success (& the initial idea) of the field guide project!

No Student Left Indoors is a wonderfully organized resource for teachers to utilize the schoolyard as a classroom to explore nature. Research suggests that students, particularly in early grades, need frequent nature experiences that are relevant to their lives, especially if we want our students to grow into an adult who considers the environment a valuable resource. Additionally, schoolyard nature explorations are hands-on, inquiry-based and age-appropriate.

I have been working with teachers, students and schools for many years to encourage them to maximize their use of school grounds. This resource manual is by far the best I have seen for doing this. It outlines appropriate explorations for students that help them to understand the world around them, not an abstract environment such as the rainforest. The Field Guide Project that is the focus of the manual involves students are involved in making observations, asking questions, researching, measuring, communicating findings and many other important process skills. Additional resources are provided for teachers to extend outdoor experiences. The key achievement of this book is that it integrates well into teachers' existing curriculum. I plan to utilize this book and its wealth of activities and ideas in many of my schoolyard and teacher professional development programs.

No Student Left Indoors: Creating a Field Guide to Your Schoolyard is one of the most extensive, user-friendly, comprehensive resources I've seen. The Field Guide Project is really only one aspect of this teaching tool. There is a wealth of information to help a teacher "experience" nature with his/her students. I am in awe of the research, time and talent the author has put into providing what teachers need. And if something isn't in the book, she tells us where to find it! I can pick this book up, open to any page and become engrossed!

I uncovered this classic by pure chance, but enjoyed every page. Barton is wildly inventive and his love and respect for golf comes through in every tale. The stories are smoothly written with engaging characters and situations. I'd very much like to see what kind of work Barton would produce working at novel length. Great stuff.

On The Fringe And Other Uncommon Tales Of Golf by Gregory G. Barton is an eclectic and adventurous anthology of fourteen off-the-wall tales of life, golf, and mystical mysteries. From the hidden secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, to what it's like to have a clairvoyant caddie, On The Fringe And Other Uncommon Tales Of Golf blends fantasy with golf gaming enthusiasm for a unique experience which is enthusiastically recommended for golfers who are also connoisseurs of original and inventive storytelling.

This exciting new author blew me away. He weaves a tale that binds you to the page. Page after page and I could not put it down. The best thing is that, unlike many authors, if you read one story you have not even started to get the feel for what his writing is about. I sure hope he writes more. I don't play golf but just the same I loved the stories.

What a delightful collection of golf stories! Each chapter transports the reader to a unique period in time and on occasion, a different planet. These gentle stories are very sweet. Upon completion, the reader will feel as though they just finished eating chocolate chip cookies straight from the cooling rack.

Using golf as both a background and a metaphor for life, Barton has crafted 14 short stories with conventional, historical, supernatural, and/or paranormal elements. Although personal experience with the physical and mental challenges of golf make the book even more enjoyable, it is by no means a prerequisite. Readers will enjoy its stories of gateways to other worlds, ESP, heaven, hell, magic clubs, and love (both lost and found again). Even the Civil War provides a setting for one of the stories, and Barton's mixture of actual history with fictional elements in it - and in some other stories - makes for a fun read. While some of the stories were published previously in magazines, some are new as well. The collection certainly would make a great gift for anyone who's interested in golf and would enjoy a sometimes fanciful, sometimes reverential, look at the game in unusual settings.

This is a great starting book on tying, which is where I'm at right now. If you want tips and know how, by this one.

I just began to investigate the world of fly tying. This was the third or fourth book I read in detail, and the only one that provided enough detail to actually tie some simple flies correctly.

It provides a good combination of clarity on specific techniques, and step-by-step instructions on tying several patterns. Both the photos and the text are clear and easy to follow. Also, things are not made more tricky than they actually are, a problem with some of the other books.

I also just bought the Benchside Reference, which I agree with all is an indispensible reference. I could not put it down after I got it from the library, and that is saying a lot for a reference book. I think with the two, the typical beginner could tie a decent Wooly Bugger in an hour -- I did.

The plain English explanations and simple, step-by-step directions make this the best fly-tying guide for the novice tier. It's also nice that the author provides substitutions for materials that the tier just might not have lying around.

I throughly enjoy working from this book, and have become an avid fly-tier working with Mr. Rosenbauer. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in getting into fly tying.

Once again, Tom Rosenbauer delivers a clearly-written, practical, and insightful book on fly-fishing. This time he looks at tying and gives many practical tips--especially on the use of tools and materials. For example, a beginner is hit with all these tools--which ones are best, which ones to use, etc. Rosenbauer gives clear descriptions of which tools are most useful, what they're used for, and which ones you don't really need. At the same time, he gives tips from his experience--also useful for the expert.

The bulk of the book is, of course, the fly-tying receipes. He provides many photographs of each step in making a fly. The many photos are probably more than the expert will need, but very important for a beginner. For the expert, you get many great fly receipes.

Overall, highly recommended fly-tying guide.

The book shows in very clear colour detail the upright (hair & feather) wing, parachute, klinchammer, dubbing, hackle and has a vast number of fly patterns. This book is very good for beginners and those who are experimenting and starting to advance. Reading this book should give anyone a good strong basis on which to build.

I love this book so much! I wish they would reprint it I would buy a copy for every baby shower I went to. Precious book!

A wonderful, seasonable drama that involves all the colorful activities that small children are fascinated by, i.e. dogs, wind and leaves, outdoor messes, etc...

Shirley Hughes wrote this with a musical ear for language. It is presently my hands-down favorite for reading to my two-year old. It is writing that adults can appreciate for almost haiku-like grace, and that appreciation can be passed on to the youngest readers. The illustrations match the poems superbly, and there are four mural-like double-page spreads, one for each season, that are each pictures the child can wander about visually, and I have had long talks with my son about what he sees in these pictures. An almost ideal children's book in my opinion.

This book makes a fabulous addition to any children's library ages 3-8. My daugthers, 4 and 7, love the detailed beautiful illustations and the poems that walk through the seasons. A great combination of 'picture book' for the youngest and a great first reader for the older set.

In total agreement with other readers, I admire this book very much. I wanted recently to buy two copies, one for each granddaughter and lo, it is out of print. Furthermore, I have listed it in the books for children section of the yet-to-be published 7th edition of -Science Experiences for the Early Childhood Year. And I read it to my classes. I hope it comes out in paperback!

What a terrific book! This guidebook is incredibly comprehensive, making it easy for us less athletic types to explore all our city and surrounding areas have to offer! Lynn Schnaiberg's humorous voice makes Urban Adventure Chicago an enjoyable read as it's peppered with personal anecdotes. Enjoy!

Color me embarassed that all I ever do while in Chicago is culturally-inclined or else involves stuffing my face at family functions! I had no idea there was so much to do out-of-doors in the Chicago vicinity. With great wit and native know-how, Schnaiberg has painstakingly detailed the who, what, where and when so now none of us has an excuse. Lincoln Park Zoo I'm done with you -- there's a whole jungle out there to explore!

I've lived her for 6 years and had no idea about all the great adventures around the city. The best thing about the book is that it covers so many different activities -- now I can have a true multisport day, weekend, or longer trip. It's also helpful to know learn about the different clubs and outfitters for each activity, especially for things I've never done (climbing, paddling, scuba). Wish I had this book when I had just moved here. Now I have even more ways to exercise off Chicago's other specialty, excellent food!

Complete, comprehensive, detailed and fun. This is one of those books that is just a great guide/source of information to have if you live in Chicago or just visiting. I've lived several years in Chicago and always thought that I knew everything that was available to me to do outside there. But, this book included all sorts of new activities. Considering the short "outside season" in Chicago, do yourself a favor and pick this book up to make sure that you make the most of it.

this book rocks! i recently moved to chicago from out west (bay area to be specific) and thought i was going to have to give up most of my outdoor passions. but this book has proven me wrong. i mean, scuba diving? surfing? rock climbing? backpacking? white water? fly fishing? it's also been great because it lists all the best organizations, gear shops, outfitters, events for whatever sport you're into--so it's easy to hook up with the right people. and there are a bunch of fun stories to read too (like the one about the urban spelunkers who check out the tunnels beneath the Loop or the guy who built his own awesome bouldering co-op in this random coach house.) just a great book for any chicagoan to have and use.

For somebody who appreciates exceptionally fine photography and writing that is definitely a cut above today's standard, I highly recommend Pacific in My Soul. Seldom does a "picture book" do it for me, but this is an exception. Having acquired my first copy as a gift, I've now found it an excellent way to communicate that majesty we here on the Northwest Coast are lucky enough to call "home". I've not yet read any of Anne Chadwick's other work, but am looking forward to doing so. Her descriptions are accurate, vivid and most of all, readable. She is an author who knows both her subject, and has a way of delighting her readers with the simplicity and the depth of her understanding of nature captured in both word and photography.

Looking at the pictures in this book took my breath away! The photography is so wonderful, I felt as if I could reach into the pictures and feel the water. I would love to have many of these framed in my house. I loved how Ms. Chadwick used her personal experiences in the book to tell me how she took them. She gave information about the animals and locations in such and easy to read and relateable way. A lovely book to keep around!

I picked this up while I was on vacation up at Sea Ranch this August. I love finding local books. I've been going to Sea Ranch for the past 5 years or so and this book is like bringing a little bit of that life home with us. I have read it and loved it, but leave it out on the coffee table, where just a glance is like a whiff of ocean breeze that calms my soul and soothes me.

Pacific in My Soul by Anne Chadwick is a remarkable effort. From the gray whales of San Ignacio Bay in Baja to the brown bears of Katmai in Alaska, the book examines the Pacific coast from a naturalist's keen and insightful perspective. It's a surprisingly big view of a big place in a compact 96-page package. More than 40 illustrated essays cover fauna (seals, otters, sea lions, whales, raccoons, deer, bear, elk, eagles, cormorants, swans, butterflies); flora (azaleas, rhododendrons, lilies, amanita); phenomena (waves, storms, fog, moon); and moods (sunrises, solitude, morning dew, sunsets). The writing is engaging, entertaining, and enlightening. The style is crisp, fresh, and lyrical. The voice is contemplative and reverent, and not a bit shrill or strident. The photography is stunning. Pacific in My Soul is practically a clinic in combining the visual with the verbal to evoke a powerful sense of place. Highly recommended.

Whether you have been there and want to reminisce or just want to understand the draw of the northern Pacific coast you will enjoy the beautiful photography and personal narrative of Pacific in My Soul. Pelicans, elephant seals, egrets, waves, sea otters, solitude, rhododendrons, herons, tidal pools, gray whales, redwoods, raccoons, ospreys, wildflowers, fog (beautiful picture), sea lions, lily, orcas, butterflies, elk, bald eagles, sunsets and other subjects are addressed in the book. Written as a personal sharing of the author's favorite things about the Pacific Northwest, it is both a beautiful and intimate work. Pacific in My Soul is highly recommended for nature enthusiasts of all kinds.

Many racing rule books are just too complicated and have a hard time bridging the gap between the official rule book and the explanation. Paul Elvstrom does just that - this is the only book on the subject you will ever need.

Yes, it's getting close to the end of 2008, but get either this book or the next version, for some real study on the mechanics of the rules and case studies.

In the case studies, is where this book really earns its price. There are clearly illustrated scenarios that make you understand the rules _in application_.

I can't see how a serious racer can get by without this book in their arsenal. It won my boat a protest just a few weeks ago in a situation with two port boats and a crossing starboard boat!

Besides being a great resource, it has the plastic cut-outs so useful in explaining the rules or recreating scenarios on the water.

I like this book so well my son is going to order his own copy.

This book has become the usual refernce source for every racer and Race Officer

anyone who is a race fan should read this book. This goes to show people that the Petty family is a very remarkable family! And what a great way to honor their late son Adam with Victory Junction. they ate truley a remarkable family!!!! and this book just shows you that.

This is one great book. Tons of never before seen pictures and great stories from friends,fellow drivers and family members. Its worth every penny!

Adam was my sister's age when he died. I personalized him so much it was good to see pictures of him and the family growing up. It also chronicles NASCAR growing up. There have always been the Pettys in NASCAR. Sadly, that might not be true in the future. It's a great book and a wonderful cause.

This book made me feel as though I was sitting in the Petty's living room looking at old photos and reminising.A great tribute to Adam Petty with the proceeds going to the Victory Junction Camp. Great idea and great photos...Thanks to the Petty family for letting me into their lives.

I ordered this the day I heard it was coming out - it is a truly wonderful book - lots and lots of never seen before photographs. It is actually a tribute to Adam and proceeds go to a great cause!!!