Outdoors Books

Spectacular Photos and what an athlete. His death was a loss, but he lives on in these images

this book was amazing, the pictures are stunning, and the stories about him are almost unbelievable. I highly recommend this book for fans of photography or anyone who loves the outdoors.

This is more a short biography with too few of the beautuful photos this talented outdoor photographer made. I would have like to have seen more full page photos and more of them.

If you are familiar with with the work of Galen Rowell I don't need to elaborate on the beauty and quality of his work, if you aren't familiar with this man and his work it will be a valuable addition to your knowledge and enjoyment of photography. Galen Rowell had an unfortunate and untimely death
after a very active life of globe trotting for photography that transcends
the material plane. The book presents many of his best works in a lovely format. A coffee table book that will get noticed.

If you have every looked at Galen's photos and wanted to see more, this is it. With his life cut short, at least we still have archived material that can be released in a book this nice to bring us more glimpses of his world. The color is amazing, the subjects grand, and Galens storys bring it all alive in my livingroom.

I love this book. I have read some of the chapters two-three times now and get something more each time. As an amateur woodworker, I don't fully understand what each tool can do yet dream of outcomes that the masters create. This book explains in simple terms the what, how and what should be for each tool, be it a hand plane, chisel, hammer, etc. Most of my other woodworking books that speak of tools only touch on how to sharpen and maybe adjust but not the how it does it and how it should perform. This book heads to the top of my stack to reach for when I need some tutoring on a particular hand tool.

This is a beautiful book, the moment I read the first chapter I was wishing I'd bought the hard copy so I could put it in pride of place on my bookshelf.
I loved the illustrations, which are on almost every page and give exactly the right amount of detail in a way that photos can't. But the best part is the author's wonderful writing style, which really conveyed a sense of the timeliness and pleasure of woodworking. Even when describing such mundane things as taking measurements, the author has a great knack of focussing on the human aspect of the process, the decisions that need to be made and the emotions that the wrong and the right decision evoke. This, to me, is the reason working with handtools it is such a satisfying pastime, and this book wraps up all of those experiences in a really beautiful way. Top marks.

Just beginning my adventure in woodworking, this book has done exactly as it claims in the back cover. It feels like I have a readily available experience woodworker in my pocket whenever I have a question about a tool. The explanation is clear like a craftsman would teach his apprentice, and because of this, the obvious question of what tool should I get first and what tool should be my next purchase is easily answered, without actually saying. The drawings make the book almost timeless, not dated by photos, and the diagrams are reminiscent of the technical sketch you may see on a drafting table. I purchased other books along with this, but keep referencing back to this book to answer my questions about what tool do I need for the next part of the job. The writing is easily explanatory and conversational at once, and is quite enjoyable to read. You can either read it in a linear fashion, from front to back, or you can choose the tool you have questions about (from the Table of Contents) and move directly to it to have your question answered.

Free bench plans if you've never built a workbench, are included. This is a book that could sell itself if you had a chance to open it up.

I don't gush over books very often but this is one of the best investments I have ever made. The illustrations are startling and the writing is clear and unadorned.

What Watson does very well is assume nothing with regard to his reader. He neither panders to the "old pro" nor is condescending to the "rank amateur." He just talks about how to use hand tools, how to think about hand tools and how to appreciate hand tools. I don't think there is a person doing wood working today who would not find something in here that makes them say "Oh, yeah..., that's a good idea."

I have spent quite a lot of money on the Taunton woodworking library and I value them highly. They are good books. But this one is the first one I pick up when I am just spending a few minutes sitting down or before drifting off to sleep.

One caution - this book is about "hand tools" and does include chapters on tools like "hand augurs" which very few of us use, however I have to admit I am tempted to buy one just because of the obvious pleasure this guy has in them. One of my quirks I suppose.

Watson has written a clear and concise user's manual for woodworking hand tools. He includes many of the basic hand tools that are overlooked (such as the brace and drawknife) in other hand tool books. I got more information out of Watson's clear drawings than I did from the beautiful photographs in Garrett Hack's "Classic Hand Tools" book. This book is meant to be kept in your workshop instead of on the coffeetable.

I chose this amazing book for our couples book club--it's one of the few books we've read that was equally loved by both the men and the women. It tells the adventures of one man and his family of five daughters in the rough, watery terrain of Eastern Canada.

Unlike typical nature writing that tells stories of lone men wandering the wilderness (zzzzz), this story mingles the hilarious antics of a rich family life with good friends and bizarre acquaintances. The amazing nature tales are a bonus!

We are serious readers (Steinbeck, Dickens, Twain), and we all agreed that this is one of our favorites.

Happy reading!

As the title of the book says, it's a series of chronicles about events that occurred on the Kipawa or around, as seen by Scott Sorensen, the owner of country cottages at the bottom of the Kipawa.

The book is interesting for paddlers, but most chronicles are not related to whitewater.

Scott Sorensen's narrative beautifully dovetails his family'snorthwoods triumphs & tribulations of the past quarter centurywith the present showdown involving Hydro-Quebec - North America'slargest power-generating company, and it's attempts to dam-up theKipawa River in Northwest Quebec. This book wonderfully illustratesthe power of Mother Nature and Man's (HQ's) relentless attempts toharness it in the name of "progress" and profit.

Bravoto Scott for his efforts to bring this gross act to the forefront ofpublic attention! As this chapter of the story remains unresolved, Ipray Hydro-Quebec's progress be halted in order to protect thisnatural wonder from destruction and ensure the continuity of thosecountless ecosystems which depend on it.

Upon reading about"Ham the Cat," one must wonder why "Ham" shouldn'tjust outright attack'em!!

My family has been traveling to the Kipawa region for 4 decades and spanning 4 generations. I read this book nearly non-stop. Scott Sorenson has really put a face to the name 'Kipawa'. The author, in telling how his life has been affected by the lands surrounding the Kipawa River, instills in the reader a better understanding of the natural forces that constitute the heartbeat of this region. The book covers many topics from the history of the region to wilderness survival. I'd recommend it to anyone who has contemplated life in the north woods, or to those like me who are simply grateful for each and every visit to the land and waters that are Kipawa.

For those who love the wilderness this book is a mixture of history, excitement and reality. This grouping of personal and historic stories of life in the wilderness of Canada is a pleasure to read. With it's regular reality checks that show you the modern day struggle that occurs in every wilderness area as man tries to balance his need for more with his love of unspoiled beauty this book shows us what challenges we must overcome to preserve what is left of the wilderness. Read it and rise to that challenge. Over the past thirty years I have spent many weeks in the Kipawa area. It is a joy to see and experience. Scott's stories give you a picture what it is to live in and experience these wild places. Life is to short to see them all but our challenge as Scott demonstrates in this book is to preserve them for our children and the many generations that follow. Read this book and you will be moved by the experience.

I was raised in Southern California and now reside in Indiana. I could not be happier that Coach Wooden also called both places his home. Though he clearly is a midwesterner at heart---as am I now---his legend truly grew in Los Angeles.

As my title indicates, we need more coaches like John Wooden here in 2008. Can you imagine what the current crop of college ballers would be like if they had a mentor and role model like Wooden? He had depth, insight, was spiritual, a reader, a thinker, etc. This was not required, but he knew all these attributes were necessary to grow "student athletes" into successful players and adults. Even a hippie like Bill Walton, the antithesis to a noble, mature person like Wooden---respects and admires "Coach." Wooden knew how to reach all. His quotes---taken from other coaches, his father and his own mind---are ones to heed. I have the Pyramid of Success on my wall at work.

He hated dunking, showboating, selfishness, hedonism, etc. He'd loathe the brainwashing and lack of civility rampant on today's college and high school campuses.

This bio spans a wonderful, rich life, leaving no stone or thought unturned; no mind or theory unchallenged or ungrown.

A remarkbale living legend, G-d bless Mr. Wooden (who is still alive at the age of 97) and all he has done for the game and collegians everywhere.

John Wooden has figured out some of the secrets of life. And he passes them on directly, in a way that can be transformational for a reader.

John Wooden is a hero of mine. His own heroes include Abraham Lincoln and Mother Theresa. Like them, he is a treasure for all of us because his life and lessons demonstrate what it means to live to "our personal best" in a way that is simple, profound and so clear.

This book should be required reading in "Human Being 101".

We grow up hearing about the importance of developing " good character", not always knowing what it is, or just how to obtain it. All of Wooden's books give his personal guidelines for developing character and living a decent life, whether we are athletes, musicians, teachers, or anything else.
Wooden's teachings have stood the test of time. His life and those he has influenced are proof of that.
I use his wisdom for myself, and I pass it on to all my students. They all know who John Wooden is. His life blesses us all.

This is a great book to help any coach of any sport get a good feel for the right way to coach young players. Teach them good life lessons and skills. It gives an insight into a great coach and even greater man.

John Wooden is one of my heroes. When I was growing up, his teams were dominant, but more importantly, they made the game beautiful to watch. After he retired at the peak of his game, he quietly stepped off the stage. With the rush of books on leadership in the 1990's through the present, it was inevitable, and overdue, that folks take time to examine Coach Wooden's approach to leadership. This has led to a cottage industry in Wooden books.

This book is short, personal and focuses on life lessons learned from the narrative of Coach's life. It doesn't attempt to be weighty, just a good read, that imparts wisdom without hitting you over the head with it. It touches on each chapter of Coach Wooden's life, and particularly shows the infuence of his father, his high school and college coaches and his growth thru experience

This is a fun, easy read that leaves the reader wiser. Highly recommend

I could not find this book anywhere until I ordered it through amazon. And when I say no one had the NOAA dive manual I mean no one, my favorite dive shop listed it as out of stock so did Barnes and Noble and Hastings where all out of stock with no definitive stocking date.But as soon as I looked at Amazon.com for the publication they had it and shipped to me very quickly.I was very impressed, so thanks again Amazon.com for your professionalism.

This book not only outlines diving processes and procedures, but also the scientific principles behind them. It is by no means light reading, but it you are looking to enhance your knowledge about diving, this is an excellent reference point.

I purchased this book to give me more information on the science of scuba diving for my Dive Con and Dive Instructor courses.

The book gives detailed information on the gas laws, decompression theory as well as information on various forms of diving from contaminated water, tri mix, nitrox etc. The book is very well written and very clear.

If you are interested in get truly advanced knowledge of the effects of scuba diving on the body, I would highly recommend this book even though it is a little on the expensive side.

You can find all the explanations you need for those difficult issues related to diving. Excellent presentation, Beautifully illustrated. Easy to understand. If you want or need to go farther in your understanding of diving, you should get this book.

I sincerely feel that the NOAA Diving Manual should be a required text for anybody who is a diving professional. The information presented is valuable to all divers: recreational, technical, scientific, and commercial. I refer to this text often and bring it to all classes I work.

Trust your first instinct when you hit the green, and learn to keep those negative thoughts at bay. This mental and technical guide to putting will help you improve your form.

Very straightforward and comensensical. Seems everything we read these days is about positive thinking. And it does work along with a good basic set up. I especially like his instruction that once you are over the ball, don't wait there and let negative thoughts sneak in. Go ahead and hit the ball. He says to trust your first instinct when you read a putt and I have always found that to be true. Can't wait to put his recommendations into play.

After reading Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by the same author I got this one and found it to be just as good which I rate as 5 stars *****

Any golfer (including disc golfers) would benefit from this book. It's a very good book!

So much of golf and golf instruction is mechanical, and justly so. Technique is very important in a complex action such as the full swing, and improper form can lead to both bad shots and injury.

In contrast, we have putting. The action on the ball is so slight and simple, mechanics themselves are important only at a very rudimentary level. Technique has more to do with guaging individual variances for a particular situation than it does moving from positions A to B to C.

This is why putting is called the "game within a game". It resembles so little of the rest of golf. It also makes it one of the most difficult for the mechanics oriented golfer to master.

What Rotella has done here is to lay out his observations of what the best putters in the game think and do, not with their stroke, but with their minds. Using examples of unusual putters like Locke, he points out that it is not the stroke itself that counts, but your confidence in it. Locke believed he was hooking the ball into the hole, when this was likely not the case. Still, his stroke, which cut across the ball, made him one of the best putters ever because he believed in it.

Rotella goes further, discussing people with more "technically sound" strokes, such as Faxon and Crenshaw. Crenshaw, in particular, is an interesting case. Rotella introduces a story in which Crenshaw, in one sentence, completely turns putting instruction on its head, much to the horror of a professional golf instructor. Again, what is important is what was in his mind, not what a slow-motion camera might reveal.

People frustrated with their putting may find good, solid information here on how to improve. The biggest test will be trying to apply it, which may be harder than any swing change you could imagine.

I brought this book for my family RV trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton last month. It helped us plan our routes, learn bits of history and science, and pick camp sites. The mile markers and corresponding information bits were very useful as we stayed mostly on the grand loop. I highly recommend this book, particularly to first-time visitors.

At first my man thought it was stupid of me to purchase this book. I say at first because after he started to read it he said, "Hey that book you bought is really good!" Anyway we used it quite a bit while we were at Yellowstone and also Grand Teton National park as well. A great purchase and an item we will be sure to use many times in the future.

We purchased this book for an upcoming trip to Yellowstone and it is exactly the kind of book for which we had hoped. It is signifcantly better organized than many of the other books that we looked at about Yellowstone.

Highly recommend this book. Well written explaination of what you are seeing. Much better than the park service materials.

This is a good book to have with you in Yellowstone. I especially liked the road logs. It is a good resource that brings together information that would otherwise need to be gathered from multiple resources and is sometimes not even available elsewhere. Combined with T. Scott Bryan's "The Geysers of Yellowstone", it was very well used on our trip!

Kelly's story is one of humor, laughter, pain, tears, and totally inspirational. Ever feel down and out? Read Kelly's story - it is uplifting knowing that one can reach death's portal, only to turn back and say "I've got mountains to climb." When you think things can't get any worse - read Kelly's story. Life gives each of us obstacles to overcome. Kelly has done so with grace, good humor, determination, with a husband encouraging her every step of the way, and with gratitude for the gift from a donor.

Thank you Kelly and Craig for such a wonderful, inspirational account of your lives. This has truly changed me in a very positive way. My priorities and outlook are back in the proper perspective. I do not know that I would have handled everything as positively as you two, and pray I will never have to find out.
This book should be read by everyone. It provides a very unique perspective into personal motivation, unbelievable drive, and magnificient teamwork.
WONDERFUL !

I have just finished Kelly's book The Climb of My Life and am left truly inspired... It is an amusing, poignant, and motivating read that reminds us all that each life is to be cherished and lived to the fullest capacity. Insightful and inspiring, I have mentioned this book in many discussions, as I feel any and every person can benefit from reading Kelly's story. One of the many sentiments I want to incorporate into my own life is greeting your loved one at the end day with "what was the best part of your day?" automatically creating a positive round of communication as opposed to the typical "how was your day?" which often leads to dwelling on the negative. I have taken Kelly's book to heart - I catch myself referring to Kelly and Craig's attitude "well, it could have been worse" when I encounter trivial irks, and then find myself consciously acknowledging how great life truly is. Kelly's personal narrative left me smiling, my eyes misty, and a genuine tug at my heart. Her emotional and physical strength is truly admirable, as is her adoring husband who never let her give up.

It's not every day...
It's not every day you come across two people with such unconditional love and devotion for each other; it's not every day you come across someone who is able to embrace courage, hope, and determination with death staring her in the face; it's not every day you come across someone who has turned "giving back" into their main mission in life; and it's not every day you come across someone who has not only been given a second chance at life via a heart transplant but has lived a life which most can only dream to attain.

"The Climb of My Life" is a well written, captivating journey that will be hard to put down. It reveals to the reader, through humor and tears, how Kelly has faced adversity and pursued her journey. I am inspired by her courage and strength to step out beyond my boundries. Thank you Kelly for this.

This is an amazing story about medical miracles, undaunted courage, steely determination, steadfast love, and ultimate triumph. While most of us won't face the sorts of challenges described here, there are many lessons to be learned. The inspiration of Kelly's story is a gift. If you want an exciting story about real adventure, this book is for you. If nothing else, this book should inspire every one to become an organ donor.

Dressage in Harmony: From Basic to Grand Prix (The Masters of Horsemanship Series, Bk. 4)
Excellent Book. A must have for all Dressage riders. This book has helped me improve my understanding of the proper aids!

Provides great detail, wonderful theory and terrific practical advice. There are some spots where the translation may not have been so good; but, overall this book is fabulous!

I've been fortunate enough to attend private lessons given by this great teacher and can only say that this is the way I want to learn. He is gentle and encouraging, but firm -- and not a little demanding, requiring us to do our best, and to bring out the best in our horses -- but it is his love of horses that shines through. It matters not whether you are a beginner on a green horse or an advanced rider on a budding champion, he is the teacher you want. I saw stiff green horses relax and blow happily, and nervous riders smiling as they felt the changes in their horses and themselves. The German training system can seem daunting to us Americans used to hurrying along and getting results fast, but he makes us understand how to build trust, and build movement from that. It will take time, but with Zettl, you will succeed, and more importantly perhaps, you will enjoy the ride, and so will your horse.

With all of the great reviews and the author's reputation, I was expecting a lot more. I just don't see anything new here, to me it reads like a dictionary on dressage. Fine, but not too interesting. I guess what really put me off straight away, was the the author's claim that horses are not very intelligent, and if they were we would be afraid to be near them at all. And "A horse will never do anything on purpose". I think that anyone who has spent a lot of time around horses would disagree with that statement. For example, if you have ever seen a horse work open a stall latch, I think you might agree that they are capable of doing things on purpose and with planning. From someone who supposedly stresses love for the horse during training, I found these statements quite inaccurate and somewhat cold. I've got loads of books on dressage, and this one would be at the bottom of my list.

I believe that Dressage In Harmony is a must have for anyone who is seriously interested in dressage. Mr. Zettl starts with a green horse beginning in dressage to the Grand Prix level in clear, understandable language plus good illustrations. I hope to have the good fortune to attend one of Walter Zettl's clinics now that I have "discovered" him.

March 18, 2004

This is possibly the best book on Greco Roman Wrestling in print. I have a copy of Greco- Roman Wrestling by M. Briggs Hunt which has drawings rather than photos and is no longer in print, which is also very good. Greco Roman teaches holds for above waist, and is practiacal for street fighing, and has holds you can use staying on your feet ...
Train hard and have fun!
Guro Dennis Servaes

this book covers some basic greco-roman throws, as well as some exercies to build you up for the throws so you can proform the movments required. overall i would say get this book if you are looking to add some stand-up throws to your grappling or fighting game.

Excellent book. I recommend it to all wrestlers, Judo, BJJ and Submission grapplers. Upper body moves and applications are discussed in great detail along with body positioning. The book emphasizes that even though you can not use legs to trips your opponent positioning you body nonetheless is paramount. Will little modification these techniques can be applied to MMA as well.

This is possibly the best book on Greco Roman Wrestling in print. I have a copy of Greco- Roman Wrestling by M. Briggs Hunt which has drawings rather than photos and is no longer in print, which is also very good. Greco Roman teaches holds for above waist, and is practiacal for street fighing, and has holds you can use staying on your feet.
Train hard and have fun!
Guro Dennis Servaes

I would like to describe how extremely helpful this book is to a spectator of the sport of wrestling. Since I am merely a fan or observer of this great sport, I don't have the inside knowledge to understand exactly what I am seeing when I watch wrestling. This book has been an excellent reference text and teaching guide for me to learn more about my favorite sport.

Since so much happens in such a short amount of time in wrestling matches - which is one of the reasons this sport is truly special and so exciting to watch (no endless waiting for something to happen, no standing around, no lengthy time-outs) - this book does a wonderful job explaining in depth what actions the observer is witnessing.

I know this book is intended as a training/how-to manual, but I feel it is great for non-participants (cheerers) too. I intended to pass this book on to a family member to encourage participation in the sport, but I am afraid I am keeping it for myself, at least for the time being.

Great photos, easily understandable technical/strategy information, and a nice history/background section - this book has it all. I already had a tremendous appreciation for the sport of wrestling as far as the sportsmanship, strength, endurance, strategy, training, skill, etc. Now I have a greater understanding of the complexities and nuances as well. This has given me wonderful insight into something I could admire, but only slightly understand before. And I am planning to employ some of the flexibility exercises in a non-wrestling context. This is simply a wonderful book for everyone to enjoy, not just wrestlers and coaches.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles, and wrestling fan