Recreation Books

I have been skiing for over 30 years. I have never been able to quite get out of the "Intermediate Rut". However after reading Mr Heckleman's New Guide to Skiing, and having viewed his DVD x 2 [The Carving tips is the best] I cannot wait to reach the slopes. This is a wonderful tutorial and for at least two reasons. First, he covers many aspects of technique; he is not obsessed with any one-only technique but covers a number with the Oh so helpful acknowledgment that is IS OK to do it this or that way, depending upon.......
Secondly, he makes a habit of an introduction, then the 'meat' of the lesson, and then a summary and review.

Martin you get 10 out of 10 stars from me. You have given me a new level of joy and enthusiasm and with the snow here in Downunder NZ beginning to fall, I cannot wait to put-into-practice your teachings in this, my 70th year.
Thanks Buddy.

Dr Neil Hilford

I'm 53 and had skied intermediate for years. I wanted to be able to ski black diamond so as keep up with my teenage sons. I figured I'd take lessons to get there, despite the $$$. But I decided to buy a book first, get what I could out of the book, then take lessons. Great call. I'm doing black diamonds with confidence now. I've learned so much from this excellent book. It's very well organized. The author provides concise instructions with clear, accompanying photo sequences.

So now I have an infinitely patient, detail-oriented, experienced instructor right in my pocket, ready to teach me new skills as I master the old. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve his or her skills.

I was already over 50 when I started skiing. I bought this book after my first ski trip and it became my ski bible. I review it at the beginning of each season. Thanks to this book and lift chair companions and videos that I got from the local library, I do diamonds easily in Utah (I find diamonds in Colorado easier than those in Utah.)

Just started skiing this year. 39 y/o male. The book has been a good resource in addition to the lessons I have taken. I have read through a few times and get more and more out of it as I have progressed as a skiier

This is an outstanding instructional covering a wide variety of important foundational and advanced skills for confident skiing, safety & fun on the slopes. It delivers great instruction to really build a strong repertoire of skiing skill beyond parallel & carving down the mountain.

Ski lessons left me disappointed & frustrated. Instructors contradicted each other. Questions asked in lessons left unanswered, are handled here. The fundamental skills that made me feel totally at ease and free on skis were not taught in standard lessons, but found here.
When I browsed through this book I knew I'd struck upon a gem. This was what was needed to help me become the skier I want to be. I love an instructional that "feels right" is well organized, clear & to the point with solid, consistent & effective methodology. Mr. Heckelman's clarity of writing cuts right to the heart of it with logical, systematical instruction and exercises. He creates solid building blocks during beginner instruction for advanced skiing with multi-skill building exercises that are lot of fun. Sage advice is given with care and concern towards safety throughout the book.

It is an amazingly easy book to follow. Instruction is described & photographed so well you can feel exactly how to perform each new skill. It was easy to take what I'd read to the snow, practice & master. I had a blast with the exercises! As a result I'm a much stronger skier and a lot quicker on my feet/skis. It's great to feel comfortable where ever I'm skiing & smile when I'm challenged with difficult runs. It's a pleasure skating across the flats to the lifts, passing those who shuffle along. This book has taught me how to make skis my friends and an extension of me. It only gets better each time I ski. This book goes to the slopes with me & I review the things I want to practice before I greet the snow.

While no book is the end all of instruction in a sport, this book should be a first book as it is thorough, well rounded and gives a solid base from beginning through advanced skiing. There is a lot of fun advanced skiing technique included as well as sections for skiing a variety of terrain and conditions. The knowledge & skills here have helped me find the type of ski instruction I can truly benefit from. Advanced skiers may want to review all four sections of the table of contents to insure they aren't missing any skills covered.

BOB DOLGAN DOES A GREAT JOB GIVING CLEVELAND SPORTS FANS A LOT OF MEMORIES IN THIS BOOK. HE SPENDS ANY WHERE FROM 2-6 PAGES GIVING US AN UPDATE ON MANY ATHLETES IN CLEVELAND HISTORY BOTH PRO AND NO PRO. FROM INDIANS, BROWNS, CAVS AND BARONS PLAYERS FROM 1940'S TO THE 1990'S. HE ALSO COVERS SOME LOCAL BOXERS, COACHES AND TRACK AND FIELD LEGENDS. ALL IN ALL THIS IS A GREAT READ FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED CLEVELAND SPORTS OVER MANY YEARS. MR DOLGAN HAS GIVEN THE READER A PLEATHURA OF GREAT STORIES, MEMORIES, INSIGHTS AND OPINIONS. MR DOLGAN RECENTLY RETIRED FROM BEING A SPORTS WRITER FROM THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER AFTER MANY YEARS OF SOME GREAT COLUMNS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL CLEVELAND SPORTS FANS AND FOR ALL NOSTALGIC READERS.

This lively, pithy account of Indians, Browns, Cavs and other local athletes ALMOST makes the heartache of being a Cleveland sports fan worthwhile. Author and Plain Dealer scribe Bob Dolgan has been a staple of the local sports diet for almost as long as the Tribe has gone without World Series rings. It takes a wise soul and a strong heart to give us new perspective on The Fumble, Red Right 88, 20-Cent Beer Night and what, 83 years later, thankfully remains the only death from an injury sustained in a Major League Baseball game. May Dolgan perservere long enough to pen a second edition about dozens of future Cleveland championships!

A large part of what makes baseball so attractive is that it imitates life. Ear-splitting roars are reserved for stupendous comebacks and tide-turning home runs. Most games proceed, fans like to observe, like Sunday school outings.
Author Bob Dolgan adds another dimension to the game's popularity, as well as well-honed peeks at luster figures of other sports. What he endearingly captures in its quick-reading pages is the person behind the celebrity.
HSGG is a potpourri of 101 short stories on often fascinating, at least talented or simply memorable athletes, mainly ball-and-glovers who wore the wool and spandex of the Cleveland Indians from 1971 to 2001. Some of the headliners reflect the nearly invincible Cleveland Browns of the Paul Brown coaching days while a few found stature clinging to the edges of the sports world covering many venues and situational endeavors.
Warts and all, there is the first big-time Indians free agent, hurler Wayne Garland who, after pocketing a guaranteed ten year, $2.3 million contract, saw his arm go the rotator cuff surgical route even before pitching his first game for his new team. Garland and his wife unwisely spent a large portion of their cash take on a toney mansion in glittery Pepper Pike. So rapidly did they spend their bounty that Wayne eventually had to pump gas to make ends meet.
Sam Rutigliano, who alternately soared and stumbled as coach of the Browns, had as a favorite descriptive of a loss that "eight hundred million Chinese couldn't care less."
Jimmy Piersall, named as among the 100 best Indians of all time, ran backwards around the basepaths once after belting a homer just to bring laughs to the game and wake up the crowd.
Pat Seerey, roly-poly outfielder who played several decades ago when Tribe fortunes dipped near their lowest, seemed to smack a home run or strike out every other time at bat. An atrocious fielder, fans were galvanized by his all-or-nothing swings at any pitch that cut the heart of the plate.
Chief groundskeeper Emil Bossard often did as much from the sidelines to encourage a Cleveland wind as its players on the field. For example, he was a past master at flashing signals from the scoreboard that tipped off home batters as to the kind of pitch coming up next...and seldom was Emil reluctant to slant the third-base line toward foul territory when the opposition boasted astute bunting skills.
Reporter Dolgan, covering all sports for the Cleveland Plain Dealer over the past half century , winning awards along the way, now specializes in writing features soaked in nostalgia. It is seldom enough for him to hang his stories on startling statistics. He pokes about for the argument with the wife that may have preceded and influenced the big game upcoming or be-bops about for the funny happenstance that perhaps triggered a vital play.
With Dolgan, scamps and good guys rank right up there with heroes just as they do for fans in real life sitting on the edge of their seats in a crucial game or leaning back contentedly munching their second hotdog in a "Sunday school" affair and this perhaps is the beauty of the book.
Dolgan's machinations make for a delightful trip down memory lane, a chapter revisited of sports memorabilia a la the Cleveland scene bustling with the gusto and flavor of a bygone past. If you'd like a healthy taste of this time, dig into Dolgan's slice of it.

Bob Dolgan was a proverbial utility infielder for the sports pages of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer - feature writer, columnist, beat reporter and the editor of several fan-orientated sections - and even had an infamous tiff back-in-the-day with legendary radio sports-talker Pete Franklin.

But it was his last assignments with the struggling daily newspaper - pieces on the rich history of Cleveland sports - that became solid highlights in Dolgan's five-decade-plus career. And this May 2003 release is a jog down memory lane through profiles on 101 athletes.

There are the famous - Jesse Owens, Mark Price - one's whose cup of coffee got cold before their uniforms got dirty and the outright surly, like slugger Albert Belle.

Not just for fans of northeast Ohio sports, Dolgan's biographical sketches can be appreciated by any individual who enjoys excellent sports writing, with a historical twist.

Bob Dolgan's Heroes, Scamps and Good Guys is as much a history of Cleveland over the past six decades as it is a cornucopia of the city's sports memories. The award-winning Plain Dealer sportswriter draws on his long association with the Cleveland sports scene to treat readers to a broad assortment of the best, brightest and most bizarre athletes who have both thrilled and thwarted Forest City sports fans in his lifetime. Dolgan's biographical glimpses into the athletic feats and later lives of some 101 participants in Cleveland's rich sports history range from Dutch Levsen, the last major league pitcher to hurl two complete-game wins in a doubleheader, to Jim Thome, Albert Belle and Mike Hargrove. Along the way Dolgan also introduces such collegiate legends from the Greater Cleveland area as Harrison Dillard and a sprinkling of high school wunderkinds including St. Ignatius's Dave Demko and Benedictine center Mike Medich, a giant in his time at 6'5" who tallied 59 points against West High School one night at the tail end of 1945 to set a new Ohio state scoring record. A deft interviewer, Dolgan is equally at home talking with former Indians infielder Kevin Rhomberg, owner of a raft of weird superstitions that have no doubt daunted many another sportswriter over the years, Boxing Hall of Famer Joey Maxim, "one of only two Clevelanders to win world ring titles," and Barbara Turcotte, the queenly wife of Cleveland harness racing king, Mel Turcotte. Heroes, Scamps and Good Guys, though steeped in the triumphant moments enjoyed by the Browns, Indians, Barons and Cavaliers, is likewise a trove of the heartaches and last-second disappointments that have left Clevelanders without a championship in any major league sport for nearly forty years.

David Nemec

I'm on the plus side of fifty, and though I have loved traveling in the Southwest all my life, hiking is a new passion for me, ignited by a recent trip to Southern Utah and its wonderful National Parks. So when I began searching for books about local hikes, Cosmic Ray caught my eye. I love his accuracy, his honesty, his humor, and his obvious love of the subject matter. I've done several hikes in the book now, and thanks to his recommendation of the Peralta Canyon Trail in the Superstition Mountains, I have discovered one of the most beautiful, magical places in the world.

After I began to do the hikes in this book I realized I had been to many of these areas on field trips when I was in grade school. They were so unspoiled, I assumed they were an hour or two away from town. When I followed Ray's trail into the Piestewa Peak area, right in the middle of the city, civilization went away. Amazing!

Buy his guide for Flagstaff/Sedona, too. Follow his suggestions, and you'll be such a happy hiker . . .

I make about 2 trips to Phoenix every year and this book has been great for finding fun hikes for my family. Cosmic Ray has many great tips and accurate descriptions of every trail that we have hiked. This book has made my family's trips to Phoenix so much more enjoyable. I highly recommend it if you plan any hikes in the Phoenix area.

I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona. In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book. The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome. Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed. Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

I recently moved out here from the UK to Arizona. I was whining to my father (when he was visiting) that a lot of people had told me there's nowhere to go hiking around Phoenix and I was finding that hard to believe given how much open space there is around Phoenix.
Anyway, we were in a book shop when he pointed out this book. I bought it instantly and have so far enjoyed five of this guide's hikes . . . and have found some beautiful places thank's to Ray's help. I just wanted to thank the author for making me realise that not all of this country is owned and fenced off and there are some places you can go where you feel as if you're walking where no one else has! Great book.

Ray's description and map of the hike at Pinnacle Peak is very accurate. Telling folks that dogs are not allowed, when flowers bloom and especially staying on the trail are great reminders for people. Ray has taken the time to obtain updated information. It is a great guide and we are using our copy constantly at Pinnacle Peak Park as hikers ask questions about other hikes in the area. Thanks for including Pinnacle Peak and the excellent write up on this area.

If you are a well-intentioned parent or coach who loves to be involved in teaching young players the sweet science of hitting a baseball, Hitting Made Simple is a "must have" reference guide for you. I have been a professional coach now for over thirty years and to be honest with you I sometimes cringe when I hear how some points of hitting a baseball are taught to young players by coaches who just don't know how to explain hitting correctly.
Kraig Kupiec has eliminated the guesswork out of teaching young players how to hit. In Hitting Made Simple, the sweet science of hitting a baseball is broken down, point by point, so that even the most inexperienced coach can help a young player get better. He explains many of the myths about hitting, and he also breaks down every facet of a player's approach to hitting in the simplest of terms.
Here's the best part! The book provides a troubleshooting guide that coaches can use to diagnose any problem a young player has when hitting. So, if you're not real sure about how to explain the sweet science of hitting to a young player, Hitting Made Simple has to become an integral part of your bookshelf. Not only will your players become better hitters, but you will also become a better coach.
For his many years of involvement at "Inside The Park" batting cages, Kraig Kupiec has dedicated his life to breaking down the process of teaching the art of hitting. He is truly one of the finest hitting coaches the game of baseball has.

Hitting a baseball is arguably the most difficult task in all of sports. Being able to get willing youngsters to learn to hit the right way might be just as hard...as I'm sure Mr. Kupiac can attest to. This book is well written and easy to follow for experts and beginners alike. If only Kevin Millar could have read this when he was young....

Nothing is worse than seeing your young baseball star in a slump. This book is an excellent resource for helping your hitter get back on track.

Do you have a youngster in your life that plays or wants to play baseball? Hitting that ball thrown at you is one of the most important parts of the game and to do that correctly, safely and accurately there are steps to be followed. Mr. Kupiec has written an easy to read and easy to follow guide to help teach anyone how to hit and hit better. If you are coaching a team or just want to get kids together for fun, this book will be invaluable. A great gift, too.

Anyone can learn to hit better using this clear straightforward approach to whapping a baseball. This book is good easy to understand hitting education for both parents and kids. The illustrations and photographs alone are instructive enough to get your shoulders, grip, and stance in line to smack balls out of the park. I found the "troubleshooting" section detailing the various mishaps of hitting, (missing the ball, etc.), to be of particular interest. Kupiec knows his stuff and his book will produce results quickly, try it and you or your student will be hitting better right away.

This is one of the best horse books I own. The information in it is just like what I learned when I boarded my horse and took jumper lessons from one of the top competative riders in my area. It covers a broad range of topics and has a much greater depth of information than any other horse book (that I've seen) that covers so many topics. Most importantly, the information is correct. Teaches even stark beginners the very basics but is quite useful even to those with years of experience. Very highly recommneded.

I plan on purchasing this book again! I give riding lessons etc. and find it a great book for young and old to read. My original seems to have disappeared (one of my young students probably coudn't bear parting with it!).I am waiting for the new addition to come out!

The 1999 edition of A Horse Around the House addresses every aspect of horse ownership in a clearly written and beautifully illustrated package. The author is technically correct on the details. Any person who has an interest in horses can learn from this book. It is a must for new, old and potential horse owners.

We found "A Horse Around the House" extrememly useful as new horse owners. All the information you'll need to understand not only the makeup and characteristics of equines is here, along with subtle information about the nuances of horse personalities. We highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about horses.

It is delightful to see the updated return of this compendious and clearly written one-stop shop for the new or experienced horse owner. The book became an almost instant classic upon its initial publication, and Pat Jacobson,a well respected teacher and trainer in the Hudson Valley region, has worked hard to incorporate the myriad advances in horse "housekeeping" that have taken place in the intervening two decades. While probably most useful to the first-time horse owner, the book is still an invaluable quick reference for anyone who does not wish to wade through piles of horse magazines to be reminded of the right treatment for thrush; what to do in hot weather, or the correct proportions of hay to grain. Elegant and humorous illustrations reinforce the readable text.

Information filled book, a real must have for anyone owning or taking care of a horse!

I really liked this book. It had a lot of useful info that was presented in an organized way. I also found it helpful that specific supplements were tested and recommended for each topic ("Skin and Coat" or "Immune System", etc). This book is money well spent.

I like this book and it's format very much. I have several of Dr. Kellon's publications and this one is as good as all her others.

I agree with Ms Larson's comment about her First Aid book. I keep my copy in my first aid box (a step-stool toolbox) so that it's right where I need it - at the barn or on the road in the trailer.

Another very good book about Nutrition and supplements is Dr. Kellon's "Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals: A Guide to Peak Health and Performance" http://www.amazon.com/Equine-Supplements-Nutraceuticals-Health-Performance/dp/091432778X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222983953&sr=1-4

Working with Dr. Kellon has given me a whole new way of thinking about equine nutrition and this book is a wonderful "at home" reference. Never again will I believe the hype and sales pitches of feed and supplement manufacturers. I now know how to figure out exactly what my horse's diet does and does not need.

The information in this book is presented in Dr. Kellon's no-nonsense, scientifically based style which is both refreshing and reassuring. If you want a straightforward guide to supplementing your horse, this is it.

Dr. Kellon is the world-famous equine nutritionist. She is also the vet editor of John Lyons Perfect Horse and Horse Journal. Famous for her no-nonsense style and attention to detail, this book is a wonderful resource. She covers everything from antioxidants to joint support to feeding the senior horse. It is a must-have for horse owners.
For those who want even more detail than this book provides, Dr. Kellon also has on-line courses covering a range of subjects from nutrition to cushings to understanding bloodwork.

This is a great math tool that I have sitting on my shelf and it has helped my kids do wonderful in math. I would additionally like to share this site http://thecyberprofessor.com/ which gave me the insight into know mathematical sciences as well.

As a writer of educational materials, I have dozens of books like this on my reference shelf. Each has a different advantage, but HOW MATH WORKS is the best overall. It is full of fascinating information, easy-to-do experiments (yes, experiments!), and the clearest explanations of complex concepts I have seen. The full color layout is clean and appealing. The organizational features mentioned in other reviews are excellent. Highly recommended for teachers, parents, and others who work with students in grades 3-5.

"How Math Works" could be subtitled "How to keep your kids occupied for many hours this summer in a productive, educational, and fun way." Instead, the subtitle is "100 ways parents and kids can share the wonders of mathematics." Close. Either one will work.

I sat down with this book and went through every page, reading here and there, looking at the experiments. My very first thought was, No way could a typical kid create these experiments, much less complete them. But then after just a few pages, I decided, yes, they can with a little help here and there. If you (the adult) help a little, a lot of math will come back to you. This book is designed to be enjoyable for kid and adult alike.

For example, remember the Golden Mean, or special ratio in art and architecture, used in creating the perfect ratio "look" to the Parthenon and the Pyramid at Gizeh in Egypt? There is an experiment to learn just how the mean works. On the next page is an experiment to make the Golden Mean! How cool is that?!

Try using algebra to solve this puzzle: A friend said that on his birthday, his mother's age was three times his, but in 15 years, she would be twice as old as he. How old are the boy and his mother today?

There's a section on chances and probability. Did you learn those in school. Didn't think so. How about the various personal measuring systems used through the ages? Or how to economically wrap a package? In another chapter children will learn how to find true north, make a spirit level, create a leaning tower, use trigonometry to find the height of things, and create curves with straight lines.

They will learn about Nobel Prize winners in mathematics and create a double helix, create an envelope tetrahedron, make a flying machine, and study asymmetry using their own faces.

The last chapter concerns philosophy and logic. Two fabulous experiments involve making a paper logic chain and the other constructing the Tower of Hanoi. Have you ever seen those long flow charts where a steel ball travels along a mix-max of chutes and tunnels? Your kids can make one out of normal household products. The last activity is testing the chaos theory, which deals with dynamics or changes within a system.

I skipped the beginning, so let's go back. The first chapter shows what tools are needed for the entire book--all simple, easily obtainable items.
The history of numbers, major mathematicians, and enough games, puzzles, and tricks in this book will enable your child to have enough things to do for a very long time, or at least until the end of summer.

Meanwhile, the book is so mixed with visuals, facts, diagrams, information, and experiments, that it is highly likely for this book to create a supreme interest in mathematics. I'm personally allergic to math, but I think I want a copy of this book for myself. I suggest every parent who loves to work with their children and, indeed, every elementary teacher who provides instruction in math must own a copy! This is a must-have book!

This is simply the best math "activity" book out there! Well worth every dollar! Kids need help with many activities, but it is well worth the parent's time. The activities are not only educational but really FUN and engaging.

Eyewitness - How Mathematics Works Carol Vordeman

Aspects of subject included Number and Algebra. Shape, Space and Measure. Handling Data. Using and Applying Mathematics.

Structure and organisation of the text The text is organised into categories, i.e. number. Each double page spread has a Title, a main paragraph, and lots of related but independent sections. Most pages feature a piece of maths history or an interesting unusual application of maths. The Pictures and diagrams all add lots of information, and are not just decorative. Activities

Ways in which information is presented Text in different sizes. Key points bulleted. Photographs and diagrams. Step by Step instructions using both words and pictures. Separate sections are framed. Background for the same section (i.e. Discovery) is the same colour on different pages.

Helpful features Contents, glossary index and heading. Activities and problems. Categories and sections mean that the information can be dipped into. Emphasis on the place of maths within society. Lots of concrete maths.

Potential difficulties Lots of information to take in. Activities require a lot of equipment. Lots of mathematical vocabulary

Reading skills required Use of contents index and glossary. Heading, subheading. Reasonably difficult general vocabulary. Being able to skim the page and select relevant or interesting information. Lot's of mathematical vocabulary to take in.

Implications for teaching

Ideas for lessons. Introduction / reference for teaching. General background reading. Display. Extension work / reinforcement ideas.

I have to say that reading these stories made me laugh out loud and thank the man up above for NOT letting my husband and I (as of yet) experience any of the challenges these fine story-tellers have. Fun, touching, great for advice! Cannot wait for the follow-up!

This book had me doubling over with laughter and reminiscing on my own childhood!! Especially Katharine Morgan's essay...too good for words! I'm ordering some for all my friends!

I adored this book and think it should be in the front pocket of all airplanes - right next to the in-flight magazine - or in the glove compartment of all rental cars. It certainly would give other parents traveling with children perspective on how bad (and funny) it can get!

This collection of short stories is wonderful for the parent-to-be or the mother who wants to laugh along with the authors as they retell their most embarrassing and hilarious tales of tot travel. Favorite essays include "Got Milk?" and "Splish, Splash, We're In First Class." I've given this to many friends for baby shower gifts and to my friends with kids and they've all loved the tales!

I loved this book - it made me realize that a woman can be a mother and STILL maintain her sense of humor. The situations these women find themselves in are sometimes unfortunate, always embarrasing and never planned. But they all manage to survive it with a chuckle or two to share with the rest of us. It gives me hope. Definitely required reading if you are like me and trying to read everything possible to prepare for motherhood.

Everyone has their traveling stories - the tales of hopeless airline snarls, getting lost with a little one and no time to spare on a road trip, or taking on the super-human effort of packing everyone in your family up for a vacation only to find out that the hotel never actually noted your reservation and doesn't, in fact, have a room for you. Those are the kinds of stories you'll laugh at in about five years. Or maybe ten.

With this delightful anthology, you get the laughs without the personal disasters and expense. How to Fit a Car Seat on a Camel is packed with stories that will ring true for anyone who has ever negotiated unfriendly traveling conditions, or companions. Have you ever found yourself playing Toddler Jukebox, non-stop, on a four hour roadtrip? Elrena Evans has, and informs you that you can sing "ABCB Spider" exactly 488 times. Ever found yourself identifying with Holly Korbey's husband when he suggested to his toddler that the reason behind the rain on the day of the Great Airplane Trip, two days before Christmas, was because God was laughing at Mommy so hard he was crying? The excellent essays include stories of all the travel extremes, from knotty airline travls during holidays to a week's vacation with three little ones to the beach, to a mommy-pilot taking her daughter on her first plane ride (as co-pilot, no less), to traveling Europe with a cranky teenager who refuses to speak English or pull out a map when lost - a sure givaway to the tourist status.

This book will give you a light dose of humor - and perspective, if you've been lucky enough to avoid such traveling misadventures. The best stories are the ones that everyone has experienced in some form or another, and this book won't disappoint.

As this book is out of print, I paid much more than I normally would for a ski book. As it turns out, I feel this is one of the best books I have ever read. It struck a very strong chord with me. I found the suggestions extremely helpful. But more than that, I found sharing the experiences that Mermer had gone through with the people she has coached to be cathartic. I have felt the feelings that were being described (frozen in place, unable to move or to breathe) and I have also experienced the transition to surrendering to gravity and the joy of being able to flow down a trail that had at one point terrified me. To be able to help people (especially women) to understand what this is like and to share in Mermer's descriptions of these experiences and skiing in general (the emotions involved, the fact that skiing is a metaphor for life and the things one can learn about oneself, the love of the sport, the feeling of being in harmony with the world and of being a completely free spirit) is transcendant.

Ms. Blakeslee's writing captures the reader with thrills and laughter; she takes the experiences of skiing way beyond the realm of skiing. This book helps the reader to use ANY fearful experience as a learning tool to move forward.

More than a skiers book on fear. Mermer demonstrates how to tackle fear head on. If you need a book to get you over the edge....this is the one.

"In the Yikes Zone" provided me with the tools to manage my performance anxiety for a recent Professional Ski Instructor Association (PSIA) exam. Mermer's book is filled with real-life anecdotes that the reader can relate to and transfer to their own experiences. "In the Yikes! Zone" lets you know when to push it and when to back-off, and how to manage your fears and emotions through-out. A definite read for athletes and non-athletes, this book is filled with important strategies to handle the many fears we face in all aspects of life.

Mermer's book gave me much more than I bargained for! As a Professional Ski Instructor for Women's Clinics, I found her perspective on fear invaluable. Fear is real - it's not always rational, but it's real and we learn to deal with it. Males and females will both recognize themselves in this book. It was a big help to me not only as a teaching tool, but also in my personal skiing and most recently in a PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) ski exam. Thanks to Mermer, I was relaxed and comfortable. Whether preparing to audition for a Broadway Play or to ski a steep, icy mogul field - this book helps.

This is a great book if you are considering to work in the industry. There is another book called Working on a Yacht which is written in a more matter of fact way. However this books is very fun and exciting to read. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious. I'm sure all life on a Yacht will not be exactly like the books says but I believe it is a very realistic description of the industry.

This book is not only a "How To" it's a very good insight on how things really are once you get out on the big sea. The author does a great job by not leading you on that everything is fantastic all the time and tells it like it is. The "I must Confess..." are great additions and I found myself sometimes skipping ahead just to read some of those. I bought this book because I was interested in the profession and couldn't find anything worth reading about it. This is the book to read! And after reading it, I am certain that I am going to Ft. Lauderdale and becoming a Yacht Stew.

A big thank you to Julie!!!! This book guided me every step of the way. I ordered the book on 3-17-08, and on 6-3-08 I was on my first boat!! Julie not only gives you an accurate view of what working on a yacht is truly like, she includes her own personal accounts out at sea (which, by the way, are quite funny!!). Julie includes EVERYTHING you will need from training, accomodations, to local spots to network in various ports. I bought this book with no real intention on changing my career. I had always wondered about the industry, and once I got the book, I couldnt put it down. The very next day I started taking the steps toward making this dream a reality. You will find Julie's stories entertaining and the book will engage you from page one. If you have ever thought about becoming a yachtie, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

If ever a book has been available that tells it like it is, as this book does, about the process for landing a dream job in the yachting industry as a Stewardess (OR OTHER CREW MEMBER) aboard multiple million dollar luxury Yachts.........SHAZAMMMM!!! AND BINGO!!!...THIS IS IT!!!!

The book is packed with humor and numerous "innocent" confessions of the author's experiences aboard. It's as close as a complete picture can be for preparing to enter this magnificant industry with more info than you'd ever need to taking the first step to a sucessful career in the ultimate world of travel excitement......immediately securing employment as a fully trained crew member after a minimum of two weeks intense training at the finest training facilities available in the world.

College grads with no immediate plans and looking for the perfect job...ATTENTION...,this is what you've been looking for and didn't even know it!

This book is definitely for someone wanting to know what it is "really like" to work on a yacht. This book is funny,informative and a good source to find out what mega-yacht life is like,one you will go back and read a second time. Her adventures were delightful and am hoping Julie writes another book soon!