Recreation Books

If you want to read about a travelling pool hustler, this is an excellent read!

It's a quick read in the style of Bringing Down The House, except it's about a pool hustler instead of poker. I think it's better written than BDTH, even if some of the source material isn't as exciting. I thought the writing conveyed a lot more emotion though, and I came to really care about the two major players. Anyway, it's a perfect travel book if you're looking for one. I'd give it an extra half star if they'd let me.

It is not every day that a story takes you by the neck and drags you through the pages like a roller coaster ride. Kid Delicious is impossible to define or dislike. The reader roots for him and his quixotic quest to overcome depression, get a life and learn every nuance of the green baize. Any one of which is a tough task.
This world of inveterate gamblers is fascinating, quirky, dangerous and full of folk who would pick up a snake for a dollar bet rather than get a 'real' job. The author is a gifted writer, not simply a good sports writer. He obviously cares for his protagonist but does not judge or sugar coat any of his idiosyncracies, and they are legion. The story opens a curtain on a dying sub culture. The internet, Texas Hold 'em and the growth of casinos have all contribued to limiting the action a road warrior can find today. However, Kid Delicious wrung every last drop out of his foray into the world of cross country hustling.
Read this book, if you play pool or not. The book works on so many levels that it will be enjoyed by anyone with a soul.

Anyone who knows and appreciates how well Jon Wertheim (senior writer at Sports Illustrated) writes must read this. It's so much more that just a story about an overweight kid with low self-esteem who seeks refuge in seedy billiard rooms to ply his talent as a pool player extraordinaire; it's also an engrossing "roadie" narrative, illuminating the disparate threads which personifiy the quintessential American psyche.

In my opinion, Jon Wertheim displays the same élan in his writing as Truman Capote has with his work, "In Cold Blood". There is a flowing verbal rhythm in the way he tells the tale of Kid Delicious and his travails around America's southeast states in search of his next hustle/fix. While his story is told with much humour (often black), empathy, light-heartedness, and poignancy (without saccharine) -- there is also a visceral efficacy, especially with its cautionary warning as to how a momentary lapse can, unwittingly, lead one into this insidious methamphetamine addiction with potentially devastating consequences.

True to form, Jon tells it like it is -- that is, non-judgemental, without
pretence, conceit or artifice to embellish his story about this extraordinary pool player conquering his demons.

"Jeez, that fat man, look at the way he moves. Like a dancer.
And those fingers, them chubby fingers. That stroke,
It's like he's playing the violin or something."

- Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) marveling at
- Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason) in "The Hustler"
-
The above quote is what begins the PROLOGUE of this gripping true story of Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich. Danny is a 5 foot 9 nine inch 320 pound, charming, bipolar, depressed, suicidal, crowd-pleasing, warm-smiling, ice-breaking, pool-hustling, professional champion, Jewish mensch, from New Jersey, by way of Brooklyn! Danny as a kid would buy candy and treats in bulk, bring them to school and sell them at outrageous markups between classes. He also ran poker games during study hall and football pools on Fridays. He ingeniously figured out that packs of baseball cards that included valuable bonus cards were slightly thicker than the regular packs. Using a micrometer Danny could figure out which packs had the valuable cards in them without opening the pack and would then buy those packs and resell the bonus cards at a huge markup. In summary, before Danny started playing pool he already had the makings of a classic hustler. Due to his girth Danny was teased and bullied unmercifully in high school and dropped out when he was fifteen. Danny became overridden with depression. He would sleep all day and eat unbelievable amounts of food. Then he discovered pool, which probably saved his life and made this writer's dream of a story reality.

Danny starts practicing pool in every waking minute of his life and his burgeoning talent gives him a reason to live. It gives him a self-worth that he never had before when he looked in the mirror and saw an unattractive overweight man-child going nowhere, as he seriously considered suicide. From the moment he sees the potential in himself, the reader is then taken on a roller coaster ride from one pool hall to another. Some venues are pig sties, and others are glimmering palaces. When Danny wins a big hustle against a "slender, flashy, up-and-coming player called "Kid Vicious" a legend is born. As Danny unscrewed his stick and prepared to leave, a fan whistled and then cracked, "Kid Vicious" just got hustled by "Kid Delicious"! "Kid Delicious" would become Danny's moniker from there on out. Along with fighting his depression "Delicious" had to fight the "catch-22" of not becoming too famous, because no one would play him. A number of times ill-fated professional pool leagues would start with grandiose plans and go bust. There was the quandary that hustling paid more than a professional match, but "Delicious" also wanted the celebrity and acknowledgement of his talent. But if he got the professional victories that would put him on TV and in billiard magazines, then he could no longer enter backwater pool halls in North Dakota, Minnesota, Alabama, and wherever his car would take him, incognito, "under the radar" for a big hustle, and that's where the real money lies!

This book takes you through the back alleys, the cheap hotels, the dives, along with "Delicious's" weight gains and losses, mood swings and rubbing of elbow's with more nefarious character's with more nicknames than the mafia. Some of the "classic" nicknames include: "Scorpion", "Black Widow", "Gunslinger", "Rifleman", "Freezer", "Ice Man", "The Lion", "The Cobra", "Spanish Mike", "Scott The Shot", "Shannon The Cannon", "Earl The Pearl", "Weenie Beanie", "Ginky", "King James", "Portuguese", "Shaggy", "Chewy", "Oil Can Larry", "Larry The Lizard", "The Prince Of Pool", "Puerto Rican Pete", "Gypsy", "Chili", "Fifty", "The Crow", "Cornbread Red", "Bristol Bob", "Snake", "Double J", "The Hurricane", "Harry The Hat", "The Korean Dragon", "Big City Smitty", "The Professor" ... and many, many more! I recommend this book highly! Buy it and get to know the rest of the gang!

I purchased this book as a total beginner to pool and it has really jumpstarted my learning process. Normally I'd have learned by trial and error and would eventually develop a 'feel' for it. This book explains scientifically, geometrically and physically what is taking place on the table so that I understand what it is I'm attempting to make happen. Feel will always be necessary, that's much of the fun, but understanding the logic behind each shot is a great guide and really helps me get back online when I lose that elusive feel.

Koehler's book starts with the basics of equipment and terminology and proceeds through technique, strategy, psychology and more. One thing that I really like is that the book offers many alternatives so that I can choose the ones that suit me best, or have options when my usual approach isn't available. The author offers some opinions on which might be a better choice but provides enough information on each to allow an informed decision.

Though I'm still a beginner I am confident that this book would benefit players of all levels. I've got a pool buddy (also a beginner) that lives a few hours away. I sent him a copy of this book so that I won't have an unfair advantage next time we get together!

This technical guide is full of tables and statistics, along with lots of tips to make you shoot a better game of pool.

The book is very comprehensive going into a lot of detail and at times is very technical. There are lots of tables and statistics. However, it does a great job of explaining how the various aspects of the game impact the outcome of each shot. Things like cue ball and object ball movement, best cue stick positions for type of shot, how english and top and bottom spin impact cue ball placement, and much more. If you focus on the less technical aspects taught in this book you will come out with a much better understanding of how to shoot better pool. I'm still reading it but have learned alot and I consider myself a better than average pool player already. It is at times tough reading but you can get into it as deeply as you desire and several readings over time will glean more information.

Sometimes people feel that explaining wonderful things makes them somehow less magical, as if a bit of knowledge could rub the awe off of us. I'm inclined to disagree and fortunately for me, there's a whole genre of books devoted to the related jobs of explaining the wonderful and unravelling the mysteries behind ordinary stuff.

This book stands out in that world and also in the world of books about pool. The author has taken the ordinary, sometimes despised game of pocket billiards and subjected its truths to rigorous experimentation. He built apparatus for standardizing speed and direction of balls and developed a simple device for recording where balls struck a cushion.

Koehler's attention to details is pretty wonderful in itself. Consider this: "Theoretically, the center of the tip doesn't need chalk because it makes contact with the cue ball only when it's struck dead-center. When the cue ball is struck dead-center, there's no chance of the tip slipping off and thus, no need for chalk." A tiny matter? sure. Admire the mind behind it? you bet.

The same thorough approach can be seen in chapters like

1. Equipment
2. Shooting stance and technique
3. Pocketing the object ball
4. Shot selection
5. Cue-ball deflection path
6. English
7. Positioning the cue ball
8. Rail shot
9. Combination shots
10.Bank shots

If you love the game or if you simply marvel at a job well done, this is a book for you. Any pool player will find his or her appeite for practice increased and game improved



Lynn Hoffman, author of The New Short Course in Wine from Prentice-Hall and bang-BANG, a novel from Kunati to be published in 2007

First of all, please excuse my English - it is not my native.
I've bought this book and really happy with this purchase, even Byrne's books were not even close to improve my skills in pool. The were commercially composed so that I had to buy more and more books, but fortunately I've found "Science of pocket billiards". Beleive me, its amazing, right now with a small practice after reading this book I beat my friends.
The best one.

This book on soccer coaching is first rate! Easy to understand but NOT simplistic or dumbed down. Filled with great ideas and insights into the game for coaches AND players. I doubt there is a level of player or coach who will get this book and not find themselves flipping thru the pages picking out items and saying "I didn't know that". Well worth the price.

If you are coaching soccer for kids, and are eager to learn more about improving your own skills, this is the book to read! As you become an even better coach, your players will also benefit. The book is packed with information. The basics are well explained, and many specific suggestions are made for exercises that are fun, and at the same time provide good learning for the players. Contained in the book is also a first hand introduction to soccer that will teach you what to look for next time you watch a soccer game, and most important, a tool for improving the skills of your players in a human and friendly way. This book will improve your perception. Highly recommended!

This book includes excellent drills for skills ranging from fundamental to experienced. It also gets into a lot of game strategy, and it addresses the special situations such as throw-ins and corner kicks from offense and defense. I really like how he pulls in excellent advice and his philophy for coaching. If I had to select just one book for my coaching library, it would be this one!

This book is very good for an experienced coach or a coach of older (14+) players. It is well written, encourages coaches to have a positive attitude towards their players & the game, & includes a wealth of material. For the younger team, it doesn't encourage the "have fun & think for yourself" attitude that is enouraged in current coaching classes or by the American Youth Soccer Association.

First, I have to define intermediate. I have coached U6 and U8 for 5 seasons, and have just moved up to coach U11. I bought this book and Progressive Soccer, and this book was MUCH better. It's pretty beat up now because I refer to it constantly. It has drills and games for all the skills, and most of them start out at a low level (U8 or so) and get more advanced. Almost all of them have worked out well for our team.
I would say this is not a beginner's book, too much info and probably too in depth for a brand-new coach. Not a lot of "kiddie games" like you would use for U6 or U8. I would say U10 and up can get a lot out of this book.
My only complaint is I would like a little more in the team strategy parts and "system of play" parts, the book is a little weak on those areas, other than going through some different formations (which won't apply if you don't play 11 on 11).
Again, highly recommended for the coach moving up for the first time into the U10 age group for the first time.

Riveting--couldn't put it down. Heartfelt and respectfully written. How can you not live each day on this planet as if it were your last after reading Judy's story?

According to Virginia Woolf, "A masterpiece is something said once and for all, stated, finished, so that it's there complete in the mind, if only at the back." Initially I was hesitant to read this book thinking I might not be able to enjoy it (based on the subject matter). However, the book proved to be nothing of the sort. Let it be known that Dr. Hester has crafted a masterpiece here, expertly weaving the details of Judy Sleavin's story into a captivating, awe-inspiring and significant read that offers as much in content as it does a message about life.

Ten Degrees of Reckoning by Hester Rumberg is a haunting yet heartwarming book that is difficult to put down while you are reading it and even more difficult to forget once you have finished the last page. The injustice of the events pervades your very being and yet Judy Sleavin's persistence in living demonstrates the power that love can have one one's life. A must read.
Sondra Pearlman

This is a story about survival against enormous odds. In reading this story I experienced the full gamit of emotions. Through Hester's descriptions, insights, detailed & factual research, I felt as if I were alongside Judy through the trauma and the re-building of her life. Thank you Hester for taking on such a huge challenge and bringing the full story to light. Excellant reading for both experienced, novice, & armchair sailors.

This superb book succeeds on at least three levels. As an expository work, it plumbs the deep, rich traditions of works by Michener, or more recently, "A Perfect Storm". I felt supremely entertained, even as I learned a great deal about offshore sailing. It also tells a gripping story, and it draws us into the life of a family and its individual members. I cared deeply about these people, as the author presented them to me through a variety of "lenses."

You likely would not be reading my words unless you are a lover of books. As such, you no doubt have experienced the bittersweetness of a story's end.....you want to know how it comes out, but at the same time you don't want to turn that last page. This is one of those stories.

Readers seeking "magical justice," where all is resolved fairly and neatly, will be disappointed. This is part of the poignance of Dr. Rumberg's effort.

I have sent copies of this book to friends, and I am recommending it to all the booklovers I know. Finishing "Ten Degrees of Reckoning" was an exquisite ending to a year of fine reading, and I hope you will consider starting out on the right "literary foot" for 2008 by discovering the treasures within these pages.

I read this book in public places (on the Metro, in cafes), and some of the passages had me laughing OUT LOUD! People gave me funny looks, but I don't care. Mariah Burton Nelson is so FUNNY and inspirational! Reading this book just makes me feel like I want to be better...and that all of my goals are within reach. I agree with Ms. Burton Nelson that thinking of oneself as an athlete will change your life. I like the confidence being athletic brings, and I'm appreciative that this author brought the concept of being an athlete and personal success together in this book. I'm huge fan of all of Ms. Burton Nelson's work; finding her early books in the library helped ease the pain of some lonely, confusing summers while I was in college. I just like the concepts that she comes up with and the way she writes. All of her sports books are fabulous of course, but I also recommend her book about forgiveness, The Unburdened Heart (an important book for anyone, I believe). Read We Are All Athletes! You'll love it, and it might just change your life for the better.

This thoughtful, straightforward, fast read took me back to all the lessons sports taught me. This would make a terrific companion to any sports program, and is great for adults who want to continue to improve their game--in sports, life, or business. Useful, thought-provoking, fun. As a student of John Wooden, I think Mariah takes coaching to a new level. Thanks, Mariah!

This is a terrific book --- direct and right to the point. It is a short read, but long on food for thought. My "sport" is Duplicate Bridge and this book is just as relevant for that as it is for tennis, basketball or curling. Or even the sport of LIFE, as Ms. Nelson points out.

This is a terrific book --- direct and right to the point. It is a short read, but long on food for thought. My "sport" is Duplicate Bridge and this book is just as relevant for that as it is for tennis, basketball or curling. Or even the sport of LIFE, as Ms. Nelson points out.

Mariah is the real thing and it shows up in this book. This book is warm, thoughtful, full of good advice, friendly, and funny. You don't even have to be or like jocks to find little gems of how to live a good life in these pages.
As a spoken word performer who cannot have an inspired "A game" every night, I especially enjoyed the chapter "B Is for B-Game", "prepare to win on an off-day." Mariah understands the nuances of excellence--no matter how hard you train, you have off nights or off games, but you can still win, or in my case win the audience over, with your B or C game--with the fall back on skill, training, hard-work, focus, AND, the surrender to what is, not what you'd like things to be. There are many moments of such wisdom throughout this book. Yes, Mariah, thanks.

This is a great resource for teaching kids to hit. Easy to follow, laid out very well.

This is by far the best resource that I've found, and I've seen many, for teaching players the proper swing and approach to hitting. Get it and use it, you won't be disappointed. Appropriate for all age groups.

This book has a lot of good advice. It has additional information for "advanced" hitters, so the separate section does not overwhelm the reader for the majority of applications.

The pictures are clear and very helpful. Each section requiring one has one or more. There are many nuggets hidden here -- I learned one that I had not known in about 15 years of playing and "coaching" (as the author puts it).

Especially good for kids in Little League, so check it out!

It works very well. Our 9-10 girls just finished in 2nd in the state LL tournament. I was the batting coach and our girls carried a team average of .362 against state-level pitching! I have a shelf full of books and tapes. If I had to pick a keeper, this would be it. The first tape is excellent, too.

The pidgeon-toe stance and the inward turn (we call it "tuck") will improve bat speed, power, and balance.

My son is really starting to get into baseball, so I wanted to make sure I knew enough about hitting to get him started in the right direction.

Dusty Baker's book is teriffic because it breaks down the swing into several components. My boy is only 5, so it would be counter-productive to try and cram every component down his throat. Instead of doing that, I was able to keep him focused on one thing at a time - basically, building his swing from scratch. Important basics like "head down, eyes on the ball," and generating power with your lower body are explained well, and given drills or mnemonic devices to help retention, etc.

After working with him for one month, using Dusty Baker's book as my guide, my son had a noticeably better swing, and (amazingly for a 5-year old) better focus at the plate. He was always good at making contact, but this book helped put his swing together and give him better power without sacrificing his ability to get the bat on the ball.

Whether you know a lot about hitting, or you were a novice like me, this book really does live up to its title. Even my wife has picked up on the components of a swing, and can remind my son of something when he's playing around and I'm not there. There are other books that get more philosophical and go deeper (like Charlie Lau, Sr.'s), but for a FIRST book, that helps you teach, this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I first saw this story on the discovery channel and could not wait to read the book.
I was so glad to find a copy on Amazon.
This story is true and very sad you will feel as if you are in that raft with Debbie and Brad they were lost at sea for about 5 days and had to fight off sharks and stay alive. It started out with 5 John Mark Meg Debbie and Brad.
only Debbie and Brad made it. This book will keep you reading well into the night to finish.
It is a great read!

I received this book today and have read it in one sitting, just couldn't put it down. It is both a fasinating and horrific true story of this womans fight for survival in the open seas. It is written in an easy to follow style. Definately worth the read!!

Heard ALBATROSS: THE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN'S SURVIVAL AT SEA by Deborah Scaling Kiley and Meg Noonan . . . it is the tragic tale of what was supposed to be a simple boat trip that wound up as a nightmare . . . several of the crew members perished; what was more interesting to me was the story of how the survivors made it.

I've read other "how I survived at sea" books before . . . this was the first one, though, that I've come across written by a woman . . . what I'll remember: when your instincts tell you something, listen . . . Scaling Kiley, unfortunately, did not.

I liked her special introduction at the beginning of the cassette tapes . . . I also liked the work of Karen Allen--a talented actress that I don't see nearly enough--who did an excellent job with the narration.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I had seen Deborah and Brad's story on "I Shouldn't Be Alive" series, where they showed re-enactments and now and then broke away to the two actual survivors telling their story. I just knew she had written about this, so I looked it up on Amazon.

The story is told in very colorful prose. I could hear the sailboat slicing through the water, could see the pewter waves and dark sky. I could almost feel the sharks bumping the underside of the rubber raft with their rough skin.

Debbie is brutally honest, which adds to the credibility and interest of her story. She opens up and really lets us into her ordeal, and adds extra bits of information and impressions, like when she had her head under water looking for sharks and saw the beauty of the school of doradoes. So descriptive, I could see it.

This is also a story of triumph, as Debbie deals with strong emotions in the months and years after the tragedy. I'm glad she pulled through it all and wrote the book. I recommend this book for teens as well as adults.

ALBATROSS is a gripping story of survival and agonizing death at sea--the sinking with the loss of three lives of the yacht TRASHMAN off the Carolina coast. The author pulls no punches and tells a tale of human suffering, weakness, and malice that left this reader shaken by its bluntness, realism, and intensity.

The story is told in a direct and clear manner that inescapably draws one in to its nightmarish hell. Besides a sea story it is also a story of a young person's stuggle with her own demons.

Why read such a painful book? One important life lesson that we must learn from this account is not to leave port unprepared. In some ways, I would urge all boaters to read this book just to have that lesson hammered in. As a boater I came away with the deep conviction that I don't ever want to come anywhere near going through anything like what the crew of TRASHMAN went through.

As presented by the author, the tragedy was entirely the result of the incompetence, alcoholism, and carelessness of the captain and other crew members. I must confess, however, that when I reflected on the author's tale I could not help wondering how objective it was. She is so unremittingly critical--bitterly critical--of John and Mark that I began to doubt the clarity of her vision. I would love to get the account of the other survivor. There are several mysteries about the tragic sinking of TRASHMAN that remain troubling and unresolved.

Nevertheless Debby's tale is one that will move in and rearrange your mental furniture, especially if you are a boater or have ever been to sea in a small boat.

This book offers very practical advice in making the transition to free heel skiing. It is very well written.

In spite of all the ridiculous pictures (or because of them?) I've found this small book provides a lot of helpful reminders on how to ski on teles. It's a complex turn to learn, but the book does a good job of showing the beginning tele-skier what might be going on. Take this with you to the slopes and stash it with your things, it could help you puzzle out why your turn isn't working. I'm definitely bringing it with me this season.

I have been telemark skiing for probably 15 years. If you can get the tips in this book into your head you will telemark ski well. Each of the tips are laid out well with great illustrations and humor worthy of Mad magazine. Whether you are an advanced skier seeking improvement or a beginner I doubt there will ever be a better book to help you out to master telemark skiing.

This is the classic comic book version of a telemark skiing text book: brief, clear narrative accompanying excellent cartoon drawings. The book shows both old style (knee down) and new style (no deep dips, feet never widely separated front to back) telemark techniques without really distinguishing between the two but, if you follow the exercises and advice, your skiing will improve. An enjoyable read, an attractive style and price.

You really need Parker's book to understand the tips of this juvenile book. But once you've read Parker's book you immediately realise that this book is just collection of tips from Parker drafted in comics. Without explanations of course. I don't do anything unless I believe the tip is sound and this book does not convince me. Yeah, it's funny for a while but it does not supply the enthusiast the facts really needed to improve in free heels stuff.

Thought this book was really good. Lots of little tidbits of knowledge that you may have heard or didn't ever think about. Presented for all ages and all skill levels.

I teach a beginning backpacking class for adults and have used several books over the past 15 years. This is the 2nd year that I have used the Allen & Mike's book and it is a much easier read. Students and instructors both like the illustrations as it makes it faster to get through the information. Much more enjoyable than standard textbooks, but with a lot of valuable information.

A friend suggested I read this book before my first backpacking trip. It is a very fast and fun read with tons of useful information. My friend, who is a very experienced backpacker and NOLS alumni, was amazed at the amount of knowledge I acquired just from the book and has since purchased his own copy for reference. I highly recommend this book to any beginner or expert who needs a refresher!

The author shares his substantial experience with the reader in a uniquely entertaining manner, and the illustrator complements the light-hearted style of the author with [occasionally] hilarious visuals. The character of this book will attract everyone in the household; even those without camping or backpacking experience will find it easy-to-read and interesting. For those already bitten by the 'outdoor bug', new insights presented by the author force us to reconsider our position on a variety of subjects.

Unlike so many of its kind, this book is comprehensive without being obscure; no lessons on building water bucket baskets or how to skin and dry moose meat for the winter. This handbook addresses the basics of backpacking with enthusiasm, and it proves contagious for the reader.

Reading this book reminds me that it's possible to learn from all types of backpackers. The book is well written and illustrated. The illustrations have ideas that are not always in the text.

Allen O'Bannon clearly is not in the lightweight backpacking camp, which I am. O'Bannon writes about heavy pack loads (how to properly put on a heavy pack) and leather hiking boots. The book is loaded with ideas that will be interesting to all backpackers. I wouldn't recommend the book to someone just starting out with backpacking. For those readers I would give it just two stars. However, I would recommend it for a current backpacker that wants some fresh ideas or a fairly new backpacker that has read a couple books on lightweight backpacking first. The book isn't loaded with a lot of fluff that can be found everywhere. It is also easy to read and not nearly as boring as many backpacking books.

For those acquainted, even indirectly, with the world of rowing, this book represents a fantastic story of a rebellious rower and his desire to win an olympic gold medal on his own terms. After his dramatic loss in the single scull trials on Lake Carnegie, being denied a spot in one of the national selection camp boats, and having to relocate to the east coast despite his west coast upbringing, he somehow won the national trials, made the team, and then won the olympics. He became the best in the world months after being denied a spot as one of the top 6 in his own country. This was, and still is, unprecedented in almost any sport ever. Take that inspirational story and couple it with Lewis' knack for capturing the aggression of a young non-conformist and "Assault On Lake Casitas" becomes the second best rowing book ever. (The best rowing book ever is "The Amateurs" by David Halberstam. If you read either of these books, it is imperative that you read the other. If you've read none, it is imperative you read both.)

I'm a rower and I didn't know anything about this book before I read it. I met Brad Lewis while I was at the San Diego Crew classic in March 2003 and I was very impressed with his character, so I bought his book. The competetive shark found in the book was chillingly inspirational on what it takes to be a champion, but I must admit that the Brad in the eighties is not the same Brad of today. Ever since he stopped competing, he has calmed that anger within him. I think it has made him a better Journalist because his writing keeps getting better.
Read this book if you are interested in knowing what goes through the head of a competetive rower and the sacrifices Brad made to get that gold medal.

as a long time, fanatic, and not especially talented rower i was pretty surprised i had never heard of this book when lewis himself foisted it on a friend of mine at the 2004 head of the charles. after leafing past the disturbing cover art, the book itself traces his long quest for gold culminating in the 1984 LA olympics. this book is all rowing, so if you are interested in crew, or any seriously competitive athletics, like i suspect you'll find reading it to be the purest pleasure, if not, let's just say there's no love angle to carry it along. but for those in pursuit of excellence: what a tremendous read! lewis is relentless, and he's a superb story-teller. i'm so happy to finally discover a companion to the only other great rowing book i've ever found, also culminating in the 1984 olympics, david halberstam's `the amateurs'.

I bought this book a couple of years ago when I was doing some rowing. I also bought it because of the great reviews at Amazon.com. I will add my voice to those who have written here: this is a very special story and is much more than a book about rowing--it is a book about overcoming obstacles, persevering in the face of unbelievable odds and understanding that the process is as valuable and prized as the final result. It is not a book about the means justifying the ends. It is a book about building a foundation and building upon that foundation and not taking any shortcuts. Lewis is a superb writer and the speed of his narrative matches the strength of his oar strokes. I have given it as a gift to people I really care about.

Brad Lewis' "Assault on Lake Casitas" is bar none the finest book ever written, not just on the sport of rowing, but on the unflaging pursuit of excellence. A powerfully gripping read from cover to cover, Lewis's description of the training, trials, heats and finals of his 1984 olympic campaign captures the essence of competitive rowing. Like many of the other reviewers, I too read Lewis' heart stopping description of his Grand Final race before races-no other book captures with such power the emotions which crew illicits. A triumph of determination and perseverence, Lewis' story is a great, great read.