Recreation Books

Yessiree, I give it 5 stars as a running book. I was finding I was docking some books and CDs; because I approached it like, is it perfect enough to get the highest rating like a Shakespeare play or a symphony?

I go with the genre it belongs too; and too, I'd say those who have had substance abuse/alcohol problems would find it inspiring too; cause Dick became addicted to pain killers; and did some things; that were indeed wrong.

It's a good book for athletes, cause Dick's body did start to break down some; even away from his being prone to some bad accidents. It makes me ponder, we hear about so many athletes who later end up being not in the best shape because of their sports career, say like Larry Bird. It makes you think, it's great to run that great Boston Marathon in '82; but is it worth it in the long run.

I agree, the book may have minor blemishes, might be choppy in parts in the latter half of the book, but it shouldn't keep anyone from reading it, indeed, some of this could have been expanded on.

It's a good book, kind of for your couples too; I mean, I admire his wife, Maureen, for staying with Dick; for her care, love and also standing up to him some.

I definitely, would like to read "Duel in the Sun" to continue reading on Mr. Beardsley, really, along with his rival at the Boston Marathon, Alberto Salazar and along with "Pre" Prefontaine himself; there certainly is more to read on these famous track runners from America.

As Dean Karnazes' book UltraMarathon Man is getting to be compulsory reading for Greeks (but not only them of course), I think Minnesotans and those from the surrounding areas should read this one, especially if they are interested in the sport.

Beardsley reminds me a bit of the great American cyclist from the turn of the century (meaning near 1900) Major Taylor, in that his glory descended into lows.

After going through this book, I am still contemplating parts of it and how we and history will see Dick, but I definitely would wish him and his family the best. Some parts of it, really are astonishing; and it is astonishing as a whole. He certainly has given a lot to the Marathon.

I have heard Dick Beardsley speak and he is awesome. I purchased his book to give for gifts at Christmas time. He has persevered through the toughest of obstacles and is still standing with his wife by his side!

My husband is a marathon runner & enjoys reading. We have met Dick Bearsley when we ran the Detroit Lakes Half marathon. My husband really enjoyed this book. He learned alot about Dick Beardsley & his marathons.

Very well written book! It shows the high and low of Dick Beardsley's running career and life. It is a very quick read, with no slow sections. It might be the best book about running that I have read.

This book is about the life of a runner named Dick Beardsley. It talks about his life goals in running and how he got into a bad habbit of using pain killers. The book takes place in the mainland, and not in a certain place because he traveled a lot to race. See i am a runner so i like the book because it gave me the motivation to go on when the going gets tough. If i compare this book to other book i would say it is not the best running book i have read but, it is better than the other types of books i have read. I think if you are a runner you will really like the book cause it teaches you to be tough in a race and some pointers on how to run marathons. If you do not run i dont think you will have a strong liking with this book. It can get kind of boring a some parts, but the parts that tell about his races really made me want to read on, so if you are a runner i think this book is better for you than if you are not a runner. So be a runner!

Imagine this; you are an athlete, born with a gift. You work hard to improve and better yourself in what you love and crave to do, and when you finally get to live your dream, someone spoils it with a threat of `simply' taking your life if you - win.
Reid Clark, a professional golfer, has a rude awakening as he receives such a threat during the tournament of tournaments; the Masters.
Not a stranger to challenging situations he finds himself just a bid over his head and has no choice but to surround himself with a colorful team of bodyguards and investigating cops, because he surely is not going to easily give in.
What follows is a well written tale of a cat and mouse game on a different level. Intrigue and suspense can be painted in many vivid colors, but spinning them into the `game of kings' is certainly a new twist author Michael Balkind has discovered.
Though I play a little golf myself, I'm not a huge fan and certainly don't watch it on TV. However; ever since I read this story I find myself taking a glimpse at the tellie whenever I catch a game and I wonder - what would it be like to perform at such level if indeed one would encounter a death threat.
To me, Balkind made the story believable and I enjoyed the read through out. There were just a few instances where I would have liked to see a lesser degree of explanation of the physiological pressure of the game. I also wondered about a scenario where Reid, while still under extreme stress due to his threats, takes his family on a shopping spree.
All in all however, I recommend Sudden Death to anyone who seeks a satisfying thrill ride down the fairway and I will be looking for more sport related mystery from this new, exciting author.

Rebecca Lerwill, author of Relocating Mia.

Reid Clark, an angry, rude PGA touring pro enters the Masters with a death threat hanging over his performance there. The 'Bad Boy of Golf' mellows somewhat when the fear of his death lingers over the fairways and greens of that cherished magnolia lined golf course. He even lets loose some of his millions won on tour and through sponsorships to buy his mom a house and the sport car she desires. The would-be killers suspected are many because of Reid's past 'bad boy' reputation in golf and business. But it's the one on the bottom of that long list who plans and executes the threat.
Reid ties for the lead and The Masters goes into sudden death and fearing it could be his own quick demise, he putts for the win...a gun-shot is heard. Did the putt drop in or did Reid drop before the ball missed the cup? Reid doesn't know and the reader will find out later when the book concludes.

Don't read Sudden Death on an empty stomach you'll crave for such as Tarragon Lobster, Salad Nicoise and then wish for the libation offered by a cognac infused with vinilla accompanied by a good cigar. Michael Balkind knows the good life and writes with an excellent knowledge of the game of golf. If you love a mystery and/or exciting golf-play read Sudden Death. It's all there.

"Saturday was an exquisite day. A deep blue sky was dotted with just enough cottony clouds to give periodic relief from the intense sun. The air was balmy and as expected, the crowds overflowed the fairways." Descriptions like this put the reader right into the context of Balkind's story about a pro golfer playing through a personal threat on his life. Told in a play-by-play style, "Sudden Death" is rich with detail. Each day is rooted in a solid foundation of narrative and top-dressed with believable dialogue.

Reid Clark, the main character, lives the somewhat stereotypical life of the sports star and he treats the supporting cast of characters thoroughly and delightfully throughout the novel. One entertaining example describes Reid lavishing all-you-can-spend shopping trips on his sisters and another illustrates the family's enjoyment of one another as they spend time together between the Master's tournament and the contest laced with the threat on Reid's life.

The security detail embedded with Reid as he goes about practicing and playing serves as a counterweight to the family-and-friends scenes. They, along with the wide range of emotions experienced by Reid as the tension builds, remind the reader that having superior skills and worldly success are no guarantee of sustaining a peaceful state of mind. Balkind does a good job of gradually building the mystery and suspense throughout the story: "As much as he had tried, Reid couldn't concentrate on the movie. He was upset and annoyed. Why had it taken a death threat to get him to spend time with the people he loved? Was someone really going to take all this away from him?"

Adding another layer of interest to the story is a scene where Reid films an endorsement commercial for a golf ball company. I thought this scene provided an interesting insight into how professional sports stars have to be good at more than just the sport they love and it provided a sense of balance to the mystery and description of daily activities of life on the tour.

I gave Sudden Death four stars because while the suspense built throughout the novel and I felt that Reid's character grew steadily with each chapter, I didn't really get a good look inside the head of the character who wished to kill Reid. Part of the enjoyment of reading mysteries for me is gaining an understanding of how evil people think and what drives them to plan harmful actions. This was missing for me in this novel.

Overall, however, Balkind does an excellent job on his debut novel and his attention to detail and thorough understanding of both golf and his characters supplies the reader with an enjoyable read. There is enough substance in this book to appeal to golfers and non-golfers and men and women both are likely to find it entertaining.

Paula Buermele, author of The Dream Catcher Tour, is a reviewer for Bookpleasures and a member of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association and the Metro Detroit Creative Writers Group.

"SUDDEN DEATH" is a fast fun read even if you don't like golf. I wasn't sure I would like the book because I do not know much about golf but when I started reading the book I could not put it down. I highly recommend it if you like mystery books.

Sudden Death is a fast paced page burner. The characters are personable, and realistic as our hero struggles to win the elusive "Green Jacket" at the Masters, while trying to avoid an assasin. The writing is smooth while the plot is pockmarked with exciting twists. This is a great read whether you like golf or not. Everyone likes a good whodunit, and this is a good one.

I remember Ralph Miller's Oregon State teams while growing up in the Midwest. I rarely got to see them play on Television(no cable), but when I did, there was something about the way they played that made me want to play like them. As I grew up, I realized it was the fundamentals, limited turnovers, uptempo transition game with a disciplined offense that were the keys. They played the game the way it should be played. When I came across Mr. Seidler's book/tape, I just had to see what Ralph Miller's "secrets" were. As I read and watched the tape, I soon found out that it was the system that made the difference. Not one or two things that a coach plucks out of the book. That was engrained into my head by numerous e-mails with Mr. Seidler. He kept telling me to re-read and continue to watch the tapes. As I did, things became clearer and I began to see how the whole system worked. I began to see a little of what Coach Miller had spent 40 years working to perfect. Now I'm starting to teach it to my players and were getting results. It's simple, fundamental and proven. I'd highly recommend this to ANY coach at ANY level. And use Mr. Seidler as a resource. He's very gracious and has "lived it" while assisting Coach Miller.

I too am a girls' basketball coach for a northeastern US High school at the JV level. I want to begin by saying that I wish I had found Steve Seidler's book when it was first published. It is THE single best resource for total implementation of a sound basketball system.

For years I had been scouring the many basketball publishing catalogs looking for just the right mix of titles to build my team system. I was searching for a full court defense that would recover into a ball pressuring half court defense. In addition I did not want a rote pattern offense but instead was interested in a ball control offense which allowed the players to learn basketball and react to what the defense gave them (after trying to secure an easy fast break basket). After having spent hundreds of dollars, if not more, in an attempt to find all the ingredients I needed to implement a successful basketball system, I finally found it all in one neat package. I had stumbled upon some of the important aspects of "Cappy" Miller's scheme with my investments, but it would have taken years to figure out which variables were contributing to the varying degrees of success I had achieved. This book and video package is exactly what I have been looking for as Coach Seidler has quite ably conveyed the 38 years of experience Ralph Miller had already accumulated. Not to mention coach Miller's relationship to Naismith and Phog Allen as incredible resources and connections to the history and development of the sport.

Now that the varsity coach would like to implement Miller's 1-4 offense after the JV's succesful deployment - I can better understand the purpose behind the 7 drills Coach Seidler outlines. The offense is difficult to run successfully without using each drill (my able, and very successful in his own right, colleague does not yet see the value in the split post drill, for example). This was evident as I struggled implementing the scheme in our summer league without fully understanding the drills. In other words, Coach Seidler is correct. It is true that one may find it difficult to implement pieces of the system without the 7 drills. The video is a must watch for one to understand how the 7 drills are to be implemented.

I highly recommend purchasing this set. I look forward to finding out how well it works with a 13u AAU girls' team as well!

Well, where do you go when you are asked to coach your daughters sixth grade team and you have limited coaching experience. I grew up watching Ralph Millers teams and went to OSU so I do have a bias toward his ideas. Finding a book (the only book?) about his systems was a godsend. The ideas were exactly what we needed, a simple plan that they (and I) could learn thru repetition. We started out looking like the bad news bears in shorts. By the start of the seasons they could handle the ball reasonably well and run a rudimentry offense. Our defense became very good in a short period of time. When we reached the mid-point of the season they could set up the backdoor and executed it very well. Hearing the parents in the stands become more excited and cheer as the play was set up and then executed was very rewarding. I know the girls derived much satisfaction from playing as a team. We went thru the regular season undefeated and won the City championship. This year we have the same 10 girls from the same middle school that can now compete with the "A" and "Select" teams at tournaments. This is not due to my coaching ability but to drills and ideas outlined in this book. This does not mean its easy, it takes a lot of work and thought to implement the ideas, but it does show you how to do it. In my opinion you need the video also. Not for the kids to see but for you to visualize what is discussed in the book. All in all, the best money I could have spent.

I grew up in Corvallis as a rabid Oregon State University Beavers basketball fan, and I was in my mid twenties when Coach Seidler was an assistant to Ralph Miller. "The Orange Express" was by far the best coached team I have ever seen, and, as Sports Illustrated noted in 1980, those players "could pass a pumpkin through an inner tube!"
Coach Seidler has taken a personal interest in the growth of my team, as he communicates the details of this system to me by email and by phone.
This system is exciting to coach, and my team has improved a great deal in a short period of time because of our coaching staff's committment to the 1-4 offense, and to the pressure defense techniques that are outlined, in great detail, in this book.
This book clearly explains this system in a user friendly fashion.
I am currently coaching at a new high school in Oregon, with a team comprised of only freshmen and sophomores. We are competing against some of the best teams in the State of Oregon.
To see the growth of the players, and the joy that they have in creating turnovers and backdoor opportunities against much more experienced teams has made our committment to this system worth far more than the relatively small price of this book.
I am proud to be developing a program that honors the memory of Coach Miller.

I have over 50 books and videos relating to baksetball coaching. Some deal with certain aspects of the game, others deal with a system. A System of Game Execution is by far the best coaching book I have ever seen. It tells of the history of basketball, how that history is related to the system, the philosophy of the system, drills for the system, and how everything within the system ties together. The book is written by Steve Seidler and explains in detail the system used by the late Ralph Miller at Oregon State University. Steve was an assistant to Ralph at OSU. Steve also provides his e-mail address and is very good about replying to e-mails. The system is sound and easy to teach and learn. The drills help the players to teach themselves the system. The system is based on team concept and pressure on the opponent at all times. I feel every basketball coach on any level should have this in their library. It is a book you can read again and again and learn something more each time.

I really don't care of teletubbies. But boy did both of my kids. They loved this book because they ask questions like who's hiding behind the tree and the kids would flip it up or down and find who it was. They were anxious. A very enjoyable book to read and fun!

It's a great book for older kids. My daughter tore all the pop up parts out of the book so now we pretend that it's peek-a-boo.

This pop-up book asks you who's hiding behind different things, with the Teletubbies being behind the first four hiding places. Then comes Noo-noo & finally all the Teletubbies are hidden. While 1 or 2 year olds who like the show will probably get some giggles out of it, the book's art work is lacking. It's pretty stale fare, especially the sky. Couldn't they have put at least one bird, or maybe the sun with the baby's face in it up there? This seems to be a rush-job to capitalize on the popularity of the tv show. Looks like it worked - the copy we have is a 5th edition. There's many other pop-up books out there that are done much better, but if your little kiddies love the Tubbies, I'm sure they'll dig this.

I know most parents cringe at the thought of the Teletubbies,me too, but my one year old loves them. In "Teletubbies Play Hide and Seek" little ones are asked to find the Teletubbies under the flaps. After just a couple of readings she understood how to wait until mommy reads the words before she lifts the flap. She also learned the word boo. It's a little word, but it's a start. You might not enjoy the Teletubbies, but it's worth it to watch your child's face light up.

My 8-month old daughter LOVES this book! It makes her laugh out loud and she already has figured out how to lift the flaps on her own when we read it! It's a cute little book for babies and toddlers. I don't mind the Teletubbies so much anymore! :-)

This book has some great suggestions for different types of travel (overseas, on a cruise ship, camping, etc) with recommendations for the type of travel that is best for different ages.

I found several products recommendations very helpful, and saved myself from disaster by reading about the documentation my baby will need when we go to Peru without my husband. Other gems were about airline fares for babies and how they vary by carrier.

She doesn't mention the Ergo baby carrier, which I would vote as the best because of its front, back or side options. The number of suggestions that I do pass along to friends that are taken from this book speak to its strengths.

I was given this book as a gift. I didn't think I would get much out of it because frankly, I'm a bit of a homebody--didn't love to travel before kids and certainly don't love it more now that I have two.

But we do *have* to travel several times a year to see family and "Travels With Baby", because it is so thorough, has helped make a few recent trips run more smoothly. The author is so enthusiastic and understanding of the nitty gritty of little kids' routines--I feel like I can leave home now and not get the kids too messed up from their all-important routines.

This book has actually made me excited to go to a kid-friendly resort some time in the near future. Rivoli covers the details--vaccinations, passports, etc., in such detail that there is no guess work for me. I really appreciate that.

I just picked this up for my step-brother and his wife who just had twins. They're planning their first trip to Europe, and this is going to be a great help for them, I think. When going through the book I found it to be really well organized with easy-to-find information, and a really personable/readable tone to the writing.

A great addition to any travel or parenting library.

We love to travel and travelled often before we had kids. We would like to continue to travel, but are hesitant with infant twins. I bought this book to try and give us ideas on travelling with babies. It really does have some great advice. In fact, we have our first trip planned in a couple months thanks to this book.

I picked up this book since we have both a preschooler and a newborn and are planning two overseas trips in the coming year, and I have to say Rivoli is riveting! Replete with practical tips, the book also reads as a sharp travelogue and a bit of escapist literature for this blurry-eyed mom. The best aspect of this book is that it encourages parents of small children to pack their bags AND their babes and get traveling, whether to a nearby state park or 'round the world. While an unabashed travel enthusiast, Rivoli also devotes a considerable amount of the book to safety tips and precautions, and I greatly appreciated her practiced and measured tone throughout the book in discussing such considerations. It is an excellent resource and refresher for our family as we were able to do a fair number of fun trips with our older child but felt we needed expert guidance on planning a trip that included our new addition.

I came across this book while searching for books on sports psychology and motivation. I coach boys lacrosse, but after reading a few excerpts, I knew that Coach Dorrance had some interesting ideas and I bought the book. Even though he focuses on soccer and women's soccer in particular, his ideas and observations apply to any team sport and were facinating and very helpful. His approach to fitness, practice, and competition were especially thought provoking, and while seemingly simple, have shown great results. Good read and highly recommended for coaches of all sports.

Anson Dorrance provides an excellent framework to guide young adults in developing character, leadership and respect for others. This book is about much more than soccer...it is a guide for life.

If you are considering coaching at any level, this is a must read. Anson translates his passion for soccer into an enjoyable and easy read. His honesty regarding technique, strategy and motivation will improve anyone's coaching ability. Highly recommended.

This book is amazing. It is absolutly irresistable. A must read for all. Perfect insight.

Don't know anything about Anson Dorrance personally, but I love his books. There is so much great information. He really conveys his philosophy of how to become a great soccer player, and how a player should conduct themselves in high school and college. I enjoyed this book from a coach/parent standpoint, but I really think high-school age players could benefit from this as well.

I had been a reader of two of Kim's famous works "The Weaponless Warriors" and "The Classical Man". When I saw this volume I knew I had to have it though it was pricey, so I went ahead and ordered it. I'm now glad I did. This is an awesome work! It also comes with an ebook version and a DVD which contains a slideshow type presentation showing various old pictures and music.

My only complaint is that there are a few misspellings in places.
(The author probably needed a few other people to serve as proofreaders.)

Overall though, this is an excellent work. The time and effort that went into this volume really shows. My favorite parts are the humor of Richard Kim (apparent in many places) and the additional stories which are similar to those found in the two books mentioned above. Even after 20+ years in the martial arts, I learned some new things reading this work.

Highly Recommended!

I found the information in this book to be the stuff of movies: intrigue, action, and historically poignant! It really did keep me on the edge of my seat... and the kicker? It's all true! This is a really fantastic tribute to a man who was a real martial artist of life.
Really excellent!

I have been reading martial arts books for over 46 years. This is by far the very best on martial arts philosophy and psychology, it is an absolute MUST HAVE for all!

Don Warrener is to be congratulated on producing this outstanding tribute to one of the finest and most charismatic martial arts teachers of the 20th Century. O'Sensei Kim had a profound influence upon all those who were fortunate to have been taught and receive guidance from him. I hope that this book will play a part in promoting and preserving his legacy.
Andre Lafond

Something of a mystery-man, Richard Kim was a Zen priest, trailblazer and veritable pied piper of the martial arts. His charismatic personality, encyclopedic-like knowledge and penetrating wisdom made him one of the most revered teachers of our time. A tall tree in the forest of martial arts he provoked the pride of winds and was the giant upon whose shoulders many stood to see further than others. Paraphrasing the words of Zen prelate, Matsuo Basho, Kim urged us all, "not to seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old but rather to seek what they sought." Hanshi of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, Richard Kim is remembered as an artist of life and the last of the Classical Men, and who better qualified to the present the Master's legacy than long-time Canadian student, Don Warrener.

"20th Century Samurai" is an informal testament to the remarkable journey of Richard Kim, and a wonderful publication that offers more than just an account of his accomplishments and contributions. Woven into the fabric of these pages is a message that transcends style. Having searched every nook and cranny leaving no stone unturned Warrener succeeds in exposing all...and, in doing so, he makes the publication mandatory reading. "TCS" should be on the bookshelf of every martial artists young and old.

It doesn't matter what you've heard...it doesn't matter what you've read...and it doesn't matter what you think you know...it only matters that you read this "TELL ALL" book and find out the truth for yourself!!!!

Indeed there is something to be said for reaching out with the internet. Jocko has, since my previous review, made good with a payment for the photo usage in this book, and has been added to my personal list, as another "Cadillac of Dudes".
-M.Fo

Echoes many of my sentiments from the early days.
As for the days surrounding my involvement, it is how I remember it, and how I intended it.
That never happens, but it did in this book, and I don't even know this guy, and never talked to him. He did use some of my photos without asking me though, and I never got a dime. I can be reached through Thrashers publisher, in the event there is a check waiting for me, and no where to mail it.

being a 32 year old skateboard enthusiast (going on 18 years), i could feel myself re-living my past. he brings back the essence of what skateboarding is, was, and "will be" all about. i've had the wonderful opportunity to meet, and skate with this great author, and he truly does have a passion. the book is a part of his energy, and an element of the soul of skateboarding. i would urge anybody interested in skateboarding, or what skateboarding is about, to buy it. A+ jocko!

Growing up in the 80s I was surrounded by skateboarding, whether it be in the form of my Mom's friend's daughter showing me how to (attempt to) ride down the street at age 10, the kids skating in the "hip town" of Hyannis, MA (which was a "city" to someone from The Cape), watching my neighbors skate and build their own ramps, watching the early skate videos, or ogling through Transworld Skate or Thrasher and wishing I'd had enough coordination to actually be able to learn what I was seeing. I found this book at the public library and thought it might be an interesting read, but I had no idea what I was in for. Granted, Weyland's writing can be very subjective and he tends to "go off" about what skating has become (as many people who have been skating their entire life can), but what he wrote isn't just his complaints about skating and the industry. There's a lot of information about the history of skating (which a lot of people who claim to skate might not have any ideas about), and also stories about what skating was like before The Circus of what is now began. What he's written gives the person who doesn't understand skating the ability to have some inkling of what it's like, and to understand that "skating" isn't just what they see, but it's a culture, a lifestyle, a thought pattern, a philosophical journey, and can even be a family. One truly interesting part of the book (for me, being a 28 year-old college professor) is Weyland's comments and thoughts about going from being "in the know" to being considered "old." I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of the sport and the genesis of what they see before them today.

Weyland chronicles the history of the sport from its ancestry in Hawaiian surfing through its recent emergence as a mass-marketed ESPN drawing card. While carefully charting this history, he intersperses lenghty (though riveting) tales from his own experiences growing up as a skater. These tales, which are indicative of how the skating mileau of the time shaped him, are a valuable time capusle to which many readers will relate. He manages to do all of this very artfully so that what seems to be a bi-polar stucture is nearly seamless. Few books measure up to the narrative and literary standards I expect from authors--but this one far surpasses them (a pleasant surprise). Novice skaters and parents who wish to understand skating culture should read this book and also Tony Hawk's Operation: Skateboarder. Both are fast reads (despite their 300+ pagecounts) and demonstrate two contrasting aspects of the sport and the corresponding worldviews engendered therein. Really, it's so good if Weyland waxes poetic on ice fishing I'd have to check it out. Please note that this book is a lot more fun to read than my dull review.

If more people took the time to educate themselves about horses and horsemanship in general and Xenophone's book in particular, perhaps we not see so many "show horses" of various popular breeds so physically manipulated by in breeding for only one or two specific traits rather than breeding for the whole horse. What was true in Ancient Greece is truer still today - without good feet, balance in the body and common sense a horse is worthless. Bravo to Amazon for bringing us this excellent book dirt cheap!

The material in this book is thousands of years old but amazing in how modern the approach is to horsemanship. Most of Xenophon's advice is timely even today. It shows how little has changed over the centuries.

This is a must if you are passionate about horses. It is so clear and to the essential point that it is a pleasure to read.

Xenophon covers several aspects of horsemanship, from grooming, leading, and choosing a horse, to mounting, riding, and training a war mount. Very, very interesting to see what is still applicable today. While this isn't a "training" or even a "horse care book," its a great historical reference from those interested in how horses we cared for and trained 2000 years ago. However, for those looking for a story or a book to teach riding skills, I suggest you look elsewhere. Those interested in dressage will find this worth-while, as it is considered the oldest text on the subject.

Xenophon's philosophy and many techniques, though tailored for the development of a war-horse, demonstrate the ageless capacity for human empathy toward the horse. The horse centered work makes the goal of a harmonious partnership attainable. The book interweaves aspects of barn management, riding technique, and early human psychological insights. The translation keeps this work relevant and vibrant. The overriding theme is one of responsibility for the education and wellbeing of the horse. It is, if nothing else, a comfort to read that some horses in the ancient world were treated humanely in the training process...even if under the unfortunate auspices of a warrior culture. Kurt Hartle, Reydon,Suffolk. UK