Recreation Books

TO ANYONE WHO HAS EVER LISTENED TO THE DAN PATRICK SHOW ON ESPN RADIO, THIS IS A TERRIFIC COMPANION BOOK. DAN'S WIT AND AMAZING INTERVIEW STYLE JUMPS RIGHT OFF THE PAGE AT YOU. IT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ANY OF YOUR AVERAGE SPORTS INTERVIEWS. HE COMBINES WIT AND WISDOM TO MAKE THIS AN AMAZING READ

i don't really care much for ESPN the Magazine but i dig Dan Patrick's outtakes.that is always cool.this is so cool finding out what folks really dig off the field or court or track.very interesting.that was the most Creative thing that ESPN The Magazine did at the back.i enjoy reading this.

Fun, Enjoyable and Fast..... You could read whenever you feel like with no pressure of forgetting what happened... Different People with different Things... Big Names....... FUN FOR LOVERS OF THE GAME Patrick is great as usual...fun and Loving]

This is one of the best sports related books I have ever read. I am a subscriber to ESPN the magazine and enjoy reading the outtakes column in every issue. This is a must for sports lovers!

Dan Patrick exemplifies outstanding sports reporting. In Outtakes, he engages his dry sense of humor and mixes it together with his extraordinary knowledge of the sports world. Outtakes is a candid collection of interviews with sports' celebrities of past and present. He is not afraid to ask the questions that everyone truly wants to ask, and the word associations are outright hysterical. Patrick is one of the wittiest people on the face of the earth. Outtakes just shines with this. The book is an easy read, and has a good, steady flow to it. It is one entertaining ride into the insightful mind of Dan Patrick, sports' guru. Just hold on, because the laughs come hard and fast.

I got this book used, so for me it was a good value. I read it in a day, at least the parts that pertained to me. I did get some useful info. and have dog eared at least 20 pages for my upcoming travel, she mostly talkes about carry on, but it would be helpful to read if you check your bag too. I travel usually 3-4 times a year and each time have slight packing anxiety, what am i forgetting ect. and end up bringing way too much. A helpful guide book.

The one thing I dread about traveling is dragging my heavy luggage around. I appreciated the author's solid tips on packing lighter. I'm going to try her bundle packing method in 2 weeks and believe it will work just great. I appreciated her lists and pointing out the things I probably could leave behind. She also listed many websites where I could review and buy luggage and packing accessory items. If I follow her advice I think my next vacation will be a little more pleasant than previous ones. Thanks!

First, decide you're ready to travel hassle-free (or as close to it as possible). Next, visualize your perfect carry-on travel wardrobe. Author and packing expert Judith Gilford makes it all a breeze in this readable, oddly interesting handbook. She includes specific lists to jumpstart your thinking about packing for business, vacation and special itineraries - adventure, business or cruise travel, for instance. She offers great tips, from how to pack a layered bundle to keep your clothes wrinkle-free to the best practices for stain removal. getAbstract recommends her guidelines if you want to be able to travel light and still have everything you need upon arrival.

Provided excellent help to my wife as she prepared for a trip to the Holy Land

All my life I have yearned for some unknown knowledge. Feeling incomplete, I began at an early age to selfishly take in as much information as possible. I read everything I could get my hands on, encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, but nothing could quench this thirst. That is until I found this book. I still remember the day fate brought it to me. Opening its crisp pages I began to take in its glorious advice. Immediately captivated, I read the book uninterrupted from cover to cover, twice. Hours later, as I reluctantly closed the book, I breathed a sigh of relief. My soul at rest, I put down "The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-on Traveler".

Must admit that I am probably biased since my daughter,Dina Dembicki, was involved in the "making" of this beautiful tribute to the drivers and their "kids". Having seen what it takes to put it together makes me appreciate it all the more. Dina spent 12 to 18 hours a day doing the layout and putting the book together. As the Design and Print Production, Graphic Arts person, she spent every moment loving this book. Ryan and Krissie Newman are not only wonderful human beings and loving "pet parents" they are generous with their time and aid for all living animals. The Ryan Newman Foundation is responsible for the Catawba County Humane Society's new housing facility for which this book donated all net proceeds to the new building construction. These are the kind of folks who can be assured to make it to Heaven!! This book is now in it's 2nd printing thanks to all animal and NASCAR lovers who bought one. My thanks to them and everyone else responsible for making this book such an astounding success. By the way, Krissie is even prettier than her photo!

I love this book!! I love the Nascar drivers and how they show their love for their pets!!

This is a BEAUTIFUL book that provides funds for a GREAT CAUSE. NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, have made humane treatment of animals their personal mission. It is encouraging to see a young couple consciously chooses to "GIVE BACK." Buy this book for the cause as much as for the enjoyment!

This is a WONDERFUL book for anyone who loves pets and NASCAR. The photos are wonderful. The stories show these NASCAR people just like families everywhere who love their pets. Great read. Easy book to read "a little at a time".

This book was alot of fun to read and had great pictures. I am a dog lover and a Nascar fan so this book was perfect. It helps you get to know your favorite driver by the type of pet he has and the stories about them. You will not be disappointed by this one.

Everything that the other reviewers have said is dead on. This is a fascinating story, simply on the surface, but Sowell digs deeper and finds so many more interesting storylines. Even if you're not an Indians fan, there's a lot to love in this book. The 1920 season is amazingly fertile ground.

The only reason I'm holding back that last star is more because of a technical issue. While the book is clearly a non-fiction story, there are moments that Sowell writes about as if they happened, when there's no way he could know that. There's a scene early in the book between Babe Ruth and Carl Mays that has to be fictionalized as there's no way Sowell could know what these two said to each other. It's just strange to read because it's laid out as fact, when it's clear it isn't.

That said, it's a minor point. The book is fantasic.

On August 20, 1920, Indians shortstop Ray Chapman was killed by a pitch thrown by Yankees pitcher Carl Mays - still the only fatality in a major league baseball game.

This event is mentioned in passing whenever someone is seriously hurt by a pitch. It is not, however, a well-chronicled event in the long history of the game. So it's good to see Michael Sowell give this story the attention it deserves in this fascinating book.

The book is written as a dual biography of Chapman and Mays. It could be called a triple biography, because Joe Sewell, Chapman's rookie replacement, is also prominently featured.

However, the book covers much more than these three men and the events directly concerning the fatal pitch. Sowell captures the flavor of the dead-ball era. But as Mays and Chapman approach their destiny, change is in the air. 1920 was the greatest turning point in baseball history. In that year:

The Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
Ruth set a new home run record with 54. (The old one was 29.)
Chapman is killed by Mays.
The Black Sox scandal breaks.
Kennesaw Landis becomes the first commissioner of baseball.
The spitball is banned, and dirty baseballs are removed from play.

All of this is in the story.

Chapman, by the way, was popular. Mays was not, even before the fateful day. As for the details of the pitch that killed, I will leave you in suspense...

Amazingly, this tale has not been dramatized. Why not? This story has many ideal elements for the big screen:

* We have a tragic hero, a triumphant hero and a villain, yet none are well known.
* The villain plays for the Yankees.
* Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Joe Jackson, the Black Sox scandal, and the birth of the Yankee dynasty are in the background.
* The fatal beaning takes place in the heat of a thrilling pennant race.
* The Indians, Yankees, and Mays must cope with something that has never happened before or since.
* Despite the tragedy, the good guys win the pennant and the World Series. Somewhere, Chapman is smiling.
* Did I mention that in the World Series, our heroes produce the first grand slam, the first home run by a pitcher, and an UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY - all in one game?
* Chapman becomes a martyr. Sewell becomes a Hall of Famer. Mays becomes a pariah, blackballed from Coopertown.

Sounds like good movie material to me. A good director could make his reputation with this.

Fascinating look into a little-known event in Major League Baseball. Extraordinary detail. The characterization of Carl Mays and Ray Chapman is outstanding.

A good history book of any sort should take a place in time normally only remembered in outline and fill in the colors, transporting the reader back into the heart of the story as if they were breathing it in. Sowell's outstanding and chilling account of the Ray Chapman beaning not only does that, it could be held up as a model for how others can do the same.

That the subject matter of this book is a sporting event doesn't diminish its importance, but does the reverse, reminding us of the power our games can hold. The Ray Chapman/Carl Mays saga plays against the backdrop of so many other major events in baseball that were it fiction one would be tempted to accuse the author of over-indulgence. Babe Ruth's selling to the Yankees, the unveiling of the previous year's Black Sox Scandal, one of the closest pennant races in history; these are just some of what intertwined with baseball's single darkest moment. And yet instead of randomly adding them in as dressing, Sowell masterfully integrates into his retelling of that day every surrounding element he can find.

Most strikingly portrayed is the stark personality differences between the pitcher and batter at the heart of the story. You almost could not find in baseball history two players more on opposite ends of the likability spectrum. Sowell details fully the love of ballplayers and Clevelanders for Chapman and the devastating shock his death caused, while simultaneously detailing the animosity that Mays seemed to live off, even before the fatal pitch. It's noteworthy, for example, that from the details of conversations between he and Mays, even the oft-detested Ty Cobb comes off as more personable.

The emotion of the players, fans and family that Sowell is able to channel actually makes the book hard to read at times. And that's what proves its success. This is an extremely human tale about a very human endeavor. Sowell deserves the highest praise for so perfectly treating it as such. And any fan of the game, or maybe more so anyone who doesn't understand why baseball holds the sacred place to many that it does but wants to try, owes it to themselves to pick up this book and read this story. "The Pitch That Killed" reminds us that even in those rare cases where baseball becomes black magic, it is still magic.

This is one of the better baseball books I have read. I remember seeing it in hardcover in a Borders in East Lansing, MI, around 1989. (I never picked it up because I was a poor postdoc). Both Mays and Chapman's lives, and how they fatally intersected, are described in detail, almost as if the author was actually there. Sowell is a talented writer, he covers the era in general outside of baseball well. I agree with a previous reviewer, this is fantastic movie material, I wonder why the story has never been picked up?

EXCELLENT book. A Coach or parent must read . Easy to understand with a vast amount of effective baseball knowledge with great illustrations . I especially like section that covers understanding kids emotions and psychological effects of ups and downs on players . Most parents and coaches do not realize how they can have a long term negative effect on a player. This book brings a whole new light on to the subject.

Very well written, very informative down to earth explanations and philosophy.

Gives insight that can be used for any age player. Breaks down to a fundamental level. Recommend for any youth coach.

This book isn't bad. I have not finished reading it, but it does give quite a bit of useful information. However, Cal seems to repeat himself several times in the book. There are many books out there that offer adequate, if not better, knowledge of how to play the game. Louisville Slugger's book is good as well as Coaching Pitchers. I would suggest only buying this book if you are a die hard baseball fan and plan on collecting many books. One good thing about the book is that Cal does give that sense of how to be a good teammate and maybe even a great family member.

I picked up this book at the local sporting goods store while I was buying gloves, bats, socks, pants, and etc. for my two sons who were starting little league baseball.

Just a few weeks earlier, I had declined a spot as an assistant coach due to not being "athletic", and I saw Ripken's book as an opportunity to learn some of the things that other dads had learned as kids.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have not read it cover-to-cover, but have browsed and spot-read it throughout the season.

As a result, I now understand more of the things other dads are yelling out. For example, for those in the field, "keep your eye on the ball" means watch the ball from the beginning of the pitch, all the way to the bat, as it connects with and leaves the bat, then all the way to the glove.

Chapters are given for each of the aspects of the game, pitching, fielding, hitting, catching, running, and so forth. Text narratives are easily understood, avoiding or explaining the sports "jargon" that confuses many beginning players (e.g. "choke up on the bat", "take two"). Pictures explicitly illustrate concepts such as batting and fielding stances.

Ripken's narrative also provides fun training excercises used by coaches (both major and little leagues) to develop baseball skills.

I have kept this book within an arm's reach in my office all summer long. Ripken's baseball insights have enabled me to help my sons develop their own throwing and batting skills.

Maybe next year, I might take that assistant coach position!

this book was great for beginners or should be read by people interested in learning the internal arts. All people who begin learning an internal art have questions.This is a very deep subject and at times difficult to understand,Mr. Frantzis answers so many of these questions.when you begin your journey this book will be a good refence also. GLENN LITZAU

Bruce Kumar Frantzis is awesome, both as a teacher, and as a lucid writer. The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi is a well written tome that interlaces Frantzis' personal history with the history of a wide variety of the martial arts, from karate to bagua, and is an excellent introduction into the martial and healing arts. I highly recommend it for the novice as well as the seasoned martial artist. It is definitely a book that inspires and motivates.

This is an amazing book in my opinion and it goes into great detail about every aspect of the 3 main Internal Martial Arts of China.
Everyone with an interest in studying Tai Chi should read this book!
My review is based on an earlier version of the book which I purchased a few years ago.

I have been studying Yang Style Tai Chi for 6 years now in Northern Ireland and more recently, Wu Style Broadsword and I have found that good teachers are few and far between.
I have very been lucky to find 2 good teachers!

I have 5 of Bruce's books now, a video and some DVD's ~ I refer to them on a regular basis for tips, but mainly for inspiration, when the circumstances of life prevent me from practicing as regularly as I would like.
The book that this review is concerning is excellent in that respect ~ it demonstrates the immense possibilities of what one can achieve by training their own body and mind & this process ultimately gives one access to their spirit and to their higher spiritual qualities.

All of Bruce's work is so multi-faceted ~ you will get what you need depending on your level of experience and understanding ~ this is something that you feel after a lot of practice, rather than a mere intellectual understanding ~ next time you read, you will pick up something new and so on and so forth.

Just like regular practice of a form ~ if you are really focusing on what you are doing, you pick up on very subtle qualities each time you practice and that information can be used to improve your form & help you reach higher levels of perfection.

This book has developed in me, an interest in studying Ba Gua Chang, which I hope to get into in a few years time, after I perfect my current Tai Chi and Broadsword forms.

When I read Bruce's books, I feel myself "like a small baby" (in the words of the immortal T.T.Laing)
The amount of knowledge contained in this and his other books is phenomenal!!!

My advice? ... BUY IT ... it will become one of your best friends on your life-long journey of discovering your true potential.

This is a good book for overview and good for beginners to martial arts. But you will not find any practical hints. On the other hand although I found only one sentence useful in the book, it is worth to buy and read this book for this only sentence.

This book was very inspirational when I first read it about 7 years ago. The added chapter and info in the new edition makes it just that much better. Frantzis has one of the deepest wells of knowledge of any practitioner I've ever come across. More importantly, he can communicate what he knows clearly. This book is not a how to manual, but is an eye opening big picture view of the internal martial arts, what they are capable of, and how they get there. Perhaps most importantly, the sections on animal, human, and spiritual martial arts give relevance beyond just physically crushing an opponent, and adds a since of WHY these arts can be such a powerful tool to the refinement of the entire individual.

A PGA master professional told me that my greatest problem was rhythm and tempo. He introduced me to a few aspects of "quantum golf" and I suddenly hit my 3-iron longer than I previously hit my driver.

Back in Europe I still focused on my rhythm and tempo but after several months the length of my shots decreased and I went back to classical golf.

Only after reading the book "quantum golf" I saw that I was missing one essential part of quantum golf - the Q-position. I went back to quantum golf and my results are amazing: my length and precision off the tee improved a lot.

I have found most "self improvement" golf books to be difficult to grasp without great photographic portrayal of the techniques being taught. Video would make them all that much better. This book, however, deals with easy to grasp concepts and exercises that are practical and efficient. What a great thought process the super fluid concept is! This is just the book needed for those who need to take a break from the physical grind of improving their golf game and get into the mental end of the spectrum.

A fascinating novella, where a Mr. Smith learns about himself as he explores golf with a mystical teacher in the middle of Iowa. Great reading for tennis players or golfers who want to learn a "superfluid" swing, but also for the golf/tennis metaphors that apply to life. Delightful

I'm a pretty good golfer, and I knew that my game was plateauing. I was stuck at about 79-83, and I knew that spending time beating balls at the driving range was getting me no where. I bought this book based on the reviews I saw here, and I have to admit I am SHOCKED. The book is that good. It's a story, that reveals the secrets of golf within it, primarily teaching you better rhythm, and how to "dance with the club", I feel the difference already, and I have owned the book for only 3 days. Its a great read, and very helpful, I would recommend to all level of players.

This one, little book is the most amazing golf improvement tool I've ever seen. It served as an inspiration for my own instructional video, Tao of Golf. (Which is available through Amazon.com) It is also listed in the suggested reading section of my book of the same title. This book brought my game to the next level almost ten years ago and I have never looked at my golf game the same ever since. If you are stuck in a rut, this book will get you out of it-and fast. If you have good, solid mechanics and are looking for a way to further improve, this is the way. If you think that you've maxed out your skills, you're wrong! This book will move you beyond what you think is your best. When it comes down to it, it's all mental. I have recommended this book to hundreds of my students and customers. It's worth every penny times ten. I read this book a minimum of twice a year. You should too. I cannot offer a stronger recommendation. If I could give this book ten stars, I would!

Hey, this book is the closest thing to actually seeing Riverdance live or on video...but I definitely prefer to see it live!

I first saw an advertisement when "Riverdance" was showing on PBS, and I wanted a better inside look at this amazing show. I then looked it up in the library. I discovered a real look at how it really began, and how it spread to Canada, the United States, much of Europe, and most recently Japan, among many other places. If you want to discover exactly how much work is involved in putting together a dance show, I recommend this book to you.

It gives wonderful insight of the influences and origins of traditional Irish music and dance. It also tells the story of how Riverdance developed and became a theatrical phenomenon. It is filled with pictures from the the stage and behind the scenes. I enjoyed this immensely it helped provide me with inspiration and insight of the works. I would recommend this to any fan.

"Riverdance," the exuberant Irish dance phenomenon that's sweeping both sides of the Atlantic, has swung its way in a scant few years from a seven-minute interval sequence in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest to a record-breaking stage spectacular. It's an audio, a much-in-demand video, and now a glossy richly illustrated book. Riverdance: The Story opens with a comprehensive history, an account "of an ancient Irish tradition in which dance and music are celebrated as a metaphor for life," then segues into the creation of Riverdance: The Show. Virtuoso Bill Whelan, who has written original music for 15 W.B. Yeats plays, ideated the piece - selecting a river's life as his overall theme, with the male lead dancer representing the land, and the female star embodying the river flowing through the land. He then composed the score for the original sequence and came up with the name "Riverdance." Neither John McColgan, director, or Moya Doherty, producer of the segment, dreamed of the reception it would receive: "It was seven minutes that shattered the hermetically sealed world of television, seizing the attention and igniting the imaginations of 300 million viewers." As the last note rang out the 3,000 member audience (made up of delegates from 25 countries) leapt to its feet, led by the usually staid Irish President, Mary Robinson. Tumultuous cries of "Riverdance! Riverdance!" filled the theater. The rest, to use a fatigued phrase, is entertainment history. The abruptly dissonant departure of audience-pleasing star Michael Flatley is not euphemistically described by the author . When Flatley did not renew his one-year contract, mediation was unsuccessful. A final volley from the multi-talented first generation Irish American is described as demanding control of the show. "I would like complete control over all that I do and all that I am involved with in this show," he wrote. "This includes what I wear, when I dance, and which dancers I choose to dance with." Finding his conditions unacceptable, the decision was made to replace him. Twenty-seven year old Colin Dunne learned only 1 day before curtain time that he would be taking over the starring role. That night the show received a standing ovation. Flatley went on to form "Lord of the Dance," an extravaganza enjoying enormous success. Nothing is overlooked in this meticulously conceived volume - themes, music, cast, production, and predictions for the future all receive studied attention. Author Sam Smyth, a columnist with the Irish Independent newspaper in Dublin, has filled his book with stunning full-page photographs of the phenomenon that has won millions of hearts and imaginations. "Riverdance" fans will love it. - Gail Cooke

This terrific book begins with a history of Irish music and dance, which are "celebrated as a metaphor for life." Included in this background was information about the 17th century cake dance (the dancers ate the prize) and the 18th century emergence of the solo or step dance. This was the most important development in Irish dance history. In the late 1700s dance masters traveled around Ireland teaching complex steps. The Gaelic League was formed in 1893 to promote Irish culture. The first ceili (dance event) was held in London in 1897.

The second part of the book was about Riverdance (the show)-- the original story is based on the life of a river: small and quiet at its source, then feeding and nourishing the lands it passes, and finally rushing out to sea at the estuary. The show was planned to have a soft choral opening and a big finale. It was designed as a seven-minute interval during a Eurovision song contest and got a standing ovation from a roaring audience. Thus, Riverdance "the phenomenon" was born in a Dublin theater in 1994.

From there on, it was expanded and developed into the stage show as we know it today, complete with a premier Spanish flamenco dancer, a six-person troupe from the Moscow Folk Ballet, African American tap dancers, and a choir from Atlanta, Georgia. It also made stars of its first two principal dancers, Michael Flatly and the beautiful Jean Butler, both Americans. Flatly, in fact, was the first American to win the World Irish Dancing Championships.

A "great swell" of national pride resulted from Riverdance's exploration of the internal and outward journeys of the Irish people. Riverdance rescued Irish dancing, reinforcing its sensitivity with simple costumes while utilizing generations of skills and traditions.

A lovely and beautiful book.

A very interesting book with very clear explanations and a full comprehensible vocabulary. I am not an english speaking man, but I can understand almost the whole of the text withouth effort. And this although it is a technical mate. I recommend it to everybody with interest in rugby.

This review refers to the 2nd edition (2007).

If you have seen a few games and are lost, this is the book you want to get. It explains everything from the smallest detail to the history of the world cup. If you don't know the difference between a ruck and a maul or you have no idea what a pitch or a try is then buy this book. Everything is explained in a simple and easy to understand manner.

But then isn't that how all "for dummies" books are written? Well this one is written by people who play and know the game and have an idea how hard it can be for an American on the outside looking in to grasp the game.

I highly recommend this book for both those new to the game and those that have been just using Rugby as an excuse to pop down to the pub for a few pints.

The very first time I saw a game rugby I thought "what a cool looking game". I was absolutly though clueless as to what on earth was goin on and why certain things happened, all I knew it was a lot of fun to watch. This was how it was for years until I got a copy of "Rugby for Dummies", I was very lucky to get my copy as I won it on the Fox Sports World short segment on the "Rugby Report" hosted by one of the authors; Brownie himself. Every Thursday he would read and answer a question concerning rugby that one of the viewers had sent in; if he read that persons question you'd get a free copy of the book; which is how I got mine.

This book is very well writen and easy to understand. After years in the fog knowing about this mystery sport, my eyes and understanding of this game have finally been opened and I now understand the hows and whys of this game I have come to love, thanks to this fantastic book! So a big thank you to Brownie, Guthrie and Growden for helping this dummy understand the great sport of Rugby!!!!

I am new to the world of Rugby. This book was great. It really breaks down a sport that, to me, looked like a bunch of men running in to each other. I have a much better idea of the game and it's history because of this book.

The book was very informative. The book is great for all people, from those who don't know anything about rugby to those just looking for spare bits of information. The authors did a great job with their style as well, making the reader feel as if they were having a discussion with the authors, and giving the reader confidence in his/her rugby ability. It covers all areas of the game, from the rules, to techniques, to training, to the public world of rugby. I recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn anything about the sport

The true story of Dr. Sammy Lee and his journey to become the first Asian American Olympic gold medal champion while overcoming incredible obstacles, discrimination, and hardships is both inspiring and fascinating to read. Paula Yoo did a great job telling the story in a way that makes it easy for the reader to connect with the character, and Dom Lee's beautiful illustrations remind us of old photographs and are an integral part of the book. The book touches on many important themes such as pursuing your dreams and believing in yourself, even if the odds are stacked against you, and I will highly recommend it to all of my friends and family.

My kids were amazed that Dr. Lee accomplished so much after dealing with so much discrimination. He is an inspiration to everyone and is a proud citizen of this country. The illustrations are wonderful. Just a note - the book implies that his father only wanted him to be a doctor - he says his father supported both of his dreams - to become a doctor and to be a diver. He became successful at both, and more.

Before reading "Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds", I'd never heard of Dr. Lee. After reading this incredible book, I was moved and inspired by this courageous, fascinating human being. Though classified as a children's book, "Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds" can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids. With its beautiful illustration, thoughtful prose and universal themes of perseverance and beating the odds, Sammy Lee's story will continue to be enjoyed by generations of readers to come.

When my husband first picked this up, he was surprised to discover that Korean-Americans- in California- were subject to the same Jim Crow laws that African-Americans were in other parts of the country. Unfortunately, many people forget that although Asian-Americans have been a substantial presence on the West Coast for over a century, it has only been in the last few decades that we- as well as African-Americans and other ethnic minorities- have (mostly) attained equality.

As a Korean-American on the East Coast, I was moved by the story of Sammy Lee as he struggled with both his personal ambitions in a racist country and his father's desires to secure his future. Although the Korean-American father-son relationship is fraught with tension (at least in popular American literature), this story resolves it nicely, as Sam understands that his father does not endure insults and racism because he is weak and unable to change things, but because he is trying to face an unfair world with honor and dignity. This was the most important lesson of the book, I thought, and it enabled Sam to bridge both his father's desires for his future and his own desires.

The story of Sam's relationship with his coach moved me as well. While, at first glance, we can't guarantee that we will meet the mentor of our dreams, this part of the story does jibe with the saying that "luck is when opportunity meets readiness." Maybe we won't all find what we need when we want it, but we can be responsive to what we need when it arrives.

This is a short book with nostalgic illustrations that will be a pleasure for anyone ages 8 and up to read.

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds documents the story of Sammy Lee. Lee was the first Asian American to win Olympic gold. This truly inspiring tale captures the American dream as a young person who overcame discrimination to bring Olympic recognition for a country that rejected him. Lee is the son of Korean immigrants who faced challenges just because of his skin color. Unable to practice in a whites only pool, Lee perfected his abilities in spite of discrimination. Yoo acknowleges the moment in an Olymipan's experience in which life-long training culminates in just a brief sliver of time. Paula Yoo really connects the reader to the subject. Dom Lee's sepia toned illustrations carry a nostalgic feel. This is a strong work and should be a good addition to the library collection.