Guides Books

I think, the workouts listed here would help me in every area of life, not just golf. Its a great set of exercises.
Now, if I could only find the motivation required to stick to them :)

I was looking for a book that actually had workout routines to specifically target areas that would increase my golf game and this one had it. It also has pre-season and off-season workouts which are a plus. It is a very detailed book. Great book!

This was a quick, easy and informative read for the novice weight trainer/improving golfer. Very nice!

I'm a multi sport athlete who trains all year round regardless of what sport I play. I bought a few of these Ultimate Guide to Weight Training books, and they definitely helped me train specifically for the different sports that I play. Then about a year later I received an email from amazon that there was a new edition out. These upgraded editions are even better than the originals, with more articles and a lot more sport-specific information. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who plays a lot of sports or wants to specifically focus on training for one sport in particular.

This book is great! I have always had a problem falling into a workout rut, and this book has designed a fun golf workout that changes every two weeks. I would recommend this book or any book in this series to someone who is training for a specific sport. The book is simple to read and you can download blank workout sheets from their website so you can track your progress. The book also has pictures explaining each exercise that is well organized by muscle group. Golf season has not started yet but I am looking forward to getting out there and crushing some great shots.

I would recommend this book to any serious martial artist, regardless of their style. I have read plenty of books that discuss interpreting kata moves, and at first glance this would appear to be "just another kata book." However, this book goes a step further and discusses determining the strategy of a particular style, and concentrating on finding kata interpretations that fit that strategy.

The only reason I did not give it a 5-star rating comes from some of the "optimized" versions of kata interpretations contained in one of the later chapters of the book. Most of them are quite good, but I was disappointed to see a "2-hand press block" being used to deflect an incoming punch. As one of my old teachers put it, "If you need two hands to block one punch, you're in the wrong fight!"

Perhaps the best book on the martial arts I have read. The authors help remind us that forms are not a dance, they are deadly techniques in a transmittable form. The book helps you achieve the right mindset for analyzing kata of any style (though the authors are based in Goju-Ryu) to uncover the practical, dangerous moves that have been hidden. A wonderful tool for those looking to develop fighting skill from their chosen art.

Rather than presenting a book worth of random applications or cool looking sequences, the authors go much deeper and present you with a methodology for actually understanding kata application.

I have found this book to be very valuable, i've owned it for something like two years and I still open it up regularly, it is defnitely a book that you will use frequently.

This is a must have for any Martial Artist. Having trained in Martial Arts for 20 years I feal that this book will help any student in any style look more deeply at the style they are studying. This is not a beginners book. This is for people who have trained for 3 or 4 years or Brown belt level and up.

Lawrence Kane lives and trains on a different continent to me, and although his style is much the same as the one that I train in, I would have expected to see differences in small particulars of dojo ettiquette, training conventions, kata interpretations and the like.

In reading his book, I felt that he had been watching our school for years and almost every fine nuance in ethos, discipline, terminology and so many other aspects reflected in his book could have been taken from where I learn.

Kane seems to have retained the traditional aspects of Goju training in a world where professional dojo's easily lose the essence of their roots in order to be more commercially acceptable and/or sport orientated. On almost every page I smiled with a mixture of incredulity (is that a word?) and satisfaction as he managed to both confirm the direction of my teachers, and at the same time, offer so much further insight that has given me material for my class planning and personal growth.

I recommend this book without hesitation.

Lauren Manoy writes the way I too share my knowledge and experiences (and warnings) to younger people interested in witchcraft. Only I think much more than I've thought of sharing. I truly found her book interesting and useful. She's practical - "you don't have to spend a lot of money on magical tools." She is wise and cautious (as a witch must be) I appreciate her talking about the very emotional teen saying that that person would be better not practicing. I found this true in my experiences with the highly emotional teens. Educational and still retaining that historical mystery surrounding witchcraft. I do recommend it for teens but for the younger folks (girls 10 are asking me) one would have to explain it in simpler terms. Would Manoy consider a book for the younger girl and as I do when giving info on being a witch suggest a mentor? In my fictional (semi) novel, "The Skye in June", I gave my young psychic character a few mentors as I only wished I had growing up. All in all I will continue to recommend this book.

Hello,
I am 13 year old, new found Wiccan and this was the first book I read on the subject. I have just finished reading it and it an absolute pleasure to read with hints and tips through the book. The book contains ideas on her spells and rituals for if you dont have access to some of the tools and herbs etc. that you may not hav access to. Lauren makes it easy to read and not too technical without having to dumb it down.
An amazing book that i recomend for anyone wishing to learn about wicca.
I wish to read more of her work.
Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again.
Blessed be~

This is a great book. It is full of real and usefull information while keeping your attention and not going dry.this is the first book on paganism that I have been able to read all the way trough without getting bored. Lauren Manoy doesn't really put any spells into the book, she leaves her readers to do that for themselves which I really admire. There are tons of resipies. Everything from banishing poverty to getting rid of pimples. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was that it didn't really explain the book of shadows very much, only 3 pages for the entire subject. But all in all this is a wonderful book and I would encourage any beginner (or even experienced) witch read. you will not be sorry.

The one thing that disappointed me about this book was although it started off strong, acknowledging openly that the form of witchcraft known as Wicca was largely a twentieth century creation and addressing well in a section of related spiritual paths the aspects of the various schools of modern Wicca which were borrowed from other religions, the author later slides back into the practice of using phrases like "in Wiccan tradition/mythology..." By the end of the book, I didn't feel the author had done an adequate job of making clear that there isn't just one "old religion" stretching back in an unbroken line to the beginning of humanity.

Not a bad introduction for beginners by any means, especially since it does explain well the difference between various schools of Wicca and which practices come from which school, and the list of recommended works is also quite comprehensive, but I felt it could have been clearer about the origins of the beliefs.

When I started concidering the craft, I came to amazon and tried to find some good books to read on the subject. It was a little overwhelming, there were so many! I went to the local library and checked out my top thirty. After reading each and every book, this was the first one I bought. Why? Because it gave you the whole picture. There were lots of books on different types of witchcraft, history, spell casting,candle magic, tarrot readings... This was the only book that gave brief in-depth overviews of each part, in language that recognizes teens as real people that can think for themselves. She stresses that the power of the craft is not how you cast, but what you are thinking, way down in the depths of your soul. She conciders (sorry about the spelling) all possibilities, and her writing is open to everyone. If she wrote this whole book about the weather, I would still read it just because of the way she writes. I don't know how to describe it, her writing made me feel like my thoughts and emotions were being aknowleged to their full extent. Whether you are new to the craft or have been practicing for a while, defintetly read this book for the insight and unique comprehension. Read the book! You'll be glad you did!

I've read this book cover to cover twice and I reference it regularly--my copy is well-worn.

Christina Katz's tips, suggestions, and examples have been invaluable in helping me successfully launch my new writing career. This book has given me the ideas, the confidence, and the good old-fashioned "kick in the pants" that I've needed for years and haven't found anywhere else.

I'm recommending Writer Mama to all my writing friends, even those who aren't mamas--they can skip the mama-specific stuff and still get tons of good advice.

I purchased this book on Amazon a year ago, after reading many of the glowing reviews.

They're true.

Christina Katz de-mystifies the publishing process, along with great pitching and organizational tips to help you blossom as a freelance mama.

Due to incorporating many of Christina's ideas, I've landed articles in local and national magazines. I'm also revising my first completed novel, preparing to send it out into the world.

This book takes what is a cherished dream to many moms and lays bare the steps to make it happen. Are you ready?

I happen to be a freelance writer and a young mother, and this book teaches me a ton about how to do better at the first without sacrificing time or quality of care for my son. While the book does not actually cover how to get things done around a baby, she does do an admirable job of teaching you how to get the most out of a few minutes, and that is what I needed to know. Thank you for the EXCELLENT book!

I don't care if you are a Writer Mama, a Writer Dad or a singleton without kids, this book is indispensable if you want to become a writer/author and get published! As opposed to most books out there about writing that are intimidating and overwhelming, Ms. Katz's tone is warm and helpful. She shows you how to get published even though you don't have a newspaper column that 300,000 people read every week or a marriage to a famous celebrity. (For those of you in the dark here, I'm talking about Jessica Seinfeld and her book Deceptively Delicious. We all know she got that book deal because of her marriage to Jerry.) But I digress. Perhaps more important, Writer Mama is very well organized and filled with practical information. If I ever get published, it will be because of Writer Mama! So if you want to be a published author, don't walk, but run to your nearest Barnes and Noble or Borders bookstore. Or better yet, let your fingers do the work and place the order now on Amazon.

Women, and particularly Moms, face emotional challenges daily, such as: Did I love my children well? Am I presenting my best self professionally and coming across confidently? Am I subconsciously harboring insecurities about writing which ultimately keep me from putting pen to paper?

Don't get me wrong: this is a book about writing and taking practical steps to getting published, focusing on freelance writing but also including nonfiction; it does not presume to be a psychological book at all. HOWEVER, Katz hints at something a bit deeper and more subtle throughout the book: don't get overwhelmed, just take it one step at a time.

I like Christina Katz's approach of taking small steps slowly in achieving your goals. In truth, it is remarkably comforting to see it that way, and of course, it is the only way to go. Obviously I shouldn't be going for the front cover feature on my first try.... As a young writer, this book made me realize my own tragic flaw: I wanted to be happy, smart, articulate, and semi-famous, and that without much effort at all...

Katz demonstrates the "you can do it" mentality by the broad and very complete scope of issues that she deals with in the book (check out the table of contents to see what I mean). She takes nothing for granted, but clues you into all the big and little steps some people may assume you already know. I knew next to nothing about freelance when I picked it up, and now I am not nearly as intimidated by the freelance world.

And her good news is, work can be pleasurable and even fun! Browsing through the aisles of Barnes and Noble (or your bookstore of choice), with a hot beverage in hand, looking for the zeitgeist amongst bestsellers to get ideas for articles (getting "geisty" as she calls it)... how much more fun could it get?! If you are a born writer, you will hear her voice calling you like a siren, and you will find her tips, ideas, and her encouragement to write irresistible!

This is what history is all about. I have read few history books as good as this one. It's readable, it's complete, it's unbiased, it sheds light on a previously hidden topic, it moves you in ways you would never have imagined. It seems funny to say about a 500+-page book on such a horrible subject, but it was a real page-turner, a book you simply couldn't put down.

The real strength of this book is in simply uncovering what happened. The scope and the enormity of the crime is really overwhelming, and Dray gets this across in a masterful way. His accomplishment is in treating each lynching individually, in all its horror, but also in tying the individual lynchings together in a real narrative.

And that narrative can be surprisingly positive, provided primarily by the people and organizations - Ida Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, the NAACP, Clarence Darrow, et al - who brought light to the topic and shame to the nation that would tolerate something like this.

You will learn a lot reading this book. Did you know, for example, that lynchings were more likely to involve immolation, that descration of the corpse was the primary goal, that all of this took place in a picnic-like atmosphere, that they were advertised beforehand, that souvenirs and postcards were all part of the deal? Did you know that only 7 states did not have lynchings, that they occured in places like Minnesota and Pennsylvania, that plenty of whites and Latinos and Asians were lynched too?

It makes you really wonder about this country. As one of the victims of the Peekskill riots in NY said: "As the stones kept coming, all I could of think of was: This is not America. This is Nazi Germany. I don't want to live like this." It makes you understand why WEB DuBois simply gave up and emigrated to Ghana, where he died and is buried.

I had only two beefs with the book. One was the role the author accorded two white, Southern-based organizations - the Commission on Interracial Cooperation and the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching. I simply did not see them playing that big of a role. It reminded a little of the movies with a non-white cast but a white hero or "interpreter" (Dances with Wolves comes immediately to mind).

The other is that the book touches on, but doesn't really discuss, what's behind all this. The behavior seems so extreme (I liken it to a sadistic serial killer) that it begs some deep psychological explanation - i.e., how can human beings act like that? But I guess that's another book. I'd love to hear from anyone who's read something covering that topic.

This is a very informative book. It certainly shed light on a shameful slice of American history.

This is history book in the purest sense of what a history book should be yet this book is much more than a history of American Violence against African Americans, it's a history of how civilization can be repressive and savage despite it's seemingly enlightened ideology. Philip Dray doesn't hold back in painful details of lynching, the dynamics and psychology behind the mob mentality, and how people actively seek to uphold an illusion of law and order from the bigoted vigilantes to the unsympathetic courts. Collectively we have tried and still continue to try to supress the history of slavery and the bloody history subsequent racial violence. This book needs to be required reading in our schools as a counter to other so-called history texts admonishing certain fathers of the nation.

This book was not only shipped within 2 days but in new condition. The book itself is very informative about other things than lynching. It talks about various people related to the anti-lynching movement tons of other things. I'm currently using this as a text book for a college class. This is a great teaching resource! Buy the book, you won't forget it!

Quite possibly the best, most well-researched book I've ever read. A smooth read, impeccable use of historical sources, and a clear narrative account of the most tragic era in American history. For scholars who research or teach in the area of social control, legal, and extra-legal punishment, you *cannot* have a full grasp of the topic unless you read Dray's work. A fine work of history...the author is to be commended.

This book has started me on the path of what God wants me to be. This book has 90 days of activities to help you get closer to God and change your lifestyle. I often read this book in the middle of the night while I am watching my special needs son. I have to help him clear his airway at night and my life gives new meaning to the part of Proverbs 31 that says her lamp does not go out at night. I also have a four month old.
I do get to sleep though. God gives me rest. The woman he wants me to be is not completely exhausted all of the time. He lies me down beside still waters too.
I know that God has a plan for me to prosper me and not harm me and to give my family a hope and a future.
There are fun parts of the book like the chapter on what is your signature color. I realized that I should be wearing more navy blue and I noticed a difference in how I look when I wear the right colors.
This book is a 90 day jumpstart and I can't wait to continue living the life that God has set out for me.

This book is your begining to a new way of life. This is the best guide to help you get to where you want to be. It will bring you closer to the Lord and help you become the woman you were ment to be.

This is a wonderful easy read. It helped me find my way back to the Lord. I can honestly say it saved my life. It's one of them books every woman who wants a deeper walk with God should read.

I wanted a devotional book that I could read every morning that would take approx 10 mins of my time with another 5 mins for reflection on what I just read. This book is ment to be read in 90 days based on Donnas day by day format. It is exactly what I was looking for. Donna is full of inspiration and guidance while applying scripture to every day life. I looked forward to every morning excited to read what Donna would have to say! This is a great read for any woman in her journey with god and in life.

I love the structure of this book! Being a mom of 4, I don't have alot of time to invest to reading. This book offers shorter chapters that go straight to the point. I'm also a very visual, hands-on learner, so keeping a book of the key points in this book, as the author suggests, is a total highlight to me! This is the first Donna Partow book I've gone through, but it will not be my last!

Beautiful color photos and lots of examples and instruction. Maybe not for the beginner's only source of instruction.

This is a very clear guide for the beginner and good for referencing different braiding patterns. The pictures are good and the language easy to understand.

The author makes this very easy. Granted this is a beginners book but you can still make a 'pretty' on your first effort. Her dimensions for a wooden marudai (stand) were so accurate that my husband made me one from scrap hardwood in his shop. Like most arts/crafts,you can go forward from this point and get into really complicated braids, or not....the choice is up to you. There are many practical uses for beautiful braids. My first one is attached to a pull for a ceiling fan. This book contains instructions for square, round and flat braids.

As a beginner to kumihimo, I felt this book covered all the basics needed to learn the braiding process. Once you follow the step by step photo images and diagrams, it was easy to pick up the steps. Although I used the pearl cotton threads for my first project, it is not necessary to keep using the suggested threads as they can be costly. I used cotton blend yarn, nylon cord, and even hemp as my cords and found great results, depending on your project needs.

I am a new Kumihimo enthusiast and was looking for something to help me. I love the photos and very easy to follow directions and diagrams! Would definately recommend to those who are interested in this very addictive craft!

My 6 year old boy initial reaction to going to Disney World was not as enthusiastic as one would expect. being a Disney fan myself i was highly disappointed until I realized that his reaction was due to the fact that he had a blurred idea of what there is in this World. i purchased this book and read a few pages everyday to explain what he is going to see and ride. The way it is set up is very understandable to kids. Now he cannot wait to go!!!!

My wife and I are planning a trip to DW with our 2 kids, her sister, brother-in-law and 2 nieces. As a gift, we bought 2 copies of this book for the kids. One for their family and one for ours. Both families really like the book and find the information helpful, but not enough pictures of everything spoken about for the kids to get really excited about.

I bought this book for a Christmas present for my then 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 daughters to get them ready for our trip to Disney World. They really enjoyed having me read them this book cover to cover. They still look at this book now. While I know it's geared towards the older crowd (8+), the younger ones can still enjoy it but with adult interaction.

Birnbaum Guides "Walt Disney World For Kids" should be your #1 book at Disney.
I went to Walt Disney World with my three grandchildren and two books. Fodor's "Walt Disney World With Kids" was the other book.Birnbaum's was by far the better one.It was more concise, had better tips, it was easy to carry and refer to.
I bought Birnbaum's book for the grandchildren and ended up using it myself.

Very enjoyable book for my son. We read a little each night so that when we go on our trip to Disney, he will know what to expect. Also, there is a ton of pages in the back for Autograph's with a place to put a picture next to it.

If there were more craft books like this one, I wouldn't need so many craft books! This one has it ALL.

Yes, some have pointed out that the projects are somewhat dated. Published in 1979, the Complete Guide to Needlework is 6 years older than I am. However, if you're interested enough in crafting to even read it, you should be creative enough to improvise.

If there's a knit stitch or applique technique you just can't find, maybe it's in here. Trust me, it's all here. And with so many available used for under $1 on this site, it's a fantastic find.

What a deal!!! Has absolutely everything about the basics of almost every kind of stitchery. A real find.

An oldie but a goodie...I love it as it has everything. It is for any type of needlework what the "Joy of Cooking" is for cooking...if you want to know how to do something look here.

I had to buy this book for a fibers class and i'm glad i did. this book is great! easy to follow instructions. if you can get the older one, the cover is much cuter! it helped me learn lots of embroidery stitches, basics of quilting, and the macrame section is great!

This volume lives up to the title. It is most definitely a very complete guide to needlework. The instructions are flawless, and the lovely presentation will encourage you to try new things and refresh old skills. The Complete Guide to Needlework would make a perfect gift for the crafter in your life, but be sure to buy another copy for yourself. It's just THAT GOOD!

The book is concise, covers a wide range of topics and is entertaining while describing a complicated religion. An enjoyable read, very informative and filled with fascinating facts, thoughts, history and possible future of Judaism. I would recommend this for anyone wanting to start learning about Judaism and the fascinating culture, traditions and religions.

This book is in no form an "Idiot's" guide. Rabbi Benjamin Blech does an absolute brilliant job articulating some of the most difficult concepts in Jewish thought and Judaism today. Based on his book "Understaing Judaism" published by Jason Aronson, Blech touches on almost every aspect of Jewish life and for the right amount of time. Not too little, yet not too boring.

After reading this book I realized that after years of study, I am still an "idiot".

They need to remove the "Complete Idiot's Guide" from the title. I feel that this cheapens or insults the wonderful message and body of work inside this marvelous book. G-d's message and word should not be down played as this title implies.

With that said the Rabbi's message is very articulate and insightful. He is able to blend ancient teachings with modern analogies wonderfully. I highly recommend this book!!

This book provides an accurate basic account of the Jewish faith for all who are interested. It also adds amusing references to pop culture and real-life sitations.

This is a great book for a non Jew to get an overall appreciation for the beliefs, practices and customs of the Jewish religion. I am a Christian who wanted to get a better understanding and appreciation for Judaism. In Jan. 2007 I spent two weeks in the Holy Land and when I came back I wanted to get a fuller appreciation for Judaism. This book gave me that.