Athletics Books

Taylor captures the realities of starting a running program beautifully and with LOL humor. If you're a runner, don't miss this.

After agreeing to sponsor a friend of his for the NYC Marathon, Russell Taylor decides that he would like to run that marathon the following year. Taylor is nearly 40 years old and is not a runner. "The Looniness of the Long Distance Runner" is Taylor's account of training for the NYC Marathon. The subtitle for this book covers exactly how crazy he is: "an unfit Londoner's attempt to run the New York City Marathon from scratch".

Russell Taylor is, apparently a humor writer, and so this book is filled with humorous observations on running, training, races, and why exactly he is doing this. Some of it is actually quite funny and I honestly found myself chuckling out loud a couple of times. Unfortunately, when I wasn't chuckling I was reading and hoping that something interesting would be on the next page. Often enough there wasn't. As a runner I am drawn to books about running and about marathons so I figured this book would be a natural fit, but it was a struggle to get through this one. Taylor includes a section of his training diary and that section was the single least interesting part of the book. It just dragged on and on and on. Sort of like this review.

Then Taylor gets to the races. As a part of his training Taylor ran several races and his racecourse descriptions and his feelings during the race (he made some interesting decisions as to which ones to run) were fascinating and funny. Once again I started enjoying parts of the book. The marathon itself seemed a little skimpy in the description.

I just can't recommend "The Looniness of the Long Distance Runner" to anyone. There are far better books about one man's journey to race (try "To the Edge" by Kirk Johnson for a more interesting book about an ultramarathon), and unfortunately when the humor stops there isn't much here to hold my interest. Pass on this one.

-Joe Sherry

Taylor is a professional British comic writer, which shows: the book's well written, funny, and British. British in a P. G. Wodehouse, not a ribald way. Much of the humor derives from his observations of runners' everyday peculiarities, most of which may be seen in the new world as well. The book is also a bit sad, because (I think) Taylor tried to overcome middle aged unfitness too quickly - to run the NY Marathon - and paid a price. The price was all post-NY so I'll not reveal details. But check his 1/2 marathon time and his NY time: the former predicts over 20 minutes better than he ran in NY. Check also his training heart rates: too high. It's fair to assume he ran the marathon before he was ready. But as he writes the "marathon"'s a unique brand; who'd want to read about his travails trying to run merely 13.1 miles?

Awsome book with some very interesting and intense workouts,great pics of those fantastic Nautilus machines being used to explain the exercises.Dont forget though unless your 250lbs of solid muscle and super strong the workouts have limiting effect.

This book which is based on the concept of High Intensity Training originally developed by Arthur Jones the developer of the Nautilis machines is a good reference for your library of strength training books. If you do a Google search you can get a summary of this technique by Jones himself which adds important dimensions to this concept. Also, the "Power of 10" is a good book on this subject. That book also references Jones and I think Darden as well. Jones was the man, however.

See my review of Super High Intensity Bodybuilding: Nautilus Principles Applied to Free Weights, also by this book's author; my comments regarding Dr. Darden's inspirational writing and photography apply equally here. For bodybuilders of an advanced level, the routines and techniques herein are simply unmatched in intensity and WILL stimulate growth unlike any other regimen you're likely to employ; THIS I can say from personal experience...my best gains ever in my years of working out. You've simply GOT to be willing to outlast, out-suffer, and just plain out-stubborn rhe pain and nausea you'll endure if you've got it in you to follow the directions therein to the letter. For a passionate musclehead as myself, however, sustaining such motivaton isn't quite so forbidding a possibility when you're actually stronger and taping out bigger every two weeks or so.

Considered to be among the best advanced technique bodybuilding books ever published, the book covers fundamentals as well as in-depth advanced techniques and training methodology. It has detailed (yet easy to follow) text as well as numerous photo diagrams and charts. A must have reference for any serious bodybuilding enthusiast. -- (now out of print in any form, the book has become quite a sought after item by personal trainers as well as individuals)

This book covers some simple yet very helpful topics related to training. From manual muscle assessment, to what typical problems can occur with rotator cuff muscles this book is a great addition to any fitness professionals collection.

This book is a must for personal trainers. The DVD enclosed with the book goes through assessment procedures that are crucial when prescribing weight training exercises to your clients. For the novice weight trainer, it will definitely clear up any misconceptions you might have about how each weight training exercise should be performed in order to ensure efficiency and safety.

Also recommended for personal trainers:

Muscles: Testing and Function by Florence Kendall
Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques by Kisner and Colby

Two quotes every athlete hears from nineth grade till the last day of collage:
"Coach says we need to focus"
"Coach says to lift in the off season"
That second recomenation- to lift weights- seems present in just about every sport. Why is this? Not because weight lifting is fun, but because it conditions the tendons, strenghens the muscles, and soldifies ones' balance to such a degee that many people get results even if they are doing it "wrong". An added bonus is that skeletal muscle, like cardiac muscle, is the stimulator to burn fat. Anerobics is now as highly recommended as aerobics!
Unfortunately we don't all have "bodybuilder" friends or the money to hire a personal trainer. Therefore, I was very pleased to find this book/DVD set. The DVD shows proper form for the most common lifts, and the book shows both the right way AND the wrong way to perform these exersizes. Bravo, Mr. Kinaken.
I also recommend:
"Getting Stronger"--B. Pearl (beginning and advanced weight routines)
And "Fitness is Religion"--R. Kybartas (motivation and inspiration)

Steve Ilg writes with the goal of enhancing your enjoyment of your outdoor activity. Skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and many other "sports" are enjoyed by millions of weekend warriors, but seldom do we "train" for our outings. If your looking for a "get fit quick" scheme, this isn't it. It is a sensible, no nonsense approach to a lifetime of health and fitness. If followed, it is the best training guide written for the outdoor athlete, or anyone wanting to get a little more out of life. Excellent exercise descriptions, programs with movements modeled by the author. Steve Ilg is obviously well read, and it is reflected in his ability to convey his thoughts on paper

Ilg obviously knows his stuff and he conveys it well. Easy to read, to follow,but not necessarily to do. Expect hard work. However, if you do, you will become a better athlete in whatever sport you enjoy.

There is a lot of good information in this book. Much of it was probably considered pretty revolutionary back in 1987, when the book was first published. Time has validated a lot of Ilg's approach, and some of the concepts are pretty mainstream now; in other words, it's mostly stood the test of time.

This is a concept book. Although it contains fairly specific ideas for workouts, the author is clearly trying to get the reader to rethink his/her workout, along with the whole idea of an outdoor recreationist as athlete. The book's main value is not in presenting the reader with a list of individual exercises, but in teaching the reader to apply certain concepts and develop a functional workout whose goal is to improve performance in one or more outdoor sports. In fact, some of the specific suggestions for exercise and nutrition are a bit dated, but that doesn't really detract from the book's value: the concepts still hold true, with specifics informed by more recent information.

The biggest downside to this book -- and it is a big one -- is the quality of the prose. All would-be authors repeat after me: before subverting a form, I will first understand it. Sure, standard expository writing is stodgy at times, but if you're going to chuck things like overall organization, sentence structure, and diction out the window, you damn well ought to replace them with something better. Calling Ilg's prose purple is a profound understatement: his enthusiasm for his subject, combined with a clear lack of experience as a writer, causes him to practically pitch the whole paintpot at each and every page. If that were not enough, the frequent interjection of pithy maxims by really cool people is a major irritation. I like cool quotes, too, but I question whether a book about athletic training is really enhanced by bon mots from sources such as Thoreau, T. S. Eliot, Immanuel Kant, Robert Louis Stevenson, LaRochefoucauld, etc. Quotes about the ecstatic union of mind, body, and nature are much more meaningful when they come from people who actually had such experiences, versus sitting at home and writing about them.

The book's brevity is its saving grace. Ilg's subjects are short enough that even his worst meandering -- and it is bad, very bad -- can't lead you too far astray.

"By the Book" chronicles the life of Joe Paterno. It begins with a description of his childhood and prep school years in Brooklyn, takes us through his football career at Brown University, and how he became the head coach at Penn State. The book is rich with descriptions of Penn State players and seasons up through the 1988 season. But, this book is much more than a football story. It's a view into Joe Pa's heart and soul. It is a portrayal of his values, his motivations, his vision and dreams. These, not just for his football team, but for his family, his university, and his profession. Much more than a fun read for Penn State fans, it is a valuable resource for aspiring coaches and players searching to find the essence of their relationship to their sport.

This book is a must read for football fans, coaches, players, and for anyone interested in how to succeed in sports competition. Although it is his life story, one can garner many pearls of wisdom about how to succeed, how to compete in an honest and sincere way, and the values that must be instilled in any sports players, young and old. You can find out why a man would turn down a 1 million job to coach at Penn State for 100K. Or why Joe Paterno rolls up his pants for games. Most of all, you can find the nuances and ideals behind the most successful college football coach, and the most successful college football program, in history.

Published before the 1989 season, Paterno: By the Book provides a great deal of insight into the mind of one of the greatest college football coaches ever. The book is more memorable for Paterno's musings on life, recruiting, winning, losing and growing up with a strong mother rather than for his specific thoughts on the numerous games he has coached. Assuming the book is in fact an accurate portrayal of Paterno, it is clear that he will never voluntarily step down from Penn State, no matter how bad things get. He is determined and driven to succeed. He will not quit and he will not go quietly. From many of his remarks in the book about Penn State, it is clear he feels the same way a number of his supporters do, Penn State owes Joe loyalty for his many years of service. A solid sports book about sports...and life.

Very clear and prescriptive programmes set out with photos for each sport. I used the ski programmes this year and was very happy with results...

Brian
London

Learn the basics of plyometrics with the clear descriptions and great photos in this book. There are also some helpful programs for you to try.

This book covers all the basics of Plyometrics, has good descriptions and pictures. However, people who already know the basics will want something a little more advanced.

It's a good investment overall.

Along with John Kuc's "Kuc Speaks" this is one book on powerlifting that you must read. Written in the early 80's it has remained one of the most informative books on the subject of powerlifting ever written. Eastern bloc lifters who now dominate the sport consider this their Bible. Dr. Squat has talked of updating it, but when taken together with his powerlifting manual on his website at [...], you have a complete system for putting up champion caliber totals.

I am not a powerlifter, but i weight train for fitness. I found this book to be very helpful in giving straightforward explanations of the importance of building a good strength base, and what exercises and approaches to use to achieve that. The different workout systems were clearly explained and the pictures and explanations of the exercises were clear. The diet information was also helpful and non technical. A nice addition to my fitness library (...).

I found this book extermely interesting and explanatory. Dr.Fred Hatfield (professionally known as Dr. Squat) presented the sport of powerlifting and bodybuilding in a way that even the "weekend warriors" can understand. And I have had this book for about 10 years now.

I bought these books because of my job as a relief teacher and these books are great because they are very comprehensive. They wil help to put lessons together quickly.

I used this book in my current teacher education program and it is absolutely a must!! It is easy to use and the students loved the activities. If you are going to teach P.E., you must have this book (the whole series is great!!)

This book is great for all P.E. teachers who are interested in giving their students age-appropriate activities. I have used it in my student teaching at the University of Arizona and will use it in my teaching. It is full of intro-activities, fitness, game and closing activities. Just what every elementary school P.E. teachers need to do a complete lesson.

Author John Feinstein's college basketball narratives are interesting, exciting, and informative. He covers the game with a broad approach, letting readers see many personalities, the pressures, and the often intense practices in this ultra-competitive sport. This book does not focus on any one conference or team, but presents a very interesting and broad national view of college hoops in the late 1980's. Yes, many of us fans realize that this multi-billion dollar industry unfairly gives players scholarships while coaches (and others) get rich, but hey, this is still a very entertaining sport. This is a very readable and entertaining look at the college game.

An exremely entertaining book which takes you on a trip across the United States to examine the great venues and stories of college basketball. From the awesome early-season tournaments in Hawaii to the meccas of college basketball like the Palestra and Madison Square Garden to March Madness, from the Lute Olsen-Steve Kerr Arizona Wildcats to the Admiral to Danny Manning, Feinstein's book is a must for any fan of college basketball.

What Feinstein did for Knight in his Season On The Brink, he now does for one entire season in the world of college hoops. This book is an inside look at everything from the grueling (and often gruesome) practice sessions that go on behind closed doors to the intimate personal lives of some of college basketballs biggest stars, from the tough lives of teams and players going nowhere to an astonishingly close up view of the winners who go all the way to ultimate glory. A Season Inside goes from coast to coast, from top to bottom, from glory to defeat.

I liked it, but it was a bit repetitive (each season was documented in the same style which made them blur into each other at times).

It read much more like historical documentation than a novel. The 20% or so that did read like a novel - I really enjoyed.

The author's point of view was a little defensive - especially when it came to Ross Perot. She definetely didn't hide what side she was on, though. Nothing was said negative about the team or city. But, its not like Friday Night Lights didn't make you wonder about objectivity - so I enjoyed both - they were just really different.

Finally, this one stops in the mid 80s - not long before Friday Night Lights picks up.

This is a great book for anyone who likes high school football. This would be a great book to read before anyone reads "Friday Night Lights". This book looks at High School Football in Texas from the 1960's to the 1980's right before "Friday Night Lights"
This is an indepth look at High School Football from all the angles and all the perspectives. A must ready for any football fan out there.

I bought "Friday Night Lights", a good book on Odessa Permian football. It only temporarily whetted my appetite."Mojo" is the real deal on Odessa Permian, a top ranked Texas team for years. It has the stats, the players, the pictures, the beginning, the middle and the end. It's the ultimate HS football fan's book. My copy from Amazon even came signed by the author. Read "Friday Night Lights", to get you started. Then get "Mojo" for the real deal.