Sports and Recreation Books

I am not quite as enamored of this book as some other reviewers, but it is good. One author is a powerlifter, which both adds some amusing stories but occasionally gives this book an odd slant. I wish they would have fleshed out their weightlifting routines a bit more instead of just providing a skeleton - I am a bit lazy like that. Despite the above comments, the authors do a good job providing information without the hype.

I got this for my husband who is build like a horse, very active, but entirely unatheletic. I wanted to work out again and he never had but wanted to try. He learned alot about how wieght training works and is thrilled with the results (say Arnold!. I still refer back to it regularly to update our workout. It is simple and has all the info you need to get started whether you have lifted before or not.

After many years of doing very little exercise, I returned to the gym about a year ago. I purchased this book 3 months later and read it cover to cover, an enjoyable read. I continue to use the book as a reference to add additional and change exercises on a regular basis. Having followed some of the sample routines they provide, I can attest to a significant increase in strength and in general well-being. There are enough details and variations to satisfy someone just starting or getting more serious about lifting. I recommend this book - and thank the authors.

This is the best book that I have found on weight training. I needed a thorough book to get started and this was it. Other than my very lackluster lifting durig high school I have never seriously lifted, so I am far from an expert on lifting. I must add however that after having looked at many books on weight training I feel like a bit of an expert on the literature. What I found was that most books are geared to those that already know the subject. These books assumed many techniques I did not know, implied that I needed to work out about 3 hours at a time for 8 days a week and rambled on and on and on.

The Idiot's Guide to Weight Training thoroughly introduced me to everything that I needed to get started. After reading this book, I walked into a fitness store, bought the starter equipment I needed and started to lift. As I write this I am bit sore from the first few lifting sesions, but I am excited and looking forward to the future weeks and months. This book helps with equipment, clothing, eating, stretching, excercise instructions, routines and safety. The authors have provided a very thorough, readable and motivating book. In my estimation this book is an extremely valuable addition to the topic, and is indeed as far as I can tell the best book available to the beginner.

I'm glad I started with this book...it's well organized and very thorough. Covers all the essential things a person should know to get started in the weight room. It's also going to stay on my shelf for a long time as a reference, because it gives good tips on form, exercises, etc., as well as for other things that might pop up. you will probably want more info as you get more into training, but this book will continue to be of use as a reference.

Let me say first that this book only remindedd me of the 94 Brickyard where me & my wife sawd him whiles we was tryin to get an autograph. I must tell you that there are so many facts & numbers that it will make your head spin,kinda like being in the infield at Daytona after a case of Busch beer. It made a good addition to our Earnhardt wall clock

I normally try to avoid describing a book in ways that might be seen as hyperbole, but this book defies that rule ! An incredibly thorough statistical breakdown of the career of one of NASCAR's greatest drivers and most beloved stars, John Regruth's book is worthy of being called awesome. Accompanied by more than 80 color photographs, this book begins with a complete listing of his career statistics and records, then chronicles his races year-by-year, then finally his results at each track. Starting position, finish, laps, money, Cup points.... it is all in here. Quite simply put, the absolute best statistical record of Dale Earnhardt's career available. Superb !

This book has them all. Year by year,track by track,track type breakdowns, percentages. The numbers boggle the mind. An excellent statistical record of Dale's career.

I beleiv I speak for all race fans when I say Dale Earnhardt was a great man. He drove better than anybody. He was number three. He was called the inimidater. Then he crashed which is a trajity.

A must be read book for all true race fans.

Let me say that I am a NASCAR and huge Dale Earnhardt fan! This book is a must have for ANY Dale fan. There are other stat books in the making by the same author of other great NASCAR drivers like Jeff Gordon. I had to have this book. This book is a testimonial of how great of a driver Dale was. You can't compare Dale to Richard Petty and you can't compare Jeff Gordon to Dale because of the different eras and technology in stock car racing but Dale was the best of his era and many other great NASCAR drivers like Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson think he was the best ever. I agree!!! This book has every imaginable stat of Dale. From year by year to track breakdowns and even his IROC stats. A must have for any Earnhardt fan. We miss you Dale! Thanks for the memories!!! Rest In Peace!

I picked up this book because of the respect for the athletic skills that Lisa Leslie shows on the court and the class she shows off the court. However, I learned a lot more than that. I had no clue that she had grew up in a home where her mother was a truck driver and a post office employee. I didn't know that she lived with her aunt and was helped out by her uncles in the game of basketball. I didn't realize that she had basically raised her younger sister, Tiffany and that her older sister had stolen her identity and ruined her credit. It was an informative book about one of the best basketball players of our generation. She was very open about things that happened like the fact that her college coach left because even though she had a better record than the mens coach they wouldn't pay her like it. I felt that Ms. Leslie was very very honest about how she felt during games and in her life about numerous subjects. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in finding out what makes Lisa Leslie tick but also if you are just looking for a good autobiography of a strong woman that had to overcome numerous obstacles in her life.

I feel like I know Lisa now after reading her book. I not only like her as a player but as a person. It was an easy read and inspiring along the way.

Anyone who's a WNBA fan of any team other than the LA Sparks knows that the Sparks have gained the reputation of being the team you "love to hate"! But also, as a WNBA fan you have to give credit and your respect to all the women who have been responsible for the love and excitement we have for the league. They have blazed the trail for all the young talents we see today.

Lisa Leslie is definitely one of those women. In her book, "Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You", you will get a better view of Lisa the person as well as the athlete. She shares her life, her beliefs, and her career. I truly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to any WNBA fan.

Lisa Leslie's bio/memoir is not just another story of an athlete's rise from hard times to good luck. This is the story of a woman's ruthless determination to honor the gifts and talents God has given her. There is no luck involved... just pure, unadulterated hard work, a loyal personal and professional support network and God's blessings.

DON'T LET THE LIPSTICK FOOL YOU is one of those rare bios that shares the good, the bad and the ugly while inspiring each of us to follow our own journey, working through the dross to get to the silver, then the gold. From a latchkey home in Compton, California to the Olympic Stadiums in Atlanta, Georgia and Sidney, Australia, Lisa Leslie has traveled the road of disappointment, hardship, and betrayal to become a champion in her personal and professional lives.

Leslie has earned the admiration and respect of many of her peers, as evidenced in the foreword by Earvin "Magic" Johnson; but she has earned mine through the sheer diligence, hard work and integrity that not only resonates through her life, but through the precious pages of her uplifting story. DON'T LET THE LIPSTICK FOOL YOU is definitely a keeper.

Reviewed by Cxandra
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

In August 2008, I had the pleasure of seeing an incredible champion represent America in women's basketball at the summer Olympics in Beijing. Lisa Leslie and her team annihilated their challengers. It meant this incomparable woman had been in four Olympics, won four gold medals, and her teams (since 1996) had a won lost record of 32-0.

When I heard about her current book, I hurriedly purchased it. While I knew she was a warrior on the court, I wanted to explore what other influences shaped her indomitable spirit. Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You, revealed a life that would have caused many of us to despair. I was shocked to discover the hardships, personal upheavals, and cruelties she had to endure. In spite of these tribulations, she emerged out of the shadow of darkness ... a beautiful, poised, and self -assured woman.

I first saw her on a summer day in 1998 crossing a street (near Columbus Circle) in Manhattan. What impressed me most (besides her obvious 6ft 5in frame) were her regal elegance and compassionate nature. Many celebrities have delusions of grandeur. However, Lisa Leslie is the epitome of a class act. She smiled at everyone and signed autographs for strangers that approached. With their applications, too often our society trivializes words like heroine, queen, and star. Reading her autobiography was a reminder for me ... these descriptions would be understatements.

I bought a copy for my teenager. Like many tall girls, she is self- conscious. Ms. Leslie is the embodiment of what my wife and I have been trying to teach our daughter: Stand tall, walk proudly, and be humble and thankful for the talents, assets, and gifts ... bestowed upon you by God.

I thoroughly enjoyed this exquisite book and recommend it to anyone looking for inspiration, hope, and a marvelous way to experience this journey, called life.
Reggie Johnson, author, How to be Happy, Successful, and Rich

I am a [...] student and I have read the entire Eagles Encyclopedia. I am a consistent reader and, being one of the biggest Eagles fans, have to say this is my favorite book of all time. It consists of everything you want and need to know to be a true Eagles fan. I would even recommend this to non-Eagles fans. It includes:

*The Frankford Yellowjackets
*Bert Bell and the founding of the Eagles
*All of the big time Eagles players in history
*A complete recap of the Eagles greatest moments including The Miracle in the Meadowlands, Cunninghams 91 yard punt, 99 yards:Jaworski to Quick, and more.
*An All-Time Roster
*Scores and Schedule for every Philadelphia Eagles season

and more!

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Ray Didinger is an amazing writer and I also recommend his latest book "One Last Read."

This one-of-a-kind almanac of facts about the Philadelphia Eagles would make the perfect gift for any Eagles Fan.

The book is really great. The history of Philadelphia football is very good. The stats are absolutely remarkable. I often refer to the book during an Eagles game. Every Eagles fan should own this gem.

The Eagles Encyclopedia is a great tool for your guide to the Philadelphia Eagles past and present. A franchise with this much history, The Philadelphia Eagles need to have their stories told. From Bednariks' hit on Gifford in the 1960 playoffs to Superbowl 39 it's all there. Great book.

A comprehensive easy read. Full of facts, and interesting stories about the franchise that is really "America's" team. Little bios of many of the personalities that have worn the green and white. Every time I opened up the book there was something new to learn. Written for the everyday Joe, you will not be dissapointed if you love the Eagles. The Eagles are my squad so this may be slightly biased... Shout out to Randall...

If you are interested in Classical dressage.... buy this book! It is an excellent reference for working with a young horse. It is definitely all about the horse- as it should be.

Enjoyed the book. Not really for a beginner. I liked the way he covered the process with out going into overload on techniques you should already know about, like lunging your horse.
Worth reading.

Very helpful, great ideas on horsemanship and training. A must read for anyone serious about correct, empathetic horsemanship.

This is a book that should be mandatory reading for all aspiring Dressage riders, as well as those who train and start youngsters! This book provides detailed descriptions as well as a thoughtfully laid out format. Kurd follows the German training tree - with one exception that makes sense and gets results quicker! Read the book to find out what it is!

I thought this was an excellent book. I bought it to help provide some guidance while training my young horse, and it not only gave me a nice guideline of what-to-train-when, but also made dressage much more understandable.

This book focuses on the German dressage training scale. The author explains the steps in training the horse, dividing it into stages (i.e. stage one you focus on A, B, and C elements, stage two you begin developing D and E). He gives some guidelines as to what your horse should be able to do before you push him for more. He then devotes a chapter to each element needed in dressage, in the order it should be developed in the horse (relaxation, regularity, freedom, contact, on the aids...). He finishes with a few miscellaneous chapters on the flying change, transitions, the inclined arena (great for eventers), Prix St. James test, and lateral movements.

This book mainly aims to discuss the development of the young horse, providing a correct foundation for all further work, including eventing and show jumping. It provides more detail about the early years of training, rather than say, development of the piaffe, passage, extensions, etc.

I would recommend this to all dressage riders (especially those just starting out or at the lower levels), to those people interested in putting a good foundation on a young horse (this applies to ALL disciplines!), or to those that just want a better understanding of how to ride a horse correctly. This book has great clarity, is an easy read, I even recommended it to my youngest sister (she's 12).

Don't get me wrong, this is not a book for novices just learning to post. You do need a basic understanding of riding. He's not going to explain how to ask your horse to shoulder-in or get on the bit. I read this with a good working knowledge of dressage. This just put everything into a clear format and made dressage, for once, seem simple to understand (even if its very difficult to perform!)

I haven't had a chance to read the whole book however what I have read has been helpful and informative. The book itself was shipped in excellent condition and, like many of the books I've bought through Amazon, I think I purchased it used and it looks new. And, I don't plan on just using it to balance out my washing machine ;-).

I am in my mid-40s and have toyed with the idea of doing a triathlon for quite some time. Somehow, when I would begin to really get the training ramped up, I would run in to a problem. I believe that I was probably bringing on the problems with less than ideal nutrition. So, though I harbor no aspirations of being a serious athlete, I have found that nutrition is an important--and often overlooked--aspect for even recreational athletes like me. Using the information in this book is allowing me to push my training farther than I ever have before and will get me across the finish line for my first triathlon sometime this summer.

I've been running since I was in high school and continued during and after graduationg college. It wasn't until recently that I decided to run my first half marathon. I have read lots of material on training and nutrition, but none have been as complete and informative. The first eight chapters are devoted to all endurance athletes. The last few chapters are each devoted to a particular endurance sport. This book has taught me how to fully prepare and train to successfully reach my goal. I would suggest this book for anyone interested in endurance sports.

Suzanne knows her stuff. I've been an ultrarunner and endurance athlete for nearly 25 years and I find Suzanne's wisdom and advice both on target and incredibly helpful. In fact, as I get older, which I am, her advice is seemingly even more relevant. Following her advice on everything from hydration to nutrition to stretching has been vital to me being able to keep doing what I love to do. The bottom line is that proper nutrition is key to optimal performance and the information in this book can ensure you're geting both.

This is a serious sports nutrition book for serious athletes. It is packed with information for the endurance athlete or those coaching endurance/elite athletes. In addition to providing a complete nutritional overview for the elite athlete, Endurance Sports touches on other related subjects such as hydration, the effectiveness of supplements, food intolerances, eating disorders and even optimal eating for the vegetarian athlete. As a nutrition writer, this book is an integral part of my reference library.

Get In The Game" partly baseball, partly business and partly psychology. Author Cal Ripken, Jr. draws on his vast baseball experience, his family background and business interests to illustrate eight elements of perseverance that make a difference: Right Values, A Strong Will To Succeed, Love What You Do, Preparation, Anticipation, Trusting Relationships, and The Courage of Your Convictions.

Throughout the book, Ripken includes similarities between his career and character and that of Lou Gehrig. As one who has admired Cal from afar, I greatly enjoyed this book. You will too.

this is an awesome book - would strongly recommend - especially but not necessarily for those with any appreciation of baseball at all - think this should be required reading for all high school students - very important and helpful life lessons - baseball is a great american tradition sure but more importantly the sport produces character - knew little of cal ripkin before reading this book - now i am a BIG fan

This book helped me and it helped me help my eleven-year-old son.

One of the parents from my son's baseball team actually said to me last night at our end-of-season party that several games ago it was like a completely different boy began showing up to play. He said he could see my son now has baseball in his head. That's about when I started reading parts of this book to my son. I started taking him to the batting cages. We began really working toward his goals on the field and talking about his goals in life.

This book resounds with the values I've always carried in my heart but have not been able to live due to circumstances beyond my control. Reading it allowed me to see these values do actually work somewhere out there in this world and these values are what I want for my child.

Cal Ripken offers many of his life lessons and experiences he has learned through playing the right way his whole career. I highly recommend this book to baseball fans of all ages and backgrounds.

This book provides extremely useful guidelines in dealing with situations we all eventually run into in our lives. While alluding to baseball related examples, it does not simply dwell solely on recounting Mr. Ripken's impressive baseball accomplishments or relate amusing/interesting anecdotes. Instead it gives thought-provoking insights into two all too fast-disappearing basic axioms in our country's psyche: "practice makes perfect," and "do unto others." I highly recommend this book for everyone, especially young people still in their formative years. In fact, it presents an excellent opportunity for parents to reconnect with their child(ren) by reading it aloud and together, with discussion centering on each of the eight elements as they are completed.

This was a great book. Simple and straight forward. His writing style was quite engaging as well. I am new to grouse hunting and this book helped point me in the right direction in terms of where to hunt and how to hunt.

I have a library with every book I can get my hands on related to grouse hunting. There are resources specifically on Ruffed Grouse, guns, gunfit, shooting techniques, and every other aspect of the sport. The grouse hunting guides tend to get a read once or twice and then stay on the shelf. Not so with Walrod's book. It is the one hunting guide I have found myself referencing repeatedly. He has great comparative statistics and charts for locating birds depending on the conditions. It is a very enjoyable read and an excellent resource for the dedicated grouse hunter

From habitat and food to identification he tells it all. Having never hunted grouse before, I found it to have very good information. However I did not find it to be as humorous as a prior reader states. I actually found it to be a bit dry. All in all it is a keeper book to add to my library.

This book is loaded with information that will make you a better grouse hunter. The author truly understands this game bird and is able to take his insightful observations and perfectly convey them in this book. This book is sure to make you a better grouse hunter. The information on the grouse alone is worth the money and throw on top of that the information about guns, loads, dogs, and success rates of other hunters just makes this a must buy. I highly reccommend this book. I bought a few other books on grouse and this one is head and shoulders above the rest.

Being (apparently) the state advocate and completely tired of all the hunting books which cover only the eastern part of the United States, I found this guide to be a great book no matter where you live and hunt.

A great picture of a Ruffed Grouse taken from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington state shows that the authors detail of habitat and other tidbits of hunting information apply in each and every covey around the country. What weapons to use. The appropriate ammo. The right choke. Statistics, opinions, and hard facts. Did I mention the book covers habitat? Oh! I can't forget to mention the recipes! Think of "Fried Grouse with (Wild) Mushrooms" and if that doesn't make your mouth water then check your pulse (or just read all the other recipes - there's some good ones).

If you have grouse near you, this book will help you find them and hunt them successfully - no matter where you hunt.

The title of the book, which became Mr. Sayers' credo throughout life, comes from a quote he saw on the desk of one of his coaches: "My God is first, my friends and family are second, I am third." Mr. Sayers tells the story of a man who lifted himself out of the ghetto with such a love for football, his friendship with Brian Piccolo (one of the very first pairings of a black player and a white player in the NFL) and his near-career ending injury. It is an inspirational story that does not get preachy. He tells of his friendship with Brian Piccolo without getting maudlin (Mr. Sayers and Mr. Piccolo were loyal friends and deeply respectful of each other.) He relates his triumphant return to the Chicago Bears after a knee injury that had almost everyone writing him off (except Mr. Piccolo, who urged him on during rehabilitation.) It almost seems as if Al Silverman turned on a tape recorder and let Mr. Sayers talk. Rather than being pretentious, the way a lot of sports biographies are one gets the feeling that Mr. Sayers is sitting down in an easy chair and is talking directly to each reader. The book, however, was written more than thirty-five years ago and ends before Mr. Sayers' final two (albeit disappointing) seasons. My hope is that Mr. Sayers will either update this book or write a sequel to tell us of his successes after football.

Bought this as gift for my husband. His reveiw: It was okay, interesting about Gayle Sayer's life but not extremely well written. It had little to say about his relationship with Brian Piccolo.

I am third
By Gale Sayers

Devon Hurley

My book is called I am third and itýs written by Gale Sayers. The price of the book is $...and u can find this book in any book store.
I am third is about the football player gale Sayers .He plays football with his friends every day. He grew up in a poor house with barely any food. That didnýt stop him from playing football though. He played no matter what. One time he tried to tackle some one and he got kicked in the mouth and he was spiting out blood his brother played football too. He was older then Gale. Gale was a starter on the high school football team with his brother he only got to play with his brother one season because he was a senior when Gale was a freshman. Gale was a good player. He was like1st or 2nd best in the country. He wanted to go to a four year college to play football. Mississippi State was in other sports besides football like track and basketball. He broke the long jump record for track. His mom and dad were always working on something. Galeýs dad was tall and had long legs. His dad worked hard every day and only got 40 dollars a day. His mom was at home watching all the kids. All the kids in the neighbor hood were on the football team. After gale went to college he was going to go to the pros either the chiefs or the bears. on draft day the Chicago bears picked Gale Sayers the first day of summer training he met Brian piccolo. Brian was a white person and Gale was a black person they didnýt really get along at first of race but after they started playing together. The coach put them in the same room partner. When gale was voted rookie of the year Brian starts to get sick and has to go to the hospital and he finds out he has cancer and has to stay in the hospital for the rest of the season. Later he goes home and is recovering but he gets cancer again a in his chest and dies from cancer. later gale plays the best game of his career he scores 6 touchdowns.

This review is on the book called "I Am Third". In this book it tells mostly about Gale Sayers' football career and some of Brian Piccolo's or Pic. The reason this book is called "I Am Third" is because he says that "God is 1st,my friends are 2nd,and I am 3rd". To understand this book you might have to know a little about football. If you like football stories I would reccomend you read "I Am Third".

I really never liked sports, but this book really moved me because it was a story of two men very different yet very alike. They were both very talented, over the past few months i've been doing so much research and Gale and Brian. I also am planning to do a important report on them, the frienship that they had was great. BUY THIS BOOK!! and the movie Brians song!I loved both. I love Ya Gale and Brian GOD BLESS!

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. It beautifully portrays two of his most favorite things, surfing and Maui. You will not believe how amazing the photos are in this book. And each page is covered edge to edge in full color pictures giving you the feeling that you were actually there watching from the overlook.

I'm naming one of my children Laird; what a stud, eah? A friend had this large surfer pictorial coffee table book back in 97, and 10 years later it's still the best book I've ever seen on the subject. It has some of the finest photographs ever taken of large wave surfing (the cover is not just a one-off) and some of the preeminent accompanying text that ever existed about surfing (heartfelt philo; but intelligent, not loadie). Other than Surfer magazine, I believe this book was the first to show the new era of tow-in surfing, and the story of the heroes who created it. It's complete - and the first edition is no doubt a collectors piece for surfers. To my mind the movie Riding Giants should have clearly stated "inspired by the book Jaws Maui", because it's essentially the same thing in a different medium (and also highly recommended).

There is this marvelous line in the book - one of the hardcore crew basically answering the question about why Laird is so much better than anyone else. His answer was stellar; something along the lines of ~yeah - he's insane - "he's doing this for entirely different reasons". Absolutely classic. Absolutely frickin' classic. I'm just now getting the book (or I'd give you the exact quote) but what a glorious and magnificent line. I was devastated when it didn't make it into the movie Riding Giants.

I think this was one of the best thriller stories of its time. I personnally think it also is one the best water thrillers ever. I think any who is scared of the water should read this book.

Jaw Maui has much more to offer than your average coffee-table book. It is an incredible blending of inspirational writing and insightful interviews with the watermen themselves. Charlie & Leslie Lyon have done a great job letting us in on the inner workings of these accomplished athletes. Everyone that visits us gets a chance to read Jaws, and has come away mightily impressed (and longing for a trip to Maui!).

If anyone out there either surfs or enjoy's Surfing as a way of life, this book is for you! Go out there and purchase this book! Jaws is more than a book, the colourful pages come alive in front of you, looking at Laird Hamilton coming down the faces of massive 50+foot surf, it's like your right there below him (holding the camera) Blue Max did an amazing job of illustrating these waves for us, I was lucky enough to have visited Maui, for others out there, what are you waiting for..? Killer Waves..Best Surfers in the world.. see it all..? or save your money and buy this book

aloha Jim Mellanis :-)