Sports and Recreation Books

All american girl is the storyr of the golden oldies of the Womens National soccer team! It shows how some 10+ ordinary girls came together to make a HUGE difference in the history of sports! Best book ever!!!!!!

This book will give you the facts and inside scoop of the wonderful ladies. Some of the stories the team tells are hilaroius. It's not the best book I've read but it's great for young girls to see how they got to the highest level.

This book is fantastic. It gives an inside look at each player to pass through the National team program for an extended period of time. Includes player interviews and a sort of "rap"sheet for each player, like their most embaressing soccer moment, their favorite number, and other interesting facts. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Womens National team. Don't Miss it!!

If u don't have this book, u must buy it because i never liked soccer untill my friend bought me it. I was hooked. I read it 5 times that is how good it was. Please buy the book. If u don't, you are missing out....... BIG time.

If you are a fan of any player on the US womens team and wonder what they do in there life (Yes they do have a life out side of soccer)this is the book for you. Your brothers picking on you saing girls cant play sports. Will now you can prove him wrong. Hand him this book tell him to read the first page, it will make him think twice before he makes fun of womens soccer again. This book has each player tell about there life in and out of soccer. They tell of all the interesting hobbies they have and some of am even rat on there team mates. If you buy this book and dont enjoy reading it you are not a true womens soccer fan.

I work with kids in K-6 and I bought this for them. The book is very cool and it has been fun seeing what the kids do with the different pages!

I grew up with these books, and am thrilled they are still in print. The Anti-Coloring books are a wonderful alternative to mindlessly coloring between the lines. And at 9 years old, my oldest is not even close to outgrowing this series. Highly recommended!!!

I remember having one of these books when I was a kid. And now, twenty years later, I have another one. I love it.

My son is 9 and absolutely loves this book. We've limited it to one activity a day so that he doesn't finish it too quickly (there are only about 35 or 40 in the book). I would recommend this book for any creative child - we will definately be buying more in this series.

Many times kids want to make something but don't know where to start. These books get the creative juices flowing. I loved them when I was a kid and now both of my kids love them.

I come back to 'As Far as the Eye Can See' year after year. It's absolutely brilliant. Well written, honest, insightful. David Brill conveys his experiences on the AT better than any other through-hiker book I've ever read. Too many books make it seem if hiking the Appalachian Trail is man vs. trail but Mr. Brill brings the truth to the forefront, hiking the AT is hiker vs. him/herself. If you've ever thought of putting foot to the trail and walking from Georgia to Maine or simply enjoy day hiking in the beauty of the woods this book is for you.

Anyone interested in the AT, or just backpacking in general, should read this book. It's a great read. I liked it better than Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and I recommend it to everyone.

Mr Brill's book was the first of several I have read on hiking the AT, and it is, so far, still my favorite. He tell's about the hardships without moaning and groaning, and also lists the good things. You can get a good idea of what to expect about the AT from reading this book.

In his book, "As Far Aas the Eye Can See", David Brill takes the reader on a soul-sirring adventure along the rooftop of eastern America. He tugs at heart strings as he overcomes the grueling day-to-day trials and tribulations that plague long distance backpackers, and he lifts the reader's spirit as his soul soars to lofty heights as the beauty of Nature's bounty unfolds. Couch-bound? Not to worry. Mr. Brill evokes pictures with his dynamic and descriptive prose that carries the reader alongside, step by step. A must-read! J.R. "Model-T" Tate, author of "Walkin' on the Happy Side of Misery"

It's hard to write a review about this book. Why? It's so good. Why is it good, and what makes it different?

First, it tells of the trail and the people he met in 1979. I doubt you'd find some of these folks along the AT today. For example, the rednecks who came a'drinkin' and a'shootin' at a Georgia shelter, the mountain woman who showed him how to hunt ramps, and the strange and funny account of the rednecks with their "bullet trick" at the tavern in Erwin. Most of these type folks have probably faded into the era from which they came, now extinct by the pervasive eroding effect of the media and its pressure for everyone to conform to American McCulture, not to mention the effect of a constant stream of AT thru-hikers through a previously much more isolated mountain culture and communities.

He writes very well of the changes the trail had on himself, and the transition from feeling like a visitor in the woods to a resident of the woods. He goes from being deathly afraid of thunderstorms in gaps in Georgia when he started, to enjoying them later on. And the change in personal values his hike had on him.

Another big difference is this book is written by subjects, not chronologically like the numerous journal-type AT books. Chapters are on "Fear," "Seasons," "Our Community," "Bad Company," "Critters," and so forth. I find this a refreshing break from those books that generally read something like: "I got up at 6 am, cooked pop tarts, walked X miles up a MFer of a hill, saw curly joe and moe, stayed at X shelter, cooked slop tarts, tossed and turned under a leaky roof, got up at 6 am and started again."

Don't know else to say. Read it.

I loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I cheered (well, not really-I was on a plane and didn't want to create a ruckus, but in my mind I was standing up and cheering!). This book offered a lot of interesting information-who knew pumpkins could grow up to 40 lbs. A DAY??-while following the attempts of various growers to reach the ultimate goal in giant pumpkin growing, a 1500 lb. pumpkin. Easy reading, informative, and a good conversation starter when you need to make small talk.

I had a great time reading this book. I too grow pumpkins and had a hard time setting this book down. Easy to read and gives a real behind the scenes on this sport, showing that growers have lives outside of pumpkin growing as well. If you want to grow a giant pumpkin yourself this book won't give you much for information on that topic. It is meant for more the humanity side of things.

Backyard Giants is a fascinating and informative book on the art, science, competition and reward of growing giant pumpkins. The author depicts the trials and tribulations of growers in Rhode Island, Ohio, the West Coast and Canada. A close-knit group of growers in Rhode Island are followed for an entire year as they prepare, plant, harvest and competitively show their giant fruits. The growers are depicted as compassionate, committed, scientific in their own right, and competitive. Through the author's creative writing style the reader is compelled through each stage of the giant pumpkin process. The pictures are an added bonus - driving home the amazing undertaking of growing something over 1,000 pounds in just four months. The joys and heartbreaks of this sport are well described, and leave the reader with respect and in awe of the growers.

The author did an excellent job researching all aspects of growing giant pumpkins. I found myself with numerous questions as I read the book and inevitably the author answered every question I had. The author writes for those having no prior knowledge of pumpkin growing - but would also likely interest those who were knowledgeable in the field. She has a creative use of vocabulary and story telling. I was sorry to see the book come to an end, but also very content with the ending. This book is well worth the reader's investment.

Who says gardening is a gentle hobby? In "Backyard Giants," Ms. Warren takes us on a journey through the passionate and far-from-gentle world of competitive pumpkin growing. With a masterful eye for the telling detail and a narrative voice that sweeps the reader into this unusual world from the very first page, this is delightful and eye-opening read -- especially for those who've never wielded pruning shears or pored through garden catalogues at night.

Bill Clinton was quoted in the "Washington Post" a few weeks ago: "That's the biggest pumpkin I've ever seen. It looks like we need a steroid inspection here." I googled " Big Pumpkins " and found lots of information, including this charming and fascinating book.

Susan Warren is a gardener. She googled a personal gardening question one day, and incidentally found guys that were obsessed with creating monster pumpkins. She wrote a front page story about them for the "Wall Street Journal", and this book grew out of that article.

Warren describes the pumpkins, of course, but her book is much more about those obsessed guys. She grew a giant pumpkin (240 pounds) as a research project, but both she and her architect husband "got sucked in ... this is a very dangerous book. It sucks in people who like a challenge."

She is amazed at the diversity of growers: airline pilots, engineers, Wall Street analysts, bankers, truck drivers, country club managers and "your mom could be a giant pumpkin grower." They live in a number of countries: the US, England, Germany, Australia, and elsewhere. She believes they are all overachievers, the kind of people who work all day and then come home and put in a few more hours in the garden.

Warren writes that the giant pumpkin competition started out with a lot of secrecy involved; there was very little sharing. The Internet changed that. Growers soon realized they couldn't hold secrets, and 15 new world records have been set in the last 18 years. [The current record is 1,689 pounds set by Joe Jutras in Rhode Island who is mentioned in the book, but who set the record after the book was released.] The philosophy is now: "I'm going to beat you. I want to beat you at your best. So here, let me help you."

Bill Clinton understands the challenges {apparently an expert on giant Arkansas watermelons): "If you give it too much water and the skin breaks, you're eliminated. And if you give it too little, somebody else beats you because they've got a bigger melon or a bigger pumpkin. So like at the end, under very tense circumstances, there are these constant judgment calls. It's kind of like being President."

The growers feel a moment of mutual elation when a new record is set, according to Warren. That moment represents many years of hard work, many years of disappointment, many years of learning and education. A key point of the education is that these fruits are no longer pure pumpkins, but the result of cross breeding with other heavy cousins like squash. The goal is to be heavy -- weight is the only objective measurement of size. A smaller pumpkin can weigh more than a larger one, so the growers strive to increase density. They don't look so much like pumpkins anymore; Warren writes that they resemble "deflated Thanksgiving Day parade floats."

She says that the growers don't care about looks, they care about 40 to 50 pound a day weight gains during the peak growth period. That rate will put a great deal of strain on the pumpkin which can lead to the disaster of split skin and disqualification that Clinton spoke of. Growers report that they can hear the pumpkins growing, a creaking and groaning, especially at night, much like the sounds of corn growing back in Wisconsin many years ago.

Several other details caught my attention:

- Despite their enhanced density, these giants will float.

- They can be hollowed out and raced in Pumpkin Regattas.

- Growers thump them vigorously to judge density.

- Getting rid of gophers and other varmits provide some of the most intense moments; a lost bud can severely weaken a pumpkin vine. ("You'll still get a pumpkin, but you want a champion.")

- All growers become soil scientists, and now rely primarily on organic fertilizers.

There is a bit of pathos in this book: Ron Wallace, the featured grower, loses one of his pumpkins: "Ron's disappointment was sharp and deep and all too familiar. He cracked the rotting skin open in hopes of recovering some seeds. But the seeds swimming in a fetid pool of neon-orange slime were limp and lifeless. Disgusted, he left the broken shards of giant pumpkin lying in the grass next to the garden, an organic monument to disappointment."

As the extract shows, Warren is particularly good at describing the depth and complexity of the obsession these competitors. If that human element appeals to you, you'll enjoy this book.

The revolution in baseball analysis in the 1980s, led by the works of Bill James and Pete Palmer, spawned a boom in baseball writing. Unfortunately, most analytical baseball books begin and end with the measuring of player value, which is great for fantasy baseball players or who-should-be-in-the-Hall-of-Fame discussions, but ultimately leaves me feeling hungry.

The folks at Baseball Prospectus put the focus on the "team", stressing that focus even within the player comments. Arguing about whether someone is the sixth best second baseman in the National League, or merely the eighth best, is refreshingly missing here. Instead, the discussion rests on whether the player is advancing the cause of contending for a championship, what he has to do to contribute more, how likely he is to improve, how long he is likely going to continue contributing, what the team needs to do to be prepared for his decline, etc. The team comments focus on where the team is in the development cycle, what it has to do to advance to the next stage, and whether the people in charge are likely to do it. The essays in the back of the book challenge us to understand how this game works.

This annual has made me a better fan and has made my own conversations around the hot stove much more interesting. As a baseball researcher, what I wouldn't give for a complete set of BPs, beginning about 1871.

I stumbled upon the Baseball Prospectus website about a year and a half ago and after reading the articles they frequently publish there, my view of baseball has totally changed. Basically, the BP team laughs in the face of traditional yet very lacking statistics such as batting average, RBIs, saves, wins and losses. They include several mathematicians who have created very comprehensive systems to evaluate batters (equivalent average), starters (Support-Neutral Wins Above Average), and relievers (Adjusted Runs Prevented). While they value the sabermetric approach to baseball, they also provide commentaries on less quantifyable aspects of the game.

While BP is occasionally prone to making sweeping exaggerations regarding a subject, they provide generally objective analysis of baseball in a very entertaining manner. BP 2002 is well-written and contains paragraphs on about 50 players per organization, organization reviews and assorted other articles along with each players translated (meaning adjusted for AAA, AA, etc or parks) statistics. I highly recommend it.

If you are a trained statistician, you will probably love this book. For each major leaguer, it takes his actual numbers and washes out park effects. Then it compares the value (in runs) of the player's production to the league average. There are fielding and pitching "stuff" statistics invented by Baseball Prospectus that attempt to account for all the variables that contribute to performance. For minor leaguers, it calculated "major league equivalencies"--i.e., what numbers the player would have put up if he had played in the majors.

The problem is that the bewildering array of new terms and statistical explanations will mean little to the casual fan. Even an experienced roto player who has a healthy respect for such methods, such as myself, will have an extremely difficult time putting it all together.

Fortunately, the player write-ups are as compelling a reason to buy the book as the statistical analysis. They are hilarious--inventive, creative, and full of oddball references. Baseball Prospectus can be a little too opinionated at times, and a little subjective for a group of people that professes to believe only in the data, but that's part of what makes them so funny. It's unbelievable how many different ways Joe Sheehan & Co. can find to say that a player is worthless.

I forgot to mention in my lengthy review below that one of the best properties of Baseball Prospectus 2002 is the humor ... it adds to the readability a lot knowing that some funny and off-the-wall statements crop up in the player comments. I inadvertantly found myself up way past my bedtime recently reading about minor-leagues for the Tigers when I hit this note on Brandon Inge: he "does less damage at the plate than Lara Flynn Boyle". Good stuff. Keep it up, boys.

I hope you have alot of time on your hands because you will not be able to put this great book down.

Provides totally honest and intelligent team reviews, explaining why transactions were made and what were the good/bad ramifications.

Excellent and witty player insight, brutally honest at points.

Found myself laughing out load many times.

You won't believe what you've been missing.

i think its also so good book but i dont know how bought this book. its for your information i am a black belt of martialarts. i cose so diffrent style of martial arts its use only in tis time Pakisatn but future its must be te king style of the world.

NOTE: This review, along with the other reviews of the books devoted to katas in this series, are identical in nature as the subject matter for each book only differs in the actual kata or katas being demonstrated. The layout and format are identical and that is what these reviews are based upon.

This book, along with the rest of the books in the series, is an outstanding source of information on the correct execution of the Shotokan Karate katas in which this particular volume demonstrates. Now if you don't know anything about karate and purchase this book, it will do you about as much good as a screen door in a submarine. However, if you are already a practicing Shotokan Karate student, then this book is a must have for your continued advancement in the martial arts.

Every book in this series that deal with the various katas, utilizes the same format throughout each book in order to show you the correct execution of each kata demonstrated. Admittedly there aren't a whole lot of words describing the various moves in the katas, but there are an abundance of photographs taken from various angles that pretty much show you exactly how your body should be positioned not only for each individual move, but also how your body should be positioned as you move from one position to another.

At the end of each book is a special section devoted to particular points of interest in each kata that you should pay particular attention to. A nice addition to this already wonderful book.

If you are a student of Shotokan Karate, or a student of another style that utilizes the same katas, I would highly recommend that you purchase these books in order to advance your knowledge of whatever particular kata or katas that you are currently working on. You won't be disappointed!

Shawn Kovacich
Martial artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

i think its also so good book but i dont know how bought this book

I have been practicing Shotokan karate for 10 years now. Even though I attend regular classes and seminars, as well as working out with very qualified karate-ka, I still find myself coming back to Master Nakayma's work in this very fine series of books. Of all the books on kata I have these books are superior.

The instruction is straight forward and to the point. Tips are given to avoid common mistakes. Under the many pictures illustrating the kata is a stance diagram and short concise sentences to describe each move.

Extremely well done by one of the finest karate masters.

I bought three books out of the "Best Karate" series and the two books about katas are simply outstanding. I use another book which describes the movements in words but it's just too hard to figure it out for some of the tricky movements. The "Best Karate" series has photo series for all katas plus additional information about what people should take care of for the individual katas (for instance, stance changes for Heian Shodan). That way, it's really "easy" to learn a kata on your own, just from the book.

"Blue Ice" is not only a story about "Michigan Hockey" its a story about how college hockey has evolved to become a mainstream player development system for the National Hockey League, evidence the vast number of former NCAA Division l College Hockey players currently on NHL rosters. Neither is "Blue Ice" a book of hockey statistics; rather its pages uniquely reveal the metamorphosis of NCAA College Hockey, from its cocoon, to the exciting on-ice beautiful spectacle it has become."

An easy read, that's about much more then just the game of hockey. This book delves into the tradition and character of Michigan and it's hockey program. Blue Ice is a must read for anyone interested in Michigan athletics, is familiar with the Ann Arbor hockey community, or just loves the game of hockey.

Blue ice is an impressive book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in collegiate-level athletics, particularly ice hockey. Bacon is a gifted writer with the ability to interweave historical facts and objective (always informative and often funny) stories that keep the reader entertained. It is a great buy for folks that love factually based stories.

A must-read for hockey lovers! Whether you like Michigan Hockey or any other team, this book is for you. Bacon makes this history story of the Wolverine skaters extremely fun and joyous reading. If you are a Michigan fan, you'd enjoy reading all the details and stories; if you (so wrongly) chose another team to cheer -- you'll become curious as to its own history.
I especially loved the parts of the book (which I consider as "Hockey chanting for Idiots") detailing the rich content and background behind some of what you hear in Yost Ice arena. After reading it, watching the games was so much more fun!

The idea is simple. Write an engaging story recounting the coming of age of a first class collegiate hockey program and spice it with behind the scene details, locker room interviews and humorous anecdotes. The execution is outstanding. Blue Ice takes the reader on a very enjoyable trip looking at the beginnings of college hockey at the University of Michigan, from playing outdoors on the frozen Huron River, to the recent trips that Wolverine skaters have made to the Frozen Four championships. The bonus for readers is getting a sports version of "Connections," with the athletic stories enveloped and intertwined in the history of the time, showing how seemingly unrelated events can influence each other. Easy and entertaining to read, delightful to give as a gift, when it was over, we wanted a sequel.

Brad Berkwitt's book is a must for any boxing fan's book shelf!

Brad has done an outstanding job in getting some of the current and former greats of the sport to talk with him about their careers and what should happen in today's boxing.

I also enjoy the interviews with noted boxing fans like Al Martino, Vanessa Del Rio and the late Buddy Hackett!

This is an incredible book that you can refer to again and again!

Brad Berkwitt brings a humanistic, sensitive feeling to the world of boxing with this wonderful book! As a noted boxing writer and researcher, with over 25 years in the business, I can tell you that this is the FIRST and BEST book that I have read where the author "speaks from the heart!" While most books just provide information about boxing, Brad provides an in-depth assessment to each of the book's many fine interviews. Discussions with many of the best fighters, trainers, and managers provide stimulating questions and answers. Brad Berkwitt is more than just a fine writer, he is a great friend.

You will LOVE this book!

I just got done reading "Bad" Brad Berkwitt's new boxing book Boxing Interviews of a Lifetime for the fourth time. Each time I pick up this book, I learn something knew about so many fighters I have loved over the years. Fighters such as Sean O' Grady, Chuck Wepner, Aaron Pryor, Gerry Cooney, Gene Fullmer, Ron Lyle, Roy Jones, JR, Ken Norton, Yaqui Lopez and Vinny Paz which are just some.

The other amazing thing this author does is interview celebs such as Jerry Vale, Al Martino, Vanessa Del Rio, Joey Bishop and the late Buddy Hackett. The stories they tell about the sport of boxing which they love are priceless.

This Berkwitt fellow has set a standard for all others to follow on how to conduct an interview by getting all the details out of his interviewee..

I not only highly reccomend this book, but I will guarantee you will read it many times over because it's just that informative and entertaining..

Funny thing, the minute I saw his dedication to his late Father in the front and the very moving words he said, I knew this book was going to be Great...

If he never writes another word, covers another boxing event, or does another great interview, "Bad" Brad (as my good friend Henry "Discombobulating" Jones likes to call him) has made his mark on the boxing landscape. The great news is that he's not done yet! He loves and cares about this stuff too much! He not only has covered the current main personalities in the fight game, but he has additionally "reached back" and caught readers up on some of the great figures of boxing's past. He covers all of the bases and lets the fighters say it "their way". The fans, the fighters and the "boxing insiders" like myself love it this way! Bad Brad -keep up the great work! I know you will, because like I said . . . " he's not done yet! "

10 Count - I'm Out!
Baltimore-Washington's own Fight Doctor (AKA Jerome Spears)

When interviewing, Berkwitt asks much of the same questions to the many different fighters in his book and it was interesting to compare their answers. Yet questions were also asked that related specifically to the particuliar boxer's carreer. This book is a must have for the true boxing fan.

Berkwitt didn't shy away from interviewing female boxers. A sport is a sport and if women lace up the gloves, whether you agree with them doing so or not, you've got to respect them and their opinions.

A small thing ... was George Foreman 44 or 45 when he defeated Michael Moore? On page 36, according to Michael Buffer, he was 44. On page 89, Buffer is quoted as saying that he was 45.

I have a moral objection to the interview of a prostitute / stripper / porn star (AKA: adult movie star). In doing so it legitimizes her profession.

Additionally, I don't think that it was necessary or useful for Berkwitt to include interviews from various singers and comedians in his book.

The interviews were insightful and it was hard to put the book down once I started reading it.

You don't have to be a fan of basketball to enjoy this book--but if you are you will love it. I wish all of todays athletes would read this book. These kids were a "one of a kind" team. Mr. Combs makes you feel as if you are sitting in the stands watching these games. I got so excited reading about the last game I could hardly stand it!! This would make a wonderful movie. Ron Howard, Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, one of you please read this book!!!

What a wonderful book! Leon Combs is a great storyteller. Living in the Ozarks and near the Bradleyville area most all of my life I could really visualize the story. The characters and situations were like telling a part of my own family and hometown history. The play by play of the basketball games was like being there in that place and time. I would love to see it on the big screen! I'm ready for the next book Mr. Combs.

This author not only reveals the spirit of the sport, his colorful, descriptive narrative takes you into the very hearts of the players. Nostalgic, well-written story about a winning team, interwoven with games and statistics, makes this book a winner. Can't wait for the movie. It will happen.

I just read this wonderful book last weekend. My parents, Harlan and Betty House, were two of Bradleyville basketball's most enthusiastic followers. Both are mentioned in the book for a small portion of their contributions to the Bradleyville basketball program. The Bradleyville teams, those that were champions and those that were not, were made up of very special people--people who were willing to use all their god-given talents as best they could. With hard work they overcame their limited personal, family, and school resources. Bradleyville coaches were the best at enhancing the skills of their players and making a team out of very different individuals. The whole community was energized by the hard work and success of those winning teams. They were proud of the victories and the way their teams achieved those victories--by being great sportsmen. This book captures the spirit of the people, the players, the coaches, the community and the era. This story of our own Missouri "Hoosiers" will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys an uplifting story about those who can prevail over long odds by hard work and fair play.

I live in the area and so the book is pretty special to me. The author has written an insightful story depicting the down/home special family quality of the Ozarks. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the raccoon-hunting point guard and the innocence of pre-Vietnam/early 60's rural society. There are too many good stories to spotlight but I really liked the one about the kids at the big Springfield tournament berating their coach for calling too many time-outs when they wanted to go coon-hunting through the hills that night the best. The Bradleyville people really shine in this book which is written with great authenticity and obvious personal experience adn affection. It's a work which deserves to be up there with the best of midwestern/western folk history-it ranks with the Milan basketball story and October Skies in my opinion any way.

I am just beginning to incorporate golf as a method for acquiring new clients in my practice. Michael's book answers many questions I've had about how best to conduct a 'business round' of golf. Not only does he give a wealth of info on proper golf behaviors and etiquette, he also provides a wide range of advice on how to build a successful business. I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to integrate the wonderful game of golf with becoming a better businessperson.

Author Mike Smith is articulate and delivers a highly organized, common sense look at how to comport oneself while on the links w/ a client. All 18 chapters give you the chance to score your "game" versus what may be your competition! A fun, quick read choc full of great advice. Go for it!

In this age of ethical confusion detached from traditional sources of guidance Mike's delightful compendium of observations is refreshing indeed. This slender volume poses and answers disarmingly simple questions that often lead to exquisitely delicious reflections on morals and mores.

You'll love it if you love golf or life.

Mike Smith's book is packed with tips that are very helpful both on the golf course and at the office. As a re-emerging golfer, I found it helpful for my golf game and etiquette, and it has given me useful insight into running my business.

If you're an entrepreneur who likes to play golf or if you think playing golf could be a good business networking opportunity for you, you'll enjoy reading "Business-To-Business Golf: How To Swing Your Way To Business Success" by Michael Smith.

Smith divides his book into eighteen chapters, one for each hole of golf. Smith begins by posing a question about business-golf etiquette, answers it, and then discusses solid business ideas based upon his experience in the financial services industry and as an entrepreneur in the field of manufacturing.

On the 6th hole, Smith gives us this scenario: "... You're on the green putting for a birdie from about twenty-five feet away. Your guest is standing quite close to you and does not seem to realize how much it is bothering your concentration. You wish to communicate using one of the following:"

Smith gives three possible golf-etiquette answers:

"A. Wave your arm at your guest to have him or her move a little and say nothing.

B. In a pleasant way, ask your guest to move away since it is bothering you.

C. Don't rock the boat since this is an important client and you do not want to miss any sale opportunities. Go ahead and putt."

What? Whack the guest on the shin with your putter is not an option? Smith says the correct answer is B because it shows diplomacy and shows you're willing to confront problems without hesitation. Smith says C is the worst choice because it may indicate a personal weakness your guest is trying to probe--a lack of assertion which might well lead you to hide problems from the client.

On the 8th hole, Smith poses the question: "...Your second shot finds you just off the fairway in the rough. While addressing the ball, you inadvertently touch the ball with your club and the ball moves from its original position about an inch or so. You know full well that the golf rules mandate a one stroke penalty."

What do you do? Smith gives these choices:

"A. Do not worry about it since your guest was on the opposite side of the fairway and could not have possibly noticed.

B. Your intention is to say something but wait until later in the round.

C. You immediately add the penalty to your score and hit the ball. You advise your guest right away of your score."

The birdie (correct answer) is C. However, since the film "The Legend of Bagger Vance," I question people who call strokes against themselves for just touching the ball. Are they really just being honest or are they sacrificing an insignificant golf stroke to impress me with their Matt Damon honesty?

So, maybe, if you are playing the skeptical, untrusting sort, it's better to ignore the minor touch. Or, if you feel it's really a question of ethics, take a huge swing and run it over the top of the ball! Personally, I feel that the rules of golf should be changed to exclude any stroke, excluding putts, which moves the ball less than about five feet!

Many of the golf-etiquette lessons are pretty basic, but some are also more advanced and could really help you in a business-golf situation. For example, I didn't know that the rules of golf disallow a person to search for a ball for more than five minutes.

While half of "Business-To-Business Golf: How To Swing Your Way To Business Success" is devoted to golf etiquette, the other half is devoted to business lessons entrepreneurs will find useful.

For example, Smith tells us about the 80/20 principle which says that for many businesses only 20% of all customers account for 80% of the company's sales. Smith compares business measurements to golf scores. How can you know how well your company is doing if you don't keep proper score?

Smith writes: "Do you list your most important statistics? Can you readily assess your key costs? How are your sales listed--by type of units or services, volume or profitability? Who are your most profitable customers? Why do they place their business with you? Are there others that you can add to your list of key customers? Do you know what your tip customers represent in overall sales to your business?"

Smith suggests listing your top 20% of customers by both gross sales and profitability and then looking for similarities between these customers so that you'll have more insight into finding profitable customers.

"Business-To-Business Golf" also contains a short glossary of golf terms (bogey is one over par, birdie is one under par) and a short list of some basic golf rules which people new to golf can use.

Overall, if you enjoy golf (or, are just learning to play it) and you enjoy reading about business, you'll probably enjoy Business-To-Business Golf.

Peter Hupalo, Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur."