Sports and Recreation Books

I am the Publisher of Zee Bees. Roger Staubach, one of America's superlative athletes, has recommended the book. I pass along his comments to all readers who may be interested;

"Zee Bees took me vividly back to my football days...the hard work, the bruises, the excitement, the camaraderie, the emotional ups and downs, ...it's all there. This is an inspirational book that teaches the lessons that team sports teaches so well...how to establish goals, stick to it, work together, ...and succeed! I highly recommend Zee Bees for readers of all ages!"

Roger Staubach
Heisman Trophy Winner Navy 1963
ALL Pro Quarterback Dallas Cowboys

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I had a general idea of what the book was about but once I started reading it brought me back to a place that I have never been, and really never even heard about growing up. You see my dad is Paul Jackola and reading this book showed me how different values and team work was before my teen age years. We all expect things and back then you had to work for them. This book is something that all kids should read, make them think of how it used to be, how it is now and what they can do for the future. This book will be read by my 3 children and then it will be brought to the local schools for teachers to read and hope to teach a lesson for all children of today.

As a foreign exchange student at Zion-Benton in 1961-62 - 7 years after Bob Osmon graduated - I was delighted to read his book about the team and the coach that set out to win the championship - and did! - against formidable foes like Lake Forest and New Trier. You don't need to understand the rules and tactics of American football (I frankly don't) to enjoy this fascinating story. And you don't need to know Zion - which springs to life even 50 years later - because this could be any small community anywhere in the USA. A book for grown-ups and youngsters - everyone will want to immerse themselves in this tale of challenge, frustration, team building - and winning.

"Zee Bees" by Bob Osman is an exceptional read. The story about a group of young people, a football team and their friends(girl friends and teammates)is a great portrayal of growing up in America in the 50's. It has many lessons about friendship and working for your goals that would serve any generation of young people. Once you start reading the book you can't put it down. I recommend it to young people of any age. You will enjoy it. My son and daughters read it and enjoyed the story and it was not just because their mother is the girl that swept Bob off his feet in the book and the star center on the team is their uncle. It is a good story and one all of us can relate to regardless of the generation in which we grew up.

This is an excellent book. I couldn't put the book down! It tells about how people lived in this small town of Zion, IL and the values they had which rubbed off in their high school students. It tells about the football team who had their dreams of championship and persevered toward it. The high school students had respect for their coach no matter how they were treated, they could see, they all had one goal in mind. That is pretty difficult for teenagers, sometimes. The book will make you laugh and cry and bring you right into that small town. The descriptions of the football games and the sights of that town are so real! This book should be read by everyone who wants to make a difference in thier lives by overcoming any problem. Work hard and have respect.

This is my third copy of the Cosmic Ray book; the other copies have been "borrowed" and not returned. The maps are amusing, and it fits into a jacket pocket pretty easy...Good book if you like a cartoon type picture.

I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona. In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book. The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome. Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed. Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

Just got back from Arizona- and we used this book extensively as it was easy to read, the maps accurate, and the book is quite entertaining. My 6 year old son stated that the Lava River Cave trail "changed his life" (in a good way). The trail trips turned out to be the highlight of our trip!! The authors advise is excellent and the designation of level of difficulty is on target.

This is it...look no further...

Trail maps and information as well as local business area beta....covers all the well-known hikes and even some of the lesser known...

A must hiking guide for Northern Arizona.

Both Sedona and Flagstaff are covered....the book is stout and put together very well; this sturdiness provides needed protection in your pack!!

As a transplanted Montanan, I don't trust much advice on hiking in Arizona. I thank you for the Favorite Hikes book. I used to hike in the Glacier and Bozeman area but have been out of the action for a few years since moving to Flagstaff and having a baby. I have found this guide to be accurate and reliable when planning hikes with my son and/or dog. Thanks again. Buying this book is the best 10 bucks I ever spent.

The structure and organization of this books is really stunning and authors haven't left anything to complain about. This is one of very few books which has complete elevation profile for each hike instead of just elevation gain. The hiking maps are actually useful and well marked with all points of interests. Best of all, each hike contains GPS coordinates which I'm so pleased to have because wordy descriptions just doesn't cut it all the time. The descriptions long but actually useful instead like in other books where authors love to write them in painful and poor artistic styles. Each hike contains small B&W low quality photo which are usually OK and not always represents the best view from the trail. I also own 55 Hikes Around Snoqualmie Pass: Mountains to Sound Greenway (100 Hikes In...) and given choice between two I will prefer this one because of its superb structure and organization plus modern details such as GPS coordinates.

I think this book should be template for all other hiking guidebooks out there.

An awesome book, very detailed descriptions, good maps, elevation profiles with every trip, GPS, driving instructions. This is far better than all the mountaineers books. Go get a copy today.

What I like:

* I love how it features hikes *within* Seattle, Kirkland and Bellevue. Many guidebooks skip hikes within the city altogether. The one you can kayak to is pretty neat! I expect that these trails will be good for the colder months, when trails in the Cascades are snowed out. I'm looking forward to using this book more and more later in the year.

* The descriptions are quite thorough. The details help me visualize the hike, and this can be motivating sometimes. This has some cons though -- see below.

* It has a section for nearby activities. I find that useful when planning side trips/activities.

* It provides the GPS coordinates of the trailhead.


What I don't like:

* Each page has a header that is a black area with white text. On the left page it says "{hike #} 60 hikes within 60 miles" and on the right side, "Seattle including Bellevue, Everett and Tacoma". I think this space could be used better if it displayed the name of the hike and the general area instead of the same text over and over.

* Key at-a-glance information is shown in a black box with small white text. This information is quite important to me when deciding which hike to do, and I would rather have it in a more readable form. Better yet, have it in a form that I can actually digest "at a glance" (!) instead of having to read the small white-on-black text. Other guidebooks show some of this information graphically, with stars or hiker icons to indicate difficulty and/or rating. At the very least, I think the font should be the same size as the descriptive text.

* Driving directions and GPS coordinates are printed as black text over a light/dark gray background. Bad contrast!

* The descriptive text is loooong. I appreciate that sometimes, but I it's too verbose for my taste. The font size is rather small, which for me makes reading the description even less appealing.

* Whether or not dogs are allowed is also in the description text. Since I have a dog, I'd like to know this immediately, so again, I think it should be displayed more prominently.

* It would be nice if it had a topographical map for the longer trails. I find it hard to reconstruct the lie of the land from the map and the elevation graph, especially since the map doesn't have mile markers along the representation of the hike's trail. [Yes, I have my own topo map of the entire area, but a small one that I can carry with the trail description is convenient as a adjunct to a larger map.]


All things considered, I have mixed feelings about this book. It has good content, but I think there are better ones out there. Call me superficial, but I'm a weekend hiker, and the difference between an engaging/beautiful versus so-so/mediocre presentation can have a big effect on my enthusiasm for a particular hike :)

This is one of the best books I have found for the newbie hiker in seattle. If you have a GPS it is even better as you can just the coordinates in the book to find the starting point for each hike. The Maps are great! The descriptions are great!

The other day I found myself in the passenger seat of my own car for an extended trip. Miles from nowhere with not much left to talk about and nothing but scratchy country music on the radio I noticed the guidebook I had received as a gift, stashed in the sidepocket and promptly forgotten. Raised on the Mountainers "100 Hikes" series, I knew guidebooks to be invaluable on the trail, but as reading material dryer than Central Oregon scree in mid-August.

As I thumbed the pages of "60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Seattle," I quickly moved from bored to engaged to engrossed. This book was good! In addition to finding dozens of previously overlooked trails within a short drive of my Seattle home, I learned many new and fascinating details about the places I've been hiking for years. The trail descriptions are accurate and appropriately detailed. The navigational instruction are clear and include useful visual landmarks in addition to the usual distance cues. What's best though, is that into the brief trail write-ups Weber and Stevens manage to weave bits of local history, trivia and entertaining lore that greatly enhance the hiking experience. I even found myself reading several sections aloud to my travelling companion. Finally, the authors also understand that sometimes the best hiking tip is not the trail itself, but the location of the local frosty mug or renowned double deluxe burger at trails end!

Whether you are new in town, just visiting, or a soggy Seattle native like myself, "60 Hikes" makes a great addition to your recreation library.

"This is the first time I have enjoyed a golf instructional book so much! Just simple common sense". Mike Arsenault, Rosemere,QC

"My fear of sand bunkers was playing havoc with my game. After reading the ABC's of golf's bunker chapter, I realized what I was doing...I was stopping for a 'coffee break'as you stated. Now when I land in the bunker, I just tell myself "NO COFFEE BREAK" and follow through. It really works."

Kay Haggert, Dorval QC

"I appreciate the simple basic approach that your book takes to the game. Too often authors try to teach their readers to adapt to their particular style of play; whereas you recognize that not everyone has the same physical abilities and encourage the reader to take this into account. Your book should be able to help me knock 3 or 4 strokes off my score and perhaps enjoy the game even more than I do now".

Sam Chaif,Technical Service Rep.Alliance products Inc., Montreal,QC

Dan Kirby's book, "The ABC's of Golf," does what golf books should do, but don't. His book is simple, easy to understand, and is loaded with common sense. The hight light of Dans book is that he keeps the point sharply focused on the original goal of golf....and that is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Jim McLellan, golf professional...

The author, Dan Kirby, goes through the normal steps of teaching golf but he also goes much further. He delves into the mental and spiritual aspects of the game that are rarely addressed in other instructional books. He has taught me to relax and stop trying so hard. The game of golf, in my mind, is 25% mechanical and 75% mental. He focuses on the mechanical side of golf of course, but more importantly, he explains the importance of concentration, the enjoyment of playing golf and just being alive. This new outlook on golf that I learned from reading Dan's book has greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the game and has shaved a couple of strokes off my scorecard!!

Gene Wojciechowski hits a home run with this novel. His humor and behind the scenes realism make this book a very entertaining and enjoyable read. A must for any baseball or sports fan.

The fastest read of my life. This book flowed so well I had to stop myself from sneaking ahead. Wojciechowski has a gift that he must share again and again. Like I said, gimme more.

Wojciechowski does a great job of capturing the flavor of the less glamorous aspects of sportswriting and that's the book's strong point.

Some of the humor involving the baseball players may be a bit crude for some, but that's not too far from the way players act.

I'm not from Chicago, but I can almost feel that city's presence in every page of the book, even when the action shifts to Mesa.

Gene has grabbed the world of baseball the way no one else has in a long time. This book is outstanding and should be a must for all baseball or for that matter sports junkies. Way to go Gene and keep it up

Being a lifelong Cubs fan, I've grown to hate sportswriters since all they do is tell me how bad my Cubs are. Well, I finally found a sportswriter I like and can relate to in Joe Riley. Riley's adventures are great and there are scenes that are just laugh out loud funny. I know Wojociechowski covered the Cubs for awhile and his knowledge and passion of the game comes through in the locker room and baseball scenes. This is a great read for any baseball fan, but a MUST read for Cubs fans.

If you ski or snowboard, you must buy this book! If you don't ski, but enjoy great travel stories told with wit and humor, you should still buy this book. Finkel is one of the best and funniest travel writers around.

If you have a passion for skiing and traveling, this is the book for you! It's an easy read - several short stories about the author's ski adventures in the U.S. and abroad. A very enjoyable book that's hard to put down...you just want to keep reading on to his next adventure.

Most ski writers are middle-aged-plus travel hacks more interested in the hotel than the hill. Not Finkel. Almost uniquely among widely-published ski journalists, he's more interested in descents than dinner, and it's fun to travel vicariously through his work.

Alpine Circus is essentially a compendium of columns originally published in SKIING magazine. All are interesting. Most are funny. One -- the piece on Sarajevo -- is intensely moving.

Four stars out of five. While very enjoyable, the book doesn't fully display Finkel's remarkable talent as a writer. Hopefully, future collections will. You'll see a lot more of his work... he's still a mere sprat.

Three thumbs up. Now I don't have to launch myself off a 40 meter ski jump or attempt a 60-degree couloir . . . Mr. Finkel has done it for me. But skiing is just the thread that weaves this collection of diverse stories together as the book touches on Iranian politics, ski development in China (or lack thereof), the war in Sarajevo, pre-Salt Lake City Olympic bribery, and countless others. Having said that, there's also enough enjoyable virgin pistes and well-carved turns (on skis, telemarks, and snowboards) to satisfy the most selfish powder pig.

A great collection of unforgettable skiing stories that takes you around the globe to some of the most remote areas of the world. After reading every authors stop, you feel as if you've been there also. Easy to read, funny, and worth reading again and again...

Would recommend this to anyone who has had to cycle in the streets in an urban area. Very practical advice of things and situations I had never even thought of. A must read for cyclists

The inclusion of the word "art" in the title of this book made me fear that this book would be laying out a pretentious philosophy of cycling as a form of pseudo-mysticism, a bicycle version of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Gratefully, these fears were unfounded, and what we have instead is a very sober and practical account of the pleasures, risks, and techniques of cycling in an urban environment.

Opening with a brief history of cycling in America, and a discussion of the emergence of the automobile and its effects on urban design, the book moves on to describe and analyze the various kinds of hazards the urban cyclist will face, and how best to deal with them. In doing this, the author avoids the strident sermonizing often characteristic of those who promote "alternative" and "earth-friendly" forms of recreation.

Above all, the author emphasizes the importance of constant vigilance as the best way to avoid accident and injury. And, without getting too mystical about it, he points out that this heightened awareness or vigilance in avoiding trouble is - paradoxically - one of the main pleasures of cycling. Cycling, for Hurst, is very much a thinking man's (or woman's) game.

The author also discusses cycling clothing, helmets (pro-and-con), and pros-and-cons regarding different types of bicycles (he favors traditional narrow-wheeled road bikes over mountain bikes and their offshoots). In all of this he is non-dogmatic, seeing both sides of every issue.

Good is this book is, I gave it four stars instead of five because the author is not a particularly memorable stylist, and I think he could have gone into more detail about the clothing and equipment alternatives. These quibbles aside, I can recommend the book without reservation.

I like this book because it tells it like it is. Unlike Urban Bike Riders Tips and Tricks, another book-which I also like for different reasons, this one tells you about the risks of commuting by bike-air pollution, accidents, bike jackings for example, he explore topics like wearing your helmet. Yes it's the law, but does it actually protect you? This is first bike commuting book that I've read that raises questions like this. It's no nonsense advice for those seriously contemplating bike commuting.

Don't get me wrong, the author comes across as a serious bike advocate, but this is the first book that I've seen that takes the issues above with a little more seriousness than others out there.Down Low Glow Lighting Kit - Two Tubes-Envy(green)

Excellent book for any rider who rides to commute or just rides to live. Blends the learnings of "Effective Cycling :6th edition"
and other inner city riding techniques. Provides a non-biased view of riding in the city and it's surrounds and urges all riders to take responsibity for their actions on the road.

It is rare a book be so informative and yet so entertaining. It is full of all kinds of tidbits, in addition to the practical information on riding in an urban environment. Definately helped me...

Excellent book - unfortunately I didn't buy the british version right away - which comes with an extraodinary CD. So I bought the british version as well and offered the american one to a friend. LONG LIVE OLD EUROPE

This is among the best car books I've ever seen. The photography is all new - no recycled press photos you've seen over and over. The writing style is clear and evocative of the best story telling. It could have been published as 21 monthly articles in Road & Track. The tone is friendly without being silly. It contains technical information without getting hopelessly bogged down in minutiae. HOWEVER - as I was reflecting how cool it would be to download audio recordings of these cars in action (imagining a website) I read that the UK version comes with a CD! Why isn't this in the US version? As the Buddhists say, all suffering stems from desire... Now if I could only buy (and maintain!) my fantasy Chaparral and Ford GT-40 and Ferrari Daytona and Mini-Cooper S and Lotus 21 and Jaguar D Type and supercharged Bugatti and Porsche 911 and Cobra and Buell superbike...

It can be ordered through Amazon UK; It's called "Into The Red" and the engine sounds on the CD are awesome.

This book is outstanding. Nick Mason's brief account of each car's history and how he came to buy it is interesting and often humorous and Mark Hales' account of the driving experience conveys great feeling. The photography is also of very high quality. BUT you must buy one that comes with the CD, the book is titled 'Into the Red' outside the USA. Listening to the CD (loud!) while reading the book is an awesome experience which should not be missed. Particularly track 5, the V16 BRM, the sound of which will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!

Recently I bought the UK-version of this book. It is called 'Into the Red' and comes with a CD with sounds of the sportscars described in the books. I agree with all other reviewers: this CD plus book is a must-have. The pictures in the book are beautiful, the text by Mason and Hales is technically, humorously and very interesting to read. Even if you are not full into racingcars, this is still a very nice book to have in your bookcase !

This is an interesting sea story that will certainly entertain sailing enthusiasts for a long time. The story focused too heavily on the rather idealized but troubled life of a friend of the author, and at times suffers from too much speculation as to the mindset of the sailors eventually lost at sea. These literary shortcomings, however, are a reasonable trade off for the authors vast experience and knowledge of sailing. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in sailing.

I picked up this book at the independent booksellers' convention in Atlanta after hearing John Kretschmer speak. His talk was so enthralling, I couldn't resist his book. It is riveting and well written. A must for anyone who seeks well-presented thought-provoking entertainment.

I just finished reading this book. It sat on my book shelf for a good while. I had forgotten about it. I picked it up today and never put it down.
I live on the island of St. Maarten. One of the sailors in this book was a resident here. I am familiar with the waters around here and I lived through Hurricane Lenny, so I was particularly interested in this book.
I was not prepared however for the intensity. I feel like I lived this tragedy with these sailors. This is a well written, well researched book and one highly personal for the author, who was a good friend of one of the sailors.
I highly recommend this book. It is well worth the read and if nothing else, it will make you appreciate the raw power of hurricanes and the sea.
My sympathies go out to all the families who lost their loved ones in this hurricane.

This is a most excellent book which will sure become a sailing book classic. It tells the story how the paths of an American, an Australian, a Frenchman and a Brazilian in three different vessels crossed each other in the eyes of hurricane Lenny. With the insight of someone who seems to have lived their lives Kretschmer sketches us why they were sailing, what they loved about sailing, and why they were there when the hurricane struck.

The story is told by someone well-versed at sailing, but one who doesn't forget to explain the technical terms to newbies, but also does not bother experienced sailors with long explanations. It seems details have been researched painstakingly.

If you have ever dreamed about sailing the oceans, read this book.

This is a well written and gripping tale of three sailboats caught in a Caribbean Hurricane. As their paths and stories converge, the tension gets tighter. We know how it ends, but finding out how it gets to that point keeps the reader from putting it down.

This was a great background read for the preparations that go into the Iditarod. It's a fun and engaging read--even for long-time fans of the race. There's lots of interesting background info included. Thanks June!

Reading June's book is just like experiencing all the excitement and activity of being at the Iditarod. I've been at Anchorage for the ceremonial start and then at Skwentna to help the mushers, and reading June's book, I relived my experience. I pictured myself right there again, seeing, hearing and experiencing the Iditarod through June's descriptions. This is a must read for all who would go to Iditarod, and all those who have been, and everyone else, too! Thanks, June!

This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves dogs and dreams of a life as part of the pack. It will also discourage most of us from pursuing a dream of hopping on a sled and running from Anchorage to Nome, as it lays out in no uncertain terms how much work goes into running the Last Great Race. The Iditarod is a truly unique event--over 1000 miles through the rough terrain of an Alaska winter, and that's only if you can negotiate the training, preparation, packing, vet checks and qualifying races. Fans of any age and any level of experience with the race will enjoy this view from the inside. Even if you've never actually seen a sled dog race, you will be able to appreciate the down to earth approach of the author and the practical explanation of what is going on behind the scenes while the cameras are rolling out front. Running the Iditarod is not a two week event for the mushers, it is a year long super marathon that starts all over again for most of them shortly after they make the run with their team under the Burled Arch in Nome. If you're already a fan, you will appreciate the sport even more as you realize how dedicated the mushers are to their dogs and their way of life. If you're new to the sport, it's a great primer on the race, the racers and the controlled chaos that is the Iditarod.

Imagine your best friend just returned home from a long vacation. She throws a log on the fire, pours you a glass of wine, and you each grab a corner in the couch. She then proceeds to tell you about her journey, in detail, practically everything you ever wanted to know. That's how this book reads, not like a "book" per say, more like an evening with a good friend. Author June Price explains the ins & outs of the race in detail. Answers questions you didn't even realize you were thinking about! She totally captures you. Makes me want to be there, to freeze my butt off with the best of them, the volunteers who help make this race possible. A great read!

June Price does an excellent job of bringing you right there through it all.... if you really want to know what these mushers do, go through, and provide for their dogs, how much a part of the team they are, then read this book. It's a very well done account of the true happenings surrounding this great race. June has spent many years with these very people, researching, learning, and beautifully putting to paper, the extraordinary Iditarod, it's participants, and the dogs... Everyone who loves to gather more information about the inside of the race should put this on their MUST READ list. She takes you there, keeps you there, and gets you to the finish line... without even getting cold! :-) Thanks for a wonderful book, June.