Sports and Recreation Books

This book is pure poetry in motion. From the story of Fireball Roberts and his untimely demise to the story of Joe Weatherly. A moving tribute to some of the greatest drivers ever.

Finally a tome that is down to the nitty-gritty of a sport that nowadays is white-washed and sugar coated.I have been involved in auto racing my entire life and can identify with poeple like Ralph Moody and Lou Larosa and can understand there point of view on the state of the sport today.True racers could give two shits about money!

At first, I was hesitant to pick up this book, as Golenbock is not exactly one of the most popular names in NASCAR writing. His last work on NASCAR - American Zoom - was filled with glaring errors and misinformation about the history of the sport. However, after sitting and reading merely a few pages from The Last Lap (...), I could tell this book was much different. Golenbock tells the history of NASCAR from a driver's standpoint instead of merely describing races and race results. Each era of racing is related to a different driver. He also tells the stories of several lesser known drivers who happened to have lost their lives prematurely. If you are a racing fan, I recommend this book. If you don't like racing, you may get curious after reading about the escapades of Curtis Turner and Joe Weatherly. It is my personal opinion that you do not have to be a fan of NASCAR to enjoy this book.

Each chapter is a separate story about one of NASCAR's heroes. The book does a great job of staying accurate, down to the improper grammer of the quoted person doing the story telling! A fun and informative look at how NASCAR built itself up to what it is today.

Peter Golenbock has captured the true face of NASCAR. He interviewed old time racers and their families to give you a look at what there lives where like. Stories about Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Tim Flock, Maurice Petty and many others capture your attnetion for hours. This book is an absolute must have for any true NASCAR fan.

The Lead Goat Veered Off is one of the most entertaining cycle touring narratives that I have read and there are plenty of them on my shelf. Neil Anderson has a wonderful knack for putting you right there next to him on the adventures that he and his wife share. From the hilarious to the absurd (being stuck in their tent for three days in a snowstorm with only oranges to eat comes to mind) to the sometimes arduous nature of touring (mountains that don't seem to have a summit) to the human stories that are both funny and touching. Something that this book communicates very well is that one of the best ways to see a country is by bicycle. Due to the slower pace and reliance on local products and services, interaction with the people and culture of the area are particularly rich. As is noted in many cycle touring books, there are people all over the world that are happy - if not insistent - to take you in, feed you, entertain you and live in your memories forever. This book is broken down into short chapters dealing with specific events or subjects, making it very easy to read snippets here and there during a busy life. Perhaps one of the most valuable things about this book is that it spurs you to think about your own life - is busy really what you want?

I cant wait for the next Biking Adventure...I've read both books by Neil Anderson..Wonderful writer, Excellent at conveying the adventure to words.
Neil and Sharon are so much fun to travel with. I love the interaction they have with others and each other and the area, real life!! Its so much fun to read. Neil is so honest in his writing.
Its not drawn out but its kept at a great pace life/biking adventure and just all around what a true travel adventure would be like. The GoOD tHe BAd ANd the UglY..:)
I hope another book is in the making. NEEd MOre!!

I read both of Neil's books and they are both ones I will never give up. I am an avid reader of cycling adventure books and Neil's sense of humor is second to none. Sharon and Neil share personal struggles and combine it with a simple way of seeing the world with a sense of awe and excitement. The book is broken into short stories and it is easy to read. You will only be disappointed after you have finished both books and now you have to wait for the third. Highly recommended.

I just finished "The Lead Goat Veered Off" second of 2 great reading
books by Canadians Neil Anderson (and his wife Sharon). This is an
entertaining read of their exploits as they travel though Corsica and
Sardinia on their 2+ year world cycling trip. If you didn't read the
first book "Partners in Grime" that's o.k. but it helps. They are both GREAT books. Really enjoyed them both.

I highly recommend this book - a good read by a pretty good author, and a fun story. I've thought of cycling just about everywhere in the world, but I never thought of Sardinia. If you read it, bear in mind that by the time these two got to Sardinia, they had to be fairly hardened cyclists, able to climb hills that might deter the rest of us. But again, good story, fun read, highly recommended.

the only thing i knows that lewis is more than all boxers ever because he was noncomparable in any ways atall.we all can imagine it that those loosed he had was underrated opponet which's clear to everyones in the whole world.
My adivise to mr Lewis is that shld not allow any one to cause enemity betwen he and Our Mnager (Mr Ogun)and not to disorganised his team ok.
I'm from Ghana and love to be seen him fight always i had been in his Fans since 1992 and love him naturally.
that's all for now Regards Alpha Atibay

This book was a great picture book. Lennox is a sexy, sensitive, and loving man.

I've always liked Lennox Lewis, the man is intelligent & always carries himself with class. And lets not forget how great a boxer he was. This is a nice item to own if you're into Lennox, this girl I was with knew this & bought it as a birthday or christmas present for me (I forget which one), and I was very pleased. Its a hefty piece, a coffee table dweller all in black & white and which basically takes you through the 1999-2001 period with a selection of pictures and interviews.

The book itself is large and nice looking. The photography is more of an artistic nature than run-of-the-mill sports coverage. There are some awesome action shots of Lennox at work versus Evander Holyfield, Michael Grant, and Frans Botha, but far more of Lennox in his past times, playing ball & chess, hangin' in Jamaica and some great material of him in Africa. the girl who follows his camp around and provides the words has a nice style of her own and asks Lennox some interesting stuff. Lennox clowns around a bit & we finally get a glimpse of his real character.

I can't criticise this book, although I did wonder why there were no shots of Lennoxs convincing points win over David Tua from 2000? (A GREAT performance) And bigger & better shots of Lennoxs crushing revenge kayo of Hasim Rachman woulda been cool, and if he'd have waited around a few months longer before realeasing this book we could even had some shots of him waxing Tyson. However all in all this really isn't the overall vibe of the book. The book is a journey through a period of time with the Lewis camp & represented with awesome photography work. Overall a very attractive and lovingly created work & a real nice companion for any fan of Lennox Lewis.

I was very pleased with this purchase and I highly recommend this book to ALL fans of Lennox Lewis. You cannot be disappointed. The photographer, Blaise Hart intelligently and poetically captures various scenes of Lewis's life with the passion of a Rembrandt or Gauguin painting. The compilation of black and white photos not only illuminates and magnifies the intensity of Lennox Lewis's brilliance and presence in the boxing ring but also reveals the sensitivity, charisma and spiritual strength of a man who irrefutably has earned the title of legend and hero. He is a Renaissance man and the quintessential, modern "knight in shining armor." He exudes athletic skill, prowess and power but has the corruscating wit and intellect of a consummate gentleman - a rare breed indeed. He commands respect and is the epitome of velvet-covered steel. I also own "Lennox Lewis - the Autobiography of the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World with Joe Steeples" which I also highly recommend to ALL Lennox Lewis fans because it provides an even more in-depth, detailed account of his heritage, his childhood and the influential forces which led him into the arena of boxing which would be of interest to any true fan. This book, however should not be overlooked and ignored. If the stunning photos of Lennox Lewis in the ring during heavyweight bouts do not impress you then you will be relieved to discover the photos of Lewis at ease in rural Africa, deliberating in solitude and playing chess which you will be sure to appreciate immensely as I did. You will also read insightful interviews with Lennox Lewis scattered between the presentation of photos which are not only candid but very entertaining. Do not pass this book up. You will regret it if you do. Then again - ignorance is bliss but thank God I chose to not be ignorant here! Lennox Lewis is truly an inspiration to us all.

i was very pleased with this book! i read it in one sitting. the pictures captured both the down to earth and gentle side of this fine gentleman. the only reservation i have is that the book didn't delve deep enough into his personal life. it seems that the author painstakingly avoided it. but the pictures somehow compensated for this. i would recommend this book to any and all who are admirers(most of them female, probably) of this incredible man. you won't be disappointed!

I read Lionheart around 3-4 years ago and it instantly reminded me of all the years I went sailing with my family when I was a small girl. It made me appreciate the art of sailing to the fullest. Jesse is an inspiration to everyone that reads his adventures and he gives a great motivation to follow your dreams until they become true!

This is a fabulous book and I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to anyone but especially to any young people as it shows just where enthusiasm, optimism and determination can get you and that you dont have to (shouldn't) follow the crowd to succeed in life. He is a wonderful storyteller and very modest about his achievement. Everyone I know who has read it has found it unputdownable.

Jesse's honest account of his experiences and his comments on success make this book well worth the read.

I loved this book,and fell in love with sailing all over again. I've been sailing since I was a little girl, yet his out look on sailing affected mine all over again.
This book quickly became my favorite, replacing my old favorite books. I keep it by my bed and for inspiration I only have to open it up.

I just finished reading Lionheart a book that has reminded me that dreams can come true. As a sailor, I dream about taking my boat to distant places but can't find the courage to do it, I think Jesse has opened a new window for me. This book is much more than a sailing story is about fullfilling your dreams.

I had this book as a child and loved it, but lost it. I was so happy to find it at amazon. They really do have an impressive selection of books.

This is a great book for kids just learning to read. Even 2 and 3 year olds love reading along with you (it repeats so many times that they know the words by heart after reading it a time or two). This book works really well if the child reads it to you or at least pretends to read it.

I am 34 years old it was my all time favourite as a child growing up in Canada. I now live in the United States and have a child of my own. I now want to share this great story with him. He is 2 1/2 and loves fish. Thanks!!!!!!

I bought this hard to find book for my son and my grandchildren. It was my son's favorite book when he was young and now my grandchildren are now enjoying it. This book has brought many good memories in my life.

I a 39 years old with 4 children- Pre-school to high school. This was my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK as a child. I have searched antique stores for it, wishing for years that I had coveted my copy of this book, but I guess it just got away. Jill Reiter, Parker Colorado

Howard Blackburn accomplished a feat of endurance and spirit that equals any. This is a well told tale of the man who froze his hands to the oars of his dory to row 100 miles in January off Newfoundland. Gripping and substantial, this book stays with you.

It would be too easy to simply say that Howard Blackburn rose above his adversity. I should like to have known more about, or even known him - fisherman, retailer, sailor and philanthropist - here is a man of legend among men of iron. Howard's tale is marvelous; a testament to the pioneers and explorers who follow their restless dreams without compromise. Lone Voyager is a fascinating and enlightening look into the industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the men who fought long odds and the compelling draw of a man possessed of his visions.

Though I live in Gloucester and have spent a good many evenings in Howard Blackburn's establishment with his pictures and newspaper articles hanging on the walls, I only recently discovered this book. What a wonderful adventure! The first chapter, which tells the story of the fishing trip during which Blackburn lost his fingers and toes, sets the stage well for the rest of the adventure. And what an adventure it is! Here in Gloucester they talk of the days of "iron men in wooden ships" and Blackburn was the toughest and most indomitable of all those iron men. After surviving the trip that opens the book, he goes on to start his famous tavern in Gloucester, cross the Atlantic twice on his own, sail around Cape Horn and up the Pacific Coast bound for the Klondike, and undertake a perfectly fascinating trip up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi.

Because I wrote a book based in the seafaring history of Lake Erie I was particularly gratified to read that Blackburn wrote that of all the waters he ever crossed he considered Lake Erie to have been the worst --- even worse than the Grand Banks in the Atlantic.

Author Joe Garland is well known both as a historian and a sailor and both those skills are well used in the telling of this tale. This is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary man told by an extraordinary writer. What more does a reader want?

I found an old copy of this book and read it a year ago. An incredible true story. I`m glad to see that it is available in paperpback again.

Howard Blackburn was one cool dude! I mean the guy gets caught away from the mother ship and rows for 5 days to live but it costs him all his fingers and that's just the first two chapters! You've got him going off to the Yukon on a gold rush jaunt, a couple of single handed trips across the Atlantic. A circumnavigation of the Eastern US via the Great Lakes and the Misissippi River and around Florida. He just won't quit.

Anyway I bought the book because of the stories about dories, and was hooked by all the other adventures as well.

BTW there is a rowing race of 22 miles in open Atlantic called the "Blackburn Challange" The folks of Glouster loved him.

I enjoyed Jim Brosnan's The Long Season. I didn't think that the book was quite as good as its reputation, however.

It is easy to see why The Long Season made such a strong impression when it was published in 1960. Brosnan's account of the 1959 baseball season was one of the first books that didn't "sugarcoat" the professional athlete's life. Brosnan is very opinionated about baseball and the characters in the baseball world.

I don't think that the book has aged that well, however. It doesn't have the irreverence or gossipy tone of books that followed, such as Ball Four. I found, therefore, that the book could be slow going in places. You do get an excellent view of the 1959-era baseball world, however.

In summary, The Long Season is a good read for those who want to know more about baseball 50 years ago. If you aren't a hardcore fan, however, you probably will want to look elsewhere.

wonderful baseball expose of the era. fascinating, riveting and, best of all - true! not some Bernard Malamud fictional account, this author was a major league pitcher for 9 season. Not a great pitcher, but an average one. Fortunately, he's a great author.

This is flat out the best baseball book I have ever read.

I also enjoyed Ball Four. Ball Four

"Twist, belly-button, block." A major league relief pitcher taught me how to hit a baseball. An excellent book during an excellent time in Baseball.

While Brosnan ruffled some feathers with this book, it isn't anywhere near as controversial or raunchy as Jim Bouton's "Ball Four." Brosnan does mention his difficult contract negotiation, but it's not as bitter as Bouton discussing contracts. Brosnan has an elephant-like memory for conversations and the batting history of every hitter he faces. You get to see every aspect of a game, from the pitchers discussing how to pitch to a batter to who's got the best pitch to the manager's pep talks before the game. Brosnan has an excellent grasp of the language and even perplexes some of his not as scholarly teammates with some of his words. Overall, a great read from a talented pitcher and author. I look forward to reading "Pennant Race."

I really enjoyed this book, which is a milder, tamer, less controversial book written 10 years before Jim Bouton's Ball Four. Both books are written by good, but not great relief pitchers named Jim. Both are written in diary form while the pitchers toil for less than stellar teams. Funny, and at times irreverent, Brosnan's book is worth the time to read! Teaser: I love the nickname Brosnan's wife gave him. :-)

Losse Balls is funny and thoroughly entertaining book about the old
American Basketball Association. It covers all the individuals involved
in the forming of the league, its quirky players and all the stats
during its existence. For those who like basketball, its a great read.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. I love basketball to death but have the misfortune of coming of age in the late 90's, well after the holy trinity of MJ, Bird, and Magic and WELL after the ABA.

This book is an oral history that gives some amazing insights as to how things were before the world of cable and internet and before the NBA was the marketing juggernaught it is today. It is also full of ridiclous stories about players, coaches, fans, and owners. It is facinating to see what aspects of the ABA resonate in todays NBA. Though some of the book is dated (the book was written in 1990) in terms of how things are relayed to the reader, the essense of the book has and will continue to hold up very well.

What can I say about Loose Balls that has not already been said??...Probably nothing...There is a reason why Sports Illustrated ranked this book Number 13 on the Top 100 Sports Books of alltime and why it is still in print 18 years after first coming out....That reason is it's a great book that is the definitive history of the ABA and at the same time has you literally laughing out loud at times...I had more laughs reading this book than I do at most movies....Most people in other reviews have noted the principals like Fly Williams...Marvin "Bad News" Barnes....John Brisker..Pat Boone.. Julius Erving..etc..etc so I won't rehash or spoil the tales but they are memorable because they are true....Pluto's genius in putting this book together was that he let the principals tell their stories and he just put them on paper in an orderly format and let the story tell itself...No need to do anything else...I was pretty young during the ABA Days so I only remembered a little about it,but after reading this book I felt like I was there for all 9 years of the ABA....I can't recommend a book any more than I do this one...Buy this book...you will not be able to put it down once you start and I guarantee you will get a ton of laughs

One of the funniest books I have ever read. Great stories told by the players themselves. The pre-packaged NBA in its current form has nothing over the ABA and its love of the game.

Pluto, as always, does a great job in putting it all together. Highly recommended.

This book is a sports gem. The wild ride of the American Basketball Association from inception to its eventual collapse and NBA absorption of the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets.
The book is divide into 3 parts.Opening Gambits, Middle Game and Endgame.
The first part deals with the origins of the league from the hiring of its first Commisioner, George Mikan and the idea behind the red, white and blue basketball and the struggles of early ABA teams to stock their rosters to a great section on The Indiana Pacers, one of the leagues best organizations. Everything is told in a series of stories told by the people involved. It is a credit to author Terry Pluto's reporting skills and ability to edit that makes this so enjoyable.
Part 2 deals includes a lengthy section about the greatest player to come out of the ABA, Julius Erving. The Doctor must have been a wonder to behold in his early years as he is spoke of in awe by teammates, opponents, and coaches. Also the many stories of the often bizarre characters that inhabited the ABA are priceless in and of themselves.Of which the reader will often find themself laughing out loud. The section on The San Antonio Spurs is enjoyable in that you learn the humble origins of the current NBA dynasty.
Part 3 covers such franchises as the Kentucky Colonels who were considered underachievers until they finally won an ABA championship in 1975. Probably the most entertaining section of the book chronicles the story of the Spirits Of St. Louis. The tales told of this franchise often boggle the mind if one has any isea how professional athletes are expected to act. The antics of Spirits star Marvin "bad news" Barnes are some of the most outrageous I've ever heard of in my life and I've been a sports fan for decades. Great stories of All time great coach Larry Brown and so many others they are too numerous to name.
In the end the massive contracts the ABA gave out became their undoing and eventually forced capitulation to the rival NBA. It is a fun read and you learn so much about so many unheralded ABA players and coaches.

There are so many clubs on the market and it gets hard to distinguish fact from fallacy. The book is divided equally between equipment and technique. The author's background is as a custom clubmaker.

With regard to equipment, he covers what is truly important in your equipment and interesting facts about 'improvements in technology'. The mad science is the belief that newer and newer technology helps the golfer; however, the average scores in the past few decades have not gone down.

With regard to the actual game, this is not an instructional book but covers anecdotal experience with regard to how to play. He covers more of strategy and smarter golf.

With this book, it closes the loop for me for instruction since it has covered a lot of very important points regarding the technique. It boils down to just using the club the way it was intended.

I recommend this book to those golfers who frequently change their clubs year to year (one thing I read in Power Golf was that Ben Hogan didn't change his driver for 10 years, until it broke). That should clue you in on what is truly important.

Similar books are included below, which dispel the marketing of the golf industry:

Just Hit It

The Right Sticks: Equipment Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game

The Search for the Perfect Golf Club

The Search for the Perfect Driver

Order this book today and you won't be disappointed.

My name is John Hadley. Golf is a fearfully complex game. Physically and mentally. It can become even more perplexing if one is led down the rabbit hole of high-tech equipment hype and convoluted swing theory. Phil Moore does a magnificent job of melding his experiences as a master club maker with his discoveries as a low handicap golfer. His perspective is concise and thoughtful. The book is easy to read and follows a question and answer format that makes it interesting and shows good common sense. All golfers want to know how they can lower their average score. Phil Moore and this book will make you a better player.

The Mad Science of Golf is an incredible little book. The authors understanding and purpose is to help one aquire a vastly improved understanding of the golf swing, Golf Equipment, how to improve YOUR golf game and understand how to play better golf.

The book is loaded with pertinent information. BUY IT, you'll love it, I love it.

I have offered The Mad Science of Golf to the Members and Guests at my facility knowing that this information will improve their golf game and ultimatley make the game of golf more fun.

Troy Persson, PGA

The book is a series of questions and the longer explanations by the author. He dispels the myth that you can buy yourself a scratch handicap. If you do not make solid contact with the ball, then none of these products will give you that extra 10 yards that you see in the advertising.

Golf is business. The large golf companies make their money because we like to buy new clubs. The author points out calmly that hitting your irons is not the point, that you need to know how far your hit your irons. They are for control, not distance.

I read the book in one evening. It is worth an evening before you start looking for the next set of clubs.

This is a GREAT book!!! This book has something for all golfers. It is enlightening for both beginning and advanced golfers. Light is shed on equipment and swing myths. Myths that have led golfers down a path of spending too much money and too much time in search of the perfect clubs and swing and have led only to lighter pockets and higher scores. Reading this book will lead you to an understanding of the game that will let you enjoy your swing your game more than ever. Lower scores are on the way!

Jason Taylor, PGA

This is a wonderful children's book that poses the adult question: do I go out and make things happen, or do I just live my life and see what unfolds?

From the illustrations that caputre the essence of a very large cat, to his whimsical, sleepy fantasies as he sits on the dock of his home - it's pure joy to read.

From the illustrations that caputre the essence of a very large cat, to his whimsical, sleepy fantasies as he sits on the dock of his home - it's pure joy to read.

I LOVE this book! I stood in the bookstore and laughed out loud when I read it. I have a huge cat and totally connected with the story. I think it's creative, fun, and happy! I love the illustrations; very visually pleasing. I highly recommend this book to everyone; especially cat lovers!

Despite the title, this stylishly illustrated book is not about Laker great Magic Johnson. Even the beginning, however, suggests the point guard's choices as he drives down the court:

"Magic contemplates his next move. Should he go in? Or Out? Or should he stay right where he is."

Before I suggest that Magic loft up one to a soaring Michael Cooper for a "Coop-A-Loop," let's turn to the dilemma facing Magic the cat. Each of the above choices entails different benefits, and all of them are tantalizing to a cat generally hungry for adventure, sleep, and food. For example, if he leaves his home, "maybe he could chase the loons. He'd hunt them along the rock shore, stalk them through the reeds, leap after them, then eat them." (It looks like the loon just got away in time in the pictures showing Magic's fantasy.) Magic continues to ponder the possibilities; We see him envision swimming under the water to catch the brightly colored salmon, riding a moose to the bears' island, and sharing a meal of salmon and blueberry pie. This sounds good! But then again, "maybe not. Maybe if he stays right where he is, Magic's next move will come to him." And that's exactly what happens, as the big round cat gently falls asleep on the front porch.

In addition to writing an imaginative story about imagination, Elisha Cooper's watercolor and pencil drawings are outstanding. His drawings recall those of Barry Moser with their soft colors, excellent depiction of light, and use of "white space." Cooper paints fairly realistically, but he also lets you see his watercolor technique as well. Much of the action is seen from the cat's eye level, but Cooper knows when to pull back to show you gorgeously illustrated panoramas of water, hills, and the cloud-adorned sky. Like most good daydreams, the book is both engaging and calming at the same time. This is a peaceful and beautiful book for story time and bedtime. Once again, a quality book from Greenwillow publishing. Very highly recommended!