Sports Books


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Sports Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Sports
Snow in the Kingdom: My Storm Years on Everest
Published in Hardcover by Mountain Imagery (2001-01-06)
Author: Ed Webster
List price: $29.95
New price: $13.95
Used price: $1.52
Collectible price: $29.95

Average review score:

Snow in the Kingdom: My Storm Years on Everest
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-31
In his book Ed takes us along on his journey to Everest. Along the way, there are lessons to be learned. Mostly about respect. Respect for other people, respect for things that are greater than you and most of all respect for the most precious gift of all... life itself!
His words and photos place you beside him as he faces, and overcomes, his fears .

Not just for mountaineers
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-25
A superb narrative interspersed with excellent photography.

This is not a book for mountaineers alone, but relays a vivid and descriptive tale of the experiences of life when following a chosen, committed path.

The narrative conveys a real sense of tension and emotion which draws the reader into the story.

Strongly recommend.

Snow in the Kingdom
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-25
What a great book! Ed Webster is a gifted writer with an engaging and powerful story. He is also a gifted photographer who includes fascinating photos of his expeditions and some never published photos from other sources. The foreward and introductions by John Hunt and Tom Hornbein are excellent. The story is uplifting and makes you marvel at the courage and tenacity of humans. I highly recommend this book.

The Author's a Great Teacher, Too!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-03
I met Ed Webster on a field trip with my daughter's grade 5 class to DeLorme Map in Yarmouth, ME, home of Eartha, the world's largest rotating globe. He held the class spellbound, especially when he told us of Everest. I bought a copy of SNOW IN THE KINGDOM, and read it into the wee hours, which is saying a lot since I'm not ordinarily a night owl. It was so exciting, I could hardly put it down! But much more than the excitement, I especially appreciated Ed's sensitivity and respect toward peoples of other cultures, keen insight into human nature, and careful explanation of what life is like in the Himalayan regions. Months later, I saw an Omni theater presentation entitled EVEREST at the Boston Museum of Science. I could appreciate it so much more by knowing the names of the people and places from Ed's book. Ed Webster has created a legacy in laboring over a decade on his fine book, for it will enrich the understanding of generations of people. Allow yourself the privilege of being one of them (and visit Ed in person at DeLorme Map in Maine if you get the chance)!

Don't even THINK about missing this book!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-03-11
Here's the perfect weekend: a great book, a great subject and the company of great men and women...
Put this on your short list of essential adventure classics: fine writing, wonderful photography (and more of than you'd ever thought possible on a climb of this sort), profound emotion and the ultimate challenge...
I loved this book!
Thank God he survived to tell the tale...

Sports
Steeles on Wheels : A Year on the Road in an Rv (Capital Travels)
Published in Paperback by Capital Books (2002-02)
Authors: Mark Steele and Donia Steele
List price: $15.95
New price: $9.46
Used price: $5.35

Average review score:

Humorous
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-18
Enjoyable reading and often could not put it down. Humorous in many places. Worth reading if you are thinking of going full-time or just want a good book to read.

Enjoyable, easy read
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-05
I don't ever expect to RV full-time, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Adding Cleo's (the dog) thoughts was a nice touch. Reading the book (published in 2002) made me wonder if the family was still on the road. The website listed on the back of the book didn't work for me and I wondered if there's a follow-up book.

Steeles on Wheels
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-02
Every single other reviewer gave this book five stars and I am no exception. I have read most of the books on full time RVing and this is the best one I have read. It is very well written, is both amusing and informative. The Steele's take you through how they decided to quit their jobs, buy an RV and see the country along with their dog Cleo. They include mistakes they made along the way. I am reading this book a second time and find it just as enjoyable as the first time I read it.
What I liked most about this book was that the Steele's chose a 5th wheel trailer as their means of travel and why they chose it. My wife and I are planing to do the same thing as they did, except in a Class A motorhome. Some of the the other books I have read were very prejudiced against Class A's, however the Steele's choice of a 5th wheel was because that is what they thought worked best for them. They did give the pro's and con's for both, and unlike some other authors who gave only the pro's for 5th wheels and the con's for motorhomes.
Probably the the only negative thing I would say is they started out with more then your average full timer is going to have availble to them. Mrs. Steele retired early from here job at age 55 with a $3000 a month pension plus full medical coverage for the rest of her life. Most pensions in the private sector have been replaced by 401k plans which can't be used without penalty until age 59 1/2 plus no medical until Medicare takesover at age 65.
This is an excellent read, this book along with the Moller's book "Full time RVing" are the two books to read if you are contemplating this lifestyle.

Dreary, out of date, and poorly written
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-24
This book is very out of date. They go on and on about the need to find pay phone booths and the quality of them when found. Completely useless, is todays world. Even their own website is no longer in service. They brag about covertly dumping their pick-up tail gate (after they ruin it) in a construction companies dumpster--illegal. And they need to find a larger vocabulary. They use the word 'insanely' so often, I felt like I was playing a college drinking game. A waste of money.

All the facts with plenty of entertainment...
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-18
As one of the millions who has always entertained a fantasy about hitting the road in an RV someday, this book was one of many I've read -- but by far the best. The Steeles divulge every imaginable aspect of their lifestyle: financial realities, decisions about RV types, married life in a small amount of space, and even the daunting necessity of hooking up one's plumbing each night. While the book is absolutely chockful of valuable information, it is written in a light, friendly, down-to-earth style that any reader can enjoy. Even the dog writes well!

Sports
Storm Tactics Handbook Modern Methods Off He
Published in Paperback by Voyageur Press (1996-12)
Authors: Lin Pardey, Larry Pardey, and Larry
List price: $19.95
New price: $78.85
Used price: $15.95
Collectible price: $21.53

Average review score:

I had the first, the second is worth having too
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-08
My first copy was pretty worn, so I decided to buy this edition. Really interesting new stories, not only from the Pardeys expereinces in storms, but also from others. I liked the deductions made by folks from both ends of the experience spectrum, one a real novice, others all along the expereince wave, they all add to the information Lin and Larry share in a very understandable manner. I still think this book is really important. And this edition is definitely easier to navigate. I have the Storm tactics DVD and like it. The two work well together.

Convincing
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-24
The authors give their opinion. It can be discussed but they support it by many examples. I was convinced by the interest of heaving to in bad weather or just to wait and rest at sea. Now, I am buying a parachute anchor...

Must read for all off-shore sailors
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-24
In my humble opinion this is the Pardey's best book to date. The techniques they present are life savers have no doubt.
M. Bertsche

best I've read
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-30
My wife and I spent four years living on our sailboat (55ft) voyaging from Calif. to the east coast and read every book I could find on heavy weather sailing. About half-way through I came across Pardey's book. I think it's far and away the best volume out there on the subject. Even if you pass on the parachute angle and just plan on heaving-to in a tough situation. Should be in every crusing boat's library, and read and implemented by the skipper.

Heaving to techniques from cover to cover
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-10
After reading this book you will know a lot of theory about when and how to heave to. Diagrams and well-written explanations describe methods and techniques of survival during a storm at sea. Also consider "Heavy Weather Sailing" (revised edition) as an excellent source of information on storm tactics and heavy weather sailing. It describes the yacht's stability in more detail.

Sports
Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road
Published in Paperback by Pine Country Publishing (2002-02-01)
Author: Jaimie Hall
List price: $19.95
New price: $13.89
Used price: $9.40

Average review score:

very good book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-08
I must say that I really enjoy this book. It is well written and provides alot of very good information. It is a good resource book to keep in your RV. I am planning to go full time RVing in the next couple of months and this book helped me to make that important decision. Read and enjoy folks!

Excellent book for the planning phase
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-04
We found this book a very valuable resource for planning on our eventual fulltiming phase of life. It is a very easy read, but it also has the information you need. It's very well laid out! Thanks for a great book!

Wonderful Resource for RVers
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-02
Support Your RV Lifestyle: An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road (Second Edition)
is a wonderful resource -- it's well-written, filled with great information, and is inspirational and encouraging, as well. Jaimie Hall is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her topic. It's obvious that she's a seasoned traveler -- and has been both working on the road and talking to many other RVers who have worked while enjoying their travels.

The book summarizes over 350 jobs (in categories like work at rv parks and resorts, christmas tree farms, state parks and national forest areas, concessions, seasonal jobs, sales of rv related products, crafts, writing and consulting). Details like how to handle resumes, long-distance job interviews, contact information and communication while traveling, and the right questions to ask about jobs are also covered. In addition to the many options it lists, it points out possible problems and challenges one may encounter on the road while trying to find a job or while working.

If you (like us) are thinking about traveling in an RV, this is the book to have in the planning stage -- and I assume it will also be helpful when on the road.
Also check out the author's website and enewsletter.

Working While RVing
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-27
My husband was intrigued by the idea of full-timing in an RV. This book gives you ideas of working while moving around in your RV. Maybe working a seasonal job in a theme park or with a tour group, on a guest ranch or in a national park appeals to you. Some jobs offer free campsites.
Ultimately I chickened out on the idea, but if you think the open road is for you and want to make some money along the way, be sure to read this book.
It includes a ton of info in the appendix: including contact information for state tourist bureaus, state parks, state revenue offices and state motor vehicle and licensing bureaus and more, plus an additional 32 pages of resources.

Planning for the best of both worlds
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-15

Many people who contemplate living the RV lifestyle probably equate it with a leisurely retirement. But what if you combine RVing with a lucrative work life? You may discover that you can hit the road at a younger age and reap more rewards.
Support Your RV Lifestyle spells out in great detail exactly how to live this dream life. Jaimie Hall speaks from her own experience and culls information from a wealth of other sources to create a comprehensive tool for planning to live and work on the road.
Just as you wouldn't set out on a trip without a road map, you would be miles ahead by consulting this guide before embarking on this life journey. There's a lot more to consider than where to park your vehicle each night. Don't assume you'll just "find a job" when you reach your destination. There are many considerations, from tying your marketable skills to a job on the road, to balancing work and fun, to tax implications. Because Ms. Hall is so thorough with her guidance, you will be well-equipped to make decisions about how to combine work with pleasure.
It is likely that some of her 100-plus pages of worksheets and resource lists would assist travelers in general, not only those traveling and working out of an RV. You'll recoup the price of this travel guide many times if you choose to follow its course for living and working on the road

Sports
Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force
Published in Paperback by YMAA Publication Center (2006-09-01)
Author: Lawrence A. Kane
List price: $24.95
New price: $14.88
Used price: $13.99

Average review score:

The Best on this Topic
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-18
Any time you deal with interpersonal violence, there is a high likelihood of someone attempting to apply something beyond their own hands and feet to make the other person have a bad day. Lawrence Kane addresses that problem in this exhaustive volume.

Kane cites research showing that 70% of the male population carries a knife. In seven years there were over 1.7 million attacks in the U.S. utilizing blunt, bladed, and projectile weapons. 25% of violent crime is committed by someone bearing a weapon. You have a one-in-four chance of getting shot, beaten, or cut and stabbed every time you cross paths with a violent criminal.

Even with this in mind, most martial arts programs do not adequately take weapon defense into consideration. Obviously, this book and others like it are needed.

Kane addresses awareness, avoidance, de-escalation, legal matters, and the aftermath of violence. The meat of the matter is covered in over a hundred pages dealing with improvised weapons, firearms, knives, clubs, and all manner of weapons you are unlikely to come up against on the street; but as the author shows, stranger things have happened. It is always best to be prepared.

The book is wrapped up in the end by an incident that actually happened, as Kane analyzes what each person did right, and what they did wrong.

In 32 years I haven't read anything this comprehensive. Skip the others. Read Surviving Armed Assaults.

Full of Life-Saving Information
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-08
Surviving Armed Assaults is complete from start to finish. I can't think of anything that Mr. Kane has left out of this insightful book. This book covers the variety of weapons that one can expect to encounter on the street, how to avoid physical confrontations, the importance of awareness, and how to be prepared to meet a violent predator if one finds himself in that situation.

The technical information provided on the multitude of available weapons is very helpful and enlightening, as is the numerous photographs found throughout the book which demonstrate Mr. Kane's points and helps visual learners grasp the points which he is trying to get across. This book is well written and would be a great addition to any martial arts library.

I highly recommend this book to any martial artist, law enforcement officer, or just the average man on the street who wants to keep himself or his family safe. Predators do not think like the ordinary, every day man. This book gives the reader a good idea of what to expect should you ever be unfortunate enough to cross paths with one of these criminals. I can't recommend this book enough. Buy it and be safe!

Commonsense Approach!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-27
Surviving Armed Assaults is so well written that it is excellent reading for anyone who is concerned about personal safety in today's turbulent world. Frank, no-nonsense information with much emphasis on preventing assaults in the first place makes this book exceptional. Although this book assumes the reader is already practicing one of the martial arts, it also offers an incentive to anyone who might be considering this option.

A virtual cornucopia of self-defense wisdom!
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-29
WOW! That is how I would describe the well organized, well thought out, cornucopia of information that is presented in Lawrence A. Kane's, "Surviving Armed Assault: A Martial Artist's Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, & Countervailing Force." I've had this book for awhile now and have, on several different occasions, sat down and skimmed through different sections when time permitted. Just recently however, I was able to sit down and read this book from cover to cover, and boy let me tell you that I was thoroughly impressed with what I read.

Lawrence does a terrific job of organizing the information presented in this book in a very easy to read and follow format that takes you through each step in the survival process. This is not a book on techniques; rather it is a book on the more important aspect of the principles behind surviving against an armed assault. Which, in my opinion, is far more important than the techniques themselves. That's not to imply that self-defense techniques are not important or valid, it simply means that the technique that may work for one person, may not work so well for another. However, the principle behind the use of the technique will generally work for everyone.

This book is so full of useful information that it should be required reading for not only the self-defense minded individual, but also those whose profession places them in situations where they are more apt to be confronted by an armed individual. This includes, but is no means limited to, law enforcement officers, security personnel, bouncers, paramedics, military personnel, etc.

Having worked as a law enforcement officer, bouncer, and provided security for various businesses and individuals over the years, I found quite a few things in Lawrence's book that I hadn't taken into consideration and am very glad that I had the opportunity to read it first instead of experiencing it in a bad way. As with any good book on the subject of self-defense, Lawrence promotes the use of awareness and avoidance as your primary and most important forms of defense over actual physical techniques. Smart and the hallmark of someone who knows what they are talking about.

Lawrence then delves into various scenarios throughout the book and ways of safely getting out of the situation you may find yourself in without resorting to a physical confrontation with your potential attacker. Some of which is so simple that I hadn't even considered them as options. Although after being presented with them I could see how effective they would and could be in certain situations.

This is followed with sections on using countervailing force and the ramifications of using such force such as; the physical and mental effects, moral implications and considerations, the possible legal ramifications of using force, etc. One point that Lawrence makes, and it is a very good one, is to always remember that the law enforcement officer that you may have to deal with is not your friend! Let me repeat that, the law enforcement officer that you may have to deal with is not your friend! Now Lawrence and I are both not saying that they are the enemy, it's just that you have to protect yourself at all times and the three best things to do are as follows:

1. Keep your mouth shut.
2. Contact your attorney.
3. Keep your mouth shut.

I was particularly fond of Lawrence's 9 rules to live by. Now I am not going to divulge them here, and since you will undoubtedly be purchasing this book after reading this and the other reviews, it will give you one of numerous things to look forward to when it arrives on your doorstep.

One particular section of note was the section related to the types of weapons you are most likely to encounter and how they function. This section is deserving of an entire volume on its own and perhaps Lawrence is working on that as I type this review and as you read it. Let us hope anyhow.

This book and the information contained within it should be a constant companion in your home library, and in the forefront of your mind whenever you are somewhere outside the confines and safety of your own home. On second thought, the information provided in this book should probably be in the forefront of your mind even when you are at home. As Lawrence so profoundly states in this book, you never know when are going to be attacked, by whom, or what that person or persons will attack you with.

I highly recommend this book, "Surviving Armed Assaults," as well as, "The Way of Kata," and "Martial Arts Instruction" all by Lawrence A. Kane as valuable additions to your personal martial arts library.

Shawn Kovacich, martial artist/author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

Outstanding book on self-defense!
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-21
I will admit that I started reading this book a bit biased toward it being good. I have read other books by Kane that I enjoyed, I've contributed a chapter, as did Kane, to Loren Christensen's "Fighter's Fact Book 2" and Christensen wrote a Foreword for the book, and to top if off, best selling author Barry Eisler mentioned me in his praise for the book on the inside cover. So yes, I expected it to be a good book and one that I would like.

However, what I did not expect is how good it really is and how much excellent material Kane offers in this one volume. Because of the things mentioned in the first paragraph, one could easily say I am biased, and maybe I am a bit. With that said, I am writing a review and endorsing this book wholeheartedly because it is an exceptional addition to anyone's self-defense library and a book that has potential to save lives if people read it and listen to Kane's advice.

The first chapter is on awareness, a topic I also write and speak about, so I was especially interested in what Kane had to say. So what does he do? He starts the chapter off with a quote from Ani DiFranco, "Any tool is a weapon if you hold it right." This grabbed my attention because I once headed the local security for a concert of hers and had a very good talk about penjak silat with her bodyguard as we waited for her to change so we could walk her to the bus. It means nothing to anyone else, but hooked me. I continued and was fully engrossed with the statistics and examples Kane provided relating to violence. Reading those made me glad that there are those of us out here doing what we can to prevent violence and teach people to avoid or deal with it if necessary. Something Kane's "Surviving Armed Assaults" does very well. Kane did an excellent job with his chapter on awareness, and even though he teaches a modified color code a bit differently than I teach, I believe this chapter should be read by everyone in order to wake up and be more aware so they could avoid many potentially dangerous situations.

Speaking of avoidance, that was the focus of chapter two. Kane not only makes a great argument of why you should avoid violence, but provides strategies to do so. He follows this with a chapter on scenarios that extends the awareness and avoidance topics to situations such as car jackings, cash machine safety, hostage situations, sexual assault, rape, workplace violence and more. Before dealing with physical responses, Kane focuses on de-escalation strategies in chapter four. This is an often overlooked aspect of self-defense books and a welcome and needed addition here. Many self-defense books focus on striking and kicking and forget that if you can talk your way out of a situation you will be much better off than having fought your way out. Kane gives some excellent advice with his de-escalation strategies and I again wish everyone would learn these. One of the reasons a person is much better off by de-escalating a situation is because of the potential legal ramifications that may follow a physical altercation. As an attorney, I am very familiar with such things, and feel that Kane did a good job with his chapter on countervailing force that included legal considerations.

The remaining chapters focus on armed conflict, rules to live by, the aftermath of violence, and weapon features and functions. Some of the information in these chapters is biased toward Kane's karate training. Practitioners from other styles may not benefit from these chapters as much as the first ones, but I would encourage everyone to take even the karate parts and look how the principles behind what Kane teaches applies to their own art or self-defense system. (Kane's nine rules could apply to any art or system)

This is an excellent book filled with practical and realistic information related to weapons and violence. There is researched data and personal anecdotes that support Kane's perspectives on violence and his illustrations of real violence and what to do about it, or most importantly, how to be aware of it and avoid it altogether. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to martial artists and anyone interested in self-defense.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author, speaker
Hard-Won Wisdom From The School of Hard Knocks, Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, and The Lock On Joint Locking series

Sports
Ten Degrees of Reckoning
Published in Paperback by UTD Press (2007-11-11)
Author: Hester Rumberg
List price: $14.95
Used price: $99.99

Average review score:

Amazing!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-23
It's hard to find the "right" words to describe this book and how it made me feel. The story was absolutely gripping and I could not put it down the night I started it so I stayed up all night to finish it. I truly find Judy an amazing person and an excellent role model for how resilient we are and how we go on living our lives. She and her family will never be forgotten in the lives of those who read this book. The writing by Hester is superb, no one could have done better. This would make an excellent book for any bookclub.

Dealing with Tragedy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-07
A wonderful look at someone surviving and overcoming an overwhelming tragedy. Thank you Hester for telling the Sleavin story so well.

Riveting...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-06
Riveting--couldn't put it down. Heartfelt and respectfully written. How can you not live each day on this planet as if it were your last after reading Judy's story?

True Masterpiece
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-12
According to Virginia Woolf, "A masterpiece is something said once and for all, stated, finished, so that it's there complete in the mind, if only at the back." Initially I was hesitant to read this book thinking I might not be able to enjoy it (based on the subject matter). However, the book proved to be nothing of the sort. Let it be known that Dr. Hester has crafted a masterpiece here, expertly weaving the details of Judy Sleavin's story into a captivating, awe-inspiring and significant read that offers as much in content as it does a message about life.

Ten Degrees of Reckoning
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-22
Ten Degrees of Reckoning by Hester Rumberg is a haunting yet heartwarming book that is difficult to put down while you are reading it and even more difficult to forget once you have finished the last page. The injustice of the events pervades your very being and yet Judy Sleavin's persistence in living demonstrates the power that love can have one one's life. A must read.
Sondra Pearlman

Sports
Together on Top of the World
Published in Kindle Edition by Grand Central Publishing (2007-04-02)
Author: Susan Erschler
List price: $18.99
New price: $9.99

Average review score:

Super Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-06
This is a really super book. More that just of story of climbing Everest. It is a story of lives and it is very very good.

True Inspiration
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-14
A very inspiring book that validated my desire to do what I love and will keep me optimistic about finding my way for a long time!

Half Way to the Top
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-05
Battles with snow and ice, battles with cancer, and a charming romance. What else is needed for a great book in the outside genre? Good Writing.

Unfortunately, this book is short on good writing. It will sell as well as a book in this genre can sell but it will not become a classic nor even provide many memories for its readers. Ghost written, the heart and soul of this book was lost in the expedition of commercialism.

Is it worth reading? You bet. If you are a man with a taste for the outdoors whose significant other would rather go shopping, you will eat your heart out for not having the wisdom of Phil Ershler in carefully using bimbos until you found the woman who would follow you to the tops of the world. If you are a woman who wants some encouragement in following your man, this is the book for you. If you are a fan of high altitude climbing, you will enjoy reading this book.

It lacks tension, that force which makes you stay up late turning pages. But the elements of outdoor adventure are there and, after all, those of us who read this genre are used to mediocre writing and passionate about the subject. So, all in all, it is a worthy read

REMARKABLE STORY - REMARKABLE COUPLE
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-04
This book was suggested to us as not only a mountaineering story but a story of life's struggles. We weren't disappointed but very humbled. This dual autobiography (each taking turns telling their story) was a fast-paced read, taking us from childhood to mountain top, leaving out nothing. A very intimately detailed sharing of two full lives. Color photographs support the many stories and stages in the Ershler's lives.

Beautiful and Inspiring Mountain Adventures
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-12
Phil and Sue Ershler's story has everything I enjoy in a book - adventure, courage, inspiration, challenges faced and challenges overcome, and the kind of love that can, literally, overcome mountains. As a small-time climber myself (Rainier's the highest I've ever summited), I could relate to the love of the mountains the Ershlers feel, and the enjoyment that comes in testing oneself emotionally and physically in a mountain ascent. But this book is about more than just mountain-climbing - it's about facing life's unexpected curveballs with a positive attitude, it's about setting goals and working for them, and it's about appreciating all the good in life and living every day to the fullest.

Karen Molenaar Terrell

Sports
True Speed: My Racing Life
Published in Paperback by Harper Paperbacks (2003-05-01)
Authors: Tony Stewart and Mark Bourcier
List price: $14.95
New price: $3.82
Used price: $0.51

Average review score:

Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-15
Gave this book to our Son so we will see if he enjoyed it after he has time to read it. Thanks for shipping it in a timely matter.

I loved this book about Tony Stewart!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-31
Its Christmas 2007 and I am a big Tony Stewart fan. I received this book from family and wasnt all that thrilled since it only goes up to 2002 and to be honest I know absolutely nothing about dirt racing, sprint cars, midget cars, USAC, IRL, or Kart racing.
Well I do now.
I started glancing through the book and got hooked. Its written by Tony (with another writer Mark Bourcier ) so its in his own words. Its Tonys thoughts and memories. It gave me a huge insight into a racer I thought I already knew a lot about. I really enjoyed reading it, from his start as a child up to his NASCAR career. It has a lot of comments from a lot of people he has met in his life as a racer and a regular guy. If you are a Tony fan or a racing fan, this is really a good read. I doubt if hes this open now but he is just as honest and he hasnt changed his feelings.He discusses his honesty and troubles and fans and lots and lots of racing. I knew he was good but after reading this I came away more impressed than ever. I plan on checking through Amazon for more. more. more.

True Speed was good
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-27
I loved this book. It was very entertaining. It really held my attention. As a matter of fact it only took me a week to read it all. That is pretty good for me and always a sign of a good book. I highly recommend it. It had some pretty funny stuff in it.

great book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-05
this book is a great tool for those wanting to know just how someone as talented as Tony Stewart got where he is. Its a book on racing and stays out of being too personal.

If I could only read it
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-17
Well, I would think it would be a great book, however, I have been waiting for more than two (2) months for Amazon to sent it to me. I hope those of you who order it have months to wait for it to be shipped to you. Good luck and happy racing!

Sports
The Unfair Advantage
Published in Paperback by Bentley Publishers (2000-09)
Authors: Mark Donohue and Paul Van Valkenburgh
List price: $24.95
New price: $14.00
Used price: $12.75

Average review score:

A great read for anyone interested in car racing
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-20
Donohue's very enjoyable autobiography goes into considerable detail about his racing career while understandably ignoring his personal life. His descriptions of the early days, when engine dynos were uncommon, and suspension setup was by guess and by God, are eye-opening.

It would have been nice to have some more technical details, but as he points out, they are a part of his team's "Unfair Advantage".

Very informative and entertaining
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-24
If you are a fan of Mark Donohue, or a racing fan from the era of the CanAm series, I believe you will enjoy this biography. It has enlightened me to the complications and hardships in preparing and maintaining a proper race care. There is much insight into the business side off the sport as well, and demonstrates Roger Penske's determination and acuity in running a top flight team.

A real insight to Trans-Am racing
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-26
I saw this book last weekend at a Vintage Race being held ther by HSR-West and figured it would be a great collectos item. But it is a lot more than that; it is a real insight to the trials and tribulations of racing and race car development. Donohue comes out as a very humble driver and he is not afraid to admit his mistakes and that of the team. This is a book that you don;t to put down but you also don;t want to be finished with it. I did see Mark Donohue at one of the Riverside Trans-Ams in 1968. I was always wondering what really happened at the end of the 69 season to make Penske swith to that AMC junk and now I know.. Do not miss this book.

One of the great racing tomes
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-29
This book is easily one of the best narratives about racing I've ever come across. It is a personal and honest account of the late Mark Donahue's racing career from his impromptu start to the zenith of his career in Formula 1, Indy Racing, and Can Am to his retirement.

Anyone who races or aspires to race will delight in his firsthand recollections of his racing exploits and his perspective on one of the great programs in motorsport history (the Can Am Porsche 917).

Highly recommended.

A Must-Own Classic
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-29
There are very few motorsports books extant that can be called true classics or world-changers. This is one of them, and it's one of the best on top of that. Mark Donahue was an extrordinary individual, not only a blindingly fast driver, but also a talented, disciplined, and most importantly, curious engineer.

To have the virtues of both top-level driver and top-level engineer embodied in the same person is a very rare combination. To have been present - indeed, to be one of the driving forces behind - a revolution within a sport and an industry is even rarer. To have this person write about his experiences while busy changing the world is precious beyond price.

To put it simply, you cannot be a student of the profession of motor racing without reading this book.

I offer this as evidence: while I am by no means an autograph hound, I do, from time to time, have occasion to encounter people within the motorsports family whom I admire enough to want to collect an autograph from. I use my copy of The Unfair Advantage as my autograph storage device. Putting this book in front of people like Jackie Stewart, Carroll Shelby, and Carroll Smith results in a shock of recognition, followed by praise for the author. What greater endorsement could you want?

Sports
Wilt, (Chamberlain) 1962: The Night of 100 Points and the Dawn of a New Era
Published in Audio CD by Books on Tape (2005-08-04)
Author: Gary M. Pomerantz
List price: $81.00
New price: $149.50
Used price: $130.00

Average review score:

GOOD READ
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-17
THIS IS ABOUT THE NIGHT WILT CHAMBERLAIN SCORED 100 POINTS IN AN NBA GAME. I FOUND MOST OF THIS BOOK TO BE GOOD BUT AT TIMES IT HAD ALOT OF THINGS THAT WERE JUST PLAIN BORING. THE AUTHOR TRIES VERY HARD TO GIVE US THE NOSTALGIA AND ATMOSPHERE OF 1962, BUT I FOUND THE DETAIL TO THE GAME TO BE LACKING. I REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT MUCH ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF GOTTLIEB AND ZINKOFF. SEEMS IT WAS USED TO FILL SOME PAGES. WHEN THE BOOK STICKS TO GAME ACTION AND DETAILS THE BOOK EXCELS. BUT THE ONLY REAL DETAIL OCCURS IN THE 4TH QUARTER. I ALSO LIKED THE INTERVIEWS WITH VARIOUS PLAYERS AND COACHES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS GAME. ALSO LIKED THE STORY OF THE STOLEN BASKETBALL AND THE LATER YEARS OF WILT'S LIFE. OVERALL THIS IS A GOOD READ AND I RECOMMEND FOR ALL NOSTALGIC BASKETBALL FANS. ALSO A BOX SCORE OF THE GAME WOULD HAVE BEEN A NICE TOUCH.

Wilt's era and big night
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-31
This is a fascinating read about one of the most charismatic personalities to play basketball on the professional level, Wilt Chamberlain. Although the book focuses on the night the record was made when Wilt scored 100 points the book reads like a sophisticated movie complete with flashbacks into Wilt's past. This allows the reader to see Wilt in very real terms in spite of the superhuman feats he performed, culminating with the 100 point game. There are many anecdotes that bring the story to life for a compelling portrait of the man and his times. This is a thoroughly good book that can be enjoyed by a variety of levels of reading ability. With slightly over 200 pages of interesting material this is a good book for the student of the game of basketball who may be attending high school. This book would be good for writting a book report on a sports biography.

The Big Dipper
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-07
As you have probably read by now: In a basketball game back in March of 1962, Wilt Chamberlain, scored one hundred points for Philadelphia in a game against the New York Knickerbockers, an amazing achieve-ment in any era. Back in 1962, the National Basketball Association was undeveloped and the players traveled on buses and trains. Along came Wilt Chamberlain a strong and coordinated seven-footer and changed the dynamics of the NBA. The author conducting more than 250 interviews to recreate in detail this amazing performance that had not been televised at the time.

And Whatever Happened To That Basketball?
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-11
In the early 1960s - light years before the era of 24 hour cable sports coverage - most pro basketball games might as well have been played on the Moon due to the lack of national media interest and with "home" games being played at neutral sites for bigger gates.

That was the case for the 1962 Philadelphia Warriors, a franchise on the brink of being sold, though it featured a hometown legend, Wilt Chamberlin, and had a history of legendary high-school and college teams.

On March 2 in Hershey, Pa., Wilt accomplished the impossible; scoring 100 points versus the New York Knickerbockers. The arena - with a capacity of 8,000 - was about half-full, the game was not televised and there were no New York sportswriters in attendance. Author Gary M. Pomerantz breaths life into the grainy photos from the event through interviews of referees, players, fans, reporters and team officials.

Though the book breaks the game down into four quarters, it is not simply a history of that night. The early 1960s was a bridge for many black athletes to articulate about the rampant racism in society and sports. Pomerantz aptly writes about Wilt the individual - who was very vocal about the racial quotas on NBA clubs - and businessman as much as Wilt the athlete.

And Pomerantz outlines the biggest controvery from the game; who got possession of the basketball.

It is a record that may never be broken, but there was more to that evening than the game on the court. Wilt, 1962, again shows how sports mirrors society and even the greatest feats on a field of play cannot escape the reflection in black & white.

The day of 100
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-06
One of the more interesting points of this book is that the day of 100 points kind of became forgotten. The authir attributes one of the reasons to Wilt himself who stopped talking about the game.

The authors opens up this book with Wilt's death in bed and the circumstances around it. he then takes us thru each quarter of the game with story of witls life between each quarter.

One of the most interestingparts of this book is the detail the author descibes how one young kid stole the game ball and years later put it on EBAY for sale. Great research for that part.


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