Archery Books

One of the best archery books available for the hunter or competition shooter. Full of concepts and information to improve form and accuracy.

I AM ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE BOOK AND I AM TOTALLY AMAZED AT ON HOW WRONG I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN THE PAST ABOUT FORM, SIGHT PICTURE, POINT WEIGHT,. BERNIE EXPLAINES IT ALL SO ALL CAN UNDERSTAND. IT WAS HARD TO FIND THE TIME TO READ THE BOOK BUT ONCE I STARTED IT IS HARD TO PUT IT DOWN. I HAVE WATCHED SO CALLED EXPERTS SHOW AND DEMENSTRATE POOR FORM, WRONG DRAW WIEGHT, SELL WRONG EQUIPEMENT. I NOW HOLD MY BOW LIKE IT IS SECOND NATURE AND IT MAKES THE SPORT SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. I HAVE HAD A NEW BOW FOR 3 MONTHS AND VOWED NOT TO FIRE IT UNTIL I HAVE READ HIS BOOK. GET THE BOOK THEN BUY YOUR EQUIPMENT. OTHER WISE IT IS LIKE GETTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. GREAT JOB BERNIE, KEEP UP THE FIGHT TO TEACH ARCHERY THE RIGHT WAY

Idiot Proof Archery is easy to read and focuses on the primary problem of mentally separating sight picture (aiming) and trigger pull (release). I enjoyed the 44 case studies with pictures that showed the most common problems with technique which allows self analysis. I have recommended it to other archers at our club and I consider it a reference book for my library.

Although I'm not a tournament or 3D shooter, this book gave me what I needed to be a better hunter.

I had reached a plateau. I had made steady improvement with daily practice, then could not seem to improve any further. When this book arrived, I stopped shooting and read it through. Bernie was very convincing about not only what to do, but why to do it his way. It is also entertaining to read. Just one of his tips made an immediate improvement. Following his plan, I have a blueprint about how to make steady improvement. Some readers have criticized this book claiming that Bernie is just trying to sell his products. I didn't find that at all. He offers his products, and explains how they work, but does not insist that you "must" have them. In fact he criticizes the archery industry for pushing products rather than coaching good tecnique.
I will not let this book go. I have already referred back to it numerous times to hone my skills. This book does not make archery easy, but it does give you a plan and hope for becoming better - with a lot of work. I recommend this book to archers of all experience.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com 4/08

The Elf and the Princess by Anna del C. Dye is book one in the The Silent Warrior Trilogy. The plot is a touch of medieval, suspense, and romance. The plot is the story of a kingdom divided. Seventeen-year-old Princess Adren of Menarm is the lead character. In a world where women were expected to take a lesser role, she trains to be a warrior and secretly battles alongside seasoned combatants. The Orks murdered her people and destroyed the beautiful city. Prince Paletin vowed to protect the girl he came to love like a daughter. When the Orks attacked Paletin's kingdom, the Elfs join the battle lead by Captain Dellin. Mystery surrounds the princess.

The Elf and the Princess is skillfully written. The plot is interesting and grabs the reader's attention. Dye has created a medieval world that will mystify and beguile the reader. The battle scenes come to life on the pages. The characters will enchant the reader. Fans of fantasy will not want to miss out on The Elf and the Princess.

The author of this book spins a great tale. It's a book that you will want to read more than once.

"The Elf and the Princess" by author Anna del C. Dye was an easy and gratifying read. I LOVED it, and the text is appropriate for readers of any age.

This book is definitely for the reader who seeks adventure, enjoys war action, and relishes a little romance.

As for me, I absolutely revelled in the clues the author gives as to the mystery of the silent warrior. Even though this mystery is revealed very early in the book, there were surprises up to the very end! I also enjoyed the beautiful names she gives to the characters and places in the story. What an imagination!

This new creator of fantasy delivers the yet unimaginable. Immerse yourself in a truly delightful story, because I was! I wonder when the author will publish the second installment of the Silent Warrior Trilogy. I keep checking her website for news, because I can barely wait to get my hands and eyes on it!

The Elf and the Princess
By Anna Del C. Dye
Cover by Lois Moore
Illustrations by Carlos Cruz

In her debut title, The Elf and The Princess, Anna Del C. Dye weaves a tale of secrets, mystery, love, war and high fantasy.

Her characters are endearing, as the reader becomes entwined with their lives and their tales of joy and woe.

My favorite part was the love story of the elf and the princess. Princess Adren is so close to her one love, the elf Dellin. But yet so far. He is unaware that the silent warrior is really his beloved princess. She cannot let her secret out. She fears that the rest of the warriors would not take her seriously, as a woman warrior.

Adren has lost her mother and her kingdom to the hated, troll-like beasts called orks. Now Adren does not have a home, a family or a life worth living. Will she ever be able to trust her new found father? Will the elf world accept her? Will she also loose her true love Dellin?

The Elf and The Princess will have you spell bound, and wishing for more. Thankfully, there will be two more high-fantasy novels in the Silent Warrior series.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood, Author
Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

I am not much of a book reader, let alone fantasy books. I picked this up on the recommendation of friend. I was totally immerged until the finish. I recommend this book for any literature/creative writing class, most especially in the middle/high schools. Our YouTube children need fine examples of visually rich language that are more impressionable than short sound/visual bites. More, please!!!

Robert Hardy's 'Longbow: A Social and Military History' is elegant, beautifully written. It permits old folks like me to re-live the glory days of youth, when we used to make our own bows and arrows and set out to see to it that good triumphs over evil, whilst enjoying the illusion of scholarly maturity. My wife and I read passages of Hardy's wonderful prose out loud to one another, and time stops - a good thing, at our age.

I read this book for a graduate course in medieval history.
Robert Hardy's book Longbow A Social and Military History. This is the third edition printed in 1993. It is enlarged to include information on the archery equipment found on the archaeological dive from the ship, "The Mary Rose;" a warship from the Reign of the English King, Henry VIII. Besides being a famous British actor, Mr. Hardy is an acknowledged expert on the longbow, including how it is manufactured. He is a longtime member of the Royal Toxophilite Society, which is the society for archery enthusiasts. In his book, Hardy has meticulously researched the history of the longbow, from ancient history through its greatest impact in warfare during the Hundred Years' War; specifically, the battles of Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt. Hardy even has chapters devoted to the longbow's use in hunting and as a modern day sporting weapon. In addition, his book includes a very scientific and technical appendix on all manners pertaining to the physics and ballistics of the bow and arrow, including their material and design, as well as the ballistic effects of arrows on armor.

Bows fall into two classifications-composite and wooden. Composite bows are made of wood and other organic components, such as horn or sinew. Since composite bows are short, the other organic materials used to construct them increase the bow's power. Composite bows were used primarily in Africa and Asia, and were most likely manufactured in reaction to the scarcity of wood in these areas. The longbow, as defined by the British Longbow Society, is no less then five feet long, for arrows of up to twenty-six inches in length, and no less then five foot six inches in length for arrows of over twenty-six inches long. It is a D sectioned wooden spring and not flat, and the limbs are to be made of wood and the bow is to be convex. The very best bows are made from Yew wood. This describes the sixteenth century bows found on the Mary Rose and from all historical indications, those that were in use during the Hundred Years' War.

Hardy opens his book with an informative history of the bow and arrow. In researching the early history of the bow, archaeologists have found arrowheads in Northern Africa from 50,000 years ago. They have also discovered cave paintings depicting men using several different shapes of bows while engaged in hunting. The Romans used short composite bows with their cavalry forces, since longbows were too cumbersome to use on horseback. Most of the Roman army's mounted bowmen where from Eastern Europe and Asia Minor. The Germanic tribes that the Romans found themselves fighting so often, used longbows against them to a devastating effect, which was reminiscent of the battle of Crecy from the Hundred Years' War. In 354 C. E., the Germanic shower of arrows prevented the Romans from crossing the Rhine River and thus, halted their expansion on the European continent. The oldest bow found in Britain is from Somerset. Radiocarbon dating shows it to be from 2,690 B.C.E. The bow was made of Yew wood and was over six feet long.

Hardy next turns his attention to the more detailed study of the longbow's genesis and development in Britain. It is definitively impossible to know when the longbow first came into existence in Britain. However, history does record several historical periods when we know that the longbow, or a weapon similar to it, was used and introduced by invaders of the British Isles. There is evidence that shows that the Germanic longbow made its way into Britain with the invasion of the Saxons in the fifth century. Viking law, from mid-tenth century, required that while aboard ship, fighting men must be equipped with bows and arrows as an addition to their other usual weapons that they employed in their raiding parties. One can still read Viking Sagas of the era extolling the use of bows and arrows as weapons. In 1055, Welsh bowmen while firing from hidden positions on mountain ridges, cut down the Earl of Hereford's Saxon cavalry with devastating effect. This action would be a great lesson lost on King Harold eleven years later, in his defeat at the battle of Hastings. King Harold did have some longbow men in the battle, if one takes the Bayeux Tapestry to be a true pictorial history of the Norman Conquest. Unfortunately, for the Anglo-Saxon army of King Harold, he had to travel very quickly over 250 miles south to engage the invading Normans, which prevented him from taking many archers on foot. In fact, the Bayeux Tapestry is famous for its depiction of King Harold being fatally shot in the eye by a Norman arrow, and thus, changing the course of British history forever.

Chapters three through six of Hardy's book cover Britain's celebrated history of the longbow, and are the chapters most germane to our course of study. It is during the fourteenth century in Britain that the longbow gains its reputation as a force multiplier in battle. In military terminology, a force multiplier denotes a factor, in this case, the longbow providing a technological factor, dramatically increasing the combat capability of a military force. In keeping with the theme of our course in comparing fourteenth century events to modern times, one can easily equate the importance of the longbow to fourteenth century warfare in the same way that one can compare the importance that the machine gun had on early twentieth century warfare-specifically during World War I. The longbow provided the English armies of Edward I, through the end of the Hundred Years' War, a distinct and singular advantage over the French armies and their cavalry forces.

Despite all of the early history of the longbow in Britain, it is Edward I who is the real progenitor of the longbow, as used in battle. Edward I keenly learned the tactics and logistics that were necessary to employ with great success the longbow on the battlefields of Wales and Scotland. He realized that the longbow was less expensive and awkward to use in battle then the crossbow, and with a moderate amount of practice, his Welsh bowmen could shoot more arrows in a given time then cross bowmen could. He worked hard at building a national army. In 1298, at the battle of Falkirk, most of his longbow men were Welsh. By 1346, most longbow men were English. They were well trained, well paid, and could be counted by the thousands. Longbow men where deemed so important to the army that they were given pardons for all types of offenses, including murder, in order to go off to France to fight. Their pay was comparable to that of master craftsmen. During the reign of Edward II, English military prowess was in decline. Although Edward II continued many of the recruiting and logistical policies of his father, his tactical decisions, and those of his commanders, were sorely lacking. He suffered an embarrassing defeat at the battle of Bannockburn at the hands of Robert the Bruce of Scotland. However, the lessons his son, Edward III, learned from that defeat put the British army in good stead for fighting in the Hundred Years' War. Those lessons, learned and used in such future battles as Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, were insuring good organization before battle and good discipline of soldiers during the fight. In addition, cavalry without longbow support was useless against enemy spearmen. Conversely, longbow men who were isolated on the battlefield without support, would easily fall prey to enemy cavalry attack.

Crécy is emblematic of the successes that the British enjoyed at the battles of Poitiers and Agincourt. It was the sight of the first major battle of The Hundred Years' War and was a rousing success for the invading British army of Edward III and his sixteen-year-old son, Edward, also known as the Black Prince. Edward III had 12,000 men arrayed against a French force of between 30,000 to 40,000 combatants. Although heavily outnumbered, Edward's longbow men were the force multiplier that garnered a stunning victory for the British over the French. The record shows that the English longbow men were capable of firing ten arrows in a minute. Most estimates of the longbow tactics used in the battle, state that the over one-half million arrows fired by the British, easily cut down the French armored cavalry. The longbow, and the brilliant way in which it was employed, were responsible for the lopsided casualty figures of the battle. Although casualty figures are somewhat unreliable, most sources put the French losses at one-third of the French nobility-about 12,000 men in all, against the British losses of 150 to 1,000 total. In the battle, longbow men comprised anywhere from between five to one, upwards to three to one, of the English invading force. Hardy states in his book, and I quote, "They were some of the finest, most highly trained and militarily efficient troops that any nation ever put into the field of battle." So, why did the French when seeing the efficient destructive power of the longbow, not learn from the advantage it could afford them and emulate the English? Hardy postulates a few reasons, such as, the French culture of class snobbery made it difficult for the nobles to accept peasants as equals on the battlefield. In addition, cavalry and chivalry were too hard for French nobles to give up. Another reason was that the French King did not have the power to field a national army in the same way that his English counterparts did. French kings had to rely on their nobles and Italian mercenaries to prosecute their wars during this time; thus, they could not enforce regular training regimens, nor standardized battlefield logistics and tactics. In fact, the longbow reigned supreme on the battlefield until the mid-sixteenth century. By this time, other technologies such as better-tempered armor, cannon, and musketry, overtook the effectiveness of the longbow.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Hardy's book to any serious student of medieval history. Longbow A Social and Military History, is an excellent introductory work for understanding the significance that the weapon had during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It is well written and appointed with plenty of illustrations. The book is a very enjoyable read for anyone with even a casual interest in the longbow or the Hundred Years' War.

Recommended reading for those interested in medieval history, and military history.

Robert Hardy is most well known for his role as Siegfried Farnon on the long running BBC series "All Creatures Great and Small."
However most people are not aware he is an experienced in the sport of archery. Due to the love of the sport and the longbow Hardy has written "Longbow: A Social and Military History." The book takes you through the complete history of the longbow which is fascinating for those who love medevial history. Hardy also includes a section on how to craft your own longbow.
This book is a must read for everyone who loves the sport of archery.

The contents of this exhaustive history of the longbow are outstanding. Research and illustrations are top notch, as is the wealth of information provided by the authors on the use of archery as a weapon down through the years precding firearms. I would have liked to have seen some discussion on how it must have been making the successful transition from practicing against stationary targets in the butts versus shooting at live combatants moving, riding, running and trying their best to kill the archer with their own weapons. MY CHIEF COMPLAINT is that the book is printed in some strange typeface I have never seen before. It is very thin and very light, making it extremely difficult to focus on and read. I own thousands of books and have collected them for 40 years but have never encountered this typeface in a modern book before. So beware buyer, the contents are excellent IF you can read the typeface!

LONGBOW: A SOCIAL AND MILITARY HISTORY follows the evolution of the longbow: a 6-foot weapon with a long-reaching history from ancient to more modern times in Britain. It became the most important weapon in the English military arsenal and won many battles: black and white illustrations throughout chart its progress and evolution.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I have shot a bare bow nearly all my life. When I finally decided to buy a new bow with all the accessories, I wasn't sure where to start and how to use all the new stuff. This book was excellent in helping me become familiar with my new bow. The pictures are great and the text very educational. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn or re-learn about the bow and arrow.

This book is great for highlighting many aspects of archery and providing information that is useful for a beginner and experienced archer. It is a nice text that compiles information that would be useful to have as a reference. There are tuning methods, suggestions for shooting form, tips on how to fix your bow and add accessories. A very solid book with plenty of pictures for any archery fan.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was a great refresher since I haven't shot a bow in quite a few years. It also had lots of great information I didn't know, such as paper tuning, in depth information on arrows and arrow selection. I highly recommend this book.

i cant say i have any bow hunting skill whatsoever but this book has taught my what to look for in equipment and to practice my posture. i recomend this for people looking for a vague idea on equipment to buy, but not for the specifics.

EVERYTHING you always wanted to know about Bow Hunting but were too intimidated to ask. Being a woman just picking up the sport of bow hunting at age 37 I would walk into sporting goods and archery stores and be overwhelmed by the amount of information I needed to know before I ever purchased a bow. This book helped me know what equipment I needed and what equipment was just smoke and mirrors. It also prepared me for "target panic" and explained in detail about every other facet that I could have ever thought of and even some I didn't consider. Great for anyone just picking up the sport.

This book isn't just about making bows. It has a great section on making bow strings from primative materials or modern ones. Includes design of stings, types, features. Great to learn to make a string for that bow you just made.

This book is written by several experts and is essentially a compilation of individual articles, each of which is outstanding in the detail of the direction given. However, for a person seeking to make a particular bow, all 3 books of the series are needed and there is not an orderly progression. Just count on buying all three, reading them all, making decisions based on what you've learned, and then picking chapters to help you as you go along.

Great book this has all of the details of making a good bow and more. I am very pleased with its content and recomend all three volumes.

This volume is very explicative and not lost any details of his points. All the volumes makes a great help, and even a single powerfull source of information, to anyone who want to make the finest traditional bows, i recomend !

If someone need to know all regarding archery and bow-making has to buy all these 3 volumes. Here you can find a huge quantity of informations and suggestions regarding it.
The books are also improved with a lot of imagines.
Andreas from Italy

A Collection of Bowhunting Adventures

A great gift for the bow hunter in your life...
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor [...]
Breathtaking Bowhunts is a book for those that dream of stalking their prey. Mike Lamade is a talented author. In his book Breathtaking Bowhunts, he shares his many experiences. From bear to turkey, Lamade has sought his quarry. He stresses safety and responsibility. The rules include "Don't shoot!--unless you've practiced properly, unless the deer is in range, at running game, or if rain or snow is in the way." The photographs add much to this book. Breathtaking Bowhunts will make a nice gift for the hunter in your life.

While I have never gone bowhunting and only went gun hunting once, I am no stranger to the sport. My father was an avid hunter and was gone from before dawn until after dusk every weekend during the Iowa bowhunting deer season. He managed to kill one nearly every year and he is listed in the Iowa record book for the quality of the buck that he killed with a gun.
Therefore, while I have no personal knowledge of the events Lamade relates in this book, I certainly understand the thrills he had while bowhunting. Unlike hunting with a gun, bowhunting requires patience, guile and a cool hand. Even the most talented bowhunters must get within twenty yards to make sure of the kill. Furthermore, they only get one shot so they have to make it count.
Lamade describes his adventures on the North American and African continents. He successfully hunted everything from turkeys to moose to stingrays, including some animals capable of hunting him. His exploits are true and he writes with such flair that it is not difficult to imagine your presence at his side. Lamade is also a hunter in the purest sense of the word. He has very strict rules regarding the shots that he will take, passing on the opportunity to shoot if he is convinced that the probability of the kill is too low.

by Ihor Rebensky
Scranton Times-Tribune, June 17, 2007

At age 6, Mike Lamade made his first connection to what would become a lifelong passion.

An aunt, returning from a trip to Yellowstone Park in 1941, gave her young nephew his first bow, an item he said he treasured as one of his most-prized possessions.

Some 40 years later, Lamade experienced his first kill with a bow, taking down a 6x6 bull (six points on each side) on his first try. He was hooked on the sport and never looked back.

Lamade decided to share his experiences, submitting an article, "Turkey tactics for bugling bulls," to Bowhunter Magazine. The article was published and Lamade began what has become a more than 20-year career writing about bowhunting.

Lamade has since compiled a book of his published articles beginning with that first one which has been published by Tribute Books in Eynon. "Breathtaking Bowhunts" provides an exciting insight into bowhunting and should be a must-read for any outdoors enthusiast.

Lamade will be at Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, from 2-4 p.m. for a book signing.

"Bowhunting keeps me young," said Lamade, 72, who grew up Kingston and now resides in Cold Spring, "on the road to Upper Woods Pond, a top trout lake for many NEPA fishermen."

Lamade will be celebrating his first wedding anniversary Oct. 7 with his wife, Kathleen.

"The only problem is," he said, "I have a bowhunt for mule deer booked in Alberta this coming Oct. 6. Shes a very understanding woman."

Along with the articles, Lamade provides an array of fascinating photographs, from his youth to his impressive trophy room, which showcases a number of his triumphs.

Each article is followed with information, including the date and publication in which it ran, as well as some background on how the article came about.

For example, his article, "Scout like a hawk: One hour in the air can save days on the ground," provides a helpful tips on the advantage of using a guide plane to scout prospective hunting sights. Lamade follows the reprint of the article with background on his own skill as a pilot, and details the kinds of planes he has flown.

The book, which retails for $[...] and can be reviewed and ordered on line at [...], is worth every penny.

Bowhunters will enjoy the stories while non-bowhunters can learn alot.




"The Sacred Nature of Hunting: Stories That Reveal Our Humanness"
by Peter N. Jones

One of the most famous writers in American history was Ernest Hemingway. He wrote stories about the American experience, and what it ment to be a living and breathing human. Some of Hemingway's most famous stories centered on hunting: "Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted ... long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter" (from 'On the Blue Water' in Esquire, April 1936). I loved reading Hemingway - having read everything that he wrote - and have always kept my eyes open for someone else who could convey the spirit, excitement, and humanness of "the hunt."

Breathtaking Bowhunts by Mike Lamade turns out to be just that book. In this collection of bowhunting adventures the author brings the reader along on over 20 different hunts over a period of almost four decades. What sets these hunting stories apart - at least for me - is the fact that they were all done via bowhunting. I'm not a big fan of long-range rifle hunting, where the hunter is a half-mile away on some hill and the animal has no idea that they are being hunted. No, that does not seem like an adventure to me. However, these stories reveal what it is to be a human out in the wild - just you, a bow and arrow, and nature. No chance to shoot off your rifle if the bear suddenly turns and attacks! Or if the wildebeast that you have been tracking for a couple of days decides to turn and charge!

No, in Breathtaking Bowhunts Mike Lamade shares with the reader not only the hunt itself, but also the preparation, tracking, and care that goes into a successful hunt - one where you have to actually put your life on the line. For example, Lamade's hunt of a record Mule Deer on the eastern plains of Colorado in winter made my palms sweat. Fighting through a horrendous blizzard, I could feel the tension and fatigue Lamade was holding back as he stalked his prey. Similarly, when I was reading the story about Lamade's amazing hunts of the elusive African Kudu, my senses were heightened and my hands tingled.

I'm not a hunter. I've never killed anything so much as an ant. However, I've always had respect for those people who still maintain that sacred tie between man and beast. That sacred tie involves skill, determination, and respect for the animal on the part of the hunter, as well as some recognition on the part of the prey that they are being hunted. Native Americans talk about a bond between the hunter and the hunted - the animal has sacrificed themselves for the purpose of fulfilling the needs of the hunter and the hunter recognizes this and offers something in return. This is what most impressed me about Breathtaking Bowhunts - this understanding is clearly part of Mike Lamade's hunting practices.

The stories in this book demonstrate that not only is hunting ok, but if done with the right intentions, hunting can become a sacred act. I respect Mike Lamade and others who hunt in a similar fashion. They are preserving an important part of human heritage - one of our sacred bonds that we share with animals and the natural environment. This book will thrill any hunter. But more importantly, it will help others realize that not all hunting is bad. In some cases, it is sacred.

Mike Lamade has hunted the continents from Norht America to Africa. One thing I was impressed by is he tells beginners to long time hunters to be responsible hunters. He says more than once "Do Not Shoot." Unless the animal is presenting the proper shot angle for placement in the vital chest area behind the shoulder---do not shoot.

Sometimes people can be so caught up in the hunt that they shoot not taking the time to wait for the proper shot. Then the animal will wonder off and if not found can die a slow death.. Mike has hunted just about every type of game that is allowed. He even went along with a friend who was hunting gators with a bow. While Mike did not hunt he was still taken on a wild ride.

This book teaches you not only about the responsibilty of bowhunting but the history as well. Angus Brown is a professional bow hunter and outfitter in Africa. He was instrumental in getting bow hunting legalized in this country.

I come from a family of hunters. They only hunt for the meat. My husband Larry hunts with either a bow or rifle. When I showed him Mikes trophy room his eyes opened wide and he said, "I want to read this book when you are finished."

This is a great book for all outdoor enthusiast.

Sandy Heptinstall

My husband read this book and even though he's not a hunter, he thought it was excellent! Mike's writing style paints a very visual picture of the action/location of each of his hunts. A very readable book.

Clear instructions, and helpful advice. The many humorous asides and fascinating photographs (black and white) make for great reading even if you never intend to actually make a bow. Mr. Hamm also covers arrows and traditional Native American bow decorations and quivers. This book will be of infinite help to those intrepid bowmakers out there.

Jim Hamm's book is very entertaining as well as enlightening reading. As an archeologist I am indebted to this author for filling in many blanks for me. My understanding of a primary technology for prehistoric peoples has increased many folds due to the work and clear presentation in Hamm's book. In my two professions as Archeologist and Indian Arts Dealer as well as an archer, this publication has filled a void in knowledge. I'd finished re-reading "Ishi in Two Worlds" just prior to picking up Hamm's book. Jim Hamm has provided understanding of "primitive" lifeways, technology, and the skill and diversity regarding a fundamental weapon and food gathering tool for me. I'd begun to read only to be able to comment to customer's inquiry about the title in our Indian Arts shop, but Hamm's engaging writing style and obvious command of his subject drew me in. I recommend the title not just for those who would build their own bow and arrows, but also for archeologists, anthropologists, pre-historians and the intellectually curious. "Bow & Arrows of the Native Americans" would be an excellent supplementary text for academic Anthropology courses. Could we hope for a publisher to overcome the "out of print" condition for this book? Of course, I am now intrigued by the other Hamm titles.

Every book but this one says simply to cut a branch, work it a bit, cut some sticks for arrows and have at itBR hamm tells how to do it righBrHis methods are not easy, but then, nothing worthwhile isBRInstructions are clear and complete, however, discussion of point making is limitedBRThe only things omitted were the cut fingers and blistersBRFrustration is well coveredBRPThis is not a book for someone wanting an analysis of bow styles among the different groups, but a book for someone who wants to make a "Primitive Bow" that shoots true, fast, and accurately , and is adequate for big game hunting BRHighly recommended

The book was wonderful. Even if I never get to make my own bow, I'am still glad I bought the book. Very well written and easy to understand. The last chapter is worth the price of the book.

This book is well done. Full of good information for the beginning bowyer. The only criticism I have is that it does not cover all of the woods used by the american indian. overall I rate the book as excellent.

Keith was nothing if not a straight shooter; with guns and with his writing. He told it like it was in his gun articles, unlike the common modern situation, where the writers seem to follow the advertising dollars, and no reviewed new gun is anything but great.
Good gun read.

Keith's Gun Notes are a good read for anyone who has read any of his other writings. Newer cartridges, guns and reloading equipment are available now but his advise and opinions on most things concerning shooting still right on target.

A great collection of the works of Elmer Keith,,whatelse can you say!!

Keith, cowboy, lawman, big-game hunter, world-class marksman and gun expert, wrote the long-running column in Guns & Ammo magazine upon which this book is based.
Ornery, opinionated, and thoroughly knowledgable on his subject, Keith writes about ballistics, hunting, hand-loading, and accuracy in shotguns, rifles, and handguns, always clearly and cogently, and never leaving the reader unsure of where the writer stands.
Keith is always interesting, and most of his work is relevant today, but the publisher of this compilation takes pains to warn the reader that some of Keith's data is unscientific and suspect, and must not be relied on uncritically, especially with respect to bullet velocities and chamber pressures.

(The numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.)

Keith, variously a cowboy, big-game hunter, world-class marksman, and famous gun expert, for many years wrote a regular column in Guns & Ammo Magazine, which is the basis for this collection, in two volumes.
He was a gun and gear designer of some note, having been instrumental in the development of the Winchester Model 70 and also the .41 and .44 Magnum cartridges. His writing skills matched his technical expertise, and there is never any doubt about where he stood on any issue. His advice, especially on safety, is cogent and just as applicable today as when it was written.
Keith was a also an inveterate experimenter with cartridge modification and propellant loads, and the publisher takes pains to warn the reader that Keith's' data is unscientific and suspect, and must not be relied upon uncritically, especially with respect to bullet velocities and chamber pressures. Understanding that, the reader will find a wealth of useful hunting and shooting information here, clearly presented.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the age. This reviewer does not 'score" books.)

interesting and informative, but a little short for the money. If you read "zen in the art of archery" by eugene herrigel and didn't hear enough about awa kenzo, this book will give you what you want: it presents a limited biography and then gives some of his ( most important?) sayings and a few pictures of him with his bow. It got 4 out of 5 stars because it cost 12.95 list price plus shipping and is 101 pages long. Still a great read if you are interested in zen archery.

a small book but diamonds are small-as is the brief instant of satori. a wonderful history of the great Zen archer Awa Kenzo with a treasure of gems of wisdom from his teachings: statements, aphorisms, koans and haiku.
whether you are seeking thru t'ai chi, target shooting or archery, the wisdom here will guide you in your practice.

Don't miss this book if you are interested in "Zen in the Art of Archery" and "The Method of Zen" by Eugen Herrigel.
The teaching of Awa is a pearl of wisdom.

John Stevens produces another one of his find vignettes of prominent Japanese martial artists. The field of Kyudo is not well known in the U.S. and anything that can be done to remedy that should be. I believe this book is best read alongside Herrigel's "Zen and the Art of Archery."

Informative, readable and inspiring account of Kenzo's life as well as an excellent anthology of his actual teachings. I loved John Stevens' way of explaining complex Zen terms in simple English: e.g., kensho - "see your nature" or "look into your nature;" jobutsu - "become Buddha;" and the ultimate Zen experience, satori, which Stevens explains means literally "remove distinctions," and which he, along with many others, translates as "enlightenment." This is great stuff for anyone interested in Japanese language and culture as well as providing a springboard for deeper investigations of Zen, of archery as a form of "practice" and of martial arts in general. Includes detailed notes on sources and an excellent bibliography. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent book for a young hockey fan who wants to learn about the colorful past of the NHL and the other leagues that formed around it. It's not a history book per se, and doesn't offer any organized history of hockey, but rather is a scattered collection of short anecdotes from all eras of hockey up until the early 90's. You are sure to laugh at some of the stories and grimace at others. The book is a light read and the anecdotes are just the right length for picking up the book and reading a dozen or so at a time. It only makes me wish they will put out an updated version in the next few years to cover the most recent decade of hockey. My only complaint is that the stories didn't consistently include the dates they were set in (though the majority of the time they did). Sometimes this made it a guessing game when the events took place. But other than that this is a delightful book for all hockey fans, old and young.

This book ranks at the top of my list so far as hockey books are concerned. Unlike many books, this one does not contain a single complete story, but a collection of amusing anecdotes ranging from the late nineteenth century to the recent years of NHL hockey. Since there are differnt stories in this book, my interest was rejuvenated every time I would start a new one-page anecdote. I would recommend this book to any hockey fan of any callibre, from the new kid watching his first hockey season, to those older hardcore fans who remember Howie Morenz's style of play.

From a person who loves the game of hockey, past and present,this book is excellent. Even if you know every stat around I guaranteetheres something interesting in this book that you didnt know. Do want to know about the fight that John Ferguson waited 10 years for? Well its in here along with tons of other hockey stories than any true fan can certainly appreciate.

The Best of it Happened in Hockey is a great collection of stories that span more than 150 years of the history of the game. I was very impressed with the variety of stories and I thought that McFarlane did a great job in making it a very well balanced book. There are some classic stories as well as rarely heard tales from all eras.

The book itself was laid out nicely and was very easy to read. This is a great book for anyone who is interested in some of the finer details of hockey history such as myself. McFarlane doesn't have the world's finest story telling abilities, but he's still a guy you want on your bookshelf. Though he doesn't produce a story with as much color as a Don Cherry or a Stan Fischler, his collection of data more than makes up for his shortcomings.

Overall, a superb book that any devote hockey fan will really fine interesting and entertaining.