Archery Books

book is full of info for the beginner and experienced. recommended reading if you want to do your own work and maintenance on your bow.

First, this book consists of two sections, one about Turkish archery, by Klopsteg, and another "Modern Methods in Archery".
For me the second part is not worth the book, it is just curious, not very informative, so I'll skip my comments and concentrate on the part about Turkish archery.
It makes a complete overview on the different aspects of Turkish archery, it is not a "how to" book, if you want a how to, better to try Thomas Douvernay's video about Korean Archery or Jeff Schmidt video about Asiatic composite bows. The second can be ordered at Amazon, and both are available at Three Rivers Archery.
There are different chapters describing bows, arrows, the strings, performances, and also a "recent addenda" that is more helpful to who is willing to build his own bow.
It is the best book about the most fascinating bow. If you're lucky enough to get a copy, go for it!
Alberto

Lon Emerick is the real deal. All his books are worth reading!

A classic. First person account of some of the originators of the art. Opinionated and has an obvious personal bias (Thank goodness for some honesty !). Some of the stories are hilarious as well as illuminating and insightful. The story about Rube Goldberg vs. an Aikido master is almost worth the price of the book. Too many of the present day martial artists take themselves too seriously. A look at this book could help show them the humor and humanity that the martial arts really contain.

Oh, yeah. It does contain a pretty interesting information on philosophy, techniques and information on martial arts.....

A heard about this book for a long time, Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel, so I decided it was about time to read it. An interesting look at how a Westerner learned about Zen using the Japanese art of archery.

This is the famous little book that Minor White advised his pupils to read. It's an account by German professor Eugen Herrigel of several years of archery lessons with a Japanese archer in the 1950s. My review is written with photography in mind, though the principles discussed in the book can be applied to many arts.

If you have an interest in photography, should you read it?

Here are a few quotes from this little book in which I have taken the liberty of replacing archery lingo with photography lingo:

1. "...fundamentally the [photographer] aims at himself and may even succeed in hitting himself."

2. "Do you know why you cannot wait for the shot and why you get out of breath before it has come? The right shot at the right moment does not come because you do not let go of yourself. You do no wait for fulfilment, but brace yourself for failure."

3. "If [the photographer] is to fit himself self-effacingly into the creative process, the practice of the art must have the way smoothed for it. For if, in his self-immersion, he saw himself faced with a situation into which he could not leap instinctively, he would first have to bring it into consciousness."

If these ideas interest you, then this book is for you. It is a pleasing and thought-provoking little book, written in a conversational manner lacking the overcomplicated lingo and "isms" of most philosophical and spiritual texts.

This book had a real influence on my early spiritual development. I read it when I was a teenager; the impression I was left with was one of discipline, self-mastery, and the difficulty of the art of archery. I loved the author's earnestness and sincerity. For some time, I shot my own bow with what I took to be the spirit of the Zen approach. I wished I could travel to Japan and learn from a master.

From where I sit now, I'd have to acknowledge that this book is more a description or a memoir, rather than an actual guide. That is, for one determined to walk the spiritual path, this book will be more an inspiration than a manual. For some, that may lead to frustration.

This is not a book on kyudo. As Earl Hartman says in another review, Herrigel did have little contact with kyudo in Japan (3-4 years). This book could be about many interesting things (zen, misticism, ...), but I don't know of them. But it's not a book on Kyudo. It seems more a book on Herrigel himself.
I don't says this is the worst book someone can read if is interested on kyudo. Last years saw apearing one or two terrible book's with kyudo in title.
Should be read with precaution and specially doesn't substitute pratice and guidance from a teacher or a master. Many persons come to kyudo allready knowing this book but after a few sessions they give up. and many of them continue to claim that they know about kyudo only by reading this book.

For me this book is first and foremost about Zen. Students of Japanese archery can come to it to take their craft to another level but for me the archery is just a mantle for the teachings to sit on. I've been studying Zen for ten years or so, and have read many great works on the subject. This book was a gentle reminder, ushering me back onto the path. It's wisdom can be applied to almost anything. For a more in depth look at some of the discussions in this book, see Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture.

One reviewer, with whom I disagree, says that this book is not a valid source of Zen because the master archer in the book had never "studied" Zen. I think he came in touch with the Zen Mind through his art. The Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng had never "studied" Zen either and came by his enlightenment through living life and carrying fire wood. "Studying" Zen, in terms of following the rituals of an institution, can be formative but is not necessary. Zenmind existed long before the Zen religion.

So whether you're studying Japanese Archery or looking to deepen your awareness of your own art (I study painting, music and Tai Chi), this book can help if you're ready for it.

there's an old adage in the acting world..'don't give a performance, let the performance give you'..so what does that have to do with this book? well, I read this wonderful book a few years back when I was studying acting in NYC and I really worked hard at incorporating some Zen technique into my acting process..it wasn't easy..but I stuck with it and I feel as if I reached a different level consciousness and ability with my craft. This book is a wonderful teacher for the ways of Zen and incorporating those lessons into real life events not just archery.

And I was totally blown away! I love this book to death. This is just a classic retelling of the Robin Hood story that it gets me excited just thinking about it. The journey that Bran (Our Robin Hood character) takes in this book is one where he must learn to be the person he was born to be. He must lead his subjects or doom the small kingdom of Elfael to destruction. I love this book!

I really enjoyed reading this version of Robin "Hood". Really good and a great twist on the story we're more familiar with but this one is much more believable in a way. Really hated to put this book down.

Book 3 comes out next year with Tuck and I can not wait. Think Robin Hood Revisited and revitalized and brought to new life. This is not your Daddy's Robin Hood and it shows in every glorious page.

Hood is the first novel in Stephen Lawhead's latest series, the King Raven Trilogy, which is a historical fantasy based on the Robin Hood legend. Lawhead places his story in Wales after the conquest of Britain by the Normans and during the reign of William the Red. (If that sounds a bit odd, Mr. Lawhead gives several convincing reasons for this at the end of the book -- you might want to read that first.)

The Normans are encroaching into Wales, confiscating land, and generally mistreating the Welsh. Bran, a prince of one of the Welsh districts whose father was just killed by the Normans, has been driven from his castle. His people think him dead and have no hope for regaining their former way of life. Not that Bran, an irresponsible womanizing rogue, would have been considered a potential savior anyway, but after the Normans injure him severely, Bran is rescued and nursed back to health by a strange spiritual leader who recognizes his potential. Bran comes a long way (without losing his personality), but things are still unsettled at the end of the book.

Stephen Lawhead's writing and story-telling abilities have steadily improved over the years. I found his Pendragon series tough to stick with (although that was partly due to having read too much Arthurian legend, perhaps), but the Albion series was quite good. This latest book, however, shows that Mr. Lawhead has been steadily honing his story-telling skills to perfection. The writing was perfectly clear and lively, the descriptions aptly set the scenes, the plot was quick and entertaining, and the dialogue was rich and realistic. Lawhead is well-known for performing extensive research before he writes, and it shows in this novel. I really felt like I was back in 11th century Wales!

I've always enjoyed Lawhead's complex characters. In Hood, Bran is the "reluctant hero," but somehow he doesn't come across as a stereotype -- perhaps because we clearly see his flaws as he flies into rages, remorselessly kills people who get in his way, and forgets to pine over the woman he said he loves. Some of the most intriguing characters are the several religious leaders who represent the Catholic Church. Some are devout, some are corrupt, and Lawhead deftly uses their points of view to show us that being religious does not make a person good. There are good religious people, and there are bad people who use religious institutions to bring glory (and riches) to themselves instead of to God. Furthermore, through the points of view of the religious people, we see that there are many gray moral areas. For example, God loves truth, but is it right to tell a lie when the truth would cause innocent people to be harmed? God loves justice and mercy, so should we obey or disobey an unjust ruler? Lawhead never asks us these questions directly, and he certainly never answers them for us, but they are there for the discerning reader to contemplate.

I listened to Hood in audiobook format. Despite some unconvincing accents and a few mispronunciations, the reading was good. The reader was enthusiastic, well-paced, and had a generally pleasant voice. This was a good format for this novel, and I recommend it. --FanLit.net

This telling of the Robin Hood story is just that - a telling - not a retelling. It is not the version of Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland. Rather, Mr. Lawhead sets the yarn in Wales in the 11th century and gives Hood more depth than the Robin of movie and storybook.

Fear not, though, there is plenty of action, duplicitous Normands, Tuck, Little John and Maid Merien (Welsh spelling). The book starts, as it should, with Robin Hood before he was Robin Hood and progresses into his outlaw life. This is clearly the first in the trilogy. I am glad I waited to read it so I can go right into Book 2. By the end, Hood is just getting committed to his life as a brigand (Merien's word.

There is a slow section in the middle, when Hood comes to realize his responsibility to his people, which is what brought the book down to a four and a half. But by the end, I was aching for more and sorry to see the last page.

This is a fine telling of a legend. Unique on its own, with enough of the familiar for the characters to be recognizable - a tightrope well walked by the author.

One work of advice. Definitely read the afterword first. It will not ruin the story at all, and it gives a good foundation and historical context. In it, Mr. Lawhead provides the historical basis for why he believes Robin Hood was Welsh and gives the background of the legend.

This was a very entertaining novel, highly recommended.

This book has proven to be a great book for identifing cartridges and just learning about some of the not so common rounds out there. It is a very complete book covering black powder cartridges to modern. Each cartridge in the book has a little description and some history and some even have the dimensions of the round. Interesting reading for researching or pleasure.

One of the most comprehensive sources of information about cartridges available. A MUST have for you library of firearms information.

Steve Adams
AdamsQuailHunter on GunBroker and Ancientguns Forums

EXCELLENT BOOK FOR ALL SHOOTERS, FROM THE 22CAL. ON UP !! NOW I REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY 9.3X57 AND THE 30/06 CARTRIDGE.

A lot of good information but the author seems to be behind in the modern day cartridges. Russ Haydon of the Woodchuck Den has really brought the 20 cal. into public view. With the several 20 cals. out there the author mentioned the 204 Ruger (an outstanding round), but very little else in that caliber.

Frank Barnes was one of the great old timers that we have lost. A gentleman of seemingly infinite knowledge concerning ammunition and firearms. Much like his late friend John T. Amber, he willingly shared it with all.

For much of the life of this book I would have easily given it five stars. Indeed if you have never read this book, and have more than a passing interest in cartridges, it still rates five stars. However I have been collecting and shooting guns for over fifty years, and have picked up a few prejudices along the way that color my judgment of the current work (11th ED.).

My main gripe is that the publishing company seems to be trying to turn this into their cash cow by printing new editions in such short order that they actually show little or nothing new.

The entire "Proprietary Cartridges" chapter is another problem. The chapter seems to be little more than an advertisement for JDJ/SSK Industries, Lazzeroni, A-Square, and several other minor players. What makes a cartridge "Proprietary" seems to change from cartridge to cartridge. Indeed some cartridges listed as "Current" would seem to be "Proprietary" and vice versa. Better to scrap this entire advertisement er... chapter, and put the whole mess under "Wildcats" and quit playing at semantics.

With all of the various Short Magnums and Super Short Magnums that have been introduced in the last ten years we seem to be once again in an era of reinventing the ammunition wheel. Whether any of these new cartridges will stick is still up in the air. You would think that this amount of change in the civilian market would spur any number of interesting articles in a publication such as this. Wrong. Instead we learn about the needle gun. Interesting, but hardly timely.

I suspect this publication will continue to flounder as long as the current set up exists. Hopefully someone will adopt the concept as their baby and completely rewrite and edit it closely. This is what it deserves, and what Frank would have wanted as well.

LIparulo continues to release suspense filled novel that grab your attention and wont let go. When I found out he had a new novel I had to read it. This book deals with four friends take a remote wilderness expedition. They come across a group who have taken a remote town hostage and plan on destroying the town and its people with a new weapon. The friends must lead an attack to release the towns inhabitants from this group. Liparulo does a great job bringing the characters to life. A must read for all suspense fans.

Because it turns the pages, holds our interest, and promises more than the average TV show. The characters, some at least, are well drawn and give us reason to care. Our disbelief must be suspended, because the reason for all the killing turns out to be ridiculous. But the author is talented enough to keep us up at night.

INTRIGUING but also discouraging. It is almost scary because it could really happen. It surely did keep my attention throughout. What would I do if this situation ever occurred in my town or neighborhood? How would we ever counteract something devastating like this? The games that exist today seem to me to be so realistic and "hard core" that people lose all concept of what is moral and/or amoral. It truly scared me!!!!!

"Deadfall' is a great book to invest in for anyone who is looking for an action-filled plot that contains authentic believable characters who must go through nearly impossible situations to either overcome, surive or die.

Each character in this book is easily to believe in, connect with or to genuinely feel that "such a person must surely exist", whether they are protagonist, villain or innocent bystander.

The plot moves along at a gripping pace and a solid stage is set well before the ride takes off. Perhaps what R.L. does best here is that he is willing to create such real characters but is unafraid to submit them to very real realities and consequences, even if such realities mean their removal from the rest of the story.

When all is said and done, your heart has been broken, you have wanted to jump out of your seat and cheer. You have hated, sympathized, held your breath, and shed a tear.
Having said all this, as wonderful of an emtional and mental journey this wonderful story is, I'm afraid it left something lacking in depth. Where there were opportunities to explore deeper questions and issues, the action stole such moments away.

R.L. is a great author and this is another great work, but perhaps just something more is needed before we go from a good read to memorable literature...(here some would say that is not the goal, but why should such a gifted author not aspire to something timeless and life changing?)

Robert Liparulo is an animal! He just happens to display quite a talent when it comes to writing great thrillers. In the best-selling anthology, "Thriller," edited by James Patterson, Liparulo merely showed a glimpse of his genius with "Kill Zone." In "Deadfall," he lets it all hang out. He goes wild and crazy, and that's when he's at his best, thrilling the masses, and leaving us speechless. I was craving more after "Comes a Horseman," and going GA-GA after "Germ" bit me. Now he gives us "Deadfall," and Publisher's Weekly think they have it all figured out. Publisher's weekly sucks on this one! This was great!!

Taking a camping trip in Canadian woods is just the ticket for a group of four friends. They are looking to live with the wildlife for the time being, while doing some hunting and other guy things. But it looks like those plans are going out the window, or should I say, the tent! There are problems in Fiddler Falls, a town that suspiciously sounds like a bad musical trying to go Broadway, or if you're Canadian, to Toronto? And with a whole new set of plans, and weapons like they've never seen, they aren't prepared for what's in store. They just have the weapons that they brought with them. Is that enough?

Liparulo drives this with a savage force! And yet he gives us lessons for life at the same time. He doesn't hesitate to put the pedal to the metal, and he doesn't even think to apologize for it. I like that! Author Thomas Perry said that this deserves the name THRILLER. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Perry. Robert Liparulo has found his audience, and he's giving them what they want each and every time. That's a great read, and that's what keeps me coming back. Keep bringing your A game with you, Mr. Liparulo! Not many authors are doing it better.

Actually this is the third set of these books I have bought... I keep giving mine to others who are interested in bow making. This volume in particular is excellent for someone starting out.

A great intro to making wooden bows. Covers all the basics, wood, design, cutting, tillering. I found the section on bow design particularly interesting. Intuition is totally wrong about what gives the most arrow speed. A great book.

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 !

OK, so I'm itching to get into building my own bows. Step 1, head down to the local bookstore and get this book--I mean, do any kind of search on the subject, and it's the first thing you always find. And now, I've read it. And you know what? I'm even more confused than i was when i started.

Where should i even begin to complain about this $23 I will never get back? Well, let's start at jump street...The first and most glaring problem is, this is NOT an instructional book for the aspiring traditional bowyer, as I thought it might be--and as the back cover led me to believe. Rather, it is more of a sourcebook for those who already have a pretty strong working understanding of how to build bows. This is the book you ought to buy if you've already got a handful of bows under your belt; bows of different types and styles. I could imagine some bearded old Jim Bridger type sitting in his den, reading and re-reading it, with a hundred different bookmarks in it, and about 10 sentences highlighted on every page.

But if you are trying to learn how to build your own bow, and you don't know too much about it--by all means, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE. This book uses shop talk about every other sentence, and from page 1, nobody ever bothers to actually define what all this shop-talk actually means. You kind of have to just try and infer from the context very crucial central concepts--like which side of the bow is the back, and which is the belly...or what string follow is, or about a million other things. Case in point, there is a section in the chapter on bow construction (chapter 1) where the author describes a "standard wood bending test." He explains how to put a standardized staff of wood in this little device to test its flexibility characteristics--they even show a picture of the little device (which you are to build yourself for this purpose)--but he NEVER ACTUALLY EXPLAINS HOW to build the device. G

All I'm left with, after reading this junk, is the hope that someday, after i read a few better books on the subject, and build a dozen or so bows of my own--well someday this book may be handy. As for now, if the power goes out and i need something to burn for heat, this is it. I just sit and scratch my head as i leaf through the pages, thinking, Oh that might make sense, if i knew what this word meant. Or, wow, I know what tillering is. I wish this damn piece of crap called THE BOWYER'S BIBLE actually detailed the process, such that i might actually be able to follow some step by step instructions on how to do so!

I just wonder who edited this book? How does a professional editor not realize that this book creates more questions than it provides answers?

Yikes.

Anyway, not to keep Amazon from getting any new business--if you know how to build a bow, and you want to see some interesting pictures of like 50 different kinds of Northwest Indian patterns you can paint onto your work--or if you feel like looking at pictures of bows some guy made out of junk wood, or reeds, or broken arrows, well this is the book for you!

As for me, the search continues.

The Traditional Bowyer's Bible Vol. 1
by Numerous contributors
A collection of craftsmen come together to demonstrate the building and dynamics of different woods into different types of bows. There are three books in the series Vols.: l, ll and lll they cover all aspects of wooden archery equipment from yew bows to flint arrow tips. Flat bows, decorations, strings and quivers etc. Fine archery to primitive.