Players Books

A compelling story about difficult teen years. Although the target audience is young adults, Sara Griffiths weaves this tale to interest all ages. Young people will connect with the engaging main character and her assessment of her world. Parents may gain valuable insite into this world, which may help them understand their own pre-teen/teenage children. I look forward to this author's next work.

As a Middle School English teacher I am always looking for a new novel to add to my student's reading list, I was so happy to find Thrown a Curve. It is the type of book that will appeal to all levels of readers. I am sure that my students will love Thrown a Curve as much as I did!!

This is a great book! I could not put it down once I started becaust it reminded me a lot of things I went through growing up. I definitely recommend this book to any girl in her early teens or even an adult like me!

It's refreshing to read a novel which demonstrates the ability of a young woman to rise above the adversities in her life by using her athletic talents and by following the suggestions of a wise counselor. Though Taylor, the protagonist, is lonely, sad, and confused about her dad's unwillingness to connect with her, she never becomes bitter. Although I am now retired, I taught high school students for 30 years. I can say that the author has captured the essence of the struggle facing many adolscents. Taylor resolves her issues in a healthy way. Kudos to Ms Griffiths for her excellent story!

This book takes a different approach to improving your tennis game but I think it's a good one. The author is straight-forward and doesn't hold anything back. While he does give detailed instruction on the actually playing of tennis and covers all aspects of play he highlights the ways to really improve your game by your positioning, attitude, thinking, etc. He goes beyond the typical "hit the ball this way" method present in many tennis books but breaks down tennis play into easy to understand logic. There is a lot of information in this book but nothing a persistent, and hard-working tennis players can't handle. You will benefit most by reading, then using that instruction on the court then reading some more and applying your new instruction the next time you play. Take it one step at a time and I think you'll benefit.

The only problem readers will have is deciding which piece of professional advice NOT to highlight. By the time you're finished, your entire book may be streaked in bright yellow, like mine.

This is the only tennis book you'll ever need: it's perfect for beginners, yet contains enough tips from his professional days and those of his fellow legends that the most advanced players will also find it useful.

Burwash shows why his tennis instruction is famous in upscale resorts and clubs the world over.

When I first started playing tennis about 4 yrs ago, I E-mailed my mother a list of tennis books and said, 'buy 1 of them for my birthday.' Mom is great so she bought all of them. I flipped through them all, but I read, studied, and re-read Peter Burwash's book. I am now reading it for the 4th time and every time I get something new out of it. He discusses strokes, strategies, fitness and attitude. He does it all in a way that is easy to understand. I began taking private lessons last year and it was amazing how many things I learned that I quickly recalled from this book.

You cant go wrong with this book. From a beginner to an intermediate player, this book is a constant companion and contains help for everyone.

As a long time recreational player, I found this book to be an excellent source for improving my overall game. Instead of dwelling on how to hit the ball, Peter Burwash introduces the concepts needed to move your game up to a new level. With numerous concise descriptions of court positions, percentage tennis and mindful observations, Mr. Burwash gives you a set of tools to take what you already know and move your game up to a level where you will win more points and matches. I had always concentrated on hitting the ball and having fun. This books shows you how to do those same things with a purpose. I have tried many of his suggestions with great results. Highly recommended for a player ready to put brains before brawn.

I read this when it came out. It's a fascinating look at one of the most enjoyable seasons I've ever witnessed. Michael left them hanging and they still came back and won over 50 games. Were it not for Hue Hollins BS call they may have 4-peated.

Although it covers just the frayed transition between Michael Jordan's first retirement and the Bulls' rebuilding, this book offers the reader much insight into the key personalities that comprised the greatest team in modern professional basketball. No Bulls library would be complete without it.Roland Lazenby

Although it covers just the frayed transition between Michael Jordan's first retirement and the Bulls' rebuilding, this book offers the reader much insight into the key personalities that comprised the greatest team in modern professional basketball. No Bulls library would be complete without it.Roland Lazenby

Although it covers just the frayed transition between Michael Jordan's first retirement and the Bulls' rebuilding, this book offers the reader much insight into the key personalities that comprised the greatest team in modern professional basketball. No Bulls library would be complete without it.Roland Lazenby

This book is great. John Ed does another great job. It is hard for me to pick a favorite.

What a great book this is. Bradley's best, I think. I would put this book in the same league with some of Pat Conroy's best, but with a darker edge to it. A sad, lyrically prosed story that will stay in your mind long after you read it.

I believe this is right up there with the best modern American fiction of the last 20 years. The prose is as poetic as Fitzgerald's and the plot is as tragic as any I have read. Was this his only novel and if so, why ?

This book is incredible. As if Pat Conroy finally let us inside his psyche instead of simply relating his tormented history. It will make you uncomfortable, make you wish that the movie will never be made, but this is chewy chewy fiction, not to be missed, or dismissed. Absorb it now. Wow.

I ordered the Ultimate Book as soon as it came out, and I have gained more plectrum skills in the past few weeks than in the 5 years previous! It is absolutely fabulous. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, student or teacher, it is the perfect plectrum banjo book.

I live in a small town in Indiana, the middle of plectrum banjo nowhere, and have been trying to learn to play plectrum for the last five years. Despite years of 5-string playing, I just wasn't getting anywhere...particularly without a live teacher.Then along came The Ultimate Plectrum Guide. The chord diagrams are the best I've ever seen. They are used in a unique way to indicate timing, picking, and even whether to pick up or down. The organization of the book is superb. First of all the explanations are precise, including "Dave's Rules", neat little generalities that stick in your mind the way he intended them to. Exercises are meaningful...when Dave says play it 20 times, if you play it 20 times you will have learned it. The book starts with the basic chords, and just when you have had enough chord playing, they interject a secondary subject, then back to chords, etc. By the time you reach the end of the beginner's section, you can play all but the most arcane of chords with various picking styles. But then you come to part 3: "Adding Some Polish". Single string picking, turnarounds, etc. "Chord melody vs. improv vs. Background", "You're working too hard -- shortcuts" and "Transposing on the fly". Really great stuff.

Part Four, "Music Theory" is terrific, my wife is taking piano lessons and reading through this section clarified things her teacher was unable to. It is practical music theory, which sounds like a conflict in terms, but it is presented in such a way that you can put it to use immediately...building chords, transposing, converting to chord melody, etc.

Section 4 "Intermediate Banjo Playing" is about playing in groups. The first chapter, "When to cheat and how to do it", is full of techniques for playing above your head. The second, "What'd he say?" is a lexicon of band jargon so you don't feel stupid when you first sit in with a group.

Part 6, "Advanced Banjo Playing" really is, subjects like "single string and embelishments", "Differing Scales", modes and the harmonized scale, and "Inside chords and beyond". Then comes the Appendices! Every chord diagram you can conceive of, transposition charts, etc., etc.

This book is not only the very best plectrum banjo book, it should be the model for every "how to play anything". It is a whole new approach to writing music books, a superb teacher (David Frey) combined with an outstanding writer of technical manuals (Susanne Sagiacomo, who was actually learning to play) created honest-to-God synergy and advanced the art of music instruction by a whole order of magnitude.

"The Ultimate Plectrum Banjo Player's Guide" reallyis. It is not only the very best plectrum banjo book, it is a wholeorder of magnitude better than any music instruction book I've ever encountered.

I ordered the Ultimate Book as soon as it came out. I live in a small town in Indiana, which is in the middle of plectrum banjo nowhere, and have been trying to learn to play plectrum for the past 5 years. Despite many years of 5-string playing, I just wasn't getting anywhere. Then along came "The Ultimate Plectrum...Guide", I have gained more plectrum skills in the past few weeks than in the previous 5 years! It is absolutely fabulous. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, a student or a teacher, it is the perfect plectrum banjo book. The chord diagrams are the best I've ever seen. They are used in a unique way to indicate timing, picking, and even whether to pick up or down. The organization of the book is also superb. The explanations are precise, including "Dave's Rules", neat little generalities that stick in your mind the way he intended them to. Exercises are meaningful...when Dave says play it 20 times, if you play it 20 times you will have learned it. The book starts with the basic chords, and just when you have had enough chord playing, they interject an interesting secondary subject, then back to chords, etc. By the time you reach the end of the beginner's section, you can play all but the most arcane of chords with various timing and picking styles.

Next is part 3: "Adding Some Polish". Single string picking, turnarounds, etc. "Chord melody vs. improv vs. Background", "You're working too hard -- shortcuts" and "Transposing on the fly". Really great stuff.

Part Four, "Music Theory" is terrific, my wife is taking piano lessons and reading through this section clarified ideas her teacher was unable to get across. It is practical music theory, however, which may sound like a conflict in terms, but it is presented in such a way that you can put it to use immediately...building chords, transposing, converting to chord melody, etc.

Section 4 "Intermediate Banjo Playing" is about playing in groups. The first chapter, "When to cheat and how to do it", is full of techniques for playing above your head. The second, "What'd he say?" is a lexicon of band jargon so you don't feel stupid when you first sit in with a group.

Part 6, "Advanced Banjo Playing" really is, subjects like "single string and embelishments", "Differing Scales", modes and the harmonized scale, and "Inside chords and beyond".

Then comes the fabulous Appendices! Every chord diagram you can conceive of, transposition charts, etc., etc.

This book is not only the very best plectrum banjo book, it should be the model for every "how to play anything". It is a whole new approach to writing music books, a superb teacher (David Frey) combined with an outstanding writer of technical manuals (Susanne Sagiacomo, who was actually learning to play) created honest-to-God synergy and advanced the art of music. If you've read this far, buy it! END

Covers all the bases from beginners to playing in a jazz band. Highly recommended to all especially those who can't find a instructor for this elusive instrument. It also is a nice supplement to the Buddy Wachter video courses. Also recommended...Vol 2. Well done Dave and Sue!

Volume I is probably the best music instruction book ever, but Volume II is an absolutly essential companion to it. If you're already an intermediate to advanced player, you could possibly get along without Volume I, but you've gotta get Volume II. It is comprised of two sections, songs and exercises.

First there are the songs, just about every song needed in a plectrum player's basic repertoire of tunes. But get this, not only are they presented in the usual "fake book" or "lead sheet" format (melody line in standard musical notation with chord names above and lyrics below), there is also a chord chart, as well as chord diagrams for every note in the chord melody!

The chord chart uses a box for each measure with the chord name(s) in each, a great compact memory jogger for use after you've learned the song.

The chord melody diagrams are the tour de force of this set of books and a major advance in the art of string music instruction books. They not only show how to form the chord, and where on the neck to play it, but they also show the timing and the picking. By following these diagrams, you can be playing the chord melody in a matter of minutes.

Part 2 is the exercises, a compendium of all the exercises in Volume I, which is to say all the really good exercises you will ever need to increase and maintain your skills as a plectrum banjo player. Once you have mastered a particular section in Volume I, all the exercises without the accompanying text will be found in Volume II.

When I was first working my way through Volume I, I tabbed each page with an exercise so I could go back and run through it. Then I looked in the back of Volume II and there they all were, exactly as I needed them to be!

Exercises include: Dexterity exercises; All the chords played up and down the neck; Chord transition exercises (same fret and inversions); Chromatic chord scales for every note on the neck; Single string scales; Harmonized scales; Runs and fillers; Intros, tags, and endings; Duoing; and Arpeggios.

If you can master these exercises, you can play any of the tunes in the first section with professional polish. I can't speak highly enough about these books and the accompanying CD's.

Negro Leagues Baseball is a triumphant story in stadiums large and small where the only individual not allowed on the diamond or in the stands went by the name of Jim Crow.

And while there are names forever linked with the grand history of NLB, there are hundreds of other players who proudly wore the uniforms of the various clubs, but are small footnotes in the big picture of the game. Author Brent P. Kelley presents an oral history that is split into two parts - before and after Jackie Robinson began playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball - that brings to life the players in those box scores.

John "Mule" Miles - who played for the Chicago Elite Giants from 1946-1949 - typifies the player who had great moments that had been lost in time. In 1947, Miles hit 11 homers in 11 games, but it was a game versus Memphis which earned him his nickname. In that contest, Miles smacked two homers - with the latter being the game-winner - which had manager Jim Taylor commenting that he hits the ball like a mule kicks.

There are great stories from Cowan "Bubba" Hyde, Bill Cash, Willie Grace, Bill Beverly and Dennis Biddle which truly captures the real life & times of NLB players.

These voices should never be forgotten and every player chronicled is not only a hero of the game, but a champion on the field of life.

I found this book to be an accurate and heartfelt account of life in the Negro League. Mr. Brent intervied my father, Henry Kimbro, and I was pleased with experiences he got out of my dad. It was wonderful reading.

I read this book in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down! You will learn what it was like for these great athletes back then from the players themselfs. If you want to learn about the Negro Leagues this is the book!

Author Kelley is really to be commended for gathering these wonderful stories of these forgotten and neglected ballplayers. He has gathered reminiscences of players who all probably would have been all-stars had they been allowed to play in the white majors. I especially enjoyed the little tidbits that players would throw into their stories about great players like Josh Gibson and Satchel. Although my favorite book along these lines is Holway's Voices from the Great Black Baseball Leagues, simply because it goes back further and he actually got interviews with immortals like Cool Papa Bell and Judy Johnson (but then it was written in the 70's) this wonderful book is a definite companion to the classic. I see Kelley has written a followup collection as well, which, despite the hefty price, is sure to be worth it, as the books contain many hours of reading. You can tell that this book was a labor of love. Simply superb!

I am reading the book We'll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente. It is a very good book. I decided to read it because I saw the 2006 All-Star Game. This book relates to me because I love baseball too. Roberto Clemente passed away on his way to help earthquake victims.


GO PIRATES!!!!

Cole E. - Age 9, Holland, PA

This book tells the story of Roberto Clemente in a clear, insightful, and entertaining way. It will be adored by kids, but also enjoyed by adults. It moved me to tears.

We'll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente is a great book. It tells all about the life of Roberto Clemente.He was the first Latin American in the Hall of Fame. He grew up very poor in Puerto Rico. He had to go work in the sugar cane fields to help his family when he was only six years old. Even though he had to work to help his family he still had time to play baseball. They used tin cans for balls and broomsticks for bats. Roberto was such a good player that he played in the San Juan League when he was only eight years old. When he was eighteen he went to a tryout and was discovered by some Major League scouts from the Brooklyn Dodgers. They sent him to the Montreal Expos, their farm team. While he was playing for the Expos he was discovered by the Pittsburg Pirates who drafted him. Roberto became a very famous baseball player.He won the MVP award in 1966 and was the National League batting champion four times. Roberto was not only a great baseball player he was also a great person. He was very proud of being Puerto Rican and worked hard so that people of all colors would be treated equally. He was killed in a plane accident while he was delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. I think this was one of the best books I ever read. Anyone that likes sports would like this book. I learned a lot about someone that I had never heard of before.

We'll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente is a great book. It tells all about the life of Roberto Clemente.He was the first Latin American in the Hall of Fame. He grew up very poor in Puerto Rico. He had to go work in the sugar cane fields to help his family when he was only six years old. Even though he had to work to help his family he still had time to play baseball. They used tin cans for balls and broomsticks for bats. Roberto was such a good player that he played in the San Juan League when he was only eight years old. When he was eighteen he went to a tryout and was discovered by some Major League scouts from the Brooklyn Dodgers. They sent him to the Montreal Expos, their farm team. While he was playing for the Expos he was discovered by the Pittsburg Pirates who drafted him. Roberto became a very famous baseball player.He won the MVP award in 1966 and was the National League batting champion four times. Roberto was not only a great baseball player he was also a great person. He was very proud of being Puerto Rican and worked hard so that people of all colors would be treated equally. He was killed in a plane accident while he was delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. I think this was one of the best books I ever read. Anyone that likes sports would like this book. I learned a lot about someone that I had never heard of before.

Shannon O'Toole, a first-time author, writes smoothly and beautifully in this fast-paced, informative, and surprisingly juicy book. As an NFL insider, Shannon has definitely done her homework bringing to the forefront an aspect that is rarely seen in public - the other half of the men in the NFL - their wives, fiancées and girlfriends of the many players and coaches. We so often hear about the male players in the NFL so it is very refreshing to learn how these women are indeed a factor in the success of their husband's careers. "Wedded To The Game" is an eye opener for all who are interested in the dynamics of relationships that stand the test of time, stress, children and insecurities galore. Who would ever guess that these marriages last and the reasons are similar to one another? No other book will give you this insight, I highly recommend it!
O'Toole is candid about her own life leading up to and in the NFL and interviews with notables as Jackie Rice, Kathy Waufle, Pat Kennan, Kim Singletary, Kim Ruddy, Kori Shaw and many others are candid as well. I can guarantee that you will enjoy it.

The insiders view of living with the NFL. Great commentary on women adjusting to life as a partner in the NFL. Surprising revelations and expectations. A good read.

The author's real life experience and those in the book, give an interesting look into public perceptions and realities of NFL life.

First time author and wife of John Morton, an ex- NFL player and now coach,
Shannon O'Toole candidly exposes her thoughts and perceptions of what it is like
to be married to a professional football player or coach.

O'Toole, who holds a master's degree in sociology, bases much of her assessments
on a questionnaire that she anonymously sent to one hundred and fifty wives of
NFL players and coaches. She received seventy five responses and of these she
chose thirty to interview more in depth. These women range in age from their
early twenties to their mid-sixties and come from diverse educational and ethnic
backgrounds. Wedded to the Game: The Real Lives Of NFL Women is a broad overview
as well as a recording and synthesis of O'Toole's findings that make for some
very interesting and sometimes surprising data.

Divided into ten chapters, O'Toole addresses such concerns as the insecurity of
being a wife of a player or coach whose career can be over in a flash, or the
endless number of relocations that most of the players have to endure during
their career. A full chapter is devoted to domestic violence and the
ineffectiveness of the NFL in dealing with the problem. Included in this same
chapter is the temptation to indulge in extra-marital affairs and a questioning
if it is more prevalent than in any other profession or occupation. The
misconception that everyone employed by the sport is ultra-rich is thoroughly
examined with some surprising revelations. Much ink is given to exploring family
relationships, particularly where couples live a schizophrenic existence in that
once the season begins some wives hardly see their spouses. As the author
states, "some women, particularly coaches' wives, never get over the
difficulties and loneliness the football season brings, and they become
increasingly bitter and hostile." Moreover, wives have to take on the role of
supermoms or single moms, wherein she becomes one hundred percent responsible
for their physical, educational, and emotional well-being of the couple's
children.

Readers also receive a realistic expose of how difficult it is to break into the
NFL and the daily routines of NFL players and coaches that are not as glamorous
as the media would like to have us believe.

Another misconception that the author candidly talks about is the matter of free
tickets to the games. As mentioned, players and coaches for the most part are
required to pay for their tickets, and the tickets that they do receive for
their immediate family are not exactly in the best sections of the stadium.

O'Toole is not afraid to touch on some very sensitive issues and what emerges is
a poignant and gripping sketch of a better understanding of the complex lives of
spouses of NFL players and coaches that are very often ignored by the media.

Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

Great book well written arrived on time in new condition

I bought the book for my boyfriend, he is a Penn State alum. So far he has really enjoyed the book. It was a great purchase.

There has perhaps never been a college football coach more associated with a single university than Joe Paterno is with Penn State. Of course, it only makes sense since JoePa has been coaching at the University for over 50 years including 40 years as the team's head coach. "What it Means to be a Nittany Lion" is a player's and coach's retrospective on playing and coaching at the school. It traces Penn State's rich history of national championships and All-American players, decade-by-decade, sharing fond recollections and stories by some of their greatest players ever.

As a Michigan fan, I have always had tremendous respect for Paterno and Penn State. They do things the right way with class and integrity, just like Michigan. You never hear about scandals there like you do at so many other universities where winning is placed above everything else. Each decade presents some of its most notable players such as Rosey Grier, sharing their stories in their own words. Grier, perhaps best known as a member of the Los Angeles Rams "Fearsome Foursome" actually went to Penn State to compete in Track and Field and was an All-American Shot-putter in 1954.

It was in the 190's when Penn State started to develop its reputation as Linebacker U with players like Jack Ham, Greg Buttle, and Matt Millen but they also produced great offensive talent such as RB Lydell Mitchell. While we all see the loveable, affable, old gentlemen, it's quite evident in reading these players stories that playing for Paterno was no picnic. Former receiver O.J. McDuffie even relates going home in tears once as a freshman because the coaches had been so tough on him. McDuffie persevered and became only the second Penn State receiver to earn first team All-American status in 1992.

I especially enjoyed reading all the players talking about how they were recruited and ended up at Penn State. So many of them talk about the values and integrity that Paterno had and how academics were stressed as much, if not more than athletics. One of the most uplifting stories is that of Adam Taliaferro. Taliaferro, a defensive back, broke a vertebrae in his neck making a tackle in 2000. Doctors gave him slim chance of ever walking again, yet a year later, Adam was cheered by over a 100,000 fans as he jogged onto the field.

Whether you are a Penn State fan or not, after reading this book, you will definitely know what it means to be a Nittany Lion.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This is great book on Penn State's greatest players. Each player tells a story of what means to be a Nittany Lion. I love this book! It is for die-hard Nittany Lions fans or any college football fans! We Are...Penn State!

I bought this book for my father who is a huge wings fan. It details in order historically the careers of key players and coaches and was the perfect father's day gift.

My daughter started into hockey while going to Northern Michigan University. She then got hooked on the Wings. I was hoping that Art's book would introduce her to the culture of the Red Wings. She loves it. Thanks Art, miss you on the radio and hope you land on your feet soon.
Mike from St Clair

I mulled over this book for a long time thinking it was some fanboy "history" lesson, but I broke down and bought it anyway. I was so thrilled after I started reading it to see that it was all from the players' words! I loved reading about the guys from the 40s all the way to now. It is a inspirational book and it makes me proud to be a fan even though I was not born into hockey. No I was not a recent convert or riding their tails when they won, I started with the in the 80's (yes when they were not at their all time best). Anyway, the only thing about the book I was disappointed with is it did not have Gordie Howe's words (even though he wrote his own book, he could have something in it), Larionov, Federov, Vernon, and many others who did not contribute. Of course, it could have been the authors choice to not include them so I hope there will be a volume two!!! Still, this is a fabulous book to have if you really are a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of hockey.

What a great read! As the youngest daughter growing up in Detroit, I grew up in a family that loved professional hockey and college football . . . I watched from the fringes. Hockey did intrigue me, but I never really got hooked into the sport. As I went through the bookstore recently I spotted this book on the Redwings. I saw that it was individual stories and I thought that might be a great way to get a taste for what I may have missed, since my family goes on and on about the Wings. So glad I made the purchase. What a wonderful read. A few stories each night before bed, what a great way to retire. Each one is insightful and I was really drawn in. Guess what, I think I'm hooked . . . I will now be attending some live games. Go wings!!!