United States Books

I may not be a pool enthusiast, but there is much to like in Running the Table: The Legend of Kid Delicious, the Last Great American Pool Hustler by L. Jon Wertheim.

Danny Basavich is the most unlikely of heroes. A native of Manalapan, NJ, Basavich was an over-weight kid who suffered from bipolar disorder. He was repeatedly bullied by other kids, which led to a pattern of switching from school to school. Finally, he dropped out and got his high school diploma through an alternative program before he turned 16. Not having anything to occupy his time, he started hanging out at a local pool hall. The locals liked this amiable kid who had a natural talent for pool. After taking him as far as they were able, they then drove him up to Chicago Billiards in West Haven, CT--considered to be the "finishing school" of pool players. Here, Basavich learned to progress from pool player to a "pool thinker," allowing him to visualize a game of pool like a game of chess and thus, always looking toward future plays.

At Chicago Billiards, Basavich met Bristol Bob Begey. Together, they decided to take to the road and try to make a living hustling pool. Much of this book details their travels together, as well as Basavich's solo road trips. This is a fascinating lifestyle as they traveled all over the country. Sometimes, Basavich would make $5000 on a set of pool, and then make another $10-15,000 on side bets. But pool hustlers also tend to be compulsive gamblers, and they could lose the dough just as fast on cards, casino games, and other bets. Wertheim also talks about what makes a good hustler. Often times, Basavich would intentionally lose a game early to win a big pot later on. Once Basavich became fairly well known as a pool hustler in almost every state, he had little choice but to turn professional. Wertheim gives a short history of professional pool, which can best be described as unorganized, low-paying and dysfunctional. Basavich made much more money on the road than in any professional pool tournament.

L. Jon Wertheim is a writer for Sports Illustrated, and he writes in a style that shows off his love of sports (even though he knew little about pool when he began Running the Table). He describes players who worship at the felt green altar and who have "a mutually held belief in the truth and romance and righteousness and dignity to be found in hitting six-ounce balls across felt-covered slate into a half-dozen unforgiving leather pockets. That and a shared restlessness, a natural tropism for adventure and unpredictability."

Although I'm still not much of a pool fan, I found Running the Table to be totally enjoyable.

This book was hard for me to put down. I wanted to read a chapter per day but was hopelessly drawn into the book so much so that I finished it in a couple of days.
As a player, I could identify with some of the characters. Great story about Danny Basavich. May he be around a long, long, time.
There's talk about making a movie. Let's hope that the studio isn't short-sighted and it comes true.
Hey, "Delicious," if you need background players, lemme know...

This book is probably as accurate as you will find for the life of the beginning pool player. The fact is, unless you are a "Trust Fund" kid, you have to have a job, a wife that works, or you better be very good!

Big-H

Kid Delicious' story is moving -- at times tragic, heroic and beyond belief. He's part manic depressive, part obese food addict and part ultra-talented pool shark. His dedication to the game gave him solace from a world (New Jersey suburbs) that didn't have much sympathy for a fat, homely, smart-aleck kid with a sharp mind.

Kid Delicious (Danny Basavich) comes to dominate the pool hustling circuit, and you can't help but admire how he pursues/embraces his true love in spite of his profound psychological struggles. His success is a testament to putting everything you have into something you love, and his failures make him human and sympathetic.

If you like books like Playing Off the Rail or Positively Fifth Street, you'll love this one. Wertheim's research is very thorough and he writes like a true billiards fan, with a detailed understanding of the cadences of the game and the sundry characters who populate the dark, dank pool halls across our country.

Danny Basevich's life has certainly been a roller-coaster ride, and Wertheim captures its energy admirably. A phenomenal read.

A good read for players wanting a peak into the recent past of life on the road for money players, and an interesting character study of Kid Delicious. Fun for those who follow the pool scene these days. A revealing picture for those who don't. Doesn't exactly make me want to throw a cue in the trunk and head off for glory.

I have bought a lot of hiking books and this is one of the best I've ever used. Sedona has many, many wonderful hikes. For each hike, this book provides distance, difficulty, a quick summary of the hike, a full description of the hike, driving directions to the trailhead, an elevation profile, and a color photo of the trail. This book categorizes the hikes by difficulty level, location, and personal favorites of the authors, which helps someone spending a few days in Sedona quickly find a few hikes they'll love.

I highly recommend this hiking book for anyone who wants to do some hiking in Sedona.

I've read a lot of reviews about this book and no one book is going to make everyone happy. My husband and I had a great time picking out hikes we wanted to go on. It got us where we wanted to go and it provided us enough information to know whether or not we'd enjoy them or not. There is a lot of construction and change going on in and around Sedona right now but we didn't have any problems navigating. The authors use the "Y" in Sedona as the starting point for each of the hikes. The "Y" is now two round-a-bouts. The book does exactly what it's supposed to do-Introduce you to some fantastic hikes, tells you how to get to them and has explanations and thoughts on each one. No complaints here.

This book seems to cover many great hiking areas in Sedona. It is quite explicit re: directions and information about the hiking trails. Great book for a person new to the area or even people who have been around awhile. Very informative!

I used this book for planning a 2 day visit to Sedona. I was extremely happy with the format. It has 2 pages per hike, with a high quality photo of what to expect for views, driving/hiking distance/time, as well as selections of their favorites. We didn't visit long enough to do a lot of the hikes, but we truly felt that we were able to select 3 hikes that were perfectly suited to our tastes and with nice variety. Overall, I don't think you could go wrong in Sedona, but I felt like this guide was well worth the price and only wish I could find similar guides for other locations. The Magnum's have done a great job, deserving of 5 stars.

The only shortcoming you may find is that their maps are very general and mostly help you find the trailhead (which was flawless). But, I prefer to have a quality map as well and I purchased the Emmitt Barks Cartography - Sedona Trails Map (not sure if it was on Amazon), and was very happy with it. Personally, I don't think you can create a detailed map inside the book for each hike, so I don't consider this a flaw to the book - just a bit of advice if you are planning a trip.

This book was very helpful in deciding which hikes to do. We were not dissappointed by any of the hikes. It was good that we knew about the pink jeaps ahead of time.

This is a GREAT book to help prepare your child for a trip to the dentist. We even brought it to the dentist office to take some of the fear away.

Fun and light hearted view from Dora's perspective how fun and important it is to visit a dentist. This book familiarizes young ones with the experience of visiting the dentist, from the tools used to details of the entire examination. My son likes the story and asks me to read it often.

The concept is great, anything to help us brush the little ones teeth. For some reason I thought this was one of the books with thick pages that can stand up to the kids. It is not. Has thin pages that are destroyed in no time.

my son never let the dentist perform the full cleaning until after we read this book together. kids who like dora will most likely respond well on their next dental visit when they see dora acting like a big girl and letting the dentist examine and clean her teeth. i convinced my son that the dentist will make his teeth white and shiny like dora's - he fell for it like a champ! thanks Dora!! :-)

It's a good idea to start early so when that time comes to go the the dentist, your toddler will be willing to sit there just long enough to complete the checkup. Dora rocks when it comes to getting kids to do things like say words, jump up and down, whatever. A must have.

I wish all college students would read this book. Provides insights and truths about the real world of work. Great examples of individuals who have navigated the world of work, and struggled with their careers. How do people decide on careers, is it okay to change, what if I'm not certain about what I want to do, what if I don't like what I'm doing. This could save many students a great deal of frustration when sorting out their career plans.

Others have written good reviews so I'll keep mine short. This is an excellent book, in part because it's very readable (you don't feel you're being lectured). Also, the lion's share of the book is personal stories of Liberal Arts grads finding their way into career paths, with plenty of ups and downs. If experience is the best teacher, this book gives you the benefit of 30 other people's experience. Highly recommended!

As a sophomore in college, I'm almost to the point of entering the "real world." But instead of feeling unprepared and anxious about this process, I am actually looking forward to it. This is entirely due to Smart Moves, and I cannot even begin to emphasize how much this book has already helped me - even though I'm still 2 1/2 years from graduation!
What really makes this book a pleasure to read is it's format. At the beginning are extraordinarly helpful pieces of advice on what to do in and once you graduate from college. Next, the book goes on to provide real-world examples of people who are enjoying their careers in just about every major field. Smart Moves chronicles their stories while not only including their successes, but their mistakes as well.
At home, my mom and my 17 year old brother looked through the book while it was laying down on the coffee table. They both loved it. Here is what my mom had to say:


"Your purpose in life is not to find yourself...it is to create yourself."
My son, a student at Duke University, received this book from the University the summer between his freshman and sophomore years. He asked me to read it, and I was delighted to find it offered, through biographical examples, some truisms that we had been trying to explain to him.

1. Follow your passion; your happiness and enthusiasm will attract the money you need to survive.
2. Be willing to work hard.
3. It doesn't always matter what you major in, there is a good chance you will change careers several times in your life.
4. Every job you have will teach you something about yourself and give you the experience to make yourself available for the next opportunity.
5. Remain open and flexible.
6. Remain curious and research-oriented.
7. Use your summers between school years to take internships or volunteer in the areas of your interest.
8. Explore the career counseling center early during your undergraduate years.

I felt the lively and entertaining writing style of the authors, Sheila Curran and Suzanne Greenwald, made this book a fun and informative read for both undergraduate students and their families.

Beth Zarian, author, Around the World with Historical Fiction and Folktales.


Once again, I'd recommend Smart Moves to anyone who has an open mind!
-Paul Zarian

A refreshing and timely read for every recent college graduate. Curran helps job-seekers (and their parents!) understand the challenges - sychological, cultural & socio-economic - facing every graduating liberal arts major. Her years of experience counseling the best and brightest of the country's youth has taught her a simple truth - happiness is in doing what you love to do.

What's so fascinating is the complete relevance it has to the day-to-day decisions that my 22-30 year-old peers are making every day. I can't tell you how many times I have felt compelled to share the "Smartest Moves" chapter with colleagues who find themselves "disenchanted,"
"disengaged," or otherwise, with their current career path.

Every college graduate should read this book - and so should their parents.

A college sophomore at Duke University, NC, I received a copy of 'Smart Moves' over the summer, at a time when I was extremely confused over which major I should choose, which career path I should follow etc. That was, until I received this book.
Through the stories of 23 other students, all ranging in a wide variety of careers and fields, I have realized that the next 3 years of my life will be about finding out what my passions are and where my interests for the future lie, rather than about working my way towards a preordained career goal on a predetermined path which I might regret later on in life. Several of my course selections and internship plans are now being reinforced after reading this book.
Smart moves has been a really useful eye-opener and myth buster for me, and I highly recommended to all students in liberal arts colleges, regardless of whether they were in a similar position as I was in or not. Read this book, and you would have made your first of many smart moves.

This dictionary is a great resource for social workers. It is missing a few relavant terms but contains all of the major ones that helps guide practice.

I recieved "The Social Work Dictionary" in great condition. I order it "new" and indead it was.

Thanks,
The book came in great condition, just as it was described. Additionally, this item was delivered very quickly.

At first, I was very skeptical about the purchase. However, once I got the book I took the time to read through it and I was very pleased that I had actually purchased the book. The text provides very thorough and meanful definitions that are very understandable. I also use my text at school while doing some of my course work. This book has eased my life so much and I would recommend that everyone should acquire this book as a reference guide. The book offers so much information to help you through your day and with understanding the terminology which helps you make better accessments on your clients.

I bought this book to look up those terms that, since my formal education, I seem to have forgotten. On more than one occasion, it has allowed me to write more thorough and extensive progress notes. Also, it helped me study for my LICSW exam. I definitely recommend it.

I read the book SOG, and as with any book relating true life war stories, you try to picture in your mind the people, surroundings and the enemy as they saw it. A Photo History, brought all of this to life for me. Excellent Book !!!

Back in 1997 I picked up a copy of SOG by Major Plaster and quickly became engrossed in the tales within the book that had never before seen the light of day. Later in 2004 came another book, SECRET COMMANDOS, again behind the lines material. But in between these two books came the real blockbuster: SOG--A Photo History of the Secret Wars.

I'm an ex-vietnam era serviceman, early Vietnam being out by 1967, and could not believe the wealth of intel within these three books, much of which was totally new to me. The later SOG book has over 700 photos giving a photo or more to almost every page. The value of this book is not something that can easily be put into words, and with most of these heroic men never coming back, the years have not taken the edge off that. If not for Major Plaster these men would have never gotten much recognition at all. That in itself is not right, but they one and all did their duty to their country and not for a handful of tin medals.

I have many history books on my shelves, some on Vietnam, but I can think of none that I would not part with other than John Plaster's books. These three books burn the secret wars and its warriors into your memory, and at times it defies belief the character of these men.

To read any of these books is to be proud of these men and yet humbled at the same time by their sacrifices. As Admiral Tarrant asks at ending of James A. Michener's THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI, "Where do we get such men?"

Semper Fi.

A fantastic book for anyone interested in MACV-SOG and Special forces recon teams. This is the biggest collection of photos I have seen regarding SOG and recon teams. The book is very well done.This is where the Vietnam war was really fought, across the fence.This is a major piece of history that was never really documented and the truth needs to be available to all who have misconceptions and untruths about the Vietnam conflict. These men in special forces are legends. A tribute to those who served on recon teams and most of all those who did not make it back.

This is an incredible book, perfect companion to the other John Plaster books:
"SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam" & "Secret Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG".
The pictures have great historical value.

This book tells the story of secret ("black") military operations run by the United States during the Vietnam War. Under the name Studies and Observations Group (SOG), the secret was kept so well that few veterans ever heard of it until long after the war.

It was composed purely of volunteers from the best of the American military, including Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs. Their missions involved going behind enemy lines in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam, areas officially off limits to US ground troops. That's why all of their missions were classified.

The North Vietnamese went to great lengths to keep the Ho Chi Minh Trail open at all times. Special military units, stationed from one end to the other, had the task of maintaining and defending a 20-30 mile stretch. If the US bombed a particular area one day, it would be fixed and open the very next day as if nothing happened.

The task of a SOG team could be practically anything, from prisoner snatching, to confirming something seen in aerial reconaissance to placing sensors on a road to give Intelligence an idea as to the traffic level. Every mission was meticulously planned and rehearsed. From the moment they were on the ground behind enemy lines, the team members could assume that the enemy was seconds, or minutes, away. A number of teams made it out safely (the only escape route was by air), but they had to shoot their way out. Some teams were never heard from again.

Since their missions were secret, nothing the soldiers wore or carried could be traced to America. There were no dogtags, no obviously American uniforms, and, in many cases, their weapons were foreign modified weapons.

This book also profiles the people who risked their lives day after day. To most people, they wer just American soldiers who served in Vietnam, but, to those who were there, the following names are practically legend: Larry Thorne, Billy Waugh, Walter Shumate, Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver and Dick Meadows.

When SOG was disbanded in 1972, all the photo files were ordered destroyed. The interesting thing about this book is that the several hundred photos here are not the "official" photos. The photos were taken by the men who were there and kept in trunks and shoeboxes for many years. The author also knows something about SOG, having been a three-tour veteran.

For military historians and those interested in special operations, this book is a requirement. For the rest of us, this is a fascinating look at an unknown part of the Vietnam War. It is highly recommended.

Very neat gift idea. I purchased it for my cousin and he was extremely happy with it.

I bought this months ago and still have it out on my coffee table - that's how much I love this! It is loaded with excellent pictures and makes a great conversation starter when friends and family that come over. The history of the NFL is covered well and the articles offer terrific insights into sports past.

I bought this book for my 17-yr old who is a visual thinker, not a strong reader, but I loved it too! There are some amazing photos in the book and lots of history of the game and some players. I got a strong sense of the traditions of the game and the excitement for the sport. I am a stronger football fan because of it! I also recommend the rest of this 'series' by Sports Illustrated, The Baseball Book and The Basketball Book.

This is a unique, beautifully photographed book! It includes the history of football and large, clear photos of some of the best games! My husband loves it! If you're a football fan, you will treasure this book!

This was the comment of my 7 year old nephew (a Jets fan) when I gave him this book. It has the trademark Sports Illustrated photography, plus lots of old photos showing the infancy of the sport, which are interesting to adults and kids alike. He's a beginning reader, but we enjoyed looking at the pictures, with his guessing which teams were shown based on the uniforms. The Amazon price is a bargain. Highly recommended for boys and fans of all ages!

This was a really good book, an easy read. It does a great job outlining how to get yourself prioritized if you're ready to jump off the high dive into the world of owning your own business.

Other than that, they leave it up to you to make that final step off the diving board but with lots of support! I especially loved the web site that is a huge reference to the book. Lots of real personal stories of success and tips.

I was introduced to Startup Nation via the Microsoft Small Business site.
Incorporated in the site was an extract, which I downloaded,of the Sloan brothers new book. Once I read the extract I was hooked.

The Sloan brothers refreshingly simple view point in relation to e-commerce made a novice feel that anything could be achieved. Their advice - excellent!! I recommend that anyone starting an online business buy this book. It's worth every dollar or pound.

Super book....very informative. I didn't even get to finish it as I had a friend beg it off of me. He loved it as well. Good investment.

I am starting a small business and have read many of the books on the market for my startup. This by far has been the most helpful. The book is clear and concise on the basics you need to start a business. The Sloan brothers have a great sense of humor and their writing is enjoyable on a subject that at times can be a little dry. Their section on writing a life plan is something I have not read about anywhere else. Very helpful!! Great job guys, I have joined Startup Nation and listen to the podcast now. I give this a top recommendation for anyone starting or thinking of starting a business.

The book was very inspirational and gave a lot of useful information on how to go about starting up a business, expectations, and how to plan and prepare. I liked the entrepreneurial stories woven throughout the book. However, I was expecting to read more about forming a business plan. I know there is not a one size fits all, but I was looking for some actual examples.

Crazyman's Economics

In researching "Crazyman's Economics", I discovered the "dirty secret" of Wall Street that they rely on the fees and hidden costs as Loeper so thoroughly describes in "Stop the 401(k) Rip-off!." To Wall Street's brokerage houses, it doesn't matter if your 401(k) makes money or loses money, the fact is that as long as you have your money circulating, Wall St. makes money.

Loeper is correct that you need to take a greater look at your 401(k). Where I disagree with his book is that no matter how much you work to take the fees out, the problem is that the entire system is a giant con game. I would recommend that people take money out of their 401(k) and then they won't have to worry about hidden fees.

But Loeper's book is necessary reading to get a discussion started in this country about the role of Wall Street and the need for accountability for those who hold trillions of dollars of our money.

What is the best way to "stop" the "rip-off?" One way is to find an alternative to the 401 itself. Perhaps "Stop the 401K rip-off" by David Loeper is garnering some deserved sales recently. Possibly because the financial markets are in a cyclical slump, and many Baby Boomer 401K holders are getting out their calculators. This book should lead some (not all) to question whether they should have the 401K plan at all to begin with. We know the tax benefits, but there are limitations of investment options, age restrictions, and hidden expenses (fees) that erode a worker's earnings over decades and limit allocation options.

The 401K is one piece among many investments in the retirement puzzle. This puzzle is shrinking, and retirement will be an illusion for tens of millions that will rely on the balance of the 401. Of course, the old adage of "diversification" is needed but some people are using other vehicles in their attempts attain critical mass or sufficient funds for living expenses in the latter years. And, what percentage of the 401K will be used for medical care? Pharmaceutical (medicine) costs? More than many think.

Yes, there is employer matching for some, but 401K plans are dishonest and limited. Some feel even more secure investing into the S & P 500 Index funds that are non-tax deferred.

The 401K plan has been intentionally engineered to steal from and cheat the worker. Congress has allowed this to happen. The lack of knowledge and ignorance has been engineered as well. The more ignorant workers with 401Ks are, the easier it is to profit via hidden fees.

Loeper tells us how to "stop the 401K rip-off." The gravy train of hidden expense theft is the foundation of the plan. The only way to stop the institutional and legally thievery is to stay in your plan and know *everything* about your plan, or to dump it and use alternatives. This is a good point with specifics.

2 key assets to this book. Exposing it and then advising on how to take actions. Loeper explains the "whats" of the 401 and also the "hows" of trying to reduce fees, fee disclosure, and offers points on getting in and out of these plans in the most optimum way. This book is necessary, but why should it be? Because of the systematic plan to separate as much of an American worker's money from him or her as possible.

"Stop the 401K rip-off" by David Loeper ought to be handed out by HR departments across the country when employees enroll in their 401K plans.

Dave Loeper exposes the dark, hidden and arguably unscrupulous (yet legal) ways 401k participants have been (and continue to be) robbed. More significantly he gives you the knowledge to fix this injustice. Read this book and act on it or prepare to cry about it during your retirement or lack thereof.
From my experience as a retirement plan consultant, investment advisor and independent fiduciary; it is a sad commentary that almost every employer I meet isn't even aware of the basic retirement plan issues (let alone the remedies) highlighted in this book.
After reading this book you will know more than your employer about your broken 401k plan, more importantly, you will have the blueprints to help them fix it.

What an incredible book! So many people invest in retirement programs. So many companies offer these programs. Sadly, very few people or companies negotiate well or know where to start. I found this book very helpful and a special discovery to the process of reviewing a company's retirement plan.

My name is Matthew Hutcheson. I'm an independent pension fiduciary, and have studied retirement plan economics for over fifteen years. Every American worker with a 401(k) (or a 403(b)/457 for that matter) should put this book on the top of their reading list. The information contained in this book could be worth many thousands of extra retirement dollars to you down the road. Mr. Loeper should be congratulated on one of the most important and practical retirement books of the decade.

Swami Kriyananda is a modern renaissance man, and in "Swami Kriyananda: As We Have Known Him" tells of author Asha Praver's nearly four decades of experience with Swami Kriyananda, a spectacular man who has written over eighty books and composed over three hundred pieces of music, all while being viewed as one of the leading lights in the spiritual world today as the last living direct disciple of the great master of yoga, Paramhansa Yogananda. "Swami Kriyananda: As We Have Known Him" is enthusiastically recommended across the board for spirituality, religion, and biography community library shelves alike and anyone who just wants to learn more about such a great man.

I received my book Swami Kriyananda: As We Have Known Him through a book club. I picked the book up at home just to glance at the beautiful cover and skim what was inside. Time just flew by. One hour later I was still reading and feeling very inspired. The stories shared about Kriyananda's life not only uplift and inspire but make you feel you have been touched by the life of a saint.

When I first began to read this book, I was surprised by a joyful feeling, coming from nowhere and everywhere, that seemed to wash over me. It was a strong experience; perhaps the most intense I've ever had from reading a book.

It was so pronounced that, a friend, walking by at that moment, gave me a curious look, as if to say, "What on earth has got into you?"

The stories in this book are very special: some are humorous, some are profound, some excel in giving us an example to model our lives on, but they are all inspiring. This is a good book not only for someone interested in Swami Kriyananda, or in disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda, but also for anyone who would like to know what it is like to be with a saint.

The book is well written, and, because of its short-story format, is something that you can benefit from reading even if you only have a few minutes. A warning, though: I found it easy to pick up and hard to put down.

If you listen to his talks, or read his books, Swami Kriyananda seems like almost a normal person: wise, intelligent, clear, and kind, but not *that* different from everyone else.

This book gives another perspective! It can give you an experience of what it is like to be with a great lover of God, as it seemed to give me the first time I read it. Having met Swami Kriyananda, I can say: he is a step above anyone else I have ever known.

If you long to know what it takes to be a true saint and how one lives his life, this book is the key to that understanding. One such as Swami Kriyananda never speaks openly about himself but always draws the listener's attention and devotion to God and his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. It is therefore, incumbent upon those who have lived closest to him to reveal to others the sanctity of his life. Asha Praver has done a remarkable job of revealing, through the stories of many who have lived close to Kriyananda, what his life of discipleship to God and Guru has been like. The writing is done with clarity and great sensitivity, appealing to both the mind and the heart. If you are sincerely longing to know the truth of life, this book can shed light on one who has found truth and has spent his life sharing it with others. The only challenge I had with the book is that it ended too soon. I hope that others of its caliber will follow!

I found the lecture 'new agey' and boring!
from the book:
p. 316: "Except for Swamiji's voice, the room was silent, the audience spellbound, hanging on his every word. Suddenly, the inward mood was shattered by the ringing of a telephone. ... Sternly, Swamiji asked that the phone be turned off. ... Still the ringing persisted. `Would someone please do something about this matter?' Swamiji said again. Then, with a look of sudden comprehension, he reached into his own pocket. `Oh!', he said, `It is my phone.'
......SO MUCH FOR HIS INTUITION IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION!!!!!!