Tracks Books

Neal Bascomb's account of the race for the first four minute mile was produced (just) in time for the 50th anniversary of this mile-stone (pun intended). It is a very easy read, and a highly enjoyable account of the intertwining events of three very different athletes. A factional account, the book is very much based on the events of the early 1950's, but with events described from the viewpoint of the three protagonists. Like a race, the book wills you to get to the end.

There are undoubtedly a few liberties taken with the details, but, after all, the aim is to tell a story; a story very much based on events that many would recall details of, or have seen old cinematic or still pictures of. Australian John Landy, American Wes Santee and the British Roger Bannister had all failed to meet expectations at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. If not failing to meet the expectations of others, then certainly they had failed to fulfil their own dreams. Yet their ensuing race against time caught the imagination of many, not limited to the three countries of their respective births.

Almost every schoolboy of 30 years ago would know that it was the Brit Roger Bannister who had the distinction of being the first to dip below the magical 4 minutes for the mile. In that, the book reads like a detective story in which, like Lieutenant Columbo, readers know the end. However, this does not take away from the telling of the tale. It seemed to matter little that the centre photographs show the result of the 1954 Empire games 1 miles race before you get to the narrative, so even that particular race has no mystery in it.

The world of the mid-1950's seems to be a long way from modern professional athletics. The training schedules and diets simply cannot be compared to those enjoyed and endured today. This is what makes the book for me, a harking back to the days of amateur athletics, little or no expenses or appearance money, and ambition as the primary motivation. Not only were the three athletes raving against `the clock' and against each other (albeit against each other's shadows, not on the same track for the most part). Both the Englishman, and the Australian knew that they had limited time, both before the record 4 minutes was first broken (for ever), and before they had to finish with athletics to move on top the next stage in life.

This is a different era, the dying days of the gentleman amateur, before athletics was taken up by the countries of the former Soviet block, as a political weapon. It was before the win-at-all-cost drug cheats, before corporate sponsorship, and massive investment in strict training and dietary requirements. You could not have a career as an athlete, because there was no money available.

Part of the success of this volume is that it is undoubtedly nostalgic, it is a good story told well, and it touches upon events that have a place in the collective culture of those who lived in the third quarter of the 20th century in Britain. The final parts of the book review what has happened in the years since May 6th 1954. The total amount of pages for the progressive lowering of the mile record after Bannister takes less space than used to describe `The Mile of the Century' at the Empire Games in Vancouver, when for the first time ever, 2 athletes broke the 4 minute barrier. This mile race is partly the perfect mile in Bascomb's title.

The book will inspire readers to persist, to begin again and to achieve. It will also prove to be a good read. Well done Mr Bascomb.

Peter Morgan (morganp@supanet.com)

If you enjoy running and reading. This is an awesome story. I didnt want to put the book down.

A very well written book on an extraordinary feat of running. I true page turner!

I'm not a track fan, but this book was recommended to me as being very well written, and I have to agree completely. Following the story of these three men from very different backgrounds as they all strive to be the first to break a previously considered unbreakable human feat, you get a sense that you were there watching it transpire. Even though it's a recounting of historical events, the narrative is so compelling that you find yourself mentally urging on the runners as the races are described. After reading this book, I immediately got myself a copy of "Chariots of Fire". :-)

3 atheltes; 3 continents; 3 training methods; 1 goal.

Roger Bannister - trained by Franz Stamfl (heavily influenced Mihaly Igloy and the LATC). Emphasis on intensity and speed endurance. A meticulous athlete who believed in measurement and gradual improvement.

John Landy - trained by Percey Cerutty (Herb Elliott's coach). Emphasis on longer intervals and higher volume. Ran most of his races solo; talented and agressive.

Wes Santee - trained by Bill Easton (coach of Billy Mills). Old school methods. Heavy racing schedule. Santee was a gritty competitor who liked to race, and had little patience for the patronizing AAU.

The book details these three atheltes attempts to break the "unbreakable" barrier. A number of close attempts are described in agonizing detail, in particular Santee's 4:00.2

If you have ever tried to break any running "barrier" - 5:00 mile, 4:00 marathon, etc. you will understand how this text captures the solitary focus that envelopes a runner as s/he pursues a goal.

This book was recommended to me by a relative, who at the time was a doctoral student just like myself. We both desperately needed to fight off the stress of graduate school and to combat the bodily effects of endless hours of sitting in front of a computer. He had found the way to do it. Soon, I also knew what it was thanks to him. This is an excellent book for beginning runners. It is absolutely worth your time and money. The most valuable part of this book is the amazing 13-week program. I have gone through this program a few times now and keep coming back to it. Its promise is to put the least amount of pressure on your body to prevent injury, allowing your bones, muscles, and cardio system to adjust to running gradually. You can start the program if you have never run before (as I did the first time), and it will get you running 60 minutes straight if you follow the 13-week program without undue pressure on your body. The typical training session lasts about 40 minutes and you do three sessions every week.

In my experience, the program holds up to this promise. I have felt that each training session gave me exactly the right amount of challenge. I wasn't intimidated, I wasn't in pain, I wasn't worried about failing to run for the recommended time or about hurting myself (and I worry quite a bit about sensations coming from my body) and I wasn't bored either. I felt great after completing each session, and as a result, my feelings of competence and my belief in my ability to discipline myself increased naturally.

Besides the program, the book has many useful tips and lots of information about running. You will find something useful for you. The 13-week program is also supplemented by other kinds of programs, such as programs for those who want to run faster or farther once they finish the basic program, or a program for those who want to just walk.

The only negative thing I will say about the book is that it doesn't really address what to do when there are disruptions in your following the program (e.g., you miss a few sessions during week 8, where to start again now?). However, you intuitively figure it out, so it's not a big deal.

I am very pleased with this purchase and I'm keeping it in my library. I keep coming back to this program every spring when the weather gets better and I can run in the park. Overall, I highly recommend this book for anybody who wants to make a solid exercise program a part of their routine, but don't know quite where to start.

I bought this book when I decided to get back into running after 5 years of not doing much of anything. I really do not enjoy running, but find it is the best way to get into shape and lose weight. This book made it enjoyable! The weekly sessions are very doable and make you feel like you are really accomplishing your goals. I started out barely able to run 30 seconds, and now feel totally comfortable running 5K's or more. Great buy for someone just starting out or looking to ease back into the "fitness" scene. Great buy!!

I've just completed this program and I can't say enough good things about it. Other reviewers have knocked this book citing changes in the program from previous editions. I question the motivation behind such reviews. I've never been a runner and this program has taken me from barely being able to run for 1 minute to running 5 straight miles. The program seems to do a good job of challanging you, then backing off a bit. The ONLY complaint I could lodge is enough attention isn't given to what pace you should run at. This book is not the end all be all running book, there's certainly better books out there once you get started, but this is a great place to begin.

Before I started reading this, I was a slug - never exercised and was 70 lbs. overweight. I started a weight loss program and was walking religiously, but found that I became used to the intensity so I needed something more. My daughter recommended this book as a way to "learn" running and I've been following it ever since. I've now lost 54 pounds and am about 25% through the program. My goal is to run a 5k on my 53rd birthday the end of March, and I am confident I will be able to do it with the help of this program. I'm amazed at how easy it is to follow. That doesn't mean it's not tough - obviously it requires exertion. However, I've never felt like it was anything I couldn't handle. The best part is that it's allowed me to get that "runner's high" that people talk about. I actually enjoy exercise now.

I would recommend figuring out how you like to run. Some people like to run outside (my daughter does this) - others prefer the convenience of a treadmill (that's my choice - I love watching DVDs while running). Some do a combination - outside in nice weather and inside during bad. Don't give up, though - keep trying and I guarantee that this book will make a runner out of you.

My wife and I (both non runners) picked up this book at the end of the summer based on the promise of getting into a regular running program without getting injured.

Prior to starting, neither of us could finish a mile without walking. At the conclusion of the program, we're both running 30-60 minutes at a time, 3-4 times per week. We've recommended this book to many others and they've achieved the same success.

If you're looking to "become" a runner, there are many programs to help you start, but none better than this simple, proven book.

Loved this book...offered inspiration and some practical advice. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to begin running!

This book is excellent! I used to run back in the '80s and '90s but had 3 different knee surgeries- I gave it up but never gave up the love of the sport. I turned 50 last year and got the idea to try to run one more time BUT, I wanted to do it the "right way" and remain injury free.
The Penguin is my coach! I started a walk/ run program in September and I'm still at it in February. My long run today was 7.0 miles! I run pain free and no longer have any guilt associated with missing a workout- I NEVER run two days in a row which is totally opposite of my old training regimen! I was fit from weight training and cardio workouts but NOTHING beats the satisfaction of completing a run! This is a great first book to read if you want to start running then continue on with John's other books.

Great way to get started on a new fitness project for an old body. Very motivating. Written in a way that is sooooo easy to read. I bought another book by this writer: No Need for Speed. It has good information in it.

"Whether we accept it or not, the bodies we have are the products of what we have required them to be." (pg. 45)

I really enjoyed reading The Courage to Start. I can relate to many aspects of life John talks about in the book. Every day, I am amazed by how running has changed my body in the last four months. I've lost 35 pounds and I feel better than ever!

I was moved by how John mentioned that running helped his relationship with his wife. I've experienced this in my own relationship and I'm so thankful for it.

A must-read for people thinking about giving running a shot!

I looked forward to reading this, because I too feel like a penguin. The book is very encouraging and enthusiastic, but tends to get repetitive very quickly. If you've read the first 3 chapters or so, you might as well stop, because there isn't much new after that. Having said that, I did enjoy it.

Standing at a domineering six feet, two inches, Miguel Morris is a chocolate covered treat. Once a NCAA track star, Miguel now manages a restaurant and models in his spare time. Married to Latisha, a Jamaican Chinese bombshell, Morris seems to have the perfect life. But not unlike most things, Miguel is too good to be true, as this one time Olympic hopeful is a homosexual crack addict, leading a double life on the low. For What I Hate I Do is author M.W. Moore's first installment in the trilogy inspired by his real life struggles.

1. What did you like best about this book?
I loved how developed the characters are. Readers will feel as though they are walking alongside Miguel through his peaks and valleys.

2. What did you dislike about this book?
Although the sex scenes add to the rawness and authenticity of the book, the explicitness may be too much for some.

3. How can the author improve this book?
The book is fine the way it is, although it may have more appeal if some of the sex scenes were toned down.

Moore, M.W. "For What I Hate I Do", Mwmoore Publications, 2008.

Hiding

Amos Lassen

Miguel Morris is a track star and is hoping to gain a place on the Olympic team. He is a good looking man, tall and dark and he is well aware of his alluring appearance. He works part time as a model as he pursues a career in restaurant management. Miguel shares his life with his beautiful Jamaican bride, Latisha. He lives well and is on the road to upward mobility. But there is another side to Miguel--he is a crack dealer and a homosexual. He uses people. Participating in wild sex with men and sells his body to pay for his drug addiction. Upwardly mobile on one hand and downwardly destructive on the other is the Miguel we meet in this book.
The book closely parallels the life of the author. Both the author and Miguel are living life on the down-low and their lives are filled with self-hatred ad a great many issues that need to be resolved.
The story is fascinating, the writing is not. Moore is in need of a great deal of editing. The novel shifts almost constantly from point of view to point of view, the timeline does not work and there seems to be a great deal of manipulation of events. On the other hand, we get an amazing look at a man's life and how he seems destined to destroy himself. The path to this self-destruction is horrible and fearsome. This is, in no way, a pretty book and it takes a strong stomach to read. There is a lot of explicit sex which show us something about Miguel and why he does what he does. He is a user and is on his own ego trip and this is very sad. He has no concept of happiness and has no self-esteem. He is incapable of dealing with his sexuality and he is in denial about it and about so many other things. Ax shocking as the book is, it is also captivating (as reading of self-destruction usually is).
There is a great deal of ugliness here and we get the opinion that Miguel's life is totally out of control. We can't help but wonder how this happened. I understand that the book is one of a trilogy. Maybe there will be answers in the books to come. One thing for sure is that Moore needs an editor.

This book was an intense page turner that I could not put down to save my life. It was a pleasant read about a guy whose life take a turn for the worse when his sexual and chemical addiction get out of control. I appreciated M. W. Moore's unique take on this story. This book is nothing like other Black, gay novels that I've read. The characters in this book seem more "real" to me; everyone is not hyper-masculine, light-skinned with muscle bound bodies which makes it easier for me to relate to the book. I loved this book and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

M.W Moore came up to DC for blackpride in May 2008. After listen to him explain his book to my partner and I, we brought this book and his sequal..."Chaos." She is more of the book reader than I am, but when i read the first two chapters after the purchasing the book, I couldn't put it down. I finish the book in a week. Last time I read a book (not including books i HAVE to read in college )was Nervous by Zane(i read that less than a week). Very detailed. Very good. Its like you enter a whole different world when you're reading. I've learn a lot from this book. At this moment i am in the first chapter of "CHAOS".
I ENJOY YOUR BOOK!!!!!. It was good!!! Peace

Couldn't put it down. I loved the descriptions and the words used within the book. I felt like I was there with Migual every step of his career and every downfall. i felt his hurt, and honestly i'm looking for the next too books.

another plus... was the listing in the back of the book. they helped me to place each character as i remembered them and to see where they were in his life.

get it... don't hesitate.. just buy it!!

I don't have an eating disorder, but ever since seeing the HBO documentary "Thin" I've become interested in the thought processes of people with EDs. I appreciated the author's honesty and clarity of expression. I'm glad I read this.

I first read this book when I was 12 yrs old and I have continued to re-read it throughout my life(I just turned 30). It became a part of me. When I first read it I was having some eating issues and have on/off my whole life. Not bad enough to be considered a full blown eating disorder but I've def. come close to that. I was very interested in the reviews which said this book was triggering for anorexics. I had never thought of it that way but I can see how ppl would say that. But that being said, I have to say that this book still means the world to me and I identified w/ it on so many levels, not just as far as food is concerned. I think it's a beautiful book that most young girls could relate to. I highly recommend it. Oh and I have never written a review for Amazon before, I just was reading some other reviews which were critical and felt I had to defend this book which meant so much to me.

Deborah Hautzig gives a great insight of the daily life of someone who has anorexia nervosa. This book tells the story of a girl fighting anorexia while also fighting with troubles at home. As the book progresses her daily things get harder and is eventually put into a special hospital where they force her to eat. Based on the authors lifetime experiences. A definite good read.

Second Star to the Right was a good book, but it was not informative on the serious disease of Anorexia. It was written from the girl's view who was going through it. It provides good information, and how it feels to be in that postion. However she talks like a little girl and makes it seem as though she was perfectly normal one day and the next she was anorexic, which is not how it occurs. The book does not give out many facts or medical information. If you are looking for a book to try and understand how the anorexic mind works, this is a good one, but if you want the facts forget it.

Good story that does a fine job of revealing some of the possible reasons behind anorexia's development in young girls. The author discusses her own fight with the disease in a very interesting afterword. The novel doesn't really have a clear and definite conclusion, but leaves it open to the reader's own conclusions based on what events have gone before.
The medical and psychological treatment methods are dated, due to the book's being published over 20 years ago, but the story itself is well worth reading for anyone interested in anorexia or young people's health.

I cannot imagine being a successful beginning runner without a plan like those presented in this book. I have tried running before, but with this book, I have been much more successful. It was a great find!

The book has been a great guide for me on how to recover the fit condition I once had, step by step, and without the risk of injury. I have recently started the training program and already feel improvement. The motivation and anti-excuse propositions the book offers for beginner runners really get you to move. A good compilation of medical and technical information support the suggested programs, so it gives you a lot of confidence in what you are doing and what to expect from the exercise.

Probably the most comprehensive book on running that I have ever seen. Not to mention it was without any pressure, Bob and group were relaxed about how things should be done, I never felt like I was pressured to run in a certain way or speed. Helped me to get back into running again. Thanks everyone.

I will not bother going on and on about the book, since there is already such an overwhelmingly positive collection of reviews.

Suffice it to say, this book really kick-started by love of running, and was filled with everything the beginner needs to know.

While it could use illustrations for good stretches, for example, it is still the classic keystone in any runners library, and strongly recommended!

I'm an intermediate runner and bought this book looking for running tips, some serious advice on potential injuries, advice on pre and post stretching, etc... I cannot believe there are 726 pages (I thought amazon had sent me Das Kapital, from Karl Marx...) of obvious statements that you can find in any of the specialized magazines. There are no illustrations, (that would've been very helpful for the stretching exercises), only some data tables. The chapter about shoes could've been summarized with a "consult your local dealer" sentence, that is all about in that chapter, no mention whatsoever of any particular brand, model, etc... The chapter about food and nutrition repeats the old mistakes of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, so if you want to become obese just follow the pyramid choices, ...and the comment about cereal being the best you can get for breakfast is another insult, as anybody knows that in today's world it is almost imposible to get the full benefits of cereal as it is sold in such a refined way that it has lost already all its benefits and only gives you the carbohydrate boost with its correspondent consequence on weight.
The chapter about weight is all about calories, another theory that defies inteligence, ..., ok, go ahead, follow the low calorie diet, just to see months from now how your body charges you double for the mistake.
This book is outdated, sometimes you read something interesting here and there but my advice is dont buy it, spend your money in any of the specialized magazines.

I have read many sportbiking books over the last several years. So far, this is the absolutely the best. I actually read it every winter, becuase there are things that any level rider can pick up. As you progress in your skills, more things about what he writes begin to click and make sense.

Overall, I think this a must read for any sportbike rider, especially if you are new to sportbike riding.

This is great. Well designed, good solid content and very readable. It is just the right balance of technical "how-to" and photos and illustrations. First rate and worth every penny.

Well i say DO NOT buy this or any book from amazon. The courier company (UPS) send it normaly to Athens airport and promptly send it back claiming there was no receiver. They sure know how to save money on fuel i think. Me and my house did not disapear all the sudden and all other parcel services still seem to find me. Was i not home on a midweek morning? Sure not. I was working. Did they leave a note that i have a package? Sure not. Did Amazon reply to my complaint mail? Nope. As a matter of fact they do not seem aware that they did never send me that book neither with what happened to my money. If you dare to order prefer send by normal post and not Courier. The Postman allways will find you. As for me, well i learned to oblige in a normal bookstore the hard way. To Amazon? I give the finger. ..I.

This book is a must for any rider. No matter how much one thinks they know, this book will make you better, safer and increase your enjoyment of riding on street. The details included make this worth ten times it's cost. It's very well written with many photos and illustrations. The author put a lot of effort in on this and the result is first class.

Excellent book. Very well organized with down to earth advise that easily translates from track to street riding techniques. That's perhaps one of the greatest strength's of this book: the reliance on great technique to make riding on the street safer and more fun. The chapter on braking alone is worth the entire book; but, hey, you get lots more between the covers. The writing is clear; the illustrations on point and the photographs first notch. A must for every rider's library.

This book is full of motivational speeches and brand promotions, but light on actual training advice. As a former competitive swimmer, I noticed that some of the advice in that area was actually wrong, so I started wondering whether biking and running sections have errors too.

I really like this book. It is full of good stuff and the training is mapped out for fitness levels so well. This book proves that training for a triathlon doesn't require endless hours of strenous exercise or months of prep.

This book was more like a motivational speech rather than a how-to for training for a first triathlon. There are some helpful tips, such as a very general outline for weekly workouts, equipment you need to bring to the event, and an introduction to some triathlon training terminology. Other than that, it was mostly motivational fluff. A nice light read, this book is good for someone contemplating signing up for a race. However, if you've already signed up for, or completed, your first race, you're already beyond this book. I would look elsewhere to actually prepare for competition.

I used this for my first tri. Harr used a unique approach and asked about 40 questions to categorize your time availability and your current level of fitness. Then he had a program designed specifically to increase your stamina in each discipline. This book was great for learning the basics and understanding about building a 'base' and strengthening yourself. It was helpful for eating habits but should be supplemented with another source. It was recommended to me and I recommend it to my friends.

unfortunately, the magical transformation of the author into a competitive athlete is a unique event, not one that readers will replicate easily (or ever!), especially following the plans inside.

the author ignores the base building necessary to race the events. athletes need to train their musculoskeletal structure to take the abuse of workouts as much as they need to get their hearts up to speed. this is best done slowly and incrementally. i think if you have been a regular athlete for at least a year before using the plan in this book, you may be fine.

if you are beginning in any of the three sports, i'd advise another book to show the real process of developing the appropriate base needed to compete without injury. Look up the titles by Joe Friel for more complete information on how to structure a training plan.

This book was interesting for me, because I grew up in Capistrano Beach, California (is annexed to Dana Point, California now) which is about 5 miles from San Juan Capistrano, California. Thanks, the book came in excellent condition and in good time.

The Mark of Zorro is the first Zorro story, retitled for publication in many different book editions.

Repression and oppressive taxation grows in one corner of California. Don Diego Viega, whose picture might just be beside the word 'fop' if California had a dictionary, can do nothing about it.

As one of the local military says "he is about as dangerous as a lizard basking in the sun".

The same cannot be said for Zorro. The Fox offers the local peons some hope, and does what he can to foment resistance.

When the moneygrubbing goes to far and some of the reasonably well liked local aristocracy are imprisoned, things come to a head, especially after the flogging of the local friar.

In an amusing scene, Senorita Pulido gets herself out of captivity by holding herself hostage. Luckily, while fleeing, Zorro is on hand.

Comedy, and action, and romance as Zorro saves the day.

Well worth reading.

Excellent reading of old Spanish California - Paladin of Justice.
Recommend to young and/or old - global audiences.
Thought provoking and suspenseful filled with witt.

I liked this story quite a bit. I remember when I was a little kid watching The Zorro show on television so I was interested in reading this book and see how it all started. I thought overall it was really good.. Senorita Lolita sounds like a very attractive girl. I like how the story ended as well sort of caught me off guard a bit. If your any at all interested in Zorro then pick this book up.. Good stuff.

Justin

We all know the story of Zorro by now. I, myself, read The Mark of Zorro more than two decades ago, when I was a child and the copy I read was titled The Curse of Capistrano. No doubt, more people have seen the various Zorro films than have read the actual book, which started the Zorro legend. Johnston McCulley first introduced his iconic character in a five-part serial in the pulp magazine All Story Weekly, in 1919. The story proved to be popular enough, but this masked avenger really took off when silent film star Douglas Fairbanks read it and subsequently made it into the silent swashbuckling film The Mark of Zorro in 1920. Since then, Senor Zorro has never looked back.

Before re-reading this novel, I was afraid that I would find the writing stilted and archaic. Happily, the page-turning experience proved to be as reader-friendly as I remembered it. True, you do have to get into a certain mindset to get used to the writing style (this is classic pulp writing, after all), but, once you do, you'll be swept along. Zorro, nicknamed the Curse of Capistrano and the defender of Old California's oppressed, was still the same vibrant Zorro - dashing, bold, cunning, and intolerant of injustice. He still flashed that certain twinkle in the eye and displayed that playful nature. Handsome, wealthy Don Diego Vega, on the other hand, was still the dubious caballero, unbolstered by his languid, foppish mannerisms and hindered by the weak constitution. Upon seeking a girl's hand in marriage, Don Diego announced to her father that he would send his servant over at night to serenade the girl by proxy, because the chill night wind would kill the delicate Vega. Of course, we all know it's a game that Diego's been playing for years and his devotion to his wussy role makes it all the more delicious for the reader. Also, I was again struck by how delightful and plucky the beautiful love interest, Senorita Lolita Pulido, was.

Another thing I didn't recall was how long it took before Zorro's alter ego was divulged to the reader, although McCulley didn't really try too hard to hide his secret identity. People ignorant of the Zorro mythos (and under which rock have you been hiding?) would still be readily able to figure out who Zorro really is. However, the novel was almost at the last page before Zorro finally unmasked. But it was worth it to witness the stunned but happy reaction of Diego's father, Don Alejandro Vega, who had long been disappointed with his wimpish son.

To echo A. Nesbitt's spotlight review, if you thought Johnston McCulley only wrote this one Zorro adventure, think again. McCulley ended up writing more than 60 Zorro stories (65, to be exact), several of which were in serial format. The last Zorro tale, "The Mask of Zorro," was published in 1959 (Short Stories for Men magazine).

Full of derring-do, sword fights, daring escapes, a passionate love story, and a masked hero who laughs scornfully in the face of danger, it's escapism at its finest, imbued with a Spanish/Mexican flavor. Yes, it does borrow a bit from The Scarlet Pimpernel, but no matter. The Mark of Zorro is still as entertaining a read today as it undoubtedly was back in 1919. Give it a try and see why Zorro is hailed as the people's champion and why this book gave birth to so many reincarnations in cinema.

The story is interesting and fast paced. Good book to take traveling with you. Looking forward to the follow up book.

Anyone who has ever thought about what would happen if a train and car collided will be rewarded by the compelling train-car confrontations in FAST TRACK. In addition, John DeDakis is an experienced journalist and shares his knowledge of the art as fledgling journalist Lark learns her trade. He has good lessons to share on interviewing techniques and journalistic integrity.

I received this book & decided to leave it in the car to read during carpool times. It didn't stay in the car longer than the first day. I immediately brought it in & could NOT put it down until I was finished. I can't wait to pass this on to a friend. I am most impressed with your gift of writing John! Looking forward to "Bluff"!

Captivating, interesting, and suspenseful, Fast Track is a page-turner with complex themes and detailed characters. There are so many surprises throughout the novel that I couldn't put it down. I was constantly engaged, questioning what would happen to the main protagonist, Lark Chadwick, next. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants a fun and suspenseful read combined with a very developed plot. This was a well written novel intertwined with journalistic morals and teachings. I can't wait for the next book by John DeDakis!

I am a big fan of mysteries but I usually figure out who the "bad guy" is pretty quickly. Fast Track kept me guessing on who the "bad guy" was until the very end. I was anxiously turning pages in suspense trying to figure it out. Lark, the main character, was someone you couldn't help but root for! I hope that she and Lionel, the tough "softie", reappear in future books!