Sports Books

Dave Pelz's Shortgame Bible came promptly and I've enjoyed and applied some of his suggestions to my golf game. Good book!

A well written approach to the game that has the greatest effect in lowering your score.

"Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible" is most likely the best book I've read on golf. In the beginning of the book, Pelz demonstrates, through the use of his extensive data on both tour players and amateurs, just how important it is to be proficient from 100 yards and in. Many golfers think they can just read a book, then go on the course and be successful. This is never true.
If you want to become a better short game player, you are going to need to hit thousands of practice shots, and you are going to have to learn how to hone your distance control with your wedges and the various length of your swing.. (7:30 swing, 9:00 swing, and 10:30 swing)

All in all, I highly recommend this book.

If you're the type that can learn from a book and want to know all the technical aspects of the short game - this is the book for you. Very detailed and very technical but you will learn a lot from it. This is a "must have" book, along with 'Dave Pelz's Putting Bible' and Leadbetter's 'The Swing'.

Bought this book in 2000 just after it came out and immediately read the first 100 pages (it's 400 pages long). Just understanding the concepts of the physics behind his instruction was eye-opening for me (I loved the statistics and explanations). He applies the numbers to real-life results (ie: the pros with the best short game earn the most money consistently year after year). Once I understood the basic concept that distance control was the key and then read about the basic techniques, my index tumbled from a 12.4 to 8.1 in just two months and as low as 4.6 by the end of summer! This in spite of hitting an average of only 5-6 greens in regulation per round.
One nice thing about this book is you don't have to read or understand all the statistics or physics in order for it to make a profound impact on your game. You can use it as a reference for a lot of specialty shots once you get the basic finesse swing down. (I use the technique with most of my irons all the way up to my 5-iron thus extending my distance control game out to about 150 yards).
Definitely a must read if you are serious about improving your golf game.

I received the product in the condition exactly as stated in the posting. Delivery arrived in a timely manner. I would definitely purchase from this buyer again.

I had to buy this book for my pharmacology class. I have been very satisfied with it. It has very detailed explanations, leaving few questions unanswered. The format is great.

After being frustrated with myself on the golf course during the past few months I was beginning to wonder if I might stop playing.I have a handicap of 19 and was really struggling to play to it.Once I had a bad hole I would get down on myself and the whole thing would snowball.
After reading Zen Golf and putting into practice some of the techniques I have played two lots of 9 hole stableford competitions and had 23+25 points.
I have played 2 rounds of 18 holes in competition.The first round of our club championship at 85-19-66 (par is 69).In our annual men's tournament 83-19-64.During these rounds I have only had one 7 and nothing higher.
Most importantly I have actually been enjoying myself.
I am certain this booked has really helped me and I will continue to use the techniques that I have learnt.I will probably read this book over and over when I need to as there are several more things I want to try.

I am a beginner golfer and this book is helpful for the mental part of golf! I would suggest it to anyone that plays golf. I gave to a friend that throws clubs in frustration and she played a round for the first time with no broken clubs and was relaxed, she says the book is helping her too

I loved this book! I learned more about the art of the mental game of golf in this thin volume than in a half dozen longer times (.e.: The Mental Games of Golf). I would put this up there with "See It Sink It" or "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose".

A must have for any serious golfer. I dare you to read the story about the golden statue and tell me that it didn't affect you!

Finally, a book that puts the mental game into sections that make sense. Told in a down-to-earth way, the examples and insights provided by "Zen Golf" really do pertain to the game we love. Understanding that the results of a swing are not necessarily the be-all and end-all is very powerful knowledge. Learning to breathe will apply to a myriad of endeavor, both athletic and personal. Ostensibly, it is a book about golf, but one that fills many gaps in all kinds of life situations. Dr. Parent is a born teacher.

Bottom Line . It took five strokes off my handicap.
Michael A. Epstein
Member KCC

Zinn's interest in and experience with bikes and biking is obvious to me when I look over this book or read his tech reports in Velo News (magazine and website). I found the second edition a welcome improvement over the first edition in its inclusion of a section on cantilever brakes (the first edition refers the reader to Zinn's mountain bike book). Since I have owned cyclocross bikes for several years, and found cantilevers infinitely more adjustable (and sometimes infinitely more frustrating) than the side pull brakes found on most road bikes, I welcomed this section. Beyond that, I like the straightforward way Zinn writes (always advocating the proper tools but sometimes offering ways to improvise), I find the illustrations most helpful and the organization of the book easy to follow. While this book does not cover everything (what does and how many of us really need that much information?) it is the one source I return to over and over again; the grease stains on the pages of my copy attest to its frequent use. Combine this book with the Park Tools website and the exhaustive information provided by the late Sheldon Brown, and you will find most of what you need to complete standard bike build or repair jobs. This is the bike book I own that spends the least amount of time on the shelf.

I bought this book and Down's (more popular) book at the same time. Both books have good illustrations, but this book is by far the more detailed and helpful. Down's book is VERY basic and leaves out detail needed to really tune anything to any extent.

Having said that, this book does a decent job of showing how to tune a number of bike features, as well as doing routine maintanence/repairs. However, if you are a gear-head, you probably won't be happy with less than Barnett's painfully exhaustive 4 volume set--which is likely overly detailed for anyone short of a professional shop-set.

Though a complete novice can use this book, it seems geared more to people who have at least a common sense knowledge of bikes & tools when they are looking at them right in front of them. [Down's book spends time describing things that should be obvious at a gance, while leaving out detail you need to fix something.]

Definitely a recommended buy from me....very useful.

This book offers a great deal of information to someone like me who is just now getting in to cycling and is not familiar with the terms and would just like to get a better sense of their bike. It lays out a very helpful maintenance guide that tells you the general amount of time needed between cleanings and replacements.

Not enough detailed information. Needs more pictures, more examples. Otherwise the info is good and all aspects of what you need to know are covered. Just be prepared to be frustrated when you can't figure things out by the limited picture drawings. This book needs a serious overhaul.

The book has a wealth of knowledge on subjects ranging from very basic repairs to super-complicated. Very useful for anyone trying to take care of their favorite possession.

This book is actually used by many instructors - it gives detailed written and photo examples of instructions from the master.

Tiger Woods' book, How I Play Golf, is a thorough self-examination of his game, from green to tee (sic) and everything in between. Filled with fantastic photographs that do half the battle of ingraining the image of good technique into your mind, the book examines each element of the game and the swing, as Tiger plays it. He caveats at the beginning that his goal is not to tell us how to play, but rather to tell us how he plays and what works for him.

The book is also filled with lots of fun anecdotes which, now that it's 2008, are practically historical given that 2005 hadn't even started at the time the book was published.

It's definitely a practical book, filled with tips and advice to try and implement into your own game. Tiger starts with putting and moves back to the full swing with the driver, visiting chips, flops, high-irons and fairway woods along the way. He also talks extensively about the mental game and the importance of fitness.

The only thing that I felt was missing was a comprehensive section on practice. While Tiger talks throughout the book about elements of practice there's no one place where he provides a simple outline of how he approaches practice or how we should approach practice. Granted it's different for someone who rolls out of bed every morning and hits 300 balls on the driving range in his backyard but amateurs like us could probably use some advice on effective practice technique.

A great book that I've read once cover to cover and have already re-read a number of sections numerous times.

Enjoy.

An exceptional book with good illustrations & bought at a very good price. Postage time was VERY DISAPPOINTING - expected to receive within 3-4 weeks (standard Air Freight) but took 6 weeks!!! This was our 1st purchase on Amazon & we were concerned and had almost given up on it! Expect DELAYS on overseas purchases.

If you enjoy golf and spend enough time to beat balls at the driving range, this book will give you a lot of tips how to improve your skills.

Excellent book. Not a how to of golf but rather a how Tiger plays. Helped my game immensely. Espcially my putting. I would recommend this book golfers of all levels.

The clients I work with enjoy this book. This book provides techniques to deal with bullies, which is useful for all children.

When Simon is teased by his friends, Grandma rose compares teasing to fishing hooks and shows Simon how he doesn't have to get caught up in the mean game his friends are playing. Simon's Hook is an excellent way to teach children to be more resilient.
The cover (not yet shown today) has a red background and Simon is sitting on a hook under water as if it was a swing. Fish swim about and all the characters are fanciful and smiling.

The basic story includes a "bad hair day." When Simon's sister can't find her gum, she finds that it is in Simon's hair. Unfortunately she has to cut off a lot of his hair to get the gum out. This story will be very familiar to children. I remember this happening to me when I fell asleep while chewing gum.

Simon is doing quite well while wearing a hat, but when he falls and his hat falls off, all the children start to call him lawn mower head. As he runs home he accidentally runs into Grandma Rose. Simon tells her what happened and tells her about the teasing.

"But why do you bite? "
"Bite?" cried Simon.
"I didn't bite anyone!"

After going into her garage, Grandma Rose returns with a fishing line. A piece of paper is attached to the end of the hook and a cat is trying to bat at the paper. By waving the paper around for the cat, Grandma Rose shows how the cat bats at the paper. Then, she dangles the paper in front of Simon. Then Simon catches the paper too.

"You're not a free fish anymore."
"But what else can I do?"

Then over a glass of lemonade and a few cookies, Grandma Rose tells Simon a fish story. The next two pages are filled with fish thinking, saying things or biting at pieces of paper with put downs and teases written on them.

I had to laugh because some of the fish are quite adorable (the "peace" fish named Harmony Hippy Fish is a hoot) and the entire story is rather cute. At the end of the book all the fish are drawn in one picture and their names are listed next to them. The shark is of course called: "tiny." They also have some witty comments that one could consider to be a snappy retort. At the bottom of the ocean we see an Instead of Biting do this sign. It lists five ways to avoid getting caught by teasing.

There are pages and pages of fishes saying various things that are quite amusing. Even I was laughing out loud at a few of the fish stories.

When Simon returns to the park he has a new attitude and his friends enjoy his new witty remarks. He no longer takes them seriously and can enjoy the attention.

Karen Gredig Burnett writes highly creative books and Laurie Barrows knows how to draw the characters Karen is talking about. So, together they create a magic all of their own.

If your child is struggling with teasing, this book will empower them and show them that they can laugh at difficulty and embrace change. I might even start using a few of the witty comments in this book when my husband teases me. This book is definitely not just for younger kids. It can also empower adults and teenagers.

Also look for:

Katie's Rose
If the World were Blind
The Magical, Marvelous Megan G. Beamer

~The Rebecca Review

This is a book that every child should read or have read to them before going into school to get a good perspective of how not to take the bait. My copy is ragged from reading it with my 3 children.Another book that parents should have in their library way before school starts is Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying. This is an invaluable resource and tool for parents from a proactive and intervention standpoint.The tips, strategies... if used will prevent your child from being a victim or a bully. A must-read for parents.

Yes, adults, too. There are some pretty mean adults around, and you can use these same technics!! This book writes it in a way that kids will get it, that they shouldn't react to teases and put-downs. Excellent book. A+

This is a great book that empowers kids to deal with children who tease them. So often adults tell children to walk away...that is a difficult thing to do...especially for children who are learning so many life skills. "that's not fair they said that", "They are so mean". So often the kids want to tell on them to get them in trouble...to find justice in the "wrong" behavior. This focuses on what the child can control and not what they can't control.

This book has helped my daughter a lot! She is a child who gets her feelings hurt quite a bit. This has helped empower her and, overall, made many of the teasing children stop teasing her.

I highly recommend it!

Stefan Fatsis takes us inside the game of football and also takes us into his struggle to be accepted by these Sunday warriors, who battle pain, fear of failure and fear of what success may do to them.

Fatsis reminds us that most football players aren't stars who are set financially for life. Instead, they play a game that is run like a business.

Even the most dedicated fan of the National Football League (NFL) can't possibly know what goes on "behind the curtain." Most of us know only what we see on Sundays or what we read in Monday's newspaper. Sure, we think we know our favorite players and all their foibles. You can lay all that aside after reading this book.

Stefan Fatsis suceeds in infiltrating the most sacred of grounds: the NFL locker room and the strange world that surrounds it. We get a glimpse of what it is like to know that your very job hinges on the next play in training camp. Players come and go like the tides. Coaches rule like tyrrants and the pecking order among them becomes painfully evident. So does the stress created in this bubbling cauldron they call professional football.

Reading about the personalities of the players--from the lowly undrafted rookie free agent to the highest paid super-star--reminds us that these people are only human. In fact, Fastis' colorful writing creates a word picture that surely is the way these players really are. Some are real characters, some are sad reminders of how cruel life can be. I found myself identifying with one partiular play and this gave me great insight into my own place in life.

It must be terribly frustrating to be a professional football player, where the glamor of game day gives way to utter despair when the "turk" comes to visit.

The only downside I see with this book is that it is so captivating that I let my usual workload pile up while I sat glue to the book. Oh, well.

Stefan Fatsis provides a ticket to a game seldom of us see--the game withing the game. Though he stands only 5 feet 8 inches, this work is gigantic. May all of his kicks in life sail thorugh the uprights.

I have been a huge Broncos fan for many years, and when I saw this book was being printed I ordered a copy right away. I think I was looking for a book that would give some real insight into what a player goes through to play in the NFL, and I was anxious to read about interesting things involving the Broncos. This book provides only small amounts of both.

First off, I must give the author credit for having the guts and determination to train and participate in the Broncos' training camps. He does give some glimpses into what life is like for players trying to make the team, and he gives slightly more detailed descriptions about some of the individual players he interviewed. But most of his book seems to focus on himself and his efforts to perform like an NFL kicker. After a while it gets boring reading about him practicing, missing kicks, wanting to perform better, standing around watching others practice, wanting to kick in a preseason game, whining because the NFL won't let him play in an exhibition game, blah, blah, blah. I would much rather have read more about the other players and what trying out, training, and/or playing for the NFL was like for them.

If you are a die-hard Broncos fan you may enjoy reading most of this book just to read about some of the players with whom you are surely familiar. Anyone else will likely get bored after the first 40 pages or so.

Jason Elam, the Broncos' most successful place kicker described a kicker's experience in the NFL as "hours and hours of boredom surrounded by a few seconds of panic."

A few seconds of panic set in the moment I realized Mr. Fatsis was barred by the NFL from participating in even a pre-season game. A few more seconds of panic followed as I read Mr. Fatsis' bitter and unjustified complaints about why the NFL was steadfast in its refusal to allow him to kick in a pre-season game. According to Mr. Brian McCarthy, an NFL PR personnel, "people are paying seventy, ninety, a hundred and twenty dollars and then having someone from off the street come in - it could have the appearance of an exhibition, which we fight. I wouldn't use the word joke, but..." In response, and a shameful one at that, Mr. Fatsis proceeds to call the NFL a fraud for forcing fans to buy tickets to pre-season games, and a joke because all the run-ins NFL players have had with the law and the criminals who are allowed to play. Yet, he, who has worked "assiduously" for months to prepare for this glorious moment is made to feel like a joke.

Granted, Mr. Fatsis worked assiduously to play in the NFL, but he also assiduously shanked balls in practice, particularly during moments of pressure when players and fans were watching. Mr. Fatsis' length of experience in place kicking didn't extend beyond a few months. By his own admission, he was missing thousands of hours of repetition and observation that transforms athletes into experts. Just why he felt like he was so deserving of a chance to play in the NFL is baffling.

Whereas in "Word Freak", Mr. Fatsis' participation in Scrabble and ultimately his rise to the rank of "expert" made the book a delightful read, in "A few seconds of panic", everything but his participation in Football took centerstage.

"A Few Seconds of Panic" provides a glimpse of "what players endure to get there, and what they experience once they arrive. And it revealed the deep disconnect between what fans see on gameday and what happens the rest of the week.", but it fails to deliver on its promise of showcasing the efforts of an average Joe playing with the pros.

Wall Street Journal sports writer and uber-nerd Stefan Fatsis does a latter day George Plimpton as he becomes a 40-something place kicker for the Denver Broncos. What results is an absorbing on the inside narrative of what it is like playing in the NFL.

Fatsis doesn't exactly have us (or at least me) feeling sorry for these athletes, but he portrays the grinding monotony, pain and job insecurity of a system that is always reminding the players of their expendability. Of course, mostly these guys are getting paid six or seven figures to put up with such hassles.

Fatsis is a superb writer. (If you haven't read his book WORD FREAK on the world of elite Scrabble, you owe it to yourself to do so!)

Whether you are a Denver Bronco fan or not is beside the point. If you enjoy pro football, you will find "A Few Seconds of Panic" a tasty delight!

Fatsis kicks it straight through the uprights here....

I suspect the book I ordered is a good one, but all I have is suspicion since I never received the book. Guess I'll get a copy at Borders.

Excellent to help you get your head on straight in this fun game of golf. It was recommended to me by my golf instructor and I read it every so often to help me keep playing in a fun way. I highly recommend this book.

If you are interested in the Mental aspect of The Game all of Doc Rotellas books are a must!

The saying that goes "golf is 90% mental" cannot be more true and revealing after you finish reading this book. Granted you have to have the physical ability and a few golf lessons under your belt to be able to put a good round of golf together, but what this book does is help one put aside, or dismiss, those negative thoughts that somehow show up in your mind just as you set up to hit the ball. This book teaches you to think positive, it gives you good tips and great advice. I have implemented many of the tips given and I can say it has positively helped my golf game. I would say reading this book probably help me shave 5-6 strokes of my handicap.

Dr Bob Rotella is extremely well known in golf education for his advice on how to train your mind to play your best golf. He has helped some distinguished players including Tom Kite.

His basic philosophy is:
1. Believe you can achieve your golfing dream.
2. Have no swing thoughts or any thoughts about swing mechanics when you play.
3. Focus on a target for the ball: the smaller the better.
4. Stay in the present: forget previous shots (good and bad), don't think about the score for the round (good or bad). This will only distract you.

I have awarded this a one star. This is perhaps harsh, perhaps a three star would be appropriate but here is why I did:

My average handicap is 25 (27 in competition). I have been playing for three years and in the past 7 months as much as 5 or 6 times a week. I eat, sleep and dream golf. I devour new books and DVDs from the big names and some of the less well known.

I regularly watched the golf channel UK (RIP) and read Golf Digest online. My best rounds are around 85. My theoretical best (best scores per hole on different days) is 63.

In spite of starting this great game of golf at the age of 40, I've done well in many other sports and activities (squash, snowboarding, fencing, motorsport, aviation) and believe I should be able to play at a good level: regularly in the 80s and why not, with training and perseverance, in the 70s.

In short, my profile matches that of the target reader for this book. I had high expectations of this book and was hoping to discover new information and techniques on how to train my mind to get the best from my golf.

In reality, I found nothing new here. Most of the advice really is common sense and common place in all the golf related material I've encountered. Bob spends too much time covering what not to think. In the audio version, Bob drones on so much he sent me to sleep. Sadly, I have to say, the book is not worth the money and I can not recommend it.

This book is good for all runners: one who is just beginning or one ready to run a marathon. I am somewhere in between so this was perfect for me. I appreciate the women specific info. Good book to reference often during your training.

I was so looking forward to getting this book. And I was disappointed. It is ok but not quite "a complete book of running" I had taken about 9 months off of running due to pregnancy and was hoping to get motivated again. This book just kind of fell short. I think a "complete book of running" should include some routines, that could help all levels of runners (not just the marathoners that are mentioned) and more specific diet advice. More advice on building endurance etc etc. I think this caters to marathoners and just the novice beginners. I have seen better articles written in fitness magazines!

I am presently training for a half marathon and was looking for a book to hone my skills and improve my technique. A fellow runner pointed out that I was not holding my arms properly and suggested reading this book to prevent further injury. I like the use of photos instead of drawings. I like the motivational writing.

This book is great for getting you off the couch and out into the running world! The author includes her own personal stories of her running adventures and makes you feel like you can do anything. And best of all, it's written by a woman for women: young and old, fat and skinny, runners and non-runners alike. I started with the beginning running program and I can already run 5 minutes at a time! That might not sound like a lot to most people, but I have asthma and I never thought it would be possible. I'm hoping to try my first 5k next year!

I am by no means an advanced runner. I run a couple half marathons a year and I average a 9 min/mile pace. This book would have been great years ago when I first started running and training for 5K races. It covers the basics and has some nice pieces on clothing, gear and injuries. I found this book to be comprehensive, but lacking on depth on certain topics, expecially injuries. I think this is a great book for those who are just starting to run or considering their first 5K, 10K and half marathon. However, for those of us who already have miles under our belt and the blisters to prove it, this book may not provide any additional insight that we don't already know.

I bring this with me every time I go camping. It is very compact, fairly light, and packed with tons of useful info. Much of the info is practical knowledge even if you're not in a survival situation. It is written clearly and well illustrated, and is fun to read. The book is also water resistant and very durable. I have noticed a lot of typos in the book, but I still consider it the best survival book I have seen, and I highly reccomend it. I also have the larger version, which is a little easier to read and contains a bit more info, but the smaller one is very comprehensive and has almost as much information.

seems complete, the color pics of plants & stuff are great, the only slight problem is he uses some idioms that are from england but considering were he is from, i have read & tried parts of this book, seem to work well

put it in your pocket.it will fit.not comfortably ,but it will fit.better yet,put it in your fanny pack.wrapped in a ziploc bag.this is not the'be all,end all'of survival books.none is.in fact,i am going to make a recomendation that the publisher will love,though you may not.buy the larger text of this book.read it.over and over.along with your other books on the subject.you need a small library on any subject that interests you.why 2 copies? because reading the small volume will make it expand and loosen the binding(note to publisher..waterproof paper in the next edition).yes the text is small,but you have a magnifying glass in your kit(if not..read the bloody book again).also when out in the boonies...you have something to read.i know that sounds silly...but you arent always going to be chased by bears.even in a survival situation you will have 'down time'.use it.anouther 'extra' with this in your kit.you have something to burn(after you read it naturally).at this price and this size..there is no excuse not to have a copy in your kit.four stars..but it just missed five.happy camping.

The product description clearly states the size of the product but I hadn't really paid attention to it. I just knew that this edition of the book is a smaller version, handy to keep in your backpack.

Backpack? Back pocket is more like it. It's about the size of a deck of cards. While that means there's no excuse not to take it with you, it also means that the type is awfully small. If you wear reading glasses be sure to pack a pair or two along with the book.

I would have preferred that they use larger pages and make the book thinner. But I can't really argue with the decision they made. Most people will probably prefer the fatter but smaller dimensions.

The book, by the way, is impressive. Wiseman is indeed a wise man who knows what he's talking about.

If you do buy this book I think you should seriously consider buying its bigger brother, SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea too. That way you'll have the best of both worlds. An easier to read edition for home, which will allow you to read and study it thoroughly and this very small, very portable version you just might want to take everywhere.

I think the reader of the SAS Survival Guide would also benefit from a survival guide that focused exclusively on the readers own region. But the SAS guide presents a very fine overview of survival in just about any region and circumstance. It is a must have for any survivalist.