Sports Books

This book really changed my cycling performance, it's great for cyclists and also for everybody else.

This book is an invaluable resource for those just getting into cycling. It also makes a great reference tool for the advanced cyclist.

This book is very well laid out. It is an excellent guide for the beginner and a nice, well-organized reference for the advanced cyclist. Every part of the book is laid out in a straightforward manner and the information is right on in every respect. Whole training plans are sampled for the season, and easy-to-use charts are used to track your progress.

As a long-time cyclist and coach, the reviews that say this book is inferior are just plain wrong. Reading the book doesn't make you fitter. You have to practice what is taught in here. Additionally, the readers who pan it seem to have weight training backgrounds which likely pre-disposes them to their set ways of doing things in the gym. Bodybuilding techniques aren't cycling-specific.

Arguably this is the best book for that area of cycling that can improve your cycling the most, strength training.

I bought this book over a year ago, and followed the program as laid out by the authors. All I can say is WOW! I am now hammering guys on climbs that used to leave me in the dust.

I referred a friend to this site and was not happy to see the very negative review written by O'Toole. He and the other "bodybuilder" guy who panned the book claim to have all of this knowledge of weight training, so why did they buy the book? A bodybuilder may know his way around the gym, but I am betting that he has no idea how to write up an annual periodized training program specifically for cycling. If he did, then once again, why did he buy the book? Just to criticize it?

This is a book to inform cyclists on how to use weight training to improve their riding, and it does this perfectly. It tells you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I strongly suggest it to anyone who wants to get stronger in the saddle!

This book offers no real insight other then the standard thoughts like cyclists should do high repetitions with low weight so as not to build bulky muscles. Other standard thoughts include varying your workout over time to constantly stress your muscles so they don't become too accustomed to one particular workout routine. The author references his personal training program available via his website one too many times for my taste. When reading the book you get the feeling that the "cycling" aspect of the book seems more the result of a search and replace operation in a word processor versus a book really geared towards cyclists.

If you haven't spent much time in a gym lifting weights then this book might be more valuable then I found it.

A thoroughly enjoyable and motivating read. This is a remarkable collection of exclusive interviews with the best American sports coaches of the last 40 years. The author has packed a voluminous amount of wisdom, inspiration and facts into what amounts to a road map to a good life. "How to Succeed in the Game of Life" is a brilliant compilation of advice that offers inspiration at every turn.

Game of Life is an insightful book on the thoughts of many of the world's best known coaches. It provides a biography on each of the 34 coaches (which I recommend reading first to gain a better appreciation of the field and achievements of each coach) and asks them a number of questions that can relate to both on the field and life in general. I have gathered a number of relavant quotes that I will use both personally and professionally. A highly recommended read for sporting buffs and managers.

After buying a copy of this book for both myself and my father I was thoroughly impressed. The book was both an easy read yet very informative. I gave a copy of the book to my father, who is not one to read a book, and he was so taken back by how interesting he felt the content was. He picked up the book in the morning and had it finished by mid afternoon. He must have called me 15 times to tell me how inspiring he felt it was and how he was amazed at "all the tricks it taught an old dog"...He thought he had heard all there was to hear about inspirational quotes. We were both pleasantly surprised with how well written the book was. Both my dad and I would highly recommend this book with two thumbs up.

Having read only excerpts, I was shocked to read that Tony Dungy was hired as head coach by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002 by owner Robert Irsay. Irsay had been dead for five years (longer than that mentally). Hopefully the rest of the book does not contain such shoddy information.

This book went through various questions about succeeding in life and listed all the responses from each coach. It was interesting but somewhat repetitive in that many said basically the same thing. I enjoyed reading this book because it had a lot of good advice from a lot of successful coaches. The advice I remember most is to work harder than anyone else, never quit, always be honest, do your best, failure is opportunity for a comeback, and be passionate about what you do. All of them agreed that making a lot of money does not mean you are successful, but money can be a by-product of being successful. The last chapter included short summaries about each coach. My favorite chapter was the one of their favorite quotes.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy, or who is looking for some advice or inspiration about success.

Karen Arelttaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

I own several excellent books on compass use and "orienteering."
The Army version "Map Reading and Land Navigation" is the simplest and most straightforward explanation of how to get around with just a compass and a map. If I were teaching teenagers (Scouts, etc.) how to use these tools this would be my choice of text.

Soldiers need to know how to read maps accurately, how to navigate, and how to understand all manner of maps, compasses, celestial navigation and more. So does the outdoorsman. For the military and the outdoors wilderness trekker, U.S. Army Map Reading And Land Navigation Handbook provides basic instruction on grids, scale and distance, reading overlays and using navigation equipment. A 'must' for any who might need basic survival skills.

Study orienteering with the handbook used by the U.S. Army. This guide is perfect for any outdoorsman or for teaching Boy Scouts how to use a compass.

Found this book confusing. Maps are illegible which makes the text irrelevant. It covers way too much detail all at once instead of progressing through steps. Covers alot of info and data useful only for those in the military. May work in conjunction with a lecture course, but by itself I would be surprised if anyone learned only from this book. I am new to this so maybe it's just not for beginners.

Disclaimer -- Paul is my cousin, so of course I am going to tell you to go buy this book, right now!! In fact, buy three copies. Keep one in plastic to sell on eBay in 20 years, give one to a friend, and read the third. :)

That being said, this book gave me an unequaled insider's view of life in the NBA. Paul pulls few punches, tells it like it is, and doesn't worry about making friends with his assessment of players, coaches, and fans.

I enjoyed his wry observations on life, though I did at times wonder why he keeps up with this lifestyle when it seems he isn't getting too much joy out of it (he does "sardonic" better than "enthusiastic").

Overall, though, I was entertained and captured by this rare view inside the locker room. And I was relieved that he didn't skewer his extended family on the pages. :)

For all those people who didn't like this book because of the so-called "whining" and complaining - this book isn't really for them. I suggest they go to the self-help section of the bookstore and grab something there . . . or perhaps join the Oprah Book Club. For the people who've enjoyed Paul Shirley's blog over the years, you'd expect this book to be full of negative comments and complaints . . . as Paul himself said in the book, he writes better when the chips are down (p.54 - Jan. 12 entry) so y'all have been warned early on . . . However, as a pessimist and a cynic myself - I really didn't see his whining and complaining as such . . . it really is just an honest observation and being a basketball player that travels halfway around the globe - those observations are truly interesting and his witty remarks makes the book entertaining as well. It's well-written and would recommend the book to almost anybody (except Oprah and Dr. Phil).

If you want to get a well-written book about playing basketball overseas, pick up "Paddy on the Hardwood" by Rus Bradburd. Paul Shirley "coulda been a contender" for author of a really good inside the sport book. But he lets his cynicism and narcissism get in the way at almost every turn. His journeys could have provided grist for some really interesting stories about parts of professional basketball that outsiders rarely get to glimpse. Instead, he uses them as an opportunity to cry and whine about how unjust life has been to him; a young, healthy and apparently intelligent young man. Too bad.

I was sick and looking for something to take my mind off it when I picked up Can I keep My Jersey. It's the story of Paul Shirley, a basketball player who's really, really good. He's never gonna be a NBA star but he keeps trying and between NBA stints and his experiences with the CBA, the ABA and the European leagues this is a funny book. It has a few flaws of course, Shirley is a horrible snob and there were times when I found myself wishing that somebody when give him a good smack in the mouth but then all would be forgiven when he'd tell another story about the ridiculous aspects of life on the edge of the NBA.

The chapter on his nightmare trip to Russia--horrible place--- is worth the price of the book alone. It's not the greatest sports memoir ever written but it's amusing and I found myself hoping that eventually Shirley gives up chasing the impossible dream and either starts a writing career or falls back on that engineering degree of his.

I read a few of the reviews of this book and knew there would be some whining but come on! Every other paragraph was the author crying about religion in basketball and how he can not relate to any basketball players and this and that. I seriously thought about putting the book down halfway through it (when he was on the Bulls) but i decided to finish it. Bad move by my part. A word of advice, if you want to read 315 pages about a tall, i guess semi-talented (18 games- 1.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, 6.7 minutes)crybaby then pick this book up. I strongly recommend not getting this book

this is a usefull book for beginners specially if you need to know soem aorkouts for improvement in volleyball.

Excellent for a beginning coach to review skills. Good drills.

Simple and understandable book. Dont expect much but the name of the book is a hit. You can understand fundamentals and get theoretic base for this game. It is what you really need if you have not read anything about volleyball and need something to start with. Book is good if you have never played volleyball or if you have never had coach or never have read anything about volleyball. So, I was fed up with playing volleyball in DIY way and decide to get some theoretic base. This book was exactly what I needed.

This book is written by an experienced personal trainer who has trained average women into more stronger and attractive women. While the book is very gym and special-machine orientated, it is very straight forward in how a woman can sculpt the body that she wants. It describes how to train and perform the exercises as well as successful case studies. There is also section dealing with pregnancy. At the end of the book are several inspiring stories of women who have overcome obstacles, such as overweight, eating disorders and life-threatening injuries to become national level fitness competitors. I liked the book so, much that I bought a couple extra copies for gifts to fitness-orientated female relatives.
Doug Setter, author of Stomach Flattening

This book is one of the best book out for women if you use common sense.It really does help a person get toned and not bulky due to the intensity factor,,,i would say this may not be a book for a novice,,so i suggest trying out the excerises with a pt first just so u know u are doing them right,,,but he really does give u a varity of options to choose from which i like...and really shows u how to put together your own training routine,,

I have been looking for something like this for a long time. The book catergorizes the muscle groups and informs you of the correct way to perform he exercises to maximize your workout. The book also informs of alternative ways to perform the exercises (machine, free wieghts, 'at home' or all three. The book also comes with a DVD which demonstrates some of the exercises.

I have the older version of this - didn't realize there was a new one, so will be sure to buy it. I love this book. It offers enough variety so that you can work every single part of your body without your muscles getting too used to one movement. Also, I have alot of spinal issues & find that there is so much variety that I can have a complete routine just like anybody else without hurting myself. I also ordered the Look Great Naked Diet book. Can't wait to get it. Great work Brad!!!

I recently purchased this book with dvd. It only took a few
seconds for me to realize that this is an outstanding
program. The dvd is very well organized. It does not jump around. Brad starts with the right sequence of muscles to exercise first. Thank you.

The pace in explaining the exercise, movement, the
model (Jan) executing the moves is perfect--not too fast, not too slow. I was especially impressed that alternative equipment usage was demonstrated in the dvd for those of us (like me) who can no longer make it to the gym (at least daily).

Most fitness books (and I have many) only demonstrate moves
from the gym and offer no alternatives.

This book is a MUST for any personal trainer as a refresher--plus you will learn as it can be an excellent instruction tool. It is a must for anyone who wants to workout but does not want to be overwhelmed with a bunch of fluff, junk, boasting--you WILL NOT find that in this book or on the dvd.

To me, Brad has a gift of instructing, teaching, and he walks the walk. Again, most in this industry have the bodies and can execute moves, but cannot teach it to the average person. A beginner, intermediate, or advanced exerciser will NOT be bored, discouraged, or lost. YOU WILL NOT GO WRONG WITH THIS BOOK. IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

Though I am a personal trainer and group exercise instructor, I am writing this from the user's persective.

This is a Good book, But the words are printed small it has very good idea's to follow.

This outstanding motivational tool belongs in the library of all lifters. If you're in a slump, you'll find something to lift you up; If you're on a roll, you'll find something to keep you going.

If you have trouble staying motivated when lifting, look no further! This is an excellent book that will help you stay motivated and lifting strong.

This book is like a little devotional for weightlifters. That phrase sounds precious and fragile, but the book isn't. This is rock-solid motivational theory that will help you lift harder, day after day after day. Each short article (there are sixty in all) gives you a new tool to shift yourself into gear. This book is just the thing to start you on your way to more bulk, more power, more definition - whatever you want, this book helps you achieve it. When you're in a slump, it helps you pick yourself up. When you're moving, it helps you keep yourself going. The best thing is, it's always crystal clear that the force making this happen is YOU; the book just gives you the tools.

Buy the book. Use the tools. Grow into your goals.

I bought this book because I am a middle-aged newbie to the sport of lifting and thought a 5 star motivational book would serve me well. This book was written with weight lifters in mind but it's common sense wisdom applies to all aspects of life. Mr. Strossen's writing is very accessible and clear. I've read a few motivational books and this one is hands down the best. Although I come from the same town as the author we have never met and this is an honest "from the heart" review.

Great book. I am a newbie at music and this is helping me incredibly. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to further their education in the new language of music. I love it.

I am new to learning music, but have the desire. WHat I needed was a book that would cover the very basics and ramp up from there without insulting my inteligence. This is exactly what I got! A great book for someone who essentially knows nothing about music. It starts out with notes and scales and builds from there. The book is easy to read, has plenty of diagrams, etc, plus came with a very helpful CD so not only do you see the musical notations, but you get to hear what those notations sound like.

It won't be the last music book I buy, but it certainly is a great place to start!

I've never seen the difficult subject of learning to read music so clearly explained. If you are interested in learning to read music, and then moving beyond the basics into music theory, this is the book. Most other books that I have seen on this subject, including the are just terrible; too complicated or not clearly written. This one provides lucid writing and clear visual examples. Highly recommended!

This book has been such a help to me as I started my journey and note reading and piano playing. The explanations, examples, and accompanying CD are all excellent. Mr. Schonbrun's book is a keeper!

I really hate wading through reviews on Amazon. Some folks come to wax for no reason at all. This is actually my first ever review, so here goes. This book is perfect. It's a book on learning how to read music. It starts very basic so that any Joe can learn it. Once the author gets you started with the basics of notes and rhythm, you get some music theory. It's not a hardcore theory bok, but the author does go into enough detail to get you through just about any situation you may encounter. What I think is more important toa dd is that once you're done with the book, you can go to ANY other higher level theory book and learn there. So many books simply start TOO hard for the average user. The book is very approachable and the explanations are great. I can't reccomend this one enough!

I looked up the author, who has a few other book on Amazon, and according to his website, there will be a Music Theory book for this same company -- I can only suppose it will take off where this book left off.

The book reads very clean and the many musical examples make the book a pleasure to look at (as i think written music is beautiful). There is an audio CD, which is also excellent.

I hope this helps someone get a grasp on what this book is about. I have bought a few theory type books over the years to help with my piano playing (self taught). This is simply the only book that has started at a spot where I can "jump right in". Well done!

I finally got the book from another retailer, and the book provides valuable information not only about choosing a sailboat but basic sailing skills. However, the copy I ordered from Amazon came so late that I was out of town. Then, because they required a signature on a cheap paperback most people wouldn't want, it's being sent back and I'm waiting for my card to be credited. Another company sent the book promptly and I've had it for a week while Amazon still can't manage to credit my account yet.

Great book, I have read it several times in bits and pieces. I love the chapter about the different boats; it gives a good idea of their price. A+

I love to sail but buying my first sailboat is quite the adventure. This book makes reading about all the details enjoyable and even humorous at times. I especially appreciate all the great illustrations to help understand the parts & various conditions of boats.

There has got to be better books out there for the first time sailboat owner than this. The information is very sparse and lacking in any kind of detail. As an example there is a chapter on "From Whom Should I Buy?" that is two pages long. Even a novice such as myself knows that you are either going to buy from a private owner or a broker. In fact there are 39 chapters in this book, and they are all about two to three pages long. The book just does not flow well. In the introduction the author makes you feel as if after reading this book you will grasp all the basic concepts of boat ownership and sailing, when in fact you walk away with more questions about sailing then when you started reading the book. The one thing the book did tell me was that I better read other books on the subject before I continue on the path to sailboat ownership. One thing I would recommend is that you get profesional instruction on sailing and ask a lot of questions of other boat owners before you decide to buy a boat and start sailing. If you feel you need to read this book, get it at the libarary, and save yourself the money.

I bought this book for a friend who is looking to buy her first boat. My decision to buy this particular book was based to a large extent upon the positive reviews that had been posted. Upon receiving and reading the book, however, I was fairly shocked that it had been rated so highly.
I know how to sail, but even if I didn't, I would still be a little insulted by the child-like, basic level of the material. I might buy this for my 9 year old son who is just being introduced to sailing - it would be appropriate at this level. However, I can't imagine this book being useful to anyone with any basic understanding of sailing, and certainly not useful for a person who possesses the necessary level of knowledge to even be considering buying a boat. If you need to read the part about "How do I make the boat go", save the $11 you would spend on this book and either take a basic dinghy sailing course or buy a truly educational book on the subject.
I'm glad that other buyers were satisfied with their purchase of this book - however, I immediately returned mine.

This is the second in a three volume collection of short stories written by Gordon Macquarrie about duck hunting and fly fishing in northern Wisconsin during the 30s and 40s. Gordon Macquarrie was a journalist and author for various Wisconsin newspapers who also wrote short stories for magazines such as Field and Stream. He uses an organization called the Old Duck Hunters Association, Inc (the Inc stands for Incorrigible) as his primary literary device. The ODHA, Inc consists of the author and a much older man (the President, often referred to and deferred to as Hizzoner), originally modeled after his father in law, later a local post man. In both cases, the President is much older (and nominally wiser - but more often not). Through these short stories, Macquarrie recounts the adventures and misadventures as the ODHA, Inc travels around Wisconsin in search of trout, ducks, and the occasional muskie and white tail. These stories are outstanding, Willow Creek Press has done a great service reprinting this collection of stories. GM has captured the anticipation and cold of sitting in the duck blind, the camaraderie and competition amongst friends of the trout stream, and some of the unexpected surprises of each outdoor adventure that makes every one unique and exciting. If you've read the first volume in this collection, I'd say that this book is pretty much more of the same. If not, the stories aren't in any particular order, you can just as easily start with this one (a few of the early stories in the first volume give some background on the ODHA, but it isn't really necessary to enjoy this volume). All but one of the stories centers on the ODHA. Each story is only ten pages or so, so several (or even the whole book) can be digested in one sit down, but I'd recommend a more leisurely reading pace though as each story is to be savored. One place that GM returns to again and again is the Brule River in northern Wisconsin. I've never been there, but if it is half as beautiful as GM describes it, I'm sure it is quite a place. You'll be counting the days till opening day of trout season or duck season after reading a few of these stories. Highly recommended.

Maquarrie is one of the greatest writers hunting and fishing has ever seen. He brings to life every story, and you can feel yourself in the blind or on the stream with the ODHA. His stories can be read over and over again, without loss of excitement.

I have read everything he has written that I am aware of. These are not how to books. If you are a hunter and love all the little things that suround the hunter and the sport of duck hunting you will love his books. When I hear his name "Gordon Macquqrrie" I smile. In my mind I have been to his cabin, set infront of his fireplace full of pine knots. I have shot Bluebills in the snow and smiled thinking of his hunts for Bills.
Like Mr. Macquarrie I am a Bluebill man. I started reading his books 30+ years ago before many knew of him. It's a good thing
to see today how so many hunters have come to know him. Many say that Nash Buckingham is the best of the duck hunting story tellers. I have read most of Nash's books and for me he doesn't hold a candle to Gordon. Gordon Macquarri is the best of the best. If you are a meat hunter and care little for the romance of duck hunting maybe you should just read the how to books.