Sports Books

This book will be read over and over as a handy reference guide. The topic is interesting and goes to a lot of trouble to explain in simple english, what problems may occur.

Learn your horse's anatomy and put your new knowledge to work as you train your horse and develop stretching routines.

Very informative. I learned how to stretch the muscle so that the horse was more supple and less likely be to injury in competition and everyday use

For whoever said there is nothing new in this book you must be a very proficient and contentiousness horse person. I found this book pack full of goodies. Perhaps there is nothing "new" for you, but for most horse owners it is a fantastic book.

It has clear illustrations of all the stretches and explanations about why you do them. I also find this a good book for taking out to the barn and working through with my horses.

They enjoy the change from being ridden and the exercises also make good warm up and cool downs. They are the basic exercises but you don't really need to learn 999 different exercises. Just do the ones in this book well.

One of the greatest mistakes riders make is not preparing their horses to rider. They just jump on and go. They don't warm the horses up or stretch them after they have worked to keep muscles supple. Then they wonder why their horses become lame or injured. The stretches suggested in this book are a great way to treat your horse like the athlete he is.

This is a very thorough book about periodization. I don't recommend it to someone with elementary knowledge of exercise science but for the intermediate to advanced, this book is very good.

This is by far the best book I have read thus far on the subject of setting up a long term training plan and how to adjust it according to adaptive response. The book is full of study references on everything from training ages to dominate energy systems in various sports. Every strength and conditioning professional had better have this in your library!!!!!

Say you were suddenly forced by gunpoint to set up a nationwide athletics program in a foreign country. I mean a NATIONWIDE program, from local recreational leagues to top-level amateur and professional teams, to talent identification in preschools, to peaking for the Olympics. Say that the gunmen put you on a plane, which would land in about 12 hours, and they asked you what one book you could bring with you to prepare. Without any hesitation whatsoever, you should immediately select this book, PERIODIZATION by Tudor Bompa.

The amazing thing about this book is it's thouroughness and it's refusal to make any assumptions. It was written in the tone of someone who has been trained as a formal scientist (note the PhD after the author's name!) For example, the first 142 pages are in the section called "Training Theory" -- defining and discussing why athletes need to train. Seems like a no brainer, right? Athletes need to train, obviously! But although it is incredibly basic and fundamental, it is also full of hardcore ephiphanies and ghestalts. He really nails it on the head and puts it in language that you and I couldn't.

This book is perfect for someone with a kinesiology background and with a lot of patience and persistence. Deep as it may be, I felt some small portions were a little thin -- such as the Five Intensity Values for training the energy systems (a huge topic but only a few pages of description for all the 5 values), and a description of how to read the Peaking Indices at the bottom of the annual plans (is it a derivative of the curves?).

Overall, if you are interested in coaching on a worldwide level, you should seriously consider getting and reading this book. Or, if you want to tighten up on what is really going on with training, you should pick this up as well. 5 STARS!!!!

(I'd also like to add that Tudor Bompa offers a certification if you want to become a "periodizaton/planning specialist" which I'd highly recommend. I just finished it and it was a lot of work but really got me to plunge deep into the book. Also, I have heard that the next edition will come out sometime in 2008 so keep an eye out for that too.)

This book is a major source of the Classic Periodization and it's approach leads to be viewed as a very good bridge to the evolution of new paths such as non-linear Periodization

For practical use I would recommend Periodization Training for Sports
I got this book before Theory and Methodology of Training. And found that the theory did not bring to much new info

The first chapter, about seeing the ball, makes this book worthwhile for anybody. The author makes a good point about hitters worrying too much over minor mechanical details when tracking the ball is so important.

Having said that, this book is about the mental aspects of hitting and assumes that you already have decent mechanics. If you are a high school level player or beyond, there will be useful information here.

If you're a coach of youth teams, reading this book will help you better coach your hitters. There arent many specific swing techniques, but the book is full of advice from the mental aspect of the game. Similarly, there arent many detailed practice plans, but rather a good discussion of attitudes and how to approach practice time. You, as the youth coach, should be using these mental techniques to help your young hitters cope and adjust.

Hitting a baseball is one of the most difficult things to do in sports. That requires both physical and mental skills to perform at peak apacity.

For some hitters the battle against the pitcher and the defense is lost well before the ball is pitched. As a former head coach and now a hitting instructor at the semi-pro level, I have always been on the lookout for keys and prompts to give to my hitters to clear their mind of everything but a concentration on the ball and solid contact. This book gives me those cues in a simple to understand, and more importantly, a simple way of presenting those mental reminders. I particularly like the three simple questions to ask the hitter after every at bat. "What were you trying to do?", "What went wrong?" ,"What will you do next time?". The techniques suggested to get across to players the oft-repeated theme of this book - "see the ball and be easy!" are easy to understand and implement. I have been much more confident in my ability to get that message into my players heads after reading this book.

Best book on the subject I have ever read - very usable.

For the player who wants to excell at a high level, the information in this book is critical to that success. Easy to read & understand.

Chuck Schumacher
Owner-- Chucks Gym
Baseball & Martial Arts
Training & conditioning

Until I read this book I was throwing helmets, tossing bats, and swearing after every at-bat. The Mental Keys to Hitting gave me confidence to go to the batter's box with a plan and execute to the best of my ability. A must-read for any player.

I bought this after my first trip to a casino. I enjoyed myself there but understood that I could have had a better time if I knew how casinos worked. This book is great at giving a basic knowledge of how casinos work and educates you on the many different games and how to enjoy yourself for entertainment purposes. I highly recommend this book if you a planning a trip to a casino for the first time or if you've been to a casino and you would like to expand your overall knowledge and enjoyment. It has basic tips and strategies for all the casino games and is a good starting point. You can always delve further into the games that you like with other books, but this is a quality broad overview of casinos and their games.

I was mainly interested in slots, video poker, & blackjack. Presented good info in an uncomplicated style. Also full of info for practically any other game that may be your particular choice(s). I recommend it VERY highly for beginners or the more experienced player!!!!!

Kevin Blackwood is an expert blackjack player who has played all over the world; he is an expert poker player as well. His knowledge of the casino games is profound and this book gives you everything you need to know to go to the casinos and play properly. Ignore the title because you are not a dummy if you buy this book.

You are smart!

Frank Scoblete: author of Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!

I wonder why on page 170, the baccarat rules states that, for example, when the banker's total is 6, then the banker will draw if the player's new total is 6 or 7. The correct version is: the banker will draw when the "player's third card" is 6 or 7, not the "new total". On page 171 though, the table lists it as "player's third card". Incidentally, I found a bug in the Hoyle's Casino 2007 for PC game, with it drawing a card for the banker when it shouldn't... oh well... isn't the rule somewhat important? It is a very basic set of rule... I wonder if we have that sometimes in the casino and nobody noticed.

Otherwise, the book provides basic rules, strategies, and some interesting stories about the various games. It is a pretty good book for beginners, but make sure you pick another one up just to cross reference. Idiot's Guide and the Unofficial Guide also have a good book on casino gambling.

One thing I am sensitive about the book is that it stresses on etiquette quite a lot. Thing like, "don't hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn. After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you". Oh well, a "breach"? so serious? I don't know, I just feel that nowadays, we tend to have too much politeness and etiquette and too little true kindness among human beings, so I don't like to read about etiquette for this and etiquette for that.

Any new book on casino gambling has to contend with a shelf full (virtual or real) of other titles covering the same material, but in Casino Gambling for Dummies, Kevin Blackwood has done a masterful job of bringing a fresh attitude and informative approach that provides solid justification for another title on the topic. This is the 'For Dummies' brand at its best, tackling all the favorites, blackjack, craps, sports betting, as well as many meta-topics (like dealing with the IRS after a profitable run at the tables) with fact-infused, easy-to-read prose that will entertain and inform. People just entering the neon world for the first time will get as much instructional material as they can handle, from rules of the game to strategy. Seasoned gamblers will reap the benefits of Blackwood's expertise and experience at the felt-covered tables around the world. There is particular depth in the blackjack section, likely a product of Blackwood's long resume as one of the top players in the world. The organization is inspired and the writing is top notch, particularly the chapter on horse racing.

It's a great book once you get into it. I have found myself so busy with climbing this season already, I have little time to read it, however, what I have read has actually already begin to help my climbing, and it can be related to life off the rock as well, if you read into it.

Takes a look beyond the physical aspects of climbing and puts success in the hands of anyone that can control their mental game. Worth the time and you'll end up wanting to take it with you to the crags. Even if you don't climb the lessons can be used in business and other sports too.

If for no other reason you should read this book it's that it brings greater self-awareness and introspective reflection to the challenging thought processes which a climber experiences while pushing their limits, and therefore teaches us to analyze these moments in order to become a more successful climber. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a better understanding of themselves, life and climbing as a whole!

This book is more than rock climbing. it delves into the inner spirit of any competitive sport or activity. it has very much a Zen Buddhist philosophy at its core. highly recommended.

I really like this book. Even though I am not that advanced in climbing it gave me interesting insights into what happens "mentally" when you do this sport.

Like a good song that make you get up and move, this book is pure inspiration! The stories are told in a way that gives you the experience of discovering the truth of your own heart. I appreciate the contributors' honest accounts of their setbacks, and discomforts. I also wanted to know what the professionals learned on their way to reaching the pinnacle of their success. Most of all, it delivers a powerful message of having the nerve to turn out the odds. It stimulated my conscience in a way that even my understanding of passion elevated to another level.

Even though I'm not a voice over actor, I'm still an actor who audition on a regular basis. The principles are the same and I've had to refer to the lessons more than a few times. Needless to say, this book has served me very well. I applied the lessons to my line of work and have gotten amazing results.

It is your soul that will find food here. Unless you put the suggestions to practice, the secrets will pass you by leaving you once again with frustration and doubt. In other words, this book will point you into the direction of your hearts' desire. If you follow your heart, "Secrets" will find and move you in some way. Only when ready to receive new information will your thirst for knowledge and a new point of view expand. After reading, I asked myself, do I dare? The stories in this book tells me the answer is a question of courage and effort; a question of desire. We either love/enjoy our labor or not. It's for each of us to decide.

Certainly, you'll get a second wind after reading this gem of a book called, Secrets of Voice Over Success.



Joan:
You and the other contributors' courage have encouraged me. If just one soul is empowered, that's valid enough. And, you've even managed to find a creative way to enlarge the vision of humanity by contributing to a good cause such as the Alzheimer's Association. Bravo!!! Your work is a perfect expression of love in action! Now suddenly the impossible seems possible!

One of the most common question questions I hear in the Los Angeles voice over world is how did the big guns get to the top. Well, this book uses standardized interview questions to 19 of the top vo talent in the U.S., Joan herself being one of them. You couldn't wish for a better one on one interview with each one.

Everyone interviewed certainly had distinct things to say, but some common threads were "just fell into it", battled racism on the way and hard work and persistence really pays off.

A note to the wise: if you're in this business for quick profit forget about it. This career path has alot of competition, and only those with stamina and passion for voice work will stand the test of time and make a full-time living at it.

The Alzheimer aspect was valuable in today's society where it is estimated that in the coming decades, unless something is done, millions of the aging group of Americans will succumb to this heart-wrenching disease. Go Joan!!

Tansy Alexander

This book does what no other VO book has. It puts aspiring VO talent into the world of successful VO talent. Every other book I've looked at is a technical guide...dry and dull. Training is important and I've had my share but this book answers all the FAQ's the other books miss. If you want to make a living at VO this is a must have.

I orginally met the author Joan Baker at her Learning Annex workshop called "Make Millions With Your Voice" where I was very very impressed but after just finishing her book and meeting more than half the people in the book at her workshop-Iam overwhelmed with inspiration!
Thank you Joan Baker and the Vo Artist's in Secrets for moving me forward in my vo career that I've been navigating for the past 6 years. Thank you!
I would recommend this book to anyone seeking solutions in the Vo industry.

I'm just flummoxed by a previous review of Joan Baker's "Secrets of Voice-Over Success". Ms. Baker is deemed by the reviewer to be irrelevant, obvious and out of date because she neglects to deconstruct the semiotics of the latest manifestations of an ever-changing gamut of voiceover styles. Whazzat? Pretty heavy, I guess, but these quibbles convey nothing of the wonderful and inspiring book I read. What could be more relevant and uplifting than the tales these voice artists relate as to how they reached the high level of success they enjoy today. These are top people, engaging in national level campaigns right now. Their voices are supposed to be irrelevant? I don't think so.

For a newcomer to voiceover like myself it's so encouraging to learn how others overcame pitfalls and obstacles to make it in our chosen field. Joan Baker's nifty volume is like a pat on the back and a helping hand along the way. Kudos to Joan and to all the artists who so generously gave of their time and experience to help make this marvelous book a reality. And what more wonderful theme to tie the volume together than touching on the effects of Alzheimer's on the lives of so many of us? Something tells me that one day, when we've reached the other side of the River Jordan, we'll be surprised to learn just how much good this book will have done to help those poor souls afflicted with Alzheimer's.

I reviewed several other hiking books on the Grand Canyon and read the trail guides for my selected and reserved trail. This book was the best written and most complete. I would generally say that this book might be the best bet for a good hiking volume for the GC.

While writing my book "The Tortoise Diet - Win The Race To Lose!", an account of my 120 pound weight loss, I bought this book an became interested in hiking in the canyon as a fitness goal. This very informative and well written book helped inspire me to hike in 2005 from the South Rim to Phantom Ranch, and back again the next day. This May (2006) my husband and I are hiking from the South Rim to the North Rim. We will be carrying along our copy of the book to help us appreciate the canyon more as we undertake this huge fitness challenge(my husband is 55 and I am 49.)

I have been hiking Grand Canyon since 1977 with over 9,000 miles below the rim and have hiked all the trails in this guide, in most cases multiple times. This guide has the most detailed descriptions of all canyon hiking guides; maps are more than adequate; nearly all information is up to date. Adkison's writing style is very clear. I especially appreciate his information about plant communities along the routes. This second edition is largely the same as the earlier edition. I am glad to see the addition of a section on cairns. How can this book be improved? Add an index. Looking through the guide I only found a few errors --- Western Union is no longer available inside the park and the Tanner Trail one way distance is not 7 miles but more like 10 miles!

I'm planning a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. I've looked at several guidebooks and I've bought bought this book as well as Hiking Grand Canyon National Park, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series) by John Annerino, and Hiking the Grand Canyon's Geology (Hiking Geology) (HTGCG) by Lon Abbott and Teri Cook.

I liked the straightforward and informative approach that Ron Adkinson takes in this book. The Grand Canyon is a big place with a lot of alternatives for trips. I was able figure out which trails I want to take using this book.

I especially like the capsule summary of each route that have clear ratings for the difficulty, water availability, average hiking times, suggested cache points, and distance.

Compared to this book, I found the HTGCG by Lon Abbott and Teri Cook nearly as good but the focus on the geology in HTGCG makes it harder to pull out the hiking information. Though, once your route is chosen, HTGCG, helps you understand what you see.

It's got the bare essential data you need for the hike.
Mileage, water sources, post offices, grocery stores, etc.
Don't leave your domicile without it.

I can't think of anything this guide has left out. It provides not only thorough trail descriptions and maps for each segment that are detailed and clear, but also a history of the trail, both natural and historic, advice on planning your trip, and a complete list of agencies to contact for trail permits. I appreciate the details regarding flora and fauna, as well as advice from everything to supply stations to how to deal with bears. I don't believe that I have ever seen a more thorough and complete trail guide.

The chart helped me greatly while studying muscular-skeletal anatomy. However, it was not fun, and was time consuming, even a little confusing to keep looking at the listing on the corners of the chart to match the numbers with the names. I would have preferred to buy the bigger (life size) chart and see all the names of the muscles on top of each muscle.

The product was listed as new, and was received bent and torn on the edges. Amazon did not issue a refund, even though I sent it back.