Sports Books

I have read several of the author's books on self-defense with a pistol and shotgun. With these books, you can build the critical self-defense response needed in a crisis. Re-read the books often and dry-fire practice in your home ... in case a home invasion incident should happen when you least expect it in your neighborhood, much less at your residence.

A judgement call ... how to have a loaded weapon handy when the worst happens to you. Remember, an empty weapon is useless. A loaded weapon around curious children can lead to a family fatality.

This is a great book for anyone who owns a pistol and is thinking of using it for more than target shooting and hunting. Proper self defense takes practice and training. This book is a great tool to becoming more efficient and will get you the information you need. Gabe Suarez is well known in the firearms training community and has put the tactics and recommendations into use and is bringing real world experience to you. Well laid out and easy to read. This is a must of anyone wanting to become more efficient with their pistol.

Tactical Pistol Marksmanship was surprisingly disappointing, not because the information was bad, or because it was poorly written, but because compared to Gabe's other books, all of which I've read, it was slim on new content.

If this is the only book on the Tactical Pistol you get or read, you will likely learn a lot, but you will learn much more if you get Gabe's other book by that name, or his book The Tactical Advantage,or almost anything else he's written.

If this was the only thing I'd ever read by Gabe, I might have given it a 4 out of 5. Compared to Gabe's other work though (all of which I would rate at 5), this one was disappointing.

Gabe Suarez does a good job of introducing the novice to; and reminding the experienced shooter of the practical aspects of pistol use in tactical deployment.

Suarez introduces the reader, briefly, to historical considerations, ammunition and pistol selection (based on experience and personal preference), types of malfunctions, grip, stance and the usual basics that can never be emphasized enough.

He almost immediately launches into the real value of the book; clearing malfunctions, speed reloads, tactical reloads, multiple target engagements (including 360 degrees) and how to practice at home.

In my personal experience, Suarez' suggestion to practice routinely at home during dry fire practice sessions has drastically improved my speed, accuracy and confidence. I recommend this book to everyone I know that carries concealed, carries for a living or just wants to shoot better and faster.

I have read this book 3 times, as there is so much great information presented. Another book to underline key phrases.

This book is one of my favorites. It seems to have been written with a big heart, in-depth knowledge of NBA basketball and good understanding of human behavior. The book shows how the writer has gotten over many challenges in his own life and I bet he will excel in whatever he puts his heart in. He has brought the world of practical spirituality into sports and dared to break boundaries of conventionality.
A great book!

Phil Jackson's depiction of his journey from childhood to professional basketball will be a delight even to the casual sports fan. Centered on his philosophy of unselfishness, Jackson successfully offers insight into the mindset of high stakes coaching enabling one to understand the progression of thought behind many of the tough decisions he made while winning Championships. Sacred Hoops will offer as a special bonus some insight into Michael Jordan's world from a perspective not offered by mainstream media.

I recommend this book to any casual sports fan and in particular to all basketball fans.

I am a big fan of Phil Jackson and his approach to the game of basketball. Sports for kids, is an introduction to life, and I really appreciate what Phil has to say. I have read this book numerous times and just now bought the audio book. If you are a coach of any sport, do yourself a favor and read this book!

Is this book a slam-dunk? It could be. I'm having a hard time rating this book 4 stars when it should have had 4.5 stars. This book could be rated more like Scottie Pippen than Michael Jordan to keep up with this book's terms.

The story about Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls is amazing. Any story written about it has the potential to reach Jordan heights. The story described by Phil Jackson makes it even more compelling.

Getting to know the insights about Jackson's training also gives insight about the man and his beliefs as Zen is unmistakenly connected to him. This is the only flaw within the book. Although he used it on his pupils and it worked on them, it does not always guarantee succes outside sports. Business is a different league.

If you're a sports lover just grab a copy of the book and read it. If you like to step up your own game DO try this at home, although success cannot be guaranteed.

Phil Jackson's philosophy on teamwork and leadership is based upon Native American and Buddhist principles. From his book these principles and spiritual lessons are brought to life and explained in a manner only a man like himself could do. He is trying to let people know lessons are taken from the lessons he has learned throughout his life as a basketball player and coach, but these lessons not only pertain to basketball, they can be used for anyone in order to increase the potential of the human spirit. Phil Jackson is a world-renowned player and coach of the NBA. He is now the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and has won three NBA championships with them; however, he is most famous for leading the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships with legendary players, such as, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, John Paxson, and many others. He has adopted the teachings of Eastern philosophies, like Buddhism, and received the nickname the "Zen Master" because of it. Phil Jackson has not only written Sacred Hoops, but several other virtuous books. Other books include Maverick, Take It All, More Than a Game, and The Last Season: a Team in Search for Its Soul. Jackson's inspirational messages are powerful and thought provoking and make the reader experience a sense that they are able to incorporate these teachings into their everyday lives, even if they do not play or watch the game of basketball. The methods he uses, for example, meditation, mindfulness, and visualization, and also quotes used from Zen Buddhism to Native American teachings help provide a new or improved outlook on their lives and help make them, as well as other people around them, better people. As Phil Jackson says, "Being aware is more important than being smart." Whether or not you are an athlete, student or just someone looking for inspirational insight this book is a terrific read.

This is an excellent book mixing current day tennis with tennis past, the light with the serious. Player profiles and background are quite interesting. His observation and points of view are well thought out and cogent with the exception of his infatuation with Pete Sampras. As much as I personally detest the stuff, to a lot of the world, playing tennis means playing on clay. Pete Sampras (like John McEnroe) was not an all time great all court player. Overall, a real FEIN book!

Paul Fein has done it again. He has written an excellent sequel to his earlier tennis books. This new book provides both an insightful history of the game of tennis, from its origins to the present, as well as in-depth interviews with many of the game's luminaries. He rates both men and women champions,giving impeccable reasoning for his choices. (The only quibble this reviewer has with the list of male champions is Fein's exclusion of Lew Hoad among the top ten.) Bringing his analysis right up to the present, Fein asks the questions of Roger Federer's place among the tennis greats. The author will have to write Tennis Confidential III to address the issue of Raphael Nadal's place in history after the latter's stunning victory over Federer in the Wimbledon 2008 finals.

Among the many fascinating topics in the book, Fein covers the skills peculiar to doubles and the incongruity of doubles which is favored by recreational players, but relegated far below singles by tournament directors. Another interesting point is Fein's comparison of tennis to golf. Tennis, he asserts, requires a much higher degree of athleticism (hand speed, reaction time, conditioning), as evidenced by the fact that tennis players such as Althea Gibson and Ellsworth Vines have been successful at golf, while no golfers have been successful at tennis at the highest levels. The book is replete with fascinating details on such subjects as the history and progress of women in tennis, the decline of the serve and volley game, feuds between players, and the direction that the U.S. must take to produce the game's elite, as it has in the past. Even tennis fanatics will wonder where Paul Fein got all of his information, including the priceless anecdote of Art Larsen,U.S. Open champion in 1950, being excluded from a tournament and then hiring a plane to create rain over the tennis courts as a way to gain revenge by forcing a rain-out.

Fein is quite strong in his opinions about the future direction of tennis (such as the use of tiebreakers and the place of doubles in the game). As a lifelong player and lover of tennis, Fein gives valuable tips on how to "fire up" the game such as bringing back serving and volleying, connecting players and fans more closely, and stopping the persistent stalling in major matches.

All in all, very highly recommended.

In his inimitable style, Paul Fein analyzes the issues, arms himself with the facts, and then lets his opponents have it. Whether it's taking a sledgehammer to the misguided advocates of on-court coaching or exposing the flawed thinking that's given rise to the absurdity of player challenges, Fein made me feel like standing up and applauding.

As a coach, I found myself actually cheering when I read his enlightening chapter entitled "How America Can Produce Champions Again." I was fascinated to learn why "the best two-handed backhands are much superior to the best one-handed backhands," and why we should "ditch the flawed, open-stance, two handed backhand that Venus and Serena use regularly." This chapter alone should make the book required reading for any tennis coach with an interest in US junior tennis development.

However, what I liked most of all about the book is that Fein clarified my thinking on many of tennis' controversies. He takes seemingly grey issues, quickly separates the black from the white, and then presents well-reasoned arguments with a certainty that must leave some of tennis' "dogmatists for change" looking for the nearest sewer to slither back into.

On the other hand, if you're an advocate of introducing no-ad scoring, replacing deciding sets with tie-breakers, or sacrificing the integrity of the game to the mindless masses in the name of television and entertainment, whatever you do, don't buy this book. It'll be much too dangerous for your health.

Paul Fein is nothing short of a master. His latest book, Tennis Confidential II, will make you chuckle at times (don't miss the Fascinating Facts at the end of most chapters), it'll make you cry at others (What! Get rid of player challenges? Let's talk about that!), but most of all it will fire you up and make you consider--and re-consider-- the great tennis issues.

I especially enjoyed the chapter on Famous Feuds in Tennis History. Who knew that Renaissance painters even played tennis, let alone that one murdered his tennis opponent over a disputed score? I loved re-living those nasty McEnroe/Connors days. And, by the way, Anna Kournikova fairly drips acid. Oh, it's delicious!

Mostly, I learned a lot. Fein is as instructive as he is entertaining. I didn't know about the 13 factors that make line calling difficult. Even when I thought I understood an issue, Fein gave me more to think about. In my opinion, this book is one that will be enjoyed both by novices and seasoned players. You can check out stories about people who have changed the sport, Fein's list of top players of all time, and some intriguing ideas about how to fire up the game.

Fein says tennis players love to argue. Well . . . we agree on that!

Paul Fein is one of the best and intellectually sound tennis writers today. As in his previous two books, he has proven this again in his latest, Tennis Confidential II. The player profiles are both intimate and informative, his analyses of the great players' records and achievements are based on thorough research, his discussion of the hottest topics of the day is provocative, and the player interviews are revealing. By frequently quoting leading players, journalists, and officials, Fein makes the various articles much more interesting and buttresses their objectivity . The sidebars "Fascinating Facts" offer numerous, previously little known tennis tidbits. While many of the articles appeared in tennis publications several years ago, they are not only timeless, but actually rekindle wonderful memories.

Fein does not shy away from expressing firm opinions. However, rather than simply imposing his views in a dogmatic fashion, he challenges the reader to at least reexamine preconceived positions. Have you been wondering how to improve line calling? Read this book. Are you opposed to no-ad scoring? Fein will tell you why you are right. Do you need to convince your golfing buddy that his hobby is less of a sport than yours? You will find help in this book.

As far as the numerous profiles of people who have made their important mark on the tennis landscape, it would be difficult to point to any one as being superior. Having always been impressed by Andre Agassi, - the man, my admiration was strengthened after reading Fein's wonderful piece. And what about the stories of the great bunch of Aussies, their sportsmanship and camaraderie during those simpler amateur days. Also, Fein's descriptions of the sports most enduring characters - Nastase, Tiriac, Connors, McEnroe, Gerulitis, and others - invoke a nostalgia for the "good old days".

As an interviewer, Fein has few equals. The questions he poses reflect his sound judgement and great knowledge of the game. He obviously makes his subjects comfortable so that their responses are both honest and revealing, thus enabling the reader to gain a new perspective on these stars. I enjoyed these interviews so much that singling any one out would not be fair. However, having said that, I did find the Noah and Wilander interviews particularly insightful.

To the tennis nut, the book offers an enjoyable trip down memory lane, to the casual fan it illuminates previously unseen vistas. I truly believe that anyone even remotely interested in the game of tennis will enjoy reading this book.

Harry R. Kirsch

One of the best books I have ever read. Buy it, read it & understand. But thats up to you. Walk on......

This is a must own. I have never read anything on Bruce Lee but this book has changed my thinking. It describes his life and what he has learned from Gung fu. His signposts are most important part of this book. In the words of the master himself "Be like water my friend".

This book as far as it being a good read is kind of boring. Aside from the boredom it gives you a lesson in comparative studies, "the west sucks and the east has a natural flow of things". However, having said that, don't think that this book do not have any revelance. According to John Little, Bruce Lee's whole philosophy revolves around martial arts and that is the basis for all of his metaphors. I do not have a problem with that (as I liked martial arts and as a child I took karate for a whole day)! Bruce said, "all knowledge is self knowledge". As simple as that may be that is a profound statement. I have never thought of it like that before, but, I suppose he is right. Such things like that make the book worth the read. Is it a self help book per se? No, but, it can help you become someone spiritual, especially for those who are into martial arts, or, maybe you just like to read and develop metaphors like myself.

Warning: If you are a devout christian then you may be offended that Bruce did not believe in GOD.

At the end of the day, I reccommend the book simply because Bruce encourages anyone to follow their own way.


"I am the greatest teacher and I am also the greatest student, so, therefore I will not fail in any obstacles". -ME

Hey that is what works for me. You must find what works for you.

I would like to thank the authors for presenting such useful information. A few things that really impacted me were: 1. Bruce Lee felt that to strike back to people who are aggressive shows weakness. 2. He really worked his stomach. I have worked out for years and once I read about his stomach work I felt the affects immediately. 3. I love his thoughts on stress managemnt. I always kind of knew when I ate junk food that it was somehow related to stress. Now that I practice stress reducing excercises, I eat less junk food and I have no desire to eat it. 4. I appreciate his philosophy on total health. Like I said, what I read has totally changed my ideas on a lot of things. Thank you for an awesome book!

Bruce Lee was always some one that I always Looked up to. He truly had a strong Vibe about Himself&the way he worded things&Put things into Perspective is still very Uplifiting to Me.He was a Very Intelligent Man&a strong Philosopher. this Book truly is Great for self-Esteem&Finding Inner Peace. a Must read.

I was only 2 years old when the Mets won it all in 1986, but reading this book made me feel like I lived through it all. Pearlman does a fantastic job bringing the highlights (and lowlights for that matter) of the 1986 season to life in full detail. A must read for any Mets fan or any fan of baseball.

Stylistically, this is pretty conventional sports-writing, with lots of overwrought melodrama and awkward analogies ("The Boston right-hander had as much right pitching in Game 4 of the World Series as Spuds McKenzie [sic] did distributing political advice"). But Pearlman is a decent story-teller, and as a long-time Mets fan, with fond memories of 1986, I found the story compelling. While hardly comprehensive, the book offers interesting behind the scenes perspectives, albeit with a strong emphasis on the most negative aspects. Even more general baseball fans, with no emotional ties to the year or team, should find much of interest here. And, of course, it's endlessly fascinating (and fruitless) to look at the young Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, and the amazing chemistry of this team, and wonder what might have been.

I'm the type of guy who likes to read only the sports section, but I must admit,that this was one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. It goes into great details and discusses the off field antics that made the 86' Mets so notorious. If you are looking for a great read, pick it up!

Maybe every woman secretly loves the bad boys, but maybe it's because they're fun! 1986 was the most fun I've ever had in my life. That wild ride with that baseball team was the most profoundly satisfying baseball season I've ever experienced, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Frankly, after years of suffering with the Mets of Grant's Tomb, the Mets and their long-suffering fans were ready to cut loose, to dance and sing and win, win, win. Where others saw obnoxiousness and arrogance, we saw exuberance and cameraderie. We saw teamwork, butt-busting effort, and hard-earned celebrations. The Sox fans often maintain that the 86 Series was lost on an error as if the Mets should NOT have capitalized on their jittery Schiraldi and Stanley, and the tough-but-fragile Bill Buckner (BTW, off Buckner, everybody-- he was a hell of a ball player and a very classy guy, and you guys sure are doing a lot better in the post-season than we are recently!)

It was pure, unadulterated joy, the kind of joy only amazing baseball can afford, and for that, I can never think of those guys as bad. The Mets are a good, contending team now, but when I see the DVDs of the '86 Series, I remember really transcendent baseball played by really vivid personalities. I just loved them.

I loved the book for granting a reader the real behind-the-scenes look at how the 1986 Mets were assembled, how they managed to execute so well for one season, and how it could never last. Really, the epilogue is almost unnecessary since Met fans and most baseball diehards know how it played out in the subsequent years. The beauty and quality of the book is in the background material: it explains what the beat writers have always know, what real insiders just assume as common knowledge amongst themselves, and confirms some of the best and worst suspicions I've always had about the players and management.

See, I loved watching Gooden pitch, I tried to emulate that easy motion as much as I could, but I never had the talent, not even close. I knew something was wrong in 1986 but hey, they won it all... but in 1987, it could no longer be ignored. His waste of talent, the mismanagement of his ability, all there to be seen as early as 1986, 1987. There was enough time to rectify the situations, really, but the sad truth is all too common: many of us lack the kind of courage and will to overcome our problems, much less face them.

As sad as Gooden's decline was, Staweberry's was irrevocably tinged with meanness that almost made it a just outcome. Still, talent wasted is common and always tragic.

What I liked most about the book, then, was the confirmations of my opinions about most the crew that I'd considered, and the revelations I did not. For example, I always admired Keith Hernandez and the book gave him additional depth of character that made him my favorite Met again (Sorry Edgardo Alfonzo). For another example, that Gary Carter was really all about himself was a bit of a surprise to me, because he played a selfless position on-field. I could see it, I admit its truth, but it's still a bit of a dichotomy.

In all, a terrific book and a quick read. I withheld the fifth star because clearly, the author dislikes Strawberry intensely and it showed in the depictions. True or not, I could see the author's contempt and while I agree with it, I tried to view and evaluate the book as a historian might, so I put the ding there.

This is the kind of sports writing I would love to see published daily/ weekly. It's too bad you can only read about what really happened in 1986 in 2007, when enough time has passed to expire the statute of limitations on any kind of material consequence.

-C

This is a great book showing the scout perspective. The other half is the Handbook For Scout Masters 1914 recently reprinted. The two show both sides of the picture and are both funny from their angle.

Lot of info is out of date here, such as their dietary and first aid, but that is what makes it fun.

Superb book. In the world we live in there is constant change, this book demonstrates that somethings are timeless.

I was a Cub Scout, Weblo, and Boy Scout for years. Some of my fondest memories are of times spent with my fellow scouts around the campfire, telling stories, jokes, and just being BOYS. This edition reminds me of the pre-PC and pre-secular Boy Scouts, when scouting was almost a calling for teenage boys, and certainly contributed to their moral and ethical upbringings. In this day of anti-God, anti-anything-as-long-as-it's-secular-humanism, it's refreshing to read a handbook with advice on serving one's God, and that it should be a regular part of one's life. Kudos to the publisher for re-introducing a classic.

As my title says good for starters, they will learn a lot about fishing equipment and about the fishes they intent to fish

The book is abit basic but provides a good review for the experienced fisherman and an good source for forgotten knots and techniques. For the beginning fisherman the book is excellent. I hadn't fished for over 20 years and I found the book to be a good refresher for me and recommend it for all but the experienced fisherman.

This book includes everything a person needs to know about fishing in saltwater, also a complete guide on every type of fish. I highly recommend it.

I am a novice and needed as much info as possible. It is a very informative book with detailed diagrams and pictures. Very helpful. It was better than expected.

I've recently taken up saltwater fishing and have purchased a few "how to" books. This is the best by far. I found the narrative and photographs to be quite informative and easy to understand. Loads of practical information. Great rigging pictures and explanations how to use. Authour gives "fishing tips" by the fish which are very insightful & helpful. Apply some of the tips already and have a few halibut and yellow tail to prove it.

Very well presenetd and written.

What would it be like to go to work every day and play baseball? What if baseball were your job? How is working baseball different than playing baseball?

There is the premise of Men at Work. Baseball is a job. Those who do well at the job, do thing similar to anyone who is successful in any job.

George Will had the foresight of including two first ballot Hall of Famers in his study of 4 baseball workers. Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn. The other two workers, Tony LaRussa and Orel Hershiser, are no slouches.

The text is somewhat dated. It does not consider the steroid era or the parallel home run record orgy. No labor dispute unpleasantness of the nineties.

The idea that Major League Baseball is a job, an employment, a vocation, a craft is important for anyone serious about the study of modern baseball.

As a person who likes baseball but is nothing more than an avid fan I found this book great. I like the game but just don't know much about it. This book was basic enough for me to get and (more importantly) stay in. I have come across books that get so loaded down with data that I couldn't get through them. Will's book DOES give plenty of hard data but it was still able to keep my enjoyment level up. If you want to learn more about the ins and outs of baseball, this is a great book to start with because it also gives a number of different perspectives from a number of key positions in the game.

If you're looking for a good baseball read, look further. The absolute twerpiness of George Will comes across in this book. It's clear that when he was a youngster, he was the nerdy kid in the schoolyard. This is the typical example of a pinheaded intellectual trying to sound like an average Joe by writing about sports. Give me a break George Will!

George Will's passions for America's great pastime is evident in every story. He goes behind the scenes for the details and strategy that is involved in every pitch. His look at the manager, pitcher, hitter and fielder will add insight to the game and garner a deeper appreciation of the game within the game. A great baseball book!

This is a fascinating journey into the national pastime. George Will writes economically and wisely not only about what the game is, but also what it once was. The evolution of the sport - although that is certainly not the focus of the book - is illuminating for anyone who is interested in how institutions come to change. Will brings a deep explanation to the chief facets of the game - managing, pitching, hitting and defense. Ultimately they groove together to form a gorgeous tapestry of understanding. There's a word for this kind of non-fiction work: indispensable.

I have found this book to be a very useful tool in developing training drills and improving our basic techniques. The diagrams are easy to follow and textual information clear. Well worth having in the library.

Rather pointless book. The images provided are utterly useless, being a few cm in size, badly drawn and providing no information whatsoever. I utterly regret buying this book. For kendo kata in particular I would recommend 'Looking at a Far Mountain: A Study of Kendo Kata'.

This book really helped my groundwork (seated and kneeling kata.) I really recommend this book for anyone who has just started any form of Iai or Ken. It really focuses on the details and core fundamentals of footwork, moving while kneeling and seated, and cutting with your entire body. It is as it's title suggests: a primer on practice drills. It answers all those questions you cant get answered in an hour and a half class. It is really aimed at the novice or someone who has been away from their art for a while. Either way, it is a good buy.

I love the way this book was written. The descriptions of the moves reflect mastery of the author. I appreciated the easy to follow diagrams and the instructions on how to read them. This is a definite buy for anyone interested in Iaido.

For Basics on the Martial arts this book is worth every penny!