Best Boating
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"This book tells the true story of the nine young men from Seattle, Washington, then a far west, rustic town, who won the rowing championship for the United States in the infamous 1936 Berlin Olympics, presided on by Hitler."
"I am sitting here, just having finished the book, with tears drying on my face. I have just spent the last hour turning the last pages the book and sobbing. These boys lived this life, this dream, this dedication, this passion, this experience. Thank god we have men like these, who have daughters like this, who work with story tellers like this one."
From one of Outside magazine’s “Literary All-Stars” comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever, down the entire length of the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon, during the legendary flood of 1983. " Kevin Fedarko's new brilliant work ... is the story about wilderness and the American mind, albeit an American mind juiced on Class V adrenaline... Perhaps because we sympathize so strongly with the characters of The Emerald Mile --thanks in no small part to Fedarko's flowing prose--you'll feel yourself lurching along with them on wooden boats, in ocher-hued canyons, beneath cobalt skies, into the frenzied thrashings of the Colorado river as the very lanscape of the West attempts to choke it." "Kevin Fedarko's remarkable The Emerald Mile re-creates an incredible voyage through the flood-swollen Grand Canyon in such heart-pounding detail that you need to pause every few pages to catch your breath... "His poetic and descriptive writing should only brighten his accolades and helps his non-fiction book read like a fast-paced fiction adventure...It isn't necessary to be a history buff or whitewater expert to enjoy this story... With meticulous research, notes and epilogue, Fedarko tells a satisfying story that is quite an entertaining ride." "Fedarko's effortlessly engaging narrative... is a labor of passion from an adventurous journalist who still calls the Grand Canyon home." "Grua's wild ride on the Colorado, how it mirrored his mercurial personality, is just on part of Fedarko's story; however, the rive, which runs through seven states, and the canyon, rich in both geological and political history, prove to be the real protagonists." Kevin Fedarko. lives in northern New Mexico and works as a part-time river guide in Grand Canyon National Park. In addition to his travel narratives in Outside , where he worked as a senior editor, Fedarko’s work has appeared in Esquire, National Geographic Adventure , and other publications, and has been anthologized in The Best American Travel Writing in 2004 and 2006.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I lived in the area so visited the Glen Canyon Dam site before construction began."
"The history of Europeans awareness of the Grand Canyon goes way back to the Coronado Expedition, but the real history has been made in the last 100 years, and Kevin Fedarko draws you into the ancient, and modern world around the Grand Canyon and the Mighty Colorado."
"It slowly builds all the elements needed to tell the story of how the Colorado River was transformed - from the time of first recorded discovery, to the first exploration by John Wesley Powell, all the way through how the river was affected by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam."
"It leaves a lot to ponder about our priceless natural resources and our sacred duty to preserve them."
"Also interesting to note that this huge flood was a direct result of an El Nino event and since we're experiencing that phenomenon this year again, one wonders if any other impending disasters are lurking somewhere down the road--especially since our infrastructure all over the country is getting old, and also our past "cost saving" compromises may be compromising safety."
"While reading I find myself standing on the edge, or down in the canyon, under the stars, listening to the water, or admiring the rocks, gasping at the sights, no matter how many times I see them. The Powell expedition starting as the continent was linked by rail."
"His writing elevates the most mundane features of his subject in the same way the dory runners were brutally aware of the slightest nuances of their crafts."
"However I had not heard the story of the great speed descent of the Grand Canyon during the largest recorded flood in 1983. Not only does it tell the tale of the midnight launch of the Emerald Mile and the riveting narrative of the descent of the canyon in a small wooden dory, but it sets the stage chapter by chapter of the history of the river, the story of the Glen Canyon dam, the great flood of 1983, the Hoover dam, John Wesley Powell and his exploration of the Colorado River, and Marty Litton's little dory raft company."
In the ninth installment of the Trawler Trash Series, the predicaments pile up faster than any normal man can handle, but Breeze is no normal man.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I expected it to end several times but realized there was still more to read."
"Ed has hit it out of the park with this new installment of Breeze adventures."
"I have read all nine Breeze books."
"I've enjoyed the series but didn't feel as connected to the story this time."
"Just wish Ed Robinson could write them as fast as I read them."
"Have read all first eight of Ed Robinson’sTrawler Trash series living aboard the Miss Leap of Faith and traveling thru-out Florida’s playground of Islands!"
"I liked this more introspective Meade Breeze as troubles seek him out and he and his new lady friend -- Devon -- cruise the Caribbean and the Keys on 'Leap of Faith'."
"I try to start one of these books on a weekend, I prefer good weather when I can sit outside."
Best Water Sports
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
"Rantz is the main character in this book, and the book begins with Brown meeting a dying Rantz before transitioning back in time to Rantz’s first semester of college. Sections on Ulbrickson’s struggle to produce a winning team and sections on Hitler and Goebbels planning the Berlin Olympics illustrate the long and pivotal road to the crew team events."
Best Sports Reference
Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. Dave gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with easy to digest advice and practices on how to build the most critical survival skills. Penned by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival aims to make sure you know your craft.... "With Canterbury's guidance, you'll prepare yourself for any climate and situation and you'll learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature." Written by famous outdoorsman Dave Canterbury, the volume covers everything from the proper knots to know to scavenging edible food in the wilderness. "Get ready for whatever nature could throw your way with this guide on bushcraft, the art of surviving in the woods with as little modern gear as possible. Dave Canterbury is the co-owner and supervising instructor at the Pathfinder School, which USA TODAY named one of the Top 12 Survival Schools in the United States. Dave is the New York Times bestselling author of Bushcraft 101 , Advanced Bushcraft , and The Bushcraft Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In fact, in my library, this book has earned a spot right up next to my SAS Survival Handbook, while this book tends to focus much more on a "communing with the world" mindset, rather than an "overcome and conquer" mentality of the SAS. It's a book that I've read but find myself referring back to remember a certain point or process."
"If you have been camping more that twice you may find this just refresher reading or helpful for future outings."
"I find this book fun and easy to read while it gives good information that prepares you for bushcraft activities. It is a really good book and is full of good information."
"Great book."
"I got this for my husband for Christmas, and he loves it."
"The info is good, but I would like more visual examples as a novice."
"This was a Christmas gift for my grandsons, and they love it!"
"It's not that the author is wrong -- and he clearly knows his stuff -- it's just that he doesn't seem to have struck a balance such that one could pack this book in a bug-out-bag and end up OK."
Best Sports & Outdoors
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
"Rantz is the main character in this book, and the book begins with Brown meeting a dying Rantz before transitioning back in time to Rantz’s first semester of college. Sections on Ulbrickson’s struggle to produce a winning team and sections on Hitler and Goebbels planning the Berlin Olympics illustrate the long and pivotal road to the crew team events."
Best Pacific Northwest United States History
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"This book tells the true story of the nine young men from Seattle, Washington, then a far west, rustic town, who won the rowing championship for the United States in the infamous 1936 Berlin Olympics, presided on by Hitler."
"I am sitting here, just having finished the book, with tears drying on my face. I have just spent the last hour turning the last pages the book and sobbing. These boys lived this life, this dream, this dedication, this passion, this experience. Thank god we have men like these, who have daughters like this, who work with story tellers like this one."
Best American State & Local History
The #1 New York Times –bestselling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany and now the inspiration for the PBS documentary “The Boys of ‘36” For readers of Unbroken , out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It encompasses the convergence of transcendent British boatmaker George Pocock; the quiet yet deadly effective UW men’s varsity coach, Al Ulbrickson; and an unlikely gaggle of young rowers who would shine as freshmen, then grow up together, a rough-and-tumble bunch, writes Brown, not very worldly, but earnest and used to hard work. In doing so, he offers a vivid picture of the socioeconomic landscape of 1930s America (brutal), the relentlessly demanding effort required of an Olympic-level rower, the exquisite brainpower and materials that go into making a first-rate boat, and the wiles of a coach who somehow found a way to, first, beat archrival University of California, then conquer a national field of qualifiers, and finally, defeat the best rowing teams in the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But by taking every sliver of hope, and mixing in superb craftsmanship (from George Pocock), excellent coaching (Al Ulbrickson), and these nine perfectly attuned young men learning together........the result was perfection. It is nice to learn something you never knew, but is common knowledge to an entire set of other people. Concepts from Daniel Brown to consider that are mixed into the story to teach all of us: 1) One of the fundamental challenges in rowing is that when any one member of a crew goes into a slump the entire crew goes with him. The speed of a racing shell is determined primarily by two factors: the power produced by the combined strokes of the oars, and the stroke rate, the number of strokes the crew takes each minute. There are other great ideas to ponder in this epic almost 400 page, could-not-put-down story."
"Astonishing tales of Joe's upbringing and resilience; the unbelievable drive of every member of the rowing teams, their coach Al Ulrickson and boat builder George Pocock; the rivalry between West Coast universities; and then the astonishment of the East Coast clubs and schools confronting the Seattle crew."
"I enjoyed reading the book, although inn places it seemed a little long, or to put it another way; more information than we needed."
"Rantz is the main character in this book, and the book begins with Brown meeting a dying Rantz before transitioning back in time to Rantz’s first semester of college. Sections on Ulbrickson’s struggle to produce a winning team and sections on Hitler and Goebbels planning the Berlin Olympics illustrate the long and pivotal road to the crew team events."
Best Sailing
If you are not rich, but dream of seeing our beautiful world from the deck of your own boat, this book is packed full of practical and spiritual advice to help you cut through the endless marketing and identify what it is you truly need to become a modern sea gypsy and sail away on the greatest adventure of your life…. He became a RYA qualified skipper in 2008 and has lived aboard every day since 2007 when he bought his first boat Marutji – a steel Van de Stadt 34 (pictured on the cover).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Interesting take on considerations made for affordable and comfortable sailboat cruising."
"Reading this book will no doubt prevent many bad purchases or decisions."
"Incredibly brilliant book."
"Even if sailing is not your bailiwick the book is applicable anyone looking for inspiration and advice on how to move forward with experiencing life vice a job."
"Though a little over the top in the beginning, bashing corporate everything, the book settled in to very good and strong information."
"This book is similar to the Fatty Goodlander book "Buy, Outfit, and Sail" but rather than more of the same it was a good complement to the Goodlander book."
"It is amazingly written, full of real info, and extremely funny."
"I think this book has had a bigger impact on my state of mind than books about how to change your state of mind."
Best Swimming
Swim better—and enjoy every lap—with Total Immersion, a guide to improving your swimming from an expert with more than thirty years of experience in the water. Eddie Reese 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 United States Olympic Coach and Head Coach, University of Texas (six-time NCAA champions) The most valuable service a good coach provides is to sharpen your technique, not make you work harder.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am not like Olympic swimmer great b/c that's absurd, but I do swim a lot better and also, the most important thing is that I enjoy swimming now."
"That means low effort against high speed which is basically efficient swimming. A warning - if you like to swing your arms into the water with full force, crank your neck up to gulp air, or create huge froth as you kick your legs wildly, this book is not for you."
"i am a 42 year old who just learned to swim this year."
"This book really makes me think about how I'm swimming."
"The point is that I found this book helpful even as a neophyte in the water, though I think the people who will profit most from it will be people who can already swim adequately but want to improve, although Laughlin stresses that anyone from beginners through competitive athletes can benefit. I think that as a beginning swimmer if I had read the book without first watching the DVD I would have gotten very little out of it, and would have probably given the book a lower rating. As it is I see the book as an indispensable companion for the DVD, and really think they should be sold as a set, the alternative being to profusely illustrate a new edition of the book with numerous photographs. The DVD is relatively expensive, and if you have some swimming experience the book will have more value on its own than it does for beginners like me, but in all cases the book and DVD are mutually reinforcing, and are of much greater help when used together. If you want to be a better freestyle swimmer, this book can help you."
"Understand also that I'm old, a senior who led an active outdoor life until my knees gave out, and I washed up into the backwater of swimming and kayaking, all that remains for the older athlete when your legs give out. There are a lot of similarities between TI swimming and kayaking, as both are somewhat concerned with a principle of that naval architects call "hull speed." for every description, and speaks excessively of "training" and "drills," which may appeal to a certain class of competitive athlete interested in winning races, but leaves me dead on arrival. A competitive swimmer or triathlete would understandably disagree because coaching, training, drills and dedication may be music to his ears. But TI needs to hire a professional technical writer to rewrite a version with illustrations for the common man who isn't a competitive swimmer or triathlete, and who isn't interested in personal bests or races, a version for somebody who just wants to learn from good pictures and illustrations with well-designed, descriptive captions, and wants to swim effortlessly and gracefully in a noncompetitive world of his own."