Subjects:  1. Cross-country running    2. Running & Jogging    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Track & Field   

Reviews (30)

Triathlon 101
Excellent beginners books for those preparing to enter this sport.This book is just what i was looking for, given all the questions I had surrounding Triathlon training.The input given in the book on the equipment recommendations proved useful in pointing me in the right direction.A great buy.

Great introduction to Triathlon
This was the first book on Triathlon racing and training that I bought - several years ago.Its a well-written introduction to the sport and to training.An easy read, it covers all the basics - swim technique, biking mileage and the ever popular run.
skimpy on details
I really can't recommend this book.I'm training for my first triathlon so consider myself a newbie -- but this book did ~not~ gve me the info I need.Advice like "wear a helmet", "drink lots of fluids"... duh!!! - my 8 year old son knows that.The author recommends to get help elsewhere on swimming and cycling techniques because the details are beyond the scope of the book.I don't need a book for this kind of advice!I read another older book (can't remember the name at the moment) which gave good solid advice -- even for a newbie like myself.The mechanics of the freestyle stroke ~can~ be explained in simple terms by someone who understands and knows how to write.In short: too much filler, not enough meat.That said, it was not a total waste -- I was able to glean some facts obliquely referenced in the text. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Sports Medicine    4. Track And Field Athletics    5. Training    6. Triathlon    7. Multidiscipline sports   

Reviews (52)

disappointing for beginner
I had read all the rave reviews so was disappointed by my own experience.I am a new-comer to multisport competition.I found this book to be too much theory and not enough practicality; what was practical was presented in an incohesive way.I could see this being good for the serious triathlete, but for me, I found better use out of Eric Harr's book and on the internet.

Like reading a scientific paper
This book went above and beyond everything that I expected. The author gives references for virtually every point that he makes. He is clear about his standpoint when it comes to a lot of issues, such as POSE running, and explains his reasoning.
Good for someone wanting to progress
This is the only pure triathlon book I own, so I can't compare, but it answered 95% of the questions I had about how I go about improving from being a bunch finisher. The other 5%, well I suppose the author has to draw the line on detail somewhere. For example, the section on swimming skills is a 3-4 page summary of the total immersion swimming book.
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Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Track & Field    5. Training    6. Triathlon    7. Fitness training    8. Multidiscipline sports   

Reviews (4)

Not Very Inspiring
For those who are unfamiliar with Gebrselassie, they will find this book incredibly boring. I, an avid runner, found this book to be a pretty horrible tribute to the greatest distance runner in the last 25 years. Most running books describe races in quite detail and focus on each of the tiring laps that a runner endures. This book on the otherhand basically skips over that saying "Haile won this, got the world record...or Haile lost this, and all of Ethiopia was angry at him." It doesn't go into any detail though. Rather than Haile the runner, this book focuses on Haile the businessman which is not what he is known for nor is it was most people even care much about.

Great runner, mediocre book
Geb is one of my five favorite runners of all time, but this book is a little sappy even for me.By all accounts, a phenomenal athlete and a great guy; but the author could have been a bit more objective.The writing is a bit uneven as well.

Good but not "the Greatest"
I enjoyed this book but did not find it to be a compelling read. I found the writing somewhat choppy as if Mr. Dennison had strung together a number of individual pieces. Gebrselassie can certainly take his place among the greatest runners of all time and this book is a fine tribute. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Biography: sport    5. Sports & Recreation / General    6. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (8)

must read for female athletes, coaches and parents!
if you are a female athlete or you work with female athletes this is a great book for you. it is a quick, easy read, full of personal stories and examples. very motivating, excellent book!

Outstanding book!
Let me just start by saying that I've had this book for 2 years and could never get my daughter and husband to read it. So, on our way to yet anothertourney, I had 5 hours to read it out loud to them. They loved it!My husband is a coach for our local girls softball team, and we had just won the district championship and were going to "state" a couple of weeks later, and my husband liked the book so much that he used it as his "bible" during the practices leading up to the tourney, and also at the tourney.This was our 3rd trip to "state", never having won the championship.But this year we won, due partly to this little book.It's written in conversational form, and is a very easy read, yet it packs a punch.These ideas are great, and implementing them into a "team" picture was easy.They were great team-builders also.Our team was so close during this tourney, and this helped their play.I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone that plays or coaches anything.(Also, this book is not just about sports...the big picture is about girls in general, and how they can achieve their goals by implementing these ideas into their everday lives.)Get this for the girl or coach in your life!

Great book for Girls (both old and young)!!
This is a wonderful book for girls of all ages, but especially for pre-teen and teenage girls.I loved it!I would recommend it for anyone who has daughters! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Competition (Psychology)    2. Conduct of life    3. Girls    4. Personal Growth - Success    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. Sports Psychology    8. Volleyball    9. Women athletes    10. Women's Studies - General    11. Young women    12. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    13. Sports & Recreation / General   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (1)

The Real Experience of Running
This book really starts in Chapter 4 for the running enthusiast. The first three chapters provide an insight into Paula Radcliffe's childhood. The final 17 chapters provide indepth descriptions of the motivation, injury, pain, perseverance and acheivement of a deicated runner. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the emotional, psychological and physical characteristics of a serious and successful athlete. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Sports - General    6. Track & Field    7. ATHLETES_BIOGRAPHY    8. Biography & Autobiography / Sports    9. Biography: sport    10. Track & field sports, athletics   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Ethnic Cultures - Native Americans    6. Marathon running    7. Runners (Sports)    8. Running & Jogging    9. Sports - General    10. Track & Field    11. United States    12. Biography: sport    13. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (7)

Well written but not my cup of tea
I'm too far removed from the author to appreciate this book. This memoir is written with the assumption that the reader is familiar with his articles on cricket, is as avid fan of the game of cricket and an avid reader. Well, I have the third qualification for this book except that I haven't read his favorite book: Vanity Fair. To someone who follows cricket will come away with much more from reading this book.

Lives up to its reputation
Beyond a Boundary reached number 3 in the UK Observer Sport Monthly's poll of the best fifty sports books of all time.It is burdened with enormous praise; amongst the quotes included on the cover are: `To say "the best cricket book ever written" is pifflingly inadequate praise' and `Great claims have been made for [Beyond a Boundary] since its first appearance in 1963: that it is the greatest sports book ever written; that it brings the outsider a privileged insight into West Indian culture; that it is a severe examination of the colonial condition.All are true.'
Fortunately about more than Cricket
The best blurb endorsing Beyond a Boundary is "To say `the best cricket book ever written' is piffingly inadequate praise."It succinctly conveys this is a great book, is about cricket, is about other things as well, and is written in language you don't use that often.Beyond a Boundary was published in 1963, but was written over most of the previous 35 years or so.The author, CLR James, was a West Indian Cricket fan, journalist, and patriot.The book is organised according to his reminisces of other Cricket players, most significantly better players than James (although it sounds like James was a quality player, just not an international class player).Now, any American thinking about reading this book already knows there is no such thing as a "famous cricket player".These people may be national heroes in other places, but one of the most famous cricket players, WG Grace, was to me just a name that reminds me of a floor wax company. So be forewarned that James is prone to using phrases like "the story of which is known to all" when for me little was known.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ball Games    2. Cricket    3. Essays    4. Social conditions    5. Sociology Of Sports    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Sports and state    9. West Indies    10. Caribbean islands    11. Cultural studies    12. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    13. USA   

Reviews (5)

A worthy companion to Kiraly's BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Like Joe Eszterhas, the author of SHOWGIRLS and FLASHDANCE, the parents of Karsh Kiraly emigrated to the US from Hungary, where a repressive regime had limited their rights to work and practice free thought.Kiraly shares with Joe Eszterhas some of the same beliefs in the goodness of America, a land where you can make as much money and accure as much cultural capital as you possibly can.And Kiraly has had it all.In CHAMPIONSHIP VOLLEYBALL it is like having a coach over your shoulder at all times, a coach who is going to teach you to block, bump, pass and spike step by step, with careful diagrams and a consistent "you can do it" attitude. Great book!
I've been coaching volleyball for 7 years now. This is the best book I've found on skills and strategies. It helped me go from the basics, which is all the farther high school volleyball got when I played, to the advanced game it is today. Easy to read and understand, also.

Nice. Not very thorough. Offers interesting concepts.
The book covers the basic techniques and tactics. It is mostly a description of the author's view of how to play, and less a complete description of the possibilities, implications, pros and cons of thevarious options.Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Volleyball    4. Sports & Recreation / Volleyball   

Reviews (1)

Exactly what I needed to get in shape for softball
Let's face it, I'm a soft lump right now and 10 weeks away I start my 3rd season of softball (co-ed work league).Last year I was fat, slow, had a mediocre to poor season AND pulled a hammy during play offs.Since then I gained 10 lbs.
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Subjects:  1. Baseball - General    2. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    3. Softball    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Training   

Reviews (11)

good basic book
This book helped a great deal as abeginning volleyball instructor

VOLLEYBALL DRILL BOOK;GAME ACTION DRILLS
THE BOOK HAS THE SAME DRILLS AS ANYOTHER BOOK NO NEW DRILLS DESCRIPTION VERY VAGUE.

It's volleyball, not rocket science
I'm trying to help myself and my team improve so I bought this game action drills book. There are no pictures to demonstrate proper stances, only X's and O's. I felt like I was in a Pro Football locker room. The book is obviously aimed at the experienced coach who understands the jargon and the diagrams. I found my help at the local library in the kids volleyball section. [....] ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Coaching    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Training    5. Volleyball    6. Sports & Recreation / Volleyball   

Subjects:  1. Coaching    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Volleyball    5. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (6)

Great Running Book
This is my favorite running book by far.Alberto Salazar is obviously trying to convey the best information he can to the reader and he does a great job.The book is weak in the area of training schedules but strong on virtually everything else.Most of the book has been useful to me on a daily basis.The only real complaint I have is that the author, like many of the older elite runners , does not personally do as much stretching as he recommends for the reader, does not use a heart rate monitor, etc.But he, as a coach, recommends it to other runners while not having a whole lot of personal experience and it shows.I use both so sometimes I read between the lines.He also does not understand cycling and its effect on the runner.A not uncommon malady among runners.

Great Resource
I'm a novice runner wanting to take it to the next level and needed some advise and inspiration.I found that I was doing several things wrong and I have made major improvements in my running since buying the book.I now have a plan of action for continued improvement, and this book can take me there and beyond. Great resource book for all road runners:beginners & elite
Since Alberto Salazar was a former world-class runner Read more

Subjects:  1. Marathon running    2. Running    3. Running & Jogging    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Track & Field    7. Jogging    8. Sports & Recreation / General    9. Track & field sports, athletics   

Subjects:  1. Cricket    2. General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports & Recreation / Cricket   

Reviews (3)

excellent book on the early social history of Indian cricket
Ram Guha is both an environmental historian and an avid cricket enthusiast. He dons the latter avatar here to write a fantastic history of Indian cricket. This is not just a history of cricket, but a history of Bombay in the late 19th-early 20th centuries as well, along with commentary on the battle fought by the Untouchables, and a biography of the Baloo brothers, all rolled into one. He also introduces what he calls the 'Empire of Cricket' hypothesis- that the English were encouraged that the Indians took to cricket, because they thought it was some sort of justification for their imperial mission.
One of the best books on Indian cricket
The title is deservingly flattering but then there are only a handful of Indian books on Indian cricket (Guha's own "Wickets in the East" is the 5 star rare-to-find masterpiece.) The book begins with a meticulous and stirring history & commentary on early Indian cricket. The focus gradually shifts onto the Quadrangular-Pentangular 'communal cricket' in Bombay from 1900s to the 1940s until MK Gandhi wisely raised his walking stick andput a stop to it. The high point of this book is Guha's reliving the cricketing struggles and exploits of the chamar (a still oppressed Indian caste) Palwankar brothers. After this Dr. Guha moves onto more contemporary stories in Indian cricket. This falls flat because in my opinion, it is tooearly to talk about the social ramifications of Indian cricket. (FYI, the Indian cricket is usually comforabally upper caste/class, despite the barriers broken by the Palwankar brothers many years ago.) But the story of early Indian cricket, the Palwankar brothers, and the description of early Indo-Pak cricket are more than enough to make this book a worthy read. Guha's writing talent lies in being able to provide a passionate commentary to this history while making sure one does not intrude on the other.

Indian cricket pre-Test History
Why did the Indian sub-continent take to cricket so completely? And why can't India have a proper sporting relationship with Pakistan? Why are the fans so passionate, and why is Sachin Tendulkar revered as a God?Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - India & South Asia    2. Cricket    3. History    4. History: World    5. History of specific subjects    6. India   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (4)

Deep Biography of Coe and Ovett at the Height of Britain's Middle D
This is a very detailed and rich biography not only of Ovett and Coe but of history of the mile particularly from the British view point. As the author notes, the emergency of Ovett and Coe strides right into British middle distance runners dominating the world scene in the late 70s and early 80s with Cram, Elliott and Moorcroft. The Ovett and Coe duo are so different in racing styles, personalities and family life as Ovett emerges from blue collar roots with a very strong guarded mother and wonderful grand parents while Coe comes from a more upper class conservative family coached by an efficient and strong willed father. Butcher captures both athlete's abilities in detail with Ovett's amazing ability to run the sprints and high jump at early age to running events aside from 800 and 1500 to the 5K ,cross country and even jumping into a half marathon. Coe develops slightly slower but run as if a greyhound taking the pace to avoid contact with his 119 pounds particularly dominating the 800 while he and Ovett trade the 1500 and mile back and forth. The differences in mental and emotional make up between the two men is captured well in an excellent photograph of the two after a surprise loss to a relative unknown in a championship 800 where Coe literally looks crushed while Ovett has dangled his arm around Coe while looking off with chin up as in "well another day". The comparison between the Hagg and Anderson (includes interviews) and Ovett and Coe are well done as Ovett and Coe dominates the English sports news. Americans may require a little more patience as the author does discuss the world's best milers that include Walker, Bayi, Wessingham along with the US's Scott and Maree but the focus is on the English with running clubs and their depth of great runners at that time. Also, unlike Coorder Nelson's great book on Jim Ryan, this book has more depth into the history of middle distance running and the athletes' personal lives. Amusing that the author identifies Kenny Moore as an excellent writer but identifies him as a fourth place marathoner at the Montreal games when it was actually at Munich and he compounds the New York Marathon and Boston Matron's of Rosy Ruiz into one race. The book also contains some interesting British humor and phrases. I wish there was a more detail on the races in Moscow particularly the 1500 as Coe steals one from Ovett to avenge his 800 upset. It is quite tragic that Ovett became so ill at the LA Olympics that he became hospitalized but continued to compete and make he finals in both the 800 and 1500. He literally looks like death going into the last lap of the 1500. And Coe comes back from devastating illness to get in world class shape after being written off to be the only man to win successive Olympic 1500 titles.This was a glorious time for Track & Field when these two men from the same country seesawed world records back and forth almost weekly.
Owett and Coe
Very good book, well written, not boring at all, interesting information not only about the lifes of the two runners subject of the book but also of the sport of running in general those days in Europe. I am a "serious" runner a serious reader and also a writer myself. As such, I collect all sorts of books about running. Many are forgetable, this is not the top of the line but very good and worth reading

The Race of Their Lives
Mr. Butcher has produced an outstanding book. All great books start with a great story and this a great story. This rivalry began in the mid '70's and carried through to the '84 LA Olympics. Mr. Butcher has a runner's knowledge of the sport and a writer's command of the language. This book was meticulously researched , many of the principles have participated in the telling of this tale. The "British" slang is sometimes is difficult to follow but does not detract from the telling of the story. I like the fact that Mr. Butcher does not hesitate to share his opinions. This is a GREAT READ for any track fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Track & Field    6. Biography & Autobiography / Sports    7. Biography: sport    8. SPORTS_BIOGRAPHY    9. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (1)

Great Advice From "The Greats!"
This book is a must for those coaches whom are just starting their coaching journey. You receive priceless advice from todays all time greats of the game. This is the WHOS WHO of todays softball coaching world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Coaching    2. Coaching - Baseball    3. Softball    4. Softball for children    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation   

Subjects:  1. Marathon running    2. Running & Jogging    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Track & Field    6. Training    7. Jogging    8. Sports & Recreation / Running & Jogging    9. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (4)

Great for Beginners!
This is a superb book for beginners. Anyone who questions its "slow and easy" approach has never watched friends take on fitness programs with great enthusiasm, only to get hurt or lose interest a couple of months later. This book's number one goal is to keep that from happening by setting goals that Salazar describes as "so easy that you'll always be wanting more." It gains credibility coming from Salazar, who was renowned for his grueling training schedules. My guess is that a lot higher fraction of people who listen to him will be running a year from now than of those who risk an accelerated program not suitable for untrained beginners. The book is also loaded with answers to questions that beginners ask all the time, including many that will apply to beginning racers. If you've been running for a year or two, you may already know most of the answers, but in those first few months it's all new, and this book covers the ground nicely, in a pleasant, easy-to-read style. It's also loaded with entertaining a necdotes. Did you know that Salazar once ran several miles of a marathon with a side stitch so bad it hurt for weeks afterward? No wonder he had what it took to win! Also fun is the fact that Salazar shares the stage with his co-author, giving the book a mix of world-class and "average runner" perspectives. It's an unusual approach that works nicely, because the co-author can write from experience about issues that front-running Salazar never had to face. Bottom line: if you've been sedentary for a few years and are wanting to do something about it, this is your book. If you've been running for a few years (as I have), it's a great gift for that friend who's thinking about starting an exercise program.

Inspiring for my plans for self-improvement...
I have always heard (and observed) that runners have better endurance and overall fitness.I had tried jogging, mostly after dark, to try and get "up to speed" with other people in my biking club, but gave up after feeling faint.After reading this book, running doesn't seem as intimidating; I am gradually improving my cardiovascular fitness, so I can excel at the sports I love.The discussion about breathing, form, and stretching were especially helpful.The book was inspiring to me.

Read this review and save yourself $...
It's sad that one of the greatest distance runners of his generation has lent his name to a book that purports to require a couple of hundred pages to transform people into 12-15 mile per week fitness joggers.Read more

Subjects:  1. Reference    2. Running & Jogging    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Jogging    6. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (7)

Beyond the X's and O's
Of the numerous football guides I've read, this is the firstbook that actually went beyond the X's and O's of football. As the title says, it not only discusses the on-field game, but also preparation, team building, and the mental side of the game. A Great Coaching Reference
A book that any coach should have.It gets the wheels going in your mind allowing you to develop new schemes.Its interesting to read other famous coach's ideas on topics like the Double Wing, Passing from your own endzone, and using the 50 front.

WOW, THIS IS AWESOME
I just got a job coaching and thought that I would pick up a book to help me in learning the ins and outs of the game. I have found it here. Thi is one excelent book. I played some college ball and now am going to coach,but I have learned a ton of things that o would not know until you startresearching the game. EXCELENT.. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Coaching    2. Coaching - Football    3. Football    4. Football - General    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. American football    8. Rugby football    9. Teaching of a specific subject