Reviews (6)

Excellent Book!
I have several books on dehydrating your own trail meals and this iseasily the best. It is concise and full of good ideas and recipes. The guidance is flexible enough for the lightweight backpacker or for the canoe or pack mule traveler. For example, some of the recipes call for a dutch oven (too bulky and heavy for the lightweight backpacker) and others are suitable for a one pot meal (ideal for the lightweight backpacker).
Trail Food Drying
Good book about the subject. No frills, but lots of good info in a small package.

straightforward drying advice
I've had this book for a few years now, and have read it cover to cover several times.It gives good advice on how to dry everything from plain vegetables to your leftover dinner.I even started to dehydrate my own eggs,and let me tell you they come back wonderfully.Great book that will have you tossing aside those $6.00 nasty premade meals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Cookery (Dried foods)    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Drying    5. Food    6. General    7. Hiking    8. Methods - Canning & Preserving    9. Outdoor Skills    10. Outdoor cookery    11. Outdoor recreation    12. Sports    13. Sports & Recreation    14. Active outdoor pursuits    15. Preserving    16. Sports & Recreation / Camping   

Reviews (12)

Clears up the muddy water
I've hunted since the 60's. I got serious about Whitetails around 92'.
Advanced Mapping
Finally! An excellent book I can't imagine any serious hunter not owning! Before reading this book, it took me years of mistakes and hours of wasted time in the wrong spots to hunt. It all makes sense when I compare my few encounters of success, with the great information provided in this well-written book.I can't wait to see an "Advanced Mapping" edition!!!! Please Brad, share more of this great advice!

The Master of Topography.
Brad Herndon is a master at using the terrain to tag whitetailed deer.Before reading this book, I knew whitetails used terrain funnels to travel, but I did not understand how to recognize them.All of that changed when I read 'Mapping Trophy Bucks.'I can now view a topo map of an area I've never set foot on and pick out the best places for a hunt.My deer sightings have gone up tenfold!!
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Subjects:  1. Deer hunting    2. Hunting - Deer Hunting    3. Hunting - General    4. Hunting Sports    5. Outdoor Skills    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. White-tailed deer hunting    9. Domestic animals & pets   

Reviews (14)

Excellent Book!
This was by far the best book that I've read on owning a boat and living aboard (and we've even been passed it around the marina).This book was a great resource and was worth much than its cost.Very highly recommended!

More like how to live aboard a barge.
Unfortuately, the book seems to be written much from an RV or houseboat mentality. The major factor in a choice to live aboard a boat is expense, or at least I gather from this read. Much more useful is anything by the Pardeys--always useful classics, or more recently FitzGeralds "Sea-Steading"

Really Helpful
This book far exceeded all of our expectations.If you want a book on living aboard while underway or even just cruising, get another book (like the Pardey book).But the author says that himself in the first chapter.Living aboard is just about living aboard, perhaps even right at the dock.If you already know all this, then find another book.On the other hand, my husband Will and I think that this is the most helpful boating book we've ever read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boat living    2. Boating - General    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Sailing - General    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - Repair & Maintenance    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Transportation   

Editorial Review

Maybe you're a novice who has yet to squeeze into that first pair of sexy Lycra shorts. Or perhaps you're a seasoned racer who is seeking ways to become stronger and faster. Whatever the case, you will be well served by Ed Pavelka's comprehensive guide, which takes the reader on a highly readable ride through road cycling--from the basics of handling and maintenance to the subtle intricacies of racing. Instead of asking the reader to take his word on every subject, Pavelka has gathered a cast of Olympians and renowned mechanics to tackle whichever topic reflects his or her strongest suit. Besides the basics, chapters also include in-depth advice on sprinting, hill climbing, using heart monitors effectively, training indoors during the wintry months, and even surviving your commute in the concrete jungle. If that's not enough, Pavelka has devoted an entire section to medical concerns, including overtraining, sore knees, and saddle sores. Read more

Reviews (12)

A good encouragement to cycle more
Some have criticized this book as if it has little useful to say.But, I found it quite helpful, and I have been cycling for most of the last forty years.
Literary equivalent to the energy bar
This book is broken down into short chapters which can each be read in about three to five minutes.Like Bicycling magazine itself, it manages to be accurate and somewhat helpful, albeit completely insubstantial.I found that reading this book inspired me to ride, which is always a good thing. The subject of road cycling, however, is treated in such a superficial and scattershot manner that the book will probably be of little long term benefit.Like a cliff bar, it's sugary, fast acting, short term fuel for the road.

A good book for the the strait racing bike.
This book was written primarily for the strait road/race bicycle, (the one with the curved handlebars). If this is your bike Irecommend it, even more so if you intend to race. However, except for a brief topic of converting a mountain bike for the road, there is no mention of hybrids in the book. Maybe the book was made before they were available, hence the info on converting a mountain bike for the road. If you have a road bike with upright handlebars, (hybrid, comfort, touring), you won't find any mention of your bike in the book. And the pictures and info in the chapter on bicycle parts is all geared toward the road/racing bike.
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Subjects:  1. Bicycle racing    2. Cycling - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Training    6. Cycling    7. bicycles   

Reviews (13)

Good but I'd like an update and correction
Unlike some reviewers who would like to see Brandt describe and bless novel spoking patterns, I concur with his recommendation of traditional spoking. The traditional tangent tension-spoked wheel is one of the most elegant and efficient structures ever devised. A wheelbuilder may choose a rim, hub and spokes at will and so, construct wheels of many kinds that are not available commercially. With skill and care, an amateur may build wheels of professional quality. The traditional wheel may be built to the desired degree of ruggedness vs. weight, and if damaged, can often be made usable with an emergency repair or adjustment.
The Bible
Jobst Brandt may be an extremely cranky on-line persona, but this book is the best guide to how bicycle wheels work. The section on theory is clear and easy to read. I was able to lace, true and ride a wheel based on the instructions found here.

The wheel building bible
Without a doubt, this is the accepted resource for wheel builders.I think the book is a well-written information source for the new and experienced builder.If you want to know how wheels work, this book is for you.The engineering explanations are useful and detailed.Some feel the author is a little old fashioned in his view point on new products and wheel design.That viewpoint is implied in a few places in the book, but I don't feel it is over emphasized. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Automotive technology    3. Cycling    4. Bicycles   

Reviews (6)

Great overall climbing guide
If you don't know where in JTree you would like to climb or if you plan on doing a little bit of all kinds of climbing, this is the book to have.It provides an overview for the whole area with great maps and photographs to easily locate all rocks (and there is a lot of them so the book is thick).Some of the maps and info are out of date and need to be replaced (the Hidden Valley campground/Intersection Rock map and information about showers).I also found myself constantly writing on the map page references for the different rocks.It may also be nice to include a guide on all major toprope, bouldering, and sport climbing sections, although these exist on the web.Overall, I had an amazing trip and knew where to go every day, I just wish I had more than 5 days to climb there.Ooooh, also the book doesn't tell you that you will have no finger tips left or that the ratings are really hard and you shouldn't use them :-)A 5.10c in JTree is apparently not a 5.10c anywhere else, but this is a one of a kind place!

This is the book.
There are others out there, but Vogel's Rock Climbing Joshua Tree is the definitive overall guide that both new and experienced climbers rely upon. However, for more detailed information on routes in specific areas of Joshua Tree (Lost Horse, Indian Cove, Hidden Valley, etc.), don't leave home without Alan Bartlett's excellent guides.
Missing details, but great guide
This is a very comprehensive guide to Joshua Tree for climbers. It is the book that we always take with us as the defintive reference. Generally, the information is accurate and the maps detailing which rock is which in various formations is quite good.Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Guidebooks    3. Joshua Tree National Park    4. Joshua Tree National Park (Cal    5. Joshua Tree National Park (Calif.)    6. Mountaineering    7. Parks & Campgrounds    8. Rock climbing    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Travel - United States    12. United States - Pacific - California    13. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (14)

excellent for beginning and intermediate birders
The alphabetical indexing is excellent for those who have not mastered the taxanomic order as found in most lists and books.The presentation of the song before the identification is useful in honing ones ears.Would like it to be longer than the ~110 species presented.

By far the best bird song training & reviewguide
This is an outstanding CD for learning bird songs.Each song starts with the bird song and then the narrator describes the song and provides a short phrase or description that aids you with identifying it, followed again with the essence of the song.This format allows you to quiz yourself.I bought my first copy two years ago and have bought 5 more to give to friends since then.Everyone has commented that its a great guide.I own several other guides including Birding by Ear and More Birding by Ear and this is by far my favorite.

Highly recommended & exactly what I was looking for.
The CD arrived in the mail yesterday, and I've listened to it once all the way through.The bird songs were recorded in Wisconsin and I live in Connecticut, and I recognized most of the songs as ones I had heard near my house, so it seems that birds selected for inclusion on the CD are widespread enough to make the CD useful for most of the eastern US.
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Subjects:  1. Birds & Birdwatching - General    2. Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology    3. Nature    4. Nature / Birds & Birdwatching    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Reference    7. Audio Adult: Other    8. Birds & Birdwatching    9. Birdsongs    10. Identification    11. Midwest    12. Nature / Field Guide Books    13. North America    14. Northeastern states   

Reviews (7)

Not much concept art of early golden Disney animation period
It is a great book when you want to learn about collors and style in Disney park design, but not much on the period of Dumbo animation and other early disney design and concept art for animation in the golden period of disney animation. Still great paintings and Aquarels (study the techniques) from traveling and the design paintings, for the disney world themeparks. It gave me the Idear of buying a sketchbook for my world traveling.
Not enough Disney
I hate to sound like an ingrate writing this review:Herb Ryman has done some great illustrations.Unfortunately, this book spends too much time showcasing Herb Ryman's non-Disney art--which is pretty mediocre--and not enough space showcasing his Disney work.The highlight of the book--Ryman's first illustration of the soon-to-be-built Disneyland--is spread across two pages, but the page break makes it nearly impossible to decipher what's in the middle of the drawing.(It should have perhaps been on a fold-out, or at least on a single, uninterrupted page.)Other great illustrations, especially early renderings of Tomorrowland, are printed in extremely small 3" images, making them very hard to read.All in all, I'd say don't bother with this book.Ryman's best drawings are already showcased in many other books.

Not so much for Disney historians...
As a general book about the person Herb Ryman, it is very pretty and well made, and deserves 5 stars.Read more

Subjects:  1. Art / Commercial / General    2. Artists, Architects, Photographers    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Business Aspects    6. Disneyland (Calif.)    7. History    8. Painters    9. Ryman, Herbert Dickens    10. Travel / Parks & Campgrounds    11. United States    12. Artists    13. Commercial - General    14. Parks & Campgrounds    15. Travel   

Reviews (16)

Fantastic book for physicians in extreme situations
There are situations, particularly amongst doctors living in the Third World, or even in very remote areas (of any country), that are presented to her, whether or not she is a surgeon. Even if she is a general practitioner, it is the doctor who is duty-bound to help, for she is the most qualified of all and to whom folks will turn to when such situations occur. If she is a Pre-Hospital Care Provider, in disaster or war situations, it is up to her to provide advanced medical procedures, before the patient makes it to the distant hospital. This is a book for those extreme situations, where action must be taken, at a time when conditions are not the ones one would wish for. If you think you might be in that situation, if you plan to stay 6 months in the Amazon jungle amongst the indians near a zone with land conflict, or you plan to work as a GP in catastrophies, I think this is a book you might want to have. The surgeon guy might not be around when you need him most...There are times for administering pills, and there are times that require a ligature. Of course, you *know* that.
Was in Africa with Author - A Great Combat Medic
Hugh "Doc" Coffee's book is in use by many SF medics and other folks who often go in harms way. Coffee gets right to the bottom line in dealing with the subject of field trauma first aid and "meatball surgery."He learned it the hard way during the guerrilla war in Guatemala -- patching up troops on hilltops where no doctor would go. I may be biased as he's a good friend and I was on a medical team in Kenya and the southern Sudan (Sudanese guerrilla war) with him, but anyone who is a combat medic or who may need to perform first aid in the third world needs to read this book.Coffee is a fount of knowledg on the subject and imparts it clearly and concisely to the reader. Amongst his legion of fans there's hundreds of us anxiously awaiting Ditch 2. Gets no better than this
It doesn't matter where you are, or what the situation is, if you, a team member, family member or friend is injured, you do what you have to do to save their life or treat the condition! Period! As survivalists we know that we may not always have access to a sanitary emergency room and a half-asleep doctor in the middle of the night. If that time comes, this is the book to have! This book teaches advanced field procedures for small wound repair, pain control, care of infected wounds, IV therapy, amputations, treatment of burns, airway procedures and much much more.Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Medical / Nursing    3. Accident & emergency medicine    4. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. General    4. Physical Education    5. Physical Education (General)    6. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    7. Sports & Recreation / General   

Subjects:  1. Birds    2. Birds & Birdwatching - General    3. Dictionaries    4. Encyclopedias    5. Nature/Ecology    6. North America    7. Ornithology    8. Sale Adult - Nature / Guide Books    9. Non-Classifiable    10. Sale Books   

Reviews (22)

A Minor Correction to James Dees's Review
I wanted to let potential readers know that Dawson's book DOES include the Taut-line Hitch, though you might have to know a bit about knots going in to realize it.The Taut-line Hitch is simply the Rolling Hitch (page 82 in Dawson), with the rope turned back and tied around its own standing end rather than around a pole as Dawson shows it.Dawson probably could have made that clearer, but it is there.
good illustrations, but missing some important knots
Bought this book for my course library (I am a wilderness instructor for Outward Bound).Realized too late that it does not include the taut line hitch or the trucker's (wagoneer's) hitch, both of which we use a lot.I would have thought those would be included in any good knots book.Ultimately replaced it with "The Book of Knots: How to Tie 200 Practical Knots" by Budworth & Dalton.Good illustrations a better selection of knots.

Knots worth knowing
Des Pawson's book is a valuable addition to my knotty book collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Knots and splices    2. Sailing - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Reviews (1)

PEDAL is powered by the NY city streets... deep in the funk.
This DVD is for all those interested in the subculture of bicycles, not just bike messengers or track bikes, but fighting for space with cars/taxi cabs, pedestrians and the police. This documentary is fast paced alongside those in the messenger (outlaw) community, and shows the true grit of the rotten apple. While the book has very little text, the small amount is amazing, and it is covered with beautiful pictures of roudy messengers competing in the Bike Messenger World Championships. A MUST BUY FOR ANY BICYCLE ENTHUSIAST. Definitely worth watching over and over again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bicycle messengers    2. Bicycles    3. Cycling - General    4. Individual Photographer    5. New York    6. New York (State)    7. Photoessays & Documentaries    8. Photography    9. Pictorial works    10. Sports    11. Sports & Recreation    12. Subjects & Themes - Sports    13. Cycling    14. Photographs: portraits   

Reviews (21)

A nice trip
Thank you Doug Terry for telling me that triggerfish won't chew my earlobes off!I actually had a nightmare over that one!
Just a little too guilty of a pleasure
Mix one part Rodney the Shark Guy, one part Ted Nugent, and two parts your uncle who always seems to have those tall tales, and you wind up with this wild ride through the spear-fishing haunts of Humberto Fontova.
I couldn't put it down!!!
This is probably one of the most enjoyable books I have read in the last five years. The author and his cohorts are definitely brave, almost certainly missing a few screws and possibly suicidal, but they enjoy what they are doing so much that after a while the insanity of it all doesn't seem to matter. Stories about divers diving with football helmets so they don't get knocked out on the steel beams of the oil rig and the stalking of sharks (!!) in the opaque murk at the bottom of the sea floor would seem farcical or just stupid coming from almost anyone else, but when Fontova writes it is riveting, believable and also hilarious.
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Subjects:  1. Drilling platforms    2. Fishing - General    3. Mexico, Gulf of    4. Scuba & Snorkeling    5. Scuba diving    6. Spear fishing    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Water Sports    10. Sports & Outdoor Recreation   

Reviews (25)

Tis the season!
We get snow on the ground, and friends and couples will once again hit the powdery hills. Why not join them? Learn to snowboard - lessons on the slope are great, but give yourself a headstart with this terrific book.
Better than lessons in some cases
I took 2 group lessons and was never in so much pain. I was ready to quit. I got this book and went from complete beginner to intermediate after 4 times on slopes. I read entire book, then before and after each session I re-read the section with drills for my level. The book has some ambiguous descriptions and re-reading after snowboarding is important for understanding. If you don't have patience to re-read, work on drills, and take time to understand each sentence, then you'd be better off finding a qualified instructor.

Must have knowledge of the concepts of snowboarding
Once I started reading it I could not put it down!Being a rather new snowboarder now going into my 3rd season this book makes sense of all the things I've learned the hard way.By no means does this nor any book replace the need for lessons, but it does a great job of illustrating the concepts of this awesome sport.5 out of 5 stars for sure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychological aspects    2. Snowboarding    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Winter Sports    6. Sports & Recreation / Winter Sports   

Reviews (18)

Required reading
'Awol on the Appalachian Trail' is, quite simply, a wonderful book from start to finish.I have to say that it is one of the most enjoyable, honest, and inspiring accounts that I have read in a long time.This is the best book on the AT that I have yet found.
Spot On
I thru-hiked the AT myself in '02 and can tell you this book does a great job of relaying what the experience is all about. David does a great job of balancing his account without getting too whimsical or too grounded. If your looking for an honest account of the rewards and hardships that one gets when they drop out of society for months and hike over 2000 miles, then you've found your book.

A great account of a thru hike
I found Miller's account of his thru hikegave me a taste of both the agony and ecstasy involved. I felt it was an objective account of this true life adventure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Mountains    3. Outdoor Skills    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (2)

spectacular visuals, excellent text
This book is a spectacular visual text to some of the American National Parks.The size of the photos, and their photographic quality, are just excellent. The photos are right up there with National Geographic-type quality. In addition, the accompaning text gives ecological insights to where and why this part of the United States was designated and saved as a National Park.The book gives short but insightful accompanying text for each of the Parks that are presented to the reader. The only problem is, unfortunately, the organization of the chapters, and a very skimpy table of contents, and the reader can get easily annoyed with these two problems. It is hard to understand why the publisher made such errors, as the problems are very obvious, and the whole book suffers as a result.It is a beautiful book covering many of the National Parks, with super photos and very good college level text, and if you can put up with the problems of a missing table of contents, this book is a great collection of art, ecology, and the National Parks of the USA.A 5-star for the photos and accompanying text, and a 3 for a useless table of contents.Sorry, but the publisher made major mistakes in putting this otherwise spectacular book together. But I will still give the book a 5-star anyway. The photos and text are just too good to give this book anything less than a 5-star.

Spectacular Presentation of Natural Wonder
Paul Schullery presents a book filled with powerful and beautiful images of fifty-six national parks that have been dedicated to the preservation and protection of irreplaceable treasures. This book shows why these parks are so worthy of protection. Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. National parks and reserves    3. Natural Resources    4. Natural history    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Parks & Campgrounds    8. Pictorial works    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./General    10. Travel - United States    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. Nature / Natural Resources    14. Travel   

Reviews (3)

Difficult to get lost with this one...
An excellent book for those starting out on orienteering. Very good conversational wording. Doesn't use too much jargon. The practical exercises are easily understood. The combination of the written word and neat diagrams and pictures make the information easily digestable.

Excellent Map and Compass Instruction Book
The best map and compass handbook I've come across.Excellent photos and illustrations add to simple and straightforward written material to make a great book for use when practicing real-life outdoor navigation.

The best resource for beginning or experienced pathfinders
This book is the best resource on land navigation i've seen.I use it regularly in teaching land navigation in conjunction with search and rescueto area fire departments.The author makes the hard-to-explain easy tounderstand for beginners and experts alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Navigation    2. Orientation    3. Outdoor Life    4. Outdoor Skills    5. Physical Education    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Wilderness survival    9. Maps, charts & atlases    10. Orienteering    11. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills   

Reviews (5)

The Headmistress speaks
Peggie Hall has long shared her expertise in a number of online fora. From time to time she has spoken at boat shows and similar events. In her book, she has gathered together in one place all the tremendous knowledge she has about black, gray, and potable water systems, and generally keeping your boat smelling nice.
The definitive guide
Peggie has produced an outstanding guide for tracking down and eliminating funky smells on board.
Excellent Book.
This book provided just the information I was looking for in a "to the point" style. If you have an older boat with an odor problem, this book will help you diagnose and eliminate the problem. Well worth the money and I'd recommend it to anyone. True to it's title, this book is about getting rid of boat odors....I'm not sure why the person who wrote the negative review thought it was an installation manual. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - Boatbuilding    2. Boating - General    3. Boats and boating    4. Equipment and supplies    5. Odor control    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Transportation    10. Waste disposal    11. Water Sports   

Subjects:  1. Bibliographies & Indexes    2. Encyclopedias    3. General    4. History    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Reference    7. Sociological aspects    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. United States    11. Cultural studies    12. Social Science / Popular Culture    13. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    14. USA