General Books

Force of Nature: Mind, Body, Soul (And, of Course, Surfing)

Laird Hamilton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Laird Hamilton has been hailed as the world's greatest big-wave surfer. His first book, Force of Nature, allows readers a rare glimpse inside the unique philosophy that has created his circumstances, and not the other way around. After all, this is a man whose biological father abandoned him shortly after he was born; whose first job was working on a pig far; who dropped out of school in eleventh grade. And then the career decision: surfer. Though earning enough to pay the rent as any kind of surfer is next to impossible, Hamilton has ended up in the place we all desire to be: doing exactly what he loves, becoming the world's best in the process, making a great living, being surrounded by nature and family, radiating peak health and fitness, and succeeding by any definition of the word.How did he get there? And more importantly, how can the rest of us join him?Force of Nature is a detailed map to that destination, with Laird Hamilton as the reader's guide. It's not about chasing trophies or accolades or cash. It's about quality over quantitysoul and being true to your physical, mental, and spiritual roots. Not only is it possible to thrive in the modern world without adopting its harmful habits, it's essential. And not only has Hamilton mastered this balance, he makes a compelling and articulate case that anyone who wants to can do the same.This book is a deeply authoritative and cutting-edge guide to peak fitness in mind, body, sould, and surfing. It comes directly from the source and his inner circle, which includes those at the vanguard of sports, training, nutrition, and more. Former pro volleyball player Gabrielle Reece; surf legend Dave Kalama; fitness gurus Paul Chek, T.R. Goodman, and Don Wildman; and Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis all contribute their knowledge. Readers will get an all-access pass into an elite world filled with definitive and provocative ideas.

Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier

Terry Laughlin

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Total reviews: 101 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Swim better -- and enjoy every lap -- with Total Immersion!

Terry Laughlin, the world's #1 authority on swimming success, has made his unique approach even easier for anyone to master. Whether you're an accomplished swimmer or have always found swimming to be a struggle, Total Immersion will show you that it's mindful fluid movement -- not athletic ability -- that will turn you into an efficient swimmer. This new edition of the bestselling Total Immersion features:

A thoughtfully choreographed series of skill drills -- practiced in the mindful spirit of yoga -- that can help anyone swim more enjoyably

A holistic approach to becoming one with the water and to developing a swimming style that's always comfortable

Simple but thorough guidance on how to improve fitness and form

A complementary land-and-water program for achieving a strong and supple body at any age

Based on more than thirty years of teaching, coaching, and research, Total Immersion has dramatically improved the physical and mental experience of swimming for thousands of people of all ages and abilities.

Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die: Diving Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

Chris Santella

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Editorial Review:

The earth’s oceans hold many wondrous surprises—be they the small, colorful “critters” off the coast of Papua New Guinea, opportunistic red demon squids in the Sea of Cortes, or naval wrecks in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll. In Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die Chris Santella has invited diving experts from around the world to share some of their favorite destinations, so ardent divers can experience these underwater wonders for themselves—either on location in their SCUBA gear, or at home in their armchair.

 

The fifth in Santella’s bestselling “Fifty Places” series, the book takes divers from hot-spot destinations like Raja Ampat (off the coast of West Guinea) to old Caribbean favorites like Grand Cayman Isles. Readers will swim among whale sharks off Myanmar, befriend wolf eels off the coast of Maine, and marvel at the giant mola mola of Lembognan, Indonesia. These wonderful creatures—plus the brilliant coral reefs that often provide their backdrop—are captured in 40 gorgeous color photos from the world’s greatest underwater photographers. And for readers who want to travel to these breathtaking locales, Santella provides complete “If You Go” suggestions to help you plan your trip.

Kelly Slater: For the Love

Kelly Slater

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Surfing Is Love 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

As of this review, Kelly Slater has clinched a record 9th Asp World Title at the age of 36. What we are witnessing is the climax of perhaps the greatest competitive athlete in the history of sports. Kelly Slater's achievements as a surfer are perhaps a result of a phenomenal combination of physical, mental and spiritual synergy. Incredible performance surfing is a challenging combination of physical and mental coordination involving aspects of rhythm, timing, power, speed, flexibility, creativity, reaction, instinct, and balance. No other sport requires the unique amount of grace under pressure all controlled by complicated laws of physics. Perhaps that is what makes surfing so utterly spellbinding, captivating and magical. It is hard to explain in exact words what is going on, even for expert surfers. Everything is moving so fast, and at the end of the day you remember the feeling. And that is what brings them back for more. I believe that surfing is perhaps one of the greatest intimate experiences humans can experience. There is nothing more "in the moment" and engaging than surfing. We are not seeing Slater's utter dominance of competitive surfing as a result of his desire, rather his absolute love and passion for the act of surfing. He has transcended that love into his performances. I do know that something deeper is going on. Surfing holds a quality in itself of happiness. There is nothing more spiritually pure than the act of surfing. Surfing is Love. Every surfer knows that, and perhaps none more so than Kelly Slater. For The Love features over 300 Full color photographs from the life of Kelly Slater. Comments from people who have known Kelly Slater his entire life, and comments from Kelly Slater about his life. Beyond fascinating, For The Love is a deep look into the mind of one of the world's most unique human beings and the events that helped shape his destiny. In a non-mainstream fringe sport such as surfing, in a sport that is perhaps more misunderstood, stereotyped, and cliched as surfing, from a state and a country that regards surfing as more recreation than sport, has risen perhaps the greatest individual human athlete the world has known. For The Love.

Editorial Review:

No one knows eight-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater better than Kelly himself. In this revealing and heartfelt illustrated tribute, written with surfing veteran Phil Jarratt, the world's best surfer riffs on a life filled with big wins, big money, and big loves. Interviews with friends and fellow surfers unearth juicy anecdotes, and hundreds of photographs-some never before published-capture the greatest victories and the quietest moments in equal measure. This beautifully produced book marks the first time Slater's story has been told in full colour, and reflects the latest twists and turns in an incredible and unconventional life.

All for a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora

David Rensin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

There will never be another surfer like Miki "Da Cat" Dora.

All for a Few Perfect Waves is the story of Miki "Da Cat" Dora, the dashing and enigmatic rebel who, for twenty years, was the king of Malibu surfers. He dominated the waves, ruled his peers' imaginations, and—to this day—inspires the fantasies of decades of Dora wannabes who began to swarm his pristine paradise after the movie Gidget helped surfing explode into the mainstream and changed it forever—many say for the worse.

Disenchanted, Dora railed against the ruination; angry that the waves were no longer his own, he fought back—or found better things to do. Dora was also an avid sportsman, raconteur, philosopher, traveler—and scam artist of wide repute. When, in 1973, he finally ran afoul of the law, he soon abandoned America and led the FBI and Interpol on a seven-year chase around the globe. At the same time, he never gave up searching for (and occasionally finding) the empty waves and spirit of the Malibu he'd lost. From homes in New Zealand to South Africa to France, he continued to personify the rebel heart of surfing and has been widely acknowledged as "the most relentlessly committed surfer of all time."

The New York Times named him "the most renegade spirit the sport has yet to produce." Vanity Fair called him "a dark prince of the beach." The Times (London) wrote, "A hero to a generation of beach bums. He was tanned . . . good-looking . . . trouble."

To capture Dora's never-before-told story, David Rensin spent four years interviewing more than three hundred of Dora's friends, enemies, family members, lovers, and peers—none of whom would previously talk in depth about him—to uncover the truth about surfing's most outrageous practitioner, charismatic prince, chief antihero, committed loner, and enduring mystery. The result is a riveting and living portrait of an uncommon character whose unique influence on surfing has never waned, and who became what most can never be: a legend in his own time.

World Cruising Routes: Companion to World Cruising Handbook: 1000 Routes from the South Seas to the Arctic

Jimmy Cornell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

World Cruising Routes 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

When planning a circumnavigation one has three choices: 1) Do not plan and accept the extreme dangers of circumnavigation; 2) take a year or more and plan using all available nautical publications, charts, electronic navigation systems; and 3) read and use the outstanding information provided in "World Cruising Routes." This publication will save you time and more important provide excellent tips for short and long passages across the oceans of the world. Cornell has taken the time to consolidate information and plot the important way-points for us.

The most important advice given is the timing of transits. Cornell identifies the risks and the pleasures of circumnavition and avoiding weather disasters. Thanks to Mr. Cornell, sailors who venture forth on the oceans will be safer and more comfortable at sea.

Editorial Review:

Long established as the bible for long-distance cruisers and a bestseller since first publication, World Cruising Routes isa comprehensive guide to nearly 1000 sailing routes covering all theoceans of the world from the tropical South Seas to the high latitudesof the Arctic and Antarctic, geared specifically to the needs ofcruising sailors. It contains information on the winds, currents,regional and seasonal weather, as well as suggestions about optimumtimes for individual routes. The 6th edition assesses the effects ofglobal warming on cruising routes and provides over 6000 waypoints toassist skippers in planning individual routes. It is the perfectone-stop reference for planning a cruise anywhere in the world.'The most important book for log-distance voyagers to come along in decades.'Cruising World

The Rules in Practice 2009 - 2012 (Rules in Practice)

Bryan Willis

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The racing rules of sailing explained. Get ahead of the competition with this straight talking, practical guide to the racing rules 2008-2012

Rules in Practice is primarily for competitive sailors who race in keelboats and dinghies.  The Racing Rules of Sailing apply to all forms of sailboat racing.  The author – a member of the International Sailing Federation - looks at 100 key situations that occur on the racecourse – both championship and club racing.  Unlike the competition, Bryan looks at each situation from your viewpoint, the helmsman. It summarizes what each may, must, or cannot do.

 Armed with this information you will have the confidence to exploit your rights to the full, on the water and in the protest room.

 It features a special analysis of the latest rule changes and has been extended to contain the very latest Rules and Appendices in full.

 Introduction.

1. The Basics.

2. Before the Preparatory Signal.

3. In the Preparatory Period.

4. The Start.

5. The Gate Start.

6. On the Beat.

7. Rounding the Windward Mark.

8. On the Reach.

9. Rounding the Wing Mark.

10. Rounding the Leeward Mark from the Reach.

11. On the Run.

12. Rounding the leeward mark from the Run.

13. The Finish.

14. Means of Propulsion.

15. Taking a Penalty.

16. Protesting.

17. Requesting Redress & Appealing.

 The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2005-2008.

Introduction.

Basic principle.

Part 1. Fundamental Rules.

Part 2. When Boats Meet.

Part 3. Conduct of a Race.

Part 4. Other Requirements When Racing.

Part 5. Protests, Redress, Hearings, Misconduct & Appeals.

Part 6. Entry and Qualification.

Part 7. Race Organization.

Appendices.

Index.

Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die: Sailing Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

Chris Santella

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Landlubbers joke that sailors are always wanting to head off to the ends of the earth, but Chris Santella takes that life-changing desire very seriously. In this, the third installment in his immensely successful “Fifty Places” series, Santella assembles a crew of the world’s greatest championship racers and professional adventurers and persuades them to disclose their favorite destinations around the globe.

Interviewees include some of the best-known men and women in the sport: Tom Whidden and Gary Jobson (members of the winning 1987 America’s Cup crew), Jeff Johnstone (of J-Boats), award-winning sailing writer Lin Pardy, and many others. The amazingly diverse places they’ve selected range from clubby East Coast ports (Marblehead, Annapolis), to idyllic tropical refuges (Ilha Grande, Brazil; the Polynesian atoll of Mopelia), to some of the most hair-raisingly treacherous waters on earth (Cape Horn).

Coastlines around the world—even Antarctica and the Arctic—are represented, and the chosen spots include some spectacular inland waters, such as the Bras d’Or Lakes and the North Channel of Lake Huron. For each of the 50 places, the sailor recommending the venue spins an entertaining yarn about his or her experience there, and each description is accompanied by a "make you want to go there now" photograph.

The Sports Book

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Interesting for an adult, not a 13 year old 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Purchased for my 13 year old son, who watches ESPN religiously. He was not thrilled. WAY too technical and boring for him. Just a word to the wise that teenagers probably won't be impressed. I thought the actual turf grass cover was pretty cool. It would make a great coffee table book. Unfortunately, my son doesn't have a coffee table. (I think it's under the bed right now- too bad).

Sports Lover 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Saw this book in a local bookstore but found it here for half the price. Bought it for my sport-loving son for Christmas. He and I both love it. It shows the basic rules, attire and layouts for hundreds of sports...some of which I have never even heard of. Should come in handy for the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics.

Editorial Review:

Featuring the largest and most diverse range of sports of any comparable book-more than 200 in all-from basketball to bobsledding, karate to korfball, synchronized swimming to ski-jumping, this up-to-date and authoritative guide presents information sourced from leading experts and sports governing bodies around the world to give you the most comprehensive book on sports to ever hit the market.

How to Read a Nautical Chart : A Complete Guide to the Symbols, Abbreviations, and Data Displayed on Nautical Charts

Nigel Calder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The best handbook on chart usage, from one of the most trusted names in boating

In 2000, the U.S. government ceased publication of Chart No. 1, the invaluable little book that generations of mariners have consulted to make sense of the complex system of signs, symbols, and graphic elements used in nautical charts. Now Chart No. 1 is not just reborn but expanded and improved in How to Read a Nautical Chart. The demand for a book like this has never been greater.

Arranged and edited by Nigel Calder, one of today's most respected boating authors, --and containing four-color illustrations throughout,-- How to Read a Nautical Chart presents a number of original features that help readers make optimum use of the data found in Chart No. 1, including a more intuitive format, crucial background information, international chart symbol equivalents, electronic chart symbology, and thorough explanations of the practical aspects of nautical chart reading.