Koncocoo

Best Miscellaneous

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
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. 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
"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."
"held local discussions, and had an opportunity to meet the author locally.If you like learning about history through a good story, this is the book for you."
"But I had never read this book because I didn't think I would be interested in an athletic story, especially one about rowing (a sport I never follow)."
"Every college student should read this and stop complaining, this guy worked very hard to obtain his education, something that most young people take for granted these days."
"Even knowing the outcome did not diminish the excitement of the quest, and weaving the story of Hitler's rise to power during the 1936 Olympics captured the irony of his policies."
"The men in my life had been trying for years to get me to read this book."
"Boys racing boats?"
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Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival
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. With Canterbury's guidance, you'll not only prepare yourself for any climate and situation, you'll also learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature in ways you've never imagined. "Canterbury covers everything: building out your kit, manufacturing tools and supplies, food collection, cooking and protection from the elements. 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.... Even if you're not escaping the apocalypse, but instead heading out into the backcountry to escape modern life for a few days, this is an indispensable guide for your outdoor travels." "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.
Reviews
"The only thing I was let down by was that Dave Canterbury doesn't mention in the book that his website (selfrelianceoutfitters.com) has a blog section with a lot of good articles and videos that can be used as an addition and refresher to this book."
"This is definitely a book you should consider to have in your survival Arsenal."
"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."
"While modern technology is great you can not overate bush craft (something I already valued). But after seeing Mr. Canterbury's minimalist techniques I wanted to absorb this doctrine myself and his book did not disappoint."
"Great book."
"I got this for my husband for Christmas, and he loves it."
"This publisher (Adams Media) let Dave Canterbury down, and Dave admits that in his review of his own book."
"There is a whole chapter on traps, but it's just a few paragraphs about how traps are good, you should bring some."
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Basketball (and Other Things): A Collection of Questions Asked, Answered, Illustrated
BASKETBALL (AND OTHER THINGS) presents readers with a set of pivotal and ridiculous questions from basketball history, providing arguments and answers, explained with the wit and wisdom that is unique to Shea Serrano. With incredible art from Arturo Torres, this book is a must-have for anyone who has ever stayed up late into the night debating basketball's greatest moments, what-ifs, stories, and legends, or for those who are discovering the mythology of basketball for the first time. “Shea Serrano’s new book… is a hilarious, informative group of passages that answer questions you never realized needed to be asked." ( The Indianapolis Star ). “The questions Serrano asks and answers (and that Arturo Torres illustrates in engaging graphic-novel style) includes many barstool argument-starters ("Who's the Greatest Dunker in NBA History?," "What Year Was Michael Jordan the Best Version of Michael Jordan?").
Reviews
"This is the most essential piece of media since the 1993 film Blood In Blood Out."
"They put these pajamas on him that made him look like a fox as he left the hospital and it to this day is probably the best thing I have ever seen with my own two eyes. In that moment it was this incredible combination feeling of pure joy and fear and love and anxiety and excitement and terror and everything was perfect."
"Excellent book as a gift."
"I bought this as a gift to my 14 year old son who is obsessed with basketball."
"Got this as a gift, and she was apparently immediately liked by the author after sharing her photo with it."
"Definitely contains adult language, but it adds the salt and flavor needed for a man who loves basketball."
"On the other hand, Shea is super awesome, a former middle school teacher turned twitter hero."
"All anyone can ever ask for in a sports book is to be made to laugh, made to learn and made to think - and my God Shea does that on every page."
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Best Air Sports

Flight: 100 Greatest Aircraft
A comprehensive look at the world's great aircraft from the experts at Flying magazine, featuring spectacular full-color photographs, fascinating and informative text, and detailed specifications that will delight die-hard data fans. His monthly opinion piece is one of the most popular columns in aviation, and he is the recipient of the NBAA’s Dave Ewald Platinum Wing Award for excellence in journalism. More than 85 years later, that formula hasn’t changed: Flying still brings its readers comprehensive coverage of personal aviation, including first-person flight reports, industry news, technology trends, and safety guidance, along with award-winning illustration and eye-catching photography.
Reviews
"This book is for my dad who lost over 2000 airplane and space books he'd collected his whole life to Hurricane Harvey in Dickinson TX."
"I bought it for my boyfriend he really liked it."
"Very enjoyable coffee table book."
"beautiful photos and good information for any airplane nut out there."
"we gave this as a gift and the receipent has not stopped saying "thank you"!"
"Gave as a gift...recipient loved it!"
"I bought this book for my ten year-old grandson and he LOVED it!"
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Best Sports Equipment & Supplies

Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance: The World's Best-Selling Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Guide
Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is the world's best-selling guide to bicycle repair and maintenance. New chapter on electronic shifting covers maintenance, service, repair, and troubleshooting of all Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo electronic shifting groups. New troubleshooting charts New master guide to press-fit bottom brackets Also covered in the 5th edition: All derailleur shifting systems (5-speed through 11-speed); all bottom bracket systems (cone-and-cup through press-fit); all brake systems (including caliper, V-brake, cantilever, and disc); all headset, stem, handlebar and fork systems; wheelbuilding for all bikes including cyclocross and disc-brake wheels; special sections on cyclocross throughout including troubleshooting, maintenance, service, repair, and equipment selection; updated and expanded torque tables; complete illustration index and complete subject index. “Longtime VeloNews technical writer Lennard Zinn’s maintenance books are bibles for both pro and amateur wrenches. Zinn has written this book to help both the leisure bike rider and expert mechanic handle almost any problem associated with road bikes.” ― Library Journal. “Lennard Zinn is a veritable cycling Einstein and, as a naturally gifted teacher, he has the unique ability to explain even the most difficult mechanical task. So unless you currently ride on a high-profile pro team with your own mechanic (and maybe even then), Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is an absolute ‘must-have’ book.” ― Davis Phinney, Olympic medalist, national champion, and Tour de France stage winner. But on those days when your race steed needs some serious maintenance, or even just when you’re proactively researching for a little more knowledge if the worst should strike you on the road far from home – you will be glad you have Zinn in your library.” ― AeroGeeks. “ Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is simple, easy to follow and the illustrations are magnificent…If you are looking for a bicycle repair manual, get this book.” ― Cycloculture. Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance is very up to date, very clear―thanks to the profuse illustrations―and accurate and comprehensive…And it’s all in a very enjoyable format intended to be encouraging and confidence-building."
Reviews
"I felt that this book was a great all-in-one general maintenance book for Road Bike Maintenance. It does not give every single detail that is possible for all parts (e.g. shimano brakes, it doesn't tell give you a parts breakdown like one would if you went to the manufacture site and downloaded their technical documents). The book does a great job at sorting the different repair tasks by three different levels, which most takes I feel are generally level 2. This book does not give advise onto which brands to get for all the tools (although they do have some recommendations for certain tools interspersed throughout the book)."
"But there’s nothing more annoying, while wrenching on a bike, than having to stop every few minutes to press ‘home’ to bring a screen back up or jiggle your phone back to its proper orientation."
"Absolutely amazing book that is clear and concise."
"I’ll have this book for as long as I ride my bike."
"Just read the appropriate section pertaining to the New SRAM Red System on my latest Bike."
"Great for providing a baseline and the trouble shooting section in each chapter makes diagnosing the issues easier."
"Lots of useful information and step by step instructions."
"I'm seriously not mechanically but can follow his instructions!"
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Best Sports Essays

The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy
Bill Simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as ESPN.com’s The Sports Guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA. Simmons summarizes the history of the league, discusses his personal fandom, includes a great “what if?” chapter (what if Michael Jordan had been drafted second by Portland instead of third by Chicago? The true NBA fan will dive into this hefty volume and won’t resurface for about a week, emerging from the man cave unshaven, smelling of beer and pizza, grinning, and armed with NBA history, insight, anecdotes, statistics, and a dozen new examples of Simmons’ Unintentional Comedy Scale.
Reviews
"It's a great mix of stats and "I just feel" analysis that forms the basis of all great sport's debates."
"The focus here beyond his dad's Celtics season tickets sealing his fate as a kid fan, is on pyramid pantheon best ever debates, what ifs, secret knowledge, team comparison compendiums and various other scenario incidentals. Simmons, master of the between the lines scoop, says what's on his mind, is quick to offend and may be off the cuff with tactless fan boy antics, but he thinks like a genius GM and really should be considered as part of an NBA team brain trust someday. Via a coach sharp humanist link tying cults of personality to levels of performance, we learn that selfish players hit a ceiling and greats must share the ball to be transcendent. Twas ironically originated by an adult cinema historian who mixed pop, news and sports trivia intros with his movie reviews in an erotic film bible from the early 1980s. With so much info on elite players and teams, this needed a tongue-in-cheek chapter on footnote characters of the game like Darryl Dawkins, aka Chocolate Thunder, a rushed high school prospect who never reached his full potential but was memorable for destroying backboards on slam dunks."
"Last year I purchased Bill Simmons' The Book of Basketball for my birthday. If you aren't a fan who loves reading about the past in great detail this book may not be for you. And while it may make you wrinkle your nose at some of his thoughts he is still pretty centered and doesn't go too far left. His perspective is a great easy read and he loves having fun with his words. My brother-in-law Curtis got me into playing an NBA board game (Statis Pro Basketball) in the 70's and I was hooked. I wish there had been a little more love for my favorite Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks but I was still very happy with his thoughts on both. To quote Paul Harvey this book gave me "the rest of the story". Nowadays every move is over analyzed instantly on TV and on the web allowing us to make a better informed analysis of what we are seeing in a game and around the league. Again it may be a bit much for the casual fan but if you think there is any possibility you might like this book I suggest you spend the $11.11 on Amazon or at some other retailer and I don't think you'll be disappointed."
"The passion yields some diversion that I think even the most NBA wonk might get a bit overwhelmed by."
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Best History of Sports

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
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. 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
"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."
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Best Sports Journalism

The Score of a Lifetime: 25 Years Talking Chicago Sports
A must-read for any of the thousands who made Boers part of their daily routine, The Score of a Lifetime is a freewheeling, frank portrait of a man, a career, a station no one thought would survive, and a city that loves its sports. Terry Boers is a legend in Chicago sports media.
Reviews
"I was staying with the in-laws in a small town due west of Chicago, not unlike where Terry grew up. I was bored and flipping through the radio dial as I like to do when I'm somewhere different, when suddenly I hear guys arguing sports. We went back to Virginia and I forgot about the Score until May 1992, when I transferred to Naval Station Great Lakes. He could have added another hundred pages giving us an in-depth peek at those magical early years and really shined a light on the ins and outs of sports radio."
"and I would have liked to have read more about his relationship with his two longest partners on the station."
"As a longtime listener and caller to The Score (as Government Fromage), Terry's ability to turn the mundane into comedy and the redundant into required listening is an art form."
"If you are a Chicago Sports fans, The Score fan, or a B&B listener, this is a fantastic read."
"If you love the Score, TB or both you will love this book!"
"I recommend this book to any Chicago sports fan as well as any other dope out there who needs head protection in a tornado."
"Long time B n B listener."
"I give it 7 slices of pie."
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Best Motor Sports

Jeff Gordon: His Dream, Drive & Destiny
“We reveal some things that are definitely a little controversial, whether it be my divorce or talking about my parents’ separation, as well as the relationship between Jimmie Johnson and I. Jeff speaks candidly, sometimes brutally so, about his childhood, his much publicized divorce, those he competed against, his family, and life after racing. Gordon and Garner first worked together in 2006 on the multimedia book titled SPEED, GUTS & GLORY, about landmark moments in NASCAR history.
Reviews
"Finished reading this book, what a great story on Jeff's career."
"Great book."
"Nice hardback book about Jeff Gordon's career with lots of pictures and information on the driver during his racing career."
"If you're a racing and/or Jeff Gordon fan, this book is a must read."
"Of course, Kyle Larson is by far my favorite drive and can't wait until Feb."
"MUST READ BOOK!!!"
"I couldn't wait for the book to come out and when I finally got it I couldn't put it down."
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Best Motorcycle Racing

Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques, 2nd Edition
This is the perfect book for riders who want to take their street riding skills to a higher level. He also finished 2nd in the 1994 AMA 125GP national championship in its exhibition year.
Reviews
"After you read this you will be more informed than 90 percent of those squibs on the streets."
"They are David Hough (Proficient Motorcycling series) for thinking about riding on the street, Lee Park's Total Control and Nick Ienatsch's Sport Riding Techniques. Seems silly to ride in a parking lot but doing so and following Parks drills have really helped me pick up my riding."
"The push with the left to turn left and not use any input from the right hand is a comcept well explained and I am eager to experience how it will positively impact my cornering habits at my upcoming track days."
"The book is a very entertaining read filled with clear descriptions and advice on how to improve one's riding skills. In my view "Total Control" is one of the better values for street riders."
"Great informational document."
"The competitive high speed info is good to know but not really for street riding nor my style of riding at this stage and age."
"Great book!"
"Excellent book, getting many tips."
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Best Olympic Games

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
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. 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
"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."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Sports Reference

The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised
From elite bodybuilding competitors to gymnasts, from golfers to fitness gurus, anyone who works out with weights must own this book—a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as “the bible of bodybuilding.”. Inside, Arnold covers the very latest advances in both weight training and bodybuilding competition, with new sections on diet and nutrition, sports psychology, the treatment and prevention of injuries, and methods of training, each illustrated with detailed photos of some of bodybuilding's newest stars. -Arnold's tried-and-true tips for sculpting, strengthening, and defining each and every muscle to create the ultimate buff physique. From elite bodybuilding competitors to gymnasts, from golfers to fitness gurus, anyone who works out with weights must own this book -- a book that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could write, a book that has earned its reputation as "the bible of bodybuilding".
Reviews
"The book itself has a lot of good info, this is the revised and updated version."
"Seriously amazing resource."
"Whether you're new or not to weightlifting, fitness, bodybuilding, etc, this book is a worthy addition to anyone's arsenal."
"The original encyclopedia and this upgrade are basic tenants of priceless information."
"Just a must have on principle."
"It's a pretty good read... you can devour most of the informational chapters in just a few hours... and then the rest is pictorial displays of exercises by muscle group."
"The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised, simply put, is a great book for the average weight-lifter to the serious competitive body-builder."
"A solid reference and tool for the beginner to the experienced bodybuilder."
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Best Sociology of Sports

What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength
Carney also enlists input from an Army scientist, a world-famous surfer, the founders of an obstacle course race movement, and ordinary people who have documented how they have cured autoimmune diseases, lost weight, and reversed diabetes. An ambitious blend of investigative reporting and participatory journalism, What Doesn't Kill Us explores the true connection between the mind and the body and reveals the science that allows us to push past our perceived limitations. When investigative journalist and anthropologist Carney heard about Hof’s mind-boggling methods and claims that he could “hack” the human body, he knew he had to venture to Poland to expose this fraud. As this engaging autoethnography relates, anthropologist and investigative journalist Carney was skeptical upon encountering a photo of a nearly naked Wim Hof sitting on a glacier in the Arctic Circle. On the heels of the paleo diet comes a new claim: taking on the physical challenges of the environment faced by our prehistoric ancestors can undo what easy calories and effortless comfort have done to our bodies―made them fat, lazy, and weak. Expanding on his unnerving close-up account, the author also examines the research being done on the role of brown adipose tissue in the body and a variety of military and sports medicine training practices. In the epilogue, the author asserts that his experiences showed him that “exposure to cold helps reconfigure the cardiovascular system, combat autoimmune malfunctions, and is a pretty darned good method to simply lose weight.” Hof provides the book’s foreword. Yet through comprehensive study, Scott Carney has brilliantly documented how engaging in environmental conditioning, breathing, meditation, and other techniques can actually make us physically and mentally stronger. What Doesn’t Kill Us is a fascinating book that will captivate all who read it and that will be of immense value to those in the military, those who are active in sports, and those who seek an alternate means of developing greater mental and physical strength.” ―Don D. Mann, New York Times bestselling author, Inside SEAL Team SIX. “Damn fun and extremely well-researched, What Doesn’t Kill Us is a great addition to the canon of high performance literature!”. ― Steven Kotler, New York Times bestselling author of Abundance and The Rise of Superman. Through some great stories ― which often involve Carney trudging through snow without much on ― and some serious research, he shows us how to escape the bland, shuffling gait of our centrally-heated, fleece-jacketed, molly-coddled lives by diving head-first into the ice-cold, axe-sharp, scary experiences that made our ancestors’ hearts beat faster every day.
Reviews
"Seeing him break the world records, go under scientific scrutiny, and even resist an endotoxin and only get a slight headache, I was sold. Just be aware that people can be really resistant to this sort of knowledge because it runs so counter-intuitive to the drug-addicted culture we live in. Prescribed pill popping won't get you healthy, it merely manages different conditions and gives you more side effects than positive results in many cases. Just go to Wim Hof's youtube channel and look at all the testimonials of people who have diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, even deep skin burns."
"But still, it's a fascinating read and Carney does a great job of illustrating the principles of Wim Hoff of other fitness masters and how they helped him, challenged him, and changed him."
"Scott Carney was very skeptical of the Win Hof method, and he decided to test it out for himself."
"Really enjoyed this book."
"I really enjoyed this book."
"Very 'probably that our evolution have been on a cage of confort and in same cases we have forgotten our main instints."
"Here's a Book You'll Never Forget ..."
"The writing is enjoyable even mondain descriptions are woven with scenic descriptions that simply draw you into the story."
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Best Sports Broadcasting

Lucky Bastard: My Life, My Dad, and the Things I'm Not Allowed to Say on TV
In this New York Times bestselling memoir, the announcer of the biggest sporting events in the country—including the 2017 Super Bowl and this century's most-watched, historic, Chicago Cubs–winning World Series—reveals why he is one lucky bastard. Sports fans see Joe Buck everywhere: broadcasting one of the biggest games in the NFL every week, calling the World Series every year, announcing the Super Bowl every three years. They haven’t read his funniest and most embarrassing stories or heard about his interactions with the biggest sports stars of this era. Praise for Lucky Bastard. “[Buck] unleashes his inner stand-up comic, sprinkling the text with surprisingly funny and often self-deprecating wit.”— Booklist.
Reviews
"So after admiring his work during every World Series and Fox NFL Super Bowl I was so excited to read this book. Of course a fan is going to be interested and entertained by it but I think even his haters will find a lot to enjoy and hopefully this book will give them a different perspective on this very "lucky" but also very talented "bastard.""
"I've been impressed with Joe's ability to handle major sporting events with such ease. One particular pregame skit, which wasn't in the book but has stayed with me nonetheless, involved Joe and his football partner Troy Aikman. A group of people attends to Troy: fixing his hair, brushing his suit coat, applying makeup. He talks about interviewing a couple of Seattle defensive players before the Superbowl with Denver. He describes how his fear of backlash on social media had affected his on-air performance, always careful not to make a comment that might stir up a controversy. If you have watched any major sporting event over the last fifteen-plus years, you have listened to Joe Buck."
"I was curious if he would keep his St. Louis focus while trying to reach a national audience. to the point that if you are a St. Louis. person and Cardinal fan it really resonates."
"I bought both hard copy and also the audio version read by Joe, which was especially enjoyable since it's really well-delivered in Joe's trademarked inflection you're so familiar with."
"We get to read about some of the things that go on during a sports broadcast."
"Hilarious, he is not afraid to air his mistakes and talk about his weak points to the world through this book."
"Terrifically witty and intelligenly written book by an author who truly seems like a good guy and an average Joe despite the fact that in reality he leads a celebrity filled and fun filled life and gets paid major bucks to do so."
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Best Sports Facilities Management

Stephen Curry: The Best. Easy to read children sports book with great graphic. All you need to know about Stephen Curry, one of the best basketball legends in history. (Sports book for Kids)
He is friendly and courteous, hard working and dedicated, and uses his skills to entertain millions of people, all while raising money for charities. Simple, interesting, fun and easy to read for kids, this book contains all you need to know and to learn from Stephen Curry - The Best. ". My son had a report to write and he is a huge Stephen Curry fan. my son love stephen curry and it was great to read his life story to give my son the motivation in his studies. ". It's hard to find books that my 10 year old enjoys, but he loves basketball.
Reviews
"My Grandson is inspired by Steph Curry."
"Good shipping & product as described."
"My son loves Stephen Curry, and loves this book and read this book 5 times already."
"Stephen Curry is a great basketball player and teammate and also a good person that never give up at things."
"It was a short book but it will definitely help me with my reading project!"
"Great biography for ages 7-10."
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Best Sports Psychology

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
The Inner Game of Tennis is a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. Instead of serving up technique, it concentrated on the fact that, as Gallwey wrote, "Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game." The Inner Game of Tennis still does much to keep that idea in play.
Reviews
"My 16 year old son asked for this book and he said he loves it and he is reading it slowly to "savor it"."
"Yes this book is about tennis but it's lessons can be applied to life in general."
"Practical and theoretical guidance on the power of attention and focus, and the pivotal role these essential skills play in the game of tennis and the game of life."
"Every competitive athlete needs to read this book."
"This book is WAY more than about just tennis."
"Excellent book that provides great techniques to counter the emotional rollercoaster of a 12 y/o competing in such an intense environment."
"A unique book that teaches you to develop and depend on your inner reflexes rather than making conscious effort in any sport."
"The principles of the Inner Game apply also to life in general."
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Best Sports Science

Advances in Functional Training: Training Techniques for Coaches, Personal Trainers and Athletes
In the seven years since the publication of his first book, Functional Training for Sports, new understanding of functional anatomy created a shift in strength coaching. With this new material, Coach Boyle presents the continued evolution of functional training as seen by a leader in the strength and conditioning field. Mike Boyle is the Godfather of performance training, and he's influenced countless others to become efficient and effective strength and conditioning coaches over the decades.
Reviews
"This is Mike Boyle's sample template for the hip dominant exercises for lower body strength: "Level 1: First Three Weeks: Cook Hip Lift, Slideboard Leg Curl (eccentric only), Hyperextension, Hyperextension Hold. Level 2: Foot-Elevated Hip Lift, Modified Straight-Leg Deadlift, One-Leg Straight-Leg Deadlift (Progressions). Level 3: One-Leg Hyperextension, One-Leg Good Morning, Slideboard and Stability-Ball Hip Extension Variations. Level 3: Slideboard Leg Curl (eccentric and concentric phase), Stability-Ball Leg Curl". These exercises all work the hamstrings and glutes, but work the hamstrings much more (except possibly for the level 1 exercises). A more functional template to encourage glute strength should have the glutes having at least the same amount of work at least in hip extension (but not possibly in knee flexion). Based on these levels, high step ups off of a pad could be used at any one of these levels to minimize quad and hamstrings involvement, to provide frontal plane stability training, utilize the obliques, etc.. 99% of Mike Boyle's book is great and I could write about 10 pages raving about this book, but I encourage anyone fitness professional to read this book from beginning to end to learn how great exercise programming is done."
"Everyone should read this book it should be a text book in middle school."
"Advances in Functional Training is like a text book; it is densely packed with information on training in the broadest sense of the word."
"One example is the "Kettleball get up," which author recommends as a great exercise but shows only one still photo whereas this exercise is a sequence of movements from a sit to a stand position. Sometimes an exercise or concept is justified by the author because it was recommended by another expert such "the worlds best physical therapist" or an NFL strength trainer without delving into the scientific rationale."
"As a trainer I love reading this book because it teaches us to teach our clients to move with movement quality not movement quantity, a la CROSSFIT."
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Best Women in Sports

Unstoppable: My Life So Far
And then―at perhaps the peak of her career―Sharapova came up against the toughest challenge yet: during the 2016 Australian Open, she was charged by the ITF with taking the banned substance meldonium, only recently added to the ITF’s list. The resulting suspension would keep her off the professional courts for fifteen months―a frighteningly long time for any athlete. She brings us inside her pivotal matches and illuminates the relationships that have shaped her―with coaches, best friends, boyfriends, and Yuri, her coach, manager, father, and most dedicated fan, describing with honesty and affection their oft-scrutinized relationship. As Sharapova returns to the professional circuit, one thing is clear: the ambition to win that drove her from the public courts of Russia to the manicured lawns of Wimbledon has not diminished. This is the bildungsroman of a controversial champion, a portrait of the athlete as an uncommonly driven young woman . It’s also a Horatio Alger–worthy tale of rags to riches, with a slightly nihilistic Russian twist. "A fascinating and well-written (with the help of Vanity Fair journalist Rich Cohen) insight into her struggles, triumphs, obsession with Williams, Russian pessimism and the roots of that famous haughtiness." "The surprisingly compelling Unstoppable is at its best when recounting Sharapova’s fraught early life . “A determined journey from the bitter cold and desolation of Siberia to the warm (at times burning) glow of international superstardom . All the big matches are relived in a speedy, engaging way, and her prose exudes confidence as she describes her ability to dominate her peers on the tour and how she came to be considered one of the greatest female players of the game. Her writing becomes more vulnerable, frustrated, and interesting when she explores her struggles with Serena Williams." Sharapova’s eloquent self-awareness provides a rare glimpse into the disorienting push and pull of a famous athlete’s life." An impressive immigration tale, an inspiring coming-of-age narrative, and a host of useful advice on navigating celebrity culture.
Reviews
"I will look forward to watching her play and grow in Grace in the next few years."
"awesome book!"
"An interesting account of how she got started in tennis."
"A very honest way to tell her story!"
"Must read."
"If you like Maria you should like Unstoppable."
"Thanks Maria."
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