Best Polar Regions Sports
One of Sports Illustrated ’s Top 100 Sports Books of All Time: A gripping firsthand account of one of the most daring climbing expeditions in history. “Those who have never seen the Himalayas, those who never care to risk an assault, will know when they finish this book that they have been a companion of greatness.” — TheNew York Times Book Review “The most influential mountaineering book of all time.” — National Geographic Adventure.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The book became long and wordy in places but these were no doubt hardy, tough and smart men, with courage to spare."
"This book was fascinating."
"This book is a good glimpse of all the stuff that can go wrong, and how a self-reportedly conservative risk-taker nearly got his entire team killed, and lost major chunks of his body in the process."
"I thought it was a good read full of insights about the mentality of adventurers and mountaineers."
"Also, the extensive use of Sherpas and others natives hired to carry equipment make one realize what a monumental task this was in 1950."
"It was not as "gripping" as "Into Thin Air", but had its own sense of adventure, along with all of the risks involved, especially at that early time in mountaineering in the Himalayas."
"This was an amazing story of unbelievable courage under very difficult conditions."
"A vibrant, visual and interesting story of the hardships while climbing Annapurna."
From the boat journey on the Terra Nova to the tragically climactic search for the missing Scott, Cherry-Garrard frankly recounts all of the ensuing difficulties and their causes, in addition to questioning his own decisions and actions prior to the demise of the captain and crew.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"where as Amundsen had plenty, both in food and fuel oil........"
"Well written."
"The many logs of the explorers are interwoven into a complete tale, even with suspense when we know the horrific outcome."
"Very gripping reading."
"As a U.S. Coast Guard explorer at the 1902 Hut Point, (in 1955-56) I found this book very interesting."
"Fascinating story of early exploration."
"Very detailed account of polar exploration at it finest and worst."
"A great telling of the 1911-13 Scott expedition to Antartica and the South Pole."
“The nation’s premier nature writer” travels to a landscape at once barren and beautiful, perilous and alluring, austere yet teeming with vibrant life, and shot through with human history ( San Francisco Chronicle ). Based on Barry Lopez’s years spent traveling the Arctic regions in the company of Eskimo hunting parties and scientific expeditions alike, Arctic Dreams investigates the unique terrain of the human mind, thrown into relief against the vastness of the tundra and the frozen ocean. Writing of the natural history of the Arctic and its inhabitants--narwhals, polar bears, beluga whales, musk oxen, and caribou among them--Lopez draws powerful lessons from the land and imparts them assuredly and gracefully. Lopez became enthralled by the power of the Arctic, a power he observes derives from "the tension between its beauty and its capacity to take life." Examining the literature of 19th century exploration, Lopez finds a disassociation from the actual landscape; explorers have tended to see the Arctic as an adversary.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I liked everything about this book; It was informative, evocative, full of insight and wonder about the natural world and the modern world which seems to be trying to put an end to all the positive things found in the old."
"Lopez does a beautiful job explaining the scenery and grappling with some of the harsher aspects of life he was seeing."
"Beautifully written!"
"Anthropologists, biologists, historians, sociologists all would find a wealth of information in this book written with sensibility to the environment."
"Barry Lopez is a consummate story teller that allows the reader to feel "first person" what he has experienced."
"The High Arctic is a wonderful, magical place and Barry brings it all to life in the nicest manner."
"A book every journalist should read."
"Barry Lopez is s poet."
Best Winter Skiing
Winter recreation in the backcountry has increased steadily over the years and so has the number of deaths and injuries caused by avalanches. "This new edition of Bruce Temper's seminal book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrrain, maintains the easy-to-understand style of its first edition, making the information accessible even for snow-sport novices, yet also technically insightful for snow safety veterans."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A must read if you're traveling in the backcountry during winter."
"Well worth grabbing this book if you are learning about avalanche terrain for snowshoeing, mountaineering or backcountry skiing."
"If you are going to be playing in the backcountry do your friends, family, and yourself a favor and buy and read this book."
"While the book does give you some quick checklists, it also presses home the point that evaluating avalanche risks reliably requires years of experience (and even then can fail you), so you definitely can't accuse the author of leaving you with a false sense of security."
"Wow, everybody who rides should read this, the first chapter alone made me rethink some backcountry choices."
"I have had a copy for several years and have read it numerous times, read it before I took my Level 1, read it again before my Level II, and had it with me on my desk at the National Avalanche School."
"His tone is one of respectful caution, perhaps borne of his losing friends and colleagues to avalanches - a reality that he mentions repeatedly."
"While I'll never be 100% comfortable with him going I feel better knowing he's well informed about how to avoid avalanches and stay safe."
Best Ice Skating & Figure Skating
Gary's lessons and David's writing provide examples of the importance of the mental game." Through forty accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes from prominent athletes--many of whom he has worked with--you will learn the same techniques and exercises Mack uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle." In Mind Gym , noted sports psychology consultant Gary Mack teaches athletes the lessons he's learned about how the mind influences athletic performance as much as physical skill does, if not more so. Through forty accessible lessons and inspirational anecdotes from prominent athletes--many of whom he has worked with--Mack shares the same techniques and exercises he uses to help elite athletes build mental "muscle."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book-easy to read and provides a lot of good insight into mental training and imagery."
"This is my go-to sports psychology book for encouragement."
"I have always tried to emphasize the importance of mental training to my athletes and clients."
"Great book."
"Actually, the book was recommended by one of my former athletes, a state champion."
"Excellent book to get an athlete to consider the mental aspect of sport."
"Best book ever for mental strength on any sport and just all around confidence in life."
"Athletes at all levels could benefit from the advice and the author knows how to tell a good story. Another story about staying calm while being fired was much more applicable and we didn't need this second story to illustrate the same point."