Travel World guide

Bob Hill has been an award-winning columnist for the The Louisville Courier-Journal for over 25 years. He has written books on gardening, basketball, the history of Louisville, and Double Jeopardy, a true crime book about a Louisville murder that was featured twice on NBCs “Dateline,” and will be an Arts & Entertainment network feature with Bill Kurtis. Hill is a graduate of Rice University, where he played basketball.

Crack of the Bat is a comprehensive and entertaining look at the most famous icon in the history of baseball, the “Louisville Slugger” bat. The story includes the evolution of bats from pioneer wagon tongues to the sleek aluminum models of today. It examines the amazing physics involved in hitting a baseball, where .007 second means the difference between a home run and a foul ball. It tells the fascinating history of the still family-owned Hillerich & Bradsby Company, which in just 80 years went from making butter churns to producing seven million bats a year. Reinforcing this tale are dozens of stories about the the idiosyncrasies of the most famous hitters in baseball history, including Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Cal Ripken Jr., and Derek Jeter. Illustrated with hundreds of archival photographs, baseball decals, and icons — many in color — this book will become as much a cherished keepsake as some of the bats it describes.

Crack of the Bat: The Louisville Slugger Story

Glove Affairs: The Romance, History, and Tradition of the Baseball Glove

How is it that Larry King remembers every detail about his first baseball glove, but Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith can’t recall a thing about his? Such is the mystery of the baseball glove, a simple piece of sporting equipment that is both functional and, for reasons that are hard to pin down, often unforgettable. This handsome and smartly illustrated history of fielder’s gloves is rich with information about and appreciation for the game. Lieberman explains how ballplayers were once thought unmanly if they used gloves to field thrown and batted balls and how big-leaguers vary in their approach to picking out and maintaining fielder’s gloves; New York Yankee Derek Jeter opts for a new glove at the start of every season, but former Baltimore Oriole Brooks Robinson, probably the greatest defensive third baseman ever, would use his “until it was ragged.” Lieberman’s book does not require any intellectual heavy lifting, but with plenty of archival photos and a bundle of funny anecdotes, it gives readers an amiable way to welcome the new season. Kevin Canfield
Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved

Do you remember your first glove? Or the one that meant the most to you? Almost everyone does.

Bernie Williams does. So does Greg Maddux. Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Jim Palmer do as well. Indeed, just above every major leaguer remembers his first glove. Some, such as Doug Rader, who won five straight Gold Gloves at third base with the Houston Astros, even wore the same glove from sandlot games all the way to the pros.

Glove Affairs: The Romance, History, and Tradition of Baseball Glove will help you recall your fist glove as it shares similar memories from the game’s greats. Glove Affairs also provides informative and surprising details about the history of the glove, its evolution, and its place in American culture.

More than just an ode to the glove, however, Glove Affairs serves as a practical guide to purchasing, breaking in, maintaining, and repairing a glove. Dozens of current and former major leaguers offer their battle-tested advice about getting the most out of a glove. They also share countless stories, from the passionate to the hilarious, about the glove and their relationship to it, including their superstitions and rituals, some of which are downright bizarre.

Whether you’re a little leaguer seeking tips about buying and caring for your first glove or just a little leaguer at heart hoping to revisit fond memories, Glove Affairs will educate you, illuminate you – and stir your emotions.

Glove Affairs: The Romance, History, and Tradition of the Baseball Glove

The book is well suited to new sailors as well as those wishing to explore new and different routes or brush up on their bluewater voyaging skills…[it] feels as though you have taken up with a seasoned captain who is taking care of all the details. Your only job is to follow his lead and cast off. –Ocean Navigator Magazine, May/June 2007

“An exhaustive guide, for the first-timer, to crossing the Atlantic; includes numerous routes.” –Wooden Boat Review

I really like this book. It has a ring of experience but is delivered in a way that makes the new sailor very comfortable. It is filled with just the kind of information first time crossers really like to read about. It is a World Cruising Routes in narrative form with lots of amusing anecdotes. The strength of the book is the route planning…” –John Kretschmer

“An exhaustive guide, for the first-timer, to crossing the Atlantic; includes numerous routes.” –Wooden Boat Review

I really like this book. It has a ring of experience but is delivered in a way that makes the new sailor very comfortable. It is filled with just the kind of information first time crossers really like to read about. It is a World Cruising Routes in narrative form with lots of amusing anecdotes. The strength of the book is the route planning…” –John Kretschmer

Les Weatheritt is the author of Caribbean Passagemaking also published by Sheridan House. He lives in the U.K. when not at sea.

The main intent of this book is to prepare the North American sailor for his first crossing of the Atlantic to Europe. It is actually so exhaustive in its coverage that it will indeed help the bluewater sailor to learn how cross any ocean in the world.

Covering prevailing winds and other seasonal considerations, the author not only deals with suitable starting points on the East coast but also covers in great detail the best and most popular destination sites in Europe. Several appendices provide additional useful information.

The book is well suited to new sailors as well as those wishing to explore new and different routes or brush up on their bluewater voyaging skills…[it] feels as though you have taken up with a seasoned captain who is taking care of all the details. Your only job is to follow his lead and cast off. –Ocean Navigator Magazine, May/June 2007

“An exhaustive guide, for the first-timer, to crossing the Atlantic; includes numerous routes.” –Wooden Boat Review

I really like this book. It has a ring of experience but is delivered in a way that makes the new sailor very comfortable. It is filled with just the kind of information first time crossers really like to read about. It is a World Cruising Routes in narrative form with lots of amusing anecdotes. The strength of the book is the route planning…” –John Kretschmer

“An exhaustive guide, for the first-timer, to crossing the Atlantic; includes numerous routes.” –Wooden Boat Review

I really like this book. It has a ring of experience but is delivered in a way that makes the new sailor very comfortable. It is filled with just the kind of information first time crossers really like to read about. It is a World Cruising Routes in narrative form with lots of amusing anecdotes. The strength of the book is the route planning…” –John Kretschmer

Atlantic Crossings: A Sailor’s Guide to Europe and Beyond

Sailing There, Cruising Across Europe and the Mediterranean

A delightful read about a couple’s adventures while canaling through Europe and sailing across the Mediterranean, “Sailing There” is populated with a host of eccentric characters including the bouillabaisse chef, gruff bargemen, disinterested port officials, mafia youth, and of course, other cruisers.

Pat and Ray’s one year cruise is extended indefinitely as they become accustomed to a lifestyle full of suspiciously friendly people, culinary surprises, local wines, and emergency boat repairs. The learning curve from the initial splash down in Rotterdam to the far off Greek Isles is quite steep, which leads to numerous near-disasters.

By the end of the first year, Pat and Ray are knowledgeable cruisers and don’t have to worry as much about the Mediterranean mooring system, foreign language weather reports, custom’s clearance procedures, or the “surprise” of the mistral winds. They actually have time to enjoy the history they are sailing through and many times find themselves in ports that existed 2,000 years ago.

Woven throughout the story is the running joke about how the factory-described “turnkey” yacht, actually ended up being more of a “yacht kit”—some assembly required. Oh you thought a ship’s wheel was needed? Don’t worry about those missing engine components-they’ll just break anyways. Oh yes, all the brass instruments are usually stolen prior to launch- it saves on weight. What ensues are multiple trips to the local nautical chandleries (sometimes not so local) spread across numerous countries. The scavenger hunt for parts, decent canvas makers, welders, and provisions will be familiar to anyone that owns or crews on a sailboat.

All in all, this book is a very entertaining read, and a great book to curl up with when faced with the realities of frozen lakes and snowy conditions. “Sailing There” does a wonderful job of transporting the reader to the sunny Mediterranean, and while reading it, you can almost feel the sunshine on your back and the salt in the spray. –Erich Drescher, Good Old Boat

Looking for a new adventure, Patricia Vellinga and her husband buy a boat-a big boat that turns out to be more a yacht kit than a yacht. Their simple plan is to cruise Europe and the Mediterranean for one year. Their journey, however, is far from routine. As Pat and Ray motor through the canals of Holland, Belgium, and France, then sail to Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Spain, they find beauty and danger, towering locks, salty characters, peaceful anchorages, treacherous winds-and even a forest fire. Forced at gunpoint to cast off into the raging Sane River, they struggle to safety. Even so, they get hooked on a cruising lifestyle that takes them well beyond their one-year plan. Sailing There, Cruising Across Europe and the Mediterranean is a rich and entertaining tale of a couple’s lively voyage with the wind through ancient ports and history.

Sailing There, Cruising Across Europe and the Mediterranean

“”[Archambeault's] vibrant photographs are not only a reminder of what we have to cherish in the present, but also what we must consider the possibility of losing in our near future.”–Linda Hinchliffe,Chevy Chaser Magazine” —

“”This is a worthy and welcome volume to this artist’s canon.”–Scott Coffman, Courier-Journal” —

“”Another must-have book that portrays the best of the Bluegrass.”–Susan Smith-Durisek, The Lexington Herald-Leader” —

“”Internationally renowned photographer James Archambeault has done it again — captured the beauty of our state with his lens and preserved it within the pages of a coffee-table book that any Kentuckian would be proud to own, or place under the Christmas tree for some other fortunate reader.”–Mary Alan Woodward, The Voice- Tribune” —

“”From the cover photo of a foal in full gallop to a mischievous yearling munching a leaf from a tree, there is much to enjoy in this wonderful book.”–Bill Ellis, Kentucky Monthly” —

“”Captures the natural beauty of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region and the thoroughbred industry for which it is famous… from tender scenes of mares and foals grazing, to the excitement of race day at Keeneland, to gorgeous landscapes of white fences enclosing lush rolling hills”– Sophisticated Living” —

James Archambeault has been an independent photographer for over twenty-five years. He has published five books: James Archambeault’s Historic Kentucky, Kentucky, Kentucky II, Kentucky III, and The Gift of Pleasant Hill. His work has appeared in several national publications, including Architectural Digest, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian Guides to Natural America.

On any given day, more than forty thousand horses roam the fields of the Bluegrass, and there are more than five hundred horse farms in the region known for its rich soil and rolling hills. Kentucky Horse Country: Images of the Bluegrass is renowned photographer James Archambeault’s pictorial portrait of the natural beauty of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region and the thriving thoroughbred industry for which it is famous. The book contains more than 150 full-color images ranging from tender scenes of mares and foals grazing, to the excitement of race day at Keeneland, to gorgeous landscapes of pristine white fences enclosing lush pastures. The region has long been associated with the best achievements of the equine world. In 1871, a horse named Lexington was foaled in Scott County, and many famous thoroughbreds can trace their lineage back to this great sire. Having photographed the bluegrass for decades, Archambeault is intimately familiar with the backstretch and the barns, the fields and the foals, that are known around the world. In the course of his career, he has been able to see many of the legendary horses that have made horse racing so exciting and popular: Affirmed, Alydar, Spectacular Bid, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Cigar. Rare photographs of these and other racing royalty are included in the book. The handsome barns and well-tended pastures found throughout central Kentucky have been the home to international racing champions, and now individuals from all over the world, including England, Ireland, Japan, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, have a stake in the region’s flourishing horse industry. As preeminent racing historian Edward L. Bowen notes in his introduction, “It is a special place where the ruler of Dubai and a stable groom have something in common; the queen of England can admire a leathery old jockey; a philanthropist and a veterinary professor have the same goals; and a $2 bettor celebrates at the same moment that a corporate CEO grits his teeth in disappointment.” The vibrant photographs in Kentucky Horse Country are accompanied by Archambeault’s captions and narrative descriptions, as well by a lively introduction to the history of thoroughbreds in the Bluegrass by Bowen. The book also includes a foreword by Kentucky native Steve Cauthen, the youngest jockey to win the Triple Crown, who once again calls the Bluegrass his home. James Archambeault’s latest work is a Kentucky triple crown for those who love horses and horse racing, for those who revel in the magical beauty of the Bluegrass, and for those who are looking for a grand introduction to what makes this region so unique.

“”[Archambeault's] vibrant photographs are not only a reminder of what we have to cherish in the present, but also what we must consider the possibility of losing in our near future.”–Linda Hinchliffe,Chevy Chaser Magazine” —

“”This is a worthy and welcome volume to this artist’s canon.”–Scott Coffman, Courier-Journal” —

“”Another must-have book that portrays the best of the Bluegrass.”–Susan Smith-Durisek, The Lexington Herald-Leader” —

“”Internationally renowned photographer James Archambeault has done it again — captured the beauty of our state with his lens and preserved it within the pages of a coffee-table book that any Kentuckian would be proud to own, or place under the Christmas tree for some other fortunate reader.”–Mary Alan Woodward, The Voice- Tribune” —

“”From the cover photo of a foal in full gallop to a mischievous yearling munching a leaf from a tree, there is much to enjoy in this wonderful book.”–Bill Ellis, Kentucky Monthly” —

“”Captures the natural beauty of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region and the thoroughbred industry for which it is famous… from tender scenes of mares and foals grazing, to the excitement of race day at Keeneland, to gorgeous landscapes of white fences enclosing lush rolling hills”– Sophisticated Living” —

Kentucky Horse Country: Images of the Bluegrass

Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky

Nickell is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in newspapers such as the Washington Post, Cincinnati Enquirer, Charlotte Observer, and USA Today, and in magazines such as Woman’s Day, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and Flair. She has also contributed to Fodor’s Travel Guide and The Travel Channel.

Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky takes readers inside the most famous farms of the Bluegrass, visits its historic racetracks, and provides information on a host of equine-related attractions. The guide also recommends unique places to stay and to dine. While horses are the main focus of the book, it is also a roadmap to the state itself-its history, fascinating characters past and present and the most intriguing places it has to offer – both equine and non-equine related. More travel essays than a standard travel guide, the book seeks to bring the places alive with informative, often whimsical narrative about the people, places, and events that have shaped Kentucky.
Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky

Bill Gladstone is the director of North U, a division of North Sails, Inc. North Sails has become the world leader in sailmaking through an ongoing commitment to making sails faster, lighter and longer lasting. North Sails produces more cruising sails to higher standards of performance and durability than any other sailmaker in the world. The company also provides sailing courses through its popular North U. instructional seminars. These courses emphasize practical, proven techniques used by today’s leading sailors. Hometown: Madison, CT

The essential information you need–onboard and at your fingertips

On the water, when questions arise, there’s no time to search through an exhaustive manual. The Captain’s Quick Guides provide all the answers–fast. Based on the world’s largest boating library, this laminated Quick Guide presents 14 color panels of authoritative, concise information on sail trim and rig tuning, designed for onboard quick reference.

Sail Trim and Rig Tuning: A Captain’s Quick Guide (Captain’s Quick Guides)

Sailing Smart: Winning Techniques, Tactics, And Strategies

“When the best sailor in the world, Buddy Melges, reveals his secrets of success through a gifted writer, Charles Mason, one might expect the resulting book to be something special. Sailing Smart is that and more! Every sailor can learn from this book– especially the good sailor who aspires to become very good.”–Bob Bavier, Yachting

“Buddy Melges is so thorough, so clear, and so giving that any sailor who absorbs and applies his advice can’t help but win. He is witty, entertaining, and sincere in his desire to promote better sailors….It’s a book you can’t stop reading.”–Doris Colgate, Offshore Sailing School

Sailing Smart is for every sailor who wants to increase his or her knowledge, understanding, and sailing expertise: the local day-sailor who wants a firmer grasp of the fundamentals, as well as the serious competitor who wants to be up on the latest, most innovative sailing techniques and racing strategies. Buddy Melges, one of the world’s best-known sailors, has at last set down his highly original thoughts on how to sail well. He covers the full range of sailing experience, from the general to the specific, the basic to the highly sophisticated. Melges’s message is delivered in a bright, uncluttered manner by way of applications from his own sailing experience and through step-by-step instructions on everything from basic boat handling to expert on-the-course tactics and maneuvers. The book is profusely illustrated by the noted sailing artist Ted Brennan, and each drawing is accompanied by a cogent, in-depth explanatory caption.

Sailing Smart: Winning Techniques, Tactics, And Strategies

Informative and visually exciting, this is the new, revised edition of the worlds best-selling guide to the Canadian Rockies. Whether youre planning your trip, looking for a perfect road guide, or searching for a lasting and complete record of your journey, this is the book for you. Graeme Pole is the author of many other best-selling books from Altitude Publishing, including Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, Walks and Easy Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, and David Thompson: The Epic Expeditions of a Great Canadian Explorer. –This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Graeme Pole is the best-selling author of five non-fiction books that describe the human history and natural history of the Canadian Rockies. Three of his books have been finalists in the Banff Mountain Book Festival. One of his books, Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, won the Mountain Exposition category in 1994. He has been a runner-up for the Andy Russell Nature Writers’ Award, a finalist in the Crown of the Continent Nature Writing Award, a recipient of a Northwest Outdoor Writers’ Association “Excellence in Craft Award,” and a recipient of the Teddi Brown Award for Nature Writing. His other non-fiction books are Walks and Easy Hikes of the Canadian Rockies, Spiral Tunnels, and The Canadian Rockies: A History in Photographs. His first novel, Healy Park, was published in 1998.

Informative and visually exciting, this is the new, revised edition of the world’s best-selling guide to the Canadian Rockies. Whether you’re planning your trip, looking for a perfect road guide, or searching for a lasting and complete record of your journey, this is the book for you.

The Canadian Rockies SuperGuide has detailed information on Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Waterton National Parks. Included are maps, historical tidbits, info on flora and fauna, and plenty of spectacular full-colour photographs.

Canadian Rockies: An Altitude Superguide (Altitude Superguides)

Walks & Easy Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

A comprehensive guide to all the best walks and easy hikes in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. This book is ideal for casual explorers of all ages, abilities and interests. In fact, Walks and Easy Hikes provides all the information you need to experience the magnificent mountain environment of the Canadian Rockies from trails and paths that start right beside the road. Each hike is introduced with detailed route and trailhead instructions. Full colour maps indicate the location and direction of each hike and point out the outstanding landscape features. The hike descriptions are supplemented with important information on history, geology and nature. The book includes information on wheelchair accessible tails, as well as walks for the elderly and those with young families. This book is ideal for all those who love experiencing the outdoors – from novice hiker to seasoned back-country veteran. –This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

This guide is designed as a companion to Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies. It focuses on short but pleasant hikes with easy access from the highway. The hikes range from a few minutes’ duration to only a couple of hours.

Walks & Easy Hikes in the Canadian Rockies (Altitude Superguides Series)

Tennis Skills & Drills offers the tools needed for superior strokes and more victories on the court.

-Mardy Fish

2004 Olympic Silver Medalist

Joey Rive played on the ATP Tour for 8 years, competing in each of the 4 Grand Slams, and achieved a top 60 player ranking in singles and top 50 ranking in doubles. Rive also played Davis Cup tennis for Puerto Rico and practiced with theU.S. Davis Cup team. Rive has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at Florida State University, where he won MVP honors for his team and conference as a player. He also received Tennis magazines Sportsman of the Year Award.

After his successful playing career, Rive coached at Florida State University, the University of Alabama, and Texas Christian University. He produced multiple All-Americans, two conference titles, and one NCAA final four finish. During his tenure as a college coach, he was voted PTR College Coach of the Year. Rive also spent three years as a USTA national coach, working with Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Taylor Dent, Robby Ginepri, and Alex Bogomolov.

Rive is a USPTA, PTR, and USTA certified high-performance and sports coach. Currently, he is a teaching professional at T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas, Texas.

For almost three decades, Scott Williams has been an internationally renowned coach working with players such as No. 2 ATP Tour player Tommy Haas and No. 1 ATP Tour doubles player Max Mirnyi. Williams is the author ofSerious Tennis(Human Kinetics) and author and producer of the recently releasedSpiritually Tough TennisDVD. He is president of Match Point Ministries and was voted the 2009 Coach of the Year, receiving the Ace Excellence Award for his work with upcoming junior tennis players.

Williams is currently the tennis director at Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton, Florida.He is certified as a USTA high-performance coach, USPTA level 1 professional, and PSIA level III instructor.

Williams has been ranked nationally in both tennis and skiing and has played professional satellite and challenger events in Europe, South America, and the United States. He has won a total of 19 state championships in both tennis and skiing in Florida and Washington.

Solid groundstrokes, a confident net game, a dictating serve, a sharp return game, and specialty shots for every situationbuild your game from the ground up with the techniques and shots that are essential for success in todays versatile and powerful game. Combine that with winning tactics for singles and doubles, and Tennis Skills & Drills is your blueprint for taking your game to the next level.

Start with assessing the basic techniques for the various strokes and see how you can improve your footwork, grip choices, and swing patterns. Then increase your options with spins, angles, and depth. Complete instruction for all of the strokes along with over 110 practice drills is like having your own personal coach.

Since your technique is only as effective as your tactics, the book also covers the key tactical principles and game plans for maximizing your strengths while minimizing your opponents. Youll learn to prepare for, adapt to, and counter every style of play.

Whether your goal is to beat your favorite playing partner or to win the next league, state, or national title, Tennis Skills & Drills is your guide to mastering the game.

Tennis Skills & Drills offers the tools needed for superior strokes and more victories on the court.

-Mardy Fish

2004 Olympic Silver Medalist

Tennis Skills & Drills

Tennis Strokes and Tactics: Improve Your Game

John Littleford has over 20 years’ experience coaching and playing tennis at the highest level, and he is Lawn Tennis Association and U.S. Professional Tennis Registry qualified. He is a cofounder of Modern Tennis International.

Andrew Magrath is the co-managing director of Modern Tennis International and has been a professional coach for over 15 years.

A tennis tune-up for players of all skill levels.

From the serve, ground strokes and volleys to the smashes, lobs and drop shots, this unique coaching manual illustrates each stroke from five angles: front, back, left, right and above. In this all-around skills guide, tennis pro John Littleford delivers expert guidance to identify accurate positioning of feet, body and the racquet — just like having a personal pro watching, correcting and coaching every swing.

Tennis Strokes and Tactics features step-by-step analysis and multi-angle photography that illustrates how to:

Track the ball to the racquet head using hand-eye coordination
Maintain correct posture and good footwork
Establish correct and comfortable grips
Hit a forehand with great topspin
Master the secrets of the backhand — one-handed and two-handed
Control the ball with power on volleys
Serve with more speed, spin and deception
Return serve with more punch and accuracy
Use the lob and drop shot as devastating offensive weapons
Master an accurate and powerful overhead smash
Move across the court more fluidly for greater efficiency.

Tennis Strokes and Tactics also includes a comprehensive section on effective tactics and strategies for singles and doubles play. Using this innovative guide, tennis players of any level will improve their game.

Tennis Strokes and Tactics: Improve Your Game

While researching his latest novel, Michener stopped in Havana and what he found there struck him so that he wrote this separate volume about it. The meat of the book was gleaned from interviews with close to 200 Cubans of widely assorted backgrounds and positions, and concerns how the country has progressed after 90 years of independence from Spain and under the 30-year leadership of Castro. Kings’s many photographs are a fine complement to the text. Bound to be in demand by Michener’s numerous fans. Literary Guild alternate; Doubleday Book Club selection.– MR
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

When James Michener visited Havana with his associate John Kings, he was only researching Cuba for a new novel on the Caribbean, but he found much more to excite his interest. Michener’s insightful text and Kings’s evocative photographs record their impressions of Havana thirty years after the Revolution.

Six Days in Havana

Recessional

The veteran author’s extended exploration of the world of geriatrics is an up and down affair, alternating inspiring episodes with cliche-ridden narratives. Andy Zorn, a young doctor running from a past scandal, has been hired by geriatric mogul John Taggart to revitalize the Palms, a Tampa retirement community that’s fallen into a minor malaise of both profits and morale. Michener sets up his usual labyrinthine sprawl of secondary characters, but what’s missing is the unique sense of place that’s driven his best works in the past. This time, Michener applies his research to the ravages of old age that plague the Palms’ population, but the level of detail often seems unnecessary for the story he’s telling. Some episodes and characters are touching: the tale of a seemingly mismatched couple in which the husband cares for the wife after she contracts Alzheimer’s; a series of stories about four elder statesmen in the home who conspire to build and fly an airplane; and the saga of a widow who must make some difficult decisions after a biopsy for breast cancer. On the negative side, the romantic subplot between Zorn and a handicapped woman whom he rescues after a car accident reads like fodder for a bad TV movie; the doctor’s efforts to provide care for an AIDS patient outside the home have similar problems with realism-the worst offense being a series of passages told from the perspective of a rattlesnake. It’s obvious that Michener, who turns 87 this year, finds his subject engaging-but there’s not quite enough inspiration here to place this with his top-shelf work. Major ad/promo; Random House Audiobook.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

“MICHENER IS AMERICA’S BEST WRITER.”
–The Pittsburgh Press
In his stunning new novel, bestselling novelist James A. Michener draws on his unparalleled gift for storytelling, his deep understanding of American society, and his own life experiences to illuminate the challenges of aging and the folly of youth in a Florida retirement home known as the Palms.
As the new, young director of the Palms, Andy Zorn suffers no shortage of loving support and wise advice from his “elders,” a group of five passionate, outspoken residents who refuse to accept the passive roles that both society and family have handed them. Yet past scandal has driven Zorn to despondency, until he meets an extraordinary young woman in the rehab wing, who has been forced to rebuild her life in the face of crippling injuries. Now Zorn finds himself falling in love–and with the help and gentle jabs from his more mature friends, he discovers a wonderful new purpose in life….
“Michener hooks you with wonderfully humorous scenes. These are then interwoven between the moments of pain and heartache brought about by life choices we all must make.”
–Tulsa World
“Engaging…One will be drawn into the novelist’s world….The lush natural setting provides James Michener plenty to show and tell.”
–The Washington Times

Recessional

MASATOSHI NAKAYAMA carries on the tradition of his teacher, Gichin Funakoshl, the Father of Modern Karate. Long professor and director of physical education at Takushoku University, his alma mater (1937), he was chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association from 1955 until his death in 1987. A ninth degree black belt and a familiar face at tournaments, he was among the first to send instructors overseas and to encourage the development of karate along scientific lines.

Fully described and illustrated in this volume are the widely practiced Bassal and Kanku kata from the JFA recommended group. The student learns fast and slow techniques, the dynamics of strength, how to turn weakness into strength, changing directions, jumping and going to ground.

Best Karate: Bassai, Kanku, Vol. 6

Best Karate, Vol.3: Kumite 1

MASATOSHI NAKAYAMA carries on the tradition of his teacher, Gichin Funakoshl, the Father of Modern Karate. Long professor and director of physical education at Takushoku University, his alma mater (1937), he was chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association from 1955 until his death in 1987. A ninth degree black belt and a familiar face at tournaments, he was among the first to send instructors overseas and to encourage the development of karate along scientific lines.

In kumite basic techniques are sharpened and body movement and distancing acquired through practical application. This volume explains the types and meaning of kumite and the relation between jiyu kumite and basic training in fundamentals.

Demonstrated by instructors of the Japan Karate Association. As well as setting forth the basic rules that must be put into practice when performing kata or applying techniques in kumite, this volume pinpoints the underlying physical and physiological principles of karate: source and concentration of power; stance, form, stability and technique; movement in all directions; basic and comprehensive aspects of training.

Best Karate, Vol.3: Kumite 1

“Hands down, these are the best travel guidebooks I’ve ever read” –Wandering Educators

James Kaiser is an award-winning travel writer and photographer and author of Acadia: The Complete Guide, Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide, and Yosemite: The Complete Guide. He lives in San Francisco.

Stunning photographs showcase the wondrous landscape of Joshua Tree National Park in this unique guidebook. Located just two hours east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a desert getaway that boasts some of the most dramatic and unexpected scenery in the Southwest. This editionfeatures updated information on park and local attractions, hotels, andrestaurants, as well as a newly expanded section on the geology of the park. Fascinating chaptersdiscuss the park’s history, geology, and wildlife along with a guide to desert wildflowers and maps ofmore than20 of the best hikes in thepark.An indispensable guide for outdoor enthusiasts, rock climbers, and vacationing families on a budget, this beautiful guidebook will enhance any traveler’s collection.

“Hands down, these are the best travel guidebooks I’ve ever read” –Wandering Educators

Joshua Tree: The Complete Guide: Joshua Tree National Park

Hiking Joshua Tree National Park: 38 Day and Overnight Hikes

Hiking Joshua Tree National Park provides detailed information on thirty-eight of the best day hikes and extended backpacking trips in this desert wonderland 140 miles east of Los Angeles. The diverse landscapeshaped by strong winds, unpredictable precipitation, and climatic extremesoffers numerous opportunities for year-round exploration. With rich narratives and beautiful photographs, this guidebook provides all you need for hiking the extensive network of trails among granite rock formations, pion and juniper forests, sandy washes, and the symbols of the park, the Joshua trees.

For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuides have set the standard for

outdoor guidebooks. Written by top experts, each guide invites you to experience the adventure and beauty of the outdoors.

Look inside to find:

Hikes suited to every ability

Accurate directions to the trailhead and detailed trail descriptions

GPS-compatible trail maps

Mile-by-mile directionalcues

Difficulty ratings, averagehiking times, and best hiking seasons

“Hiking Joshua Tree National Park” provides detailed informaiton on thirty-eight of the best day hikes and extended backpacking trips in this desert wonderland 140 miles east of Los Angeles. The diverse landscape–shaped by strong winds, unpredictable precipitation, and coimatic extremes–offers numerous opportunities for year-round exploration. With rich narratives and beautiful photographs, this guidebook provide all you need for hiking the extensive network of trails mong granite rock formations, pinon and juniper forests, sandy washes, and the symbols of the park, the Joshua trees. .

Hiking Joshua Tree National Park: 38 Day and Overnight Hikes (Regional Hiking Series)

A must-have reference for any diver looking for scuba destinations in the Caribbean

“Both virgin and veteran divers will enjoy using this comprehensive resource on any dive trip to the Caribbean.”–Lynn Seldon, author of Quick Escapes Florida and coauthor of Hidden Bahamas

“Always, you can count on Mary to provide an honest evaluation through her experienced eyes. She is constantly on the look for the best experience for any diver. And that’s what Scuba Caribbean is all about. And that’s why it’s the perfect guide for any diver headed to a new Caribbean destination. . . . [This is] the guidebook I wish I had when I first dived the Caribbean.”–from the foreword by Ben Davison, publisher of Undercurrent

More than eighteen million visitors travel to the Caribbean each year, and spectacular scuba diving is one of the notable reasons. Hundreds of species of coral and over 500 species of fish, clear water, sandy bottoms, and relatively shallow depth combine to make local conditions especially interesting for both novice and expert divers.

Scuba is king in these waters, and Mary Peachin has written the first all-inclusive book providing an overview of the many islands in the Caribbean, plus the Bahamas and Bermuda. Scuba Caribbean includes information on dive sites, dive operators, pertinent island or country information, diver-friendly accommodations, and viewing marine life. Peachin is an advanced open water certified scuba diver with more than thirty years experience exploring the top diving destinations around the world.
For convenience, the book is divided by island and cross-referenced geographically. Peachin discusses seasonal migratory patterns of fish, whales, and sharks, revealing the best times to see certain species. She identifies the most interesting reefs and wrecks to see, reveals which can be accessed directly from shore, and even shares information on other “do not miss” activities for those who wish to add a non-diving component to their vacation.

Mary L. Peachin is an advanced open water certified diver with 30 years of experience.

A must-have reference for any diver looking for scuba destinations in the CaribbeanScuba Caribbean

Best Dives of the Caribbean

A must-have for divers, snorkelers, or those who just love to float in liquid turquoise. — Brenda Fine, Travel Editor, NY Law Journal The bible of Caribbean dive-travel. I highly recommend it. — Chris Lofting, The Travel Show, WOR Network Radio When I’m thinking about where to go diving next, I always thumb through this gem… It’s a trustworthy publication. –In Depth/Undercurrent Magazine

Don’t plan a dive without it! Concise and informative… one of the few bargains of the decade. –Wendy Canning Church, Divers Exchange International

It’s super! A great reference and we love it. –Dive Travel Magazine

Includes the latest and best dive and snorkel sites, each rated for visual excellence and marine life. The author’s knowledge of the Caribbean sites is unparalleled. From sunken planes and snorkel trails to blue holes, the best destinations beneath the waves are covered. Covers Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, the US and British Virgin Islands, the Caymans, Curaao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Tobago.

Diver-friendly resorts and hotels are featured, along with many recommended outfitters for learning, improving and mastering your diving skills. A list of decompression chambers is given. Landlubbers will appreciate the sightseeing sections. Color photos enhance the text. Maps show dive site locations.

Best Dives of the Caribbean (Hunter Travel Guides)