Product Description
It’s been nearly four decades since scientists first realized that global warming posed a potential threat to our planet. Why, if we knew of the threats way back in the Carter Administration, can’t we act decisively to limit greenhouse gases, deforestation, and catastrophic warming trends? Why are we still addicted to fossil fuels? Have we all just been fiddling for 40 years as the world burns around us?

Schneider, part of the Nobel Prize–winning team that shared the accolade with Al Gore in 2007, had a front-row seat at this unfolding environmental meltdown. Piecing together events like a detective story, Schneider reveals that as expert consensus grew, well-informed activists warned of dangerous changes no one knew how to predict precisely—and special interests seized on that very uncertainty to block any effective response. He persuasively outlines a plan to avert the building threat and develop a positive, practical policy that will bring climate change back under our control, help the economy with a new generation of green energy jobs and productivity, and reduce the dependence on unreliable exporters of oil—and thus ensure a future for ourselves and our planet that’s as rich with promise as our past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

Mediocre
As climate books go,this was nothing special. There are many better books out there. I don't trust Schneider's objectivity. I thought he was being unfair and unscentific when he blames the European heat waves and Katrina on global warming, while saying the 10 year cooling period of 1998-2008 was too short-term to be significant. That's trying to have it both ways. A three-star book, nothing more.

This book rubbed me the wrong way
If a strong sense of your own rightness makes you a good scientist, then Stephen Schneider must be a great one. I've never read a book that was quite so self-righteous. Schneider sees himself as a hero fighting against evildoers -- who are anyone who does not agree with him. As the subtitle says, Schneider thinks he is fighting a "battle to save the Earth's climate."

But who or what is Schneider fighting? That's not clear. Some of the suspects appear to be scientists, politicians, and other people who do not see things his way. Not by convincing them, but by ridiculing them. That's why this book rubbed me the wrong way.

Sport with the Earth as football
Schneider's specialty is climate modelling and he has long been a favourite target of climate change denialists but his first battles were with the scientific empiricists who were dismissive of computer modelling because it went beyond observation and measurement into the uncertainties of predictive statistical methodologies.Schneider's reply is that modelling is necessary to be able to forecast impacts of changing variables such as atmospheric concentrations of CO2.You can't measure the future - until it becomes the present and then it could be too late.

Schneider's second battle front has been opened by an altogether less scrupulous opponent - "corporate interests".The fossil fuel industry set in train a global warming denialist apparatus seeking to spread doubt about global warming and discredit a science they didn't like.Leaked documents showed their deliberately deceptive strategy was to `reposition the debate' as `theory, not fact', creating public uncertainty by pushing the minority views of contrarians.

The denialists rely on a complicit and facile media to strike a `balance' by giving equal access to both the proponents of global warming and the denialists.To the uninformed in a complex scientific discipline, the pro and con position, if treated as equals and confined to a superficial ten-second sound-bite, can be made to seem equally credible.Unlike legitimate sceptics, the denialists simply ignore the "preponderance of evidence" established by rigorous and extensive peer review, says Schneider.

The denialist aim, says Schneider, is to shift the focus from debate over what to do about global warming to whether there is a problem in the first place thus delaying any policy which might harm the "special interests vested in the status quo" (Schneider's term for fossil fuel industry profits).

Schneider's rebuttal of the contrarians is the highlight of his book, which, in other respects is not up to his usual standards as a populariser of global warming science.Despite his experience of cantankerous debates over wording into the wee small hours at various UN-sponsored forums on climate change, for example, Schneider remains hooked on their adrenalin rush and retails all their machinations at length.

Schneider's remaining set of battles are, disappointingly, with environmentalists.As an advocate of market `solutions' such as emissions trading schemes, as well as `clean coal' and "well-designed nuclear expansion", he dismisses more radical greenhouse reduction targets, timeframes and strategies.

Schneider talks the language of business and is often invited into their tent but even his `realistic' brand of politics is too extreme for the fossil fuel `special interests' who have governments is their well-funded grip.

Climate Change is Here and Now
Stephen Schneider is one of the worlds leading experts on climate change.He is the person that science reporters go to for interviews.

The first half or so of this work is biographical.It describes Schneider's career.This may not be particularly compelling for the average reader.Because of resource limitations, in terms of both people and money, scientists spend a lot of time discussing with their colleagues about what they are going to do before they do it.They then seek funding.If they are lucky enough to get support, then they do the research and present it at a conference.This is followed by more discussion with colleagues about what they are going to do next.The process repeats itself.

In the biographical part of the book, we do learn some interesting things.For instance, Schneider's early research institute was located in New York City above Tom's Restaurant, which is featured on Seinfeld.

The second half of the book is more compelling.We learn about climate change and the people who would have us believe that it is not really happening.Schneider terms George Will a distortionist for misusing information taken out of context to present a case againstthe reality of climate change.If Schneider lets us down, it is in not spending more time explaining the motivations behind people like Will.Are they acting on ideology, in the pay of the fossil fuel industry, ignorant, or perhaps all of the above?

Over the past decade, the effects of climate change have become quite apparent to me.Here in the Hudson Valley, we set more new high temperatures than low temperatures.Our local reservoir, instead of being frozen all winter, barely has ice for a few days.We are experiencing tropical diseases like the West Nile Virus.It is not just our grandchildren who will suffer the effects of climate change.It is happening here and now to all of us.

One thing that we can do as individuals is to inform ourselves.I have read several books on climate change that I can recommend.Among them are: "Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet", "An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming", "Global Warning: The Last Chance for Change", and "With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change."All of these were written for non-technical readers.

We need 1/2 stars as book is 3 1/2 stars but it deserved more of a mark-up than a mark-down!!
In his book, "Science as a Contact Sport: Inside the Battle to Save Earth's Climate", Stephen Schneider provides his perspective on the climate change argument over the past 30 years or so.While Mr. Schneider is a much respected scientist, I wish he would have chosen another format for the book.This book provides his recall about what has happened on the scientific front regarding global warming.He includes conversations he had with others and this is what bogs me down about the book.Think about it:it's really difficult to recall a conversation one had last week, much less conversations going back 30 years.He does state that he sought out those whom he quoted and at times they did differ with his recollections.

In spite of this quibble, it was certainly interesting to see how the theories have changed over time regarding global warming.And it is encouraging to note that more and more scientists are convinced that we are facing a real problem before we find irrefutable proof by which time it could be too late to act anyway.Also, I take issue with Mr. Schneider because he doesn't think we can/will go extinct due to excessive warming.Now, I'm well aware that he is the scientist BUT how about a little COMMON SENSE here.Can the earth really withstand continued warming?Won't it affect all living things including crops?And how about the chain of life -- which extinct animal will cause the break-down?(Let me point out here that there is a real difference between natural extinctions and those caused by the activities of man.)Where will the water go from the melting polar ice caps?

I agree with other "lay people" that continuing to reassure us that we'll survive regardless, is to diminish the warming argument.It certainly provides deniers with plenty of ammunition with which to stop any changes.After all, if we will survive anyway, why do anything that may stop all that green stuff from flowing to our corporations, politicians and their ilk?Let's just disregard the fact that change can be good and that more money can be made being more environmental conscious.

As far as my personal perspective goes, there are serious issues (such as global warming) whereby proof is elusive and undoubtedly will remain so until it is, well, too late!!So then for an issue as life threatening to all living things on earth as global warming, again, let me offer up this:why can't we just add a little of that formerly alluded to COMMON SENSE into the mix???(By the way, chemical proliferation is another such issue.)This book will appeal to the already converted and give the deniers something to talk about.I just would have preferred a more standardized version of the battle.Less talk and more real history so to speak.I enjoyed the book nevertheless.
... Read more

Product Description
How can sports be scientific? Author Madeline Goodstein explains in Sports Science Projects: The Physics of Balls in Motion. Baseballs, golf balls, and footballs are just some of the balls compared and examined. Why do baseballs have stitches? Why does a tennis ball have fuzz? How is a Ping-Pong ball changed if you fill its center? By experimenting with the projects, students will find out how much science governs the games they play. They will also discover they have been following the rules of science all along! This book is filled with excellent ideas for science fair projects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Sports Science Projects:The Physics of Balls in Motion
Lots and lots of experiments in this science book.It contains black and white illustrations.I especially liked the ideas for projects and further investigations at the end of some of the experiments.Recommeded for the4th grade through the 10th grade class.Teachers should read this one,also. ... Read more

Product Description
The purpose of athletic training is to achieve the highest possible sports result (for a given individual). Training is efficient if this result is achieved with a minimal expenditure of time and energy. In accordance with the above statements, Science of Sports Training tells the reader how to achieve maximal results with minimum of effort.

The book describes optimal sequence of types of efforts (exercises) ina workout, in a weekly cycle of workouts and in longer periods, andexplains physiological basis for these arrangements. It covers alleffective methods of developing any physical ability, skill or mentalability and it tells how and when to change the training loads, how tomake training plans for any period of time (single workout, week,month, year, several years).

You will learn, during a day and during a workout, when the best timeis for technical, speed, strength, endurance, or flexibilityexercises; when during a week should you do a given type of a workout;when and how much should you work on any ability or skill during anannual training plan.

The examples, illustrating the principles of training and the methodsof controlling it, are taken from sports with which most people arefamiliar (track and field, swimming, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics,and ball games). Furthermore, these examples are presented in such away as to make it easy to apply the conclusions to any othersport. For example, the indicators of boxer's good or bad formdescribed in this book apply equally to taekwon-do fighters orkick-boxers.The methods of controlling the training processdescribed in this book do not require complicated equipment ortechnicians to make this information applicable in training. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Very good
Mr. Kurz does go into a little too much depth sometimes, making it a little boring in spurts, but it more than makes up for it with the great information. I think it is a must-read for serious athletes.

I love this book!
This book is just awesome! It isn't a book you just plop down in a chair and read, but one you absorb a chapter or topic at a time. Re-read it as necesary and then when you think you grasp or remember most of the information move on to another. It is organized so that you can look up specific subjects that you are interested in without reading the whole book through, by the way. There's more information within its pages than you can shake an Olympic bar at and much of it you will be hard up finding anywhere else...much less all of it in one book. Don't think of Science of Sports Training as your guide to weight training or a specific sport. It's a compilation of all the finer things for those that already know their sport well, that can only come from a very experienced coach. You could say it's geared toward those with a mindset of being a "student of sport", not just a practitioner of some recreational fun. Mr. Kurz has alot of knowledge to convey to the West if they just give him a mind ready to absorb what he offers, I personally really appreciate the effort he put forth into giving us this book, as there are few like it at all esp. from Eastern European coaches. If you appreciated "Science and Practice of Strength Training" by Zatsiorsky, you should definiately pick this one up too.

Encyclopedia of training
This is a reference book on sports training. Kurtz discusses principles of training for various goals, such as strength, endurance, technical and combination of those. All relevant topics are covered: assessment of trainees, warmup, periodization, training cycles and many other subjects. The book is very comprehensive and is extensively referenced. It is also easy to read.

I understand the frustration of some of the reviewers, because the book does not have the actual recipes for training. However, after reading it recipes are just not needed: one can design training programs according to the goals with the long term view.

Not for Idiots or Lazy people! Understanding about training!
From all the negative comments I have read, I had to reply.This is a must have book for anyone who wants to understand about sports training.This book gives you a general guide that can help you in any sport.This book is not a bunch of BULL.It is "RATIONAL SPORTS TRAINING" from Eastern Europe.It gives scientific descriptions to help you understand how each type of training would work.This book is not about specific sports training or how to train in a specific manner.Its about understanding methods of training to reach peak performance with as much minimal effort as possible(also note SCIENCE of Sports Training).
Some believe this book to be trivial or a bunch of bull.Well, I guess these people believe that all the scientific experiments done in this book is a bunch of bull.These experiments are done to show specific results that vary from recent to past.So, some of these experiments still remain valid.Experiments were done by REAL scientist.
Another reason for one to not like this book is if they can't exactly read.Most of the book is not really difficult to understand, unless you have basic reading school.You must think about it to understand it. It does get technical from time to time.This lack of understanding of the text by people who don't understand, as the reviewers Matt and Matt above has said, don't think about what they read.At first, I didn't understand the text of some topics.After thinking and looking back at the book, I have a greater understanding of sports training.One reviewer note taking showers with different temperatures as trivial.Kurz notes that one should shower after a workout as part of rest.One should change temperature, so as to "invigorate" the body.If you want to see the validity of this statement, try it at home sometimes.Workout like weightlifting,etc. and try it.If you are not invigorated then I guess rational sports training is nonsense(changing temperatures, to clarify myself, means showering from warm to cold to warm to cold,etc.).
Though i have commented on a lot of positive aspects, the book does have some negative aspects in my opinion.This book is comprehensive, but some topics could be expanded upon like nutrition.The book maybe sort of complex in that you may lose your way.This means that you might remember a topic, but not quite clearly understand, and it is kind of hard to find it in the book.
Some notes Thomas Kurz as unprofessional.I guess tough love is unprofessional for some people.Read some questions asked to Thomas Kurz.They are pretty stupid.I mean its in the damn book.If I asked a stupid question, then I must be doing something wrong in my training.Being scolded would note the inefficiency of my training.I guess some people can't handle a little bit of a direct answer; My dad is worse than Thomas Kurz!
I have learned a great deal about this book.Without it, I would seriously be hurting myself.There is info that can change the way you train for the sake of safety and possible improvements.If your serious about training this is a must have, but if you are a person who is not serious, then don't waste your time to write a incoherent, unlogical review of this book!

A must read
After reading some of the more negative reviews encouraged me to write - A lot of this book has to be read in context, and it isn't a textbook on how to get better at playing a certain sport and it isn't a textbook on the mechanics of the body. These can be found in most local library's many times over.

What it covers is the planning and control of training for peak performance, i.e. it tells you finer points that are often missed, for example how to cope with jet lag isn't going to be a problem if you don't travel, but for major athletes travelling is a part of the course which isn't touched in most books.

To agree with another review - this book does need to be studied, not flicked through and pick out 'facts' or to criticise because of sections being pulled out of context.

Also as an aside, Kurz's manner might be a little abrupt, but I bet he gets a lot of questions (I have asked a few and had them answered in a constructive way). He probably gets a lot of drivel in these questions and probably puts sarcastic answers to make writers think before they ask stupid questions. ... Read more

Product Description
This accessible introductory text explores the history, philosophies, and principles of today's physical education programs within a practical, career-oriented framework. Introduction to Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Sport Studies explores the wide variety of career opportunities available in physical education and sport, including many non-teaching-related careers. This textbook teaches students how to make informed choices about their majors and maximize their professional studies by explaining the origins of different careers and the skills necessary to perform well at them. The eighth edition includes updated information on new individuals featured in career perspectives, additional web resources, current information and data about physical activity, more information about sport nutrition, and guidance on how to address ethical situations in physical education and sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Right book @ Right price & Delivered on time
S-m-o-o-t-h transaction. The book arrived on time and in the condition as advertised. Pleased with this transaction. ... Read more

Product Description
Athletic Development offers a rare opportunity to learn and apply a career full of knowledge from the best. World-renowned strength and conditioning coach Vern Gambetta condenses the wisdom he's gained through more than 40 years of experience of working with athletes across sports, age groups, and levels of competition, including members of the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, and U.S. men's 1998 World Cup soccer team.

The result is an information-packed, myth-busting explanation of the most effective methods and prescriptions in each facet of an athlete's physical preparation. Gambetta includes never-before-published and ready-to-use training approaches in

• sport-specific demands analysis,
• work capacity enhancements,
• movement skills development,
• long- and short-term training program progressions, and
• rest and regeneration techniques.

Customer Reviews (11)

Athletic development made easy
Vern's book is abosutely amazing.It provides a really conclusive overview of athletic development principles.The best part of the book is his perspective on the art and science of coaching.

A Different Approach to Coaching
Gambetta is a pioneer in the Athletic Development and in this book he showed us his creativity and the practical approach in coaching by assimilating the sciences into actual application. Many a time, coaches believe in the plain old-school methods while the sports scientists will tell them it's not scientific but here Gambetta will show how these two can "work together". Coaching is the art of applying the sciences into training and in this book you will find out how it is done. It is an interesting read and I have benefited a lot from it.

A Must Read!
This book is a must read for coaches or anyone seeking to develop the total athlete. Gambetta offers great insight into the science of functional training and lays it all out so clearly that even those who are just having their first taste of the physiology of exercise can understand. This book focuses mainly on the science of functional training methods but also details some great thoughts on coaching in general. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

great read
this is one of the best books i have ever read.. it totally blew my mind

Great Read for Strength and Conditioning Coaches
This book has great insight in the formation and development of training regimens mostly for elite athletes.However it does glance by initial training steps for the novice.Not written for those without basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology.It should be an adjunct to other strength and conditioning books. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

A gift
This was purchased as a gift for a family member who is interested in all phases of baseball. He really liked it.

read it in one sitting
This book was so interesting that I couldn't put it down- read it in less than two hours. It explains some of the science behind sports, not just baseball, but football, bowling, golf, basketball, and more. It is not too technical, so the average joe can understand it.

Whatever your favorite sport is, you'll probably find it covered in this book
As a kid, I was never a big science fan . . . I've now become
more interested in the subject and you will, too, if you
read WHY A CURVEBALL CURVES--edited by Frank Vizard.

This book is a collection of articles from POPULAR MECHANICS
by such contributors as Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella,
Olympic swimming coach Bob Bowman and Buzz "The Shot
Doctor" Graman . . . you'll learn how certain hockey
players achieve greater speed on the ice, why swimming is
all about reducing drag and even what Babe Ruth had to say
about the mechanics of his home-run swing:

* Coordination, that is perfect timing and harmony of action, is a great
essential. You have got to develop rhythm and full utility of every
muscle. My whole body goes with every swing. I swing right from the
hips. And those who have seen me take a healthy sock at the ball know
what I mean. With that coordination there is the fact that I assume that
strength is behind it.

Whatever your favorite sport is, you'll probably find it covered
in this book . . . baseball, basketball, bowling, boxing, cycling,
football, golf, hockey, running, skiing, soccer, swimming and
diving, and tennis all get covered in separate chapters, often
accompanied by memorable photos.

I often found out some surprising information; e.g., about the
importance of the follow-through in golf:

* Irrelevant. In truth, a golfer could release the club from his hands
the moment after impact and it would make no difference--except,
of course, to your playing partners, who might not appreciate
having your eight-iron embedded between their shoulder
blades. Still, a full release of your arms and torso, leading to a classic
pose, with your belly button pointed to the target and your hands high
above your front ear? Well, that always looks nice for the cameras.

And then there was this passage about hockey's Wayne Gretzy
that ended with one of my all-time favorite sports quotations:

* By his own admission, Gretzky, who played most famously with the
Edmonton Oilers as well as several other teams during the 1980s and 1990s,
was not the strongest or fastest or most agile player on the ice even though
he was named MVP of the National Hockey League nine times. What
Gretzky did have was an ability that amounted to being able to see into
the future and visualize what was going to happen in the next few seconds.
In an article appearing in WIRED magazine, scientists working for the U. S.
Olympic team and the Australian Institute ofSport concluded that skills
like Gretzky's come from an innate ability to intuitively translate physical
cues dropped by opponents that are not apparent to most other athletes.
Scientists are at work figuring out how this skill can be taught, but this type
of perceptual training is still in its infancy. On the other hand, Gretzky may
have just been following his father's advice, given to him when he was
a youngster: "Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it
has been."

Methinks that's great advice for any sport . . . unfortunately,
putting it into practice was never quite that simple--or at least not
for me.

Husband loves it
I bought this for my husband and he loves it.He is active in several sports and refers to this as "the book" now.He is a thinker and likes to know the "whys" of things.This book is right up his alley. ... Read more

Product Description
Integrating the traditional presentation of the nature, scope, philosophy, and history of physical education and sport with the growing career opportunities available within this dynamic field, this text addresses the challenges and the future of the discipline. It emphasizes preparation for a diversity of careers, addressing areas such as teaching, coaching, exercise leadership, athletic and personal training, sport management, and sport media. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Foundations of PE, Exercise Science, and Sport
Good overview for anyone considering a career in a sports related field. Most photos are black & white which is good since it helps keep cost down. However, a lot of them are old. Since this is the 16th edition published in 2009, I would have expected the the photos would have been updated to more recent ones. While there are some more recent photos, many of them seem to be from the 70's and 80's which makes the book feel outdated. Overall, the information is good and current though.

It does tend to be rather liberal. It puts the primary responsibility for physical fitness not on the individual (or parents in the case of children) but on government agencies and programs, schools, and organized fitness/sports programs.

Used Text
I can not find any evidence of this being a used book. The quality is like new and I received it before another book that I paid to have expedited. I guess I wasted my money on expedited shipping.

Foundations of Physical Education Exercise Science and Sport
I got this book for a class at Central Texas College to fulfill my PE Credits.The book had lots of good information but tended to be repetitive and had a definite liberal leaning. ... Read more

Product Description
Does a curve ball really curve? Why does a golf ball have dimples? Answers to these and hundreds of other questions in this entertaining, well-illustrated account of scientific principles underlying major sports activities. Includes chapter on athlete’s body and its performance related to physical principles.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Sports science
I found this book very interesting.It shows the sciences behind mine (and many other kids) favorite sports. I recomend u buy it. ... Read more

Product Description

What's the fastest a human can run the 100-meter sprint?
What's the longest a human can hold his breath?
What are the limits of human performance?
Welcome to The Perfection Point.

Customer Reviews (4)

what if?
Love this book. Love his shoes. Makes science relatable. My boss took my copy so I need to get another one

Interesting study for those who love sports
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1B28135WTQFQV This is a video review about The Perfection Point.

543 Yards: The Limit Off The Tee
Records are made to be broken, or so it is said.At some point, however, one can run into the limits of physics and human physiology. It's probably not possible for a baseball player to hit a home run that travels a mile, for example.Why?Because the momentum the baseball would needed to overcome the air resistance over the course of a 5,280 foot home run could not be produced by a human, whether on steroids or not.That would simply exceed what we are designed to do.

We can do the math, if you like, but I'll warn you, your eyes would glaze over, so I will skip it for now.

Or, alternatively, we can let someone else do the math and we can look at their results.

John Brenkus, the host and executive producer of ESPN's Sport Science did just that to provide a hard look at the absolute limits of human performance. In a new book, Brenkus finds the "Perfection Point" forseveral sports, golf included,by determining the speeds, heights, distances that mark the limits of human performance.To do this, he used statistics, physics, and physiology to uncover the limits for the longest golf drive, among other sports, such as the longest home run, the fastest time for a mile in track and field, the heaviest bench press in weightlifting, etc.

Brenkus results are not a dry math and physics lesson suitable only for a university lecture to engineering students, instead, his illustrations are not only informative, they are quite entertaining and easily understandable.

In the world of golf, Brenkus's examination for driving the ball found a 543 yard theoretical limit, a 23% increase (125 yards) from the current record of 418 yards held by current long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski. Brenkus states that Sadlowski has slight technical flaws in his swing, and that correcting them would add another 17 yards to the 418 yard record. He also notes that with more flexibility, added height and yes, more muscle, more yards can be added to reach his calculated limit.

Fun book. A must for sports fans.
My 14-year old science-loving son enjoys watching "Sport Science" clips on YouTube, plus he constantly asks questions about the limits of human performance. What is the highest possible dunk? The fastest possible 100m? The mightiest possible power lift? I thought that this book would be a definite hit for him. We pre-ordered the book and it arrived yesterday. I got a chance to read it before my son got home and knew that he would really enjoy it. When he saw the book he immediately rushed to read it. Of course, he wanted to just get to The Numbers at first:) John Brenkus (who is the host of Sport Science) does a wonderful job of making this topic fun and interesting, plus he does a nice job on the analytical bits where he explains how he (or rather the experts he quotes) actually get to The Numbers.

One quibble: The book keeps on going on about what we could theoretically eventually achieve in time, but - hey - we will be a different species by then given our rate of evolution. Huh? According to one expert, we are a different species than we were 200 years ago and we will certainly be a different species in a 1000 years. Hmmm. Strange.

Remember this book is full of statistical models about theoretical maximums. [Note: I am a statistician by training so I appreciate statistical models for what they are.] There is certainly no guarantee that humans will reach these theoretical maximums, but remember these are just that- theoretical maximums. A human will NEVER run a 100m faster than 8.99 seconds. Will he ever reach the theoretical maximum? Maybe, maybe not. He will approach the theoretical maximum, but he never will surpass it because he never can surpass it due to human limitations. (This is where the different species stuff comes in; a different species of human - one more "evolved" -would have different limitations, and, thus, different theoretical maximums and all that).

Now that man has goals to aim for, he will certainly have a better shot at reaching the theoretical maximums. Thank you, John Brenkus, and good luck, mankind!

... Read more

Product Description
Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Reference for exercise physiologists, biomechanists, and sports medicine physicians. Covers the basic aspect of exercise, energy production, and also general topics of the physiology of exercise. Intended as the basic science component of a three-volume series on sports medicine. Includes tables, graphs, and references. ... Read more

Product Description

Modern techniques of sports performance analysis enable the sport scientist, coach and athlete to objectively assess, and therefore improve upon, sporting performance. They are an important tool for any serious practitioner in sport and, as a result, performance analysis has become a key component of degree programmes in sport science and sports coaching.

Research Methods for Sports Performance Analysis explains how to undertake a research project in performance analysis including:

• selection and specification of a research topic
• the research proposal
• gaining ethical approval for a study
• developing a performance analysis system
• testing a system for reliability
• analysing and discussing data
• writing up results.

Covering the full research cycle and clearly introducing the key themes and issues in contemporary performance analysis, this is the only book that sports students will need to support a research project in performance analysis, from undergraduate dissertation to doctoral thesis. Including case studies, examples and data throughout, this book is essential reading for any student or practitioner with an interest in performance analysis, sports coaching or applied sport science.

Product Description

Nothing is quite as thrilling as watching superior athletes do the seemingly impossible. From Doug Flutie's "Hail Mary" pass to Lance Armstrong's record-breaking climb of Alp d'Huez to David Beckham's astounding ability to bend a soccer kick, we marvel and wonder, "How did they do that?" Well, physics professor John Eric Goff has the answers.

This tour of the wide world of sports uses some of the most exhilarating feats in recent athletic history to make basic physics concepts accessible and fun. Goff discusses the science behind American football, soccer, cycling, skating, diving, long jumping, and a host of other competitive sports. Using elite athletes such as Greg Louganis and Bob Beamon as starting points, he explains in clear, lively language the basic physical properties involved in amazing and everyday athletic endeavors. Accompanied by illustrations and mathematical equations, each chapter builds on knowledge imparted in earlier portions of the book to provide a firm understanding of the concepts involved.

Fun, witty, and imbued throughout with admiration for the simple beauty of physics, Gold Medal Physics is sure to inspire readers to think differently about the next sporting event they watch.

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect for sports and science libraries alike
Gold Medal Physics: The Science of Sports pairs discussions of some amazing recent feats in athletic history with surveys of physics and science behind soccer, cycling, football, skating, jumping and other competitive sports. The result is an explanation that explains physics in clear layman's terms and offers illustrations and math equations to build upon and reinforce sports knowledge. Perfect for sports and science libraries alike.

WHAT AN INTERESTING TAKE ON SPORTS...
What an interesting way to look at sports.I'm surely not a physicist, but this book was a clear and easy read to understand the relationship between physics and sports.I can see that the writer really has a passion for both.I'd recommend this book to anyone who has a love for all sports and wants to see "how its done". ... Read more

Product Description

This comprehensive, accessible and practical textbook provides a complete grounding in both qualitative and quantitative research methods for the sports studies student. The book offers the reader a step-by-step guide to the research process, from designing a research project, to collecting and analyzing data, to reporting the research, and is richly illustrated throughout with sport-related case-studies and examples from around the world. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, the book covers key topics such as:

• choosing an appropriate research design
• undertaking a literature review
• key research techniques, including questionnaires, interviews, content analysis and ethnographic studies
• data analysis, including an introduction to SPSS, as well as guides to descriptive and inferential statistics
• writing a research report
• ethical issues in sports research.

Research Methods in Sports Studies is designed to be a complete and self-contained companion to any research methods course and contains a wealth of useful features, such as highlighted definitions of key terms, revision questions, practical research exercises, and a companion website with web links, multiple choice questions, powerpoint slides, and other learning resources. The book is also an invaluable reference for any student undertaking a dissertation or research project as part of their studies.

Visit the companion website at: www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415493932

Product Description
This comprehensive and accessible textbook offers a complete grounding in both qualitative and quantitative research methods for the sports studies student. The book offers the reader a step-by-step guide to the research process, from designing a research project, to collecting and analysing data, to reporting the research, all of which is richly illustrated with sport-related case-studies and examples. The book covers key topics such as:
- conceptual Models
- qualitative research methods
- choosing an appropriate research design
- undertaking a literature review
- the key research methods such as questionnaires, interviews, content analysis and ethnographic studies.
- analysing data, including an introduction to SPSS, as well as guides to descriptive and inferential statistics
- writing a research report
- the internet as a research tool
A much needed book with no competitor titles, this should be essential reading for all undergraduates in sports studies. ... Read more

Product Description

An essential reference for students and practitioners working with exercise electrocardiograms (ECGs), Practical ECG for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine guides readers from theory to applied interpretation of normal and abnormal ECG traces. The text is based on the authors’ clinical experience, published research, and over a decade of dedicated study on the interpretation of ECGs from clinical patients to elite athletes both at rest and during exercise.

Customer Reviews (1)

Knowing what's going on inside helps you function well on the outside.
Knowing what's going on inside the body during exercise is a critical component of training. Many decades ago, the late Bruce Lee monitored his bodily functions in various ways while training. He, like other elite athletes, knew that it helps them perform at peak levels.

In this book, the reader is guided from theory to applied interpretation of normal and abnormal ECG traces.

"Exertion-related symptoms are the primary indication for exercise testing; however, it is also valuable in the assessment of functional and cardiorespiratory capacity, disease severity and prognosis, and pre- and postdischarge testing."

We've heard about athletes in the prime of their lives and careers collapsing while playing their sport and dying of an arrhythmia. From the book we read, "Exercise-induced arrhythmias can be determined by answering . . . questions to those posed when evaluating an ECG at rest: What is the atrial rhythm? What is the ventricular rhythm? Is the AV conduction normal? Are there any unusual complexes? Is the rhythm dangerous?"

The book is a reference for students and practitioners who work with exercise electrocardiograms (ECGs) and should be must-reading. The text is based on the authors' clinical experience, published research, and over a decade of dedicated study on the interpretation of ECGs from clinical patients to elite athletes while at rest and during exercise.

I found it most interesting and, although short in pages, long on information.

Below are the contents:

Part I Structure and Function of the Heart
Chapter 1 The Heart
Cardiac Anatomy
Cardiac Function
Electrical Properties of the Heart
Electrocardiography
Contractile Properties of the Heart
Exercise and the Heart
Key Points

Chapter 2 Monitoring the Electrical Activity of the Heart
Palpation
Heart Rate Monitors
Electrocardiography at Rest and During Exercise
Exercise Modalities and Protocols
Ambulatory ECG monitors
Implantable Loop Recorders
Key Points

Part II The ECG
Chapter 3 Normal ECG at Rest
Reading the ECG
Interpreting the ECG
Common Mistakes in Preparing and Placing Leads (Troubleshooting)
Key Points

Chapter 4 Abnormal ECG at Rest
Brady arrhythmias
Tachyarrhythmias
ECG Abnormalities in Diseases of the Coronary Circulation: Ischemia and Myocardial Infarction
Unusual ECG Abnormalities
Key Points

Chapter 5 ECG During Exercise
Normal ECG Responses During and Postexercise
Evaluation of Individuals with Known or Suspected Exercise- or Exertion-Related Arrhythmias
ECG Exercise Stress Testing in the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Key Points

Part III The Athletes' Heart
Chapter 6 The Athlete's Heart: Physiological Versus Pathological
Cardiac Structure and Function in Highly Trained Athletes
Electrocardiogram (ECG) of an Athlete
Arrhythmias and the Athlete
Syncope and the Athlete
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in athletes
Preparticipation Screening
Key Points

Chapter 7 Athlete Case Studies
Case Study 1: Spontaneous Atrial Fibrillation in a Freestyle Skier.
Case Study 2: Exercise-Induced Vasodepressor Syncope in an Elite Rower: A Treatment Dilemma
Case Study 3: Prevalence and Significance of an Isolated Long QT Interval in Elite Athletes
Case Study 4: Differentiation of RVOT-VT and ARVC in an Elite Athlete
Case Study 5: Treat the Patient Not the Blood Test: The Implications of an Elevation in Cardiac Troponin Following Prolonged Endurance Exercise
Case Study 6: Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Presence of Normal Coronaries and the Absence of Risk Factors in a Young, Lifelong Regular Exerciser

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson ... Read more

Product Description
This book summarises information on over 300 psychological scales questionnaires and inventories specific to sport and exercise settings. This second edition features test summaries addressing exercise motivation, sport motivation, aggression, cognitive strategies, leadership cohesion and anxiety. The book contains: information gathered on 141 additional tests not previously cited; contributions made by 510 test authors; twenty chapters organised by psychological construct; summaries of 314 tests compiled with sections on purpose description construction reliability validity norms availability and references; and, reference lists expanded from earlier editions. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

The Starting Point Resource for Sports Science and Coaching
These are two particularly useful volumes. They should serve as the first reference point for any topic dealing with sports science and coaching. Very well written and the result of a passion for sport and coaching, the breadth of topics is very impressive. Both volumes should be in every high school and municipal library. They should be well-known to reference librarians so that neophyte students and the public can be steered to reference and understand all the things they have (at least) heard coaches mention or to have questions answered to indulge their own curiosities. Any persons serious about sport, coaches and athletes in particular, could use copies of this work to advantage. This work is an excellent contribution to sport and coaching.

W.D. Gilbert
This text is an excellent resource for anyone studying or working in sport or exercise science. It provides a good starting point for learning about the key concepts in these fields. A nice feature of the book is the inclusion of key references at the end of each major concept. This directs the reader to essential readings for more in-depth consideration of the concept. I think this text would be particularly helpful as a reference guide for college students studying exercise science. This text would be a great addition for any college or sport science department library. ... Read more

Product Description
Integrating the traditional presentation of the nature, scope, philosophy, and history of physical education and sport with the growing career opportunities available within this dynamic field, this text addresses the challenges and the future of the discipline. It emphasizes preparation for a diversity of careers, addressing areas such as teaching, coaching, exercise leadership, athletic training, sport management, and sport media. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Foundations of PE, Exercise Science, and Sport
Good overview for anyone considering a career in a sports related field. Most photos are black & white which is good since it helps keep cost down. However, a lot of them are old. Since this is the 16th edition published in 2009, I would have expected the the photos would have been updated to more recent ones. While there are some more recent photos, many of them seem to be from the 70's and 80's which makes the book feel outdated. Overall, the information is good and current though.

It does tend to be rather liberal. It puts the primary responsibility for physical fitness not on the individual (or parents in the case of children) but on government agencies and programs, schools, and organized fitness/sports programs.

Used Text
I can not find any evidence of this being a used book. The quality is like new and I received it before another book that I paid to have expedited. I guess I wasted my money on expedited shipping.

Foundations of Physical Education Exercise Science and Sport
I got this book for a class at Central Texas College to fulfill my PE Credits.The book had lots of good information but tended to be repetitive and had a definite liberal leaning. ... Read more