Book Description
Jack and Annie are off on another adventure! This time they are sent to ancient Greece, where a very important event is taking place. Join them as they race against time and witness the very first Olympic games!   ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

MYBOYLOVESREADING
My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

DON'T READ IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DON'T READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!UNREALISTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a great book
MAGIC TREE HOUSE OLYMPICS
By KRISTIAN
In the Magic Tree House there is a boy named Jack and A girl named Annie. They went to the OLYMPIC . Annie went And took her mask .The mask she had on was to act like a boy.The guard grabbed Annie she said get off of me! To get moreinfo about how Jack and Annie got homeread MAGIC TREE HOUSE
My favorite part was when Annie took her mask off and the guard grabbed her and shesaid get off of me . I like this book becauseit has good vocabulary word and it had good details I had NO connection .
The 5th grade will like this book firstgrade will not want to read such a long book
Secondthrough 5th will like this book because if they are studying on something they will learn about it

I loved it!
The last Magic Tree House that I read was Hour of the Olympics.I liked it because it had a lot of interesting facts about the early olympics.I thought it was funny that some people wore armor when they ran in races! I suggest that you read this book!

Take An Hour And Read This Book
The book you are going to read about is called Hour of the Olympics. Mary Pope Osborne wrote it and she is a great writer. This story is about the first Olympic game. The two main characters are named Jack and Annie. This book comes from a series of books, so this is only one adventure. The problem in this story is that Jack and Annie are at the first Olympics and no girls are allowed. Annie sneaks in and gets caught. Can Jack get her out of this mess? To find out you will have to read Hour of the Olympics. ... Read more

Book Description
Introducing next-generation trail guides for the Northwest. We asked hikers what they want in a trail guide today and this is what theysaid: more day hikes, with options for extending the trip; hike selectionconveniently arranged by highway and travel corridors; more hikes close tourban centers; more year-round hikes at low elevation; clear drivingdirections; a portable size; and more use of color.

To meet the needs of the modern hiker, The Mountaineers Booksintroduces its new Day Hiking guidebook series, written by Northwestresidents with impressive hiking resumes. These guides provide accurateinformation in attractive, high-quality packaging and are infused with theenvironmental ethic that distinguishes The Mountaineers Books from otheroutdoor publishers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great start to the new series!
I picked up this book yesterday at the mountaineers bookstore after patiently waiting for it for weeks and I'm happy to say the wait was most definitely worth the wait.

This title is a great revision of the classic '100 hikes' series perfectly geared for the modern hiker.The text is much more concise and direct with much clearer maps and directions.Gone are the Harvey Manning style trail reviews that often turned into personal meditations where meaning and fact had to be gleaned with much care.As is evident by the title, the focus is also entirely on Day Hiking, with a scant minority of the hikes exceeding 10 miles round trip.This is in sharp contrast to the classic hikes series in which most volumes were heavily slanted toward multi-day backpacking treks. This probably bodes well for the old series staying in print as it will still have a definitive niche.There is also a much greater emphasis given to year round hikes with many low elevation destinations included in the whopping 125 hikes listed in the book.

My one complaint would be that the snazzy 'hike overview chart' at the beginning of the book misses out on a few helpful details that would make finding a desirable hike quickly easier, specifically these details would be elevation gain, specific months accessible and the subjective star rating of the hike's overall quality that.All these details are of course available for each hike in the meat of the book. What is included in the overview chart are things such as whether or not the hike is accessible year round, what scenic features each possesses, and subjective difficulty level on a 1-6 scale.Amusingly only one hike rates a 6 for difficulty which translates to "beyond strenuous".

Overall a great launch to a new series.I'm highly looking forward to the Snoqualmie & South Cascades editions (both written by a different author) and hopefully many more to come after that!

Exceeds Expectations!
I have been patiently waiting for this book to release ever since Father's Day of 2006. I met author Craig Romano on the trail and he featured individual pictures of me and my dad in two areas of this guide. At first, I wanted to pick up the book for its sentimental value but as I began to look through the pages I realized that there were a plothora of trails to chose from. I came across trails I have never seen written up in any guide book including the Theler Wetlands in Belfair, Twanoh State Park near Union and Penrose Point State Park. The driving directions and trail descriptions are highly accurate and there is a quick breakdown of each hike outlining the difficulty, open seasons, corresponding maps and accessibility. Each hike has been meticulously researched and it is evident that a great amount of time and effort went in to making this book as accurate and descriptive as possible. Out of all of the Olympic Peninsula trail guides I have read, this is quite possibly the best out there. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

The fun doesn't get translated
French version is great, one of my favorite comics. English version is plain boring. They translated the words, not the fun.

A very good album - almost prophetic of the doping scandals
In this fine Asterix album, after learning that there is a Roman soldier in one of the garrisons surrounding the village preparing for the (ancient) Olympic Games, the Gaulish tribe decide they should participate too, much to the consternation of the Romans. So all the males in the village go to Olympia en masse, thinking that the magic potion will give them a natural advantage over their competitors. But once the Greeks learn about the magic potion, they won't have anything with athletes using it and threaten to disqualify the Gauls (remember, this book was written in the 1960s, many years before the doping scandals surrounding the Olympic Games). This forces Asterix to enter the games on his own, without the help of the potion, against (seemingly) much stronger opponents (Obelix, having fallen into Panoramix's pot as a child, is disqualified forever of participation in the games). A great book from the Goscinny and Uderzo series.

Asterix gets a little excercise in Greece
A bit of a change from other Asterix stories, this one lacks much usage of the famous "magic potion" when it would have helped, but the little Gaul manages just fine without.Very funny and a good lesson in ancient Greece.

The village goes to Greece.
Rene Goscinny, Asterix at the Olympic Games (Dargaud, 1968)

When Asterix and Obelix happen upon a legionary training for the Olympic games, the village decides that they should enter, as well. Hilarity ensues. Another amusing Asterix adventure; if you like the others, you'll like this one. ***

Greek Asterix
The Romans by Vitalstatistix's village are very excited. Their strongest legionaire, Glueteus Maximus, is going to the Greek Olympics. Vitalstatistix, and the rest of his village want to play too. Only Romans and Greeks are allowed. Luckily, the Gauls are Gallo-Romans now, Julius Caesar said so, so off they go to Greece to compete...

Asterix #12 (1968) was "Asterix and the Olympic Games". Bit dry, I thought. Ending was disappointing. Just felt a bit out of style with how the Gauls go through with things. Getafix especially. Though it's nice to see Greece... ... Read more

Book Description
What was it like to live in ancient Greece? What gods and goddesses did Greeks believe in? How did the Olympics start? What was the winner’s prize? Find out the answers to these questions and many more in this Magic Tree House Research Guide. Includes fun facts from Jack and Annie, fantastic photos and illustrations, and a guide to doing further research! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

review on ancient greece and the olyimpics
(......)My Summaryon AncientGreece and the Olympics4/13/05
Bookby Mary popeosborne




This book is abouttwokids Jake and Annie are kids who like to find thing out about theTitanic,twisters, and the Olympics.

In this book they want to find out about ancient Greece and the Olympics. So in this book going backin the past and try and figure out how the Olympics worked in the past.


Ilike the book becauseit gives youthe idea of what the people in Greece lived. The book over all the book is great.

I recommend this book so that boys and girls age 10-14 can read this book. It is so greatthat I want to read itagain.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Not as easy as you think!
This is a very thorough hiking guide, no doubt about it. My only comment besides that is, the author is a VERY experienced hiker; so when he describes a hike as "easy", it might no really be the case! I am young and healthy, but the difficulty level seemed definitely more strenuous than described.
On the other hand, if you are super fit, go for it, the book is good.

good book
I bought this book and "Best Easy Day Hikes Olympics"in 5/2007.I found this book, "Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula ...", to be much more substantial.

Let down in the Olympics
I had high hopes for this book but, suffice to say, it's no longer in my collection.I have no question but that the author knows his topic.However, like a previous reader, I found myself confused and even lost (at $3.00+ a gallon) trying to follow directions that are too vague and in one case really led me astray.

If you want someone's opinion (and don't we all have one), this book is okay.But do yourself a favor and cross reference suggestions and particularly directions.Or, better yet, just find a better resource.Sure wish I had.

Wouldn't Recommend
Just returned from the Olympic Peninsula and found this guidebook to be less helpful than expected. Perhaps things have changed their since the 2002 publication so double check info on hikes before heading out. Had trouble finding trailheads for #61, specific distances would have been helpful in the "Getting There" section, wasted 1 hr and lots of gas trying to find #59 Big Flat,never found it. A confusing time trying to locate #35 Mount Angeles Saddle, trailhead signage doesn't include this name, located it nearly a mile in. Recommend a more current publication.

Concise & Easy to Use
I consider myself a moderate hiker and had no trouble traversing the trails described in this book in the time frame stipulated. When I'm hiking I'm not studying flowers or sitting still looking for birds. I usually trot along at the average pace that rangers have told me most hikers do, two miles an hour. That includes stopping to take photos, appreciate views and grazing in the occasional blueberry patch. Mostly, however, I'm there to hike.

Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula is a good, concise, easy-to-use guide that provides perfectly useable directions to trailheads. A pet peeve of mine is wasting valuable outdoors time trying to navigate my way in a car to a trailhead. I never had that problem with this book. In fact, I appreciated the tip provided for the trailhead at the end of the 8-mile gravel road accessed near the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center. I never would have known this narrow road leads to a trail.

The walks listed are a good assortment for average day hikers. I only tried a few of them (Hoh River Trail being my favorite - not least of which is because there's basically no elevation gain and I saw 25 - 30 Roosevelt elk there!) so I can't vouch for the complaints of other reviewers. However, I've kept the book for future reference, meaning I'd definitely use it again. I can't wait to get back to the Pacific Northwest to explore more of the wonderful wilderness and hiking is the best way to do it.

All in all I'd recommend this book. It's not perfect but for casual day hikers it can be mighty handy.

... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

hiking book
This book was great. It gave us detailed information to the trail heads. We liked how the book was seperated into sections of the peninsula.This helped us plan our trip.We hiked 10 of the hikes.We couldn't have done it without the book.

Disjointed, confusing, and incommodious.
This book is the proverbial "can't see the forest through the trees."Way too much minutia and nothing close to the big picture.Long dissertations describe every step of the way about trees and plants - and then some more on the trees - on long (30-40 miles) hikes, but with very poor descriptions about the magnificent outdoors in the great northwest.Couple that with a serious lack of good maps, along with dreadfully vague information on where/what - makes for an aggravating read.I have 30 years of experience as a bush pilot but trying to navigate through this book makes hiking preparation a laborious chore.

Slightly Misleading Information...
Although I am a huge fan of Falcon guides, this edition definitely let me down.Unfortunately it doesn't differentiate between Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest trails.This becomes a big deal when you spend a significant amount of time planning your trip only to arrive at the trailhead and find that you need an Olympic National Forest permit, because the trailhead parking falls in the national forest, not the national park, and you need to drive back 15 miles to get one.If you are prepared with a National Parks pass, not a National Forest pass, this is definitely frustrating.In fact, a significant number of trails in the book are in the national forest, not the national park.Because this is an older book (1995) it also doesn't include some of the nicer Falcon guide features found in the newer books like the trails being broken down into categories in the beginning based on the types of features the trail has (i.e. waterfalls versus alpine meadows).It also doesn't include any attempt at topo maps, which is a definite downside.I'm still a fan of the Falcon guides, but I think I'll stick to the ones that are more recently published from now on...

needs a rev, focused too much on backpacking
Decent overview but hard to comprehend if you've never been there.Poor maps, little on the visitor center and tourist areas.Great if you have a topo and have been there before.Not great if it's your first visit.

When Islands Slam into Continents, Great Hiking is Born
Olympic is a beautiful park with diverse terrain, serious vertical gain, rain forests, waterfalls, northern pacific coast, glaciered peaks and miles and miles of trails for both day hikes and extensive backcountry excursions.The falcon guide does a good job organizing the park, providing acceptable overview references, including compelling photography (for black and white) and selecting a diversity of hike distances.There short hikes, moderate and long day hikes and multi-day excursions (though the emphasis is on the latter two).You sill need to print out a map from the national park service web site to orient yourself in the park as you flip through the pages (I often felt lost with just the couple of overview maps) but in general it is a really helpful guide. ... Read more

Book Description
Athletics and politics collide in a critical event for Nazi Germany and the contemporary world.

The torch relay—that staple of Olympic pageantry—first opened the summer games in 1936 in Berlin. Proposed by the Nazi Propaganda Ministry, the relay was to carry the symbolism of a new Germany across its route through southeastern and central Europe. Soon after the Wehrmacht would march in jackboots over the same terrain.

The Olympic festival was a crucial part of the Nazi regime's mobilization of power. Nazi Games offers a superb blend of history and sport. The narrative includes a stirring account of the international effort to boycott the games, derailed finally by the American Olympic Committee and the determination of its head, Avery Brundage, to participate. Nazi Games also recounts the dazzling athletic feats of these Olympics, including Jesse Owens's four gold-medal performances and the marathon victory of Korean runner Kitei Son, the Rising Sun of imperial Japan on his bib. 25 b/w photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An Encompassing Look at the 1936 Olympic Games
This fine book is a comprehensive look at the 1936 Olympic Games.The book includes not only a well-done, and even myth-exploding, recounting of the standard stories of these Games, i.e., the summer Olympics in Berlin, but also contains an interesting review of the history of the modern Olympics leading up to the '36 Games, as well as an examination of the back-door politics over threatened boycotts of these Games, a look at the 1936 Winter Olympics (also held in Germany), and a dissection of Leni Riefenstahl's influential film, "Olympiad."

In addition, intertwined within all these facets of the 1936 Games is an absorbing account of the politics involved on all sides.In this regard, many people (German, American, and British) come out looking badly.Aside from the usual suspects (i.e., the Nazi cast of characters including Hitler and Goebbels, who come across as obviously flawed but also prescient in the use of media to their advantage), it is Avery Brundage, the head of the American Olympic Committee (who subsequently became the head of the International Olympic Committee) who comes across as perhaps the worst.Mr. Brundage, thanks to scrupulously maintained archives of his acts, is exposed as a bull-headed, anti-Semite.

In one respect, however, it is the Germans who come across the best, not by the character of their actions, but by the quality of their manipulations, turning a worldwide sporting event into an advertisement for the new Germany; an advertisement that left the world with a positive perception of Nazi Germany.

In sum, this is a well-rounded look at the 1936 Olympics that explores not just the triumphs and tragedies of the events themselves but also the bigger picture of the politics and propaganda surrounding the Games.

Would a widespread boycott of the 1936 Berlin Olympics really have made a difference?
That is the million dollar question that governments, historians and academics have been wrestling with for the past 70 years. On the surface it would certainly appear that a successful boycott of the 1936 Summer Olympics by the major democracies of the world might have dealt Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party a serious setback.But would a boycott alone have been enough to deal the Third Reich a fatal blow?And why were nations like England, France and the United States so reluctant to withdraw from these games??The answers to these questions and numerous others are not quite as simple as they might seem.In "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936" author David Clay Large presents a comprehensive look at the social and political upheaval leading up to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin as well as offering a pretty revealing look at the games themselves and at the athletes who chose to participate in them.
The fact of the matter was that the goals and ideals of the Olympic movement were antihical to just about everything that the Nazi party stood for.But Adolf Hitler and his henchman saw in these Olympic games a propoganda opportunity of momentous proportions.With the obvious benefit of 20/20 hindsight it is really difficult to understand why various world leaders and members of the International Olympic Committee chose to play along with these thugs and seemed unwilling to do due diligence and dig a little deeper and demand answers to so many of the troubling questions that government officials, journalists and average citizens were asking in the weeks and months leading up to the games.Did the Nazis actually get to some of these prominent people or did the vast majority of Olympic officials truly agree with the AOC official Avery Brundage when he opined time and again that "the Olympics should supercede politics?"David Clay Large explores these important questions in great detail throughout "Nazi Games".
Now as I indicated earlier Large also presents his readers with a fairly detailed summary of the 1936 summer games themselves. You will meet many of the athletes who excelled in areas such as track and field, rowing, boxing and of course gymnastics.And you will find out which nations dominated these sports and why.American readers will be especially interested in the athletic prowess displayed by the legendary black athlete Jesse Owens who almost single-handedly dominated the track and field events in these games. Likewise, Glenn Morris, a 24 year old car salesman from Denver, scored an impressive victory in the decathlon and snatched a gold medal for the U.S.There were many other impressive performances by athletes from all over the globe in these games.In fact, many observers declared that the 1936 Berlin games were indeed the best games yet since the Olympics were revived in 1896.Yet it is quite clear that there was a pall of hatred and racism hanging over these games that was clearly about to explode.Seems like far too many people were in a state of denial.It really makes you wonder if we are not seeing this same phenomenon repeating itself as the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China draw near.Stay tuned.
In "Nazi Games: The Olympic Games of 1936" author Daniel Clay Large does a workmanlike job of weaving together two disparate story lines.Readers get an inside look at the horrors of Nazi politics while at the same time learning all about the Olympic movement and the international sports scene. I thought that Large pulled this off quite well most of the time but every once in a while I found "Nazi Games" to be just a bit long-winded.Nonetheless, "Nazi Games" certainly is a fine addition to the historical record and a book worthy of your time and attention.Recommended.

Fantastic, insightful overview of the 1936 Olympic Games
I suppose that I should issue a pre-review caveat: I am hardly an expert on the history of World War II in general, and am even less of an expert when it comes to the history of sports (Olympic or otherwise). Consequently, some of the notes mentioned in the other reviews--and, especially, some of the errors pointed out--flew right by me.

That said, I greatly enjoyed "Nazi Games" for what it did provide: a fantastically written account of one of the strangest sporting events of the twentieth century. Large eschews the standard, overly dry historical tone in favor of something befitting the energetic subject matter at hand, while simultaneously taking into account the looming dread and foreboding captured by the epoch in question. By detailing the historical events (both directly related to the Olympics and otherwise) that led up to the 1936, Large is able to contextualize the 1936 games with an preestablished cast of characters, and thus move his reader with considerable ease through a tale that involves a fair bit of action, but also a good amount of bureaucratic wrangling, diplomatic maneuvering, and domestic/international upheaval.

As someone entering a new period of enthusiasm for WWII-era history, I found Large's subject matter and execution to be very refreshing. While my lack of expertise in the subject at hand makes me wary of recommending the work based on factual accuracy alone, I can heartily recommend it as a well-written and well-researched look into the Olympic "calm"--although it was, of course, nothing of the sort--before the storm of WWII.

Excellentview on the 1936 Olympics
Within a short time four books have been published on the 1936 Olympics Games. No wonder, because these were the most fascinating Games of the 20th Century. Historian David Clay Large's account of the Games gives no real new insight in what happened in the years 1933-1936 with all the problems and political events regarding the Games in Berlin, but the book is so well written! David Clay Large is at his best when dealing with the complex history before the Games took place. In my opinion he could have done more with the Games themselves. Apart from the track and field the writing here is rather short and dutiful. But the chapters on the movie 'Olympia' and the Epilogue 'The Games must go on' are again superb.
There are some little mistakes that could easily have been avoided. On page 58 Large writes: 'R.M.N. Tisdall, one of Britain's first black Olympians, won the four-hundred meter race' (in 1932). Three mistakes in one sentence. Tisdall was not a black but a white athlete, he was not from Great-Britain but from Ireland and hij did not won the 400 meters but the 400 metres hurdles. Mr Large states on page 265 that gymnastics for women were for the first time included in the 1936 Olympic program. This is not correct. The first time was in 1928 in Amsterdam. The half-jewish German fencer Helene Mayer did not die in 1961 but in 1953 (page 267). Eulace Peacock did not win the silver medal in the 100 m in 1932, he did not even took part. There are some more, but it is not that important. "Nazi Games" is a very good book. I enjoyed reading it.

1936 Olympics: Triumph of the Propagandist
Berlin's Olympics of 1936: The mother of all monuments to the unholy mix of sports and politics.For three weeks in the summer of that year (and earlier at the Winter Games, also held in Germany), the Nazis camouflaged (or nearly so) the ugly reality in favor of a happy face of Teutonic pride and prowess.

In a tour-de-force of probing research and supple exposition, history professor David Clay Large (himself an accomplished distance runner) first sets the Olympics of 1936 in the context of Baron de Coubertin's revival of their Greek forerunner, and then delves into the unsavory brew of athletics and nationalism, which Berlin has come to epitomize.

The picture isn't edifying, for many foresaw the implications.Though today the duplicity of Leni Riefenstahl's film "Olympia" is widely recognized (whatever its merits as innovative documentary), few know of the efforts of the American Jewish Congress, the NAACP, as well as labor, socialist, and communist organizations to thwart the Berlin games, or at least instigate a boycott by athletes.Large also sheds new light on the tale of "Hitler snubbing Jesse Owens."Not only are most accounts fundamentally mythic, Owens directed harsh words for withheld congratulations to FDR, not Hitler.

Emblematic of Nazi propaganda aims was the campaign leading up to the Winter Games to rid the Garmisch-Partenkirschen area of anti-Semitic signs.The world, of course, soon learned all-too-well of the Nazis' commitment to Jewish extermination.(This was no drive to reform the population, such as seen in the recent move by the Chinese to curtail public spitting in advance of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.)

The role of Olympic Goliath, American Avery Brundage, receives a thorough bruising.Brundage's papers collected at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, prove a revealing trove.Not only did the leader of the U.S. Olympic Committee vehemently oppose the boycott proposals, he gave open support for racial explanations of African-American victories trumped up by the German hosts.(Not to mention Brundage's subsequent reward in the form of the construction contract for the German Embassy in Washington, D.C.!)

Finally, in a well-considered epilogue Large explores the fallout from Berlin's 1936 Games.The U.S.'s "ill-advised" participation helped leverage Jimmy Carter's boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics (in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan), leading to the USSR's refusal to attend the Los Angeles Games four years later.In 1972, Avery Brudage, by then head of the International Olympic Committee, still suffering from the myopia exhibited in Berlin, ordered the Games in Munich to proceed a mere day after the killing of eleven Israeli athletes by armed Palestinians.Are there parallels between the Third Reich's propaganda triumphs of 1936 and the possibilities for China to mask its human rights abuses in the up-coming Beijing Olympics?"Nazi Games" frames the question nicely.
... Read more

Book Description
"The only man who could have written this book has done it with candor and style. A lucid and penetrating look at the five-ringed world, filled with Dick Pound's customary insight, frankness and wit. Inside the Olympics wins gold, silver and bronze." - John Powers, Boston Globe

Every two years, world attention turns to the Olympic Games for a few short weeks, in a celebration of athletic excellence, competition, and national pride. But in recent years, the Olympic ideal has also been tainted by scandals, greed, and corruption-from bribery, to doing, cheating, politics, and exploitation.

Never shy of the issues, Dick Pound reveals the full inside story-both good and bad-of the Games. An Olympian himself, and long-time IOC insider, Pound sheds a bright light on many controversial events and issues surrounding the Olympics, including the conduct of IOC officials, and the doping scandals that he considers the greatest threat to sports today. He also offers a fascinating look at negotiations in the high-stake worlds of television rights and corporate sponsorships, and at the politics, backstabbing, and intrigues that take place behind the scenes in the world of international sports.

At times damning, at others prescriptive, sometimes amusing, but always honest and insightful, Inside the Olympics gives a rare personal view on the business, the personalities, the ideals, and the organization behind the world's greatest sporting event. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Inside View
Dick Pound does not mince words. He informs the readers as he sees the problems within the Olympic Movement in his own words, and tries his utmost to improve these. A book worth reading for anyone interested in the Olympic Movement.

Fascinating Read
This was a really interesting read.I've always been an Olympics fan, but you never get these kind of stories in other books.Pound really reveals the inner workings of the games, from the big news now, doping, to the judging scandals (Comaneci didn't deserve a 10???), to the contentious process of selecting the host city.He obviously has had a view that no one else could have, as an athlete, as the VP of the IOC, and as the head of the World anti-doping agency, and he really brings you into his world.But it's really not all scandals. One of the things that really comes through is his love of the games.As much as he talks about the scandals, he seems to do so out of a desire to bring honor back to the games. Really fascinating stuff. ... Read more

Book Description
An introductory text with the primary focus on the techniques associated with the Olympic lifts and their assistance exercises. This text explains how to perform each exercise and why things should be done the correct way. Also includes an extensive "common error" section ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

No-nonsense, old fashion Weightlifting
My first impression when I opened a light and skinny envelop of the delivered book was that of opening some business correspondence letter. The book is only 132 pages, of black and weight print that could be produced on a home printer, the era preceding of hp-laser or inkjet. Though the first edition came in 1997, it immediately revived my memory of the struggle to print and publish my own book on those days. It is a painful experience for authors to meddle with so many hurdles in order to get their information to the reader.Then, there is my bias in favor of a fellow weightlifter attempting to maintain a dying sport form retiring to history archives.

In total contravention to the inclusive format of Drechsler's Weightlifting Encyclopedia and El-Hewie's Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training, Cissik sticks to the hardcore of old fashion Weightlifting.The classical two lifts; Clean and Jerk and Snatch, are described, together with their immediate supporting exercises. The back, front, and overhead squat; deadlift with various handgrips and height of pull; goodmorning in standing, seating, and ground positions; pullover, and stretching is all that trainees need to advance in weightlifting.That is a bold and daring confrontation of appealing consumerism that thrives on promoting expensive machines, fancy exercise accessories, and endless exercises that do little, if any, good to fitness.

The simplicity, clarity, and accuracy of Cissik's Introduction outweighs it poor production quality and attests to the author's courage to stand tall on substance. Although, the book is intended as an introduction, the above mentioned attributes make the book practical and convenient for modern day busy people. In addition, each chapter begins with neat tabulated highlights and basic contents and ends with a list of references. Inside the chapters, the author places the reference citation where needed in every page.

Its drawbacks are:

(1) Complete omission of individualized peripheral training exercises. Modern weightlifters rival bodybuilders; on bulk and definition, and powerlifters; on peak isometric strength.Many young weightlifters could not attain the astronomically high level of modern international records because of lack of muscular bulk. Cissik's old fashion training emphasizes the technique of lifting and periodization for robust, explosive power, yet falls short on massing slow twitching muscle fibers. Those require dedicated bodybuilding training during off season or prior to committing to protracted competitive weightlifting career.

The fear that bodybuilding and powerlifting exercises would do away with the mental skill, specific to the explosive full range of motion and highly coordinated dynamics of weightlifting, is well understood and recognized by experienced lifters and coaches. However, modern lifters have sufficient resources to ease the highly toned and acutely inflamed structures caused by such repetitive and depleting modes of exercising. Yoga, Pilates, Stretch, UV booths, saunas, and massage are few such modern remedies for the side effects of strengthening through controlled motion exercising. That however raises the stakes of heart and cellular reserves. Could the heart tolerate multiple overloads? Could the cellular metabolism adapt its enzymatic machinery to oppositely demanding activities? or, could the trainee have access to adequate health knowledge in dealing with such double sword training modes? Cissik's answer is: simplicity; a wise, safe, and practical choice.

(2) Jumping straight in the air during the pull isn't scientific. Although few great lifters do jump, the laws of mechanics forbid jumping. It wastes energy. Explosive extension isn't synonymous with jumping.Cissik is rightfully insisting on not spreading the feet sideways, yet wrongfully advises jumping.Jumping might be stimulating, yet wasteful.

(3) The deep squat during the amortization phase portrays to some that "deep" is a requirement for lifting. It is better to emphasize that squatting should be as high as it is needed to catch the barbell at its (the barbell) final destination.Unnecessarily deep squat should be reserved for training, stretching, and strengthening.


Mohamed F. El-Hewie
Author of
Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training

Solid info.
Cissik did a very thorough job researching Olympic-style weightlifting - in fact, this text reads like a research paper/thesis.Having said that, the text might be a little too formal for some.

Excellent Book!
This book is MUCH better than the first edition.The beginning of the book is a concise description of the Olympic exercises and associated assistance exercises.This is good for the beginning lifter.The secondhalf of the book is on workout design.It is EXCELLENT and draws heavilyon EASTERN EUROPEAN texts (They always have the best lifters!).The bookis worth buying for this section.Powerlifters and fitness buffs can usethe principles outlined here to greatly improve their progress.Everychapter is heavily referenced for those who are interested in learningmore. ... Read more

Book Description
What was it like to attend the ancient Olympic Games?

With the summer Olympics’ return to Athens, Tony Perrottet delves into the ancient world and lets the Greek Games begin again. The acclaimed author of Pagan Holiday brings attitude, erudition, and humor to the fascinating story of the original Olympic festival, tracking the event day by day to re-create the experience in all its compelling spectacle.

Using firsthand reports and little-known sources—including an actual Handbook for a Sports Coach used by the Greeks—The Naked Olympics creates a vivid picture of an extravaganza performed before as many as forty thousand people, featuring contests as timeless as the javelin throw and as exotic as the chariot race.

Peeling away the layers of myth, Perrottet lays bare the ancient sporting experience—including the round-the-clock bacchanal inside the tents of the Olympic Village, the all-male nude workouts under the statue of Eros, and history’s first corruption scandals involving athletes. Featuring sometimes scandalous cameos by sports enthusiasts Plato, Socrates, and Herodotus, The Naked Olympics offers essential insight into today’s Games and an unforgettable guide to the world’s first and most influential athletic festival.

"Just in time for the modern Olympic games to return to Greece this summer for the first time in more than a century, Tony Perrottet offers up a diverting primer on the Olympics of the ancient kind….Well researched; his sources are as solid as sources come.It's also well writen….Perhaps no book of the season will show us so briefly and entertainingly just how complete is our inheritance from the Greeks, vulgarity and all."
--The Washington Post ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

The truth about the Olympics
I've never been a sports fan, so I thought I might find this book rather a bore.But in fact there isn't a dull moment in this very entertaining account of what the Olympic Games were like in ancient Greece.

It is fascinating to learn that the games themselves were only a part of the events that took place, with religious celebrations predominating. Enormous numbers of animals were sacrificed to the gods in the course of the games. The events were a lot more colourful than the modern Olympics, with violence and bloodshed not uncommon.Men competed in the events naked, which you may or may not find an agreeable thought.Married women were not allowed to attend the Games, though women had their own seperate festival where foot races were run.Single women were allowed to attend, and there were prostitutes in plenty.

This is the sort of book I love, packed with fascinating facts that make me exclaim "Gosh, I never knew that!" at frequent intervals.Well worth reading.

Pretty much a drawn-out high school school book report
When I picked up this book (thankfully from the library), I thought that, like any decent non-fiction book, a book about the Ancient Olympics would probably be written by someone who knew what he was talking about.Nope.This guy is not a classical scholar.His "primary sources" are all translations.Further, he began studying the Ancient Olympics explicitly for the purpose of writing this book, which means he does not have a broad background of knowledge.

The book is essentially a very long list of regurgitated facts about the games.While the facts themselves are interesting, the writer is not.He didn't have enough to say to fill up an entire book, so he repeats many of the facts throughout the text.His style of presentation is completely unispired and a little disorganized.Further, there are obvious errors.The most glaring exmaple is the discussion of the javelin throw.Perrottet wrote, "Ancient authors claimed that throws of over 90 meters/270 feet were possible, about half the length of the Stadium and far beyond the modern record of 60 meters." (110)Remember that old game from "Highlights" magazine, "What's Wrong With This Picture?".Let's play.First - no source given on the measurement.Second - elsewhere in the text the author claims the Greeks didn't much care about measurements, throws were generally not measured, and ancient measurements should not be given much worth.Third -90 meters is not 270 feet!.90 meters is about 295 feet.The 270 figure is not even close.If he said "over 90 meters/300 feet" I would buy that as about right, but the 270 feet figure is simply inexcusable.Fourth - the modern javelin record is not 60 meters .That's two egregious factual errors in the same sentence.The modern javelin world record is 98.48 meters.This isn't just a boo-boo typo.It means the author's entire claim - that the ancient javelin went further - is completely bogus.Why should I believe any of the other things this guy wrote down?

Whipping away the shroud of time
"The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games" by Tony Perrottet is a wonderful book describing the ancient Greek games. It's aptly titled, too, in two different ways. First, in the ancient Olympics, the contestants performed nude, without clothing that would prevent spectators from admiring their glorious physiques. But more importantly, Perrottet lifts the respectable veneer that is so often draped over classical times. Many writers have difficulties describing the past. Either they write with such awe that the ancients seem to have been gods, instead of mortals, or the writers write in such a way that we seem to be viewing through a dust-covered lens that makes everything seem old and faded.

Perrottet, though, brings the past alive in a way that makes the reader see and hear and even taste, feel and smell - especially smell! - what it was like to participate in these ancient games. Through a variety of different ancient sources, including contemporary texts, vase paintings, statues and a visit to the ruins of Olympia, he is able to give us a well-rounded experience. He guides us through the importance of the games in honoring the gods, how athletes trained, including specific, faddish diets that they followed, the evolution of the different events, the role that women played (unfortunately very little), the discomfort felt by the crowds, and even how physicians treated injuries. "The Naked Olympics" is great fun, and even though the Olympics are not being held in Athens this year, it's worth reading this book to appreciate them wherever they take place (the winter Olympics are taking place in Turin, Italy in 2006).

A Good Read
The more books I read about ancient history, the more I come to realize that the best ones are NOT written by historians!Archaeologist Tony Perrottet does a great job describing life in Ancient Greece and the evolution of sport in western society.

I picked this up right after the '04 games in Athens, still in the grip of Olympics fever.But don't wait until '08 to read this wonderful book.

Appropriate release time
Now that the summer Olympics are upon us, this book, which tells the reader about the original Greek Olympoics in Olympia, is particularly welcome. It goes through a typical Olympics, showing the religious aspects of the games, and also the various events that were held.It doesn't stint on the darker side of the games, but the approach to the book is rather light-hearted, and even with that a lot of new information is imparted to the reader. It's well worth reading, and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

ROBOTS + TERRORISTS = TROUBLE FOR TOM

Tom's been training his entry, SwiftBot, for the upcoming Robot Olympics -- a major event being sponsored by the White House's Office of Science and Technology. Teenage inventors from around the country will be bringing their homemade robots to compete in a series of athletic competitions. The Road Back, an antiscience terrorist group, has issued a statement condemning the event, and Tom hopes that the tight security at the Robot Olympics will keep TRB from causing trouble. But no such luck. Someone is playing dirty . . . and things are going to get dangerous.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Classic books
The writing is for kids, but the new series is a nice update.My 9yo son love the new over the old.I still like the writing in the older series.
Would recommend.Not expensive, OK soft cover.

Tom Swift + re-invention = GREAT!
This is a great book in the newly re-invented Tom Swift series. In fact, this would have made a better book #1 and introduction to this new series (some early cover art shows this as #1 in the Young Inventor series.) Tom and his family, friends, and environment are nicely introduced in this story. We have descriptions of the characters and the town of Shopton (which boasts a "Statemeyer Street" and is said to by quite bustling). Another great nod to the original Tom Sift and Tom Swift Jr series is the lobby of Swift enterprises, which holds a museum to Tom's father's early inventions (including the Giant Robot., G-force inverter, triphibian atomicar, etc from the Tom Swift Jr series of the 50's and 60's.) Mr. Swift is married to Mary Nestor, and Tom's little sister is Sandy.I feel these are nice touches to long-time fans of the series. Tom's friends are funky and fun, and they make a well rounded trio for todays readers. Overall, a great book, with books #1 and #2 a perfect introduction to the new Tom Swift, Young Inventor series! ... Read more

Book Description
All over the world, people are getting ready for the Olympics. Runners are running, swimmers are swimming, and teams are learning to work together. Meanwhile, workers are preparing for a spectacle that million of fans will watch. All of the fun and excitement of the Olympics is captured by B. G. Hennessy's appealing text and Michael Chesworth's bright illustrations in this delightful picture book.

"This informative picture books is a lively introduction [to the Olympics]." --Booklist ... Read more

Book Description
This book is a succinct history of both the ancient Olympics and their modern resurgence. ... Read more

Book Description
Why is hosting the Olympic Games so important to China? What is the significance of a quintessential symbol of Western civilization taking place in the heart of the Far East? Will the Olympics change China, or will China change the Olympics? Susan Brownel ... Read more

Book Description
Completely updated, this ultimate Olympic reference book contains all the nitty-gritty detail,including all records, statistics and medal standings as well as results of the top eight finishers in every Olympic event from the 1896 Games in Athens to the 200 edition in Sydney. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Devastating factual mistake sinks this book to the bottom
This book has an unbelievable and remarkable factual mistake which simply should not be allowed to happen. The Swedish World Champion in Wrestling, Mikael Ljungberg, a national hero who is also an Olympic champion is accused of having been doped and disqualified in the past and barred from championships for 2 years!! This blatant LIE is admitted by the sloppy author who is nevertheless facing legal action from the Swedish wrestling community andMr. Ljungberg himself. Throw it in trash please!

THE Olympic book to have.
After a long search for an Olympic record/history book, I am very glad that I found this one. As another reviewer pointed out, one of the jewels of this book is that it list first through eighth place for all events. And it covers ALL events, including the discontinued ones (tug-of-war, croquet, the swimming obstacle race, etc...). There is also a short background history on a vast majority of the entries which is excellent. I have been extremely happy with this book and I'm relying heavily on it now during the Athens Games. I will definitely buy his next Complete Book of the Winter Olympics.

Grab this book if you can
This book gives you all the top 8 finishes in Olympic History. Most sources give you the top 3 or some give you the winners only. In Track and Field, they tell you that Bob Hayes won the 100 meters in 10.05 in 1964 in all others they tell you 10.0. Most people don't know that Tokyo used auto-timers for their Track events and you know that Henry Carr won 200m in 20.36, Mike Larrabee 400m in 45.15. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent Guide
This is a great guide for anyone tromping about in the Northwest. It combines several other guides into one that is easy to carry and easy to use. The book covers almost anything you'll venture across from plant to animal. It even includes a short section on regional geography and minerals. Must have for the backpack

Wow!Sets the standard for nature guidebooks.
Most of us who enjoy nature have relied upon "bird books" or other guides to the species at one time or another as we inquire about our surroundings. These dull but thorough reference books often make their topics LESS interesting, quelling the interests that they're supposed to serve. We look up our bird, animal or plant and then move on having learned little more than its Latin name. Ugh.

This book shines like a beacon to future nature writers as it uses every description as the basis for a prosaic mini-essay; rewarding curiosity with enlightenment, fascination and delight. Imagine a reference book so enticing to read that you can't stop reading with just one description. Instead, the object of your curiosity serves as a mere starting point in the book; the first page of what often becomes a genuine sit-down-and-read-it experience.

If every nature writer put this much love into their topics, the trails would be overrun with enthusiastic hikers. Here's hoping that the author visits your neck of the woods soon, and provides you with the same exuberant writing he's given us here in the Pacific Northwest.

Wow.Sets the standard for nature guidebooks.
Most of us who enjoy nature have relied upon "bird books" or other guides to the species at one time or another as we inquire about our surroundings.These dull but thorough reference books often make their topics LESS interesting, quelling the interests that they're supposed to serve.We look up our bird, animal or plant and then move on having learned little more than its Latin name.Ugh.

This book shines like a beacon to future nature writers as it uses every description as the basis for a prosaic mini-essay; rewarding curiosity with enlightenment, fascination and delight.Imagine a reference book so enticing to read that you can't stop reading with just one description.Instead, the object of your curiosity serves as a mere starting point in the book; the first page of what often becomes a genuine sit-down-and-read-it experience.

If every nature writer put this much love into their topics, the trails would be overrun with enthusiastic hikers.Here's hoping that the author visits your neck of the woods soon, and provides you with the same exuberant writing he's given us here in the Pacific Northwest.

Fun to Read!
I also have ordered this as a gift for several this year, including the revised edition for myself.Definitely not just a reference book but a great read also.I actually read the whole book,rather than just savingfor information on specifics, when I got my first copy years ago.

A must have for every library!
A Second edition of a classic.Mathews created a field guide that is a must have for every PNW adventurer.As a park ranger I find myself reaching for it daily to answer questions. The writing is suberb and onefinds oneself reading it by the fire on a cold winter day just because. Igive this book as a gift more than any other item. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Left Wanting More
The book is 288 pages with extremely wide margins.To tell this story properly the book should be in the 400-500 page range.I wanted to know more about the American players, the ones who brought home the gold as well as those who, like Her Brooks in 1960, were among the last cuts.What were their feelings after "The Miracle" knowing that they had been that close to being a part of it.I wanted to know more about Brooks himself.His relationship with his wife and kids, did he ever get tired of talking about the 1980 games?I wanted to know more about the Russian players.Is the loss still talked about in Russia?How long did it take the players and hockey in the Soviet Union to get over the upset?

All of these subjects were touched upon, but that's the point--they were only touched upon and nothing was delved into completely so as to peel away layers of a more interesting story.

The 1980 U.S. hockey team is one of my favorite subjects.I found the team back then, and still find their achievement today, a tremendous source of inspiration.I just didn't learn very much new about them in this book.

I couldn't put it down
The 1980 Olympic hockey game between USA and USSR was the kind of event that you remember where you were, when we won.This book takes you back to that special time, that could be considered a turning point for US/USSR relations.After reading the book, I bought 2 DVDs.The movie about the game and the HBO documentary on the same subject.All were completely enjoyable.

We'll probably never have a team like the young amateurs that played for our country just because the loved the game.....a special book about some special kids and their coach.

boys of winter ....
this book is without a doubt the best book i've read on the 1980 usa hockey team .outstanding in every way.mr. coffey takes you inside the locker room of both teams and inside the lives of most usa players .

USA! USA! USA!
I can still hear the chants. Still feel the excitement. Still remember where I was, on the day a group of little known athletes beat the worlds best to move on to the gold medal game.

Mr. Coffey does a good job of bringing those moments back, although his concentration is soley on the one game itself.

A nice glimpse into those involved....both prior, during and since that momentous night (afternoon).

I enjoyed his job of retelling the event, although I have to admit, I popped "Miracle" into the DVD player about half way through the book in order to get a quick fix.

All in all.....a quick read and a nice way to bring those memories back to the surface.

I do believe
Although I wasn't born yet to witness the Miracle on Ice, this book almost makes up for it. Truly inspirational, especially the stories of Eruzione and Wells. A must read if you love to root for underdogs or if you are interested in what happened to the boys after Lake Placid.




... Read more

Book Description
Created by an award-winning author-and-illustrator team, Olympics sets the stage with facts, articles, and essential background information across the complete range of Olympic summer competition.Every aspect of the summer games is covered, including their history, the bidding process, training and qualifying, and life in the Olympic Village.Coverage of the events themselves captures the exhilaration of competing at the pinnacle of world sportsfrom explosive sprints and the grace of gymnastics to the proving grounds of endurance, the marathon and triathlon, and everything in between. In addition, special spreads celebrate the great summer Olympics, from Stockholm 1912 to the record-breaking games of Sydney 2000.Olympic achievements are highlighted at the back of the book, bringing to life the great rivalries and honoring those competitors who battled adversity to shine on the world's stage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The ideal companion for young readers
Superbly enhanced on every page with outstanding digital illustrations and visually impressive full color action photography, Clive Gifford's Summer Olympics: The Definitive Guide To The World's Greatest Sports Celebration is a complete survey and introduction to every Summer Olympics event. Also included is a great deal of background information on the training routines of top athletes of today and great athletic competitive rivalries of the past. Summer Olympics is the ideal companion for young readers with its showcasing of the world pinnacle for international sporting events and competitions. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

not a bad little book
This wasn't a bad little book, it was just eclipsed by the other book I bought, "Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula: The Best Trails You can Hike in a Day".
Both books were purchased 5/2007

Nice little book
I used this guide to plan a recent trip to Olympic.It does contain a lot of good info but I wish it had just a little bit more.Perhaps some better detail on the maps would be nice.I would recommend using this little guide along with a good topographic map like the National Geographic topo map.Definitely a good book to have along with you.

A good guide for
those starting to hike or who want ideas of where to go. Having done all but 3 of the hikes in this book,I would recomend it. Erik gives clear directions and his rating system of easy to hard is very accurate. The book is pocket size and weighs little, with good refernces on time, maps and seasons. His North Cascade Dayhike book is also helpful to daytrippers.

Great help for spur-of-the-moment walkers
We had little or no time to plan our short trip to the Olympic Peninsula,but we knew that the area is best enjoyed by walking into the forests, themountains, or the beaches.This book includes descriptions of 29 hikesthat do not require overnight stays, organized geographically.While thereis no single map pointing out the locations of all the hikes, eachgeographical section has one, so it is not too difficult to find somethingnearby.There is also an ordered list of the hikes, from easiest (the .2mile Madison Creek Falls hike, with minimal elevation gain) to mostdifficult (the Mount Zion hike, 3.5 miles with a 1340 foot gain).

Wetook six of the hikes listed and found the descriptions to be accurate.Itwas well worth the (relatively low) price. ... Read more