Customer Reviews (2)

Great for 8 year old
My son really enjoyed this book, since we watched a lot of the Olympics this year, and it gave him some background.He then went on to the Gladiators book in the same series and swiftly read it as well.They are informative, enjoyable, and easy reads.

First rate information book!
The Summer Olympics are over for another four years. The next one is scheduled in London in 2012. The next Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver in 2010. There will always be a two-year wait between Summer and Winter Olympic events.

How do I know these things? The London-based Usborne children's publisher says so right in this book, "Story of the Olympics," published this past summer in time for the events held in China. You know, the one where Michael Phelps won a bunch of medals and claimed the hearts of girls all over the globe!

Even though the book has cartoon people, the book has nothing "cartoon"in the information or presentation. Let's deal with the possible objectionable material right now. Do you know that the original Greeks participated naked in all physical events? Why? To show off their physiques, with plenty of young women there to see them. Many books mention this fact, but few show it, especially school-intended books. But there they are--racing down the tracks, wrestling, long-jumping, discus throwing, and the like--naked. I can tell you right now, the first person to check out this book will be a boy. He and his friends will howl with laughter at the naked men. Oh, did I say that every picture is most discreet in showing this nudity--carefully placed arms, legs, discus. Only side views of buttocks--cartoon buttocks--are things you can't see at the beach or on men working in their yards.

As for the rest of the book, it is written for the 9-12 audience in straightforward language, accompanied by color illustrations. I cannot imagine anything left out in this short, but thorough history of the Olympics. Usborne ranks just slightly below DK's Eyewitness series in quality.

Here is a short list of information included:
Origin
Brief mythology
Architecture of Classical Greece
Chariot races
Olympiad (four-year span between races)
Geography
War was banned one month prior to and after the games so that people from all over the known world could travel in safety to the games.
Pankration (a brutal event in which men could do anything to the other except gouge eyes or bite. Broken bones often resulted.)
Archaeology
Baron Pierre de Coubertin (a French nobleman who is responsible for establishing the modern Olympics--April 6, 1896)
Addition of women to races, events, division into Summer and Winter, specific medalists, dates, terms.

One other tidbit: In 1908 the Olympics were held in London. Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted to watch the marathon from Windsor Castle, so the race was lengthened to 42.195km to accommodate them. It is still that distance (26 miles 385 yards).

This is a highly recommended ready-reference to have for quick consult.Fun, easy, informative--a great little 64-page book is "The Story of the Olympics."
... Read more

Product 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 (9)

Well worth reading
A very well written book filled with about as much information about the 36 Olympics and the events leading up to it as anyone could have a right to expect. There's lots of various facts about the games, did you know that Jesse Owens was one of 19 Black American atheltes to participate in the games? Or that Owens felt more resentment against Roosevelt for failing to welcome him home after the games than against Hitler for refusing to shake his hand? However, if there is a villain in this piece, it's not Adolf Hitler, it's Avery Brundage, the head of the US Olympic committee and later the International Olympic Committee, who held steadfast against various efforts to boycott the 36 Games, and even removed 2 Jewish athletes from a US relay team just before the final event.

Brilliant overview of a watershed event
Historian David Clay Large has provided a brilliant overview of the carefully orchestrated machinations that went into producing the 1936 Berlin Olympics, a propaganda event meant to affirm the dominance of the so-called "master-race." Tracing out the development and planning of the 1936 games as well as the Olympic movement itself, Large leaves few stones unturned as he probes the way the Nazis twisted the symbolism of international sport to recast themselves as the modern embodiment of the ideals of the ancients. Large writes vividly, and although he is a serious scholar who knows this material as well as anyone alive, he never gets bogged down in minutiae. Reading 'Nazi Games' you feel as if you are right there in Berlin seeing the games as they really unfolded. Particularly chilling, for me, was Large's discussion of the surprisingly favorable way the 1936 Olympics were seen by many Americans, from Anne Morrow Lindbergh to Thomas Wolfe to respected writers for The New Yorker magazine. If you are interested in the history of the Nazi movement, the history of world sport, or just modern European history in general, this book is a must read.

Extremely interesting, timely work
While the author's prose is often too colloquial for my taste, his well organized, expertly researched account of the 1936 Berlin games is both interesting reading and valuable historical reference.He also provides a very good history of the modern Olympics leading up to the titled games and consequently gives the reader a valuable perspective from which to examine those that followed...including/especially the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

A Masterpiece
David Clay large has written a terrific book about the 1936 Berlin Olympics.He traces the history of the modern Olympics before and after Berlin, skillfully describes the failed effort to boycott the games, and presents a lively retelling of the games themselves.But it is the story of the political intrigues surrounding the competition that makes the book worth reading.With the 2008 Beijing Olympics fast approaching, this book will show how totalitarian states will pull out all the stops to host successful Olympics and score public relations victories.

Olympics Then & Now, Same Old Stuff.
The Beijing Olympics are following the 1936 Germany approach to world peace and both are controversial and ill-timed.Germany's took place before the world knew of the concentration camps and killing of the Jewish race from different countries.This year's bad timing has to do after China took over Tibet and killed some of the monks.The nuns were traveling America to let us know what was going on.Therefore, no matter how Berlin came out smelling like a mum, we now have media and protesters to keep us aware of China's human rights molestation.Also, their manufacturing with poisons on products shipped to America.It is appalling.Will these Olympics take place as scheduled or will they turn out like the Moscow 1980 games?

During the time of The Olympics in 1936 Germany, the Nazis were experimenting with the concentration camp prisoners with lethal drugs, stealing their gold teeth before/after being gassed into extinction. Searching for a truth drug to use on military prisoners, their guiena pigs were dosed with powerful narcotics to see what makes a stressful person talk about private things. It was the beginning of brain washing captured Allies too end the War. The 1936 men's basketball first recognized as an Olympic sport had 23 teams from four continents. The American team won gold in a bizarre situation playing in six-inch standing water on a rain-soaked tennis court. Like the "Leathernecks" football team of 1890, their uniforms became muddied. But no Alvin York play was needed.

Perhaps after the first twenty years of Olympic basketball, miracles were needed, especially in 1972 and 1988. It protrayed a false public image, like the KTA and KAT. America's entrant in decathlon, Glenn Morris, won the gold --also had a fling with the producer of a documentary of the Berlin games, Leni Riefenstahl, also know as Hitler's woman. He was a 24-yr. old from Denver, and chosen the best all-around athlete in the world. Like othrs before him, he tried acting in movies in America but floundered and failed in that sport.

The Getapo selected women to de-rail the Olympic athletes from ohter countries to engage in decedent sexual favors. In the "Love" Garden in the Village woods, each female chose her sportive partner but held onto his Olympic badge to prove her progeny had a good origin. This was part of Hitler's plan for a new Aaryan race.

Let's hope nothing like that will occur 72 years later in Beijing, China, after the parade was delayed by the opposition in France while the flame was being transported. After the attempt to kill our pets with poison in foods produced in China, and babies by lead paint on popular toys manufactured there, the Olympics should be cancelled as those in 1980 Russia. In France, the banners of protest depicted the Olympic rings as handcuffs hung on the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathedral. These banners were also put up on the Golden Gate bridge in America. A day earlier, London saw opposition of this travesty, calling it a form of sabotage by Tibetan separatists. "The buildup to these '08 games are to separate openness in China and to faciliate improvements in its record on human rights." The Olympics should supersede politics but, as we know from past places and crime running rampant, there is no way this could be possible. ... Read more

Product Description

From speed skating to snowboarding, bobsleigh to ice hockey, this encyclopedia book gives the medals tables, timings, distances, and scores of every event, and provides vital information on rules and scoring systems. But much more than a statistical compendium, the book also offers a wealth of Winter Olympic history, anecdote, and lore, bringing alive the most dramatic moments from the Games and celebrating the many extraordinary individuals who have competed. It covers each event, Games by Games, from the four skating events which first featured in the 1908 London Olympics to freestyle skiing and curling—including discontinued events. With the top eight placings for every event at every Winter Olympics, plus descriptions of rules and scoring for all 2010 events, and hundreds of anecdotes, from the astonishing to the bizarre, this is an indispensable guide for all fans.

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent!
This is the most complete book about the Winter Olympics available.It's the complementary book to the Summer Olympics.What you get is all the results and historical vignettes to most of the events.

Good information. Lot of errors
I got this book to update the one I had to the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow (The 2008 Edition did that for the Summer version and it was well done). This book has a lot of errors in it. For Nordic combined, it lists the old event of 7.5 km sprint and 15 km individual even though both events changed in late 2008 to 10 km individual large hill and 10 km individual normal hill. No details provided of the Gundersen system point time differential for competitiors in the individual and team event.

There is no mention of ski cross in the freestyle skiing section which will debut at this year's Olympics.

For cross country skiing on the combined/ double pursuit, the events listed are not accurate. 1992-8 were 10 km + 15 km combined men & 5 km + 10 km combined women, both separate days. 2002 was 10 km + 10 km combined men and 5 km + 5 km combined women, same day at seperate times. Since 2006, it has been 7.5 km + 7.5 km double pursuit women and 15 km + 15 km double pursuit men, a duathlon event. No explanation given for event.

For the knowledge that Wallechinsky and Loucky have with the Olympics, this left something to be desired.

Not what I expected
If you are looking for a book that spends a lot of time going over past olympics medal placings,...this is for you.Not a lot on the specific sports. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Diving Dream to Olympic Team is the fascinating story of 1968 Olympic diver Keith Russell. At the age of 20, Keith was the youngest athlete ever named the world's best diver by an international poll of coaches. Sports Illustrated named him to win the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics, where he was the only American to qualify in both the springboard and platform events. But the controversial platform finals proved to be more of a test of inner strength than athletic skill. By the time he retired from competition after the 1976 Olympic Trials, Keith was a six-time National Champion, World University Games Champion, and World Championship medalist. Since his retirement from diving, Keith has been coaching and grooming national champions and Olympians. The former President of the United States Professional Diving Coaches Association, Inc., Keith coached the U.S. National Teams at the 1999 and 2001 World Student University Games. He recently represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the only American diving judge. This is a feel-good story that will leave readers deeply satisfied and uplifted as they learn about one man's incredible struggles and astonishing achievements in one of the world's favorite sports. ... Read more

Product Description
IN SOMETHING IN THE AIR, Richard Hoffer has written a gripping sports narrative that brilliantly tells the individual stories of the unforgettable athletes who gathered in Mexico City in 1968, a year of dramatic upheaval around the world.

Those Olympics caught the revolutionary spirit of the times. In these pages, Hoffer captures the turbulence and offbeat heroism of that historic Olympiad, which was as rich in inspiring moments as it was drenched in political and racial tension. This was a year that saw the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy; racial rioting in the nation's big cities; the upheaval at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago; growing revulsion toward the war in Vietnam; an inspiring bid for freedom in Czechoslovakia, which was crushed by Soviet tanks; and student demonstrations seemingly everywhere, including, fatefully, in Mexico City itself.

Racial tensions were high on the U.S. Olympic team, where inflamed black athletes had to choose between demands for justice on one hand and loyalty to country on the other. No one had easy choices.

Although the basketball star Lew Alcindor (later to become the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) decided not to participate, heavyweight boxer George Foreman not only competed and won a gold medal, but waved a miniature American flag at foreign judges. The sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos became as famous for their raised-fist gestures of protest as their speed on the track. No one was prepared for Bob Beamon's long jump, which broke the world record by a staggering twenty-two inches. And then there was Dick Fosbury, the goofball high jumper whose backward, upside-down approach to the bar (the "Fosbury Flop") baffled his coaches while breaking records. Though Fosbury was his own man, he was apolitical and easygoing. He didn't defy authority; he defied gravity.

These were a complicated Olympics -- no longer a reliably reassuring sporting event, a respite from world events. Not only was the 1968 Olympics a forum for youthful protest, it was a platform for the lingering racism that divided a nation. The generational contest that was working itself out in the culture back home was exploding in Mexico City. Everything was up for grabs. Professionalism was suddenly overtaking this last outpost of amateurism, the media was piggybacking a newly inflated spectacle, nations tussled as usual for international attention. And all the while, a bunch of kids were pitting their interests against the world's, weighing performance against politics, in one of the most exciting sporting events of the twentieth century.

Witty, insightful, and filled with human drama, Something in the Air mixes Shakespearean complexity with Hollywood sentimentality, sociopolitical significance, and the exhilarating spectacle of youthful physical prowess. It is a powerful, unforgettable tale that will resonate with sports fans and readers of social history alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A good rough draft....
The Washington Post's review (above) gives a full overview of the tumultuous events and fascinating personalities described in "Something In The Air".To Richard Hoffer's credit, he interviewed a great number of them and is able to provide readers with many interesting anecdotes. But... then one begins to encounter numerous factual errors (not to mention many typos and carelessly written sentences). The latter are merely annoying; the former, the factual errors, are startling coming from a long-time Sports Illustrated writer.And they make one wonder if he was equally careless - and simply inaccurate - in recounting the recollections of those he interviewed.
Examples: He credits Ray Norton with a "100 meter time of 9.3 seconds".Nope, 100 yards.
He says Jim Ryun was 5 meters behind Keino at the 800 mark in the 1,500 and says "the race had gotten away from him."Yes, it had - but because he was actually 18 meters back, according to Track and Field News's report on the race. Five meters would not have been a big gap, as a sportswriter surely should know.
He writes at length about Dick Fosbury's winning performance in the high jump and says that the first marathoner, Mamo Wolde, was just entering the stadium as Fosbury began his approach. His point: The appearance of the marathon winner usually got huge applause but did not in this case because of the crowd's focus on Fosbury. But Hoffer goes on to describe the reaction of Kenny Moore, the American who finished over 9 minutes behind Wolde. He says Moore was coming on the track when Fosbury jumped and reacted with delight to the crowd's cheering for Fosbury's leap.So... Fosbury's run-up took over 9 minutes?
Concerning Fosbury's revolutionary flop style of jumping, Hoffer says: "Neither his jump nor the straddle was inherently superior." Yet every single world class jumper for decades has used only the "Flop" as have virtually all jumpers at every level.
He has the high jump bar going up "quarter inch by quarter inch" which he says is "actually 5 centimeters".But, as his own context on the same page shows, each 5 centimeter elevation was close to 2 inches.
In one sentence Hoffer has Lynn Davies winning gold in the broad jump in '64 and Ralph Boston winning silver - and Igor Ter Ovanesian beating Boston there by 4 centimeters. Where did Ter Ovanesian place? 1 1/2?
He mentions "pole vaulter John Thomas" - who was actually a great high jumper -and "Bob Beamon the high jumper" even though he later writes at length about Beamon's awesome long jumping.
He says "Bob Beamon's father was in Sing Sing when he was conceived...."Well, not unless they had conjugal visits in those days, which I seriously doubt.
He locates San Jose as north of Sacramento.
He twice mentions the great '50s basketball player Paul Arizon - a career sportswriter who doesn't know how to spell the name of an all-time great: Arizin.
In describing the anchor leg of the 4x200 relay in swimming he says: "So what was supposed to be a Spitz-Schollander duel...." - which would have been quite a feat since they were both on the U.S. team.
These are some of those I caught.How many did I miss?Why didn't Hoffer, or someone at his publisher with a little knowledge of sports, proofread this book. And, as I said, was he as careless when he reported the recollections of Beamon, Carlos, et al?
I'm disappointed since I followed the events of that year closely.I wrote a letter to Track and Field News early in the year sympathising with those considering a possible boycott. (It's available on-line, plus I still have the issue from '68 - not a prettied up memory.) I began this book with high expectations. Some were met but the inexcusable lack of fact-checking and proofreading made me doubt the over-all accuracy of Hoffer's reporting.

Solid, not spectacular view of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
I got interested in this book while reading an excerpt in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated.I had extremely high hopes for this book, but was somewhat disappointed.Being born in 1970, I obviously have no personal recollection of the 1968 Olympics, but long remembered hearing about Bob Beamon's historic long jump and Tommie Smith and John Carlos' defiance on the medal stand.The opportunity to learn even more about the Mexico City against the backdrop of the turbulence and upheaval that was 1968 was irrestible.

My main criticism of Hoffer's book is that it is quite uneven.There are some strong parts, specifically the chapters about Fosbury, Smith and Carlos.On the other hand, his coverage of Beamon and Foreman did not provide nearly the depth and dimension that I expected and was a letdown when compared to the previously mentioned athletes.By far the most enlightening part of the book centered on Avery Brundage, an American who was head of the IOC.Brundage tried to maintain iron-fisted control of the Games and keep absolute order in what was the first Olympics in a developing nation --- and before the vast commercialization that the Olympics have become today.

Overall, Hoffer's book is a solid contribution, but has enough holes to only be 4 stars.It is a quick read and contains enough back stories to be worth the time.

The summer of champions
Well lets start out by countinghow many political things were happenning that summer that had nothing to do with the actual sport of competing with other nationsbest track and Olympic stars in varioussports such as boxing with a young George Foreman walking around with an American flag.
Great human interest stories on the historic two weeks of competition and reviews of winners as well as the losers who trained their whole life for Olympic glory!
Its a facinating read for the olympic fan as well as stories of hyuman sacifice and training. i know that i could not put the book down as a quick paced style of writing.
Run for the gold and pick it up today.

Terrific read from Richard Hoffer
Well worth the time, this relatively brief look at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics gives the reader an enticing look into what may have been the first truly modern Games.The famous medal stand gloved protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos is given full treatment, but other revealing stories are told concerning George Foreman, Dick Fosbury (of the famous "Flop") and others.

A terrific read and highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
The first full account, based on access to key players who have never before spoken, of the Munich Massacre and the Israeli response–a lethal, top secret, thirty-year-long antiterrorism campaign to track down the killers.
1972. The Munich Olympics. Palestinian members of the Black September group murder eleven Israeli athletes. Nine hundred million people watch the crisis unfold on television, witnessing a tragedy that inaugurates the modern age of terror and remains a scar on the collective conscience of the world.
Back in Israel, Prime Minister Golda Meir vows to track down those responsible and, in Menachem Begin’s words, “run these criminals and murderers off the face of the earth.” A secret Mossad unit, code named Caesarea, is mobilized, a list of targets drawn up. Thus begins the Israeli response–a mission that unfolds not over months but over decades. The Mossad has never spoken about this operation. No one has known the real story. Until now.
Award-winning journalist Aaron Klein’s incisive and riveting account tells for the first time the full story of Munich and the Israeli counterterrorism operation it spawned. With unprecedented access to Mossad agents and an unparalleled knowledge of Israeli intelligence, Klein peels back the layers of myth and misinformation that have permeated previous books, films, and magazine articles about the “shadow war” against Black September and other terrorist groups.
Spycraft, secret diplomacy, and fierce detective work abound in a story with more drama than any fictional thriller. Burning questions are at last answered, including who was killed and who was not, how it was done, which targets were hit and which were missed. Truths are revealed: the degree to which the Mossad targeted nonaffiliated Black September terrorists for assassination, the length and full scope of the operation (far greater than previously suspected), retributive acts against Israel, and much more.
Finally, Klein shows that the Israeli response to Munich was not simply about revenge, as is popularly believed. By illuminating the tactical and strategic purposes of the Israeli operation, Striking Back allows us to draw profoundly relevant lessons from one of the most important counterterrorism campaigns in history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Honest narrative of a difficult story
This is a difficult story to tell, mainly because reality is much less dramatic than the myth surrounding this episode, especially after the Spielberg movie. Firstly, most of the initial assassinations in the wake of Munich were low-level logistical support people who probably were not even involved in the original massacre. On balance, aside from Ali Hassan Salameh, the goal of revenge, as the title "Striking Back" suggests, was never really achieved (and even that his involvement disputed by some of Klein's sources). I suppose that is a bitter reality of any anti-terrorist effort. However, the book really loses its way after the "Spring of Youth" operation in Beirut, as the original story line of punishing the perpetrators of Munich fades into the more humdrum and bloody story of tit-for-tat killings after attacks. Once again, this is probably not the author's fault but rather a testament to the honesty with which a difficult story is told.

Balanced presentation of the issues
This was a very interesting book describing a very tumultous time in Israel's history.I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to understand more about "Munich" and the history of Palestinian and/or Islamic terrorism

The author did a good job of pointing out the pros and cons of Israel's assassination policy, including the bungled job in Lillehammer, Norway that resulted in the death of an (apparently) innocent civilian.It's not a simple issue, by far.Overall, though, the work of the Mossad over time probably did reduce the incidents of terrorism, and I think a reasonable person would come to that conclusion by looking objectively at the evidence.Whether it justifies killing a target in another sovereign nation is another issue, though I lean slightly toward the positive.

A more scholarly study than Vengeance
This is the second book I bought for my son, and one for myself because my son said that MUNICH was 90% fiction.
VENGEANCE was the story of one Israeli spy team as told to the author by the leader of that one team.This book, STRIKING BACK is more scholarly, and discusses many teams, the theory behind the teams, the results of their wet work, and also tells us about Israeli policy as it changes through the years. Both books help us understand that the facts and stories as presented are 90% fact, and we can learn a gret deal about how Israel survives using an Old Testament technique ("An Eye for an Eye.".Israel's survival depends on how it responds to attacks and we have a clearer understanding of the reason for desperate measures.It's a good book, a more difficult read than VENGEANCE, but worth the effort.

Excellent
I purchased and read this book after having seen Steven Spielberg's movie "Munich" and I am glad I did it in that order.While reading the book I could picture many of the scenes from the movie which helped keep all the names and characters straight.A sad, enthralling story - I could not put it down.

Dry and Witless
Yes, I understand this is not a novel, but it is as dryly written as a computer manual.It's a shame because the story is compelling, true and quite dynamic. ... Read more

Product Description
MORGAN, THE MAGICAL librarian of Camelot, sends Jack and Annie to find lost stories in the ancient worlds of Roman Pompeii, imperial China, Dark Age Ireland, and classical Greece. Will the books help them in their darkest hours? This boxed set includes four exciting Magic Tree House adventures: #13: Vacation Under the Volcano, #14: Day of the Dragon King, #15: Viking Ships at Sunrise, and #16: Hour of the Olympics, as well as a Magic Tree House poster. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Excellent choice for someone between the ages of 9and 121
I purchased this collection because my son has loved The Magic Treehouse since he was four .Now that he can read on his own,I purchased this set for his ninth birthday.Hopefully now that he can read on his own ,he will read these and more.

Glad I bought this by mistake!
I meant to order the book set and hit the wrong button. It was too late to return, so I gave this to the kid as a gift. He is 5 years old and still loves it many months later!

Great Books
My son is in Kindergarten and he absolutely loves these books!We are waiting for the next set to arrive in the mail.My son asks me everyday if the books have arrived.What a great series of books!Highly recommended:)

AWESOME BOOK!!!!
MY SON AND I LOVE THIS BOOK AND ALL THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE BOOKS ~ A MUST BUY FOR KIDS!!

Great Xmas Gift!
Bought this set for my 7-yr.old grandson.He loved the books and the books arrived super fast. Very, very happy with this purchase! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My Heroes:The Olympic athletes
Not what I had in mind when placing the order for this book but, I find it fascinating and useful all the same.Can't wait for the next Olympics to start and will be glued to my TV for those 16 days.I am a fan of the whole Olympic Ideal and try to watch as much as I can.I am also a huge fan of "Chariots of Fire", about the 1924 Olympics and "1896: The First Modern Olympics", about how the U. S. put our team together and got the athletes to Athens in time for the games. ... Read more

Product Description
The 1972 Munich Olympics--remembered almost exclusively for the devastating terrorist attack on the Israeli team--were intended to showcase the New Germany and replace lingering memories of the Third Reich. That hope was all but obliterated in the early hours of September 5, when gun-wielding Palestinians murdered 11 members of the Israeli team. In the first cultural and political history of the Munich Olympics, Kay Schiller and Christopher Young set these Games into both the context of 1972 and the history of the modern Olympiad. Delving into newly available documents, Schiller and Young chronicle the impact of the Munich Games on West German society. ... Read more

Product Description

IN 1936, Adolf Hitler welcomed the world to Berlin to attend the Olympic Games. It promised to be not only a magnificent sporting event but also a grand showcase for the rebuilt Germany. No effort was spared to present the Third Reich as the newest global power. But beneath the glittering surface, the Games of the Eleventh Olympiad of the Modern Era came to act as a crucible for the dark political forces that were gathering, foreshadowing the bloody conflict to come.

Customer Reviews (5)

I'm sorry to go against the consensus opinion
But I must. Maybe it is a personal bias, but I can't stand sensationalism with no redeeming qualities. Everything said in this book has been said many times before (see the "related works" on this very page), but the authors find a way to muddle things up in a very negative way. Aims at the lowest instincts of man. Of course, this is the modus operandi of the author which becomes clear if you consider his other works.
Avoid.

THE ONLY THING AMATEUR ABOUT THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE THE COMPROMISED FOOLS WHO RUN THE I.O.C
Guy Walters book is a worth while read. For a time the Nazi party formed an unholy marriage with the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C), just long enough to hold the '36 Olympic Games. Walter's shows the corruption, greed and manipulation of the games by the Nazi party and the I.O.C. But such blatant abuse is hardly exclusive to one regime or country. The sub heading of the book "How the Nazi's Stole the Olympic Dream" is incorrect. The I.O.C were and still is a combination of corrupt, greedy business men and women hiding behind a banner of sporting unity to sell their product; "The Olympic Games." The Nazi's were able to convince fools, anti Semites and appeasers as to the positive outcome of a Berlin Olympics.
The Olympic dream is honored by some individual athletes, but is only a slogan to the I.O.C who would have the world believe they are the world leaders in integrity and selflessness.
Hitler used the Berlin games to give credibility to his regime. In 2008 the Chinese did the same. If the money flows, and human rights violations are hidden or not overly publicized then the show go's on.

Politics and the Berlin Games of 1936.
Very relevant as the world looks to Beijing in 2008.In 1936, the Nazis hosted both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games in Germany.The Nazis used the politics of the Olympic Games to glorify the new Germany.Walters depicts how the Nazis hid the discrimination of the Jews, the political oppression of its opponents, the economic misery, and the military domination to give the world a false picture of the new Germany.Many informed people were not fooled, and told the world that this picture was false.A boycott movement was formed, but the majority of governments chose to look the other way and participate in the games.The games did indeed glorify the German government.Three years later, the World was at War, and the Holocaust began.

Walters summarizes the complete details of these Olympics with all the world politics thrown in.The Nazis lying and barbarous methods are detailed in the selection of German athletes and the politics of holding the Games.It is a wonder so many people were fooled by the methods of this regime.A good read and very relevant today.

A Chronicle of Hypocrisy
This book is an interesting, and long overdue, chronicle of not just the 1936 Olympic Games themselves (held in Hitler's Germany) but also of the many machinations that went on behind the scenes to ensure that the Games would be held despite the Nazis' treatment of the Jews and others considered to be undesirable.

Thus, despite the fact that the Nazis had passed the Nuremberg Laws in 1935 (forbidding, e.g., marriage or sexual relations between Jews and Germans), the International Olympic Committee worked with the Nazis to ensure that the games went on and colloborated in pretending that there was no actual discrimination.

In this regard, placed in a particularly bad light are American sports officials who more often than not were guilty of racism, prejudice, and anti-Semitism against their own citizens.(E.g., much to do was made in the American press about the (apparently false) story that Hitler snubbed Jesse Owens by refusing to shake his hand, yet Jesse Owens came home to a country whose citizens as a whole treated him worse than the Germans he dealt with during the Olympics.)

In the end, however, despite all the much-deserved hoopla about Jesse Owens, the real winners of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games were the Nazis as they impressed the world with their efficiency (a record number of countries, over 4 dozen, participated in the Games) and the Games were a propaganda bonanza for them.For example, the Nazis instituted the practice of carrying the Olympic torch from Olympia to the site of the games, an event which they heavily publicised.In addition, their organization of the Games was impeccable (including premier housing for the athletes), their Olympic Stadium (holding over 100,000 spectators) was a monumental showpiece, and the Games even turned a profit.In this respect, perhaps the most telling moment of the Games was the opening ceremonies when the speaker's podium was decorated not just with the familiar Olympic symbol of five interlocking Olympic rings but a giant German eagle clutching the Olympic rings in its talons.

Interspersed within the story of the politics surrounding these Olympics is a treasure trove of information about the background of many of the athletes (including their personal prejudices) and the events at these Games.

Overall, the book is a very well written and interesting account of the 1936 Olympic Games that exposes much of the hyprocrisy that allowed them to go on after the Nazis came to power and also reveals much about many of the athletes who participated in the Games.

Documents Don't Lie, People Do
The 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin was a watershed moment for sports and politics, with its ramifications rippling through history some 70 years later.

Author Guy Walters does impeccible research of documents and individuals to bring a complete picture of how the Nazi Party virtually took over the International Olympic movement as it set the stage for war. Though the Games were awarded to Germany before the Nazi Party took full control of the government and Hitler was initially not in favor of holding the event, the benefits from a propoganda machine operating from every home to each Olympic venue became too great to pass up.

Though athletic officials and politicians knew about the growing oppression in Germany, Walters uses documents and quotes culled from meetings to show the utter appeasement that occurred. For example, American sports official Avery Brundage had written that Hitler was "a god," and then did everything in his power to successfully discredit and destroy the movement in the U.S. to boycott the competition.

Brundage did not see anything wrong with the Nazi ideal, but he did deal harshly with a top female swimmer on the U.S. team. She was kicked off the squad due to her partying on the ocean liner that was taking the team to Europe.

There were athletes who wanted to use the world stage to destroy the myths surrounding the Nazi movement. A German wrestler - who was a member of the Communist Party - hoped to parlay a winning performance by refusing to give the Nazi salute on the medal stand and use a live-radio interview as a means to tell the world about the real Germany.

There were other athletes who used the Olympics for different goals. A South African boxer was so taken with the Nazi Party that he was later recruited as a spy and became part of a plot to assassinate the president of his nation.

Add in the dress-rehearsal for the summer competition, the 1936 Winter Games in Bavaria, the reoccupation of the Rhineland and legendary athletes like Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe, the Berlin Games was a backdrop to the excellence of competition and the viciousness of totalitarianism.

And in the end, Walters rips apart the screen that so many toadies of the Nazi Party had hid behind for too many years. ... Read more

Product Description
First to the Wall, 100 Years of Olympic is a perfectbound, soft cover title. Research indicates that this is the onlytitle available that encompasses the subject of Olympic Swimming inits entirety. The historical content is broken up with humor, triviaand graphics. The book contains complete charts of the, events,finalists and times for each Olympiad. Over 125 photographs bring tolife the history and excitement of Olympic Swimming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Read it now !
Perfectly balanced: history and funny facts. A great tribute to Olimpic heroes. Essential for those who love swimming and Olimpic Sports. ... Read more

Product Description
Cherished for its natural beauty, the Olympic Peninsula is one of the country's most unique and diverse regions. And as the destination of approximately three million travelers each year, it is also one of Washington state's most visited areas. Bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound, the Peninsula is home to temperate rain forests, ice cold rivers, giant trees, brilliant waterfalls, alpine peaks, breathtaking glaciers, and an abundance of wildlife, including seven species of salmon and the Roosevelt elk.

At the heart of the Peninsula is Olympic National Park. Established in 1938 to protect the most wild and beautiful part of the Peninsula, the park features three distinct ecosystems: the snow-capped Olympic Mountains, old-growth rain forests, and wilderness Pacific coast. Nearly 600 miles of hiking trails crisscross the park, and access by road is limited.

Circling the Peninsula is Highway 101, which meanders through charming coastal fishing villages and the logging town of Port Angeles. The Olympic Peninsula is organized with a drive along this route in mind, starting from Port Townsend in the northeast corner of the peninsula and driving west toward Port Angeles and Crescent Lake before heading south toward Forks, the Pacific coast, and Queets. Along this route, you'll encounter alternative routes that lead off the beaten path to seemingly untouched coastal areas or into the wild interior of Olympic National Park, where hiking trails abound.

This spectacularly picturesque area is captured through the stunning, vivid photographs of Mike Sedam. This is the Olympic Peninsula in all of its splendor and magnificence, in all its grace and grandeur. ... Read more

Product Description
Few terrorists have been as internationally notorious - or as deadly as "The Red Prince." That was the nickname of Ali Hassan Salameh, a Palestinian who oversaw the Black September Organization from 1970 until his murder by car bomb in 1979. Salameh masterminded the 1972 hijacking of Sabena flight 572 to Tel Aviv, killing 27 tourists at Israel's Lod airport, and the murder of the Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich. In 1973, he organized the murder of the American and Saudi ambassadors in Sudan. The Red Prince's story is also that of General Aharon "Arale" Yariv, Golda Meir's choice to run Israel's counterterrorism response, and of Zvi Zamir, the head of the Mossad, Israel's intelligence unit. As "The Quest for The Red Prince" unfolds, Zamir and Yariv orchestrate a series of daring cross-border assassinations, picking off Black September members one by one, chasing down Salameh until a final reckoning in Beirut."The Quest for The Red Prince" does more than catalogue the awful crimes of a terrorist, and Israel's search for a way to end his bloody reign: it authoritatively recounts the history of one of the central conflicts of our time - the Palestinian-Israeli struggle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

very similar
like other books on the munich massacre this is strikingly similar to those. it was disappointing when i ordered this book with another on the even for an international relations research paper only to find that the books were almost duplicates with minor variations. if you have one book on the massacre then you have them all

Fast paced and interesting explanation of the events
This is a well written and fast paced version of events surrounding Black September and the Munich Olympic Massacre and the aftermath.Well worth a read.

Fantastic Book!!!
I cannot disagree strongly enough with the negative reviews of this book.I just completed it and I could not put it down.It is excellent and fills in many areas I had no knowledge of.I highly, highly recommend this book.

Fascinating history.
This is an interesting and well written history of the Salameh family and the Black September terrorist group; however, the focus is not strictly on the 1972 Olympic murders as the title would lead one to believe.After having finished the book, I have a much better understanding of the hostilities between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and the tragedy of the Israeli Olympians is only one of many.It also makes me believe even more that the United States' "war on terror" is not a war in the traditional sense, but a way of life for generations once the terrorists choose a target.

A Completely Misleading Title
After reading 65% of this book, I put it down because it was not the book that the title had led me to expect, nor was it a book that I wanted to read.It is a multi-generational history of a particular family and their involvement in Palestinian terrorism.Munich is NOT the central focus of this book. ... Read more

Product Description
After being scattered on the winds of time for nearly 2500 years, the Goddesses and Gods of Classical Greece reunite for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. However, the once-almighty Immortals find themselves in a reality vastly different from the one they remember, and radically different from the one we know. Zeus no longer holds dominion over the wide heavens, and Hera and Athena have reclaimed their stature as equal partners – changes brought about by the transformation of human consciousness that occurred at the turn of the Millennium. In this new reality, gender equality, social justice and sustainability are cultural norms, and human society has matured into the first global democracy on Planet Earth.

Yet, it is all at risk. The Immortals, together with the mortal heroes, Greek-American decathlete Herakles Speros and Caribbean sprinter Alanta January, must unite to stop Ares, the God of War, whose terrorist henchmen would use the power of the atom to destroy the peace. As the athletes prepare for their Olympic competitions, and Eros ignites their hearts with love, they are fatefully swept into the mythic drama. From the depths of Hades to the summit of Mount Olympus, they must successfully navigate the realm of dreams and visions if they are to fulfill their destiny of saving the Games. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An enthralling and visionary saga
2004: An Olympic Odyssey is a dramatic fantasy in which the gods of classical Greek mythology reunite to attend the 2004 summer Olympic games in Athens. Yet much has changed over the course of millennia; the gods have lost their cosmic powers, and even their stature among one another has changed in response to evolutions of human consciousness. Furthermore, the god of war Ares brings a lethal threat with the power of the atom itself, seeking to destroy peace and spread his bloodthirsty element; gods and mortal heroes alike must unite to protect the world and their Games. An enthralling and visionary saga, expertly blending legend with a palpable rendition of the modern world and its quixotic problems. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Absorbing!
Grand events and the life of ordinary--and not so ordinary--people come alive in this very well-written account of Beijing's history. It is not a "guide-book" in the usual understanding of that term: such-and-such can be found at.At the same time, it is a "guide-book" to gaining a feel and an appreciation for one particular city and for the people whose capital it is. In it, one himself/herself lives through the long history of Beijing. Marvelous presentation!

Disappointing
This book has quite a bit of information but lacks the organization to help you navigate or plan your trip. It provides little commentary or opinion.

Better information can be found online for free.

Must read before you visit
I found this book tremendously helpful before my first visit to Beijing. It gives perspecitve for all vsitors to the city and puts Beijing in the context of the history of China. Easy to read for the nonacademic, I found this essential to a full appreciation of this remarkable city.

Beijing: From Imperial Capital to Olympic City
You are in for a treat! To understand China one must understand Beijing. While written by academics it is highly accessible to the lay public - it is MUST READ for anyone who has ever visited Beijing or is contemplating a visit. The photos and color plates are fascinating. It will be of interest to anyone who wishes to understand the culture, food, customs and the multi layered history of Beijing and of China - it also provides a nuanced view of urban planning gone awry in one of the fastest changing cities on the planet.

A great reference book on Beijing for everyone
This is a great reference book for historians doing research or for anyone who wants to learn more about Beijing and Chinese history.The book leads you from Beijing's rise as an imperial capital city to its emergence as an Olympic City. Although Beijing's history is long and complicated, the authors have succeeded in the difficult task of putting so much information into a book yet keeping it succinct, interesting, and easy to follow.The fascinating stories of ordinary residents add a personal touch to the book, while the pictures revive many details of the past.

I have been to Beijing many times.But after reading the book, I felt like wanting to go back right away to find out more about this capital city.
... Read more

Product Description
An account of the 1972 Munich Olympics, when 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists - or inept German snipers. This book covers the siege and massacre, the ensuing recriminations, and the launch of one of the most clinical revenge operations of the century.Amazon.com Review
In the early hours of September 5, 1972, members of theultraviolent Palestinian terrorist faction Black September scaled theperimeter fence surrounding the Olympic Village in Munich. Theirtarget was the temporary home of the Israeli Olympic team. Within 24hours, 11 Israelis, five terrorists, and a German policeman weredead.

Based largely on exhaustive investigation for the Oscar-winningdocumentary, One Day in September is the definitive account ofthe tragedy. Simon Reevehas gathered extraordinary information from a number of sources,including recently released Stasi files and interviews with keyfigures, including the families of the hostages, politicians,policemen, advisors, fellow athletes, media figures, and even the lonesurviving member of the group that carried out the attack. Reeve'scontrol over his material is admirable. He vividly paints images ofthe individuals involved, humanizing a narrative that cracks andbuzzes with the compact tension of those 24 hours. At the same time,he provides the background to the attack, filling in vital historicalcontext from the distant and recent past, such as the Arab-Jewishdispute that produced this and other terrorist actions and theirresponses.

Reeve conveys the public horror of Jews being incarcerated on Germansoil, which led the German authorities to make crucial judgments, withtragic results. Fatal errors were made that can only be fullyunderstood through the underlying dynamics of not only Middle Easthistory, but also postwar European politics, individual andinstitutional arrogance, inexperience, and politicalpressure--including from the International Olympic Committee. Reevefollows up the events of that day by exposing the full extent of theIsraeli revenge mission, which over the next 20 years hunted down andkilled those responsible for the attack. He has not only written acompelling book, but provided a considerable service in allowingreaders to understand the forces of hatred and history that conspiredtoward inevitable, but no less tragic human consequences.

Those who were a part of the huge live media audience that watchedhelplessly as events unfolded will undoubtedly experience again thesense of dread at recalling those traumatized, shackled figures ledout from the Olympic Village to their fate on a German airfield. Thosewho make the mistake of thinking the dark days of internationalterrorism are history will read One Day in September andremember that the same underlying tensions still cast shadows over ourpresent and our future. --Fiona Buckland, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Good read - lots of information
Well researched but irritating sometimes, as many reviewers have noted, for the moral equivalence stance.

In addition to the gross incompetence shown by the Germans trying to make the situation go away, some of the words used (i.e. murder) to describe Israeli actions grated on my nerves.One point made early in the book, and still true today, was the culpability of neighboring Arab countries in the Palestinian situation..."Confining the Palestinians to camps actually suited many regional governments...Far better to keep them in squalor near their homeland and foster their fighting spirit."

Overall it is a good read containing lots of information on the Munich massacre.

a very detailed book, interesting reading
A great book on the munich massacre and the killings thereafter.detailed research and very readable.A little thick on the moral equivalence for my tastes, but that doesn't get in the way of enjoying the book.

Olympia is a Sacred Place
First let me say that this is a well written book that kept me engaged throughout. Although the author indulged in a bit too much moralizing for my taste, he still manages to deliver a highly detailed and informative account of the Munich massacre and it's aftermath. He does a good job at weaving the lives and personalities of the victims-as well as the perpetrators-with a blow by blow narrative of both the massacre and the Israeli retaliation.

Many of the Israelis had serious reservations about coming back to the country where so many of their people-including immediate family members for some-were killed. Despite this, they came to Munich enthusiastic to compete and represent their country. Ironically, their fears turned out to be legitimate, only not for the reason they suspected. The fact that Jews were being killed in Germany yet again was not the only tragic irony of the Munich Olympics massacre. There was also the fact that the German officials had purposely scaled back security at the events precisely because of the nation's history. They were desperately trying to redeem their nation's reputation and they were afraid that excessive security would evoke painful memories of the Third Reich. This decision had devastating consequences. Reeve pulls no punches in his criticism of the Germans. By most accounts-and Reeve is sure to emphasize the point-the rescue attempt that resulted in the death of all of the athletes was completely botched by the Germans. They come off as looking completely incompetent and Reeve does not shy away from pointing this out.

Reeve then goes on to Israel's retaliation which was code-named, the "Wrath of God" operation. This is where the Israelis hunted down and assasinated dozens of people who were thought to be involved in the Munich attack. Anyone who has seen Stephen Spielberg's film 'Munich' will recognize the names and locations of these asassinations. As I stated previously, Reeve tends to over-moralize the issue by constantly sticking his two cents in about the massacre itself, Israel's response, and terorism in general. It's not that I necessarily disagree with him, but I just don't feel the need to be preached to about right and wrong. Other than that, it is well worth the read.

The death of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
This is an exceptional read on the killing of Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympics.These were defenseless individuals, not even properly guarded by the German authorities.The Palestinian Fatah movement commissioned Black September to take as many of the team hostage so they could force the release of over two hundred other hardened killers.The Israeli authorities would not do this.Therefore the Germans came up with a ridiculously simple plan to free the nine Israeli athletes and kill the hostage takers.They made so many simple mistakes, that even some policemen refused to take part in it.When the Palestinians and hostages arrived at the airport, an hour long shoot out resulted with five Palestinians killed and all nine athletes killed.This really destroyed the innocence of the Olympic Games and showed really what the Palestian Fatah were really all about.

The book also covers the revenge killings by Israel.The author disagrees that these have a beneficial effect on the outcome of the battle.I disagree.These revenge killings show that the hunter can become the hunted.It puts the fear into those that cause devastation throughout the world.Other than that, I think this is a fine read.

View From the Left
What a surprise, another hand wringing liberal condemnation of Israel's defense and foreign policy. Reeve's account is a detailed look at the events in Munich, and a somewhat less detailed look at subsequent events.To call it non-fiction is a stretch, as there are many holes to plug, and Reeve chooses to plug them with an ill-disquised comfort for chatting with terrorists, and sharing his clearly Eurocentric liberal view of the mideast.

He takes one short swipe at the notion that he is equating the Israeli response with the initial murders of the Jewish athletes, but spends the entire rest of his effort doing just that.His ultimate editorial view seems to be that -- even after the murders of two athletes in cold blood in the Olympic village -- if the Germans hadn't so profoundly botched their "rescue" attempt, everyone else would be alive today.I came away with the distinct impression that he has more contempt for the German effort and the Olympic Committees than with the terrorists themselves.

All in all, worth the read, but we could have done without learning Reeve's political viewpoints, and his Miss America dreams for "world peace." ... Read more

Product Description
Olympics is a triumphal history of the games, from ancient Greece to Sydney in 2000. Readers will discover the pageantry of the
original games; Pierre de Coubertin's revival of the modern games in 1896; the variety of Olympic sports; astounding world records; the intense training Olympians endure; the politics of Olympic games, including boycotts and terrorism; and much more. Here's a glorious celebration of the world's finest athletes and their spirit of competition and excellence. ... Read more

Product Description
An inspiring sports memoir from the family who captured America's heart at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Lopez family set new records at the Beijing Olympics with three siblings on the same U.S. taekwondo team-and a fourth sibling as their coach. Mark took the silver medal, and Steven and Diana both brought home the bronze, with big brother Jean coaching them to victory. Here, for the first time, is the inspiring story of a family united behind a dream.

In 1972 Julio Lopez and his wife Ondina emigrated from Nicaragua, hoping for a better life for their family in America. In an atmosphere of love, support, mutual respect, and healthy competition, their children trained hard in taekwondo, daring to dream they might reach the pinnacle of their athletic field in the Olympics. Told in turn by Steven, Mark, Diana, and Jean, this is the incredible story of how one close-knit family's boundless determination and rock-solid support system took them from their home in Texas to Olympic glory in Beijing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

If you are into Tae Kwon Do, this book is really interesting
This book details from the time the Lopez's started in Tae Kwon Do through competing in the 2008 games in Beijing. From the perspective of someone who is into Tae Kwon Do, I find everything from how they began their training in a garage through details of specific matches very interesting. Some very interesting stories about competing internationally after 911 also. Everything from TKD politics through strategies and details of specific matches and tournaments. If you like Tae Kwon Do, or any type of competitive martial art, I think you'll find this book very interesting.

AMERICA'S FIRST FAMILY of THE MARTIAL ARTS
If you're a fan of the martial arts and not just chop-sockey flicks,this is the book for you.The true story of America's first family of the martial arts.In 2000 and 2004 Steven Lopez won the Olympic gold medal in taekwondo.In 2008 he and his younger brother and sister ,Mark and Diana, all medalled.Mark took silver and Steven and Diana took bronze.Oh yeah,eldest brother Jean was the coach.This made the Lopez clan the first family to ever have four siblings on the same U.S.A Olympic delegation.This book tells their story in their own words.It's about their childhood in Texas(the children of Nicaraguan immigrants),their introduction to the martial arts(dad was a Chuck Norris fan)and of course their Olympic triumphs.This is a story as much about family as it is about athletic victories.And this is what makes this book worth reading.It's the story of real life good guys who win in real life. ... Read more

Product Description
This text offers an holistic training approach that unifies body and mind through yoga. The yoga exercises in this book not only provide a greater sense of well-being and deeper unity of body, mind and spirit, they also increase the body's ability to rejuvenate itself for overall fitness. The yoga asanas can be used for warm-up, cool-down, regeneration, compensation of muscle dysbalances, prevention of injuries, stimulation of internal organs, or for increasing your capacity for hard training. The reader can experience the benefits of yoga that come from knowing yourself and knowing that you have the ability to control your autonomic, unconscious functions as you raise your mental and physical performance. Yoga is one of the most effective means for accomplishing the daily practice of concentration. Yoga training plans are outlined for 27 different sports. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thank you, Dr. Kogler
I don't have much to add to the insightful comments made by Mr. Weinstein above.This is the most valuable sport-training book that I own, period. Not only for fencers.Very highly recommended.

For lots of reasons the best
I am actively retired and a very good, goal oriented skier.My background was hi tech where I was a lead manager at (perhaps) the most significant R&D Company of all time (Bolt Beranek and Newman - inventors of all things Internet).I mention this only since designing and then implementing networks is an exercise based on process understanding as the basis for detailed system design.So as I pursue my effort to become the best bump skier on my local mountains (Aspen Colorado) I am very focused on first understanding and then designing my training program ... toward which my current skills assessment is

a) coordination and active skills - very good
b) aerobic capabilities - good to very good
c) strength - so so to good ('HIT' weight training at the gym focused
mostly on quads and hamstrings)
d) flexibility - Horrid (I hate stretching)

But, I am anything if not committed so my chosen vehicle this year is Yoga and since I am skilled at process design and following a long search of so many books on yoga as it relates to sports improvement my review)

This is the best of so many books bought, scanned and then retired to my many book cases - most likely never to be read again.What makes it the best

1) It is written by an author who used the techniques recorded to
accomplish specific goals.Aladar Kogler is a PH.D. was trained under
in Czechoslovakia under the soviet systems (for my money the best in
the world) where he coached the highly successful Czechoslovakian
Fencing Team before escaping to U.S.Throughout his coaching career he
has trained an astonishing number of world class fencers, first from a
smaller Eastern Bloc Country and later a smaller U.S. University.

This is significant in the author's adoption and application of Yoga as
central to his training was TOTALLY driven toward measurable tests and
standard - where his fencers the best in the world.Contrast that with
so many yoga books written for distraught women and yuppies looking for
general health, happiness and renewal (whatever these conditions mean).

2) The book is clear, understandable and result oriented - rather than
general explanations this book details a specific regimen and plan -
pleasantly based on system design and mechanics.Kogler explains what
to do, why you are doing it, and what to expect.

So while I still hate stretching, I now have a highly accomplished coach who is providing me with a very good map - I know what and why I am doing each step and can gauge progress against clear interim and end goals.

And herein lies the magic of the book - while I am moving across well plotted terrain my coach is clear in having me not to take account interim or end point goals - while I am to create and record results in a journal, I am to push for progress.I am to follow the plan and take encouragement if (AS) progress is made.So even though I start unable to touch my toes I can see and have recorded some progress and have come to believe (given I understand how and why) that if I will remain true to the attempt and pay close attention to the asanas I will improve against my real goals (be a better bump skier on very steep and demanding slopes).

This book (in the best of the Chinese definition, is becoming my Tao) for turning a glaring and difficult weakness in a strength.And for that I thank (via this review) the author.

regards

Just what you need
Having had Aladar as a fencing coach, I can say that he definitely knows what he's talking about.In fencing, one's muscles tend to develop unevenly (the front arm and leg work harder than the others) and yoga helpseven them out and keep you balanced.It is also a good practice to comedown from the athletic high that you can get after competition.Themindful practice of these exercises keeps you balanced as an athlete, aswell as a person. ... Read more