Product Description
urfing is back and bigger than ever, with girls now hitting the waves in unprecedented numbers. Girls who just wanna be cool know that surfing is the way to do it-while having fun and getting into great shape at the same time. But becoming a surfer isn't just figuring out how to stand up on a board; it's how to walk the walk and talk the talk, how not to flop out of your top, and knowing how to deal with one of the biggest hazards of the sea-boys in the water. It's also about learning patience, discipline, focus, and perseverance. Jam-packed with full-color photos, dynamic graphics, comics, and instructional art, surfer girl Sanoe Lake's comprehensive guide not only teaches style, skills, and safety-it empowers readers with all of the sassy wit and attitude that made Sanoe a favorite character in the cult flick Blue Crush. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Gnarly reference for female surfers!
I am an aspiring surfer girl, and this book really covered all of my questions, concerns, and it put the details out there in the most fun way! I am 19 now and I still hold this book very dear- it is obviously packaged with young teens in mind, but I am not embarrassed to have it. Dead useful, very cute, very funny, and there are illustrations EVERYWHERE. It is a totally fun reference text for surfer girls. And it really does span the entire world of surfing- safety, fashion, history, culture, how-to, and much much much more. Also, Sanoe Lake is one of my idols- just the way she put the book together makes you feel like you can conquer the world. Definitely buy it- even if it's not advanced enough for you, it will definitely entertain you!

Fun and Detailed Guide!
This book is meant for teenagers, but it's full of detailed information for adults, too. It includes tips for everything surf related, such as how to carry your board on shore, and how to change behind a towel. The layout and frequent comic strips are super-cute.

loved it! hang loose!!
this a great for any age. It teaches you every-thing you would want to know and them some. clearly written and a wounder examples and photos. read this book!!

Tip: never say "dude" it offends other sufers

winner of the "Outstanding Informational Book for Teens" from the Children's Literature Council of Southern California
A much deserved winner of the "Outstanding Informational Book for Teens" from the Children's Literature Council of Southern California, this is a book I highly recommend.


Something you should know about me first.I'm terrified of the ocean.I'm a flatlander through and through, born and bred in the breadbasket.I grew up seeing amber waves of grain, not the blue waves of the sea.And yet, from the first moment I picked up Surfer Girl by Sanoe Lake and Steven Jarrett, I was hooked.

Let's start with the format of the book itself.It's full of graphics.There are super little comics, some short, some long, on almost every page.There are photos and pictures and diagrams.There are black and white pics from the past and crisp new pics from today.

But it's not just about pictures.The text is written is a mix of styles that make the book accessibly informative.There are parts of the book that are in-your-face straight talk.And then there are parts when you feel like you are sitting down around a fire on the beach, having a late night chat with one of the great stars of women's surfing.

I'm a history buff and it's incredible how this seemingly short book is so full of history.There is a mini-lesson in the history of surfing that is jam-packed full of great and interesting bits and stories of the past about Polynesian surfers:why they surfed, why they stopped, and why they started up again.It's one of those fascinating and fantastic stories that mix religion, culture, romance and the society behind the surfboard.And just when you think you're done learning the history of surfing, Lake & Jarrett add an incredible "her-story" of surfing, featuring some of the most famous honeys of the sport from the 1930's to today.

As a guy, I enjoyed the book, but it is primarily a book for girls.Females will find plenty of great info here.Lake & Jarrett detail how to purchase the right bikini - and then how to stay in said bikini once you are out riding the waves.There is practical information on womanhood and surfing, waxing and other stuff that girls need to know before they enter the water.Face, hair and body care too --how the sun insults a girl's skin and how the ocean beats the heck out a girl's hair.

Then there's the science aspects of surfing.You don't have to be a math whiz or a brainiac oceanographer to figure out that surfing is part science.Lake & Jarrett explain why there are waves in the first place, where they come from, and how to estimate the height of a wave using math.

Of course, for me at least, no manual on surfing would be complete without a detailed list of the hazards of the sea.SHARKS!JELLYFISH!STINGRAYS!!YUCKY BACTERIA!!! WATER POLLUTION!!!AND last but not leastDIM WITTEDNEANDERTHAL-ESQUE GUYS!!!!For a girl surfer, a hazard greater than all the previous hazards put together.

Last but certainly not least, Lake & Jarrett teach you how to surf.From how to select the perfect surfboard (including more detailed information on the ins and outs ups and downs of boards and their care), how to prepare yourself mentally and physically, and finally what to do when you finally catch that very first perfect wave.

Ocean-phobe that I am, I finished Surfer Girl with a bit of interest in finding my inner surfer, from the history and culture to the psychologically challenging yet soothing sport itself.Lake & Jarrett show that surfing is more than just a sport.It's a way of life.But their book is certainly provides a much needed key to the door into that life.It's full of humor, great information, terrific writing, incredible graphics, and awesome art.Quite simply this book is a top notch nonfiction book for teens.

Buy it for all the girls in your life!
This is a MUST BUY for all the females in your life, especially those that love the ocean.A fun read with lots of ingenuity--found it to be so charming, cute, fresh, inspiring, and informative.Just the kind of book you want your girls to read--trust me, they'll love it--makes great gifts too.Not only young girls will enjoy reading it--adults will too, believe me! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a great starter book! It covers everything from choosing a board to paddling out and catching your first wave. It is loaded with pictures, diagrams and lots of information that will help the beginner feel safe and informed. It even includes helpful hints, waves and weather, history, boogie boarding, competition, longboard riding, kneeboarding, wave ski riding, and even "things that bite and sting". This book has it all. Written by one of Australia's greatest surfers....Nat "the animal" Young. ... Read more

Product Description
S Went Surfing, illustrated by talented local artist Ruth Cabanting is illustrated with bright, colorful and imaginative paintings answering the question:

What does the alphabet do on its day off in HawaiÔi?

From the title, we know S goes surfing, but what about A? C? L,M, N, O, and P?

Kids will absolutely love finding out and following each letter throughout their Hawaiian holiday off from school. Written with a fun rhythm and alliteration, learning the alphabet has never been so fun! Kids of all ages will love to read this book aloud and have it read aloud to them. Each page is wonderfully inventive and includes additional objects that begin with that letter. In the process, kids also get to explore HawaiÔiÑfrom Hanalei Pier, to Volcanoes National Park.

S Went Surfing is a whimsical, imaginative alphabet book sure to become a collectorÕs item and a family favorite. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book and fun way to learn about the alphabet!
Got this book for my daughter when she was about 18 months.She loved it right from the start and asked to be read to over and over again.Before we knew it, she'd memorized most of the pages and began reading it to us!She is 25 months now and still loves the book!The alliteration in the book is catchy and memorable for kids of all ages and it really helps them learn the alphabet as well as the phonetic sounds; and you can have them practice these sounds by asking questions about the other items they see on the page.For example, on the page with "g", the illustration shows "geckos" on a "gate" near a "garage" and the "G", who is "green", is wearing "glasses" with "ginger" flowers along the fence. For older kids it can make a fun game to find all the things they see that begin with each letter.We live in Hawaii and although my daughter is too young to really know that these things are all part of Hawaii where she lives...she still finds everything fascinating and I think she'll be even more fascinated when she gets a little older and realizes that she can see "Diamond head" out her own window and eat a rainbow "shave ice" just like "I".Love this book and it would make a great gift for kids of all ages!

Very creative!!
Our son received this for his birthday & immediately loved it!!So far we've given it to 3 friends for gifts, too, because he wanted to share it w/them!!He especially liked the cultural elements throughout the story!Simple & creative!!

I BOUGHT 3!
This book is GREAT, especially for pre-schoolers. I bought 3 for grandchildren and they LOVE it! The colors in the ILLUSTRATIONS are beautiful! It's educational too so that helps them learn wihout realizing it. They can't get enough of it...
read it over and over!

Never gets boring
We picked this up on a trip to Hawaii, and we've been reading it at bedtime for almost a year (my daughter is 2 now). She still loves it. You find new things to look at all the time, and there are "hidden" references to everyday Hawaiian culture, landmarks, and wildlife. Beautiful paintings, simple but nicely written text (I'm picky). Love it!

GREAT BOOK!
My two year old daughter LOVES this book. It is a great learning tool and way to interact with her. I can ask her what each letter does on it's day off and she tells me. She especially loves to say "S Went Surfing!" This book is also beautifully illustrated. You will not be disappointed with this wonderful book. ... Read more

Product Description
If you like surf history, action photography, and cool graphics, this book is for you. 438 vintage postcards recap the last 100 years of surfing around the world. The leading postcard dealer shares her expertise on dating and valuing these wonderful items of ephemera to help launch you on the next great wave of collecting. Images include The Duke, Jan & Dean, and big wave action from Waikiki to the shores of New Jersey! You'll enjoy every page. ... Read more

Product Description
In this eminently readable, evocatively photographed volume, best-selling author Raphael Cushnir provides a simple and holistic path to achieving lasting peace of mind and body. Through a series of short, deceptively approachable essays, Cushnir details the day-to-day practices that comprise the foundation of a stress-free life. Cushnir's signature mix of personal anecdote and approachable metaphor ensures that each of his 18 lessons rings home. In the spirit of Cushnir's popular How Now: 100 Ways to Celebrate the Present Moment, Surfing Your Inner Sea is a guidebook, a resource, and a wellspring of practical inspiration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A well done little book
I am a stress coach. I purchased this book, thinking that if I liked that it that I would buy more and give them to my clients. I found the book to be a very personal (to the author) explanation of his life's journey from low self esteem to high self worth. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a self help book for those with low self esteem issues that they want to attempt to resolve themselves, since it's not as instructional as I would have liked. Not to knock to the author, since he is very bright, well meaning, and an exceptionally good writer. But understand this: As the title states, the chapters are like short stories of the authors personal experiences, which he calls "lessons." The book read like I was listening to a series of lectures at a seminar; and perhaps that's where the book came from, since the author is a seminar leader.

Key to obtaining this inner serenity
Lasting serenity lies not with outside influences but with inner peace, and Surfing Your Inner Sea is key to examining and obtaining this inner serenity, examining serenity lessons to be gained from life experiences from a marriage's demise to a child's card game. These lessons show how anyone can find and achieve lasting serenity and make for a powerful, key acquisition. ... Read more

Product Description
Having moved from the richest suburb in America to a plantation in Florida (which his father dreams of recreating as Tara, the mansion from Gone with the Wind), George Tabb enters late adolescence with a black leather jacket and a penchant for punk rock — quirks that don’t sit well with his conservative Southern classmates. In Surfing Armageddon, Tabb shares his painfully funny recollections of teenage rebellion, family turmoil, and an abusive father with black humor and real humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Lester's Back and More Vicious Than Ever!
If you thought George's dad was an asshole in Playing Right Field, wait till you get a load of him in Surfing Armageddon. Lester is such a flaming prick that you just want to find his grave, dig up his bones and drop a duce directly into his skull. The way George Tabb writes a story makes you feel like you're not just reading a story but like you're really there to love, laugh, and suffer the life and legend of George Tabb. And the icing on the cake..... it's all true. Buy this book. Read this book. Recommend this book to your friends and help preserve the legacy of one man who is an inspired musician, a great rock'n'roll journalist, and an altogether good human being.

The Truth About Tallahassee
I bought this book afterdiscovering (from a google search) thatGeorge Tabb and Ishare many of the same life experiences- we both attended Leon High Schoolin the late 70's,rode the same school bus (the "Nairobi Express" as George's brother called it), and were both "Rocky Horror" devotees @ the same theater on North Monroe st.

Like George, I also first saw the Ramones live when I was 16(in Atlanta)andlater sat transfixed (and alone) through 5 screenings of "Rock and Roll High School" at the Tallahassee Mall and...we bothattended the same Ramones show in Gainesville, FL in 1980.

I even wrecked my parents car at the same intersection as he did!

Surfing Armageddon contains so manyuntruths, distortions, and just plain hogwash that I have to go through them in a list.

1.I assume the sale price of his Fathers house in Greenwich, CT in 1977 was 1.4 million and not14.1 as printed.14.1 million for a single familyhouse in Greenwich is high even by 2008's standardsand would have beenunheard of in 1977.Dunnellen Hall, which is now the most expensive property on the market in Greenwich @125 million (followed by Old Mill Farm @ 39.5), sold in 1976 for 3 million.

2. Tallahassee is within driving distance of, but not part of, the Redneck Riviera as Tabb frequentlyrefers to it.This would be comparable to calling Yonkers "The Hamptons".

3.There were many Jewish students attending Leon High in 1978/79 including members of the football team.There were three synagogues in Tallahassee at that time and the idea that a Jewish kid would have caused such an uproar (or thata group of athleteschanting JEW JEW JEWwould force him to pull his pants down to reveal the oddity of acircumcisedpenis) is preposterous.

And I can personally vouch for the fact that 99% of the boys in the locker room, whether Jewish or not, were circumcised.If anyone stood out it would be the one kid with foreskin!

4. The Killearn section ofTallahassee is a wealthy neighborhoodpopulated by Doctors, Lawyers, Professors andhigh-rankingState Officials.Tabb's account of encounteringbarefoot, redneck children spouting off about niggers, jews, and jesus on the sidewalks of this manicured , country club enclave is highly improbable.

Tallahassee isvery progressive politically and has voted Democratic in everynational election since1992.Tallahassee was also the first U.S. State Capitol to elect a Black Mayor - James Ford in 1972, 76, and 82 - who was followed by Penny Shaw-Herman(a JEWESS!)

5.Mad Dog contractors are a progressive,green oriented (since 1974), company of (basically) hippies who started a businessas an outgrowth of their work with the Miccosukee Land Co-op and are now one of the leading contractors in Leon County. HIPPIES -NOT REDNECKS!

6. Tabb states that11th grade in Tallahassee is like 6th grade any where else in the country.Because of the presence ofthree large universities in town, Tallahassee schools have always been top-rated.In fact, in 2006, Leon High was rated 109thin the U.S. by Newsweek Magazine's highly regarded "1000 BestPublic High Schools in America"withTallahassee's3 other high schools coming in at 115, 153, and 157.

Maybe if he had left Greenwich High (which does not make Newsweek's List) a little earlierhe would have learned thehistory of the Ku Klux Klan and where babies came from beforestartingcollege- (we had already covered those subjects in Middle School).

7.I was atRocky Horror almost every weekend of it's first year's runon N. Monroe st. and never saw anyone who couldbe called the "Sal Piro" of Tallahassee.

8. I attended FSU so I can only say that his college dorm mate's being involved with the klan and keeping a klan robe in his dorm closet (as well as his racist remarks and violent behavior in the dorm) would have sparked a campus-wide protest and would have certainlyresulted in his expulsion had it happened 100 miles away at the other large state university.

I'm just assuming that some of the characters in the book are compositesof people Tabb COULD have met in Florida - but I doubt that this really was a studentat U ofF.

p.s. George - do some homework on the klan -who and what they were in 1980 in central FL.The Southern Law Poverty Center is a great startingplace...

Finally, despite everything I've mentioned, andthe fact thatTabb stoops to the use of a "Magical Negro" to free him from his conflictedfamily life in the last chapter of the book,by the end I had developed an affection for this lonely,searching , virgin and actually enjoyed the book.

There's a word for George Tabb
but I don't think Amazon would allow me to use it in a review.

Surfing Armageddon: A Memoir is a, well, a memoir.It follows young Tabb from Connecticut confines to a re-envisioned Tara in Tallahassee, and ultimately toward salvation at the University of Florida.Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n Roll ensue.Also a job and a car and more than one obsession can be found along the way.

But let me back up a bit.

I've heard most of these stories over the years in some form or other, usually shorter.But it was nice to read them in chronological order, putting some sense to them.Well, maybe not sense but perspective at least...

This book reads more like a novel than his previous effort.I feel that with Surfing Armageddon, George has finally found his voice outside newspaper and magazine essays - and it is as funny and clever as ever.

Whether or not you know, or know of, George, this peek into his life will please most voyeurs.


Personally, I'm looking forward to the third installment, post-virginity to 9/11 and beyond.

GT RULES!!!!!
Like all great writers, you don't have to have read GT's first book "Playing Right Field: A Jew Grows In Greenwich" to "get" his follow up of "Surfing Armageddon: A Memoir". You will, most likely, want to...but it ain't a requirement.

Taking up pretty much where the first book ended, "S.A." is the continued saga of noted punkrock writer/performer George Tabb...a view into the trials and tribulations that helped make him the man he is today. And the title is prophetic as well, as George continues with his personal showdown between good and evil to this very day...but that is a story for another blog.

This a book filled with sex (or the lack thereof), drugs and redemption thru Rock and Roll...those teenaged rites of passage that can either make you or break you.

A rollercoaster of a read, don't be surprised if you find tears of laughter rolling down your face one minute...and those of empathy the next...as GT takes you along for the ride on the inroads of his teen years. You'll meet his siblings...as well as his pals and his adversaries...an abusive father and wicked stepmother...his misaligned mother and stepfather...a brief but unforgetable image of his grandmother Rosie...and includes a roomie whose pater familia is Grand Wizard of the KKK...a cast of characters that you just couldn't make up if you tried.

Be that as it may...it's easy to identify with our young hero, George. Whether you were a geek or a freak...a rich kid or poor...boy OR grrl..."Surfing Armageddon" is a brutely honest mirror reflecting back all the pain and pleasure we hold back inside.

A GREAT read that leaves you wanting more...

The Mother Of All Sequels
Surfing Armageddon is easily George Tabb's best work so far,and if you've read his columns and last book,you know that's saying alot. It's got everything the reader expects from his stories and more. As George gets older, his style of writing somehow makes you feel like you're getting into your late teens along with him. The stories become more similar to your own experiences i.e. too much masturbating, only caring about losing your virginity, almost dying after smoking a joint laced with enough chemicals to give you the strangest hallucination imaginable, falling in love with the easter bunny at the mall, having a wanna be slave master father who you catch practing cracking the whip in a full white southern suit in the middle of the night, and so on. The book slowly becomes more dramatic towards the end that provides the most shocking and satisfying conclusion that one could ask for. ... Read more

Product Description
A DRM free eBook.

Simple Rules of Surfing That You Should Definitely Follow
Take Surfing to the Next Level: Where to Go To Experience the Best Surfing
Adelaide: The Surfer's Paradise
Cabo San Lucas: The Ultimate Surfing Destination That You Should Visit
Currituck County, North Carolina: Experience Surfing the Pipeline of the Outer Banks
Experience the Thrill of Surfing in the Maldives
Extreme Waves of the World for the Extreme Surfing Enthusiast
Four Great Surfing Destinations That You Never Knew Existed
Great Surfing in Nicaragua: A Surfing Experience That You Won't Soon Forget
Nosara, Costa Rica: Great Surfing That You Should Definitely Experience
San Francisco Surfing: Experience Riding the Waves of San Francisco
Santa Cruz: Popular Surf Spots in This Surfing Paradise
Surfing Etiquette: Learning What's Cool and What's Not Cool
Surfing: Exercises To Keep You in Shape for Riding Those Waves
Surfing Guide: The Best Surf Destinations to Practice Your Skills
Surfing Safety Tips: Being Safe Is Better Than Being Sorry
Surfing Vacation Tips: How to Score Waves on Your Surfing Trip
Texas: Providing You with a Fantastic Surfing Experience
The Basics of Surfing: What Is the Right Surf Board for Beginner Surfers?
The Places to Visit to Experience Some of the Best Surfing in the World
Top Surfing Destination: Experience the Waves of El Salvador
Top Surfing Destinations: Do You Have What It Takes To Surf The Banzai Pipeline?
Top Surfing Destinations: The Best Places to Test Your Surfing Skills
Surfing 101: How to Buy Used Surfboards

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Timeless, Ancient, Modern and Relevant
While this book is not exactly about the ins-and-outs of "surfing" per se, it is a intelligent and relevant view of ancient, ageless, eastern spiritual teachings brought to life when applied to our modern, western rat race that we call life.The author uses very ancient eastern spiritual teachings in a pragmatic, down to earth and humorous way to teach young American's,(western minds), how we might apply the best of the east to our busy western lifestyle.It combines the best of both worlds to lead the reader on a wild ride of humor,joy, truth and love.If you follow the recommendations outlined in the book, you will no doubt learn how to surf or do just about anything else you put your mind to.Highly recommend!

Nice Audio Rendition
I do much traveling in my car and have taken up listening to books on tape.I have began to notice that my favorite audio books were the ones where the author read the passages.They know the work so well that it really carries across in the presentation.

Surfing the Himalayas audio tape is no exception.Dr. Lenz has excellent inflection and was a pleasure to listen to.I would recommend this for the commuters out there who are interested in "Eastern" topics.

This book is awful.Really awful.
Reading Frederick Lenz talk about snowboarding and mountaineering is like listening to the Pope deliver a seminar on effective birth control methods - neither has any relevant expertise or knowledge about the respective topics. Save your money, or if must read the book, mail me and I'll send you my copy.It sucked

Very enjoyable.
The book-on-tape is edited (unfortunately) but great to listen to in the car

YaHoo---What An Adventure!!!!!
I NEVER read a book cover to cover, but I read this book OVER and OVER and OVER. It was such a great spiritual adventure. And the best thing was it didn't make spiritualism boring, you don't even know what you're getting until you're already into the book and then you just can't put it down. Dr. Lenz has a such a clear perspective of what "us" the people out in the world need. I hope everyone, especially young people, read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. And remember...it makes a great a GREAT gift!!.. ... Read more

Product Description
From one of America's most acclaimed writers, a startling and visionary novel about a race of demons who inhabit humans and wreak havoc on the lives of two small-town boys.

In a small town in upstate New York, best friends Q. and Jasper live typical high school lives filled with parties and girls. When Q. starts acting recklessly, defacing lockers and misusing Bunsen burners, Jasper thinks his buddy is just letting off steam. But when his actions put both of their lives in danger, it's clear that Q. is possessed by something far more sinister than mere teenage high spirits.

Meanwhile, halfway around the world in Khartoum, Ileana Magdalen is tracking an elusive man who has left a trail of blood and bodies behind him, bringing strife, war, and genocide wherever he goes. It is Ileana's mission to stop him, for she is a member of an elite group of hunters initiated into a mystery that plagues humanity and drives men and women to commit unspeakable crimes.

When Ileana, Q., and Jasper are brought together, the loyalties of friendship are tested in unimaginable ways, and the living, the dead, and those who are beyond death become entangled in a violent battle as old as mankind itself.

In Body Surfing, celebrated author Dale Peck presents a beautifully written page-turner of a literary thriller. It is a mesmerizing tale in which a complete parallel universe is filled with shockingly dark corners where the secrets of human nature wait to be discovered. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Why is the Kindle edition more expensive than the paperback?
Amazon and publishers are going to blow this distribution out of the water if they don't get pricing agreements resolved. They need to look at the demographics that illegally download and ascertain whether a DRM situation is really going to inhibit diehard piracy - and passing the cost of that on to legitimate consumers will be another notch in the belt for the death of the traditional publishing industry. I'm disappointed that Amazon isn't managing this more effectively and now wonder if buying a Kindle was a mistake.

Awsome
Great book for fantasy lovers who want a more mature fantasy to get away from the common TEEN Fantasy.

A Supernatural Thriller
Peck, Dale. "Body Surfing: A Novel", Atria, 2009.

A Supernatural Thriller

Amos Lassen

Set in upstate New York, Dale Peck's new novel, "Body Surfing", is a supernatural thriller about a race of extremely sexual demons known as Morgan. They looked for human victims and took temporary possession of them. While the victims are possessed they gain powers by which they can recover from injury. Jasper Van Arsdale discovers this when his best friend, Q., is taken by Leo, a perverse Mogran and drives them and their girlfriends into the side of a mountain. This fast-moving novel is full of twists and surprises. The Mogran have grown out of the collective unconscious and their story is sexy and unsettling. What is so interesting is that we are taken to a new world which greatly resembles the world we live in. As the Mogran inhabit the bodies of humans wreak havoc on Jasper and Q, two typical high school boys who live for parties and girlfriends. Q. suddenly begins to act recklessly and Jasper is concerned. When both of their lives were put in danger, it seems sure that Q. is possessed by something very sinister,
At the same time in Khartoum, Ileana tracks a man who leaves behind a trail of blood and bodies and in turn there is a great deal of strife. She is supposed to stop him; she is belongs to an elite group of hunters trying to decipher a mystery that drives people to commit terrible crimes. When Ileana and Jasper come together their friendship is tested and become involved in a violent battle.
Peck's novel teems with the occult but with a new twist and there are new looks at metamorphosis. This is nothing like anything you might have read by Peck as this novel looks at pop culture vampirism. The focus of the novel is on a race of evil beings (the Mogran) that can slip into the bodies of people and take over their minds so that they cause violence to those around them while they take on the appearance of the host body but replace the mind with their own. Genre-wise the novel falls into two categories--horror and thriller. We visit malevolent places where evil exists and violence brings on more violence. It is well written even if not totally believable.

Long time Peck fan
Let me begin by confessing that "The Law of Enclosures" is my favorite book of all time.It, too, involved some wonderful "cutting edge" experimentation.I've seen some reviews for this book that seem so "closed-minded."

Expand, imagine and enjoy the otherworldly landscape Peck creates in "Body Surfing."

I loved this book and I particularly enjoyed the fact that it's OUT THERE.Quite honestly this novel has the potential to be a wonderful series because Peck has so expertly created another world with new rules.EXCELLENT READ.

A huge disappointment..
A notable departure for Dale Peck this unusual novel skirts around the edges of pop-culture vampirism and in the process offers up some perplexing issues, most notably why such an acclaimed author of literary fiction would write something that seems so sophomoric. From the monstrous to the blood curdling and then onto the brutally erotic, this novel centers on a race of evil beings called the Mogran who surreptitiously slip into people's bodies, taking over their minds and exacting violence on those around them while also assuming the role of the host and replacing the native mind with its own.

Traveling for Upstate New York to Darfur and then accelerating through the Balkans crisis of 1992, the novel starts with Ileana who is part of a secret society called The Legion. Currently in Darfur, Ileana is on the hunt, looking for this "epidemic of lust" where the beast of the Mogran is haunting the streets. One Mogran, Alec has been leaving traces of himself everywhere, sometimes going through fifty bodies in three months. Although the Mogran are as "old as the river, and beyond your comprehension," Ileana remains haunted by the horrors of a single night in 1992, in the Balkans that becomes a waking nightmare when the tattered web of memories her own demons had once left in her mind.

Meanwhile, Leo the oldest and most powerful of all the Mogran, is intent on locating their last kind and teaching them how to breed. Commanding a reservoir of knowledge that rivaled a great university's library, Leo is using his fledging student Jasper Van Ardsdale. When Jasper dies a virgin in a car accident with the car driven by Qusay (Q), Jasper discovers that he has all of eternity to contemplate his mistake, finds himself inhabiting the body of his friend Jarhead, with his sagging jeans, and his dopey benevolent and needy smile. While Qusay services the accident unscathed, full of memories and unexplained knowledge, Jasper is set upon a path of bodily possessions and carnal appetites. Eventually all of these characters come together as they ache for the next plane of existence, the darker urges, the baser ones: for sex, violence, dominance.

At this point, the novel descends into an horror cum action thriller as the Legion try to uncover the damage of years of deception, and destroy the Mogran who seem to be racing against time to replicate themselves. Ileana and Jasper seem to be the agents of change, but in the process, the narrative is just too confusing. Peck's historical allusions are interesting, but his prose style feels cheap and the novel feels strung together. While the underlying themes of sex and demons inhabiting our subconscious mind are sometimes compelling, and we are certainly immersed into those malevolent places where evil lurks, Body Surfing is mostly sensational and exploitative, where violence begets violence, and reflecting a unique literary talent that is somewhat wasted. Mike Leonard March 09. ... Read more

Product Description
Imagine surfing a perfect blue wave off a deserted beach of sparkling white sand. This book takes us back to a time when the earliest surfers were busy inventing the first American beach culture. The beautiful and nostalgic photographs that surfer Don James took of himself and his friends from 1936-46 capture the lost Eden of the California surf dream in all its glory and innocence. Over 100 sepia photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

You should have been here yesterday...
Great pictures of a long-lost time. This book is filled with images of a coastline never seen by most surfers. Lobsters as big as your leg were routinely plucked from the ocean to feed these beach bums and their girls. Deserted breaks were the norm and life was good for those who knew. Post war sprawl and Hollywood movies would soon put an end to this idyllic time, but thanks to some intrepid photographers, this vision of heaven may still be enjoyed.

Simpy beautiful
I ordered this quite a long time, and don't understand what took me so long in reviewing it.

As others have said, this book is amazing.The photographs are simply timeless and beautiful.I can't quite describe the vibe that it captures or conveys, but I found myself somewhat saddened by the book.The pictures kind of struck a whole "Dead Poet's Socitey," "Carpe Diem" mood with me.At the same time, they conveyed the beauty of a time in California (or for that matter, the U.S.) that is forever lost and will never be recaptured.A time of innocence and naivete, before everything became so tainted, jaded, and overcrowded.

I don't know, maybe that's just a crock.At any rate, as a surfer of 20 years, this book really touched me.I think it will touch any fellow surfer, or for that matter, ocean lover.

Definitely pick this one up before it goes out of print (as these things so swiftly seem to do).

absolute magic!
The faces and images have me so stoked!I have new found repect for the pre-war surfers, they paved the way, building on Duke's foundation.It also gives such a good historical perspective on the pre-war So. Cal. surfscene. It's bittersweet to see that so many of these lives and times wereto be selflessly lost in the impending war.It also shows what a utopicplace it must have been before the yuppies & developers destroyed somany fabulous spots.Something that magic can never last, it seems.A mustfor any surfer or red blooded Californian.A delight!

absolute magic!
The faces and images have me so stoked!I have new found repect for the pre-war surfers, they paved the way, building on Duke's foundation.It also gives such a good historical perspective on the pre-war So. Cal. surfscene. It's bittersweet to see that so many of these lives and times wereto be selflessly lost in the impending war.It also shows what a utopicplace it must have been before the yuppies & developers destroyed somany fabulous spots.Something that magic can never last, it seems.A mustfor any surfer or red blooded Californian.A delight!

Achingly evocative - a beautiful memoir
I've had this book for a while, and I'm ordering more for Christmas gifts.

I recently got the wonderful "Riding the Rails," about teens during the depression who hopped freights to go Huck Finning.Myfather did this and wound up hanging out at "The Big Rock," whichwasn't in San Onofre, but in Malibu.But conditions were similar:then,you really could camp out on the beach.

Like an idiot, I let my Dad passon before asking him the details of those years.Now, the best I can doare secondary sources.But these help me reconstruct a picture of thatworld of his that ended with World War II.

Around the world, there is astereotype of Southern California, which is immediately dashed uponvisiting Hollywood Boulevard.However, the stereotype isn't so much lie asanachronism.

There really was a world that matched the currentanachronism that is still the image of Southern California.Get this book,and you'll understand what I mean. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An ancient review of body surfings past
The Art of Body surfing is a must for the purist of the sport.The book represents times past of the simple pleasures and times of living and working near the beach.Some of body surfings greatest pioneers are mentioned within these pages including author Robert Gardner and the great,great Fred Simpson.The photographs tell the real story, and trulyrepresent body surfings roots as we know it today. ... Read more

Product Description
Surfing has emerged from ancient roots to become a twenty-first century phenomenon - an "alternative" sport, lifestyle and art form now with a global profile and ever-increasing numbers of participants. Drawing on popular surf culture, academic literature and the analytical tools of social theory, this book is the first sustained commentary on the contemporary social and cultural meaning of surfing.

Core themes of mind and body, emotions and identity, aesthetics, style and sensory experience are explored through a variety of topics, including:

* evolving perceptions of the sea and the beach
* the narrative of surfing history, media and photography
* the globalization of surfing
* surfing as a subculture and lifestyle
* the embodiment and gendering of surfing
* the lived experience of surfing

Surfing and Social Theory provides students and researchers in sport, sociology, culture and geography with a new perspective, and a new research agenda. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excelent academic textbook and source of relevant reference
Excelent academic textbook and source of relevant reference for deepening of research on such a unique theme of study. ... Read more

Product Description

Surfers profiles a select group of individuals who are at the forefront of surfing today. Not just in talent and success, but in terms of artistic and personal inspiration and expression. Surfers include Kelly Slater, Luke Egan, Taj Burrow, Koby Abberton, world champions Layne Beachley, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew and Mark Occhilupo, as well as other international characters and superstars. It's an in-depth, personal, and at times funny, look at the lifestyle of an intriguing, often misunderstood race, from an author who has traveled the world with them.

Matt Griggs is a former championship surfing tour competitor who has surfed with some of the greatest names in the sport. He is now a journalist for the influential surfing magazine Tracks.

Product Description
A young girl learning to surf dreams that she is part of the great span of surfing history that includes ancient kings and queens of Hawai'i and more modern surfing greats like Duke Kahanamoku and Rell Sunn.In a palette that reflects the rich colors of Hawai'i's skies and sea, Carla Golembe paints and tells a story whose rhythm and rhyme capture the feel of riding a board on Waikiki's fabled waves.The accompanying read-along CD further adds the sounds of Hawai'i.Carla Golembe is the author of numerous books for children, including The Story of Hula, which in 2004 won the Benjamin Franklin Award, presented by the Pubishers Marketing Association. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Our new favorite book
My kids and I have been fans of Carla Golembe's books for several years and this is our new favorite.The illustrations are colorful and gorgeous and the writing is fluid and lovely.Golembe uses whimiscal poetry to combine fiction, surfing history, Hawaiian culture, dreaming and time travel and it works!The illustrative borders add richness to the page design. The read along CD is good for young readers and has great music and ocean sounds.This book is a must for kids, surfers and watermen and waterwomen of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive guide to surfing from the world's leading extreme sports publishers, Wavefinder. Never before has such an esteemed assembly of the world's greatest surfers come together to provide the deepest insights and secrets of surfing for surfers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

best book for advanced surfers
This book is excellent for advanced surfers.Not for those who are still learning how to duck dive.Only half the book is applicable to me and I have been surfing for 8 years.ha ha!I love how the author describes exactly how a person bottom turns, or what a pro surfer thinks are the keys to competing in contests.The author has interviewed lots of surfing professionals and asked them exactly how they do maneuvers.Very cool.Great book.Five stars.

Surfing the manual - an awesome guide even for all surfers
I bought this because I was looking for video sequencing training videos and then found this book as a recommended item. The book is great reading and does an excellent job of putting the how to of surfing into writing. Great pictures and excellent explanations throughout. This is a must have for any surfing library. Well worth reading over and over again.

Great book
I read through the whole book a few times. I went out to surf and it made things a lot easier because it gave me a concept of what I need to do. When I had trouble with something like dropping in backside, I would look in the book to see what I am doing wrong. It explains a lot of stuff from tides, swells, breaks, techniques, etc. Great buy. No cons to this book. I only got good things out of it.

enjoyable read
Usefull tips without boring.Surfing is not something I really spend much time reading about.Much more fun to do.Worth reading.

Next level
This is a must have for any surfer who wants to improve their technique, and elevate their performance--as well as improve their understanding of the ocean from a surfer's perspective. My only criticism is that it includes beginner advice, which may have been smart in terms of marketing, but it gets in the way of it being a special addition to a solid surfer's library. ... Read more

Product Description
The libertine: The wild, brief life of a surfing legend and international playboy

The tale of Bunker Spreckels (1949-1977) reads like a pitch for a movie to rival Boogie Nights: The stepson of Clark Gable is a privileged Los Angeles party boy who is heir to a multimillion dollar fortune; passionate about surfing, martial arts, guns, and women, he lives the life of a debauched international jet-setter before succumbing to his excesses at the tender age of 27.

Born Adolph B. Spreckels III, heir to the Spreckels sugar fortune, Bunker became a famous surfer as a teenager, but after his inheritance came along, he began to slip into a life of pomp and excess where surfing took a back seat to drugs, sex, and wild road trips. So remarkable was his lifestyle that he created an alter-ego who invited photographers and documentarians to trail him, piecing together a tell-all epic of his own rise to fame and fortune. Before the project, known as "The Player", could be completed, Spreckels suddenly died. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

WHERE'S MY BOOK AMAZON??
Beware of this book.It's probably good material.However, I ordered it from Amazon over a month ago and still don't have the merchandise.Make sure Amazon has the book in stock before you order it from them...or look for a another vender...maybe EBAY.

divine prince of wreckadence!!!!
highly recommended in depth look at one of the 1970's most outrageous,larger than life,innovator & hedonist personalities that is sadly missing in todayscouch potato,console playing,tv watching,'staying in,is the new going out'superfluous wasters.expand your mind....read a book!!!!

Bunker Spreckles Devine Prince of Decadance
I was very interested in the person Bunker Spreckles.Here was a person who, before he had any money, dropped everything and lived on the North Shore, to just surf.He was said to surf as well an any touring pro, but did so only for passon.He rode and made his own boards and had his own style. To me, he represented what surfing should be, to a committed person, and not what it is, and has become.I was thrilled to see a book about him coming, but when I got it and read it, I was very disappointed. I would like to have seen it focus more on his surfing in California and in Hawaii in 69, and also, his lifestyle while in Kuai, and more pictures from the South Africa trip.All it was was a recap of the Surfer's journal article from 93, with a few more photos from when he was spinning out from all the money.

Beautiful and very interesting
I'm a big fan of Bunk's stepfather Clark Gable, so I was thrilled to see something about Bunk in print.It added another dimension to a more personal side of Gable.But my husband was a surfer, and he was thrilled with the photography and history regarding this sport.From a social history standpoint it is also quite interesting - the 60s and what money can do to people, etc.All around valuable book - kind of a "coffee table" book, actually.I liked it!

Big waves, beautiful girls, drugs and money.
Big waves, beautiful girls, drugs and money. A fascinating glimpse into the insane life of Bunker Spreckels. At 21, he inherits fifty-million dollars, so like any other reasonable person, he arrives at the bank with an armored car and takes it in cash. This is just one episode in the short life of Bunker Spreckels. Art Brewer's photos perfectly capture the essence of Bunker's wild ride. I would be surprised if Hollywood isn't already in production. ... Read more

Product Description
In this memorable account of 17 trips he made to Hawaii's North Shore starting in 1974, Bruce Jenkins — considered the Kerouac of surf writing — profiles the area's elite, the superstars who live to conquer Hawaii's deadliest waves. Here are the egoists, stylists, gladiators, and purists of the sport, from big-wave greats Darrick Doerner and Mark Foo to bodysurfer Mark Cunningham and bodyboarder Mike Stewart. Features 77 color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A timeless surfing collection
Bruce Jenkins does a phenomenal job bringing the reader to Hawaii's North Shore. His comfort level with the surfing community on the North Shore allows us entree into a world very few of us will experience and his does this with an eloqunce and immediacy that makes for compelling reading. This book belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in surfing in particular and anyone generally interested in well-told sports stories.

The pictures give extra depth and provide credibility to the stories. Easily among the best written books about big wave surfing.

The Best of Its Kind
With all due respect to hard-working surf journalists everywhere, author Bruce Jenkins contributes an overdue dose of world-class penmanship to one of the world's most profound human challenges-- Big Wave Surfing. As a professional sportswriter, Jenkins has covered events such as the StanleyCup, PGA, Superbowl, and World Series. But his true love of surfing shinesforth here. He captures the attitudes, lifestyles, and mystique of theworld's legendary watermen, in their rightful environment: the North Shoreof Oahu. I grew up surfing on Oahu, and I can attest that, for a saneperson, North Shore surfing is first and foremost about conqueringhorrendous personal fear.Although beautiful, the waves there are huge,thick, fast, churning, and unforgiving. One must endure deathly wipeoutsand end-of-the-world-type situations, and cultivate Herculean stamina tosurvive the hellish ocean conditions. Each surfer chronicled here hassomehow overcome these odds to make it to the elite inner circle. Theyrepresent vastly different personalities, backgrounds, physical builds, butall possess one thing in common:Big Brass Ones, and the respect of theentire surf community. I especially enjoyed the interview with big-waverider Tom Nellis and his opinions of the scene. Nellis is entertaining andforthright as he pays respectful homage to his legendary surf peers MichaelHo, Clyde Aikau, and Gerry Lopez.All in all, Jenkins does a marvelous jobcapturing the "Wild West" feel of the North Shore lifestyle. He'sright: talk and posturing matter very little there-- in the end, it isultimately about who has "sack" and who doesn't. The North Shoreis truly a macho frontier, and in this book you'll understand why. You'llenjoy all the profiles-- Jenkins' selection of featured surfers is verywell-balanced, deep, and lasting.Even if you've never surfed, get thisbook.You will be intrigued.And if you suspect that these wonderfultales seem somehow exaggerated or too mythic, try paddling out to aroutine, Hawaiian-sized 10-foot (i.e., two-story-high) day at Sunset Beach.If by chance you live through it, thank the Lord and remember that theseguys handle waves and ocean conditions SEVERAL TIMES that heavy.Hats offto Bruce Jenkins-- and I hope he writes another one!

a must read
great stories and great pictures! it gives a wonderful insight ito the most fearless men's lives, a must read!

a great way to learn about a few true hawaiian watermen
north shore chronicals is a mind boggling book that will make you take a secound look at surfing in hawaii.With all the stories being true you will have a deep understanding for how the true hawaiian watermen live there lives.

An in-depth exploration of the North Shore's heart
Bruce Jenkins explores the heart and soul of the North Shore;The monster waves that ravage it and the amazing men that ride the beasts. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by Spike (Steve Pike), founder of the cult surfing website Wavescape.co.za, it comprises chapters on history, big waves, spots, culture, travel, oceanography, sharks (including a timeline of shark attacks) and a hilarious 'Surfrican' slang glossary. The book is illustrated by more than 180 graphics, cartoons and photographs. You will find quirky descriptions of surf spots along almost 3,000 km of coast (watch out for the razor-toothed tortoise), a photo essay of surfing personalities by acclaimed photographer Harry de Zitter, as well as colorful journalism from top writers covering subjects connected to the surfing lifestyle. The full-color book, which is 110 pages bigger than the previous book, is an indispensable resource. Images come from top South African photographers, such as Barry Tuck, Tom Peschak, Michael Dei-Cont, Andy Mason, Lance Slabbert, Brenton Geach, and Pierre Marqua. The contributors of words added spice to an eclectic mix of culture and science. An original piece by Paul Botha forms the backbone to a much-expanded history chapter. Tom Peschak adds gravitas to issues around sharks and conservation. The brave life of John Whitmore is poignantly remembered by Tony Heard. Ross Frylinck gives gritty insights into the forlorn splendor of the Diamond Coast. Tongue in cheek, Gideon Malherbe uncovers our surfing addiction. Henri du Plessis provides a profile of a committed exponent of that addiction. Tony Weaver eloquently tackles the challenge of sharing the sea with sharks. Ben Trovato romps through issues around surfing evolution and lifeguards in skimpy Speedos. ... Read more

Product Description
Get in a Surfer State of Mind

Whether you live near the ocean or can only dream about being out in the water, you can achieve those sun-kissed locks and cheeks, that stellar physique, and the no-holds-barred spirit of the quintessential surfer girl. Get in the swim with this one-of-a-kind guide to all things surfer, which will answer your questions, including:

•How can you find a surf break that’s right for you?

•Why wear a leash and what does it mean to be goofy footed?

•How early in the morning do you really need to get out there?

•Can you surf without wrecking a fresh pedicure?

•What should you say to a hottie pulling a hang ten?

•How do you find a cute bikini that won’t fall off when you get worked in the water?

Surf Like a Girl covers all the basics: how to ride the waves, what to wear, safety and etiquette, and loads of advice for the landlocked surfer girl. It’s a perfect resource, whether you’re about to paddle out and catch a wave or you just want to look like you pulled a wicked cutback. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

every girl must read this!
I love the whole idea of surfing and have tried a few times, but the waves were too treacherous for me as a beginner so I stuck to bodyboarding but never stopped dreaming about surfing.I've since moved closer to a beach mentioned in the book described to be a great place for beginners, so I'm looking forward to a day off work to finally go.The book has inspired me to just go out and do it.This was just an awesome read that I just couldn't put down.It was fun and informative.I totally recommend this book to every female.It's an empowering book for the girls and even if you don't live near a beach, it still shows you how to have the surfer attitude!I didn't say you have to like surfing to read this--as long as you're a female, read it!You'll most likely wanna go out and surf in the end anyway!

Surf Like a Girl
I bought this book for a female friend of mine who's a flight attendant, she flys to Honolulu often, and wants to take up surfing.I read a favorable review in Making Waves, a monthly publication by the Surfrider Foundation.I would have to agree, especially the sections on surf etiquette, right-of-way rules, stoke, and spreading the Aloha spirit.Items you probably learn in an hour lesson.

Surf Like A Girl
This book is pure inspiration and fun (for teens or a 30 year old chick like me)!I have tried surfing a few times and managed to get up and fall down a lot: this book made me want to get back out there and give it everything I've got: uh hem...while having fun!Surf Like A Girl inspires confidence as well as inspiration.It tells you what to wear, the best things to eat, how to protect yourself.It's everything you want to know about surfing but don't want to bore all your surf friends by asking!It's also written in such a fun, friendly tone - absorbsingyou in the tradition of great beach reads.Plan to turn off the phone and put the do not disturb sign up once you crack it.

This is a book that just makes you want to be the best girl/woman you can be.For me, it was a reminder of all the things I love to do - and the fun of tackling a new challenge...or in this case - a new wave!

A Great Gift For Any New Or Future Surfergirl In Your Life..
This was a great gift for my 12-yr old Niece!She's always liked the idea of surfing, but always seemed too hesitant/intimidated to dive into it (especially at her age, when confidence is always an issue).

This book really made surfing approachable in a fun and practical way - in addition to covering the nuts and bolts of hitting the waves, it manages to cover all the essential etiquette, safety, and social questions that any surfergirl would encounter - all in a tone that seems to inform in a fun way without feeling like an adult is lecturing the reader - it talked to - not down to my Niece, which definitely made a HUGEdifference with her.

A Great Guide to Surfing
I've only gone surfing a couple of times, but Surf Like a Girl got me totally exctied to get out there more! It's really a fun read with lots of great tips and infor for every level of surfer girl. ... Read more

Product Description
Join surf writer Quinn Haber in his unabashed pursuit of love and the perfect breaker at the far edge of the Pacific Rim. Surfing, romance, and culture shock combine in this riveting travelogue of life among the Philippine autochthons. Three quixotic journals of cultural faux pas, romantic interludes and sporting mishaps are united in one great odyssey of discovery, The Volcano Trilogy. (*This is the complete, illustrated paperback version). ... Read more