5 comments about All for a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora.

1. great biography... miki is a fascinating individual... I'd seen him rant in the movie "Surfers" a long time ago and read about him but never had any insight into who he really was until now... he's like the diamonds he coveted and sought to find on one of his many traveling adventures, troublesome and difficult but endlessly intriguing and charismatic... Rensin covers all the facets of this one person at odds with society and its rules, who at the bottom of it all just wants to be free... a thematic and compelling read.



2. This is a well-researched book about a semi-famous con artist and grifter. The man who invented localism, one of surfing's ugliest manifestations, is presented as some kind of exalted being for his appearance of never having "sold out", while cheating, lying, stealing, forging passports, and promoting himself to his advantage at every opportunity. This story would have been far more interesting had the author provided some insight into Miki Dora the SURFER, which I presume is his primary motivation and after all, is what he was originally known for-surfing at Malibu "in the day". Without a good feel for the man as a surfer, and discussion of his style, wave preference or performance in the water, and other aspects of him as a surfer, we get a picture of a person behaving selfishly and irresponsibly, period. Why make a 450-page biography about a surfer without discussing that aspect of his life? I could have done without all of the apologists trying to make him out as some kind of wise sage because he was so misunderstood. Oh, poor Miki, who pretended to be broke while making his friends put him up and take care of his every need, then died with $400,000.00 in the bank. Poor fella. Face it, he was a sham who promoted himself into a myth that just didn't exist. Was he a good surfer? Worthy of the reputation? I don't know. I'll have to wait for another book to get that part of his life, I guess.



3. I'm not a surfer and feel that being so would make this one a bit more interesting. Some jargon and stories that would be better if you could relate.



4. Growing up in San Diego in the 60s and having read biographies of Greg Noll and Mike Doyle already, I idolized the surf scene and have followed it from my landlocked location. Dora is the ultimate enigma. Wants the attention when he wants it but wants to be elusive also. But what he really wanted more than anything, was the post WWII check out of society and never have to work, the ultimate Surf Bum but with taste. And really, he accomplished this. BUT, sometimes the methods to achieve this didn't square with the law so Dora was granted the opportunity to spend time in prison after an international search involving all major police bodies.
   
   As he approaches his unfortunate death Dora seems to come to grips with who he is, the powers he possesses and the desire to set things right. And then after death, the ultimate surprise that is pure Dora. If you want to know about the surf culture at the beginning, USA in the late 50s early 60s, or a fascinating tale of a bizarre intersting person, read this book. Not a typical life, but a life well lived.



5. I can hardly begin to tell you how very much I enjoyed this book about Miki. It is so well written and so rich in it's descriptions. I felt like I was there with him from Malibu to Africa and France. Knowing Miki in the 50's and 60's, all of my encounters with him were favorable. He loaned me surfboards, treated me and my daughter with courtesy and always had something interesting or funny to say. I wept reading the part about his beloved "Scooter Boy" and his own involvement with his death. What a tremendous tragedy for anyone to go through and especially Miki as that dog was the closest and most loved being in his life. You are a fantastic writer David. Miki was an incredible person and for you to capture him in the manner that you have is brilliant. His Dad must have high regard for your book. I would be proud that I had a son that was so unique and marched to a different drummer than anyone else. He had a pure, pure love for the sea and nature in spite of his many short-comings. In a very strange way he knew a lot about some of what is important in life.
   
   Toni Donovan Colvin

5 comments about Sports Illustrated: Brett Favre: The Tribute (Sports Illustrated).

1. I bought this item as a present for my husband in May so I thought I would buy another for a nephew. The second one (this order) came in slightly damaged on the corner because it wasn't packed properly. It was billed as a brand new book so I think it should have been perfect. Maybe it was dropped by the delivery person.



2. I purchased this book for my son-in-law as he is a Green Bay fan. He loved it! Lots of colorful pictures, history and stats. The delivery was prompt and the whole ordering process was smooth.Sports Illustrated: Brett Favre: The Tribute (Sports Illustrated)



3. This book is a gorgeous hardcover tribute to Brett Favre. Looks like a coffee table book that would be a great gift to fans of his, and most football fans, in general. Compilation of Sports Illustrated articles about Favre, with beautiful photos throughout. Great book to get your sons to read if you have trouble engaging them in reading. Very nice tribute to a sports figure who is a good example of hard work, dedication, balance, teamwork, and sportsmanship.



4. Purchased books as gifts...beautiful book but didn't read it...I'm sure my friends will love it!



5. Anybody who thought Brett Favre was a great player will love this book. Not only was he a great player but a great human being as well. He overcame hurdles in his was but also allowed fans to share his triumphs as well as his heartaches as well.

5 comments about Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life.

1. What an inspiration Coach Tony Dungy is and this book was one I could not put down.



2. As a Steeler fan who is old enough to remember Dungy as a part of the Steel Curtain defense (but not as large as I remembered!), as a Christian husband and father, and as a Patriots hater who cheers for any team against New England, I had three reasons to look forward to this book, and it was even better than I expected.
   
   Dungy's writing, with assistance by a co-author, reads as mild and humble as his (lets face it) nerdy appearance. Despite, or because of, this to-the-core character, Dungy has succeeded at the cutthroat business of professional football at the highest level. Remember, neither of the teams he has coached had any history of winning before his tenure, and he essentially won a Super Bowl with each team (Chucky Gruden won with Tony's players after Dungy was fired, and you can see what kind of success Chucky has had since!).
   
   One of the amazing aspects of Dungy's book is how wide spread his deep-rooted Christianity was amongst the "nasty" 70s Steelers--Dungy, Dirt Winston, Mel Blount, and Donnie Shell not alone made for one of the hardest-hitting defensive backfields in NFL history, but apparently one of its most mature and consistent Bible studies as well. It is encouraging to read about NFL players and coaches who focus on family and faith, not contracts and crime sprees.
   
   Dungy never sounds boastful or arrogant about his faith, usually demonstrating his life lessons from his own mistakes. My tears spotted the pages of the chapter when Dungy talked about his son's suicide and the rest of the way it was hard for me, and for Dungy as well, to focus on football. As he says in a later chapter, never confuse your goals (winning a Super Bowl) with your purpose (glorifying God).
   
   I needed reminding. Thanks, Tony!



3. This book is fantastic - I couldn't put it down! I have been a big fan of Tony since he was the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because of his presence on the football field. This book is an honest and inspiring account of Tony's life and the trials and successes he has encountered. Thank you Tony for a great read.



4. The autobiography, "Quiet Strength," of Tony Dungy is appropriately subtitled "The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life." Dungy recounts his life from its beginnings to the present as the Coach of the world champion Indianapolis Colts. A man of proactive faith, Dungy has been able to climb many mountains, from being one of the first black quarterbacks in NCAA college football to one of the first black head coaches in the National Football League.
   
   "Quiet Strength" details key formative relationships, those that helped him to become what he is today. They include his mother, The Most Athletic Dungy, who supported in him in a number of sports; his father who taught him what was most important - not the accolades and memories of success, but the way you respond when opportunities are denied; his high school assistant principal, Mr. Rockquemore, who took a great interest in him and Dungy claims things would have been different if he had not; and his first pro coach, Chuck Noll, who taught him how to win in the NFL and how to maintain family-career balance.
   
   Dungy always viewed his work in football as a means to do something more as a servant of God. When he was fired as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the firing itself was not the cause of shock, but rather, the thought that God was allowing this great experiment of using him as a head coach in the NFL to end. He wondered, what's next? How will God use him, whether in the NFL or not.
   
   I am grateful that Dungy went on from Tampa to win the Super Bowl as coach of Indianapolis. More than becoming the first African-American to win a Super Bowl, this extraordinary achievement provided an excellent platform from which to tell this great story.
   
   Dungy's story is inspirational, challenging, and encouraging - reminding us about what really is important in a world driven by the love of material success. He shows that one can live their Christian faith in the workplace and succeed - even in the demanding fish bowl atmosphere of the NFL. He is a living testimony of one man's faith in God.
   
   "Do you your best and let God do the rest."



5. Loved the book, many lessons to be learned, a little too much football at times but if you can look by that it is a quick and enjoyable read

4 comments about Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest.

1. This is an excellent book- very well written and hard to put down. I have read many books on climbing and Everest, and this is one of, if not the best. His survival is incredible, and it's nice to read how histhoughts and love of his family kept him going (and played into whether he would attempt the climb at all) at a time when so many people only think of themselves. I highly recommend this book.



2. This is much more than just a story of a climb to Mt. Everest (which is a inspiring story on it's own!). This is a story about the strength of the human spirit. There is no scientific explanation for his survival. It is obvious the strength of his mind/spirit is what brought him down from that mountain. The story was written well and enjoyable to read. Although I enjoy the outdoors, I am not a mountain climber, and I found this book so inspiring!



3. I got this book a year ago thru a friend from Australia when it first came out over there. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. For those who have read Beck Weathers Left For Dead, Lincoln Hall goes even further into the fight for living after the physical part is gone. I have all of Lincoln Hall's books he has wrote, and along with Blood On The Lotus this is his best writing.If you are into the physical and mental demands of what climbing Everest is about, Lincoln really blows you away with his own mind trip that night as he lay there in a fantasy world of his own.Excellent read..



4. Over two years ago, Lincoln experienced the best and the worst of Mt Everest. He was reaching the summit when he got a severe case of altitude sickness. His group attempted to revive him, but when that failed he was left for dead, very close to the summit. As fate would have it, a group of climbers making their way up, saw him in desperate need of help and ultimately saved his life. He writes about his horrible ordeal in this amazing book.
   His hands and feet were absolutely covered in frostbite. He has had some limbs and toes and fingers amputated, and various other surgeries as a result of his experience up there. He refers to May 26, 2006 as the day he died, and writes in here the pros and cons for climbing Everest. He puts his family on both lists; on the con - the fear of leaving his wife and kids without a husband or father and on the pro list, the idea to show them that he was willing to take a chance to live out his dream. He describes the bitter cold and all the thoughts running through his head. It's a book that takes you through different emotions - triumph, fear, relief and everything in between.
   Whether you like mountain climbing or not, this book is a great read. It is moving and interesting and it's good to see a happy ending. I really enjoyed this and hope you will too.

5 comments about Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival.

1. If you liked "Into Thin Air," then you will love this book, which is just as brilliant and perhaps even more incredible. If you've been to Peru, even better. Great writing, great story, and an unforgettable tale. Again, a rare book that once begun, is almost impossible to put down. Simpson has written some others, but none as good as his first. Read it. And try his "This Game of Ghosts" if you want more.



2. What an experience. Miraculous is the correct word. Other reviewers have discribed the situation for you. I will just concure that this is a must read.
   
   Much better than Jon Krakauers - Into Thin Air because it's more intimate imo. Into Thin air is about a big expedition up Mount Everest. Touching the Void is about two men.
   
   Two men together, Simon Yates attemping to save Joe Simpsons life by slowly lowering him down the Mt. 300 ft. at a time.
   You can just feel the agonising Simon Yates went thru. I mean he stayed and hung on to Simpson for as long as was humanly possible. I really felt for him.
   
   Than it was one extremely determined soul fighting to live.
   
   Some nice pictures too.
   
   Highly recommended



3. Even though I obviously knew he would live through the experience, I found myself on the edge of my seat hoping he would make it. A good story-teller telling an incredible story.



4. As many other reviewers have said, the subtitle of this book is true: the story is indeed miraculous. The book is a quick read, and the terror, desolation and troubling moral questions of the experience are palpable. I found myself squirming and uncomfortable at several points, and this is due mainly to Joe Simpson's talent as a writer.
   
   It must be said that it is apparent that this is Simpson's first book, and this is why I deducted half a star. There is the occasional awkward sentence, and the book ends on a pretty weak poker analogy. Still, he displays a great clarity of insight throughout that easily overcomes these small problems. His craft may be in the fledgling stage here, but Simpson clearly possesses a writer's mind; he is able to clearly articulate complex ideas and emotions in a very immediate, engaging way.
   
   I would hope people don't dismiss this as a book for climbers or outdoor adventurers. The story, as well as Simpson's writing, definitely transcends this narrow category and becomes a universal story of perseverance, moral ambiguity and courage. There is quite a bit of technical description of climbing here--which is absolutely essential to telling the story properly--but as someone who knows very little about climbing, it was not a hindrance to me at all. If you've seen even a few pictures of mountains, or caught a few minutes of climbing on the Discovery Channel, a quick read through the short glossary is all you need..you will find that things like cornices, abseiling, etc. are easy enough to visualize.
   
   By the time you finish this book, you will be astonished. Joe Simpson's torturous ordeal, as well as Simon Yates' battle with his conscience over cutting Joe free, make for a terrifying and moving story. It's worthwhile to follow the book up with the excellent movie.



5. I read this book and could hardly believe what I was reading. It only took me one night to read this because I was so captured by the adventure.
   
   Great quick read about making choices and having good luck on ones side.

5 comments about Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich.

1. Mr. Kriegel provides an insightful, interesting, serious study of the background to the life of Pete Maravich. I recommend the book, not only to sports' fans, but to anyone who enjoys well-written biography. For thoses readers who wish to understand Maravich's conversion to Christianity and the course of his post-conversion life, the book disappoints as Kriegel seems to understand the conversion as a retreat into religion rather than a confrontation with reality.



2. I admire the fact that Mark Kriegal had the guts to devote about a third of the book to Press Maravich, Pete's father. But it got tedious to hear the endless details about who scored what during which game, and so on. Perhaps that's common to most sports books, I don't know. I understand why the author wrote this book: Pete Maravich's life is a fascinating story. Unfortunately, I had mixed feelings about Pistol overall. Yes, I got bored with the first third of the book about Press Maravich, although it did give you a nice overview of the origins of pro basketball, if you can call it that. I also felt that the last 30 pages devoted to Pete's sons was overkill. Just my opinion. The middle part of the book about Pete was superb, though. There were so many touchstones that were handled exceptionally well----on race, the marketing and growing popularity of basketball (college and professional), the complexity of Pete's relationship to Press, Pete's various obsessions with UFOs, vegetarianism, martial arts, etc., plus his alcohol abuse. Pistol, for all its stylistic virtuosity, was a little too sentimental sometimes. Nonetheless, I'm glad I read it.



3. As others have stated, this is an extremely well-written book. But it is also the first book I ever remember reading that had a dark cloud hang over every page. The quotation by Magic Johnson to Pete's children at the All-Star game naming the Pistol as one of the top 50 in NBA history is memorable. "Your father was Showtime before there was a showtime." You always hope sports heroes have happy endings. I wish Pete could have experienced more of it.
   
   It is a must read.



4. I BOUGHT THIS BOOK TO INCLUDE IN MY GRANDSON'S PACKAGE THAT WAS HEADED FOR IRAQ. HE LOVED THE BOOK BECAUSE HE GREW UP IN THE PITTSBURG AREA AND PLAYED SPORTS AT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE BOOK.
   
   NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE ENJOYED IT FROM COVER TO COVER AND I AM A HAPPY GRANDMA. ACTUALLY, I'LL BE HAPPIER WHEN HE GETS BACK TO THE USA.



5. I read PISTOL during the last week when my brain was in gear, my emotions high and my persona not cracked. Good thing, too. If I had been depressed, I might have eaten more junk food than my diet allows.
   
   Yes, PISTOL deserves five stars. The lives of Press Maravich and his son, Peter Press Maravich, are, however, Pittsburgh bleak, covered with soot and anchored by the angst of control and chaos.
   
   Basketball should a fine, fun game, but this book proves it doesn't have to be any fun at all. It can merely be twisted.
   
   The sun is shining now, and the temperature is crisp. I think I can forget all Pete's "showtime" moves, the suicide of his mom, the manic control of his dad and the up-all-night drinking bouts.
   
   What I can't forget, yet, are all the tortures his sons went through when they tried to honor their dad by playing basketball, too. One coach in particular at LSU needs to be put down for his cruelty.

3 comments about American Son: My Story.

1. The autobiography on "The Golden Boy," who parlayed his pugilistic skills into successful business and philanthropic ventures outside the squared-circle, is an informative and inspiring story on chasing and capturing a slice of the American Dream.
   
   It works because Oscar De La Hoya is candid about every facet of his professional and business careers & personal life, while co-author Steve Springer - through his award-winning reporting in the Los Angeles Times - has literally watched the champ grow up in public.
   
   The legend truly comes to life through De La Hoya's own words and honesty. Though the final chapter in boxing will be "written" later this year, this is an outstanding look into a life that is just starting to get into a top gear.



2. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Extensively details who Oscar is and where he (and his family) came from. A truly rags-to-riches story. You cannot help but like this young man. A brisk, intelligent read for everybody especially boxing fans and people of Mexican heritage.
   
   Excellent book!



3. If you are a fan of Oscar you will love this book. It is a very short book though.

5 comments about Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner.

1. Coming from a person who dabbled in ultra marathons a decade ago, Dean has motivated me to make the jump from the mundane marathon to the longer races again. This book would not let me put it down, and I ended up reading it in one long session (and I'm not a fast reader). I have a fear of jumping from the 100K to the 100 mile race due to running at night and Dean told the story of how difficult it is to achieve the 100 mile limit and beyond. I'm amazed that you can make money doing what you love and admire him for doing it. Now there is a role model (not your role of the mill).



2. This book is life changing and is a must read for everyone. The Ultramarathon Man took me from 195lbs and having high Cholesterol to 165lbs and low Cholersterol. I went from couch potatoe to running Marathons and Ultra marathons all in a 2 year period. This book was the most inspiring and life changing thing that has ever happened to me. Please read it so you can see what I'm talking about.



3. Very familiar with Karnazes' resume from Outside mag and others, but never picked up this book because it seemed to be fluffy redux of other material. I was incredibly wrong. Written in plain style, the content is inspiring and downright belivable. No superhuman motivational stuff, just lots of get-down-to-business material about taking on challenges and having a fighting spirit. I was very surprised how much I liked this book and look forward to more like this.



4. I found this book to be inspiring.
   The writing is not necessarily professional caliber, but I did not find it bad.... better than many other athlete written books.
   
   And to address a criticism from other reviews-- the book is autobiographical. Of course it is about Dean, and what Dean has done. The book would be a failure if it were about ultramarathons as a separate entity... if you wanted that, why turn to an autobiographical book by a specific ultramarathon runner?
   
   Dean may not be the BEST ultramarathoner, but he has brought much more attention to the sport and found a way to make a living doing what he loves. You have to admire that!



5. 
   I couldn't put this book down! I found myself staying up way too late because I didn't want to stop reading this book. It's an easy read, and for anyone that runs or has ever thought about running Dean's stories are inspirational.

1 comments about Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You: The Making of a Champion.

1. Anyone who's a WNBA fan of any team other than the LA Sparks knows that the Sparks have gained the reputation of being the team you "love to hate"! But also, as a WNBA fan you have to give credit and your respect to all the women who have been responsible for the love and excitement we have for the league. They have blazed the trail for all the young talents we see today.
   
   Lisa Leslie is definitely one of those women. In her book, "Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You", you will get a better view of Lisa the person as well as the athlete. She shares her life, her beliefs, and her career. I truly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to any WNBA fan.

5 comments about The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection.

1. More of a comprehensive collection of past interviews and accomplishments, as opposed to unique insights or details many Federer fans may look for. The book is well written, but as far as sports biographies are concerned, I found James Blake's bio as well as Lance Armstrong's more interesting.



2. The jury seems already to be in; this guy plays the game of tennis better than anyone! He has all the tools, plus the ingenuity to use them creatively and instinctly. Plus, he's a good guy.
   
   Although at times this read was, as other reviewers have noted, to be just a sequence of scores of matches one after another. However, the author worked in the personal interest stuff and what was going on in the guy's life.
   
   What was there from the outset was amazing potential, but his immaturity and temper preventing him from exposing his greatness too early. This was the revelatory part for me, that Roger was not always the dominant player he is now, but struggled.
   
   I appreciate so much his temparement and his kindness. The last few chapters on such were well done and contributed much.



3. The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection is the real thing. Written by a real journalist about a real achiever. The author, Rene Stauffer, is a recognized figure in sports writing in Europe, and he is not at all embarassed to be smitten with Roger, as we all have been. But the biography is not gushy and it's not celebrity worship. Stauffer has done his own legwork and reveals the person behind the statistics and the worldwide recognition. Readers will not be surprised to learn that solid rearing by sensible parents and hard work on the court are the dominant factors in Federer's life. And of course now he must be a businessman, and we learn about that, too. This is a superior sports biography, at its core, good writing about a good person. You will read straight through and be glad you did.



4. What a waste of a tree. This book is little more than a narrative of Roger Federer's travel movements and his match scores. Most of it could have been written using the ATP fixtures and match results. The rest could have been gathered from internet news searches.
   
   Despite describing himself as "one of the world's leading tennis journalists", René Stauffer offers little personal insight into Roger Federer, man or tennis player. Nor has there been any substantial research into the views of people who know him well enough to provide such insight.
   
   Federer has stable personal life and he is not a party animal, so there is no expectation by the reader of great revelations in this area. But there are some things the reader of a tennis biography would like to know, such as:
   
   * Why did Federer use a single-handed backhand when most players of his generation use a double-handed back-hand?
   
   * How did he develop that balletic and devastating forehand?
   
   * Did he naturally have great footwork or did he (or someone else) decide to develop it?
   
   * Who taught him to serve that way?
   
   * How has he changed or developed his groundstrokes over the years?
   
   * When does he try to hit a winner?
   
   * What tactics does he use against different opponents?
   
   And so on.
   
   And what was he trying to do in those big matches? What makes Federer tick? This is the essence of biography.
   
   Obviously Federer himself will not reveal his thinking and tactics, but one would expect one of the "world's leading tennis journalists" to provide some analysis - or to get it from others.



5. This is a really great book. It'a a must for every Federer's fan !!
   It's translate in a easy english. I strongly suggest to read it.