Sports and Fitness Recent Picks

JUNE 2010

The underlined title links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Tomaz Humar by Bernadette McDonald
“The intense and penetrating biography of one of the brightest burning flames in modern climbing... a must read for anyone with a love of pushing the boundaries.” (Amazon)

Ultimate Diving Adventures: 100 Extraordinary Experiences Under Water by Len Deeley and Karen Gargani
“Do you dream of plunging into the big blue to discover the most exceptional underwater experiences on the planet? Ultimate Diving Adventures is the best dive buddy imaginable as it guides you through the depths in search of 100 amazing underwater encounters. There are classic dives and secret spots, dramatic wrecks and sites where the marine life has to be seen to be believed. Authors Len Deeley and Karen Gargani are experienced divers who have spent many years exploring and taking photographs of the world’s ultimate dive sites. With their expert guidance and stunning images you will learn where to swim with frog fish and pygmy sea horses as well the best shark and whale dives.” (Amazon)

Hold 'Em Poker by David Sklansky
“Hold 'em Poker by David Sklansky is must reading for anyone planning to play in Nevada, California, or any place else where hold 'em is offered including a home game. This was the first definitive work on hold 'em poker and was originally published in 1976. Yet, it is still one of the best-selling poker books available and in 1997 was expanded and updated to account for today's modern double blind structure. The text is designed for someone relatively new to the game, but it still contains much sophisticated material which all players should find beneficial. It is probably best known for the Sklansky Hand Rankings, which made the game much simpler to quantify and understand.” (Amazon)

Kickboxing Sparring by Justyn Billingham
“Sparring is a core activity in any martial art, and failing to test your fighting ability through controlled sparring is akin to learning to drive a car without ever getting into the driving seat. Sparring improves your physical abilities, but is so much more than just punching and kicking a like-minded opponent, for it also has amazing character-building qualities. It is something that almost anyone can enjoy, regardless of their age, size, ability or gender, and with full-contact, semi-contact, light-contact, no-contact, point-fighting and continuous sparring, to name but a few, there is almost certainly a type of sparring to suit everyone.” (Amazon)

Holding Court by Chris Gorringe
“Wimbledon is a paradox. While outwardly appearing the quintessential English lawn tennis club, as much a part of being British as strawberries and cream or picnics in the park, it is in fact the largest annual outside broadcast operation in the world and a multi-million pound commercial enterprise. It is remarkably, an enterprise that generates its profit in just two weeks of the year. It is also something we do rather well. Which other tennis tournament in the world can describe itself as simply, 'The Championships' - Chris Gorringe is the man who, for twenty-six years, made it all happen. The former chief executive, fondly referred to as 'Clockwork Gorringe', has dealt with everything from the 1973 players' boycott, the McEnroe tantrums, and Middle Sunday, to the demands for equal prize money and the Olympic bid. He has witnessed some of the greatest names in the sport producing some of their most dazzling performances - from Navratilova to the Williams sisters, from Borg to Federer - while assisting with the requirements of and demands on today's high-profile professional tennis players. During his tenure, revenue increased from GBP58,000 in his first year, to GBP27m in his last. In "Holding Court", he charts the unique journey of one of the country's most venerable establishments, where decisions are still made through a committee system dating back to 1868, into the modern era. For anyone who has ever been captivated by McEnroe v Borg, soaked up the atmosphere in Aorangi Park, or been intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes at SW19, "Holding Court" is a must-read. Wimbledon is a national institution. When play starts on the first Monday, millions of followers tune in. This book is for them.” (Amazon)

Tour De France : A Hundred Years Of The World's Greatest Cycle Race /Marguerite Lazell
“Tour de France: The Story of the World's Greatest Cycle Race" plots the evolution of this great race, focusing on legends such as Jacques Anquetil, Eddie Merckx, Greg Lemond, Miguel Indurain and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong. Covering every aspect of the Tour from the early organisation, technological advances and scandals, this is a complete history of one of the world's greatest sporting events.” (Amazon)

Mountaineering In Remote Areas Of The World / Alun Richardson
“Rucksack Guide - Mountaineering in Remote Areas of the World is your essential handbook for planning and undertaking mountaineering expeditions around the world. It offers concise guidance and support for whatever situations you might find yourself in, including: where to go: tips on gaining sponsorship, permits and the best times to visit dangerous animals: dealing with creatures that bite, sting or suck your blood environmental issues: minimising your impact on the environment safety: essential procedures to ensure the safety of yourself, your party and others on the mountain emergencies: guidance on what to do in extreme situations. The book is colour-coded for easy reference and all information is presented in lists and tables, making it simple to understand in testing conditions. The Rucksack Guide series is taken from Mountaineering: The essential skills for mountain walkers and climbers, the definitive handbook for hill walkers, climbers and mountaineers.” (Amazon)

Cycling Anatomy / Shannon Sovndal
“This book allows readers to see what it takes to maximise cycling power, speed and endurance! "Cycling Anatomy" will give readers the knowledge to improve their performance by increasing muscular strength and optimising the efficiency of every movement. "Cycling Anatomy" features 74 of the most effective cycling exercises, each with clear, step-by-step descriptions and full-colour anatomical illustrations highlighting the primary muscles in action. This book goes beyond exercises by placing with illustrations of the active muscles involved in cornering, climbing, descending and sprinting, detailing exactly the exercises which are fundamentally linked to cycling performance.” (Amazon)

My Life In Football / Sir Bobby Charlton with Ivan Ponting
“Bobby Charlton is arguably the most popular sporting icon this country has ever known and MY LIFE IN FOOTBALL is a fitting celebration of his remarkable career. Combining both his Manchester United and England playing days, the book is structured chronologically and focuses on the key incidents in Sir Bobby’s football story – the famous, and the less well-known – illustrated with photographs of the very moments in question. These photographs, many of which have rarely been seen, are accompanied by extended captions to bring them to life. Every shot tells a wonderful story and offers an insight into the character of the man, providing a remarkable visual commentary of a phenomenal sporting life.” (Amazon)

Hockey / [contributor, Paul Robinson] ; written in association with England Hockey “The Know the Game series is firmly established as the leading introduction to a huge range of sports. For 50 years they have been the first step into a new sport for many people, children and adults alike. The series has now been relaunched in a new format with a modern design - making the best even better. The aim has been to make the books more accessible, and they are now packed with colour photos and illustrations, top tips and interesting facts. Each book contains everything you need to know about the sport, including equipment, rules, techniques and training tips. There's even information on how to find a club and meet new people to play the sport with. And having been written and endorsed by the sport's professional body, you can be sure that you are getting the best information available.” (Amazon)

Graham Watson's Tour De France Travel Guide / Graham Watson
“Each July hundreds of thousands of fans head to France to watch its great annual bike race. But unless they've planned carefully, they'l arrive to find full hotels, blocked routes, overpriced food, chaotic roads, and endless frustration as they try to get close to the race they've come to see. "Graham Watson's Tour de France Travel Guide" provides the ultimate insider's access from one of the Tour's most experienced old hands. In his 31 years of following and photographing the race, Watson has mastered the Tour's daily challenges - where to eat, where to sleep, how to get around, how to see and photograph the race, and most of all, how to enjoy the greatest show on two wheels. Now Graham shares it all in his beautifully illustrated guidebook.” (Amazon)

Golf Rules Explained / Steve Newell
“In golf, as in law, ignorance is no excuse. Inadvertently lifting a ball without permission, or removing a certain type of obstruction, will lead to penalty strokes and possibly mean the difference between victory and defeat. The rules of golf, however, have been formulated by the game's governing bodies not simply to penalise, but also to ensure orderly play, resolve disputes and answer a host of questions about various likely scenarios. Every four years R&A (the governing body for the Rules of Golf) and the United States Golf Association agree any
necessary amendments or clarifications to the rules. This edition has been revised and updated to include all of the latest developments for the 2008-2012 period.Following an extended introduction featuring points of etiquette, equipment, useful definitions and the rules of play, "The Golf Rules Problem Solver" outlines the rules in an easy-to-follow, compact form.” (Amazon)

Marathon And Half Marathon : From Start To Finish / Sam Murphy
“'I'd love to do a marathon, but I don't have six days a week to train' 'I'm too old/unfit/overweight to run 26 miles, aren't I?' 'Omigod! I've got a place in the marathon - what next?' If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then this book is for you. You want to run a marathon (or half marathon), but you don't know where to start, how to train, what to eat and drink, how to dress, how to prepare for the race or, perhaps, even which race to do. We will guide you through the entire process: from your very first steps to beyond the finish line, ensuring that you not only complete your marathon but enjoy it, too! There's advice on everything from how to fit training into your busy life to improving your running technique and avoiding injury. There are mental tricks to employ when the going gets tough, along with nutritional strategies to maximise your performance, gear and gadgets to improve your running and race tactics to help you get through the big day. This second edition includes advice on running a half marathon, and all the training schedules, nutritional advice and coaching tips have been updated.” (Amazon)

Daniel Vettori : Turning Point / [with] Richard Boock
“’Dan Vettori took over from Stephen Fleming as New Zealand's one-day captain at the start of the 2007-08 season. It is hard to believe, though, that the 28-year-old has been on the international scene now for 11 seasons. The youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the age of 18, he sits beside Richard Hadlee and Chris Cairns as New Zealanders to take 200 Test wickets and score 2000 runs. With time on his side, he could one day creep up towards Hadlee's 431 Test dismissals. As a spin bowler, he is a master of drift and his subtle variations in flight, speed and length earned him a reputation as New Zealand's most dangerous player. It was that guile and ability to confuse the batsmen that sometimes turned what seemed like innocuous deliveries into unplayable hand-grenades by the time they reached the other end. He troubled Australia with 12 for 149 at Eden Park in March 2000, giving him his first ten-wicket Test. He continued to peak whenever he faced Australia and he also feasted against Bangladesh in 2004, taking 20 for 224 in the two-match rout. He was recognised alongside Muttiah Muralitharan as one of the two best spinners outside Australia.” (Global Books)

World Cup Superstars 2010: The 100 Best Players From All 32 Competing Nations / [editor, Leaonne Hall]

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