Open

This is a superb book. It is written particularly for Rolfers, but is essential reading for any other body worker as well. Since studying this book on my own, I have become much more confident doing pelvic massage with male clients. Having detailed knowledge of the underlying structures allows me to explain to men what I'm doing and why. Clients can be informally instructed at the same time they are made more comfortable with touch in this area. For this reason, the book is valuable for all men who want to learn about their own bodies.

The text is clearly written and technical terms are explained. A particular strength is close-up photos of the genital areas of a variety of men. Each of these is paired with a line drawing of the same scale based on that photograph and showing the underlying anatomy. This arrangement makes it easy to relate what one sees on the table during a session with what one is feeling beneath the skin as one works.

Other chapters on foetal and juvenile genital development, posture, and sexuality are also very informative.

I have no hesitation at all in giving this excellent book five stars.

The author has written an intelligent, frank and provoking book about the area of the body least talked about in an intelligent, frank and provoking manner. I consider this book essential for anyone in the "body work" field. It is a well written authoritive work by a scientist well versed in anatomy, physiology, and somatics. An excellent and important book for any Medical Doctor, Psychologist or Physical Therapist yet easily understood and enjoyed by someone with a less scientific mind. In fact, I consider this book a "MUST READ" for P.T.'s, Massage Therapists, and all body workers, consultants and trainers who work with men. I would also consider this book an excellent primer for any one (woman OR man) involved in a sexual, romantic, or loving relationship with a male. It is the equivalent of the famous "Our Bodies Our Selves" only about men. I recommend this book with highest praises!

This book hits on a subject that is rarely ever spoken of. It addresses issues of the male anatomy that I've long suspected were problematic, but on which I could never find any information. The book is informative and eye opening. If you're male, you should read this!

A great book that my 2 year old loves and knows off by heart!.
It flows wonderfully as do all of Lynley Dodds books. With colourful simplistic pictures. We have the video too which is a huge hit. ....

I see it in the bookshop regularly!

Slinky Malinki and his friend Stickybeak Sid (a rainbow lorikeet) get up to all manner of mischief when alone in the house: Slinky malinki and stickbeak Sid were a troublesome pair; do you know what they did? Alone in the house one mischievous day, they opened a door and they started to play.

I have not met a child yet who doesn't respond to the beautiful rhythm of the language and the sense of fun in the Lynley Dodd books.

There is just the right amount of repetition in the rhymes to create a sense of anticipation. The illustrations are lovely, and Slinky really does have a mischievous glint in his eye! He is NOT drawn as a "human" - he is all-cat, but wow, those expressions, depicted through eyes, paws and the hair standing on end!

We love Slinky Malinky and Stickybeak Syd. They are funny and we love to read about them. We almost know the whole book.

The First Grade at Hobart School

This book is fabulous. It's peculiar that women still tend to be overlooked as "car people," as I had no problem coming up with a half dozen car-centric female friends and family members to give this book to for birthdays and holidays. From the friend who takes pride at keeping her '81 Corolla limping along, to the retired Mom of my closest friend who bought a snazzy new Honda as a retirement present for herself to my own Mom who is a car-buying-research goddess. All have thoroughly enjoyed this book (as have the Y-chromosomed who've read it)!

Highly recommended, well-written, and top-notch photographs.

It may have started when women got the vote, but when women form adoring, nutty and intimate relationships with their true liberator (their CAR!) you're really seeing freedom in action. Women at the Wheel is a love story and an exhilarating ride.

Full disclosure time: I am a friend of the author and I helped her and encouraged her to pursue the book project. None the less, I have read the book, and being as objective as I can, I find it engaging and really well realized. Ms. Root has no agenda and no subtext; the book honestly presents the results of exploring an interesting group of people. While being exposed to sociological aspects of women and car culture, one is more interested in the individual women profiled in the book. The photography is excellent, and the reproduction generally quite good. Ms. Root's portrait skills are amply demonstrated in image after image where real personality comes through plainly, confirmed and supported by the text. This is superior to many 'theme' photography books, and a wonderful antidote to those that treat women as only decorations for cars. As a man I enjoyed it; I imagine some young women will be inspired by it.

This book has the perfect combination of insightful text and luminous illustrations. A perfect gift!

This special book encourages readers to quietly reflect on their lives. It gently puts things in perspective and provides a beautiful reminder of what is really important in life. Karen Kroll's illustrations are magical and add the perfect touch to the simple yet profound words. A perfect gift for friends or yourself!

This is an absolutely beautiful little book. Great for personal use or for a gift. Though the sentiments are quite simple and sweet they hold true, and combined with the thought-provoking, mood-inspiring watercolor illustrations, the book provides an opportunity to relax your inner stresses and just enjoy being!

This book is a must read for anyone interested in adoption. First of all, it is very thorough, analyzing many aspects of adoption from a number of different angles. The author isn't trying to push any particular point of view on the reader, but instead gives a nice overview of the relevant issues, and at times adds her opinion. Not only is there a lot of useful information in this book, but it also is a heartwarming story about the author's adoption of her daughter and eventual reunification with the birth mother. It is a very engaging story, and should be read by anyone wanting to learn more about adoption, or anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story.

This is a very interesting combination of memoir and advocacy. Most books promote one adoption practice over the other, sometimes even with a fundamentalist air to it. Fitzgerald takes up all three practices: closed, semi-open and open, and rejects closed, or secret adoption because of her personal experience with it, but then wrestles with what might be a better practice, open or semi-open. The research cited on the issue seems, at this time, to favor the semi-open practice but leaves open the idea that there is no one-size-fits all approach. Fitzgerald's experience with the birthmother is touching and also the birthmother's belief that she could not have coped with an open adoption but would have preferred a semi-open one over secrecy. By contrast, the daughter, now an adult and a mother herself, would once more have wanted a closed adoption. Anyone looking for a straight-forward answer about adoption practices will not find one. It is truly an individual matter. Become as informed as possible and then decide for yourself what practice would be best for you.

Once I began reading this book, I really couldn't put it down.The fact that I had a personal interest in it..(I am the birthmother mentioned)..made this book very compelling, indeed!It also gave me great insight into the perspectives of the adoptive parents, and revealed the feelings and the emotions of the adopted child herself.She was no longer the infant of my imagination, but a full-grown accomplished young woman with a mind of her own!Notably, this is not a book just for the benefit of the characters in it, but moreover it is a book anyone would find interesting. It is a memoir;it is an education;it's a reflection;it's real life!It will stir your emotions and challenge your previous beliefs,biases,and/or prejudices.It will stimulate new thought and bring light into the world of adoption!
Many truths spark the wisdom of this book and it will inform and delight the reader.I highly recommend it!

It's great and inspirational. You won't be disappointed.

Writer @ bellaonline Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2001

This book is for those people that really need a lift. Whenever I have a hard day at work or just feel I need to cheer myself up, I grab this book and start reading! It is Wonderful!!

Thank you for more Chicken Soup magic! The same great quality of stories. Inspirational!!

Everything you need to know about starting a small business in California is in here. What legal structure to choose, which agencies you need to deal with, what forms you need and where to get them, web addresses, phone numbers, and all the details.

It also has a wealth of information on running a business, including information on accounting, taxation, and employees. It's well organized and easy to read.

The only gaps are in some of the details on forming LLCs and corporations. The reader is referred to other Nolo books for the gritty details. If you're forming a partnership or sole proprietorship -- probably the most common types for "cottage industry" -- the book is reasonably complete.

This book is easy to read and follow. It has a complete list of things you need to do to set up your own business and some good advices. Highly recommended!

This is my first book review, because this is the first book I've purchased where I've truly felt moved to tell people how excellent it is. If you are starting up a small business in California, this book is invaluable. It tells you where to find all of the information you'll need to start up your business, in easy to understand terms. Also includes a CD-ROM with lots of forms. All of her advice is really helpful and I find myself going back to the book all the time. Just knowing it's there makes me feel better!

She includes URLs to web sites with information - and even tells you what other books to get on a subject she doesn't cover too in-depth. And all the information you need is easy to find.

5 stars!

As any player who responds to 1. e4 with 1. . . e5 will tell you, its really irritating to hope for an Italian Game and instead find yourself in a strange variation of the King's Gambit with no prior experience. Wandering around on a clifftop while blindfolded is a godd analogy. Emms' book is very useful in preparing a player for every white opening following 1 e4 e5 except for the Ruy Lopez. While a short book (only 224 pages) it is well worth the purchase price for the sheer density of its analysis. SImply put, this book consists of 200 pages of analysis with the occaisional sentence interspersed between moves (I exaggerate, but this is close to the truth). For an experienced player willing to spend hours poring over analysis and memoriing lines, this book is ideal. For a novice or a player with limited time for study, it should probably be avoided.

I am one of these players who is constantly changing openings. I play 1. d4 because it seems more in line with my cautious nature. Then I get frustrated because there are so many reposnses to prepare for (Dutch, Benoni, Stonewall, and all those King's Indians, Grunfeld's, Nimzos, etc.). So then I try flank openings like the English or the Nimzo-Larsen; but I get frustrated because of the tame positions with no advantage that often result. So, time and time again, I come back to 1. e4. Along with this, I usually go back to 1... e5 in response to 1. e4, so as to be improving by playing similar things as white and black. This Emms book is really wonderful. First, it is modern and recent, so you are not limited to reviewing games by Steinitz and Anderssen in reponse to the Italian, the Scotch, etc.; second, it has top-notch production and editorial qualities. Emms is a great chess writer, and GAMBIT's production and editing are the best in the business. Third, Emms gives you solid and exciting lines; fourth, these open games are what I really need to study to become better overall at chess. So, in sum, when you decide to play 1...e5, this is the most important book for you, in addition to whatever you have to face the Ruy Lopez. At my level (around 1600), you will see far more Italian games than Ruy Lopez', so you will have plenty of chances to play the Two Knights Defence.

This book provides a repetoire for black after 1.e4 e5 (excluding the Ruy Lopez, the addition of which would add at least 200 pages). The coverage is very good and recomendations are top of the line.

The recommendation against the King's Gambit is: 1.e5 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 (3.Bc4 --coverage is of ...Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4!? and 4. ...c6. The first is a reversed Schliemann Attack in the Ruy Lopez. After 5.e5 d5! a position is reached in which it is favorable for white to have played with an extre tempo as in the regular version, there would not be a bishop available to attack. 4. ...c6 is the trusted main line where black plans d5.) g5! 4.h4 (against 4.d4 and 4.Bc4, Emms gives the option of Bg7! holding on to the pawn.) g4 5.Ne5 (5.Ng5?! h6 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 is recommended) Nf6 (the Berlin Defense! This would definitely be my choice for black. I have played the white side of the King's Gambit before and studied it using Neil McDonald's "The King's Gambit." This move appears to be stronger than 5. ...d6!?) 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 (also the move I would choose over Bg7.) Emms goes on to cover the rest of the lines and even covers a line not in McDonald's book, the Rice Gambit. I was very pleased to see such good recommendations made here. For those who enjoy treading off the beaten path, the Becker defense (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 h6!?) is also given as another defense(!) to the King's Gambit.

The Two Knights Defence is the recommendation against the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6). At first I was put off by the combativeness of this opening and wished Emms had recommended the positional Guioco Piano instead (3. ...Bc5). However, I soon realized that I was learning how to play the open games and one should fight for any advantage one can get when playing this type of opening. Developement is important and one should be ready to sacrifice a pawn or two to accelerate it. A complete repetoire for the Two Knights Defence is given. Against 4.Ng5 the recommendation is 4. ...d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bc6 c6 7.dxc6 bxc6. The Traxler (Wilkes-Barre) variation is not covered, i.e., instead of 4. ...d5 one plays 4. ...Bc5. For 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Emms gives both the more simple Nxe4 and the more complicated Bc5. The latter can lead to the Max Lange Attack. If you have heard of this opening and wondered what it was, here is your chance to play it.

I have just realized that if I don't stop talking about the specifics with this book I will never shutup. Here is some more general information about the book: In almost every major variation, more than one option is given to black. Both declining and accepting various gambits is covered. Generally, one option is given for the adventurous player and one is given for the positional player. Emms does a great deal of home analysis and provides good background information on each opening. He really does cover every option available to white from second move alternatives to move 30 and beyond of the Max Lange Attack.

If you are interested in playing the black side of 1.e4 e5, you really do need this book to have a coherent repetoire. Besides, it is one of the best openings repetoire books you will ever find.

Open Seasons is one of those comics that is highly recommended reading. This is where you'll find Jango Fett's backstory, which seamlessly ties into what little is known of his cloned son Boba Fett, and his Jaster Mereel alto ego. The comic derives its name from the four issues subtitled after the four seasons of winter, spring, summer, fall, and provides reason for Montross's animosity in the Bounty Hunter console game.

The artwork here is just superb. Colours shine off the page, illustrations are depthful, more 3Dish than the standard fare you get, what more could you want? I strongly believe that comics, being the visual material they are, must have the best artwork possible, to show what a standard novel can only express in words. If that's the case, Open Seasons is gold.

The dialogue is up to par. Could have benefited with more humour, but the cast worked well for given characters. Then again, given the nature of the plot, too much would have detracted from the persona of Jango Fett.

The storyline is your typical coming of age: peaceful youth avenging the death of parents and a shattered childhood, forged into one of the galaxy's finest bounty hunters. The setting is soon after Phantom Menace, Dooku recounting to his master Sidious why Fett makes the ideal prime clone for their clandestine operations. It even provides some explanation for why Dooku himself--if you can believe the old man--broke from the Jedi Order.

You see what Jango is made of here in the Galidraan debacle, where the Jedi and Mandalorians have it out. You'd get the impression the Jedi really are dependant on their saber sticks to be dangerous, as though that made any difference to the Fett. Does leaving you wondering in AOTC if script limitations hadn't necessitated Mace Windu to survive Fett.

Just a few trivialties here. Jango looks more lighter complexioned than he did on the screen. Without enough names in dialogue, it does make it challenging to identify your Mandalorian in near-identical uniforms. Most annoying, why do these people always have to be farmboys (Luke, Baron Fel, Jango, etc)? And the biggest one of all: at the end, when Jango flies across space to crash through a ship's bridge viewports, in a vacuum without breathing or decompression?!

Overall, with art quality and storyline this good, Open Seasons is one fine gift to get, and definitely worth getting.

This book really delivers on the mysterious and wonderful character Jango Fett. He is a legendary Mandalorian warrior who witnessed his whole mercenary army being wiped out by the Jedi. Beautiful illistrations. The best illustrator who could draw "Mandalorian armor" to date. A great story line, and really stresses the fact that Jango is a neutral, fearless warrior.

I do know what to say about the art work. I own every Darkhorse TPB comic and this one has the best inks and coloring of them all, getting a 6 on a 5 scale. The drawing itself is a 4 on a 5 scale, and the story is also a 4.

the story missed some oportunity here, but it does address what you are probably curious about with regard to jango.

Darkhorse be warned, I'll expect this kind of quality in the future. I have suffered through lazy editioning from you guys, most disappointingly in UNION and others.

If you've paid attention to the college ranks and to some extent the pros, you've seen offenses evolve from two back (west coast offense) to single back (run and shoot) to the next phase of basketball on grass where defenses are spread horizontally and vertically to the breaking point, and one on one oppourtunites are seized for record setting victories. In this book, Coach Stubbs formerly of Alabama and UNLV details the fundementals that will be required to successfully execute the next phase of offensive football thinking.

I'd like to start with the bad first since my review is not going to be overly glowing like the others. This book reminds me of Henderson et al West Coast Offense. From its lay out, to its chapters with pictures of former players and coaches who have influenced coach Stubbs to the final 25 plays. The plays are merely a hodgepodge of "explosive" plays that Coach Stubbs has used but they don't seem to have the consistentcy to be the basis of an entire offense also some plays are repeated (I'm not sure why or what difference there is between the middle screen and jailbreak screen nor am I sure that it is needed). Also dissappointing is that Coach Stubbs a successful practioner of the Stack Principle discusses very little of it in his book besides a play diagram. Nor is there any reasoning given for why one would use the multitude of offensive formations and motions that Coach Stubbs BRIEFLY covers (Why would a coach want to run I formations as opposed to 5 wides and When???). Also this offense HAS NO PRACTICAL USE FOR YOUTH LEVEL. Parents and youth coaches should not buy this book thinking their pop warner teams can install a passing offense, really this book is geared to the older athlete (high school &up).

Now the good news, THIS BOOK COVERS A TOPIC THAT NO OTHER BOOK ON THE MARKET DOES and that is an attacking aggressive passing offense, based on spreading the field to get playmakers the ball. Coach Stubbs (formerly ranked by American Football Monthly as one of the brightest coaches in the game) thoroughly discusses the fundementals of implementing this style of offense. The fundementals and drillwork needed for every position including the offensive line are fully layed out for the reader. It is a great primer into this offensive philosophy. My hope is that Coach Stubbs will now take his Mini topics (Reading coverages and scramble drills which are too briefly covered) and plays and thoroughly discuss how all of the fundementals he so wonderfully illustrates here can be worked into a complete offense.

At a minimum coaches should come away with a better understanding of how to improve their passing game and add a wrinkle to their offense. This book is a worthy spring time read before next season.

Wide Open Football is a wonderful resource for all coaches, whether you coach offense or defense, and regardless of the level. I found the book to be an interactive, enriching experience, especially for a young coach like myself working dilligently to improve as a coach. My experience has been primarily as a defensive player and coach. As we all well know, today's football, with all of its multiple personnel groups, formations, etc. requires defensive players and coaches to understand offense and see the game from an offensive perspective. Wide Open Football is an excellent way to learn and better understand offensive football. Every aspect of the wide open style of offense that we see today is covered. However, many of the philosophies, techniques, and coach's checklists are useful to all offenses and to all coaches.
Unlike many books on football, Wide Open Football is not simply a collection of plays and drills. Rather, it begins with an intense analysis of how and why a coach should select a certain philosophy of offense. This philosophical review details many of the factors that would immediately come to mind as well as others that wouldn't. What is helpful is that they are all ordered, listed, and explained. Not only is this chapter helpful in designing your philosophy, it is also helpful in putting together a game plan.
Vince Lombardi used to lament that the one great weakness of the game of football was its over reliance on the quarterback position. The ability to coach the quarterback seems to be paramount for any offensive coach with hopes of someday coordinating an offense. The quarterbacking section was one of my favorites not only because of its importance, but also because of my lack of familiarity with most of the content. Everything from player selection principles to coaching philosophy to techniques to drills is included. Coach Stubbs not only details his thoughts, he explains them and tells us why in an easy to understand manner. In addition, he takes the same time to go over line play. Protecting the quarterback is covered from every aspect. He discusses launch points for the QB, protection schemes, and then finally offensive line fundamentals. Every detail is thoroughly covered.
Finally, Wide Open Football covers the entire offensive package. There is a playbook of 25 offensive plays. Each play is not only diagrammed, each player's responsibility is covered and an explanation of how the play might be used is included. There is another section covering formations, motions,etc. I personally found this section extremely helpful as a defensive coach. There is a section that covers practice and game planning. Experienced coaches have the benefit of relying on experience to guide them through this process. As younger coaches, we are unfortunately sometimes required to learn through trial and error. However, we are now able to benefit from Coach Stubbs' experience. There are 15 forms presented in the book and each has a seperate and distinguishable purpose. I found that I am a better prepared coach already, simply after purchasing the book.
I have tried to read a lot of books as I work to improve as a football coach and Wide Open Offense is among the very best. Not only is it extremely comprehensive and thorough in the subjects it covers, it takes the time to explain why. Plus, all of the forms and diagrams presented in the book will help any coach at any level. Scheme, techniques, drills, and philosophy are all covered. How do you control the blitz? It is covered. How do you progress through reading coverages? It is covered as well. Coach Charlie Stubbs has obviously taken a great deal of time and care to present his offense in a way that can be understood by everyone. Whether you are a defensive coach, a head coach, a QB coach, or anything else, Wide Open Football will be a wonderful resource for you in your coaching career.

"Wide Open Offense" is an excellent reference book for any coach at any level of football to add to his library. Coach Stubbs covers the basics well and also expands to touch on more advanced theories of offense. His use of charts, evaluation forms, formations, and terminology stirs up ideas to be incorporated into any coach's offensive system. "Wide Open Offense" is a must buy.

Jim Green: Offensive Coordinator, Miles College, Birmingham, AL