I have read this book at least a half dozen times before my training started right up until the week of the marathon. It gave me practical information, secrets that allow you to run the marathon to the best of your abilities and then some. From starting to train, through proper nutrition, tapering, pacing, and well, everything a marathoner wants to know about running this event. I can't thank Michael enough. Though not for the advanced marathoner (though it wouldn't hurt if they read it too) a perfect book for the beginner.

-Turtle Conservation is a much-needed overview of the problems facing turtle populations in the world today. Klemens and company make a critical assessment of the threats facing turtles and the solutions often propounded to save them. The sad state of the world's turtle populations is made clear (as Klemens notes, turtles may be in as much trouble as amphibians, but haven't received as much attention), and the causes of decline are reviewed in chapters covering groups of turtles inhabiting different general habitats (marine, river, still freshwater, and terrestrial), as well as the effectiveness of various conservation methods for the unique needs of each group. A common thread in all the chapters is that the techniques that have been employed (headstarting, farming, "sustainable harvest," etc) to conserve turtles in the past are largely "halfway technologies," which treat symptoms and not causes of decline. The message is that less "hands on" approaches are the most effective in the long run, which means habitat conservation and better planning of development. This is not a picture book or an introduction to turtle biology, but a critical look at the conservation needs of turtles. It gives practical information and suggestions on how to protect our dwindling turtle populations. I recommend this authoritative book not only for those interested in turtle conservation (for whom it is required reading), but anyone interested in conservation of biological diversity, because it illustrates how each group of organisms has its own specific conservation needs, and yet how all are joined by the same requirement for habitat conservation.

Unbelievably useful and packed with details. Many thanks to the author and I can't wait for the next edition!

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen. I wish they would have given details on the printing process for this book. I've never seen such vibrant, sharp, photographs in a book. They look almost as good as professionally done prints on photographic paper. As for the artistic merit of the photographs themselves, they are wonderful, something to get lost in.

Field Studies of the Asiatic Wild Dog is the only book of its kind that gives such detailed information about the Asiatic Dhole. The research studies and data that Mike Fox put into this book is very detailed. It tells much about this elusive mammals life history as well as how critical a role it plays in the survival of the many other jungle animal in which it shares its habitat with. The author shows just how degrated animal herds can be without the dholes presence and he despells many of the popular myths associated with this animal today. The book also gives alot of information on the role other indian animals play within the forest ecosystem and informs the reader just how crucial it is that more asian rainforest be set aside and preserved in the near future.

I can't believe this book isn't available. I loved every minute spent with it. Robert Pyle is scientist and poet and he writes about the Willapa Hills with the same love I feel for the Oregon coast - also overlogged and abused but beautiful nonetheless. He teaches and shows how to look in new ways. Fantastic!

A great book and a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Yosemite. Rowell's photographs are wonderful, and are set to John Muir's observations and memories of the Valley.

This book has a lot of funny moments, and makes some interesting points, but it is just an extended article that doesn't prove a point, and seems to be more about the author exploiting baseball fans ...than giving them something memorable.

We learn about Billy Beane's mania and that OBP is important to scoring runs, and signing guys that walk a lot is cheaper than signing 5 tool players with good jawlines. So what?

The A's win a lot of games because they have 3 great, not good, starters. This could not be disproven by any of Bill James' suckup labrats. How is winning 100 games during the regular season not to Hudson, Zito, and Mulder's credit, but losing to the Twins is Hudson's fault? The A's are like the Braves from the previous decade. Like the Braves, the A's don't hit that well. Unlike the Braves, they probably won't keep the 3 star pitchers around, and guys like Scott Hatteberg can not walk their way to championships while giving up 8 runs a game.

Theories are great, but who has more World Series rings, Sparky Anderson and Joe Morgan put together, or Bill James and Billy Beane put together?

Just as Billy Beane uses a relief pitcher's hot streak to temporarily inflate his value, Lewis has used the A's 2-year hot streak to inflate the value of his ideas and to sell books. Not that it's a bad book, it just isn't convincing.

The only negative review so far at this site seemed to confuse the author's craftmanship with his subject. This is a well-written, quick read, which, if you are any kind of baseball fan, will cause you to stop repeatedly and think about what you've just read.

Every baseball fan has asked themselves over and over, why are marginal players overpaid? Why are millions invested in ONE player to the detriment of the team? Why does ownership seem trapped in some preconceived notion of what a ballplayer should look like? This book seeks to answer those questions and present an alternative view of how to run a winning team. And here, in a nutshell is that answer:

Position players should be signed based on the On Base Percentage. Pitchers should be signed based on Strikeouts, Walks, Home runs allowed and groundballs.

There. That's it. Time to go home and enjoy your vast savings, Mr. Steinbrenner.

Of course it's more complex than that, but perversely, Major League Baseball seems to have based its criteria for quality on a completely subjective and error-prone system: Wins, earned run average, batting average, runs batted in.

The book does a wonderful job of demonstrating how a small germ of an idea took hold, slowly grew, and then became embraced by people with the position to do something about it. It's the Revenge of the Nerds and it's positively engaging.

Billy Beane comes off as some 21st Century tortured prince, except he's not Hamlet trying to avenge his father's death, he's every jerk high school jock you ever met who, as an adult, hates himself. Freud wouldn't even get out of bed for this one.

It's sad because he and his computer geeks could actually save baseball from itself. But there is not one incident of joy reported in this book. It would be nice to read that he turned down the Red Sox job because he wanted to stay close to his daughter, but she is never mentioned as a consideration. It's just a shame that someone whose eyes were opened to the real value of ballplayers doesn't carry the exhileration of someone lost, now found, but rather wields it like some terrible weapon.

And objectivity, statistics and mathematics notwithstanding, the fact is that nine Miggy Tejadas are preferable to nine Scott Heddeburg (sp?).

Michael Lewis, whose previous books have taken us inside the worlds of Wall Street and Silicon Valley, takes us to the offices of the Oakland Coliseum for a behind-the-scenes look at Billy Beane, Paul DePodesta, and the Oakland A's.

This is unlike any baseball book you've ever read, as Lewis reports on conversations that Beane had with other GMs and pulls back the curtains on the inner workings of a major league baseball team.

If you're not a baseball fan, this book will appeal to you for its in-depth look at a management team at the top of its game; if you are a baseball fan, you will be amazed by the level of detail that Lewis brings to the subject.

This book deserves a spot among the best baseball books ever written, alongside such classics as 'Ball Four,' and 'Veeck as In Wreck.'

I've seen dozens of volunteer books, adventure-job books, online databases, etc., but this is still my favorite. While some other places may contain more addresses, and yet others more information on each contact, this achieves the perfect balance. Hundreds of exciting jobs await, many well-paying and many volunteer. I've spent countless hours browsing this book dreaming and have used it for one job so far (at an out-of-the-way resort in Olympic National Park).

The chapters are divided usefully into sections on artistic pursuits, overseas jobs, environmental jobs, adventure jobs, farming jobs, etc., and are peppered with helpful anecdotes from people who've been there. The only drawback, as others have noted, is that the vast majority of listings are US-based. So if you wish to find more non-American jobs, try somewhere else, otherwise this is the best place to start dreaming AND doing!

I have to agree with most of the other people who gave this book a brilliant 5 STAR rating!! The Back Door Guide is an inspiration to anyone and everyone who wants to live a full and enriching life, including students, job changers and professionals. I was immediately hooked by Landes' genuine, down-to-earth and humorous writing style and equally impressed with the plethora of insider tips and resources. As an avid traveler and adventurer, I found the "Abroad Adventures" section to be particularly helpful for finding the right kind of short-term overseas opportunities - from teaching English, to arranging an internship in Germany, to volunteering in Latin America. Instead of spending endless hours on the internet clicking through site after site to find the right program, Landes' book has all the best programs and resources at my fingertips so I don't even have to turn on my computer. I will be referring to this book repeatedly everytime I need a motivational boost, words of encouragement, tips on an adventure career, like with Club Med or a cruise ship, or if I'm planning my next overseas adventure! Great job!

Almost 1,000 descriptions of internships. Entries describe the type of position, how many people apply, and information about the job. A section titled "Ideal Candidate" specifies whether jobs are open to college students, career changers, retired people, and/or foreigners. Types of short-term jobs include adventures, camps and resorts, outdoors, environmental, artistic, socially responsible, and international. A section tells you how to motivate yourself to try one of these adventures and how to apply. Inspiring, interesting, and practical.

This review was originally in Learning A Living, A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia

I attended an M&A conference where Feldman was giving the keynote address. I was so impressed by the insights in the speech, that I immediately bought the book and read it cover-to-cover. Five Frogs is a powerful book. It delivers valuable insights and intelligent solutions that can only come from years of experience. The whimsical title and entertaining style may give some readers the impression that this is not a serious book. However, this is a very serious book that directly confronts the really tough issues in making mergers work. Having been on the executive team in many mergers, I have purchased and read the popular M&A books. They all tend to be dry and academic. But, Five Frogs gets your attention by presenting ideas in unexpected ways. From the seven deadly merger sins in the introduction to the ultimate scapegoat in the last chapter, the book is immediately useful. And, the emphasis on speed and execution is exactly what every merger needs.

My company has been making acquisitions for over twenty years and I think we've read all the merger books in print. "Five Frogs" is the winner when it comes to candid, practical and intuitive advice on how to accelerate through the post-deal transition without destroying shareholder value. Its a fast and easy read that makes its points clearly and with great examples that force you to think intelligently about decisions that must be made and executed quickly. The two chapters on internal and external communications planning and execution alone are worth the price. Our results from following the authors'advice on post-deal priority setting were both powerful and surprisingly painless. We're about to go through the biggest merger in our history and every member of every transition team in both companies now has a copy of "Five Frogs." It's become our merger bible. Also, if you get a chance to hear Feldman speak on the subject, don't miss it. He's an articulate and entertaining speaker who's seen it all. Very motivating.

This is what I found useful reading the book:

1. The book lets you know what to expect in M&A and Transitions.

2. It lets you gain insights on economic value creation, and teaches you to focus on the bottom-line.

3. It provides a clear framework for communications at different levels to different stakeholders (customers, employees, shareholders, regulators, vendors, et al.)

4. It also sensitizes you to potential competitive threats during the critical period of transition.

5. It virtually hands you a launch plan for transition, but with enough insights via stories and incidents that you can adapt it; and learn multidimensionally. (e.g., What would I do when two of my competitors merge?)

The authors' communication is lucid, ideas are pragmatic and insightful, and the focus is on the bottom-line. READ THIS FIRST!