This book will invite the obvious comparisons to "The Glory of Their Times". That book was a collection of memories of men long since gone about a time in Baseball even longer gone. There was a reverence apparent in the recollections of those men that conveyed an image of a game uncorrupted by modern outside distractions. Of course, the iron rule of the owners and the "whites only" standard are just two contradictions to that image. However, there was a poetry to "The Glory of Their Times" that stays with you and clouds away those inconsistencies.

"We Played the Game" concerns a more recent time with the recollections of retired players, many of whom are still with us. It has the first-person history that "Glory" has but they apply to events that many people still recall. Where "The Glory of Their Times" is poetic, "We Played the Game" is active and interactive. It follows each season in each league through the eyes of at least one player on that team. There were 65 retired players who contributed their recollections. Due to the different tenures, military service, and trades, there are some teams in some years without a first-hand perspective. However, there are very few such omissions. The greatness of this is how the reader comes to taste the whole season in each year and in each league. Not just from the point of view of who won but also from the point of view of who lost. There's a lot of history in this book and it reads very well. Take one season at a time and enjoy a more vivid picture of the past than any newsreel would ever show you.

Reviewer Brislen has done a fine job of highlighting the virtues of this baseball compendium, and I recommend that readers read his review first. I have only a few points to add. Because the number of contributers is limited (65) and unevenly spread across the 17 year period, some teams and years are better represented than others. So readers wishing to follow the course of a single team or concentrate on a particular focal year may be disappointed. As to the negative side of the game--when they occur, the dislikes, criticisms, or revelations by the players are usually aimed at management, not at each other. Thus, for better or worse, those readers looking for a gossipy Ball Four writ-large may also be disappointed. Among players, there are two other recurring topics in addition to salary concerns : (1) drinking, some teams and players (usually unspecified) had a history generally unmentioned on the sports pages, and (2) race relations, the narrative presents an inside look at another subject generally untouched by sports columns of the time.

The year 1964 may mark the end of the great Yankee teams and the end of the Golden Age as recounted in the book, but its political context is also relevant. It's one year after the Kennedy assassination and one year before the great Vietnam build-up, two epochal events that have come to define an end to our national innocence. They also usher in a generational change marked by a greater willingness to challenge authority and the rules. In baseball, this rebellious spirit leads to an overturning of the restrictive reserve clause that tied players to a single team, and more subtlely, to an undermining of the working class ethic that so many fans found endearing. The pluses and minuses of these two key elements comprise something of an underlying theme that weaves in and out of the narratives, and lends the book broader historical significance.

Still and all, what lifts this work above so many others is the opportunity editor Peary provides to so many marginal and obscure players to tell their story, ones which really do constitute the fabric of the game, and how basically decent and attached to baseball these men are. Coming away from their stories, the reader begins to understand why this game alone, with its very unfashionable appearance and rhythms, has worked its way into the soul of a nation.

Danny Peary has compiled an oral history that is simply as good an effort as has been done to date. The sixty-five players interviewed range from a few stars like Brooks Robinson, Del Ennis, Lew Burdette and Don Newcombe to solid career players such as Hank Sauer, Andy Seminick, Eddie Joost and Gene Woodling to guys just trying to hang on like Coot Veal, Ed Bouchee, Al Kozar and Bob Cain. The book covers the years 1947-1964 which many, including Peary have labeled the "golden era" of baseball. Most of the seminal changes of postwar baseball have been covered before of course in other works, but seldom in the words of the players themselves. At least not in the words of non-superstars. As you read the stories of these players you begin to realize the pressures they were all under in a time before free agency, long term contracts and huge endorsement money. Almost all of these guys, even the best, needed to have winter jobs to make ends meet. To understand the politics that could deny talented players opportunity in age of the reserve clause, read and reread the story of Al Kozar. In spite of the obvious disparity between today and then, one gets the feeling that ballplayers in that era seemed to enjoy the game more than their current counterparts. For all the inherent problems with the reserve clause, there seemed to be an innocence to the game that no longer exists. Any serious historian of baseball should not be without this book.

to the Game of Chess. Suggests and offers examples, to practice on your computer, of basic mates and elementary endgames. The book is written in a friendly style that is unlikely to intimidate one new to Chess. As such the book is suitable for individuals with no prior knowledge of the game and particularly appropriate when included with the gift of a chess computer (or chess software) to such an individual.

Unfortunately I was disappointed. I was looking for something that built on and expanded Julio Kaplan's "How to Get the Most from Your Chess Computer" RHM Press 1980. For a (more) rigorous examination of how computers play chess and advanced methods of employing the computer to improve your game I highly recommend Kaplan's work.

This book is good for beginners and intermediate players. It doesn't give you 101 chess opening but it can lead you to more than 101 opening. The author summarizes opening ideas and clarifies middle-game stretegies. It might be better if you buy this book accompanied with a good chess-opening book, then read opening tactics and compare to this book.

I like the order of the presentation. Whether a bid is forcing or not is presented early (Ch 3).

If you call yourself an Advanced player you have got to get this book. Hardy describes in depth, the current modern bidding techniques. He starts with two over one, game force and adds in conventions and gadgets that should make your bidding much more accurate. His examples and quizzes are very well edited. Of all the bridge books I own (many), I would call this one "my bible."

A fellow Scrabble player saw this book (which I have owned since 1987)and said she MUST have a copy! It has the best info for Scrabblers, both novices and old-timers, even including the complete list of acceptable two-letter words. I would like to give her a copy as a gift and hope it is available

I received this book from a friend when it was first published. Having been a devotee of Scrabble for many years, I was amazed at how much I was able to learn from this book. Straight talk on strategy, word lists worth memorizing, combinations to save/dump, all without the pomposity of the author that accompanies many books. This one reveals a host of secrets that eluded me for years. Simply the best how-to book on the subject

I thought this book gave great ideas that all cheerleading squads could use. Although I did'nt like that the stunting pictures were all of very basic stunts and that they showed drawings of the jumps instead of real pictures.

I enjoyed this book! I use it with every turn in cheerleading coaching. I have been coaching for the last 11 years and this is one of the best resources that I have come across. I use this for both my All Star Team as well as my Varsity High School Team. This is perfect for the coach or advisor, however I would not suggest this book be viewed by the cheerleaders. This would confused them more than what they are already when any season starts. Coaches get your hands on this one!

This book is recommended for cheerleading coaches at all levels. It covers planning practices, motivating your squad, dealing with parents and other "coach" type stuff that other books do not even mention. Since cheerleading is a hands-on sport, you'll need to obtain other instruction on how to perform jumps, stunts and dances. If you are a coach, you'll like this book.

Although the title suggests otherwise, this is not really a book about Star Trek. Lawrence Krauss, a physicist, quotes Star Trek, but his further explanations largely neglect what can be seen in the series and, rather than that, strictly adhere to the laws of real physics. This alone is no criticism. We need popular books about physics (and this is a good one), but the title just doesn't suit it.

A typical chapter begins with examples from the series, but subsequently it becomes like a general analysis of science (and) fiction where one could easily replace "Enterprise" with "Star Destroyer" or anything else. In the chapter on warp propulsion, for instance, Krauss discusses a general theory of FTL travel without even mentioning the term "subspace" which is actually the key Star Trek's warp drive. The same happens in his reflections on the transporter. He assumes that a human being should be reduced to bits, although Star Trek's transporter is supposed to transmit the very matter of an object or person. Agreed, from the viewpoint of actual physics Krauss is right, and I would wish that he gave certain Trek authors a few repetitional lessons in physics. Anyway, I don't understand why he calls a book with rather few Trek-specific content and much more real world physics The Physics of Star Trek and not "The Physics of Science Fiction". I usually don't like to speculate, but maybe because the book sells better with "Star Trek" in the title, or does he intend to disillusion or even convert die-hard Trek fans? Well, I rather go with a positive explanation that Star Trek just covers all facets of fictional science and technology, so it was the obvious choice.

Speaking of disillusions, this book will have several for those fans who firmly believe that it just needs a bit of research until we get warp or only impulse drive or a transporter to work. Krauss makes very clear how much fuel it would take to accelerate a starship to "only" 0.5c and decelerate again (6561 times the ship's mass!), and what a resolution would be required to beam up a person's atoms from a planet surface (that of a lens as wide as the distance to the planet!). As I said, I think the book isn't supposed to spoil our fun of Star Trek, and I hope it won't have this effect on anyone. So if we keep in mind that Krauss is just talking about general concepts and not about how the technology works in Star Trek, this is a very good lecture for all who like Star Trek and all who like to know more about the limits of physics.

I'm sure some 'true blue' Star Trek fans will be disappointed that this book doesn't agree with all the 'science' used in Star Trek. Actually 'Star Trek' is only used as a jumping off point to talk about physics and possible advances of physics in the future. It also presents the other side, and will give the scientific reasons that some form of Star Trek technology (such as transporters) will probably never be possible. I thought the explanation of various scientific principles (usually related to something in Star Trek) were done well without being either condenscending or obtuse. I was actually surprised that the author (apparently a Start Trek fan) found that, for the most part, the scientific concepts used in Start Trek were generally more accurate than the usual SF TV show or movie. Usually the science in these shows is pretty bad. It appears that the Star Trek technical advisors have been doing their homework. I recommend this book to those interested in science and physics and are also familiar with Star Trek. The connection between the two makes the science more palatable and enjoyable.

Fascinating review of how the science and technology of the fictional 24th Century of Star Trek compares to current scientific theory. From warp engines to wormholes, from teleportation to tractor beam's, Dr. Lawrence Krauss explains how these marvels might and might not(!!) work within the constraints of the universe as we understand them today. Dr. Krauss credits Star Trek's writers not only with getting much of their science right (at least in theory) but also with frequently making up terminology which is prescience in its accuracy. (Who would have thought that "anyons" really exist.) In addition to pointing out the most egregious of the gaffes like sound waves in space and the subtle problems of quantum theory, Dr. Krauss also enumerates the mind-boggling magnitudes of energy that warping space and beaming folks around would consume. All in all a quick, fun read, especially for the "hard" science fiction fan

The cover is tacky. The clip art and ads inside are tacky. And hucksterism attaches to the claim that 300 positions provide "all" essential chess knowledge. And yet, as one tackles the positions (four per two-page spread), one senses that Alburt has read one's mind: he knows how far one has calculated; he knows when one should have reversed the move order; he knows when one should have double-checked the variation....

The positions seem to be in random order. Alburt says this isn't so. But either way, the "randomness" adds value: one comes closer to the experience of a live game, of not knowing whether one is faced with an opportunity for victory or for blunder or for survival.

For the player whose rating is between 1200 and 1600 (USCF), this is a valuable little book. I think it's easily Alburt's best.

Not all the positions in this book were useful to me, but the ones that were, taught me very important ideas that have dramatically improved my game. Use this book as a springboard for positions from your own games as suggested by the author. The other 5 books are: 1. Chess tactics for students by Bain. 2. Essential chess endings by Silman. 3. How to reassess your chess by Silman. 4. Chess master at any age by Wetzell. 5. The ideas behind the chess openings by Fine. Start with Bain first then use the other 5 in combination. The KEY is to ANALYSE your OWN GAMES using a computer for tactics and a strong human for positional play. Then store the important concepts into chess computer software. Finally, review these concepts so that you know them like the back of your hand. Discipline yourself and good luck!

Not a beginner book. Great format. Great selection of positions to learn. But you need to be over 1500 USCF before this book will have value for you. Study simpler tactics first.

Addendum:
My opinion of this book has risen steadily. I enjoy this book, and I am starting to watch for elements of the positions I have seen in it. Multiple readings are valuable, especially if you take the time to see why the key moves work. If a couple of pieces were moved, would the combination still work?

A truly excellent chess book.

This storyteller's screen is suitably moody, and the "Buried Secrets" book is useful, but neither is 100% essential for a good game of Wraith: The Oblivion. If you have a few bucks to spare, the elegantly dark screen will definitely contribute to the mood of the atmosphere (it looks great by candlelight), the nicely organized reference tables will be a great convenience, and the "Buried Secrets" book will give you a few good ideas.

I consider this screen to be the best White Wolf has made. It has the normal wraith/chains artwork, and spans an extra page from the other Stroyteller's Screens (4 pages total). Beyond that, it has similar information. I just feel it looks much better than the others, and I use it most of the time when I run my games. The book, Buried Secrets, has many little-known facts that are quite interesting. It has the most secrets about what's really going on in Wraith excluding, of course, Ends of Empire. While it is not incredibly useful from a gaming aspect, the book is a great tool to help design role-playing scenarios, as it gives enough information to better flesh out certain adventures that the main rulebook is vague on. I would recommend this book at least for storytellers, and for anyone who wishes to know more about the secrets of Wraith.

Wraith - The Oblivion is a great book. I just read it and I couldn't stop reading it. It adds a whole new dimension to WOD. I use to love playing Vampire the Masquerade but now my frineds and I play wraith. Charon plays a role similar to Caine, but he has his own accomplishments. Try to figure out who is Able (he is not under that name in the book). The Hierarchy is what I believe the Camarilla should have been created like. There is the Rebels for the rebels out there and theres the Heritics for you True Faith Players. The Shadowlands is a whole new world to roleplay.

Has significant information, but overall, is very child based. As a childen's book, I would give it five stars. If you're looking for any significant information on the game, don't buy this book. If you're looking for something entertaining for your children, I would highly recommend. Personally, I was looking for information for a college thesis, and this book did not really help. If you don't want to buy it new, wait a few days, until mine is offered as used. The people need to know.

It is fortunate to finally hear about the origins of a world class game from the indigneous people who first introduced it to this country. Rarely are the origins of team sports made available to those who play them. In this case, it is revealed how the game of lacrosse is still connected to the cultural integrity of the Haudenosaunee, past, present and future. In turn, the reader also hears an Onondaga voice regarding their history--a voice usually not heard in a public school environment.

Yet another great baseball effort partnered by Johnson. If you are truly a fan you will be familiar with Johnson and Glenn Stout from their masterful work on Red Sox Century. This is another well done, well researched work and I highly recommend it. For the rest of you New Yorkers out there, watch for Yankees Century to be out this summer in time for vacation reading.