Customer Reviews (1)

Compact Guide to Polo
The Polo Primer, as the name suggests, is an introductory guide to polo.It traces the game's history, from its origins in ancient military training to the games of modern times.Equipment, horse selection, learning the strokes, playing as a team, and how to get involved with polo are all covered.My rating of a 9 was based on the length (around 100 pages); I would have preferred a more detailed work.However, a lengthy volume might put off many new comers, whereas this book is the right size for the person deciding whether or not to get into polo ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are. A profound influence on medieval Europe's view of the wider world, this thirteenth-century account of a Venetian merchant's amazing experiences in the court of the great Mongol leader, Kubilai Khan, remains one of the most fascinating tales of exploration ever written. ... Read more

Product Description
A social history of polo focuses on the evolution of the game in the United States, from its popularity during the 1920s through its current comeback in appeal, discussing famous polo players and speculating about the future of the sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Milburn's Emperor's Account
Milburn does a marvelous job of discussing the history surrounding the game of Polo.While failing to examine the play of the game itself, Milburn does present an astute assesment of polo's past, present andfuture.Most noteworthy, is Milburn's astute representation of the originsof the sport.From the "noble" birth of the game to the dangerspresented by its initiation into the world of modern professional sports,Milburn presents the reader with a brilliant and relatively objective viewof the game.He avoids further facilitation of the aristocratic aurasurrounding the sport and notes that increasingly, it is becoming a sportfor all classes.He also, rather bravely, notes the inherent dangers ofthe sport, thus also dispelling any dellusions one might have as to thenobility of a game played solely by kings and princes.In doing so, he isable to instill a sense of reality into a sport that may seem larger thanlife.Finally, Milburn emphasizes that the sport is about the play itselfand not about an image.By retaining this ideal, the game of polo cancontinue indefinately as a gentleman's sport. ... Read more

Product Description
A face-first dive into America's sporting underbelly.

A lifelong sports fan, Zach Dundas asks: What happened to the fun, loud-mouthed, down-and­dirty sporting culture he always loved? Has it been replaced with performance-enhancing drugs, fat paychecks and billion dollar arenas? Of course not! With a renegade's eye and a fan's resolve, Dundas scours the underground to find the games, fans, and "athletes" you won't find in the sports pages. He tracks a bicycle race across Iowa designed to confuse and downright torture its participants, chases a gaggle of runners wearing red cocktail dresses in Portland, and screams obscenities in Chicago with the rowdy fans of the DC United soccer team, and through these and other harrowing and hilarious adventures, he begins to reconnect with the thrill of sporting as he discovers a vibrant, beautiful, and thriving element of American culture-simmering right below the surface. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great appeal for the sportswoman and non-sportswoman alike
Zach Dundas' observations alone are worth the read. He is damn funny and has a wonderful knack for pointing out the hilarious absurdities in everyday life. I myself am marginally interested and involved in sports- I have dabbled here and there, but never thought I would find myself reading a book devoted specifically to such a topic. This book is well worth the read, even for the un-sporty. Aside from learning about all the off the wall sporting pursuits out there, the greatest part of this book is Dundas' encouragement of sports enthusiasts and participants who do not fit the usual super-athletic, or even physically coordinated mold. He is encouraging of everyone who has ever been interested in playing a sport or even making up a sport of their own, but has been too afraid to do so for fear of failure, injury or just plain embarrassment. His simple message is just to get off the couch, bleachers, barstool, etc. and just get out there and do it and have fun (and perhaps a few drinks) while you are at it. I heartily recommend this book!

Not particularly analytical or organized, but very pleasurable
In this good-natured romp through the "underbelly" of American sports, Dundas hangs with beer slugging joggers (the Hash House Harriers), brutal overland bicycle racers, denizens of the re-emerging (consciously ironic, self-parodying) national roller derby league, U.S. major league soccer, and fencers (the foil/épée/saber kind).

There are also briefer looks at darts, trans-continental car races, street bike polo, urban golf (played on city streets), the Kentucky Derby as a fairly unco-opted spectator activity, futsal, and falconry.

The author takes a swipe at arena sports and "videophilia," but he doesn't spend a lot of time constructing the case against corporate sports or forecasting the future of the alternatives. The book is mostly an enjoyable look at off-beat physical pastimes -- participatory, grass roots, self-funded, weird and unpredictable, and above all, fun -- and the people who pursue them.

Although Dundas makes a big deal about forays to D.C., Chicago, Austin, and rural Iowa to witness tournaments and talk to participants and organizers, much of the book centers on and celebrates Portland, which is part of its attraction for Portlanders like me, but also a limitation. It's something of a DIY report, by an experienced and adroit writer on a rather limited budget.

In other words, it's partly a love letter to Stumptown: "As one of America's postmodern, Left Coast cities, Portland's traditional jock culture is weak, while its willingness to sacrifice dignity in pursuit of a good time is strong."

Not particularly well organized or analytical, the book does make pleasant company. Where else will you see a roller derby team described as a "sentient meat blizzard"?

Eventually, the journalist stops observing and plunges in. Renegade sports culture teaches that "it's better to do things badly yourself than pay to watch other people do them well," he writes. ... Read more

Product Description
Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good enough but leaves a lot out
I read 2 chapters of this each night to my 6 & 3 year old boys and they looked forward to it.That says a lot! There are pictures about every 3rd page, which is wonderful! This is a basic bio of Marco Polo's life.I found it to be pretty bland and wished Mr. Graves had gone into more detail about exciting events rather than gloss over Polo's life.I guess you can only squeeze so much into one story.

Junior World Explorers Series - Marco Polo
This is an excellent series that teaches history to the 8-12year old child.The book is excellently written, 96 pages with blackand white sketches along the way.

...we are very impressed at thecontent and reading style of this series.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrations, maps, and collages follow the exciting adventures of Marco Polo as he journeys from Venice to the court of Kublai Khan, through the Gobi desert to the city of Yan-gui, China. ... Read more

Product Description
The first Doctor, William Hartnell, and his companions join the caravan of the legendary explorer Marco Polo in this seven-part "lost" story from the programme's original 1964 series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Only Way You're Going To Hear the Whole Doctor Who Story #4
As a previous reviewer has stated, if you actually want to get to "see" a condensed version of this seven episode story then you must buy the "The Beginning Collection" DVD and view the 30 minute or so collection of photos with corresponding audio from the episodes.However, to "hear" the ENTIRE seven episodes, you must buy this CD collection.There is no product currently available to hear and see the entire seven episodes (and there won't be unless someone suddenly discovers some long lost tape(s) in their attic or archive).

The sound is good on this collection, not "scratchy" at all and is very clear.On my 5.1 surround sound system, "most" of the sound comes out of the right front speaker, but due to the clarity of sound and the fact we are dealing with an almost 50 year old sound track, that is not an issue with me.The narration is a plus as at least you can keep track of what is happening, especially when people do not speak for a while.

One thing the other reviews do not mention (maybe they didn't realize) is that CD 1 is actually a data disc--plays the episodes in your CD player, but on your laptop/PC, you can also get a copy of the audio script and a pdf map of the route taken during the couse of these episodes.

The Missing Episodes Begin
This is Story #4 and the first not only to have a missing episode but the entire story is missing from the BBC film vault. Kind of odd considering that this was one of the most sold abroad of the '60's stories. It was also only in the last few years that photos from some of the missing episodes turned up. This also is the first "proper historical" of the show's run. This show has achived almost legendary statis among fan for it's then visual effects so how does it translate to audio? Quite well actually. The sound remastered from off air fan recordings turns out to be very nice and William Russel (who played Ian Chesterton) does a wonderful job of narrarting and the story itself has a nice big feel to it. If you're a First Doctor fan, you'll want to hear this.

A rare gem
Considering that we will probably never get to see the actual episodes, this is as good as it gets. It's almost like listening to old radio plays. The narrative added to complete the "missing" bits helps to visualize what we cannot see.

Good Historic Doctor Who
The William Hartnel era is my least favorite of Doctor Who, but they did good work on these stories for the time in which they were made.William Hartnel is my least favorite Doctor.The sound quality on part of this CD is not that good because the master recording was old and not in very good shape.This is as close as you will ever get to seeing the original story.The In the Beginning DVD has a 40 minute montage of still photos taken from the show with some of the audio to give you an idea of what it looked like.This is the oldest missing episode of Doctor Who. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the ultimate book on the sport of polo. Polo is not only a sport, it is a state of mind, a lifestyle, a value system, a philosophy of life. Polo is about courage, strength, and speed. Beauty, elegance, and allure. This stunning volume explores all.
Players of polo, whether from India, England, Argentina, or Mongolia, are united by their love of the sport and the adventurous lifestyle that goes along with it. Photographing and writing about each important place along the polo route, Aline Coquelle, who traveled around the world for five years to celebrate the prestige, cosmopolitanism, and fun of polo, opens the door to this chic nomadic tribe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

an overview about international polo
Many important and famous polo personalities have written a comment, but wait just a comment! 123 words preface my idol Adolfo Cambiaso, in which he says more or less just that in his life and his career he is doing what he loves, polo, nice. An introduction by Patrick Guerrand-Hermes, which at this moment was the very controversial FIP president, now he resigned.
It continues with a long history of polo in India, Jaipur, and elephant polo, polo in the UK by Mr Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, HPA president and chairman, Pakistan, USA Adam Snow, one of the few Not-Argentine's who ever reached + 10 handicap, at least in the USA.
Marcos Uranga and Alberto Pedro Heguy try to describe the magic of the Argentine Polo.
Then it goes to the roots and I think more to the title of the book polo in Mongolia; than Lionel Macaire, who in his time "best" and probably for all time at least, legendary French polo player, writes about polo in France.
Already bored?
Not to mention Morocco, Snow Polo in the Alps, Dubai and Mexico.

The oversize makes it a bit difficult. Of course, interesting pictures from around the world to see, but there was no picture here of what I was impresed by the action or otherwise. Then it is also a matter of taste, but for my personal feelings in Yellow Pages-press-style are crammed with 19 small photos (page 21) and 48 photos on a double page (40/41) is an absolute sensory overload for my eyes. There are quite a few! Well at least I think I know a lot of people in the scene, but small picture comments would haave made me even happier, and the book a bit more informative.

Finally, I would observe, however, the "Nomadic Tribe" it describes it quite well. Basically, polo fanatics are somehow nomads. During the season they travel weekend getaway from tournament to tournament, and weather in the winter break always folowing the sun and the polo events afterwards, either to the Argentine Open or maybe slightly more exclusive Palm Beach, Florida, the family vacation is already booked for years but only after Polo options , that's really polo life!

As expected from the FIP (Federation of International Polo), otherwise it is a colorful mix of old, partially almost historical images, when Queen Elizabeth was just so young? or when Juan Carlos Harriot and the Heguy sen. played together?and newer material. So you'll see faded black-and-white photographs and current photographs side by side.

A little bit too big, a little big too much pics on a page, a little bit few words.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Ambitious, but...
The book is amazingly ambitious. In the preface, the authors actually state that their effort will shake the core of the discipline (they are not specific whether this is OT or the whole sociology) and that reading the book will create "oh my god!" moments for some sociologists. Since the book is written by heavy weight OT professors, it is certainly bound to create interest and cannot be simply ignored. However, I found this book hard to read and hard to like.

First, the authors formulate the classical first-order logic as their straw man, a limitation in OT, and propose that we should instead apply more advanced logics. The problem here is that theorizing is not driven by logic. Logics are the result from formalization, abstraction, simplification and study of valid processes of reasoning. Sociological theorists reason in many ways. I believe that theorists are mostly interested in materially, rather than logically, valid inferences. If we accept that OT is not, has never been, about applying formal logic to generate insights, a key premise of the book vanishes.

Second, one of the key ideas in the book is that researchers should analyze categorization processes through (fuzzy) sets of category members. It seems impossible that an actual research subjects (sets of individuals that the authors call audiences) would ever be able to comprehend whole sets of such forms as "school" or "chinese male" outside the encounters where categorization decisions are made? Moreover, how could a researcher ever measure this perceived set from the individual on any meaningful level of validity and reliability? It seems rather dubious that the authors in preface suggest that the social code (i.e. the meaning of a category) is defined through consensus on the proper entities within the set. For example, we develop an understanding of what a chinese male is by agreeing on exactly who belong to this set (and to which extent, [0,1])? If this is a causal claim, the direction is at reverse to that developed within psychological research on categorization (so called theory-theory a.k.a. knowledge based view). If it is an analytical statement it is self-evident beyond boring. As a sidenote, a well-known problem with set-theory appproach to categorization is that it is difficult to explain what it means for audiences to be mistaken ("I really thought it was a university but clearly it is not and never was!").

Third, while the authors use the concept of audiences (insprired by Goffman, I presume) to capture the active evaluators of organizations, they don't really attend to the performance of the role by the organizations. If we take psychological research seriously (the authors do cite a lot of cognitive research in some parts of the book but it doesn't really always figure in their reasoning), categorization decisions are created in-situ and draw on broad domains of knowledge. Thus, a novel organization can influence how others categorize it by making various domains of knowledge salient in the situations where audiences encounter it. In other words, rhetorics rather than stable properties play a big role. The apparent properties of a firm do not necessarily decide whether it is a nanotechnology start-up -- the evaluation is influenced in social interactions where arguments and counter-arguments may be crafted. As the authors note, evaluations may be graded but membership is often absolute (like whether Pluto is a planet).

Finally, the most complex and perhaps unobvious problem relates a neo-positivist dream that seems to underlie the book. We should remember that one of the reasons why positivism died was Quine's insight: it is impossible to separate analytical and synthetic statements. That is, any claim becomes true if we make changes to the meaning of concepts. In typical realist research, one attributes properties to entities and tests the relationships of these attributions. Realist (unlike positivist) keeps in mind that attribution of properties is somewhat arbitrary, as is the choice of the entities. Fuzzy sets amplify this arbitrariness: the choice of criteria for evaluting the relationships between fuzzy sets and the choice of criteria for grading set members are at least somewhat interchangeable. To rephrase: the way incorrigible individual evalutions of organizations is objectified into populations has complex relationship with objectively observable relationships between populations and outcomes. I am afraid that regression analysis between multiple fuzzy sets is good for falsifying formally postulated relationships between fuzzy sets, but it ill suited for falsifying interesting claims about organizations stated in natural language.

The book is in many ways a strange artifact. The reader is often puzzled by the fine line between description and theory. Perhaps the contents of the book can be explained by the authors' intent to reconstruct the basis of population ecology. This has lead to a positivist reification of populations as unproblematic essentialist objects subject to analysis -- only this time as fuzzy sets rather than classical sets. If the reader is interested in organizational populations, I would suggest to take a turn the authors explictly reject in introduction: investigate the knowledge structures and pragmatic concerns of various audiences to develop and apply labels to organizations. If we forget populations as reified entities we can see legitimacy and evalution in a richer and more realistic manner. Most sociologists have long realized that any grouping of entities, by actual research subjects or us researchers is a pragmatic feat that allows generalization. While these groupings help us to communicate our insights and generalizations, they are seldom good across time or topical areas (although when reified, categories can serve as a source of power, as researchers following Foucault like to remind us).

PS. Interestingly, the authors' concept "social code" (the criteria for category membership) largely equals analytical philosophers' concept "linguistic norms" (beginning from Sellars, Austin, and Searle in 50s and 60s) - the criteria for the application of a concept. A reader interested in perceptions of organiational populations might be well adviced to approach "hedge funds" and "investment banks" from a linguistic perspective. This would lead us into logic-in-practice of organizational categorization.
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Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

typical hilarious Jilly Cooper
Unambashedly trashy fun!Don't know if you have to love horses to love her books, but I can't get enough of them, totally trashy as they are.It helps to have a wacky sense of humor.I only give it 3 stars because this is not great literature and not as good as Riders, her best novel, but I have to admit I've read and re-read it, and it's entertaining every time!

not so staggered by the razzmatazz
This is the kind of book that your kids home alone unearth from your underwear drawer and wet themselves laughing at 1) because of the colorful language and graphic sex, 2) the over-the-top descriptions of sex, and 3) from embarrassment that their parent has such poor taste in literature.

Parts I enjoyed, but there were quite a few things that annoyed me. Usually, if the equestrienne character is hostile toward people, she's redeemed by her genuine love for horses, but not this "heroine."She half-kills her mare and recovers in just a few pages - which as a horse lover sure endeared me to her. The other characters are equally as unlikeable; the only decent main character (Daisy - the brat's mother) is such a doormat that you wind up wanting to slap her upside the head rather than root for her. (I did like her dog Ethel and her cat, as well as most of the ponies. At least, the author throws you that bone, pun intended.)

This was the kind of book where everyone's outfits were described in intricate detail, and their motives were spelled out the moment we met them (the author's motto seems to be tell not show). If a character's hostility was due to not being hugged as a child, the reader doesn't have to work too hard to figure this out.

Every time someone entered the story, whether or not we'd seen them before, we learned what color their outfit was. Cooper is very fond of colors - emerald green, baby blue, scrambled egg yellow, Pepto Bismol pink (just kidding), etc. After awhile this became tiresome.

Still something kept me skimming after reading the first two hundred pages. I just think it would have been as equally good a book if it were about half the length. None of the skimpy plot would have had to have been sacrificed. To the author's credit, she provides an extensive list of characters and a brief description (my favorite being "Bridget Macleod, Hamish's mother, an absolute bitch"). Subtlety thy name is not "Polo."

mad cap hilarity!!!
I have never come across a book which makes me laugh out loud; so much so, that my neighbours had their fingers poised to dial the emergency services!The story tells of Perdita McCleod who dreams of making it into the international world of polo playing.Within that is the separate stories of Ricky France Lynch and a host of other characters which I wish I knew personally.Their antics are hilarious (if sometimes unbelievable) but that is what good fiction is supposed to deliver.If you want LAUGH OUT LOUD comedy fun (albeit with a cast of shady characters) then this book is for you.I loved the fact that every character is flawed (unlike other books where everyone is perfect)and that they don't always deal with life situations in a rational way.I also love how Jilly combines English aristocracy with the humble labourer as well.It works so well in these times!I recommend this book to anyone who needs a laugh in their life. ... Read more

Product Description

How did Marco Polo manage to walk across all of Asia?Why did he become a favorite of fabled Mongol ruler Kublai Khan? Why was he not recognized on his return home? More than 700 years ago, merchants grew rich trading silks, spices, and glittering jewels

... Read more

Product Description
Learn the basics of water polo in 10 minutes!

Why is the whistle constantly blowing in a water polo match? What does it mean to drive? What are the roles of the drivers and hole-set? What is the egg-beater? The SportSpectator Water Polo Guide answers these questions and more! This overview will enhance your enjoyment as a spectator, whether you’re a novice to water polo or a longtime fan.

This high-quality, laminated guide folds to a 8.5 x 3.5 inch brochure to fit easily into a pocket or purse, and expands to 8.5 x 17.5 inches to reveal a wealth of information. The content includes the history of water polo, field diagrams, player roles, basic water polo rules and strategies, referee signals, and a glossary of useful water polo terms—the essentials to understand and enjoy water polo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great for Water Polo Newbs
My son recently joined a high school water polo club and has fallen madly in love with the sport. Since we live in a part of the country where water polo is a little known sport (almost anywhere east of California), I found myself lost at games.

I was a little surprized when I received what amounted to a brochure and not a book or booklet. On the up side, it is lamentated (good for a water sport) and easy to take to games. I've shared it with other parents at games and they agree it is helpful to those of us who are water polo newbies. I did find a decrepancy in the meter lines. According to my son's coach, high school club water polo doesn't have to use the lines shown. Our league uses 2-meter, 5-meter and center lines.

SportSpectator lists caps and balls as the only equipment required. I wish they had mentioned mouth guards as an optional equipment item. Water Polo is a full contact sport and blows to the mouth are very common.

A welcome aid
I've never really understood water polo even though my sons played it in high school.I wish I had had this guide when they were playing so that I could follow all that whistle blowing!And, it would have been a bonus if I'd been able to make an educated observation, such as "Mark did a great job of setting the hole in the second quarter."My stock would have gone way up!

Better late than never
I attended all of my son's waterpolo matches when he was in high school.I never knew why the whistle was constantly blowing, why playerswere sent to the penalty sideline and most alarmingly, why the referee wasn't calling a foul when it looked as though one player was drowning another from underwater.I wish I had had the SportSpectator Guide to help me understand the concept of strategic fouling and how the whistle blowing signaled the types of fouls (all concisely described in the guide).Having this nifty, easy to carry, easy to read referernce guide to waterpolo would have greatly enhanced my enjoyment as a spectator of the sport.And, even better, it would have given me a quick course in the terms and rules of the game so that I could actually discuss the details of the game with my son. ... Read more

Product Description
Charming story about young Marco Polo, with color illustrations and dual-text pages (each one in Italian and English). The book introduces children to the Italian language with an easy-to-read tale, five pages of language activities, and a handy dictionary with all the key-words found in the story.Included: a map that shows Marco Polo's journey, and Historical Notes highlighting Marco Polo's life milestones and achievements.Large print suitable for young readers.Bilingual. Ages: 0-8 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Marco Polo is anemic but the vocabulary word games are nice
Claudia Cerulli teaches a fair amount of vocabulary words in Marco Polo Wants to Travel but can children 8 years old and under stay interested in an anemic, bug-eyed hero?He lives with two people, never called his mother or father, and actually takes shoes from the sleeping man, who resembles Jesus Christ.As a child Marco acquires shoes and a rug to get ready for an imaginary journey riding his dog.The scene switches to Marco as a young man departing on a horse but his cold and lifeless world has followed him and at 17, his eyes still bug out of a pale, over-sized face.The historical notes and word games at the end of the book are a great relief but no 8 year old I know could stick with the English, much less the Italian.So I'm stuck with a book I had hoped to give to my niece...I don't want to scare her with the creepy artwork.

Love this book!
Great book for exposing children to the Italian language.My twins are 3.5 and love Marco Polo.Their dad can read it in English and I can read it in Italian.

Well worth the money
This book is very well written for young children if you are trying to teach your child both Italian & English. My daughter is almost 2, and she pulls this book off the shelf especially to read it. Not too many words on each page so it keeps her attention. Illustrations are appropriate and interesting for little children. I was very pleased to find such a book available. I also found the same company created "Filastrocche Italiane" if you want another good dual language book for young children. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Water Polo
A lot of spelling error sin the book and I don't feel that I gained much about the game, like how many players are there supposed to be?

Best informational book out
I play water polo on the high school level and this book helped me to understand the game...Even if you don't play you can always check it out. ... Read more