Row a little, learn a little
585614
An Englishman Abroad  Discovering France in a Rowing Boat is set along the Seine river from the source to the sea. This is the authors third travelogue  living in France for more than 20 years. Charles took six months to build a 7-foot  rowing boat from a kit, with a sudden plan to travel along the Seine in a variety of river transport, with stops and starts throughout the year, taking in the sights, museums, and the French cuisine.

The book is written in three parts, representing the three parts of the Seine: (1) source to Paris, (2) the Paris area, and (3) Paris to sea. The Seine is very bendy and 776 kilometres (470 miles) long  twice the length of The Thames in Britain.

His French wife, Ines, accompanies him on his journey. He begins in his rowing boat from Burgundy on the plateau de Langres (the source of Le Petit Seine). His rowing boat is classified as a menues embarcations  a very small craft  which is banned on Parisian waters, so in Paris he begins with a shuttle-boat from Maisons-Alfort to Parc de Bercy, a catamaran, and a Batobus (boat-bus). He gets back into his rowing boat from Bougival shaken, but not stirred by passing barges.

On the third leg to the sea he travels on Serges barge, Dimitris small cruiser with a whopping great outboard motor on the back, Christophes 1963 amphicar (that looks like a convertible with propellers), Dominiques large cabin cruiser, Jean-Francois sailing boat, then a bac (river ferry). For the last part he rows to the seaside city of Le Havre and Le Pont de Normandie  the 257th and final bridge over the river Seine.

I think the title is long and misleading. It is not about discovering France, but about discovering the Seine  a very small part of France. And it is not in a rowing boat, but in any seaworthy vessel he can find. Perhaps the title of the book should be Discovering the Seine by Boat.

It is not an arduous adventure  it is more like a Sunday frolic in a row boat, interspersed with standing on a boat watching the scenery. The most interesting part was Part 3, from Paris to Le Havre, even though there was minimal rowing. Most of the rowing was in Part 1, from source to almost Paris. The Paris section was disappointing for there was nothing new or interesting. Neither is it remarkable literature  it is a random set of news and views on what he sees, eats, does, and meets along the way. Like the Seine, the book can be long and rambling. But I think is more interesting.

Nevertheless, for Francophiles and Timoney fans, there is some worthwhile reading. Readers learn about the confluence of the Aube river and the Seine, river vocabulary, the river level, the coypu (a beaver-like creature), French cider, the Bayeux Tapestry, and dragees (sugared almonds). Along the way readers learn about Sequana  the Roman goddess of the Seine (from the word squan meaning serpentine)  smelly Epoisses cheese, how to choose Champagne, the difference between egorger and degorger and why English children only ever read books about rivers.
4091473
I bought a home with a pool table, and I soon realized that I was/am a poor pool player. So, I bought Pool and Billiards For Dummies. The short story is  that my game was improved by reading this concise book. Unfortunately, my game hasn't improved as much as I'd have liked. If it had, I would have added another star to my review. Seriously, while the book was very informative about such things as  stance, grip, stroke, and shape, it didn't quite explain well enough, at least to me, just exactly how to know where to aim the cue ball so that the proper spot on the target ball is struck; that part was a bit confusing. But, all in all, a great book for anyone who wishes to improve their game.
2326625
Mark has given us a hands on approach to learning that encourages repetition and looking at a problem multiple ways. The end result is you have a deeper understanding of the syntax and it assures a place in your memory.
1209696
if u r trying 2 fill the grid with words you gotta know were u r putting them. the way that i learned this is by looking at 1 shape then find the other. LEARN IT LOL!!!!!!
4276283
Who doesn't know what is?

The author, Dave Hughes, ruminating as to whether the addition of a new fly that caused him to exceed the capacity of his beloved single small stream box is or isn't beneficial.

Seeing that this is how Trout from Small Streams ends, the reader is left pondering a question that takes on an almost existential significance.

I don't know if that's good or bad.

This time it's me, the reviewer, wondering if this fly fishing business doesn't tend to become just a bit heavier than it ought to or needs to be. Or perhaps I'm just reacting to the devilish complexity of it all...

Anyway, Hughes has written a generally pleasant, if at times overly weighty tome on the particular attractions of smallish fish in modest waters. In a competitive world where, more often than not, size really does matter, there's something refreshingly counterintuitive about this.

While the title, "Trout from Small Streams" suggests that the fish have the center stage, in fact, they are of secondary importance; the book is really an exposition of intricate technique as to how to catch them. At times this can become quite esoteric as in the following discussions of leaders: "Next in importance are spare tippet spools in 3X, 4X, 5X, and 6X, along with a couple of store-bought leaders 7  feet long tapered to 3X. That gives me the options of fishing a stout 3X leader about length of the rod I carry, for size 8 and 10 flies, or, far more often, adding a 2-foot tippet of 4X and fishing a leader just that much longer than the rod I use on small streams, for size 12 and 14 flies".

Sometimes Hughes gets a bit carried away as in this description of experimenting with a simple yarn indicator for nymph fishing, "I merely stripped a few feet of line from the reel, drew it out beyond the rod tip, held the hook while I danced a bit of line into the air above the gravel, like a snake charmer elevates a cobra, then flicked the rod towards the upstream end of the pool and let the fly go at the same time".

If, at this moment, you find yourself with bated breath on the edge of your chair, then you can be sure this book's for you.
2260754
The book teaches what it needs to and I am happy with my purchase.  However, two things needed improvement in my opinion to make the book 5 star.  First, a few illustrations can be a bit confusing... for example, i kept trying to figure out what the white "gyser" was on page 11 only to realize it was a border between two separate pictures.  Second, some of the sentences were not written following the best writing practices.  For example, I was taught it is unprofessional to start a sentence with an "and."  This book does teach the topic of water traveling downhill very well for the given age group and I love the ending scene where you see how far the water traveled to the sea... but with a little editing and a critical eye, I think the book could be better.
4037687
Another good book by George Ilian.  Most of the information in this book I already knew. The best feature of this book was the succint way the author would sum up the life and business lessons to be learned.  For instance, when the author tells us about NeXT and how Jobs wasn't satisfied with the first version he decided less than a year later to redo it and he made it better.  The life lesson to be learned on this one is "Lesson No. 24: If you are not satisfied with what you have made, do it again. And this time do it better. "
To me these little one and two liner statements make the book. I would have given this 4 stars except that I would have liked a little more detail on Jobs' life and therefore more Life and Business lessons.  This is a good quick read and gives you the cliff notes version of Steve Jobs' life and sums up each section with a life and/or business lesson.  I would recommend this book.
2879037
I think the book does a good job educating the reader on how not to mess-up an interaction with other people, but it doesn't do much more. I hoped to pick-up some methods that would more often then not bring myself into a stranger's comfort zone. Nave? Probably. But if it doesn't do that then the book probably doesn't teach a reasonably likeable adult more than he already knows, albeit at an unconscious level. Ultimately, it's about time and volume of interactions. Use the author's tips to grow a large network of people and don't piss them off. Eventually (hopefully), you'll get a good return on investment.  But there's no magic revealed.
4086496
Nice little exercise in character development.
1193333
Good little instructional book on using common sense methods to make sandals out of tires that will last a long time.

Good strategy for making tire shoes. Worth at least a dollar.

Very little place for improvement - the pictures and graphics were well done, clear and to the point. I would suggest the author adds more about how to setup the webbing. If i recall he recommended using 'backpack straps', and also showed how to use plastic bags melted to size, but more info on the main sandal would have been welcome.
3493024
Took awhile to get the angle right, but works well when you learn it.
417008
It's a lot of fun. I do wish there was a little more instruction sometimes.
2409594
This has good instructions with each style. I wasn't as frustraited trying them because she does remind you that it takes practice. I got it to try new things with my granddaughters hair, she doesn't have the patience to let me do her hair. But the hints that was given help me try new styles. Most of them aren't overly easy, unless you're a natural like my daughter is. But I am having fun playing around with different ones. I learned it's best to start at the beginning and master the earlier styles first then the others will go smother.
4016901
This book is just an overview, but provides some very interesting exercise that is sure to build your knowledge and skill.
935823
Fun, easy to follow, great toning, but some of the 2 minute bursts of aerobics aren't very challenging. After 1 or 2 trys I didn't feel that I was being pushed. Maybe 2 minutes isn't long enough. I wouldn't begin with this video if you're just getting into aerobics because you might get too accustomed to the breaks.
Nevertheless, K. Smith is easy to follow, informative, and is the first video instructor to explain the difference between a plie and a squat.
1547604
Each spring, as the weather begins to heat up (and I realise that my 20-something metabolism is now another year behind me), I feel the heat of the sun on my layers of clothing, but also wonder about the layers of `me' under those clothes that prevent me from being, well, more revealing.

I really don't relish the idea of people ringing animal control wondering why there is a beached whale. So, each year I fight the battle of the bulge anew; last year was a banner year until I broke my foot and thus couldn't run any longer. This year, the ankle and foot are still tender, so I am forced to employ a new strategy. Enter this book.

Matt Roberts is one of the better known personal trainers in the UK, with many Hollywood connections (he counts Sandra Bullock among his clients). I have no illusions about turning into a Hollywood hunk, but the routines he presents in this book are both do-able as well as effective - after a month, I already can see a noticeable difference.

This small book is primarily pictures, which is a DK publishing signature. In it, Roberts presents three different routines, one each to be done each week in an every-other-day pattern. Both incorporate a level 1 and a level 2 number of reps, with a few alternate possibilities to adjust for ease or difficulty. There a few things that would be helpful (warming up on a rowing machine or a cross-trainer is recommended; an exercise inflatable ball is also recommended), but most can be done simply with the body and a matt or carpet.

Each routine is designed to be done in about 15-20 minutes, and is mostly tailored for beginners and intermediate level persons. I have incorporated this into a wider regime of treadmill running (hoping that my fractures from last year will not be exacerbated on a more shock-absorbent surface than the road) and light weight work. The exercises work the midsection all around, front, back, and obliques, upper and lower abs, and incorporate stress and stretch movements.

While the routines in this book could be followed by a man or a woman, the book seems much more clearly geared toward men, as all of the pictures show the exercises being demonstrated by men; also, some of the starting levels seem more geared toward people who are used to working out, so lower levels might be called for.

All of the exercises in the book were familiar to me, but one thing that Roberts states (there are question and answer sections between each exercise routine chapter) reminds me of my dilemma - one person asked why, if he did 100 sit-ups every morning, did he still not have a six-pack. I do a similar amount each day, and am also gently rounded. The truth is, as Roberts states, the sit-ups only work the abs in one way, and that won't achieve the desired results. Roberts presents a tested combination that works the midsection is a host of different ways that complement each other. I am seeing more results with fewer sit-ups.

Roberts also extols the virtues of cardio exercises (aerobics) and watching the diet, although these are not developed in detail in this book. I know that as I forge ahead into my 40s, I need to develop both areas along more healthy lines. The more times I hear this (or read this), the better - perhaps it will sink in.

This is a very inexpensive book, a small size that can easily fit in a gym bag or back-pack. The pages are rather thick and durable, and should stand up to regular use. My trial period for these routines continues for two more months; hopefully the results will consider to appear, and I can then modify my routine to prevent the plateau as well as maintain the results achieved - like diets that work to get the weight off, but only succeed in the long-term if there are long-term maintenance changes, that is what is needed here on the exercise side as well. Many of these exercises I can foresee remaining part of my maintenance programme.
2876254
A little bit of everything and very humbling for this beginner. So much to learn!