Equiknowlogy 101... Review

Equiknowlogy 101...
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I have read and reread this book. I highly suggest that all persons considering buying a horse should read this before they buy and reread it before they put their $$ down and take the horse home. I would have prevented an injury if I had followed Smokies' advise. Very straight forward and common sense advise. Fun to read. I also suggest his other book "Whisper This". Thanks Smokie for your wonderful books.

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The follow up to Smokies internationally read book Whisper This..., Equiknowlogy 101... takes a tongue in cheek approach and humorous look at obtaining your degrees in Equiknowlogy...The study of everything horse, (In one easy lifetime lesson)! This study guide....Ok, it's not really a study guide. It's just a bit of drivel about horses, owners and stories that will perhaps make you think, laugh and hopefully better enjoy your horse experience..It will take the reader through virtually, (well just about) everything you can think of when it comes to owning horses, the knowledge required, and some of the bad things that can happen when you are not prepared for it. Working your way up from the PHD, (Pre-horse degree) program, and on to your FHD (First Horse Degree), with step by step help from our staff, you will hopefully learn your lessons from other students of the Equiknowlogy program enrolled in one of the other degree programs. Moving on to your BOH we will take the reader through the realities of horse ownership and hopefully not getting acquainted with the class graduating from Buck Off U. (University), and the You Can't Ride Pretty school for first time horse buyers. The home school study program for hard knocks and reality, and making a lot of contributions to the Foundation for Clinicitis, and the home for unwanted horses and uneducated owners. This study guide is based on true life stories, questions and lessons learned from real people just like you and me. Just everyday folks who have made the ill-advised attempt to get a horse, ride, or do just about anything else you can think of in the equine world, before completing, (or at least getting an good handle on) their studies at Whisper This... College of Equiknowlogy... These lessons are sometimes funny, and sometimes not, but I think you will find them interesting and not something that you will read in your run of the mill horse book! But hopefully what happened to these folks in these studies won't happen you if you take a little time now to do your homework! Now, if your thinking, I all ready know this stuff, so I won't buy it... That's ok! I'm not out to change to horse world or your way of thinking. Just give a little off the cuff advise to folks that might not have $650 bucks to have me help fix their horse after things have gotten out of control. Or the price to pay for that 1200 pound lawn ornament you are about to buy... Or the medical bills and insurance you pay for in the future. Take a read if you like, or not... It's up you. But you just might get a little something from the not so famous folks that know a little something about horses too! Here's hoping you have a great equine experience! Your friend, Smokie. A portion of the proceeds from Smokies books and educational products are donated to the Wisconsin Horse Council Equine Foundation Scholarship fund and the Horsemans Services Scholarship Project.

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Sliding Home (Richmond Rogues, Book 4) Review

Sliding Home (Richmond Rogues, Book 4)
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Kason Rhodes comes home from spring training to find Dayne Sheridan in his shower. Assuming the trailer was abandoned, and falling on hard times, she had taken residence in the trailer, to work on saving money and healing her broken heart (her fiance, a radio DJ, broke up with her on the air). Kason may play for the Rogues, but he is a Loner with a capitol L and wants her out. She has no where to go, and fights to stay.
I really enjoyed this book. The secondary story was just as interesting as Kason and Dayne's story, and I found myself again rooting for the Rogues, both on the field and off. For those of you who read and enjoyed Curveball, you see a lot of Psycho McMillan, who is my favorite of the "Bat Pack." There were more than a few laugh out loud moments (making love on poison ivy is never a good idea). I love sports romances, and have ready many many many! Kate Angell's Richmond Rogues are one of my favorites...right up there with Susan Elizabeth Phillips Chicago Stars and Dierdre Martin's New York Blades. I hope she continues to write more. They are now a definite auto buy for me.
This is a quick, fun story that will be great to read on that blessed first day of school when peace comes back to your house after a long summer of lots of noise. :)
Enjoy.

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The ultimate bad boy baseball player finds a stranger in his shower and decides that no matter how sexy the interloper is, she won't find a place in his life-little does he know that the baseball diamond is not the only place he'll be sliding home.--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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The Soul of a Horse Blogged - The Journey Continues: Live the Moments - Inspiring New Stories - Compelling New Discoveries Review

The Soul of a Horse Blogged - The Journey Continues: Live the Moments - Inspiring New Stories - Compelling New Discoveries
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I bought this book because I enjoyed Joe Camp's first book: The Soul of a Horse. His decriptions are vivid, heartwarming and at times downright hilarious. I felt as if I was right there with him and Kathleen on their journey. If every horse could be treated with the care Joe Camp gives his herd, they'd be lucky indeed. The only "problem" I had with Joe's books is I couldn't put them down! He just smoothly leads you from one Chapter to the next and leaves you wishing there were more pages to read.
Be sure to also read The Soul of a Horse.

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LOOK INTO THE HEART AND SOUL OF A HORSE

Critical and reader acclaim from more than 150,000 readers of Joe Camp's best selling The Soul of a Horse - Life Lessons from the Herd has generated a profound impact on the way horses are being trained, kept, and cared for all across the planet. It is with that same passionate spirit that Joe has written The Soul of a Horse Blogged - The Journey Continues.

This book follows the lead of its predecessor once again engagingly navigating uncharted and often controversial territory while forging a change in traditional thinking about horses forever. Engaging, emotional, and often humorous, The Soul of a Horse Blogged deftly lures readers into the heart and soul of a horse, unlocking the mystery of a majestic creature who has survived on earth without humans for more than 52 million years.

Live the moments with Joe and Kathleen as they adopt a wild pregnant mustang and move their herd from the dry rocky hillsides of southern California to the wet grassy hillsides of their new middle Tennessee home. This book is full of inspiring new stories and compelling new discoveries as the horses continue to teach their life lessons from the herd. Plus an exclusive preview: the first three chapters of Joe's next book Born to be Wild - The Soul of a Horse Riding the Winds of Change.

Praise for the Works of Joe Camp

'Joe Camp is a master storyteller." - The New York Times

'Joe Camp is a gifted storyteller and the results are magical. Joe entertains, educates and empowers, baring his own soul while articulating keystone principles of a modern revolution in horsemanship." - Rick Lamb, Author and TV/Radio host 'The Horse Show"

'Joe Camp is a natural when it comes to understanding how animals tick and a genius at telling us their story. This book is a must-read for those who love animals of any species." - Monty Roberts, Author of New York Times Best-seller The Man Who Listens to Horses

'One cannot help but be touched by Camp's love and sympathy for animals and by his eloquence on the subject." - Michael Korda, The Washington Post

"I loved The Soul of a Horse, but this book is even better! It captured me from page one! Joe Camp is a master storyteller and I am so fascinated by his amazingly short journey to the truth about the horse. This book is more about the soul of a man who is not only committed to the horses he loves, but to sharing what he has learned and continues to learn for the benefit of all horses with elegance, style, truth and transparency! Kathleen Camp's photography brings this whole equine-man journey to life as it woos you through the pages. I am so loving it!! Read it, you will not regret it!" - Dr. Kim Bloomer, Animal Talk Naturally Radio Show

'The Soul of a Horse Blogged--The Journey Continues has a feel, a heart, a sense of perception that compels the reader to see the relationship between man and animal, between the physical and emotional forces that compete with each other to make life rewarding and motivating. Camp has become something of a master at telling us what can be learned from animals, in this case specifically horses, without making us realize we have been educated, and, that is, perhaps, the mark of a real teacher." - Jack L. Kennedy - The Joplin Independent

'This book is absolutely fabulous! An amazing, amazing book. You're going to love it." Janet Parshall's America

"Joe speaks a clear and simple truth that grabs hold of your heart." Yvonne Welz, Editor, The Horses Hoof Magazine

"I wish you could hear my excitement for Joe Camp's new book. It is unique, powerful, needed."Dr. Marty Becker Best-Selling Author of numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, regular contributor to Good Morning America


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Roscoe And The Pony Parade (Big Apple Barn) Review

Roscoe And The Pony Parade (Big Apple Barn)
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My daughter loves this series. It is a great book for horse lover. I would give it 5 stars if the book comes with nicer pictures and better prints. It is an interesting book, though.

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When the spring festival comes to town, Happy Go Lucky and his friends can't wait to see what it's all about.But when Roscoe the barn mouse disappears, Happy worries that he's gone off to the festival alone.A trip to town could be dangerous for a tiny barn mouse!

Can Happy find Roscoe before it's too late?


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Toys & Prices 2011 (Toys and Prices) Review

Toys and Prices 2011 (Toys and Prices)
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Great buy for the money. Covers all the major categories of toys from post WWII to present: action figures, Barbie, battery-operated toys, Fisher-Price, GI Joe, lunch boxes, PEZ, robots, Marx, Star Wars, vehicles, etc. It includes thousands of photos and 35,000 listings with prices in three condition grades. Best of all, it has market trends for every decade of the last 60 years, plus predictions for 2011. Everything you need to know to be a savvy toy buyer and seller.

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Toy Stories
Want to know the value of your 1961 Ideal Robot Commando in Mint-in-Package condition? How about your 1977 Kenner Darth Vader action figure? You'll find everything you're looking for in Toys & Prices 2011.
This nostalgic bible, now in its 18th edition, contains the most comprehensive identification and pricing information on post-World War II toys. Included are action figures, Barbie, Fisher-Price, G.I. Joe, PEZ, and Robots, not to mention all the other fascinating toys you remember and collect!
You'll also find:
New listings and expanded coverage for more than 35,000 toys and 100,000 current-market values
Updated commentary and advice from the country's most prominent toy experts
Historical information, hobby trends and advice for evaluating toy condition
Special 16-page color section featuring TV and movie-themed toys
This book is the first choice of collector's, dealers, and enthusiasts to identify and assess the value of their collectible toys.

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Web Anatomy: Interaction Design Frameworks that Work Review

Web Anatomy: Interaction Design Frameworks that Work
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This is the best website Design Pattern book I have read so far. The book is a spare, heavily illustrated 200 pages long--not the usual bulked tome 3-4 times longer. In that space, Hoekman and Spool introduce us to Frameworks, which take advantage of Design Patterns, which will be realized with Components local to the organization and along the way they blow apart dozens of cherished misconceptions, replaced by tested, researched ideas--"this is what we've found, and this is what we actually know." They then provide some excellent Framework examples and discussion to demonstrate, including two of the messiest, most often down horribly frameworks of all: "sign up" and "search."
For the latter, the text illuminates as so far no other article or book on the subject has done, how search and browse intertwine, and without saying so explicitly, focus attention on the concept of "findability," or closer to the author's terms, "how people best find and follow a scent of information." Backing all of this up is a decade of research at UIE, so that when findings seem contrary to what one might expect, or might have heard elsewhere, they can report, "this isn't what we thought we'd find when we first did user testing...."
Some books can be read comfortably in an easy chair. Some can be read in an easy chair if you have good bookmark slips or don't mind bending pages and writing in the margins. This is one where I needed my computer nearby so that I could supplement my notes with the occasional email to staff suggesting that we rethink this or that and by the way, what did they think of making this change to that template?
Among the notes I made while reading were the addition of this book to my own course on Content Management and several class notes edits to take advantage of it.

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At the start of every web design project, the ongoing struggles reappear. We want to design highly usable and self-evident applications, but we also want to devise innovative, compelling, and exciting interactions that make waves in the market. Projects are more sophisticated than ever, but we have fewer resources with which to complete them. Requirements are fuzzy at best, but we're expected to have everything done yesterday.What we need is a reuse strategy, coupled with a pathway to innovation. Patterns are part of the game. Components take us further. In Web Anatomy: Interaction Design Frameworks That Work, user experience experts Hoekman and Spool introduce "interaction design frameworks", the third and final piece of what they call "The Reuse Trinity", and resolve these issues once and for all. Frameworks are sets of design patterns and other elements that comprise entire systems, and in this game-changing book, Hoekman and Spool show you how to identify, document, share, use, and reap the benefits of frameworks. They also dive deep into several major frameworks to reveal how the psychology behind these standards leads not only to effective designs, but can also serve as the basis for cutting-edge innovations and superior user experiences.Web Anatomy delivers:
A complete guide to using interaction design frameworks

An examination of the psychology behind major frameworks

A thorough look at how frameworks will change the way you work for the better
Citing examples from both the successful and not-so-successful, the authors break down the elements that comprise several common interactive web systems, discuss implementation considerations, offer examples of innovations based on these standards, reveal how frameworks work hand in hand with patterns and components, and show you how to integrate frameworks into your process.Read Web Anatomy now. Benefit from it for years to come.Jared Spool is a world-renowned design researcher and the founder of UIE.com. Robert Hoekman, Jr. is a veteran user experience specialist and the author of Designing the Obvious and Designing the Moment.

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All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer Review

All About Trucking and Becoming a Driver Trainer
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I'm thrilled I bought this book! As a newly retired military member I'm interested in becoming a truck driver. This book taught me that I would actually make more money as a driver trainer-something I never thought about before. The author has written an incredibly comprehensive and informative book that really explains what life as a truck driver/ driver trainer is like. It has helped me gain insight into trucking that I never would've realized before reading this book. I highly recommend this to anyone considering a trucking career! It has been most helpful to me in my decision.

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The truth about long haul trucking...The purpose of this book is to pass on to those who are interested in making a career out of over the road trucking,the countless "little things" that together, can make this an enjoyable experience.This book explains in detail what long haul trucking is all about so that those who are interested in pursuing this as a career can make an intelligent decision whether or not they should spend the required time and money to make trucking a career. There is far more to long haul trucking than most people realize and many have made the mistake of giving up their former jobs only to find that this type of work is simply not for them.This book presents the world of trucking in a realistic and understandable manner.This is probably the only book of it's kind that gets into the many details of what happens in the daily activity of moving the nations goods from the manufacturer or producer to the distributer or final destination.There are many routines and special skills that must be developed to be a successful truck driver, whether he or she is going to be local or long haul.This book identifies many of these in detail so that the reader may understand that even though common sense plays a large part in trucking, there are many little things that make the difference between mediocrity and a job well done: success or failure.

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The Bull Rider's Secret (Harlequin American Romance) Review

The Bull Rider's Secret (Harlequin American Romance)
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Bull rider Brody Murphy wants no yesterdays...or tomorrows. He lives for today, moving from rodeo to rodeo. Admittedly, he's a poor bull rider, but the rough and tumble event keeps his mind off Angel, the five-year-old daughter who died. He needs to move from rodeo to rodeo, and he seems to have a death wish. So deep is his hurt and his feeling of unworthiness that he cannot allow himself to feel anything but that hurt and loss...until he meets Ricky Sova and his mother Katarina.
Kat, a farrier, works on The Wild Rose, a Texas horse and hay ranch. While the owners are touring Europe, she has been left in charge. She desperately wants to make a success of the job which will enable her to become the new foreman, a job that offers steady employment and a cabin-a place Kat and Ricky can call home. Heretofore, her work has taken them from place to place, but Kat wants more: a real house to live in, a permanent job with benefits so her homes cooled son can attend school in town. She needs normalcy, something she hasn't known until now. As a teenager, she became pregnant with Ricky, and Dwayne, his self-centered ne'er-do-well father had no desire to assume responsibility.
Brody meets Ricky at a Wild Hog event. They team up and after the event, Brody drives the boy home. Meanwhile, Kat has just fired two cowhands who've refused to take directions from a woman, and she's now short-handed. If she can't get the job done, she knows she'll never be considered for the permanent position. She offers Brody a job, which he refuses. Later, at a bar, he overhears the two cowhands making plans to get back at Kat so she'll be forced to take them back. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Brody goes back to warn her...and ends up being talked into taking the job for a few weeks.
Both Brody and Kat have serious issues. Brody's no home, no responsibility, and no one depending on him lifestyle is exactly the opposite of Kat's need for stability and for putting down roots. Her independent streak, however, may have gotten her into a trouble from which even she cannot get out, and it's up to Brody to do some soul-searching. But can he become the man she needs.
The Bull Rider's Secret has moments of pure joy as well as tension. The love scenes are done with a deft hand. I felt, however, that Brody took too long time to come to his epiphany, which accounts for the four stars instead of five. Even so, I recommend this book. It's a satisfying read.

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Made You Look Review

Made You Look
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This book is funny. When he put on his dinosaur head and peanut butter and jelly fell onto him, I fell off the couch laughing. If your mom is forcing you to read, you should read this.

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Guide To Writing & Publishing Science Fiction Fantasy Horror Review

Guide To Writing and Publishing Science Fiction Fantasy Horror
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Now here is a different sort of writing guide! I loved it! First, it zeroes in specifically on the genres I'd like to write about, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, rather than just being for anyone who wants to write just anything.
Secondly, it does not treat the would-be writer of such genres as a "newbie." This thoughtful and well organized guide assumes you already have a grasp of these basic things. Rather, the Guide To Writing & Publishing Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror by Rob Shelsky gave me exactly what I needed.
It dwells specifically on how to write in the above three speculative genres. As the Guide says, they all have very much in common, and so those common elements allow the writer to write any of the three (using this book as a guide, of course). It also delineates the differences in each genre, the added elements required for horror versus fantasy, versus science fiction, for instance. The book gives five easy steps to getting published and then each chapter goes into depth on how to do all these things. For example, I had no idea that the first two lines of a book were really so critical, could make or break somebody wanting to buy it! Neither did I realize what ingredient is absolutely essential to horror (read the book to find that one out). Nor did I realize the common pitfalls of writing fantasy, the mistakes many (even accomplished authors)make, if they don't do some research and watch out for certain things!
What's more, the Guide To Writing & Publishing Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror details such things as how to promote cheaply as an independent author (free, do-it-yourself book trailers, for example), how to respond to publishers, how to create settings for stories, develop characters, develop plots, etc. Just check out the table of contents of this book. It shows you just how in-depth the contents are with regard to writing in these three speculative genres.
A Guide To Writing & Publishing Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror is just chock full of great advice, straightforward information, and a cut-to-the-chase approach to not only writing in these genres, but getting published in them, as well. I give Rob Shelsky's Guide To Writing & Publishing Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror the full five stars, because it certainly has helped me to get moving in my writing. My recommendation? Buy the book! It really does help--a lot!


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Terry Trackhoe Goes Missing Review

Terry Trackhoe Goes Missing
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I found this an amusing, endearing story. When I started it and read, "Terry Trackhoe takes a wild ride..." this immediately put me on notice that what you had in store for the little ones (and big ones who read with their children) would be full of action and energy to keep them entertained. The plot is good - that something/someone is lost theme and we must find it/him/her, and especially where he is the smallest machine of the lot, and therefore vulnerable - but even more so, because it's a dark night with a dark forest surrounding him. The personification of machines like diggers and trucks have always been a hit with children and here where you include the underlying element of values to help youngsters appreciate some of the issues which can affect them - including the ones which are taken for granted because of their simplicity - makes this story even more worthwhile. The family context of the story also gives the book a nice, warm feel to it. I think small children will be fascinated with this book.

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Got Fangs? Review

Got Fangs
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Fran is in Europe with her mother. But unlike what most mother-daughter teams would be doing, Fran is tagging along with her mother who is a witch in a traveling psychic faire. Fran does not feel that this is good or normal. To make it worse, Fran can read people if she touches them. Something her mother thinks she should use at the faire but which Fran is uncomfortable with. Then a sexy motorcycle rider shows up. He is the younger brother of one of Fran's few friends. He is also a very old vampire. While longevity goes with either sex, only the males can be true vampire. And if that wasn't enough, the vampire tells fran that she is his beloved and only she can lift his curse.
Now Fran has a vampire follower who almost worships her, a talent she hates, a mystery of who is robbing the faire, and everything is just confused. So Fran tries to hold off the vampire, agrees to use her talent to try and find the thief, and befriends a very special horse. Sounds simple enough until she finds herself fighting for her life against demons.
The relationship between Fran and Benedikt (the vampire) develops but it is obvious there will be more stories involving these two. The mystery was good and the action was acceptable. Katie Maxwell has created a very interesting world where demons, vampires, psychics and magic all exist. Her take on the vampire is new and fresh. This is not just a vampire teen romance. Check it out.

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FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY.--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

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Build Complete Confidence with Horses: Beat Fear and Excuses to Attain Your Riding Goals Review

Build Complete Confidence with Horses: Beat Fear and Excuses to Attain Your Riding Goals
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I have Kelly's other books and enjoy her perspective on horsemanship. This book is not about horsetraining, it is about working on THE HUMAN, so if you are looking for specific horsetraining information, this is not it. However, it is an excellent guide for anyone not achieving their goals, whether it be with the horse(s) in their life, or any other part of their life. There are specific assignments in the book to help the reader - so reader involvement is required. This book would be great for any riding instructor who is interested in non-traditional methods.

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Whether the goal is as basic as gaining the courage to stroke a horse or as complex as winning a national championship, this guide offers time-tested advice for turning dreams such as these into reality. Through an easy-to-follow, confidence-inspiring approach, readers learn how to identify the source of their insecurities and master the techniques that will enable them toachieve their personal ambitions in everyday riding—be it feeling more calm and comfortablearound horses; expanding their knowledge of the horse's mindset and reaction; or learning what it takes to not only prepare for but win a competition.

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Almost a Whisper: A Holistic Approach to Working with Your Horse Review

Almost a Whisper: A Holistic Approach to Working with Your Horse
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I bought this book based on Amazon customers' effusive recommendations, and I tried very hard to like it. I did -sometimes-but I just don't think it worked for me overall. All of the previous customer reviews that address the book's content are pretty much accurate, including the reviewer who noted that the contents are wordy and repetitive; they are. So, to give additional information to the prospective buyer, this review focuses on what I would have appreciated knowing.
First, a good portion of the book is devoted to the authors' efforts to convince the reader to abandon the stereotypical "cowboy school" of horse breaking/training. It was as if they assumed their audience consisted of cowboys of decades ago. This is understandable given Sam's background, but if that's the target audience, I'm not sure the book's title is going to attract those people. The problem I had with the authors writing so much extolling the wisdom of the "horse whisperer" philosophy is that I was already there. That's why I bought the book.
Second, while they rightly criticize abusive horse breaking methods in favor of theirs, several passages come across like they're proselytizing. This tone wasn't completely off-putting. Neither entirely was the fact that they occasionally digress to opine on society's ills. Other readers may not be so charitable about these musings. (While other readers may high five them for it.)
Third, the book was generally well organized, but many points - mostly on why one should choose horse whispering - were repeated. Repetition does aid memory, but I would have appreciated more content on various situations involving the mature horse. Why is it that these sorts of books generally focus on the "starting the colts" stage? Don't many riders own older horses that know how to get away with a lot, are spoiled, domineering, etc.? From what Sam says in the book, it sounds like many of the attendees at his clinics are those riders or novice horse owners. If so, I don't suspect many of these people are into the starting the colts phase. Even if they are, examples on dealing with older horses other than trailer loading and spooking would help. For instance, I found it frustrating that the authors incompletely tell about horse owners who didn't think their horses had problems because the owners didn't ask the horses to do anything they didn't want to do. They relate the example of the horse that would not cross water or the filly that exploded when the owners tried to get her to move under saddle. Too bad the book didn't apply the horse whisperer method to these examples. Rather, they are mentioned only to illustrate why these owners need to readjust their attitude. I wholeheartedly agree that the rider's attitude is more than half of the problem, but finishing off these examples by employing the horse whisperer method would have been far more instructive, effective, and valuable.
Fourth, there are a few instances that really stick out as strange or incongruous. I was taken aback by the several references to misbehaving horses "going to dog food," even though these comments are always made by a hypothetical owner exasperated with his "misbehaving" horse. I similarly gave pause when Sam bluntly admits to laying horses down. (He does candidly explain the limited circumstances under which he does this, and emphasizes that he does not train others to do it.) I also looked askance when the authors unequivocally say that horses have a form of mental telepathy. I guess this added to the holistic part of the book? More of a petty irritation, probably better levied on the editor, is the fact that the index is not carefully compiled. Page references are not always correct (e.g., in my edition, Buck Branaman is mentioned on page 138, but is indexed as appearing on page 137).
In sum, the book is a readable amalgamation of biography, journal of one's journey in search of personal enlightenment, how to start colts, philosophy (life in general and life with horses), training manual, and "The World According To Sam and Lane." There is much in "Almost a Whisper" to learn, particularly to those who haven't read any natural horsemanship books, and especially to those who haven't broken out of the breaking method. The approach these authors take may not fit everyone, but it is the message that's important. Unfortunately, I found many aspects of the book distracting from the worthy points. Now forewarned, I'll hopefully be able to focus on those points when I reread this. This book may have been three stars for me, but if Sam and Lane's style effectively reaches others, and it appears it has, the book is worthy of five stars for them.

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Want to develop a solid partnership with your horse?Teach him practical skills like loading in a trailer without fuss?The author teaches you how to really understand your horse and handle him safely.*Three keys to maintaining a horse's respect*How to tell if your horse has a physical problem that's causing him to act up

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The Color of Class: Poor Whites and the Paradox of Privilege Review

The Color of Class: Poor Whites and the Paradox of Privilege
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This is a worthwhile effort in an under-studied area. Surely, poor whites are among among the most abused and least understood people in the United States. Moss lets a jargon-laden, deconstructionist (and not very useful) methodology intrude on his account, and he spends a lot of time reflecting on (and dramatizing) himself (an educated black man) in the context of poor whites. The conclusion is not enlightening, and the book seems to run out of steam near the end, offering no good insights into how the gulf between the poor of all backgrounds can be brought together in their struggle for fairness and opportunity. Kudus, though, for pointing out how bourgeois white self-congratulation for racial enligtenment serves their interests rather than those of minorities.

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How to Restore Your Wooden Runabout: Volume 2 (Motorbooks Workshop) Review

How to Restore Your Wooden Runabout: Volume 2 (Motorbooks Workshop)
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This book is well written and is something you can read just for reading sake! Been doing boat repair for a long time and learned a lot from Don. Both Volumes 5 stars.

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Don Danenberg, the recognized master of wooden runabout restoration, is back with his second book about how to undertake detailed restorations. While Volume 1 focused exclusively on woodworking, Volume 2 covers a wide range of topics to help restorers complete their projects. This new book addresses running gear, electrical wiring, plumbing, instruments, upholstery, trailers, and maintenance. The techniques are presented so they can be applied to any make of classic wooden boat and include further insights from the author into selecting materials, lapstrake construction, hardware and more. Volume 2 also includes an appendix of resources, glossary, and "School of Hard Knocks" sidebars.

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Gypsy World: The Silence of the Living and the Voices of the Dead Review

Gypsy World: The Silence of the Living and the Voices of the Dead
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If you're looking for a highly readable book, this may not be the one for you. But if you want a dense, scholarly account of the world of the Gypsies, this is it. A fascinating look inside a world very few outsiders are privy to.

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For many of us, one of the most important ways of coping with the death of a close relative is talking about them, telling all who will listen what they meant to us. Yet the Gypsies of central France, the Manuš, not only do not speak of their dead, they burn or discard the deceased's belongings, refrain from eating the dead person's favorite foods, and avoid camping in the place where they died.In Gypsy World, Patrick Williams argues that these customs are at the center of how Manuš see the world and their place in it. The Manuš inhabit a world created by the "Gadzos" (non-Gypsies), who frequently limit or even prohibit Manuš movements within it. To claim this world for themselves, the Manuš employ a principle of cosmological subtraction: just as the dead seem to be absent from Manuš society, argues Williams, so too do the Manuš absent themselves from Gadzo society—and in so doing they assert and preserve their own separate culture and identity.Anyone interested in Gypsies, death rituals, or the formation of culture will enjoy this fascinating and sensitive ethnography.

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