Book Description
As America stands to the rest of the world, so stands California to America - a bright shining promise of endless possibility. This exquisite celebration of "California The Beautiful" is both a portrait of the diverse natural beauty of the Golden State and through the incredible voices of its writers, a testament to the ever-renewing spirit that it has come to embody. Aldous Huxley, British author turned Hollywood resident, described the California dream as "This great crystal of light, whose base is as large as Europe and whose height for all practical purposes, is infinite." Among the other authors offering praise are Maya Angelou, Mary Austin, Ray Bradbury, Joan Didion, Gretel Ehrlich, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, M.F.K. Fisher, Robertson Jeffers, Jack Kerouac, Clarence King, Jack London, Henry Miller, John Muir, William Saroyan, April Smith, John Steinbeck, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Nathanael West, and Walt Whitman. Land of innovation and opportunity, California is both dream and reality. California The Beautiful is a gift for all who have felt the lure of this dual promise and who have marveled at the unrivaled beauty of this quintessentially American land.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful little book.......2007-09-13
I purchased a number of these books as "thank you" gifts for various friends we are going to visit in Europe. I was so excited about finding a picture book on California, I didn't read the description thoroughly -- note that the books are only about 7"x7". Even so, their small size makes them perfect to carry in a suitcase. The pictures are quite nice and, even though the coloring is enhanced a bit, they truly show how beautiful California can be. My ONLY complaint with these books is that the price is printed on the back of the dust jacket! This means that if you're giving them as a gift, there's no way to cover up how much you paid (or could have paid) for the book. (I guess I can come up with a cute stick-on label ... )
Poor reproduction of photographs.......2007-07-31
Unfortunately, the text in this photographic essay is more inspiring than the images. The problem is not with the photography, but with the quality of the printing. The inks are too dark, and the colors are ludicrous.
Galen apparently has outdone himself............2007-03-09
This book is well worth buying, but not for Galen Rowell's photographs (as they are "printed" here)...the text is actually more indicative of the power of California's beauty and meaning.
Rowell's use of super-saturated colors, whether accomplished with filters or digital editing, only serves to show just how MORE beautiful these scenes, at these times of day, are in reality!
Subtle was not in Galen's vocabulary, apparently, yet the beauty of nature is often extraordinary AND subtle. I guess my thought really is that Galen Rowell and his 35 mm cameras, found amazing sights (and sites), and took their picture(s), but the essence of many of those sights, he lost because he wanted them to be even more "perfect" than they "really are".
Trust us, Galen, they're even more perfect without all the color saturation effects....
Buy it for the photography - keep it for a to do list of places to visit!.......2007-01-17
The photography is beautiful.
The book catalogues the best of California through pictures. We take this book with us on our trips through out the state as part of our guide and potential itinerary. It makes every trip, a trip to a beautiful location.
A great coffee table book.
Awesome photography.......2005-08-03
This compact size coffee table book with outstanding photography by Galen Rowell makes a great souvenir for visitors to beautiful California. The diversity of this great state is depicted in all its spectacular beauty from the desert to the majestic mountain peaks; from minute wildflowers to the towering redwoods. Prose and verse from famous & not-so-famous Californians & visitors add pleasant reading which accompany the lovely images.
Book Description
Updated and featuring a striking new cover, this lavishly illustrated guide opens the door to more than 20 unforgettable escapes. Whether it s rustic natural hot springs, an elegant fitness spa, or a glamorous desert hacienda, the Golden State offers rejuvenating retreats for every taste and it s all here. Trip planners and daydreamers will be transported to California s most coveted hideaways, each of which offers an alluring array of services, from mud baths, hot stone massage, and seaweed wraps to European-style facials and hydrotherapy treatments. Author Stanley Young fills in all the delicious details each destination has to offer, while reviewing the philosophy of well-being that makes each spa unique. Meanwhile, photographer Melba Levick captures the natural beauty of the baths and their spectacular surrounding landscapes in sigh-inducing color. A guide that is both inspiring and practical, Beautiful Spas and Hot Springs of California is a passport to rest and renewal.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2005-08-03
I found this book to be very helpful. It was beautifully written and illustrated! I now have a good idea of where I would like to go to visit and am greatful for the information that was contained in this book
Great book!.......2004-08-19
I'm a hot springs enthusiast, and this book happens to be one of my favorites. It has beautiful color photographs of hot tubs and pools, and describes the nicest and most 'developed' hot springs to visit in the state. I have already been to two of the places mentioned in the book, and my favorite, so far, is Sycamore Hot Springs in San Luis Obispo. I also plan to visit Glen Ivy Hot Springs by the end of this summer, which is also in the book. Book is reasonably priced, and it is well worth it. I own several books on hot springs and this is the only one that actually has color photographs.
Book Description
A delight for generalists and garden enthusiasts alike, this book is an indispensable resource for travelers throughout California.
Customer Reviews:
Garden Walks.......2005-10-18
To say that I enjoyed 'Garden Walks in California' grossly understates how much I got out of tthe book and how it made me feel. 'Garden Walks' is a thing of beauty all in itself. You clearly show the reader how much you love what you are doing and what you are writing about without too much of the letter "I".
You paint the picture and let the reader decide where to go next. Thank you.
Bob Battersby
Book Description
Each title in this award-winning series offers an exquisite region-by-region taste tour filled with culinary specialties and surprises. Included in each large-format volume are gorgeous food and landscape photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A thoroughly beautiful cookbook. Wonderfully illustrated!.......1999-08-23
John Carroll and Virginia Rainy have done a marvelous job on the California the Beautiful Cookbook. The book is an excellent addition to anyone's coffee-table collection, as well as an inspiring work for the moderately experienced cook. John has spent years as a personal chef in California - his experience, excellent taste, and personal warmth are infused in this wonderful cookbook. His recipes are practical and incredibly delicious. My personal favorite is the crab-salad sandwich on sourdough, I've served it to many guests and always with rave reviews. This cookbook is divided into regions of California. In becoming acquainted with the book you are becoming acquainted with the culinary traditions of a myriad of cultures and flavors. This is a must-have cookbook for the serious collector - I can't believe it's out of print - do yourself a favor and find a used copy of California the Beautiful, a cookbook you will use and enjoy over and over again!
Book Description
Martin Venezky is not your typical point-and-click designer. While he is adept at operating a mouse, he is just as comfortable cutting and pasting type from old books or collaging found signs or making his own photographs. What results are the unique creations of a unique eye. And with this eye and his design firm, Appetite Engineers, Venezky has created beautiful and influential work for Speak and Open magazines, the Sundance Film Festival, Reebok, and numerous publishers and institutions.
It Is Beautiful...Then Gone presents Venzky's commercial design work as well as new graphic work created for the book; details of the wall collage that define his office and his aesthetic; the singular photography, collections, and notebooks that define his personality; and text that explains -- or at least questions -- it all. Venezky's philosophy that life and design are a continuation of each other permeates this elegant book filled with hundreds of idiosyncratic, deeply wrought examples.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing.......2006-10-03
Typographic inspiration at its best. Effortlessly combines interviews and stories with images of Venezky's work...every graphic designer should own this book.
Provides his commercial design work plus new graphics created just for this book: some 700 images in all.......2006-02-03
Martin Venezky's It Is Beautiful Then Gone (1568984561, $40.00) provides an unusual artistic approach: Venezky hones 'Slow Design', using raw materials and old design tools of collage and cut-and-paste to create an artwork which will intentionally age and decay over time. By this process, Martin Venezky maintains, the art evolves and changes and the artist develops a closer connection with the tool over the machine. It Is Beautiful...then Gone provides his commercial design work plus new graphics created just for this book: some 700 images in all.
Brillian.......2005-03-15
Martin is brilliant, this book is beautifully designed and his work is amazing. Definately a very inspirational book for all graphic designers out there, especially for those experiemental typographers.
SOLID GOLD!!!.......2004-12-29
If you are looking for experimental and intiguing imagery this is the book for you! I don't understand how Martin got looked over so bad? His work is from the school of Cranbrook. If you like collage work and fun typography buy it!!!
MARTIN VENEZKY ROCKS ME.......2004-12-11
this book is the most beautifulest, gorgeousest, most awesome kickass book EVAR. it is heartily recommended. keep a lookout for martin's cat, "baby girl", who makes frequent appearances. WORD.
-fish
Book Description
Stand at the edge of a valley in California wine country, and you’ll be welcomed by a variety of surprises for the senses. Sun-drenched grapes shimmering on the vine, hinting at the flavor that’s to come. Impressive century-old estates. A lush and pastoral landscape that invites you to explore the history and vibrancy of the region. And that’s just what you’ll do each time you open the pages of California Wine Country. From Opus One to Close Pegase, Stag’s Leap to the Rhone Rangers, trademark Zinfandels to world-class Chardonnays, California producers consistently produce some of the world’s most renowned wines. As The Wine Advocate’s Robert M. Parker Jr. states, "California is on a roll." California Wine Country opens with the history of winemaking in the state and how and why Californian wines have become famous around the world. Randy Leffingwell then guides you through the winemaking cycle and takes you on a personal tour of the state’s most breathtaking and popular wine making regions, including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, San Francisco Bay, the Central Valley, Gold Country, Monterey Peninsula, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and more. He also provides details about the most beautiful and interesting times to visit vineyards and wineries. With his inviting lens and prose, Leffingwell captures the unique characteristics of each locale, making California Wine Country the perfect tribute to the timeless beauty of these wineries, vineyards, and destinations.
Customer Reviews:
Gift for Mom.......2007-01-09
I bought this book for my mother for Christmas. She wanted a picture book about the wine country in CA so she could paint some of the scenes. She had just visited my sister in S.F. and loved every minute of her visit. She LOVES this book. It contains beautiful photographs of Northern California and she looks forward to painting many pictures.
Buy it for the pictures, not the text.......2004-09-12
This book is obviously intended to be purchased for its beautiful pictures, and does a great job at covering all wine regions in California - not just Sonoma or Napa, but Mendocino and Lake Country down through San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
If you are looking for a book with some great photos of wineries and vineyards across California, then I can heartily recommend the book. However, some of the text leaves much to be desired, with some obvious omissions and flatly incorrect information. Some examples:
On grape varieties: Petite Sirah is identified as being the same as Syrah and Shiraz (it isn't). Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer are not mentioned at all, but I would consider them more important than Sylvaner in California white grapes.
On locations: Livermore Valley is "to the west in Alameda County", which must surprise people living in the eastern half of the county. Woodside Vineyards in Woodside and Thomas Fogerty Winery in Portola Valley are listed as being in Santa Clara Country (they are in San Mateo County). Morgan Hill and Gilroy are identified as being in Santa Cruz County (they are in Santa Clara County), and there are others too.
The choices of wine labels are odd too. In a list of wine labels for a particular geographic area, often the wines come from someplace else. In the Mendocino County section, a wine made from Lodi (in the Central Valley) is listed. The San Francisco Bay section shows labels from three Monterey wines.
Despite these faults, the book is definitely interesting - containing many nice photographs, and reasonble listings of wineries with contact information in all parts of California, even fairly obscure ones missed in many books, such as the wineries in Santa Clara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Nevada, and Calaveras counties.
Gorgeous Views of Vineyards, Wineries and Fields.......2003-07-11
California Wine Country is a most impressive guide.
In 1973, I worked in the wine industry and was given the assignment to visit every winery in California of any size. Since then, I haven't been able to duplicate the feat as the number of new and interesting wineries has expanded rapidly.
This book focuses on the highest quality winemakers in the Golden State, and gives you both an advance view and a sense of what's there before you visit. With this guide, you will vastly increase your enjoyment of touring wineries and vineyards by being able to pick from among the most interesting sites for you.
The photography represents a lot of visits to each area. I doubt if you could capture all of these views, variations in lighting and seasons in less than three years of visits. Even areas I know well I saw differently.
The book places about equal attention to the images of vineyards and the exteriors of wineries, many of which are magnificent structures to behold.
Mr. Leffingwell is not as talented a writer as he is a photographer. But his prose is more than adequate to extend your knowledge of the industry as he explains about the history of each region and winery. For detailed information on wine making, I suggest you supplement this book with other resources. There is a limited discussion of the process except as applied to super premium reds and whites. There is no mention of how sparkling wines are made.
The historical information is a little over focused on religion, Prohibition, the Depression and marketing.
I was pleased to see the extensive discussions of the microclimates in each area. Very nice!
I was disappointed not to find a better description of the wine qualities at each vineyard. Again, I suggest you supplement this book for that with one of the better wine guides.
I hope that Mr. Leffingwell will update this book quite frequently.
As a final test of how good this book is, my wife and I visited several of these areas last year around when the book was published. We used another guide, and had a wonderful time. However, if we had had this guide, I think we would have had a much better time . . . because we appear to have missed half of what we would have wanted to see.
A final word of caution: Contact the wineries directly to verify times for tours and tastings. The information here was different from what we discovered on site in July 2002 in a few cases.
Before you leave this wonderful volume, I suggest you consider where else a preview of what you are going to see adds a great deal to your enjoyment. What about a complimentary appetizer from the chef to whet your palate for what is to come?
Average customer rating:
- Providing young students with a solid introduction to the state of California
- California (America the Beautiful Second Series)
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California (America the Beautiful Second Series)
Ann Heinrichs
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
 State & Local
| United States
| History & Historical Fiction
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United States
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Customs, Traditions, Anthropology
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Similar Items:
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New Mexico (From Sea to Shining Sea)
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Montana (America the Beautiful Second Series)
ASIN: 0516206311 |
Customer Reviews:
Providing young students with a solid introduction to the state of California.......2005-09-01
One out of every eight people in the United States lives in California and it has been almost five centuries since the first Spanish explorers came upon the peninsula of western Mexico and were sure they had discovered the fantasy island of Queen Calafia and her lost tribe of Amazons written about in the 1510 romantic novel "The Adventures of Esplandáan" by Garcí Rodriguez Ordóñez de Montalvo. So covering the history and people of California in the same pages that are accorded all of the other 50 states covered in the America the Beautiful Second Series is a daunting task for author Ann Heinrichs. All she can really do in these pages is introduce young students to the state.
Chapter One, "In California, They...," establishes the key idea of diversity as the one word that best describes the state, whether you are talking landscape or residents. The state's history is laid out in the next three chapters. Chapter Two, "The Early Years," starts with the first Asian people to cross the land bridge to North America before moving on to the Spanish and Mexican periods of California history. Then comes the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, which ended up with the area as part of the United States. Chapter Three, "Gold, Railroads, and the Promised Land," begins with the 49ers showing up to pan gold, continues as California becomes a state, and ends with the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Great Depression. "Modern Times" is the title for Chapter Four, which looks at how World War II transformed California into a modern industrial state and the issues it faces today.
"California Landscapes" are explored in Chapter Five, which includes the impact of both the movement of tectonic plates and El Nino on the state. Chapter Six, "California, from Top to Bottom," is a detailed look at the regions of the state, starting with the North Coast and Wine Country up north to the Inland Empire and Deserts of the South. The major cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego are covered as well. California Politics is the subject for Chapter Seven, "Government and Politics," where sharp-eyed readers will note that the music for "I Love You, California," the state song, was written by A. F. Frankenstein.
The economics that make California "A Wealthy State" are the province of Chapter Eight, which covers farming, manufacturing, mining, fishing, transportation, and communication. The recipe for this book is Gazpacho, based on California's bounty of fresh vegetables (assuming you like a cool summer soup). The citizens of the state are the topic for Chapter Nine, "The Faces of California," the fastest growing developed area in the world. Diversity and ethnic trends, as well as migrants and immigrants, are covered. Finally, Chapter Ten, "Creations and Recreations," begins with writers who have lived and worked in California, from Jack London, Mark Twain and John Steinbeck to Dashiell Hammett, Jack Kerouac, and Amy Tan. Heinrichs wisely stays away from trying to include Hollywood in this chapter, but does touch on architecture, the performing arts, and team sports, ending the chapter talking about festivals and recreational activities.
This last chapter underscores that Heinrichs is just scratching the surface on the topic of the state of California. This volume has lots of full-color photographs, and maps on key subjects like natural resources and population density. There is a Timeline that compress U.S. and California state history, along with several pages of Fast Facts filled with statistics. If young students want To Find Out More there is a list of books, organizations, and Internet sites for further study. Also, there are the accustomed sidebars that provide details on such interesting things as the Le Brea Tar Pits, Ronald Reagan, John Muir, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and "Gag Me with a Spoon!" Granted, this look at California only touches on the rich history of the state, but as you would expect from this series it provides young students with a solid start.
California (America the Beautiful Second Series) .......2005-08-26
Its is a fast and confotable way to travel all over the US
Average customer rating:
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Beautiful Flowers of the Maquiladora: Life Histories of Women Workers in Tijuana (LLILAS Translations from Latin America Series)
Norma Iglesias Prieto , and
Gabrielle Winkler
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0292738692 |
Book Description
"Poignant and powerful, this work is a tribute to the dignity of the human spirit. It should be required reading for policymakers on both sides of the political border separating Mexico and the United States."
—Vicki L. Ruiz, Professor of History and Women's Studies, Arizona State University
Published originally as
La flor mas bella de la maquiladora, this beautifully written book is based on interviews the author conducted with more than fifty Mexican women who work in the assembly plants along the U.S.-Mexico border. A descriptive analytic study conducted in the late 1970s, the book uses compelling testimonials to detail the struggles these women face.
The experiences of women in maquiladoras are attracting increasing attention from scholars, especially in the context of ongoing Mexican migration to the country's northern frontier and in light of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This book is among the earliest accounts of the physical and psychological toll exacted from the women who labor in these plants. Iglesias Prieto captures the idioms of these working women so that they emerge as dynamic individuals, young and articulate personalities, inexorably engaged in the daily struggle to change the fundamental conditions of their exploitation.
Book Description
Vicki Morgan, mistress to department store heir and Ronald Reagan confidante, Alfred Bloomingdale, lived beyond her years and died before her time—the victim of a brutal murder. Seething with power, intrigue, sex and obsession, it's a ringside seat into the darker habits of the world's rich and powerful.
Customer Reviews:
EXPECTED MORE!!!.......2006-07-07
"I know one thing's for sure," Vicki declared. "I'm not staying here anymore. Alfred wants this and Bob wants that. Meanwhile I'm stuck in here (Mental Health Center) with no place to go. To hell with it! I'll check into the L'Ermitage. With what it costs for a suite there, somebody better do something."
I finished reading The Vicki Morgan Story last night, and I can only say that I was disappointed. I thought that there would be more substance and more excitement but no way. I guess having a love for Hollywood stories I cast my expectations a bit too high; no fault of the author of course.
It is sad that poor Vicki lacked the proper guidance to pull her into adulthood, relying on the pockets of older men and as far as I could see anyone who would give her money,she never worked and counted on her looks to get her by. I cannot fault her if she knew no better but the older men whom she hung withand who desperately wanted her, should never have taken advantage of her for sexual favours and attention.
May God rest her weary soul.
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 06/07/06)
The Romances of a Poor Girl.......2004-08-26
Young Vicki Morgan wanted to escape from her working-class surroundings in the Valley. She was exceptionally pretty, shrewd, and had native intelligence. Her charms attracted rich and powerful men who catered to her desires. Yet she became another victim trapped by greed and exploitation. Beauty does not trump class distinctions (p.7). Vicki lived fast and died young. The author compares her to Dorothy Stratten, Colleen Applegate, and Edie Sedgewick. Vicki got close enough to corporate rulers and political leaders. Did she know too much and become a threat to the established order (p.8)? Did Vicki's absent father affect her interest in older men? This book lacks a table of contents and an index.
After Vicki sued Alfred Bloomingdale, the tawdry sex life of this intimate adviser to Ronald Reagan was exposed. The author was introduced to Vicki by a movie producer, and began talks to produce a book. Vicki met Alfred Bloomingdale at 17 and became his kept mistress; she then learned the manners and morals of the upper class. Alfred Bloomingdale was a member of Ronald Reagan's kitchen cabinet. He was a co-founder of Diner's Club; personal information about the lives of the rich and famous were useful to intelligence services (p.41). Alfred Bloomingdale could have been a perfect case study for psychiatrists (pp.66-67). Alfred had the money and power to indulge his whims (p.60). Vicki stayed with him because she needed money to raise her son (p.63). But her spending habits suggest she considered it something to get rid of as fast as she got it (pp.81-82).
Vicki tried living with other men, but always came back to Alfred Bloomingdale. After he died, Vicki was left with nothing but shame and despair (p.87). When Betsy saw Alfred and Vicki together, she ended the affair (pp.110-103). Alfred gave Vicki a settlement. The rest of the book tells of Vicki's continued used of drugs and the ensuing decadence. The last 100 pages are a sort of low-key horror story that lead to Vicki's death. President Reagan appointed Alfred Bloomingdale to the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board; what kind of pay-off was this? Vicki's suit against Betsy created a scandal, and her friends departed. Needing money, Vicki took in Marvin Pancoast to pay expenses. But she had been warned against him! One night Marvin turned on Vicki and killed her. This book could serve as a warning to teenagers, but those who could benefit probably won't read it.
A Pretty Girl Gone Wrong.......2002-04-03
This is absolutely one of the wildest biographies I have ever read. If it wasn't true it would make great fiction, right up there with the sexy potboilers and confessionals I so love to read. This is the story of Vicki Morgan, longtime mistress to Alfred Bloomingdale, and the loved they shared, a strange and crazy kind of love that would lead to their mutual destruction. Here he was, scion of Bloomingdales Department Store, industrial magnate and member of Ronald Reagan's kitchen cabinet; and here she was a naive but gorgeous small town girl come to the big city.
This book has an epic sweep as Vicki Morgan, in a vain attempt to escape the married Bloomingdale, encounters a series of adventures with some of the world's most wealthy and powerful men. And women. It is not a tale for the faint hearted, but there are strong moral lessons--mainly there is a steep price for the glamour and the money men give for sexual favors.
The story is told from the author's point of view. He spent nine months with Vicki Morgan and was one of the last people to see her alive. The author, Gordon Basichis, gives us intimate insight into the making of a wordly rich girl who knows how to manipulate men for money, only to be trapped in the game she has profited by for so many years. Through the seventies and into the eighties she was getting at least a quarter millon dollars from these different lovers.
It's rare that I find a book so compelling. I love how the story describes the high life of power and money while showing, also, how this glitzy path leads to destruction and, in this case, murder. This was truly one of a kind.
POWER, SEX AND MONEY.......2002-03-19
Power, Sex and Money
I was totally caught up in this true tale of a naive and beautiful young woman, trapped in a world where power, sex and money reign. As the mistress to Alfred Bloomingdale, the department store heir and member of the kitchen cabinet, Vicki Morgan lived a life that few can imagine...a wild and ultimately tragic journey that ended in her brutal murder. What I loved about this book was its unwillingness to rely on predictable cliche. The author's insight sheds new light on a very old subject -- sex and power. The writing is personal, intimate, at times humorous and always engaging. If this book were published today, it would be a bestseller
TRUE STORY.......2001-12-04
this book was very moving. the story of a mistress, who never can seem to find her way, but found love in a married man. the author got to knew vicki before her murder and this gives us great insight into her thoughts and feelings. i highly recommend this book, a great read from beginning to end.
Book Description
Once nobody noticed Santa Rosa's Thunder. They were a ragtag team of girls who wanted to play soccer, and no one took them seriously. Their male coach expected little from his "ladies, " and their mediocre performance convinced them he was right.
Then a kind of miracle happened. Emiria Salzmann, Thunder's new coach, a top player herself, knew what it took to win--discipline, relentless drills, thigh-burning sprints, and an inspired passing game. The girls hated it, but their coach never let up. Tough and determined, she showed them what it felt like to be winners--and they loved it. As the momentum grew with a string of victories, the girls thrived on the competition, believing they had the right stuff to become champions.
They were right! With spirits soaring, Thunder won its league on the last day of the season and headed for the state cup, emerging not just as powerful athletes but as strong, confident, emotionally healthy human beings--champions in the game of soccer, and in the game of life.
Customer Reviews:
The Beautiful Game.......2006-12-08
The Beautiful Game by Jonathan Littman is a very compelling and well described book. It is very easy for me to relate because as a soccer play I have won state cup three times. I can also relate because I know the journey and the obstacles you have to overcome to be a champion. I relate best to the player Kim because she had to suffer with an injury, exactly what i have been going through. I think why I liked this book so much is because I have a lot in common with these girls, and I have a love and passion for soccer. I recommend this book to any soccer player, or anybody who is chasing after a dream.
An Absolute Inspiration.......2005-09-15
I think this book, The Beautiful Game, was an extraordinary display of a group of 14-year-old girls, who came together as a magnificent soccer team, to overcome a new coach, and many of the road bumps they had on the highway to success. This soccer team was extremely committed and dedicated, not only to the game of soccer, but to each other. And that is the key to playing competitive club soccer. I especially enjoyed this story about this club team called Thunder, because I also play club soccer in Dallas, Texas. My club is called the Dallas Texans (West). I am a '92, which makes me 14 in January. I was incredibly inspired by this book to train as hard as I can, and I learned that getting along with my team is very important. I was also very interested in this book because it must have taken a lot of courage to accomplish what these girls did. I was very fascinated by how well this book was written, and how much I felt like I knew every one of the girls on this team. I think I enjoyed this book because I can relate it to my own experiences. But I don't think you have to be a soccer player to have you heart touched by the lives of the girls in this story. And I also don't think you have to be an athlete to be inspired by the soccer these girls learned to play. This book should be passed down from generation to generation. The Beautiful Game is a phenomenal display of what soccer and true friendship is really about. I overall enjoyed this book because of its amazing life story of the club soccer team Thunder, and its talented 14-year-old players.
I was there........2004-04-19
I am the mom of one of the players and have just recently re-read this book about my daughter's team. Looking back on our Thunder experience, I know that it was a unique, almost surreal experience. At the time, we knew it was special but of course, you can't fully appreciate it until it is over. After winning State Cup, Thunder continued to grow and develop as a team, winning several major tournaments and getting back to the State Cup finals in 2000 only to lose to the Placer Sharks. I still see many of the girls and most agree that Thunder was an experience that shaped their life. It wasn't just the soccer or the incredible success the team had, it was more than that. It was the relationships, the experience, and the unique bond that is formed when a group comes together with a unifying goal. It is that undefinable, special something that takes just a talented team and makes it into a great team. So, for those readers that wonder, did it work out okay? I think, for the families that I am close, that yes, yes it did. We are better for the experience.
Inspiring, Amazing.......2003-11-17
This was one of th most fantasic books I have read in a while. It show how deticated you have to be to go all out in a sport and how good you can get if you have a good coach. I read the book, and a year later I got a really tough coach. I was temted to quit the team because of the endless running but I remembered how much the coach in this book put the tea through and how far they got, and I kept with it. I have gotten really far and I am still on the team. This is the most wonderful and well written book about teen soccer out there.
Disappointing Beauty.......2003-07-03
I am a girls high school and club coach and I had high hopes for this book, maybe for inspiration, maybe for insight or ideas on how to train my players. I came out with neither. This is a typical story of undisciplined kids that get someone to discipline them and then they become successful. It is very, very close to the same story line and tactics in the movie Hoosiers, only with a young girls soccer team. It does throw in some interesting perspectives about club team rivalries and California soccer, but they are not relevant to other states soccer experience. The types of teams and seasons overlapping do not happen in any state around me.
I agree with a previous post that if it was told 5 years after the season and through the eyes of the players it might be a little better. But we never relly know how it affected the kids. How did it help them? How did it help them mature as adults? Where are they now?
Most important to me is the impression this might leave for other coaches. This is not necessarily the best way to deal with a girls team. Sometimes it works, others it doesnt. I hope this does not encourage all coaches to do this with girls teams...
The positive about his book is in the things parents could learn from this book. I did think the dealing with parents and the attitudes of some parents was humorously accurate. I would suggest all soccer parents read this book and I would suggest players might learn some from this book. But it really could have been alot better...
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