5 comments about World's Best Card Tricks.

1. If you never read "Royal Road To Card Magic", "Expert Card Technique" or "Expert At The Card Table", you'll find this book a good one. It has some good tricks, but it has some dumb ones too. I recommend this book for those who does not want to learn some sleight of hand before starting doing card tricks. As Amazon warns, this book is juvenile literature. Last word: if you buy this book and you like it, then buy "101 Amazing Card Tricks". It's written by Bob Longe too, and in my opinion, they should be sold together, for their similarity.



2. I'm a magician member of the Magic Castle now, but in my early forays into card magic this book helped wean me away from trick Svengali and stripper decks, so that I could be handed a deck of cards from anyone and perform a nice trick. They're not all home runs. But I still get great responses from several of the tricks contained within here.
   ...and yes, I now own Card College, have read Royal Road to Card Magic several times, but those books should come after this one. This one will help you decide if you're serious about persuing more card magic or not.
   A fabulous starter book, but make sure you practice!!



3. I have been doing card tricks for a while, and I have to say that anything of Bob Longe's is a waste of money.

   The tricks in this book are terrible. These are certainly NOT the "World's Best Card Tricks". I can't believe some of this [stuff] is even in here.

   I highly recommend the reader to learn card magic from great authors such as Jean Hugard, S.W. Erdnase, and Arthur H. Buckley.

   If you are a beginner, get the "Royal Road to Card Magic" By Hugard and Braue. It is of MUCH higher value and the tricks in this book will be 100x better than the stuff that's in Bob Longe's books. There is absolutely no way you can be the life of the party with these tricks, as the author claims.




4. I like this book of card tricks for the fact that it is user-friendly and practical-minded.
   
   After a brief introduction, Longe guides the reader through a series of card-manipulating exercises that have applications in hundreds of card tricks. He then lays out a series of card tricks, rated for their difficulty level, and complete with advice on what kind of audience might be best suited for any particular trick. The illustrations are simple and clear, and the tricks range from the basic to the extremely clever and inventive.
   
   There's nothing new under this sun, but a beginner will find this guide much better than average when seeking to learn the basic skills necessary to amaze their friends and strangers.



5. I recommend this book. It is well worth the money! Tricks are well explained and easy to perform with practice. I also recommend it for beginners, as I am one. Go ahead, try it!

5 comments about Drafting to Win: The Ultimate Guide to Fantasy Football.

1. This is an excellent book and perfect for all levels of Fantasy Football players. I have been playing Fantasy Football for 12 years and thought I knew all there was to know. I bought the book out of curiousity because of the author's fantasy football success - wondering if he knew something I didn't. Well he did! Even experienced fantasy football players will get something out of this book. Interesting, well-written and great information!



2. I'm a poker player as well and Zarzycki's Drafting To Win (DTW) book reminds me of Doyle Brunson's Super System in that it gives you a complete understanding of what it takes to win consistently, only DTW teaches fantasy football instead of poker. I consider DTW to be the Fantasy Football Bible the same way poker players revere Doyle Brunson's Super System book as the Poker Bible. Whether you want to learn about beginner aspects such as how to find a league and choosing the league suited best for you or expert techniques such as how to rank players, project statistics and Zarzycki's bread and butter -- how to draft players -- Zarzycki covers it all. What I respect most is that the author himself has applied the methods in DTW to his own fantasy football play and has won thousands of dollars on all levels of fantasy football, from local leagues to the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF) in Las Vegas. DTW has taken my game to the next level and I can't wait to start benefiting monetarily at the end of each and every season. Reading "Rashaan Salaam" review might scare some people into thinking that the math is difficult. I'm not an engineer by any means and found the math to be laid out in a very simple manner, pretty-easily absorbed. If I can understand this stuff, anybody can. I find Zarzycki's drafting strategies amazing. I wish I would've originated the concepts found in DTW...oh well, at least now I can benefit from them. This book is a must for ALL levels.



3. If you're reading this review, then the book is a perfect fit for you. You are either a diehard or FF novice. Regardless of what category you fall into, Mr. Zarzycki's approach caters to both. Much of the fantasy football content out there is stale, generic and downright useless. Zarzycki offers a nice simplistic tutorial for beginners (which experienced players will want to skip) but then quickly moves into elements of drafting techniques that can take you to the next level and help you to compete with even the most experienced fantasy players. I've played fantasy sports for nearly 20 years with much success and still found Zarzycki's info to be helpful in my preparation this year. The math is made simple in the form presented. In this ever evolving industry, we always need cutting edge content to take us to the next level and Zarzycki does just that.



4. I generally play poker, last year was my first season participating in fantasy football. I read this book Drafting to win and took down first place. If you have any sort of mathematical background I highly recommend this book. Better yet if you are a competitive person who likes to win then get the book. If you like to loose don't get the book.



5. This is the first book on Fantasy Football and I am proud to include it in my fantasy football library. Sure, there may have been one or two before, but in my opinion, Rob Zarzycki's Drafting to Win: The Ultimate Guide to Fantasy Football is the first definitive book on fantasy football. Drafting to Win (DTW) goes beyond the basics and explains the "how" and "why" behind draft theory. For many readers it will be their first exposure to Value Based Drafting (VBD) and baselines. The introduction to these concepts is worth the price of this book ten times over. This book has the best explanation of Value Based Drafting that I have ever seen and as an added bonus; it explains how to apply VBD to your draft in a dynamic manner (i.e. reacting to other owners draft actions/needs). I find myself re-reading it ever year before the FF season starts. It is that good!
   
   The chapter on ranking players is really an inside look at the strategies of a "top ranked fantasy football player" since Rob finished second in 2002 and third in 2003 at the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF). However, DTW also discusses fantasy football's history and the basics in detail, but the heart of this book is the extensive draft preparation knowledge and the demonstration of his techniques in how to draft a winning team based on your own rankings of players. Yes, there is math involved; but the good news is that it starts slowly and builds as the techniques become more advanced. I found myself using most of the techniques, but sidestepping some that are quite advanced mathematically.
   
   If there is a downside to the great ranking system/draft advice he illustrates, it is that Rob does not provide as much of his wisdom into start/bench decisions or waiver wire pick-ups as many readers will have liked. Similarly, he does not discuss Auction drafts much but he hints at a future book devoted exclusively to that much-deserved subject. I am eagerly awaiting that book.
   
   I highly recommend this as your first book in an ever-expanding fantasy football library.
   
   Sam Hendricks, author of Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football

1 comments about The Never-Bored Kid Book, Ages 6-7.

1. I purchased this book for my 5 year old home schooled son who wants to do crafts all the time. Of course Mom doesn't always have the time for another craft so this book has been great. The projects are easy and take very little if any instruction from Mom. The projects also help reinforce things he is learning during school time such as spelling, matching, using scissors, following directions, etc.
   
   The book gives a list of needed items in the front cover such as glue, tape, scissors, etc. Occasionally the book calls for yarn or other items not listed in the front but they are usually items that are easy to find around the house.
   
   I have put together a plastic box with a lid which I added glue sticks, kid scissors, tape, crayons, paper and a few craft books including The Never-Bored Kid Book Ages 4-5, I Can Draw Animals and I Can Draw People (The two latter are by Usborne). I added a few more books but his favorite is the Never-Bored Kid Book. Then the I Can Draw books. He has access to this box and can use it any time.
   
   I put together a similar box as stated above for my niece for her 8th birthday and I included The Never-Bored Kid Book, Ages 7-8.
   
   I will definitely buy the next book in the seres for my son when he is ready. This book has been great.

5 comments about The Art of Checkmate.

1. i own this book for 15 years now and it is as good as new, very good binding and paper quality. it was my firts book on chess and i think it was good choice .
   
   Its an excellence choice for beginners who whant to improve pattern recognition and mate understanting .
   
   The book was first puplished in 1953 its a classic .it really doesnt matter that its half a century old dont forget that mate patterns dont change and that this book manage to survive the test of time.
   
   An excellence choice !



2. The Art of the Checkmate is a book I purchased about 10 years ago and feel this book deserves to be an essential part of any chess players library. The book focuses on checkmates (no surprise) that at some point you will face as a chess player. Don't think that these moves are just a novelty and not played in todays games, many examples in the book show GM's being defeated from these moves. With smothered mates, corridor mates, Boden's mate, pseudo-sacrifice, and double checks, as well as a host of others you will benefit from knowing these moves. The book can be purchased for less than a few days lunch so there's no reason to skip this one. Overall I think this book is required reading by all ratings from novice to GM.



3. I have bought and sold hundred's of chess books over the years, this one is a keeper . My copy is well worn from heavy use. It is the best book of its type I have ever come across! Teaches ALL the basic mateing patterns, and how to apply them, in a very simple, but USEFUL way.



4. Art of the Checkmate is an awesome book. I've read it, put the patterns and quizzes into "Chess Workbook" software, and I've drilled through it at least 5-6 times. If there is one thing that you need to learn how to do in chess, is to checkmate your opponent. Each form of the mating patterns should be memorized. I found that after drilling through this book a couple of times, I am far more dangerous than before. I instantly, recognize and operate my pieces toward checkmating the king. It became effortless for me to become a dangerous player. After I read this book the guys at my club were suddenly shocked to find their king so often in my cross-hairs for potential checkmates. Against good players, these threats rarely lead to checkmates, but they lead to bad trades, bad sacrifices, loss of tempi, and bad moves by my opponent which ultimately weaken my opponent.
   
   Get this book and become a dangerous chess player. It's for beginners, but the only problem is the descriptive notation.



5. What's the point of writing yet another review for this book? Well, I couldn't help it! This book is fantastic. Two features I really enjoy: the patterns are mostly explained through entire game miniatures and the authors give extensive historical notes on the players.

5 comments about 2D Artwork and 3D Modeling for Game Artists (Premier Press Game Development (Software)).

1. totally cool book i got lots out of it. texturing was great too. got me totally into making models and using teh torque game engine. i think this book is killer so far



2. I agree with the majority of other reviewers on the content of this book, especially the sections of texturing. Very in depth and covers a whole lot of topics on inorganic and organic textures and how to use them. He also takes you step by step through the modeling process of a gun and a big ugly monster.

   But instead of spending too much time repeating what everyone else is saying good about the book, I am going to tell you what I think isn't so good about the book because there are a few not-so-good things about the book you should know before spending half-a-hundred dollars on it. Though, I still give the book 4 stars because it has many more good points than bad.

   The most depressing thing is that you really need full versions of all the software programs used to be able to follow along with the book the way you need to in order to learn what your reading. Sure, you get some experience working with a bunch of programs like 3d studio max 5 (very heavily used in 3d game model production) but you don't even do 3d modeling it. Instead, you follow along with the modeling process in TrueSpace 4 or 6. What you'll find REALLY frustrating about that is, unless you have $595.00 to spend on the full, legal copy of version 6.6, you won't be able to save any of your work using the DEMO version that comes with the book! So, you may spend an hour or more modeling your gun, and then have to close the program down and load the model that the author made on the book's CD in order to continue to the UV mapping, texture painting, optimizing and triangulating which is done in 3ds max 5 (of which the demo version is also included on the book's cd-rom). The modeling process could have been done just as easily in 3ds max 5 which is much more powerful than TrueSpace anyways. Why switch between the two programs when one can do both tasks? 3ds max 5 costs an arm and a leg (around $3,105.00), but can do EVERYTHING that TrueSpace & DeepUV combined can do. The full, retail (useable) version of DeepUV costs $795.00.

   If you don't believe me about UV mapping for characters in video games using 3ds max, then check out the book "Mastering 3DS MAX 4" which has a section on modeling a character then UV mapping it just like it is done in DeepUV. DeepUV is a complete waist of money if you own a copy of 3ds max 4 or higher.

   Now when texturing you use two different programs, Deep Paint 3D 2.0 and Adobe Photoshop 6. Both programs are equally good and equally powerful, though Photoshop is much more popular. I do not understand why he spreads tasks out across the two programs when he could have done just about everything in one program or another without using both programs. Deep Paint 3D 2.1 costs $995.00! Adobe Photoshop 7 costs you about $609.00!

   See what I'm getting at? You gotta have a fortune to spend on graphics production software in order to fully and completely follow along with this book and to be able to do ANYTHING productive with the information you've learned after reading the book, especially if you are a game programmer like me who has to make 3d models, then texture them and plug them into a 3d rendering engine.

   You can do anything and everything this book covers by having a full version of just two peices of software, Adobe Photoshop 7 and 3ds max 4 or higher. That's it...that's all you need. Buying two 3D modelers, a program for UV mapping, and two texture paint programs is a waist of a whole lotta money. I understand the good it can do because one program can essentially be better at one task than a similar program can, but how many of us hobbiests have over $6099.00 to spend on software to follow in the footsteps of the book author? Not me, certainly.

   If the book was designed with the hobbiest or budding superstar in mind then it would have focused all it's attention on production software that doesn't require you to be a zillionare. In fact another software program out there, Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 can also be used for making game quality textures and 2D sprite art very much like Photoshop 7 or Deep Paint 3D 2.1 but it only costs about $100.00 for the full retail version. And then there's 3D modeling software like Milkshape 3D which is also VERY cheap in comparison to 3ds max, Maya, Lightwave, TrueSpace, Cinema 4DL, etc. And the best thing about Milkshape 3D is that it was made specifically for making game-only 3D models (originally made for the game Half-Life).

   Don't get me wrong, I do like a lot of things about this book. The book does a good job of showing you how to use an array of different programs and how to effectively use them for making game art such as 2D textures and 3D models and how to prepare those models for use in a game engine, and it even includes a demo game engine to plug your models into. But just be warned that owning those programs isn't necessary to make quality 2D and 3D artwork for games, but IS required to follow along with the book completely. You can "work around" with the book using the demos that comes with the CD, but don't get too excited because you can't even save your TrueSpace 3D models anyways, so how are you going to get the models into 3ds max 5 for further manipulation and game prep?




3. I was really excited when I got this book and could tell it was exactly what I needed since all aspects of making art for games was a mystery to me. However, I was disappointed that to go along with the tutorials, you had to use a TrueSpace demo or lay out the hundreds of dollars for the full program. The demo doesn't let you save anything, so that makes it very difficult when you're a complete newbie.
   
   Every time you make a mistake, especially in undoable operations like Boolean operations, you have to start ALL the way over. :(
   
   I would've preferred that the author used one of the more prevalent programs like Max or Maya - it made the learning curve even tougher, having to first learn TrueSpace before being able to do the tutorials in this book.
   
   As I say - I'm glad I bought it, but it would've been MUCH more helpful to have been able to use a program/demo where I could save what I'm working on.



4. This book covers everything, from character creation, bones rigging, texturing of the character (and hundreds of general textures using Photoshop). The book uses 3DS Max 7 and Photoshop 7, expensive, but I've found that game companies use those avidly (or Maya, but not as much). Price is high for those but get a demo or hacked copy. The author covers character creation almost entirely, including export to the Torque game engine. The only down side is he doesn't include animation, but I guess that's a subject for another book. I hear he's writing a character book that will include this as well. Very cool book, A+.



5. The main problem with this book is that the author isn't very good at what he does. He details lovingly how to make the artwork but he simply lacks the talent to create 3D art that's very good. The model he creates, Slogre is in the end, a lumbering snow man like mess of a creature poorly set up for animation.
   
   The author spends a lot of time talking about concept art and why its important only to ditch it in production of the model, ditching all of its charisma to create an ugly mess that looks like it was created by someone completely inexperienced.
   
   Most of the textures he creates end up looking very flat and ugly. The black and white printing causes a lot of his points to be lost. The best examples of this are on pages 225 and 226. He shows a demonstration of poorly tiling textures with noticeable seams. However, due to the cheap printing, the wall is just a solid block of grey making the visual aid wholly useless.
   
   If you're completely new to 3D art, there are far worse places you could start. This book has some decent primers initiating readers with certain aspects of various art programs including Photoshop. There's a lot of information here and it's not all useless.
   
   However, if you are planning on getting into 3D art, I would recommend you start out with Milkshape 3D and Psionic3D tutorials. (Google those. Amazon doesn't allow linking last time I checked.) For texturing, 3D Game Textures by Luke Ahearn is a much better resource than this.
   
   If you have any experience in 3D art though, then you can probably skip this book without a second thought. There is likely nothing you couldn't have figured out on your own. The things that are worthwhile for the experienced here are already available in Internet tutorials.
   
   The only thing that would make this book of any value to an experienced artist is the collection of nearly 500 royalty free photos intended for use in your own textures. To some, these are probably worth the price on their own, but they're photos that would be easy for someone to take on their own. Think twice about buying this book.

2 comments about Will Shortz Presents Let's Play Sudoku: Middle of the Road (Will Shortz Presents...).

1. This is a very error-free collection that really increased my skills at Sudoku. Difficult, but not impossible. I would now trust any sudoku collection in the "Will Shortz" catalogue.



2. I love Will Shortz sudoku puzzles. I bought this book in hopes that it wouldn't be too easy or too difficult. In general, most of the book's puzzles are of moderate difficulty, however, I have found that there are quite a few puzzles that are pretty hard and even demanding. Every now and then I find a really easy one or two. In general - a good buy.

No comments about Pathfinder Chronicles: Campaign Setting (Pathfinder Chronicles).

5 comments about Chess Tactics for Students.

1. This book provides some good exersizes for kids to go over. I found a few mistakes in the solutions. Could use a little improvement there. Otherwise it is well organized.



2. I won't repeat what other reviewers have said, but merely add my advice: please don't start by thinking you can read this book once and then move on.
   
   Let me ask you a question. What's 4 times 8? What's 6 times 7? Chances are you didn't have to "think" about the answers. The numbers 32 and 42 just popped into your head. Right?
   
   That's what this book should be to you.
   
   To get the best value out of this book you need to MEMORIZE these positions until you are sick to death of looking at them. Although you may not encounter them at first: Trust me - these positions will occur in your games.
   
   I suggest going through the book once in 10 days, then take 8 days, then 7, then 5, then 3, then 2 days and finally do all 400 exercises 1 day. By that stage, completing the book in one sitting should take no more than two hours.
   
   This will increase a beginner's rating by 200 points MIMIMUM and cost no more than the price of the book and a month of 20 minute-a-day practice.
   
   Try it if you don't believe me. Or forget my advice, and I hope to play you one day. Prepare yourself for a thrashing. ;)



3. This is a good book for students. My only complaint is there are a number of errors. It should have been checked by Fritz



4. If it wasn't for the mistakes in both solutions and some obvous typos this would be a very good first tactics book for any age. It needs to be corrected and a couple of problems removed that do not work and replaced by some that do. A better quality control was needed!
   Now I feel tactics are one of the most important things for students who are new to improve their game. Getting some tactics workbooks and opening chess traps books are a good way to accomplish improving over all tactics.
   This book will still help you get started, but there are a lot of choices of simular books without so many mistakes.



5. I really like the "large" (about 8" x 11") workbooks that I have gotten on both very basic tactics ("Chess Tactics for Students) and on chess opening traps ("Winning Chess Traps for Juniors").
   The print is big and easy to see with big diagrams. I don't like books with tiny little print and diagrams so small you need a magnifying glass (should be included with the book!). I don't have s seeing problem, but I just like my tactics and trap workbooks in the large print format.
   "Chess Tactics for Students" was my starting tactics book. It is good for beginners. My only small grips are I found some printing mistakes and wish it had more puzzels to work on (but maybe that is a plus!).
   This is a good book for a beginner after they learn how the pieces move.

3 comments about Making Waldorf Dolls.

1. This book gives good, clear instruction, with patterns that are easily copied/augmented. However, for the price, I was expecting much more content, maybe some photographs, etc. There are no photos, just line drawings. It really irritates me that just because something has "Waldorf" in the name that it gets double the price as a similar item in the same category. I feel that goes against what Waldorf philosophies stand for period. It is really hypocritical. But the book content itself is good--just expected more of it.



2. I disagree with the last reviewer regarding the content of Maricristin's book. This book has everything you need to make a wide variety of Waldorf-style dolls. I have made three versions already, and I am working my way through the rest of the patterns. The instructions are clear and complete. The book doesn't have big pretty pictures, true, but it has all the information needed to make dolls. And that is really what matters. This is a niche market book, and it is one of very few available. In my opinion, the chapter on hair alone is worth over $30.



3. I think this book is the same as the author's earlier title, Kinder Dolls (something like that) and the "used book" prices on that earlier title have been inflated too high. "Making Waldorf Dolls" is expensive at $30 yet a bit more cheaply made in that it has no color photographs. No matter, I have to say this is a great! book with wonderful patterns, S-M-L size bodies, very clear drawings and instructions, how-to(s) for hair. This book also has a jointed "doll" body. If you're looking for a jointed "baby" body, that is in the book "Baby Dolls and Their Clothes" by Valeria Ferrari (also an excellent book) but I have to say that Making Waldorf dolls is better because the patterns are MUCH! easier. This book is my favorite of 5-6 sock doll books I own.

No comments about Scion Ragnarok.