4 comments about Toymaking With Children.

1. I recieved this book and really couldn't be more pleased! It begins by describing the purpose of play, and shows us how to best implement positive play in children's lives. It lists some toys that are appropriate for each age group and goes on to describe how to make a number of toys. The ideas i found to be very enlightening, and I so look forward to making some of these wonderful toys! Oh and this book has a waldorf slant to it. An excellent find!



2. This book is a revised and expanded edition of the original book titled "Making Soft Toys" which was published in 1981. The author is a Waldorf Kindergarten teacher. This book discusses the importance of play as seen through a Waldorf education perspective and explains that natural playthings from nature and toys made from natural products are important. The book opens with several essays on the subject of the value of play and the nature of (appropriate) play as seen through the eyes of a Waldorf educator. Simple toys that allow imaginative and creative play are defined as ideal and appropriate for the proper development of the child. The author states that toys made by hand are more appreciated by children and she urges parents to make toys by hand, with the child's help or the child watching. A listing of toys appropriate for different age groups is listed. Discussion about outdoor play, play with dolls, and clean up time is included. Full instructions for over 45 toys are provided. Toys include dolls and doll clothing, knitted animals, wooden playstands and cloths, wooden tree blocks, and carved wooden toys (bridges, animals, spoons, etc.). Using wool roving is explained and instructions for creating pictures with plant-dyed wool end the book. The book is 93 pages long and the instructions are detailed and illustrated with line drawings. If you enjoy crafts and want to make Waldorf-style toys, this book is a must and a good value. Of course you can buy many of these toys already made, but you would save a lot of money by making these yourself.



3. This book gives good ideas for toys to make at home and gives some good description of children's play at different stages. The main problem I have is that I have never carved wood and there are no directions on how to actually carve. I would like to make some of the wooden toys, but I will need to do more research beyond this book to actually be able to carve the wooden toys. So, I guess I'm saying, if you have a base knowledge in sewing and carving, this book is very good....if not, you will need to do some other research in addition to this book.



4. This is a really great book on how to mkae simple, and some not so simple toys for children. Most of them are just beautiful as well.

5 comments about How to Beat Sit 'n' Go Poker Tournaments.

1. Thought it was well written and easy to understand i only play for fun so this type of book was ideal for me, to many time i have bought a poker book only to find there was writting for a A+ math student to understand. The only thing that disappointed me was the "in the money chapter" which i though could have been longer, other than that, some great advice on what hands i should start playing at what stage of the tournamnet ect. good read all in all.



2. This book is an excellent guide for people who wish to understand core concepts of sit and go-s and want thorough help how to play them. The style is simple and easy to understand. It covers every major aspects of the game and is an excellent starting book for novices to sit and go-s.



3. There is money to be made in low level poker tournaments. "How to Beat Sit & Go Poker Tournaments: A No-Limit Hold'Em Guide to Beating Sit & Gos" is a guide to winning these sit & go tournaments. The most common form of these tournaments exist online and take only one or two hours, yet can be very lucrative if one takes into account the strategies found in this guide. Examining the flaws in failed strategies while providing alternatives and more successful tactics, "How to Beat Sit & Go Poker Tournaments: A No Limit Hold'Em Guide to Beating Sit & Gos" is highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their game.



4. On the plus side, this book is a very quick and easy read, and probably improved my game fairly immediately.
   
   On the minus side, that's about all it's good for. It has no depth nor detail.
   
   I recommend breezing through this book quickly if you're a beginner (preferably through your library), then pick up Collin Moshman's book: Sit 'n Go Strategy.



5. i bought this wanting to improve my game and learn some solid advice on how to play sit and go tournamnets.
   The book gave a good understanding of the aggression needed around the bubble and some good concepts you need to know around this stage of the tournament.
   I feel my game improved 8 fold after reading this and found it a pleasant read.

5 comments about Sudoku Genius: 144 of the Most Fiendish Puzzles Ever Devised.

1. I bought this book for the "master class in advanced strategies," not for the puzzles, and I was disappointed. The tips are skimpy and not very clearly explained. I have a Ph.D. in philosophy (which includes logic), so I am no dummy, yet several of the solving tips in the opening section I had to read three or four times until I could correctly correlate the commentary to the diagrams. If you're looking for difficult puzzles, then read the other reviews, but if you're looking for solving methods for difficult puzzles, don't buy this book.



2. This is by far the best book of Sudoku puzzles I've ever done. They averaged about 50 minutes each to solve. I was hoping to find more like this one. He doesn't waste your time with simple no brainers.
   
   More, please!



3. I get a bit tired of people claiming how fantastically hard their puzzles are, only to be disappointed in the end. In the end with this book I was very disappointed. The author claims 9 Circles of Sudoku Hell, but the highest level, "The Ninth Circle" contains only one puzzle and it can be solved in under an hour, pretty much ditto for all the rest.
   
   I thought the master class in advanced strategies disappointing, simply a rehash of strategies known around the world.
   
   What I really came away with from this book is the knowledge that my Sudoku solving process is superior to the author's lore, and that maybe I should write a book on Sudoku solving and get the author's permission to use puzzles from this book as examples.



4. Very Challenging - I loved this book so much, I ordered a second one when I was done with the first - I figured they were challenging enough to do it a 2nd time! I also ordered the second one in this series by Tom Sheldon.



5. This book is excellent for the person who can do a medium to hard puzzle in minutes, not for a beginner at all. Do not be fooled by the instructions in the front, it will not help you at this level of sudoku.
   
   This book was a challenge to me which is why I loved it so much! I developed my own techniques to conquer the puzzle. Mentally, a real workout.
   Now, the only problem is I am having trouble finding another book like it, with advanced puzzles to challenge me. I need Sudoku Genius II.

5 comments about Middle Limit Holdem Poker.

1. Having many of the limit holdem books myself ( Championship Holdem, Lee Jones Low limit holdem, Small stakes holdem 2+2 pub. and the best Limit book Weighing the Odds in holdem poker by King Yao) Having just got this book today, I can say that this is the best Limit book ever and the best book on the right thing to do.



2. If you're somebody who's used to the graphic presentations of cards and hands in many of the Two Plus Two books then you might be initially disappointed upon opening Middle Limit Holdem because this edition will never be confused with a Power Point presentation. However, if you're looking to learn limit or substantially improve your game, then this is definitely the manual for you. The authors created over 300 pages of densely packed information which was broken down into 40 logical subtopics. What they offer here is an old school approach to the game which is both low in reflexive aggression and low in variance, and, for me, anything which decreases variance is totally welcome. I'm not one of those reviewers who thinks that certain styles are obsolete as I find that differing viewpoints enrich my game. Personally, I'd place Middle Limit Holdem in between Ed Miller and Lee Jones in terms of the type of play it advocates. If you don't know limit, then I recommend learning it as increasing proficiency across the strains of poker can only thicken the bankroll in the long run.



3. Very good poker book for middle limit. Takes it to another level.



4. I have added this book to my current libary and think that the book is a fine addition.



5. The book is quite enjoyable to read and discusses how to play 400 typical hands that arise in everyday poker.
   The discussion is very logical and teaches you how to think properly on every betting round. It advises you on how to get the most value out of your good hands and to minimize losses when you are beat. When to value bet on the river, and when to check raise, etc, etc.
   I can't say that I picked up a tonne of tips from this book, but it did revise a lot of good principles that I already knew.
   To a weaker player than myself you could pick up a lot of good tips.
   The rules set in this book can't be applied to low limit games with weak players who play totally illogical, it is written for middle-higher limit games. Thus only 4 stars

5 comments about Winning Chess Strategies, revised (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess).

1. I started taking chess seriously about one year ago and I bought this book only a few days ago. This book is very engaging and has demystified many aspects of positional chess for me because of Mr. Seirawan's very lucid and down to earth approach to the various concepts presented. It is also very encouraging to see that even an IGM of Mr. Seirawan's ability can err during play. I am about to purchase "Winning Chess Tactics" and I know that my money will be well spent!!



2. This is book at a mid-level skilled player who wants to add on their their basic knowledge of chess. Ideas are taken from actual play and are made into broken down examples. This is instead of using complete games (another excellent way to improve - here one of the mid-level comment on every moves book like "Logical Chess" or "Unbeatable Chess" would fit in well) the author focuses on a variety of concepts that he fees are important. This is certainly a good, but not a great book.



3. I purchased this the same time as Seirawan's "Tactics" book. I enjoy the author's writing style and he knows his stuff. He uses a good sense of humor to keep the reading lively and his background on the annotated masters games is informative, interesting, and engaging.
   
   The only reason I give "Tactics" 5 stars over this one's 4 is that Tactics is just easier to read and work through. Due to the topics of this book the examples are long, some even full games, so while the explanation of the principals of the chapters is simple and straightforward it takes some serious set-aside study time to work through the examples with your own chessboard. (Tactics on the other hand with its short term calculations can be done in your head). The format of having test questions at the end doesn't gel with the subject matter as well as Tactics, but is consistent with the format of the other books of the series.
   
   The examples take longer to work through than to get the point of the chapter--with several chapters I could correctly answer the end of chapter tests without working through the examples. You can quickly review the points of the chapters just by looking for the italicized print, and that is often enough information to answer the end of chapter questions correctly. I'm sure working through all the examples would increase the value and understanding of this book but I am someone who does not have hours a day to devote to studying chess.
   
   Again it is an excellent book and I recommend it, I do believe it has improved my play. Just plan on scheduling serious study time when you want to read through some of it, it's not something you can read casually on your nightstand.



4. This is the 3rd book in Yasser Seirawan's "Winning Chess" series. In this book Yasser discusses chess strategy and coming up with a plan. He discusses topics such as proper piece placement, and pawn structure. Once again Yasser does a good job providing clear explanations of the topics to the reader.
   
   I would have to think that his series is about the best introductory chess series in the English language.



5. Ok . There are 31 customer reviews already and I add a 5 star (if there was 6 I would give it) to this product . ABSOLUTELY the best book on strategy !! Explained in clear and brilliant style . It's as if Seirawan is physically there at the board talking to you like a coach . It's like having your own personal coach . Seirawan knows the ins and outs of an amateur's play and he precisely pin-points them . If you are bored of reading books with pages and pages of annotations , if you would like some strategic advice that can be applied TO ANY GAME --- this is the book for you !!! I know I have been searching long for books that don't just show me one master game after another but give me some ideas I can use in my own games . I need to know which ideas work in games and this is exactly what Seirawan does . The games he uses to illustrate are brief and terse . Once he has shown how opponent uses the concept to gain advantage , he moves on !! This is very important !! Annotating the game till the end not only makes it difficult to follow but the main idea gets left behind in the jargon . This is a MASTERPIECE . It will be with me forever ....

5 comments about Quick and Cozy Afghans.

1. I really enjoy this book. There is a variety of styles, sizes and pattern types to try out. Also, the book tells you the yarn weight and gauge, not the brand of yarn, so substitutions are easy. The only draw back is that there isn't any rating system as to the difficulty of each pattern - a careful reading is necessary before starting any project.



2. Delightful book, lots of large hook with 2 strands of yarn patterns, as well as mile-a-minute patterns. Easy to follow directions, and quite a few standard type patterns for the traditionalists among us. You won't be sorry if you purchase this one. All crochet.



3. Another wonderful Leisure Arts collection! This book really does offer something for everyone. Many Afghans are worked while holding 2 strands, which always makes for quick rewarding projects. There are also several strip/motif patterns that are good choices for working on the go. Sophisticated Swirl on page 66 is especially stunning, it will impress your friends and you because it looks very complicated but is actually very simple!



4. This is a replacement for myself and I bought extra copies for my daughters. The book is very well done with easy instructions and even beginners can follow and get a fabulous finished product.



5. I'm a casual crocheter. I love this book! It's got a great instruction section at the back and lots of variety in the afghans. I like that there's a full color of each item and the instructions right next to it. No searching to find what you need. You can lay the book open and see the instructions and the picture at the same time.
   
   This is my only crochet book. I actually use the patterns to springboard ideas for dish clothes.

3 comments about Sudoku - Green (Sudoku).

1. You might wonder how a sudoku puzzle can be poorly designed...the puzzles in this book violate at least two of the rules in good puzzle design. The first is that a well designed puzzle is symmetrical. You should be able to copy the puzzle and rotate it 180 degrees and the numbers should overlap. None of the puzzles in this book are designed that way. The second rule is that there should be only one correct answer. Many of the puzzles can be completed in multiple ways.
   
   Two great things about the book are the spiral binding...and the main reason I selected it initially...and the small size. It fits in your purse so you have an activity with you all the time.



2. This Sudoku book is designed as well as any other Sudoku book I've seen, in terms of puzzle design. Any numerical puzzle can be solved in more than one way if the revealed numbers are few enough.
   
   Try this puzzle. Write your review. I doubt you'll be disappointed.



3. I love Sudoku and I love this little book. It's small enough to fit into my purse and pop it out when I'm waiting for an appointment, during my kids' practices, whenever I have a few minutes to spare. Being spiral bound also makes it even more convenient and compact.

3 comments about Entertaining Science Experiments with Everyday Objects.

1. I like to do science experiments with my grandson who is 6, and he loves them, so I try to find easy things to do for him. I was hoping this book would be better suited to our needs, but I feel like it is for older children 10 or 11 and up.



2. I am a physics teacher in a Mexican high school. We have a big problem in our country because we lack a scientific culture and background. This kind of books are excellent because help to promote scientific ideas without being boring.



3. I think anything by Martin Gardner is great. Enjoyable and for the most part practical.

5 comments about Mutants & Masterminds: RPG - 2nd Edition.

1. The M&M 2nd ed. book is simply an amazing RPG. Using a point build system, it allows for complete freedom to create and customize not just your character, but also their individual powers. You can also faithfully recreate virtually any superhero or anime character if you wanted.
   
   The "balance" in the system between powers is remarkable, considering the freedom given to character creation, and how insanely powerful some comic book villians can be.
   
   I do have two complaints however.
   All the freedom to create your character almost encourages players to make characters that try to abuse the point system, tacking on flaws to reduce power costs, while trying to circumvent the negative effect of the flaw in some way. Though the system is very good at making power flaws exactly that, there are a few small holes that, baring omnipotence on the part of the creator, are bound to crop up in any RPG.
   
   I strongly recommend that any GMs using this system have their players flesh out their character concept BEFORE letting them see the power list or even open the book, as I find this makes for more exciting and "theme based" characters, rather then "functionality-utility-handle-any-situation" characters.
   
   My other complaint is that an average toughness character or villian can easily roll poorly on a "toughness save" (a roll to resist damage) and be knocked out in one hit, as if they had a glass jaw. Since the system uses a d20 as the main (read: only) dice type needed, the roll obviously ranges from 1 to 20, with an equal (5%) chance to roll each number. Since degrees of success/failure on a toughness save are determined in increments of 5, a low toughness character can roll a 20 and laugh off an attack, while a much tougher character can roll a 1 and be severely hurt or knocked out by that same attack. The same holds true for attack and defense, though to a lesser extent. As a house rule, I have been experimenting with rolling 3d6 for attack and toughness rolls, giving a range of 3-18 and making the rolls more consistent (a much higher probability of getting average rolls rather then extremes).
   
   In conclusion, I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who enjoys superhero RPGs. In 9 years of GMing I have yet to find a superhero system I like better, and I look foward to a possible future edition.



2. I can't believe how great the Mutants & Masterminds RPG is! I have played all sorts of RPGs for ~20 years, and this one is truly special. The Freedom City sourcebook for M&M is one of the best RPG products, of any type, that I've ever owned. Great job, Steve Kenson; great job, Green Ronin!



3. For those of you who remember the original Marvel Super Heroes Roleplaying Game and the DC Heroes RPG, this is their progeny. Take the best elements of both systems and put them together and you have Mutants and Masterminds 2nd Edition. It is, by far, the best superhero roleplaying game I have ever played! Religiously faithful to the comics genre and ALL its myriad facets, I would dare say it has a scope as far and wide as comics itself...which means ANY genre you could name could be faciliated by this system...ANY genre. Mutants and Masterminds is simply the best out there.



4. I think M&M Second Edition is by far one of the best RPGs I have played in a long time. I run a lot of games myself for D&D 3.0-3.5, Star Wars RCR and Saga Edition (Saga being the current one), and even Stargate on occasion. But by far M&M gives anyone cracking into it the first time a awesome setting with almost no limits.
   
   I say almost because there have to be some limits to your character's powers and abilities, otherwise the rest of the players or the game itself isn't fun any longer. But I don't have to worry about going with one of the pre-made supers in the book, or any classes. However one thing I love is there are those pre-made characters or arch-types that you can look to for inspiration or ideas. The system is so free you can take those arch-types apart and redo the stats to fit your idea as well.
   
   For me I started playing D&D in second edition, fell in love even more in 3.0 to 3.5 editions. Been gaming ever since, and the bottom line is I have played many games, many systems, and had lots of fun. But by far this is the best RPG to be a super hero hands down.



5. OK, my 1st all time favorite is probably DC Universe d6 system, but for a simple and generic Supers game, I would say this is tops. My 3rd all time would be TSR's old Marvel system. Now allot of good reviews have been done already, so I'm not going to repeat them here. I got this to run with my two sons, they like easy systems and when I heard all you needed was a d20, well that was great, my youngest son has a heck of a time playing games with different types of dice needed to make rolls with, it starts to confuse him ("roll 2d6 for damage.....huh?, no thats a d8 son"), its a great fast action oriented game with no hit points as well, great for kids and old adults....The creation system could use a little streamlining with less skills and fewer feats and the powers could be a bit more descriptive, but overall that does'nt take away from the games simplicity, thats why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
   A third edition with less skills and feats would be great.

5 comments about Woodshop Dust Control: A Complete Guide to Setting Up Your Own System: Completely Revised and Updated.

1. This book provides a complete and detailed writing on the methods for woodshop dust control methods. It covers different strategies for controlling dust from simple respiratory protection devices(masks), shop ventillation and air filtration and dust collecting machines (portable and central units).
   It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each method for different situations and how to optimize each strategy for a given situation. Great and interesting book. Written in practical and easy to understand manner.



2. A very good starting point for anyone interested in woodshop dust control. Does a good job covering the hazards and methods of control of sawdust. It then goes on to describe methods for designing and installing a central dust collection system.



3. Basically what I found is just when the book was getting into enough detail to be useful the section would end.
   
   The book is fine if you haven't ever read an article on dust control. But a two page section on dust control from sanders right at the end of the book??? Come on give us a little meat here. Little detail is given on how to control dust with jigs or with equipment that doesn't have dust control.
   
   I gave it 2 stars because I found it wasn't technically detailed enough to be useful and very vague in areas that really needed attention. Took me 3 hours to read it..I'll put it on the book shelve where ironically enough it will probably gather dust.



4. Very detailed, Easy to read, very helpfull in setting up shop.



5. The book is ok, but I wish he would spend more time on running a DC system in a small home shop. Also, a topic I was interested in (grounding a pvc based system) was brushed over in less than a page.