The human side of birding comes to the fore in The Reluctant Twitcher, a serious yet humorous account of birds and birding and the art of chasing rarities. Richard Pope, a lifelong birder, had successfully avoided this latter pursuit for many years but capitulated in 2007 when he embarked on his "Big Year," the object being to record at least 300 birds in Ontario within that calendar period. Almost instantly, a relatively normal birdwatcher morphed into a "twitcher," albeit reluctantly, pursuing rare species of birds from Rainy River to the Ottawa and well beyond his wildest expectations. Though it was a challenge that was not without trials and disappointments, Pope describes all his adventures with self-deprecating humour. Not just another book on birding, Pope's unique approach is supported by an array of exceptional colour photographs.
Sports and recreation
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Author:Pope, Richard, Gibson, GraemeSummary: -
Author:Kerkhoff, BlairSummary:Forrest C. ("Phog") Allen overcame the argument of James Naismith, inventor of the game, that basketball didn't need a coach. Allen served (for a while under Naismith) at the University of Kansas as coach from 1907 to 1909 and from 1919 to 1956, and as athletic director from 1919 to 1937 also heading the Physical Education Department for a time. Kansas City Star sportswriter Kerkhoff has written an evenhanded yet generally laudatory story of a highly controversial figure who spoke his mind even when his words spelled trouble for him. He attacked some of his faculty colleagues in the KU Medical School, who objected to having a department head with a degree in Osteopathy, carried on a running battle with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and stubbornly clung to his opinion, never heeded that the basket should be raised from 10 to 12 feet above the court.
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Author:Lennox, DougSummary:Presenting five books in the popular and exhaustive trivia series. This one’s for the sports buff in the family! Doug Lennox, the world champion of trivia, is back to score touchdowns, hit homers, win the golden boot and knock in holes-in-one every time with a colossal compendium of Q & A athletics that has all anyone could possibly want to know from archery and cycling to skiing and wrestling and everything in between. Why does the winner of the Indianapolis 500 drink milk in victory lane? Who was the first player ever to perform a slam dunk in a basketball game? Why are golfers' shortened pants called "plus-fours?" When was the Stanley Cup not awarded? Why does the letter "K" signify a strikeout on a baseball score sheet? Where is the world's oldest tennis court? What's more, Doug goes for gold with a wealth of Winter and Summer Olympics lore and legend that will amaze and captivate armchair fans and fervent competitors alike. Includes: Now You Know GolfNow You Know HockeyNow You Know SoccerNow You Know FootballNow You Know Baseball
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Author:Humber, Darryl, Humber, WilliamSummary:Winter has shaped Canada's image and has been embraced with hearty enthusiasm from snowshoeing hikers in the 19th century, to future hockey stars on backyard rinks, to the indoor spectacle of figure-skating carnivals and curling bonspiels. Much of our literature, our songs and our memories of youth reflect the bracing tonic that winter brings even as we curse the ice-laden roads on morning commutes or during weekend ski trips. But alas, winter's demise to a weak reminder of its former glory is a real possibility as climate change wreaks long-term havoc. This timely book takes a fond look at winter's past, its place in Canada's story and how it has shaped our sports history. It also explores what climate change means for our sense of Canadian identity, for our winter sports heritage and its related industries and for our ability to hold winter sporting events beyond the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
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Author:Carew, Chrissy, Brown, JamesSummary:Whether you are a parent, coach or teacher looking for a tool that can inspire and motivate, a fan interested in learning how players overcame obstacles to reach the NFL or just someone that enjoys reading poignant, inspiring stories, Insightful Player delivers. Each Insightful Player™ story shows solid evidence of the immense power of the human spirit. We all need to be reminded of this, especially kids and especially now. Insightful Player™ brings to life how players that reached the NFL did so not only on their talent, but often because of the heroic acts they made to overcome life’s obstacles. A player's father was murdered when he was eight; he had to duck for cover in his home because bullets were flying on his street... Another player saw people shot as early as the age of five and often saw dead bodies on his street before his teens... A Hall of Fame player never had a winter coat or winter boots and didn't always have food to eat... A former player was put in classes for the mentally disabled, his father "beat the tar" out of him, his coaches wouldn't help him get into college because they said he had no talent.... All of these players overcame these hardships to achieve a place in the NFL. Each player’s story provides a lesson in perseverance, values, courage and integrity. Insightful Player™ is a playbook for inspiring us all, especially our children. Use it to teach, inspire and learn.
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Author:Adams, MatthewSummary:Most people live their lives chained to the oars of a life of their own choosing, whether defined by one’s job, relationships, self-image or even their golf game. More often than not, the biggest obstacles one faces in life are those that we ourselves have placed in our own path. In the words of golf’s great champions, there is undeniable wisdom, focus, passion and depth of purpose that goes well beyond the confines of the golf course. Golf Wisdom From the Legends, celebrates the universal truths and messages of empowerment that will appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike. No other book of golf literature has better captured the vast array of thoughts, emotions and observations captured within the pages of "Golf Wisdom From the Legends". From Old Tom Morris, Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, each great champion has allowed us to share in their greatest triumphs simply by following their recipe of vision, hard work and perspective.
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Author:Mann, Ronald L.Summary:Bouncing Back: How to Recover When Life Knocks You Down reveals the behind-the-scene stories of world-class athletes from football, baseball, boxing, golf, tennis and track and field. Discover the 8 fundamental principles that prepare you for and drive peak performance during the most difficult times. Hear the direct stories from football legend, Jim Brown, baseball’s Doug DeCinces and boxing legend, Jose Torres, World Long Drive Champion, Lee Brandon and more. These extraordinary people have overcome obstacles and obtained great success: learn from them! Dr. Ron Mann shares his expertise and wisdom in these interviews and shows you how to integrate these fundamental principles into your life. Learn the importance of and how to achieve, Adjustment, Individuation, Spiritual Awareness, Coachability, Heart, Positive Mental States, Emotional Intelligence and Self-Belief. These are key elements that will determine your success or failure in life. We live in changing and uncertain times. Many people feel lost, confused and fearful. The inspiration and information in Bouncing Back provides a psycho/spiritual roadmap that leads to peace of mind, mental clarity, strength of heart and openness to change. Take the self-analysis for each essential element and find out where you stand and how to progress. Bouncing Back opens a door to a world of meaning and success.
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Author:Ertl, DavidSummary:Whether you are a recreational cyclist, a bicycle racer or a triathlete, 101 Cycling Workouts is a must-have guide to help take your cycling to a new level. Rejuvenate and refresh your cycling training with a wide variety of workouts you've never thought of before. Add challenge to your training by trying new workouts that will develop you into a better and more fit cyclist. These workouts will add depth to your training by working on all the physiological systems of a complete cycling training program, including endurance, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, strength, speed and power. Additional non-cycling workouts and gym workouts are included to supplement your training on the bike. Use these workouts to train harder, smarter and more efficiently by making the most of your vital training time.
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