Product Description
The story of the evolution of the gambling racket from mobbed-up vice to corporate success story as told through the biographies of the men who made it happen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A Great Chronology of US Gaming
An outstanding book for those interested in the development of gambling in the United States.I am actually using this in a course I am teaching next semester on the history of gambling. Also if you like to read about "tough guys" this is a book for you.
Well done. Well researched.

More Lies About Benny Binion
This man says that Benny Binion said the quote, I Do My Own Damn Killing on Dec. 25th 1989, the day of Benny's death. I find nothing he writes about Binion to be true or researched at all.

He repeats the childish, silly, FBI planted story that Benny Binion offered Jimmy "the Weasel" Fratianno a 25 per cent interest in a brand new casino Benny would build if he andseveral mafia biggies would eliminate Russian Louie, Benny's old bodyguard, a deal worth tens of millions. Then the Weasel waited 18 months and then killed Russian Louie in front of several people, some of whom joined him in Witness Protection. He testified against many mob buddies, but no charges against Benny. He prints silly gossip, and thing I know are false. The story was the mob didn't ask for pay for a few years, and then only$60,000. Only one man was the source of that lie, and a researcher would know it. His bibliography mentions no books. This is entertaining, crap history.

Benny didn't leave Dallas in 1946 with 2 million. He still had big action in the Lone Star State and was worth tens of millions, and didn't need to risk it all with cheap hoods.

The FBI, IRS, and gaming people watched Benny his whole life. In 1978, he visited the White House and may have been in line for his long sought Presidential pardon. That is whenthe FBI released the childish story by Jimmy "the Weasel" Fratianno. When a reporter called Benny, he said, "Tell them FBIs, I was perfectly capbable of doing my own damn killing." That was 32 years after he came to Las Vegas, and a decade before this cut and paste author said he said it. Makes me doubt all his stories as to credibility. As an author, I value research!
Texas Poker Wisdom

Perfection in the Bookstore
John L. Smith once again sends packing the legions of wanna-be biographers of Las Vegas legends.Critical to the accuracy is the Author's own disposition as a native Las Vegan.Only this perspective grants immunity from cliche.In bringing these events to the page, nobody else comes close.

The reader will comprehend much of why Las Vegas, where I personally grew up, is such a tough town to break in to, why the locals don't trust newcomers, and the dynamics of the power sturcture.Required reading if you are moving to Las Vegas.

Sharks in the Desert
Everything you ever wanted to know about Vegas -- from the Mafia days to the current town. Well written and puts you there!!

Episodic, Fragmented, but Mildly Fascinating
I love Las Vegas; I am fascinated by the procession of hotels - each more interesting than its neighbor, in at least some way. Las Vegas absolutely feeds the human needs for release and occasional excess. This book traces the excesses of the people who built the city. The writer, John L. Smith, is one of the most widely read reporters on the Las Vegas scene, and that actually sets up one of my two biggest complaints. First, writing a book is not the same as a newspaper column or a magazine article. Smith's style is as if he was writing a series on countless newspaper columns. The writing is too glib, it's too vernacular, and just too "hip" and tries too had to be "tough" and "street wise." Smith really needed an editor to make this a well written book.

My second complaint is the format. This is a history written through the stories of people who came to Las Vegas and built the city. I would much rather have seen a history of each hotel, in proper chronological order. The problem with the approach Smith takes is that people moved in and out of the city, jumped ownership of hotels and corporations, and in many cases, ended up at the bottom of a river. It is a highly fragmented story that in the end, does a poor job of creating a narrative of the city.

All that said, there is still much to learn from the book. Perhaps it will just be a jumping off point for further study. I learned volumes from the book, in spite of the shortcomings. It is worth a read, but the episodic approach may frustrate you. If you know Las Vegas fairly well, you can create the necessary context; if you are not familiar with the city, you may have trouble constructing a useful portrait.. ... Read more

Product Description

An up-to-date encyclopedia of the world's most ancient predators.

The Encyclopedia of Sharks is a richly illustrated and fact-filled reference on all the world's species of sharks. The author debunks the fearful myths and fierce legends, providing straightforward facts and the latest research on sharks. More than 200 striking photographs show sharks in their natural habitats. Detailed drawings illustrate the anatomical features unique to sharks, such as their fearsome but short-lived teeth.

The book includes authoritative and updated information on:

• Evolution and design of the shark
• Classifications and orders
• Understanding the shark
• The life of the shark -- how it feeds, breeds and migrates
• Shark "supersense" -- how it survives in the aquatic environment
• The need for protection and conservation -- how sharks are now endangered by over fishing and "finning."

Also included is a 50-page comprehensive, all-color section featuring and explaining the world's most important breeds.

Through its lively text, spectacular photography, and charts, maps and illustrations, The Encyclopedia of Sharks will encourage an understanding of these complex creatures.

Customer Reviews (5)

Inaccurate information
At first glance this book seems to be a great overview of sharks with lots of great pictures.However, it does give some inaccurate information.In chapter 4 they discuss shark hearing and claim that they have otoliths, when in fact they do not.Otoliths, which sense vibrations and pressure changes are only found in ostyichthes (bony fish), not elasmobranches (sharks, skates, and rays).I haven't read cover to cover, but who knows what else could be inaccurate...

Not What I Expected
I have to say, I was a bit dissapointed when I got this book.The book consists of the characteristics of sharks IN GENERAL.Unfortunately, not all sharks are the same, so a lot is left out.The pictures are at best average, and are mainly of sharks that you could see at Ripley's aquarium.This book DOES NOT describe the different kinds of sharks.It is a basic, vague overview of sharks.If you would like a book that describes the different kinds of sharks and has better pictures, I suggest a book called "Sharks".It is also published by Firefly books and is probably more of what you are looking for.

A Great Book on Sharks
This book is great, you can ask relatives and friends, I know a lot about sharks, and every time I read this book, I learn even more!!!!!

Encyclopedia of Sharks
The book is wonderful. The binding is the problem. The slick pages causes the binding to break. So if this is for a library you might want to consider another book.

Great Book
This is a very good book. It contains lots of color photographs and has some great information.It provides a general insight to the anatomy of the shark, our relationships with them, the classification of all of the sharkspecies, and some handy info on where you can best find sharks in the wild.The book lacked some of the more indepth information that i was lookingfor, being a more general introduction to sharks rather than a moredetailed book. However, what you are looking for in a shark book may bedifferent from what i was, and this book would suit your needs well. Iwould highly recommend it too any person who is just getting in to sharks(well worth your money), but for other people who already know more thanthe general info about sharks, there are better books out there. Your moneywould not be poorly spent, as this is a good book for all, but there aremore informational books (Sharks in Question is one of the best i haveread). ... Read more

Product Description
It was the final day of summer, 1998, when sixteen-year-old surfer Jonathan Kathrein paddled out on his board for one last ride at Stinson Beach, in the area known as the Red Triangle. When the great white shark struck, it so decimated the boy’s hip and leg that his survival was considered miraculous. From this vicious and terrifying attack, and from the lengthy and painful post-surgical rehabilitation that followed, comes Margaret Kathrein’s moving and deeply inspirational memoir, Far From Shore: A Mother’s Memoir of a Shark Attack. This book is more than a narration on survival and courage; it is a reminder of the importance of a close and encouraging family, and how the love and support of family and community can sustain us through unrelenting pain and fear. This is also a memorable insight into how one boy faced the possibility of death and grew to be an extraordinary man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

My Child Was Aggressively Attacked By A Shark...And Survived!
As a parent could you ever imagine your child being attacked and severely injured by a great white?What pain and sleepless nights would you experience as a mother?Far From Shore tells you that story...emotionally, physically, and subconsciously.The unique experience from a loving mother's perspective.If you enjoy reading about courage, overcoming adversity, and hearing about how a family grows and becomes stonger...Marge Kathrein's life changing story will engage you and help you appreciate life each and every day.

must read
A great read! A true story of turning tragedy into triumph and a must read for anyone who loves and respects nature and the ocean.Actually I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good book.

Gripping and Heartfelt!!!
Beautifully and vividly written!! Be sure to block out a chuck of time when you sit down with Margaret Kathrein's book, Far From Shore, because you won't want to put it down. And it wouldn't hurt to have a box of tissues nearby either. The book is well-paced, giving readers the perfect amount of information to learn about Margaret and her family before tragedy strikes. You are instantly thrown into the day-to-day familiarities of their family, until the unimaginable happens and they are forced to face the aftermath. You feel the family's pain and triumph through this life changing event.

Positive, uplifting, and shows you the true strength in love and support within a family. A book every mother should read!

A Movie in the Making is Next!
Wonderfully written.I think a movie is in the making.I would be first in line to see it.This is a must read.

A Lot of Love Went Into This Book
I can truly say that a lot of love went into writing this book and in the selection of photos of Jonathan Kathrein from the hospital through an amazing recovery. All the while, his mother, Marge, finds herself unable to leave his side. It's a mother's memoir that not only tells a story about Jonathan Kathrein's presence of mind and courage, while in the jaws of a 12 foot Great White Shark, but reveals how a mother and family were able to allow this experience make them stronger. This near-tragedy changed Jonathan's life, for the better, and brought out a man hidden by adolesence. Jonathan and his famlily draw closer to each other, and the sea, as the story progresses. Jonathan, and his brothers, Michael and Eric, eventually return to the call of the surf, where they find a mysterious peace and respect in a world ruled by the shark. Even Marge learns to surf. Jonathan goes on to establish a non-profit organzation where he teaches to children in California, Hawaii and South Africa, thelife lessons he draws from the shark attack -- from understanding bullies to overcoming what seem to be insurmountable obstacles. Jonathan even writes his own children's book (Don't Fear the Shark)on respecting the shark and it's habitat.But what makes this book great, is the mother's perspective.... ... Read more

Product Description
A United Nations-brokered détente between North and South Korea is about to make history when two powerful bombs rock Midtown Manhattan, killing the warring nations' representatives as well as innocent bystanders. A renegade North Korean general is behind the violence and, with a political firestorm unleashed on Washington, D.C., Jake Scott is ordered by the president to infiltrate a secret island meeting of the North Korean rulers. Even with his best crew aboard the Reno, Scott is up against a monstrous enemy armed with hair-raising technology: miniaturized nukes stowed on board the Sang-o, or Red Shark -- a sub which handily dodges conventional sonar and satellite detection. The clock is ticking as Scott makes a chilling discovery -- the weapons are poised and ready to bring down Korea's most despised foe: the U.S.A.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Can't beat Jake Scott and Subs for thrilling chases
Jake Scott shows his skills again (War Plan Red) in saving the day.Whether he is invading a Chinese drug lord's island or doing the 'sub-chase thing', it's a thrill to follow this man and his adventures.The words kept me glued to the skirmishes and successes of the participants.I was disappointed when the book ended, I could have kept reading about the crews and their adventures for days.I am addicted to this kind of story and hope that Sasgen will allow us the privilege of more stories of Jake Scott.Submarine technology is way over my head, but I certainly have learned a great deal through the information presented.I hope everyone who has an interest in international issues and intrigue will rush out and buy a copy of Red Shark.

Better than most
The gist of this book is a conspiracy between aging Japanese imperialists and nut job North Koreans. The target is the good ol' USA, and of course, they have developed three nasty nukes.

This book holds together. I might quibble technically about the effectiveness of the Mark 48 torpedoes vis-a-vis former Soviet (eh, I mean Chinese) weapons and the political dynamics inside North Korea, but by and large this was a pleasant surprise.

If anything the book could have been a bit longer. The sub chase at the end of the book had potential for at least fifty more pages and fair number of obstacles.

I'm sure I will be checking out Sasgen's other books.

Submarine thriller with little depth
This latest technothriller proves why "ripped from the headlines" stories are so weak - they read like a patchwork of bad news that isn't calculated to shock.In "Red Shark" USN sub driver Scott hunts the littoral Chinese waters in search of a revolutionary new sub that the North Koreans plan to use in an attack on the US.The "Red Shark", built by North Korean navy, uses AIP (air independent propulsion, allowing for prolonged submergence without need for nuclear power) and advanced electronics to evade both Chinese and American subs.To add to the mix, the North Korean leadership has suffered a coup - "Dear Leader" Kim has been deposed and imprisoned by the belicose General Jin.Meanwhile, a right-wing Japanese industrialist, with an old grudge against the US, finances the coming nuclear attack on America.

While this has the makings of a good book, "Shark" fails in the execution.It starts great with a rollicking SEAL attack on warlord's island fortress (the scenes have that great 1980's action movie feel to it), but the book goes slack as the story practically maroons Scott in Japan.There, Scott must deal with Japanese intel bureaucrats who try to sound helpful even as they run interference for wealthy and anti-American Japanese industrialists.It's especially unfortunate because the entire Japanese-leg of the plot seems so unneccessary.We know that there's a rogue NK sub out there, and that eventually, Scott will have to helm a 688I to sink it.

Sasgen knows subs - his scenes among the three boats of the story (the US Reno, a Chinese Kilo & Red Shark itself) are taut and have the perfect mix of the technical and high tension.(You will probably hear the term "littoral waters" more in the space of a chapter than in the past year.)Unfortunately, the subamrine scenes are short and come too late to save the book, since they've got too little action.We know from the beginning of the story that there's going to be a sub-showdown, but little happens once our boats go at it.By the end of the story, there's even a 2nd SEAL attack - but we're told about it rather than shown it - it's like one of those books where you can tell how bored the author was getting with his own story.

In sum, not a bad book, just one that fell short of its potential, and makes clear just how high that was.

Instead, "Dangerous Ground" by Larry Bond remains the sub-thriller to beat for the last few years.

Read twice!!
Wow.! What a thriller: high tech and high speed. I read it so fast the first time that I'll have to read it again to hang onto some of the details. Sasgen really uses his knowledge of military technology to increase the thrill-a-minute pace. For instance, even though I read "Aviation Week", I'd never heard of minature UAV's. I thought Sasgen had made it up but I went to Google and, sure enough, we do have minature UAV's. How'd you like to have one of those fly into your bedroom? That's what Sasgen does with it. I hope this book is made into a movie: underwater explosions in Dolby Sound!!

The Shark is Circling ...
Jake Scott, the hero of Red Shark and Sasgen's earlier book, War Plan Red,is becoming a familiar, welcome figure for me, this being the second of Sasgen's books that I've read. (Too bad a young Harrison Ford isn't available to play him when one of his books goes Hollywood and makes it to a theater near you.) Let's hope that should the real-life North Koreans act as nefariously as those in the book, we'll have a real-life Jake Scott on our side to save the day.

This book really moves, and while it's long, it's a fast read. There are enough plot, action,visuals, and three-dimensional characters to make two movies from each of Sasgen's books. The man obviously doesn't skimp on his research either. I never doubted any of the technical stuff involving submarines, high-tech weaponry, and military protocol; it's not hard to suspend disbelief here. His descriptions of foreign settings also rang true, particularly for those countries in the Far East where I'd spent some time way back when. And there's even something for the ladies, too (and guys who aren't testosterone-challenged); there's a love/sex interest in both books, enough perhaps to make the book crossover from the thriller/war genre into the something-for-everyone mainstream. All in all, this book is definitely worth your time.

P.S. One minor quibble: Red Shark, War Plan Red, Red Scorpion ... Enough with the "Red" already, huh? ... Read more

Product Description
For millions of years, a massive shark more than twice as huge as the modern-day great white shark cruised the depths of the ocean, attacking and devouring prey. Fossil remains reveal megalodon to have been more than fifty feet long, with razor-sharp teeth, each the size of a human hand, and jaws so large it could swallow prey larger than a common dolphin. It was the biggest predatory shark ever. Award-winning author Caroline Arnold takes young readers deep beneath the prehistoric sea to investigate the habits of this monstrous shark. Fluid, detailed watercolors accompany this clear and accessible account of one of the most incredible creatures to inhabit our world. Index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Best book ever!
This is an excellent book for anyone who loves sharks, especially Megalodon.That person who said that Liopleuridon could snack on him please, Megalodon would have put up the best fight.And when he said that liopleuridons jaws were 13 feet long well their not, their only 10 feet long.Well anyways this is an excellent book, and once you read it you will find out who was the top predator!!!

This is an excellent book
Well I love this book, why because it's all true.Megalodon was a super huge top predator, of it's time.Megalodon was an excellent predator, with 6 foot long jaws.Megalodon bite strength was 60 tons of pressure per square inch, thats enough to crush a truck.Well anyways this book tells you how big this shark was, and it's super capabilities.Well this is a good book I think the whole world should get it!!!!!

Great shark book
This is a great book for anyone who likes sharks.I did not know half the things in this book.I would rate this book 9 out of 10. There is not only info on Megalodon but on all sharks. This book tells you how shark's digestive system works, and that sharks lived before the dinosaurs

Great shark book
This is a great book for anyone who likes sharks.I did not know half the things in this book.I would rate this book 9 out of 10. There is not only info on Megalodon but on all sharks. This book tells you how shark's digestive system works, and that sharks lived before the dinosaurs

Makes the Great White Shark Seem Puny
The authors have written an excellent description of Megalodon, the giant shark of about 30 million years ago whom some think may still exist. Describing the species in some detail, especially its skeleton and toothstructure, the narrative truly describes an eating machine, invincible toall in the sea except another Megalodon.They authors are wrong on onepoint however, the Megalodon is not the largest sea predator ever.Thathonor belongs to Liepleurodon, a late Jurassic Plesiosaur that had thirteenfoot jaws and weighed up to 150 tons.It could have snacked uponMegalodon.In fact, it did hunt sharks. ... Read more

Product Description
The authors of Sharks Don't Get Cancer, the basis of a 1993 report on CBS's 60 Minutes, traces the most recent developments in the use of shark cartilage in the battle against arthritis and cancer. Original. 30,000 first printing. Tour. IP. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

This is a marvelous book and the therapy is valid
In 1993 my Mother was diagnosed with a large tumor in the upper right lobe of her lung.It was surprising as she had quit smoking eight years before. Being in the alternative health industry, I have seen many natural products actually work though they were not approved or studied or found to be worthwhile by the medical establishment.I found this book and read it many times.I started my Mother on pure shark cartilage at a modest dose.It is to be taken on an empty stomach. She had sucessful surgery to remove the upper right lobe of her lung and recovered very well.Her doctors were very impressed by her progress as most lung cancer patients relapse in two years. At the time she was approached for a study on retinolic acid, but when the researchers found she was taking shark cartilage they withdrew the offer.Her doctors were surprised to find she was taking shark cartilegs and very angrily asked why she was not telling them she had gone to a new oncologist! We were shocked and explained that we were doing this on our own.Then the curtain closed and he would say no more. But it is obvious that they were using it somewhere. My Mother continued her shark cartilage for eight years and was cancer free the entire time.At that point she had other health problems and quit the shark cartilage.Within two years the cancer returned and she was gone by 2003.There is no way anyone will convince me that the Shark Cartilage did not extend her life.Studies that are done promote the burn,poison, mentality of the FDA and big business.That is why they have tried to shut down Dr Lane and his marvelous products.

Dr. Lane still doesn't get it
Not only do sharks get dozens of cancers, but they get several types of chondroma, which is cancer of the cartilage, according to the John Hopkins study and other reports.

In 2007, a study found that shark cartilage actually *reduced* life expectancy of cancer patients (led by Dr. Charles Lu), or more likely had no measurable effect. Other studies showed a similar outcome.

In 2004 the FDA shut the author's company down for making unsubstantiated claims. The FTC also barred him from making similar claims in 1998.

It should be noted that cartilage, taken orally, is broken down by stomach acids into amino acids, making it indistinguishable from any other protein. Any *complete* protein that gets into the blood system would trigger an immune response.So it doesn't even make sense.

William Lane Still Sells Snake Oil
Scientific studies have been unable to provide any compelling evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of shark cartilage as a therapy for either curing, treating, or preventing cancer.

If the purported ability of shark cartilage to choke off a tumor's blood supply was real, it would have been reflected in the numerous scientific studies that have been conducted to measure its efficacy.Those studies of course prove the opposite, that cartilage is of no value as a cancer treatment.

Unfortunately for cancer sufferers, the pseudoscience presented in books like this as well as anecdotal accounts like the one written below continue to make shark cartilage a staple among the myriad of phony miracle cancer cures touted by snake oil salesmen like William Lane who sell it.

Even if sharks do have a natural immunity to cancer - a central premise of the book that has been shown to be false - who is to say that grinding them up and eating them would convey any benefit?Does eating poultry help us fly?

Learning the truth about cartilage could save or extend your
Unfortunately, there are ignorant rants like the two provided here.

I have read both of Mr. Lane's books, and I have found them to be incredibly useful in prolonging the lives of people in my own family.I can say the same was true of others I have known, who have used cartilage and their cancer went away, much to the befuddlement of their physicians.

While it is true sharks get cancer, the number that do is so minute that it validates the sentiment that sharks do not get cancer.

The pharmaceutical industry has resorted to developing anti angiogenisis drugs that perform, or should I say, attempt to perform the same function that shark cartilage does.What is that?Well, it halts the growth of blood vessels necessary for a tumor to grow, and in some cases reverses the trend.

Before you listen to someone ignorant about the subject, or a physician that is certainly motivated to keep the chemo and radiation money train going, a multi-billion dollar business, try finding the answers by reading and talking to different people.

Bad, bad science
When anyone can publish a book, they can publish anything.This book proves that.

Sharks don't get heartburn, athlete's foot or jock itch.So what?

This book is about bad science at its worst.

Also, sharks DO get cancer. ... Read more

Product Description
It is man’s greatest fear—being eaten alive. And diving down here in the depths, the streamlined shark holds every advantage. How close do you want to get?

Acclaimed underwater photographer David Doubilet takes you deep into their dangerous realm. Yet he points out that it is we who are the killers! Our fear and ignorance puts this diverse family of fish in great danger. Let David teach you about sharks’ complex nature, and about how you can help to save the shark. ... Read more

Product Description

Since the award-winning first volume, The Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives, published in 2004, the field has witnessed tremendous developments in research, rapid advances in technology, and the emergence of new investigators beginning to explore issues of biodiversity, distribution, physiology, and ecology in ways that eluded more traditional studies. As an entirely new companion volume, Sharks and Their Relatives II: Biodiversity, Adaptive Physiology, and Conservation brings you up to speed on these significant changes, specifically examining how elasmobranch fishes – the sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras – successfully survive in a wide range of habitats.

Emphasizes Conservation of Threatened Species
This multidisciplinary volume begins by examining elasmobranch biodiversity patterns and their integrated sensory systems. It then explores the physiological adaptations – from unique sensory modalities to compensatory mechanisms for physiological and environmental stress – that make these animals particularly well-suited for the range of habitats where they are found, in both oceanic and freshwater realms.

Features Established Researchers and Introduces New Pioneers in the Field
The book then considers the human interactions and anthropogenic effects on worldwide elasmobranch populations and the potential extinction risks posed by increasing threats from changes in habitat, changes in water chemistry, and growing commercial exploitation. This text truly is unrivaled in terms of coverage and readability, and it is a must-have reference for marine biologists, fishery scientists, oceanographers, and also marine, zoo, and aquarium veterinarians.

To address subject areas and subdisciplines where coverage was absent or superficial in volume one, Jeffrey Carrier and associates have assembled in the current volume a collection of works that reveal patterns of biodiversity, the physiological attributes that contribute to elasmobranchs’ successful exploitation of oceanic and freshwater realms, and the unique issues associated with the interaction between elasmobranchs and humans, all of this with overarching attention to issues of conservation.

"We begin with chapters examining biodiversity. We have chosen to approach this discussion by presenting elasmobranchs as inhabitants of the range of zoogeographic provinces, realizing that significant overlap may occur for more pelagic species. This realization was reflected in the dialogue that occurred during preparation of the book between our chapter authors, and the recognition that many species simply cannot be confined to a specific habitat or range of habitats. We then continue by examining some of the unique physiological adaptations that allow these animals to exploit the range of habitats where they are found, from unique sensory modalities to compensatory mechanisms for physiological and environmental stress.

"Our concluding section presents some of the challenges faced by members of these groups. We have asked our authors to consider human interactions and anthropogenic effects on worldwide populations and the potential extinction risks posed from survival under increasing threats from changes in habitat, changes in water chemistry, and increasing commercial exploitation. Conservation of species under threat remains a theme throughout the book.

"Our authors represent an international group of investigators including established scientists whose work has been widely published and respected, and emerging younger scientists who have exploited recent advances in technology to ask and answer new questions as well as offering new insights and interpretations to enduring problems in the fields of ecology and physiology. We have asked them to be speculative and challenging, and we have asked them to predict future areas for investigation in hopes that their work will both inspire and provoke additional studies of these fascinating animals."
   - from the Preface

Product Description
The sports memorabilia columnist for Baseball Weekly reveals the aggressive tactics used by manufacturers to beat the competition and the role played by baseball's executives in making the industry a billion-dollar business. 30,000 first printing. $30,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Baseball Cards, Autographs and the Shrewd Marketing of Pop Culture
The back-stage temper tantrum of Mickey Mantle speaks volumes on what has become a multi-billion-dollar industry in baseball cards and sports memorabilia.

Author Pete Williams shows an angry and bitter Mantle after a 1993 appearance on a national home shopping program that was in conjunction with the MLB All-Star Game festivities put on by Upper Deck - railing about the the host's questions, which may not have helped in pushing his autographed merchandise - and attempting to negotiate the following weekend's appearances for the company into being considered as two events, which will make the Yankee legend closer to accumulating enough dates in the year for his nearly $3 million salary to sign autographs on "exclusive" memorabilia.

From the days when baseball cards were used as inserts to secure the packaging of tobacco products to the bubble-gum wars waged by Topps on other companies and a landmark judicial decision in 1980 that opened the doors wide open for a competitive marketplace in baseball card sets, Williams ambitiously covers the bases as he delves into the creation of Upper Deck, an idea from a frustrated card dealer who was tired of buying bogus memorabilia and an inventor who could add a unique identification tag to thwart counterfeiters.

While the story is initially driven by an entrepreneurial spirit born in the 1980s, neither of the founders are in the picture a few years later as the company profits explode as it becomes the high-end retailer in sports cards and collectibles through aggressive marketing and the securing of legends with exclusive and lucrative promotional contracts, along with the baggage from any number of controversies and allegations of unsavory business practices and fraud.

This is an incredible tale on how a kid's summer pastime became an industry monster that seemed so solid on the outside, but could pop at any time like a bubble blown too large from one small stick of gum. With the shrewd marketing of pop culture and the creation of a unique sports boutique based on its alleged rarity, Williams forges a classic story driven by the dreams of youth....and greed of adults.

A lot of mud slinging.
I found the book to provide an interesting history on collecting from early times to present.After the history lesson is over, William's seems to spend an inordinate amount of time dwelling on the various misdeeds ofUpper Deck President Richie McWilliam.McWilliam has a very strong (andnegative) reputation that is well understood within the industry.Whyspend half a book telling everyone that he is dishonest, a liar and a cheatwhen it is already well understood?

Fascinating look at the sports collectables industry
The "Barbarians at the Gate" of the baseball card industry.Fascinating, yet creepy, to see from the inside how a child's hobby has been exploited by sleazy characters.Will definitely turn you offcollecting new cards as an investment.

Well written book that is a must reading for card collectors
I enjoyed this book very much. It has two themes: first, it shows how one company with the right idea and the right people behind it can revolutionize an entire industry, against all odds.Second, it tells usthat to succeed in today's competitive markets you have to elbow your wayin.While the allegations of wrongdoings by trading card companies seemlike unsubstantiated hearsay, the book does make you feel that you are onthe inside, witnessing how the real entrepreneurs do it.Very entertainingread.

Well written book for the money
I feel any person who is in the hobby of collecting cards or thinking about getting in the hobby should read this book I found it interesting some of the aligations of conterfiting ones own cards interesting. Some people would be shocked to know why there cards have no value. ... Read more

Product Description
The Lady and the Sharks...Filled with the Engaging Explorations and the Adventures of a Remarkable Woman, The Lady and the Sharks is about the joys of diving, exploring, and discovering the world that lives beneath the sea-about the pleasure and power of curiosity.This updated 4th edition recounts the birth and growth of a major marine science laboratory, and describes Genie Clark's fascinating tales about the behavior and physiology of sharks, fish and marine life. Genie's stories have inspired a continually growing audience of readers, scientists; students have inspired a continually growing audience of readers, scientists, students, collaborators, friends, children, and admirers. Eugenie Clark is an explorer, marine biologist, and teacher; she is a perfect example of the heights women can attain in scientific study. In 1955, she founded a small marine laboratory that grew to become the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, now a national center for shark and marine mammal research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fan of Eugenie Clark
Eugenie Clark has been my role model since I was in fifth grade, seven years ago. I purchased both her biographies, "Lady with a Spear" and "The Lady and the Sharks". I will admit that Lady with a Spear is a better read with more adventure. I was hoping that Lady and the Sharks wqould have more adventure, perhaps detailing her experiments with the Moses Sole or with the sleeping sharks, but this book did not focus on either. The book mainly describes her research with sharks at her laboratory and is not that action packed. Still, I would recommend this book, especially for fans of Eugenie Clark.

An Amazing Woman
This 87 year young woman is still a globe-hopping, scuba diving bundle of insatiable intellectual curiosity.Not even lung cancer, which she defeated, can stop her. If you have earlier editions,this is NOT the same old book! The gorgeous cover was shot by one of Genie's son.Inside the cover you will find a NEW chapter, bringing you up to date with the Genie's latest studies. Some awesome pictures of shark necropsy, and much improved clarity of pictures, many new to the book.

An inspiring role model andexample of tenacious fortitude.Genie made the world understand women could be outstanding scientists. She has been called the Amelia Earhart of science. By the way, Genie uses her royalties to sponsor future scientists.I hear she will be taking one of her high school computer volunteers to the next big shark symposium in New York, all expenses paid!

Shark Lady
Who love fishes? I thought. Eugenie Clark love fishes and sharks. She study about diffrent kind of fishes sharks.Also Egenie Clark seen lot of diffrent kind of fishes and sharks.Also Eugenie Clark would cut open a fishes body or sharks study also it.I love the this book and didn't want to put it down.When I finish the story I feel good for what Eugenie Clark did in the story.
I recommed this biography to everybody who love read book about fishes sharks.

Another Adventure Just Waiting To Be Read
This book is very intruging and exciting.It is all about Eugenie Clark's 12 years as director of the cape Haze Marine Laboratory now known as Mote Marine Laboratory.She encounters sharks and captures them for research. She learns much and this book is filled with many facts.This is betterthan the first book she wrote.Even though this book is old, it is still as fun and interesting as ever. Adventure surronds you as you dive in toread it and to explore Eugeine's world! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether he’s engaging in mock aerial combat or riding an Iditarod sled, Randy Wayne White is one of America’s most adventurous travelers. In this collection he studies anti-terrorist driving techniques, dives for golf balls in an alligator-infested pond, hunts his fellow man with a paint gun, ice-fishes for walleye with X-ray-stunned night-crawlers, and goes pig-shooting with Dr. Pavlov. With self-effacing optimism, White captures the joys and fears of wandering the earth’s surface with an eclectic cast of fellow travelers: a frog that won’t jump, a group of expatriate Brits who’ve developed an interesting cure for “road jaundice,” and even a mad Australian scientist.

Though he rarely finds what he’s looking for—like the legendary landlocked bull sharks of Lake Nicaragua—he develops a Zen-like “passion for the means” and a rare ability to revel in the rib-aching humor of each exotic trip.

In the end, White leaves the reader mesmerized by the potential of undiscovered places and the promise of endless adventure in unfamiliar territory, from Florida to Borneo and everywhere in between. A leader of the new breed of thick-skinned, high-endurance adventure travelers of the 1990s, Randy Wayne White uniquely extols the pleasures of being “alone and on the move.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Quick Read, not about Nicaragua
This is an easy read, and more something you would pick up and look at from the library for an hour rather than actually buy.Only one story is about Nicaragua (though it's a good story).The rest are about the many, many other places the author has been.Though the author seems to have had quite an interesting life off the beaten path, a lot of the stories are written with shallow prose and lack depth.Not worth buying.

A Great Writer
Some dated material does not detract from the fine writing.

Wishin' I was with him
I've read all 3 of his "Outside" compilations. They all are, in my mind, great. Reading these books allows you to get lost, while you are in your living room. I wish there were more of them. If there is wanderlust in your heart, then you should read these stories. Some are better than others, some are more interesting to me than others, but that's why they make different flavors of ice cream too.

Ramblings, with plenty of white space
A very quick read.Somewhat entertaining, but not much substance for prospective travelers to Nicarauga or elsewhere.The cover, or dust cover, of this book I bought via Amazon in May of 2000 looks nothing like theartwork on the Amazon web page I bought it from.Recommend you get thisbook in the library, read it and put it back on the shelf, as this iseasily accomplished in a short library visit.

-John

These are not trips for ElderHospice folks!
Randy Wayne White is an authentic character. I suspected as much from reading his fiction efforts, usually involving Doc Ford. But in this collection of essays about his travels, you can see that he does notsubscribe to Travel & Leisure or Conde Nast Traveler. He picks thedamndest places to go, the damndest things to do when he gets there andwrites about his experiences in a completely entertaining and veryinformative fashion. These are not your traditional outings and Mr. Whitewould have it no other way. Hunting crocs with some authentic, althoughsomewhat legal poachers, chasing pigs through cathedrals, exploring theseldom traveled parts of Australia, or fishing for fresh water sharks inNicaragua (legend has it they exist), he is seldom far from disaster andyou perversely kind of wish you were there..but not totally. He showsanother side of himself with the gifts he brings to share with unknownNicaraguan youngsters. I won't spoil the fun of finding out what itis...but it shows a softer side of the author, which is as welcome as hisnormal personna. ... Read more

Product Description
Staffed with inexperienced USAAF pilots and led by a handful of seasoned veterans of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), the 23rd FG was formed in the field at Kunming, in China, on July 4, 1942 and flew combat missions that same day. The group's three squadrons - the 74th, 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons - were initially equipped with war-weary P-40s handed down from the AVG. These were supplemented by the attached 16th FS, flying new P-40Es, and all squadrons adorned the noses of their airplanes with fearsome and iconic sharksmouth designs.

The 23rd FG fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese, steadily moving pilots and aircraft from one remote air base to another to keep the enemy off balance. Because China could only be supplied by air from India, there were constant shortages of aircraft, fuel and ammunition with which to contend. The 23rd FG met these challenges head-on and by the end of the war its pilots had compiled a score of 594 aerial victories and nearly 400 ground kills. Among the 47 aces who flew in the 23rd were colorful characters such as David L 'Tex' Hill, Robert L 'Bob' Scott and Clinton D 'Casey'. The human cost was high, however - 126 pilots lost their lives in China while serving in the 23rd. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Overview of the 23rd FG in Action!
Successor to the legendary AVG, the 23rd FG ran up a commendable combat record over China, a record that Carl Molesworth chronicles in this nicely-illustrated release from Osprey Publishing. Part of their 'Aviation Elite Units' series, 23RD FIGHTER GROUP documents the 23rd's exciting combats and strike missions and the impact it had on the war in China.

Considering the difficulties the Americans faced in China when the AVG folded in July 1942 what with lack of aircraft and aircrew, supply difficulties, and turf battles between U.S. commanders not to mention Chiang's hidden agendas, the 23rd's accomplishments are noteworthy. In some three years of war, the 23rd claimed over 900 air and ground kills and 131,000 tons of shipping sunk. Time and again the 23rd stymied Japanese advances although they weren't able to achieve final victory. Some 32 aces - with famous names like Hill, Older, Herbst, McComas, Hampshire and Scott - made their mark with the 23rd.

Molesworth does a workmanlike job of relating the life and times - and tribulations - of the Group. He includes many first-person reminiscences and combat reports that bring the Group's missions to life. I wish he could have included material on the inter-command squabbling, the Stillwell-Chennault-Chiang relationship, etc. that so impacted the 23rd's existence but that's just me. Likewise I would have liked more information from the Japanese side as to units who fought the 23rd, actual losses versus claims, etc.

The book includes dozens of photographs of aircrew, aircraft, Japanese opponents, Chinese cities, etc. Jim Laurier contributes nine pages of color profiles of Group P-40s, P-51s, P-38s and even a P-43. As always, Laurier's artwork is top-notch.

For those unfamiliar with the record of the 23rd FG, Molesworth's book is a nicely-done, well-illustrated summary of their time in China. Recommended.
********

NB. Years ago I read Molesworth's SHARKS OVER CHINA. Aside from a general memory that it was an "good read," I don't remember much more. Presumably he kept up his research and that is reflected in the Osprey book. Since I no longer have a copy of the older book, I can't compare the two to see if Molesworth's latest effort is, in fact, a "tarted up" re-hash or not. In any case, this isn't even the first tart Osprey has cranked out. That honor probably goes to Jack Smith's 359th FG history published by Osprey in 2002. Recycling/repackaging material, slapping on a new title and placing the 'new book' with a different publisher seems par for course; I've purchased a number of books in the last few years that left me with a sense of deja vu. I do wish the Osprey bean-counters would be more adventuresome in deciding what unit histories they will publish. They apparently feel the same old-same old Fighter Groups sell. Otherwise why would they put out yet another 4th FG book last year?!?

another 'one-star' review for Osprey
Have to agree with the sentiments behind the first reviewers 'one-star'. Molesworth authored a large hardback in the mid-90s on the 23rd FG - same author, same unit. This Osprey policy of tarting up 'older' works might work with a book like Forsyth's 'JV 44' which is scarce and expensive. But I have to say here that I see no point in producing this book. There are more photos here of course - but far less text. This could be construed as purely a money-making exercise, taking advantage of the completists - either that or aimed purely at modellers who do not want any text with their photos and profile artwork. Do you want to spent $17 on a bunch of artworks? Or are Osprey providing a service for those who can't find the author's original hardback. Easy enough to locate - I got a copy for just $3 recently. Perhaps an additional star or two for pics/artwork. I understand that Osprey are working on a 357th FG history- after all the works that have appeared on that unit!

Excellent for the Tiger enthusiast.
Don't fall for the one star review.This book is far better than that.Much detail and particulars not in any other book.In fact, one of the actual Flying Tiger heroes in the book evaluated it for me and confirmed this view.I have a library dedicated to the Flying Tigers and this will be a valuable addition.

Great Pictures; however, much information comes from another book
The book has great pictures of the various squadron and group insignias, the air bases used by the 23rd Fighter Group, and 23rd Fighter Group planes destroyed due to enemy action, flying accidents, and/or accidents on the ground.It also has good pictures of flying and nonflying personnel plus excellent color aircraft plates.The reason why I am giving this one star is that almost all of the written material regarding air operations and personnel interviews comes from Carl Molesworth's 1994 book "Sharks Over China: The 23rd Fighter Group in World War II." I have a copy of above memtion book at my residence.

The book is excellent for those who want to do aircraft models of the 23th Fighter Group.However, if you are expecting new information, you are going to be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description
Drama / Casting: 1m, 1f / Scenery: Interior

This fine work in the Pendragon cycle of plays enjoyed a sold out, critically acclaimed production at the world famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The play is set in a beach bungalow. The young man who lives there has pulled a lost young woman from the ocean. Soon, she finds herself trapped in his life and torn between her need to come to rest somewhere and her certainty that all human relationships turn eventually into nightmares. The struggle between his tolerant and gently ironic approach to life and her strategy of suspicion and attack becomes a kind of war about love and creation which neither can afford to lose. This is an offbeat, wonderful love story. Note: The play contains a wealth of excellent monologue and scene material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

escape
Seascape, an avalanche of human emotions,knits the calm hermit Ben and the hysteric drifter Tracy in an net where the must bear their souls and see if love exists past an abortion, earning for escape, and distance from hope. Beautiful dialogue including outstanding scene/monologue, or directoral work.

Great relationship story -- Comedy and Drama
This is a very powerful piece that is both hilarious and dramatic. The wordplay is fantastic. The only two characters are splendidly interesting.The type of script it would be nice to see someone have the courage to makeinto a feature film. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn all about the hammerhead, the great white and other cool sharks in this Sharks--An Amazing Animal Discovery Book. Each book includes a sheet of shark stickers! Also available in the Amazing Animal Discovery Books series: Big Cats (1581178476), Dinosaurs (1581178484). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting and informative
Sharks are probably the most feared ocean creatures, but how much do we really know about these magnificent beings? What triggers a shark attack? Are all sharks dangerous?

Sharks attempts to dispel some of the myths we have about sharks, while sharing some interesting facts. Pop-up and other interactive pages enhance the learning experience for kids. Pictures and descriptions of the many different kinds of sharks are also provided.

It's natural for humans to fear these awesome creatures, but we also need to remember they have their place in nature and serve an important function. The author reminds us that many sharks are endangered, and that conservation efforts are now in place.

Well-written, informative and kid-friendly, Sharks is a great classroom or library resource on these ocean-dwellers. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews

A book kids can really sink their teeth into!
This interactive book has pop-ups, pull-outs, pull-tabs, and all sorts of devices designed to make learning about sharks fun and engaging. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed -- each shark seems to have its own personality. The text presents plenty of interesting facts about sharks' habitat, life cycles, physical features, and diet, but in a way that doesn't make sharks seem evil or too scary (though there is a full spread on how to reduce the risk of attack and what to do in case of an attack). My boys love hearing about the different sharks and looking at the illustrations, especially sticking their hands in the gaping pop-up shark mouth and feeling its teeth. ... Read more

Product Description
Readers discover the facts about this incredible immune strengthener, such as how it helps fight the common cold, eases symptoms of allergies, sinusitis and asthma, raises white blood and T cell count, lowers blood pressure, reduces blood sugar levels, decreases pain, boosts energy, helps one sleep better, and much more. Available in April. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Shark Liver Oil is a
This book was very informitive for my wife and I. Since reading the shark Liver Oil book we've been using the Shark Liver Oil gelcaps which we purchased [online] at [local internet comany] . com and have been experiencing great results! For the past two years we virtually never get sick, which allows us to stay on course with our busy lifestyles. This book is a "must read" for everyone and the Shark Liver Oil gelcaps are a "must use".

Amazing!
Shark Liver oil is amazing! This book can lead you to a better life through improved health. I started taking Shark liver oil in August of last year. I usually have serious allergies starting every fall, but not thispast fall. Shark liver oil is the only thing I did different in my life andthis is the first year in the past 12 years that I made it through afootball season with no sinus problems!In addition to the sinus benefits,I have been sleeping and resting better at night. Be sure you get highquality shark liver oil. The best is going to be found through an MLMcompany not at a health food store. jm1134@home.com.

amazing!!!!!
I have given this book to people with arthritis, breast, prostate, uterus , stomach cancers. They have read this book. Our company is a distributor of this product and the results have been incredible. The cancers haveeither lessen or disappeared. Great marriage with kimo!! ... Read more

Product Description
Two-day-old White Shark must find the strength and will to fulfill her destiny and become ruler of the sea. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excelent, Super, Awsome, amazing book!
This awsome book tells a great white shark's life span from baby to adult. This book was really cool because it had many intresting facts. I learned a lot from this book. This book even has it's own glossary! If you can findthis book, you should buy it! ... Read more

Product Description
It has not changed in over 400 million years. It never sleeps or rests. It is said to be "the perfect living machine." And, within the last decade, it has been found to hold the key to reversing cancer as well as numerous other major diseases. Sharks Don't Ger Cancer is the story of this amazing breakthrough. (Avery Publishing Group) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Read this book!
While publicly attempting to destroy the idea of shark cartilage and its anti-angiogenic properties, big-pharma has dumped billions into producing synthetic extracts of the active anti-angiogenic factors in shark cartilage. Of course, that would have nothing to do with the fact that while natural therapies might make millions, synthetic versions will make BILLIONS. Just like synthetic Cannabis extracts have and are moving through FDA approval while the FDA publicly announces that Cannabis have no medical efficacy for the treatment of any disease, despite hundreds of double-blind studies dating back to the 1950's which show the exact opposite.

See the TED lecture by William Li "Can we eat to starve Cancer?" and you will see the mainstream 'science' moving to capture the high-ground on this issue.

Sharks DO get cancer!
Sharks do get cancer it is a fact. This book is a lie.
Don't let this book fool you into thinking you cant get cancer just because you eat a murdered shark fin, millions of sharks are slaughtered for their fins for no reason every year, it is screwing up our Eco system.
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!

Don't waste your money
Quit buying this junk that pseudoscientists are selling to make a quick buck.

Sharks do get cancer.

A scientific study done by researchers at the Mayo Clinc showed not only that this stuff doesn't work, but "toxicity related to shark cartilage resulted in significant trial drop out after one month."

Snake Oil
Scientific studies have been unable to provide any compelling evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of shark cartilage as a therapy for either curing or preventing cancer.

Yet because of the disinformation presented in books like this, cartilage, regardless of the facts, has become a staple among the myriad of phony miracle cancer cures that sick, desperate, and despairing cancer sufferers may be all too willing to try in the impossible hope that it will help them.Unfortunately, shark cartilage's efficacy as a treatment is rooted solely in the realm of pseudoscience and in the claims of snake oil salesmen like William Lane who sell it.

Even if sharks do have a natural immunity to cancer - a central premise of the book that has been shown to be false - who is to say that grinding them up and eating them would convey any benefit?Does eating poultry help us fly?

For those who are suffering from cancer, staking the money that it costs to purchase and ship this book doesn't seem to be any smarter than staking one's life on its claims by forgoing chemotherapy treatment for cartilage as a review below describes.Who wrote that review anyway?William Lane?

Bad science!
Sharks don't get heartburn, athlete's foot or jock itch.So what?

This book is about bad science at its worst. ... Read more

Product Description
Take a bite out of this shark's tale. Little Shark is born in the dark deepness of the sea. The sea is a dangerous place. There are bigger sharks in the water that can eat him and fishermen's nets that can trap him. Little Shark must find food and stay safe so that he can grow into a big shark. Will he make it? And what kind of shark is he? Swim through the seas with Little Shark. Through his story you'll discover all kinds of fascinating shark facts-how they eat, how they swim, even what their skeletons are like. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

learned alot
Sharks are very interesting sea creatures.This is about the life of a little blue shark.There are lots of facts to learn about sharks in this book.Helpful charts of a shark body are included.Follow the life of the newborn baby shark as it grow and learn more about the blue shark and it's home.



What did you like or not like about the book?


I liked the illustrations in the book. They were bright and colorful and added lots to the text.

Would you recommend the book?Why or Why not?


This is a wonderful picture book for kids and a great resource for teachers when teaching a sea life unit.
... Read more

Product Description
This adaptation of The Three Little Pigs is set in Hawai'i.The Magic Shark (there are no wolves in Hawai'i) tries his wizardry but is foiled by the pigs and ends up in the local dump.For children 4 to 10 years old.Fully illustrated with a glossary of Hawaiian words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Best Kids Books
This series of kids book are fantastic. My great aunt read them to me & I love to share them with all of my friends & family.

The Three Little HawaiianPigs and the Magic Shark
I liked the book because the magic shark was tricky.Also, because the Magic Shark was smart.Also, because the pigs were smart.I would recommend this book to a friend because it is funny.

The Three Little HawaiianPigs and the Magic Shark
I liked it when the pigs threw a party after the shark gave up.I also liked it when the shark blew down the houses because it made the shark look funny.Also, I really liked it when they rolled the shark up and tied with string.I thought everything was very good in the story.

The Three Little HawaiianPigs and the Magic Shark
My favorite part of the story is when the shark dies.My second favorite part is when the shark dresses up like a lei seller.I would recommend this story because it's funny and has Hawaiian words.I would give this book five stars.

The Three Little HawaiianPigs and the Magic Shark
What I liked about it is that it has a shark in it.Another thing I like about it is that the shark could walk on land.Well, I almost loved everything in the story!Everyone should read this book because the shark coudn't fool the pigs and at the end of the story they had a little party at the beach.This is a cool story! ... Read more

Product Description

Profit from Your Unique Advantages as a Small Investor--Speed and Flexibility!

“The book you are holding is, hands-down, one of the most original and insightful books I have ever read when it comes to teaching you, the individual investor, not only why you have the ability to beat the Whales of Wall Street, but also how you can do it.”

--from the foreword by James J. Cramer, CNBC’s Mad Money and TheStreet.com

“Even investors who concentrate on fundamentals can benefit from Jim DePorre’s Shark approach to investing. At the very least they will know why, for a time, they can get the facts right but the stock wrong.”

--Herb Greenberg, senior columnist, MarketWatch.com

“There are very few traders who have RevShark’s intuitive feel for the market. I especially appreciate Rev’s unique ability to recognize and utilize the distinct advantages of being a smaller, individual investor versus the less agile large institutions.”

--Barry Ritholtz, Chief Investment Officer, Ritholtz Capital Partners

As an individual investor, you can swim circles around the “whales” of Wall Street…by investing like a shark! In this book, James “RevShark” DePorre reveals how to maximize your powerful and unique advantages as a small investor: speed and flexibility. You’ll develop a completely new way of looking at the stock market, learn when to attack, how to move aggressively, how to stay flexible…and when to swim away in the face of danger. You’ll learn why “buy and hold” is today’s riskiest strategy…and exactly what to do instead. In short, you’ll learn the same disciplined investment techniques that helped DePorre build a tiny nest egg into a huge fortune and transformed his life.

If you read TheStreet.com, RealMoney.com, or SharkInvesting.com, you already know DePorre and his inspiring personal story of how he lost his hearing, career, and marriage…turned to online investing out of desperation…and succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Now, in this fast-paced, insightful, and entertaining book, DePorre shows how you can do it, too.

How to invest like a shark…

• Stay in motion, trolling for your “next meal”
  Stalk your prey patiently, relentlessly, and without emotion
• Move fast when there’s blood in the water
  Know when to strike
• Know when to swim away
  Sell when you sense danger
• Feed on the frenzied crowd
  Profit from others’ fear, despair, stupidity, and greed
• Use all your unique advantages and strengths
  Leverage small caps, technical analysis, and the tremendous power of cash
• Invest with the shark’s attitude
  Be active, adaptive--and control your own destiny

Customer Reviews (39)

100's of better books - Don't waste your time.
There is absolutely no practical information in this book. I usually make lots of notes when reading educational books. With this one I barely made one page - and my writing is BIG.

Deporre fails to give "How-to" information. I really wish I had something good to say, but I hoenestly feel I have just wasted several hours that could have been more productive. There are many good stock market books to choose from - this is not one of them.

a biased sales pitch for his website
As someone who has seen good results from the long term "buy and hold" approach AND the short term swing trading approach, this book has absolutely NOTHING to offer me.Some will suggest that it is good for new investors, but the obvious sales pitch for his website and biased approach leads me to discourage the new investors also. I borrowed a copy from the library, but even for free I found my time with it to be waste. Oh - The story about a deaf guy with no job?It would make a nice Reader's Digest story, but not a whole book.

There is absolutely NO how-to information in this book.If Toni Turner's 'Beginners's Guide to Day Trading' could be considered 'Day Trading 101', then this book would have to be considered the high school survey class! Of course the term used is "Shark Investing", not 'day trading', but many consider day trading to include any trades that are 3 weeks or less, so I see this as a book that tries to sell us on the advantages of day trading. No matter what terminology is used, the trouble is that the author does not consider the downside (that many just can't survive that way) and that the long term strategy does continue to work and work well for many.The book just isn't objective about your choices.

In case you have not heard, there is a website call [...], and it is mentioned many times in this book. Since there is absolutely no how-to information in the book, the reader is left with the obvious choice of action - go check out the website for more info.Of course, that is how the author will make more money from you. What a coincidence that the title of the book just happend to be the same as the name of website.

And Jim Cramer writes the foreward?I can't think of a much bigger strike AGAINST the book!Cramer so thouroghly discredited himself with terrible predictions about the banking industry failures that CNBC had to pull his show off the air temporarily.But Cramer is a friend of DePorre's and has to write the foreward? I don't get it.

The charts in this book just suck.It's not the content, but the readability. Some poor fool didn't consider what color charts would look like when printed in a black and white and the results are an unreadable disaster! The backgrounds are all light gray, and the text is a medium gray: the lack of contrast (as you can guess) has to be seen to be believed, but somebody just didn't care and let it go to print that way. Obviously, this book is NOT the result of publishing like shark!

Experienced traders would find nothing new
This book is two things - a short story on how the author found his way into stock trading after being hearing impaired. That story is enough to fill up, 3 pages. Its a nice one. But unlike the subtitle the publisher tries to impress upon you, this book has very little to do with "being deaf and having no job". It is all about "Trading Like A Shark" with ideas and strategies suggesting things like:

1) Buy high, sell higher
2) Cut losses short, let winners run
3) When in doubt, sell and move on.
4) Protect your capital.

etc. etc. etc. etc.

To the inexperienced trader, if you never heard any of the above, go and get this book and read it. Be aware that there is no mention of the exact steps the author uses to find his stocks and trade which may be leave you disappointed.

Well Written, But Shallow Overview Of Trend Trading
James DePorre's personal story of financial and personal tragedy is very compelling and I'm very tempted to recommend the book on that basis alone - but not quite.

"Invest Like A Shark" is probably at its most effective arguing two points: 1)against the traditional buy-and-hold approach to investing as sold by the financial media, propped up by the industry. 2) for the critical and decisive influence of human emotion in the behavior of market participants.

Unfortunately, it's less effective making the case for trend trading by sticking to a rather shallow exposition with a little too much "visit my website for more" thrown in. If you're convinced by the author's arguments I'd recommend digging a bit deeper elsewhere into the details of trend following and technical analysis before deciding on a strategy.

The author of "Invest Like a Shark" writes in a direct, straightforward, and very readable style - and there's something to be said for that, regardless of subject matter or genre.

Enjoyable and easy read, but lacks substance.
How to Invest Like a Shark opens up the world of unconventional stock market trading for the beginning investors because the standard approach doesn't work for them. Here James DePorre gives his philosophy backed by Ten Commandments of shark investing and explains how to do it the right way, making a lot of money while minimizing losses as much as possible. Most of the pages, the author is very reassuring and encouraging and understands the mindset of the beginning investors because he was once there before. There is a good deal of information that leans more towards to finely tuned strategy based investing than the basic explanation of stock market fundamentals. He takes a philosophic approach that by doing it radically different from the norms of Wall Street which will bring results, that is, follow the whale and look for feeding frenzies and eliminate the buy-and-hold method. I really enjoyed the book and finished it in a day because How to Invest Like a Shark is very interesting and informative, but the problem is that there is not much of substance within the pages. He'll say something important, but there is a hollow feel to it when reading the words. However, what he is saying makes good sense. And since I am a beginning investor, I've learned a lot of important lessons from the book and am grateful. All in all, How to Invest Like a Shark is a great book but could use a bit more. ... Read more