Sunday, May 27, 2012

The Last Great Game: Duke vs. Kentucky and the 2.1 Seconds That Changed Basketball

The Last Great Game: Duke vs. Kentucky and the 2.1 Seconds That Changed Basketball Review



The definitive book on the greatest game in the history of college basketball, and the dramatic road both teams took to get there.

March 28, 1992. The final of the NCAA East Regional, Duke vs. Kentucky. The 17,848 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and the millions watching on TV could say they saw the greatest game and the greatest shot in the history of college basketball. But it wasn't just the final play of the game-an 80-foot inbounds bass from Grant Hill to Christian Laettner with 2.1 seconds left in overtime- that made Duke's 104-103 victory so memorable. The Kentucky and Duke players and coaches arrived at that point from very different places, each with a unique story to tell.

In The Last Great Game, acclaimed ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski tells their stories in vivid detail, turning the game we think we remember into a drama filled with suspense, humor, revelations and reverberations. The cast alone is worth meeting again: Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, Bobby Hurley, Jamal Mashburn, Christian Laettner, Sean Woods, Grant Hill, and Bobby Knight. Timed for the game's 20th anniversary, The Last Great Game isn't a book just for Duke or Kentucky or even basketball fans. It's a book for any reader who can appreciate that great moments in sports are the result of hard work, careful preparation, group psychology, and a little luck.


Saturday, May 26, 2012

A New History of Kentucky

A New History of Kentucky Review



" The first comprehensive history of the state since the publication of Thomas D. Clark's landmark History of Kentucky over sixty years ago. A New History of Kentucky brings the Commonwealth to life, from Pikeville to the Purchase, from Covington to Corbin, this account reveals Kentucky's many faces and deep traditions. Lowell Harrison, professor emeritus of history at Western Kentucky University, is the author of many books, including George Rogers Clark and the War in the West, The Civil War in Kentucky, Kentucky's Road to Statehood, Lincoln of Kentucky, and Kentucky's Governors.


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Kentucky Gardener's Guide

Kentucky Gardener's Guide Review



Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America. Homeowners are realizing the health benefits derived from gardening and the increase in their home's property value.

Book retailers are well aware that the trend in gardening books is to regional titles that provide credible information on the plants that perform well in specific regions.

Written by gardening expert Denny McKeown, this book offers advice on the diverse landscape of Kentucky.

Contains easy to use advice on the top landscape plant choices (more than 160 entries) for Kentucky.

Recommends specific varieties and provides advice on how to plant, how to grow and how to care for Kentucky's best plants.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Kentucky Derby Vault

Kentucky Derby Vault Review



For an event that lasts just a few ticks of the clock, the Kentucky Derby has an amazing amount of tradition and history - and you'll find it all in THE KENTUCKY DERBY VAULT: A HISTORY OF THE RUN FOR THE ROSES. Author Andrew Plattner was born in Lexington, Kentucky and has been a turf writer for 15 years. He offers his own unique insight into "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports". The vault contains never-before-published vintage photographs, artwork and memorabilia drawn from Churchill Downs' archives, the Keeneland Library and private collections. You'll find reproductions of old race programs, historic betting tickets, owner / trainer passes and other faithful replicas tucked into dozens of sleeves and pockets in the book. You can read an 1894 letter detailing the Louisville Jockey Club's financial difficulties, hold a 1902 New Louisville Jockey Club membership certificate in your hand, hang our 1935 miniature pennant on your wall or relive Grindstone's 1996 photo finish. All of this and more is locked inside "The Vault", a must for all horse racing fans.


The Complete Guide to Kentucky State Parks

The Complete Guide to Kentucky State Parks Review



The Complete Guide to Kentucky State Parks is the one-stop resource for information on great places to view Kentucky's natural beauty, tour historical sites, golf, camp, fish, hike, backpack, swim, ride horseback, rock climb, and enjoy almost any other type of outdoor recreation. Whether you are a day tripper, weekend escapee, or weeklong camper, this unique guide is ideal for any one of the seven million visitors who enjoy Kentucky state parks each year. Author Susan Reigler showcases all forty-nine state parks and historical sites, as well as the Kentucky Horse Park, the Breaks Interstate Park, and the Falls of the Ohio State Park. The book contains vivid details and numerous lush photographs and is organized geographically to help with planning trips around the state. A comprehensive map is included for each region. For every park, the essential information is provided: • Natural or historical attractions of the park • Types of recreation available • Camping and lodging facilities, museums, and gift shops • Addresses and phone numbers • Magnificent color photographs -- 170 in allIf you want to see the moonbow at Cumberland Falls, one of only two in the world, to listen for a ghostly bugle at Perryville Battlefield, or to explore the longest cave system in the world, let this book be your guide. Don't be without it when planning your vacation in Kentucky.


Friday, May 18, 2012

How Kentucky Became Southern: A Tale of Outlaws, Horse Thieves, Gamblers, and Breeders (Topics in Kentucky History)

How Kentucky Became Southern: A Tale of Outlaws, Horse Thieves, Gamblers, and Breeders (Topics in Kentucky History) Review



The conflicts of the Civil War continued long after the conclusion of the war: jockeys and Thoroughbreds took up the fight on the racetrack. A border state with a shifting identity, Kentucky was scorned for its violence and lawlessness and struggled to keep up with competition from horse breeders and businessmen from New York and New Jersey. As part of this struggle, from 1865 to 1910, the social and physical landscape of Kentucky underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, resulting in the gentile, beautiful, and quintessentially southern Bluegrass region of today.

In her debut book, How Kentucky Became Southern: A Tale of Outlaws, Horse Thieves, Gamblers, and Breeders, former turf writer Maryjean Wall explores the post--Civil War world of Thoroughbred racing, before the Bluegrass region reigned supreme as the unofficial Horse Capital of the World. Wall uses her insider knowledge of horse racing as a foundation for an unprecedented examination of the efforts to establish a Thoroughbred industry in late-nineteenth-century Kentucky. Key events include a challenge between Asteroid, the best horse in Kentucky, and Kentucky, the best horse in New York; a mysterious and deadly horse disease that threatened to wipe out the foal crops for several years; and the disappearance of African American jockeys such as Isaac Murphy. Wall demonstrates how the Bluegrass could have slipped into irrelevance and how these events define the history of the state.

How Kentucky Became Southern offers an accessible inside look at the Thoroughbred industry and its place in Kentucky history.


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Kentucky Straight: Stories

Kentucky Straight: Stories Review



Riveting, often heartbreaking stories that take readers through country that is figuratively and literally unmapped. These stories are set in a nameless community too small to be called a town, a place where wanting an education is a mark of ungodly arrogance and dowsing for water a legitimate occupation. Offutt has received a James Michener Grant and a Kentucky Arts Council Award.


Friday, May 11, 2012

Betting the Kentucky Derby: How to Wager and Win on America's Biggest Horse Race

Betting the Kentucky Derby: How to Wager and Win on America's Biggest Horse Race Review



The Kentucky Derby attracts thousands of spectators on and off track and millions of wagering dollars. Now for the first time there's one title geared specifically for successfully handicapping and playing America's biggest race day.The author discusses proven historical handicapping methods, the advantages of modern exotic betting menus, and other expert tools that will enhance both your wallett and your Kentucky Derby experience.


Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event

The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event Review



Each year on the first Saturday in May, the world turns its attention to the twin spires of Churchill Downs for the high-stakes excitement of the "greatest two minutes in sports," the Kentucky Derby. No American sporting event can claim the history, tradition, or pageantry that the Kentucky Derby holds. For more than 130 years, spectators have been fascinated by the magnificent horses that run the Louisville track. Thoroughbreds such as Secretariat and Barbaro have earned instant international fame, along with jockeys such as Isaac Murphy, Ron Turcotte, and Calvin Borel. The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event calls this great tradition to post and illuminates its history and culture.

Rising from its humble beginnings as an American variation of England's Epsom Derby, the Kentucky Derby became a centerpiece of American sports and the racing industry, confirming Kentucky's status as the Horse Capital of the World. James C. Nicholson argues that the Derby, at its essence, is a celebration of a place, existing as a connection between Kentucky's mythic past and modern society. The Derby is more than just a horse race -- it is an experience enhanced by familiar traditions, icons, and images that help Derby fans to understand Kentucky and define themselves as Americans. Today the Kentucky Derby continues to attract international attention from royalty, celebrities, racing fans, and those who simply enjoy an icy mint julep, a fabulous hat, and a wager on who will make it to the winner's circle.

Nicholson provides an intriguing and thorough history of the Kentucky Derby, examining the tradition, spectacle, culture, and evolution of the Kentucky Derby -- the brightest jewel of the Triple Crown.


Friday, May 4, 2012

The Kentucky Encyclopedia

The Kentucky Encyclopedia Review



" The Kentucky Encyclopedia is available on-line for libraries and other subscribers. See www.kyenc.com for information. The Kentucky Encyclopedia's 2,000-plus entries are the work of more than five hundred writers. Their subjects reflect all areas of the commonwealth and span the time from prehistoric settlement to today's headlines, recording Kentuckians' achievements in art, architecture, business, education, politics, religion, science, and sports. Biographical sketches portray all of Kentucky's governors and U.S. senators, as well as note congressmen and state and local politicians. Kentucky's impact on the national scene is registered in the lives of such figures as Carry Nation, Henry Clay, Louis Brandeis, and Alben Barkley. The commonwealth's high range from writers Harriette Arnow and Jesse Stuart, reformers Laura Clay and Mary Breckinridge, and civil rights leaders Whitney Young, Jr., and Georgia Powers, to sports figures Muhammad Ali and Adolph Rupp and entertainers Loretta Lynn, Merle Travis, and the Everly Brothers. Entries describe each county and county seat and each community with a population above 2,500. Broad overview articles examine such topics as agriculture, segregation, transportation, literature, and folklife. Frequently misunderstood aspects of Kentucky's history and culture are clarified and popular misconceptions corrected. The facts on such subjects as mint juleps, Fort Knox, Boone's coonskin cap, the Kentucky hot brown, and Morgan's Raiders will settle many an argument. For both the researcher and the more casual reader, this collection of facts and fancies about Kentucky and Kentuckians will be an invaluable resource.


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Kentucky (From Sea to Shining Sea, Second)

Kentucky (From Sea to Shining Sea, Second) Review



Put kids on the road to discovery with the series that brings the United States to life, state by exciting state. It's all here - the history and geography, the people and culture, plus colorful photos, entertaining extras, easy recipes, and so much more. For an armchair tour of the U.S., from sea to shining sea, nothing beats these marvelous books - except maybe a tour guide!


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Boy from Hollow Hut - A Story of the Kentucky Mountains

The Boy from Hollow Hut - A Story of the Kentucky Mountains Review



The Boy from Hollow Hut - A Story of the Kentucky Mountains is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Isla May Mullins is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of Isla May Mullins then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.