Editorial Review

Innovators discussed here range from athletes and coaches to officials and equipment makers. Each book introduces ideas about problem solving as they relate to sports. For example, Skateboarding describes how one enthusiast improved wheel design after he noticed how a vacuum cleaner worked, and the ensuing text informs readers that creativity can involve making connections between seemingly unrelated things. Overall, however, these books use a traditional approach to their topics, providing brief overviews of the history, rules, equipment, and training of each sport. The texts are clear and concise if somewhat dry, and are supplemented by crisp action shots and close-ups of equipment. Appeal will be limited to report writers.