Customer Reviews

Hockey For Dummies

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like all the "For Dummies" books, this is a good purchase if you really don't know anything about the subject. I think there's a place for these books. They're a good for absolute beginners who want to get started. They can also help you decide if you like something enough to find out more about it. It's just that they're not that cheap and I think they almost always leave you wanting more.

If you know anything about hockey, you'll probably find much of this book useless or uninteresting. There are better books on how to play hockey (like Percival's Hockey Handbook) and about the sport (like Total Hockey) out there that are worth buying. You'll probably skim this book quickly and never pick it up again.

If you're just learning, this will give you all the basics along with a few bits of interesting information. Still, I'll bet you don't read this thing more than once. There are better books to get into the various aspects of hockey as a player, parent of a player, or fan.

I'd recommend this book to someone who just wants to watch hockey and have some idea what's going on...although finding a friend who can tell you is probably better and will only cost you a beer or two. If this book were cheaper or went a bit further I'd recommend it to more people. As it is, all I can say is with the title right on the front of the book you can't say they lied to you!

PS: This review isn't meant as a slam to the authors who I think did a good job. It's just a problem with this series or format. It serves a purpose, just a very narrow one.

When the NHL arrived in Arizona two years ago with the Phoenix Coyotes, I had the chance to attend a few games and was immediately HOOKED. Looking to learn more about what I am now convinced is the greatest sport ever invented I chose this book. I already knew the DUMMIES series from their excellent software guides and figured they'd be just as comprehensive here. I was not disappointed. HOCKEY FOR DUMMIES is now my hockey Bible. It includes sections on the history of the game, the rules, the equipment, coaching and training techniques, and advice on playing from the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Brian Leetch among others. Also included are profiles of the players past and present who have made the game: the famous (coaches, goal-scorers, goaltenders) and the infamous ("pests," "enforcers" and others.) There's even a section on fights and hitting which has helped me understand and at least respect that aspect of the game, even though I still don't care ! for it. HOCKEY FOR DUMMIES is a great introduction for the rookie hockey fan and an indespensable reference for the veteran.

Hockey for Dummies is the best book you can buy on the sport of Hockey. It's takes a humorous and in-depth look at the sport. It answered all my questions and is a great reference for the rules if i'm watching a game on TV.

For those who know nothing at all about hockey this may be a useful introduction, and that is apparently its purpose. It is rather shallow. Want to know what a "left wing lock" is? Or what the penalties are? Or what the basic theories of offense and defense are? Or even what the rules are? You can learn a very little about them from this book. But you'll learn more just by listening to the television announcers. Those familiar with the fine "For Dummies" series will expect more and may well be disappointed.

Hockey For Dummies was incredibly helpful when my son began playing the sport and we ended up getting so hooked that we started attending collegiate as well as professional hockey games. Nothing like a bunch of new hockey moms inquiring, "what is icing?" to which another replies, "it's something you put on a cake."

The book's format was very easy to follow, so no matter what you want to learn (penalties, history, etc.) you will be able to get a no-nonsense answer to your inquiry. Understanding something about the sport makes it much more enjoyable to watch. I was particularly impressed with the guidelines for watching the games in person versus the televised ones.

This was an o.k. read. It took me a longggg time to get through it since I kept putting it down and I LIKE hockey. Although I previously (in my teenage and young adult years) was mostly interested in it for the hot hockey players I've now found a renewed interest in it as a sport. This is helped by my attachment to the Capital's hockey team. I am really a spectator - I don't necessarily need to know how to play it myself *although* I did find myself playing pond hockey in MN over Christmas break on a visit.

The guide is good - but I found it somewhat confusing in places - that could just be me. There were some chapters that didn't interest me at all and others that I re read several times. I can't decide if it was too much info, lacking some clarity in writing that kept my interest, or whether I just really liked this one Ice Hockey Made Simple: A Spectator's Guide (4th Edition) (Spectator Guide Series) so much better that the Dummies guide fell a notch in my eyes. This was not helped by the size of the book which prohibits you from actually bringing it to a hockey game..and OF COURSE I'm not brining a Dummies guide to a game! Advertise that I'm a newb? No thank you! The other littler guide I mentioned was VERY easy to put in my purse and bring with me for covert glances when I needed help. Call me sneaky I guess.

Overall a lot of meaty hockey info in here - yet I refer to the Made simple guide far more frequently. If you can buy both then pick them up - I don't think you'll regret it..but if you have to chose one I'd choose the other. JMHO.

I ordered this book for a good general overview as my son has chosen to play hockey when no one else in our family has ever played before. I found it to be a great source of information for a beginner family. Highly recommend this book.

Living in the United Kingdom its always going to be differcult to get some t.v coverage on the marvellous game ,nevermind getting a book with as much depth and coverage as this,I found this book to be very informant as well as being worded so a relative novice could understand its terminology. This definatly gets a thumbs up from me and i heartly recommend it....

Living in the United Kingdom its always going to be differcult to get some t.v coverage on the marvellous game ,nevermind getting a book with as much depth and coverage as this,I found this book to be very informant as well as being worded so a relative novice could understand its terminology. This definatly gets a thumbs up from me and i heartly recommend it....

I've ordered the "Dummies" books before and as usual, they are the best way to learn anything. They start at the very beginning and explain everything in easy to understand language. Simply great!!