The Runner’s Rule Book: Everything a Runner Needs to Know – And Then Some by Mark Remy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A short and humorous look at some of the “rules” that every runner knows or should know. Granted some of the rules are just the author’s opinions, but I like this book because it encapsulates a lot of the wisdom (for lack of a better word) that an experienced runner accumulates over the years. If you’re a runner, I think you’ll find it an enjoyable book to read and perhaps re-read every couple of years.

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The Runner’s Field Manual: A Tactical (and Practical) Survival Guide by Mark Remy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a follow-up of sorts to the author’s previous book “The Runner’s Rule Book.” This book is not quite as humorous as the previous work but it does contain a lot of useful advice for both new and experienced runners. It’s definitely worth reading and it does make a handy reference book, but if you’re looking for humor, “The Runner’s Rule Book” is the better choice.

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The King’s Grave: The Discovery of Richard III’s Lost Burial Place and the Clues It Holds by Michael K. Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did. Certainly I don’t regret reading it and it was interesting, but it’s just not a well-constructed telling of the story. Basically it combines a biography of Richard III of England with the story of the excavation of his burial place beneath a parking lot in Leicester. The narrative device of alternating between the two stories works at first, but becomes increasingly irritating. Richard III is a very polarizing figure in late medieval English history and both authors are Richard III partisans, yet they do not whitewash his story. Both sides are presented. It’s an interesting book and I’m glad I read it, but the structure of the narrative is a problem.

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Goering: The Rise and Fall of the Notorious Nazi Leader by Roger Manvell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good introductory level biography of Hermann Goering; it was first published in 1962 and utilizes many primary sources. While it remains a valuable character study of Goering as a person and a leader, some of the descriptions of historical events have been overtaken by more recent research. Still, I think it is worth reading, particularly for an insight into Goering’s character and the role he played in the rise of the Nazi Party.

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I was inspired to read this by the weather conditions as the Packers host the 49ers in an NFC Wildcard game. It’s not quite as cold in 2014 as it was back in 1967, but it still very cold to be playing football outdoors!

I was 10 years old in 1967 and remember the Ice Bowl vividly. I like this book a lot: it’s not overly long, it discusses the 1967 season in some detail to provide context, and best of all, it has diagrams of some of the key plays during the game to go along with the narrative. I’ve found a couple of minor inaccuracies with some of the background information, but it’s still a great read.