Mark Wilson & Don Wardell, M.D.

Williebetmore said:
Neil,
I'm glad its taking you a while to work through it. About a year and a half ago, it was TWICE as long. Five or six rounds of editing trimmed it down to its current size. I was worried that it would lose some credibility from being so short....but the small font and subsection headings make it MUCH easier to use...you can see at a glance where you are in the chapters. It really is a text for long term use; not a quick read like many pool instructionals.

Good luck plowing through the rest...hopefully I won't have to buy it back from you (I have enough copies now :-)). I hope you will agree that there is no pool book like it...it was written expressly for players like yourself (students of the game who CARE about the sport).
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I'm up to ch. 20 now. Don't worry, I'm KEEPING IT!

For everyone else, this book IS different than any other. The main thing about playing well is fundamentals, and this book goes into detail in that area. Other area, such as banking, caroms, masse' shots, ect., are mentioned, and a few things said about them. However, those areas are covered very well in the required reading books that are part of this textbook.
 
This book Rocks!

I recieved my copy a couple of days ago and find the chapters about fundamentals more in depth, more compelling and more understandable than anything I have ever read or heard before. After just two days of committing to a couple of changes that I have resisted for years I can already see a huge dividend. I have resisted these changes because others have never thoroughly explained why I must do it this way for maximum success. Thanks Mark for this book. $70 is simply a steal!

JC
 
JC said:
I recieved my copy a couple of days ago and find the chapters about fundamentals more in depth, more compelling and more understandable than anything I have ever read or heard before. After just two days of committing to a couple of changes that I have resisted for years I can already see a huge dividend. I have resisted these changes because others have never thoroughly explained why I must do it this way for maximum success. Thanks Mark for this book. $70 is simply a steal!

JC
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JC,
We are glad you like it. I think you will agree that Mark wants you to know WHY he recommends orthodox technique - he has NEVER subscribed to the "do it my way because I say so" theory. He spent his life learning the things you see in those first 6 chapters; and sees it as the quickest and easiest way to high level pool (though not quick, and not easy :-)). His case is persuasive enough that most will find it quite hard to argue against.

Best of luck with the book...it is a handful...but then so is the process of learning pool :-).
 
None of the links bring me to the book and apparently Marks email doesn't work.
So where can I get the book? I want it for sure.
 
3kushn said:
None of the links bring me to the book and apparently Marks email doesn't work.
So where can I get the book? I want it for sure.
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You can email Mark at stlshooter@hotmail.com (I email him every day, and it works for me).

Or you can mail $70 directly to him at:
Mark Wilson
8561 Prairietown Rd.
Dorsey, Illinois
62021

As a student of the game who has read virtually every book on pool, I can assure you that no pool library is complete without Mark's book.....there is nothing remotely like it in the past 150 years (who would be crazy enough to spend 20 years on a book that has an extremely limited market....it would take someone consumed with pool, who loved the game, who didn't care about the money, and only wanted to selflessly leave a legacy to people like himself that desperately wanted to learn this grand game....there are not a lot of people in the pool world fitting that description....but I'm glad there are a few).
 
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Williebetmore said:
As a student of the game who has read virtually every book on pool, I can assure you that no pool library is complete without Mark's book.....there is nothing remotely like it in the past 150 years (who would be crazy enough to spend 20 years on a book that has an extremely limited market....it would take someone consumed with pool, who loved the game, who didn't care about the money, and only wanted to selflessly leave a legacy to people like himself that desperately wanted to learn this grand game....there are not a lot of people in the pool world fitting that description....but I'm glad there are a few).
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Thanks but you don't have to see me. I know Mark and live in St. Louis,just not close friends. Taken his first lesson only and need to do Part 2 even though I don't play pool. I know there's more that he can teach me for my game just like Little Joe has done. Yes its mostly for my library but I will definitely read it and study it.

Thanks for the email and address. I think I used the email unless he recently changed it on his website.
 
Just a suggestion: you may sell more books if you made a small section of the book available online for free (a chapter or even a few pages) so those of us unfamiliar with Mark's work can get a flavor before buying.

I've heard good things about Mark but have never met him or seen any of his instructional material. $70 is a lot to pay sight unseen. The pool world is full of highly-touted instructional material. Some of that is great, some not so great. I for one will buy a lot of pool material if I am convinced it is good, but I don't like gambling on instructional materials.

All the endorsements in the world are worth less than a quality sample, in my opinion.
 
TSW...If you bought it, read it, and didn't like it, you would have ZERO problem selling it on here. Jerry Briesath used Mark on his dvd set...that's pretty high praise, if you ask me. Add to that, Jerry made a statement that there only 5 instructors in the world that he would recommend to teach a stroke. Mark was one of them, and he teaches a heck of a lot more than just that. I've taught with Mark (and Jerry), and he has world class knowledge. You can't go wrong. At worst you can't lose money...buy the book!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

TSW said:
Just a suggestion: you may sell more books if you made a small section of the book available online for free (a chapter or even a few pages) so those of us unfamiliar with Mark's work can get a flavor before buying.

I've heard good things about Mark but have never met him or seen any of his instructional material. $70 is a lot to pay sight unseen. The pool world is full of highly-touted instructional material. Some of that is great, some not so great. I for one will buy a lot of pool material if I am convinced it is good, but I don't like gambling on instructional materials.

All the endorsements in the world are worth less than a quality sample, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
 
TSW said:
Just a suggestion: you may sell more books if you made a small section of the book available online for free (a chapter or even a few pages) so those of us unfamiliar with Mark's work can get a flavor before buying.

I've heard good things about Mark but have never met him or seen any of his instructional material. $70 is a lot to pay sight unseen. The pool world is full of highly-touted instructional material. Some of that is great, some not so great. I for one will buy a lot of pool material if I am convinced it is good, but I don't like gambling on instructional materials.

All the endorsements in the world are worth less than a quality sample, in my opinion.
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Great suggestion. Not that I need it to know I want the book. But a chance to sample the writing style would be great if nothing else. Also, from a marketing standpoint, it is a great idea, PERIOD. Not everyone will be familiar with Mark and how good he is at what he does. Not everyone will see this thread either. A sample is a great marketing idea.

Further, I'd like to see the list of "required" reading without buying the book, if that would be considered reasonable to the authors. It would give people a chance to slowly work on all that until [and during, and after] they do read this book.

With that said, check this out. Below is a link to an Efren Reyes shot in the "Stroke of Genius" series. Mark is commentator #1 and Jay Helfert is commentator #2 (a pretty damn good commentator in his own right). At the end of the video Jay says, "That's a shot you might see once in ten years." And yet, Mark calls the shot just before Efren actually pulls the trigger. Now here is a guy that knows what the fug he is talking about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBXJ1cDJ-0s

PS. Jay and Mark, you guys are too good to commentate together. I mean spread the wealth a little, sheez! ;)

Fatz
 
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Just a note as to why there are no samples available.

While a sample would be unlikely to be pirated, there is another phenomenon common in the pool world...and that is the tendency of players to criticize without reading. I am certain that any sample would be analyzed and discussed and criticized - mainly by people who haven't read the whole book. The book is designed to be used as a whole, and I can't even imagine what short excerpt could stand on its own.

This is not a work of fiction where a sample of style might influence someone to read it. It is a textbook....purchasers will have to take their chances, or leaf through it at a trade show or tournament (there will be copies available at DCC), or borrow a friend's copy (though stealing is cheaper :-)).

While Mark would like to recoup at least some of what he has invested; the book was written as his legacy to the sport. It is now in the Library of Congress and he does not care if he and I own the only copies; we are quite satisfied with the contents. It was not a self-promotional or moneymaking venture. Any true student of the game will be the loser if he doesn't have the book; it was written for him.

P.S. - though I am COMPLETELY biased, as a student of the game who has read virtually EVERY book ever written in English about pool; I will say that it is definitely unique; and that I would have KILLED to have had this as a teenager - I would have immediately dropped out of school and not had to worry about all the demands of a 9-5 job......I would have happily slept in my car to have the guidance and knowledge presented in this book. Yes, I am a zealot :-). Just my opinion, please do not take it as hucksterism...we hope to avoid engaging in that.
 
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Mark replied to another email. This project has been a long wait.

The Flag just went up on the mailbox.

Thanks again Williebetmore.
 
Tom...I'll be driving a million miles in the next couple months (going from FL to the west coast...and back), so I wouldn't have time to read it. I wish Mark had a "books on cd" version! LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

3kushn said:
Oh Man, why didn't you say that yesterday. Guess I could just hand it over to my wife to keep till then.
NOT I've been waiting nearly 10 years for Mark to cough this up. Why wait any longer?
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Scott Lee said:
Tom...I'll be driving a million miles in the next couple months (going from FL to the west coast...and back), so I wouldn't have time to read it. I wish Mark had a "books on cd" version! LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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Scott,
Hmmm.....we thought of it, but you would probably drive 3 miles, fall asleep, crash your car; and we would be liable. The book is cheaper than a year of sleeping pills though, if you want to read it before bed :-).
 
I want a copy. If it will be available at the DCC I suppose I can wait until then to pick it up. It definitely sounds like the kind of thing I'm interested in

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
Doubtful Don...When I have a book on cd that interests me (and this one definitely interests me), it helps me drive hundreds of miles, while it holds my attention! Oh well...one way or another, I will own this book, and digest it's contents completely! Actually, I also have been waiting patiently for Mark's book for many years. I'm glad you helped with the editing, and I really look forward to reading it! Still looking forward to enjoying the hospitality of "Club Wardell" one of these days...like so many before me! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Williebetmore said:
Scott,
Hmmm.....we thought of it, but you would probably drive 3 miles, fall asleep, crash your car; and we would be liable. The book is cheaper than a year of sleeping pills though, if you want to read it before bed :-).
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Give the hard sell a break.

It gets tiring listening to you and your "you have to own this book, you are at a loss if you don't have this book, there is no better book ever written."

As far as posting a part of the book, your idea of "is not a work of fiction where a sample of style might influence someone to read it." is totally untrue. In fact, I've talked to a number of book dealers and collectors all of whom are completely unfamiliar with your previous writings.

If you aren't willing to post a few pages (tell me how the book can be pirated when you post a few pages,) then there are a lot of people unwilling to purchase it.

P.S. Check Amazon or most other online sites, you can read a portion of most every book, well except Willie's book. You know Willie, the guy who has read practically every book about pool in the English language.




Williebetmore said:
Just a note as to why there are no samples available.

While a sample would be unlikely to be pirated, there is another phenomenon common in the pool world...and that is the tendency of players to criticize without reading. I am certain that any sample would be analyzed and discussed and criticized - mainly by people who haven't read the whole book. The book is designed to be used as a whole, and I can't even imagine what short excerpt could stand on its own.

This is not a work of fiction where a sample of style might influence someone to read it. It is a textbook....purchasers will have to take their chances, or leaf through it at a trade show or tournament (there will be copies available at DCC), or borrow a friend's copy (though stealing is cheaper :-)).

While Mark would like to recoup at least some of what he has invested; the book was written as his legacy to the sport. It is now in the Library of Congress and he does not care if he and I own the only copies; we are quite satisfied with the contents. It was not a self-promotional or moneymaking venture. Any true student of the game will be the loser if he doesn't have the book; it was written for him.

P.S. - though I am COMPLETELY biased, as a student of the game who has read virtually EVERY book ever written in English about pool; I will say that it is definitely unique; and that I would have KILLED to have had this as a teenager - I would have immediately dropped out of school and not had to worry about all the demands of a 9-5 job......I would have happily slept in my car to have the guidance and knowledge presented in this book. Yes, I am a zealot :-). Just my opinion, please do not take it as hucksterism...we hope to avoid engaging in that.
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Wow...just wow! Where is it that you missed the part about Mark and Don not caring if ANYBODY bought the book! Don is a freaking doctor man, he didn't help Mark out to make $$$...he makes plenty with his real job. The book has been a labor of love for Mark for more than 2 decades...and it's finally finished. If you don't want to buy it...fine...don't. But quit pissing on somebody's life work. They obviously don't want to put any of the book "out there", with the exception of being able to see/touch/scan/read it in person somewhere like at the DCC...so give it a rest. I've known Mark personally for more than 25 years. Nobody is trying to 'hard sell' anybody...for cryin' out loud. Nothing wrong with being proud of a lifelong accomplishment. :rolleyes:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

tommyceilings said:
Give the hard sell a break.

It gets tiring listening to you and your "you have to own this book, you are at a loss if you don't have this book, there is no better book ever written."

As far as posting a part of the book, your idea of "is not a work of fiction where a sample of style might influence someone to read it." is totally untrue. In fact, I've talked to a number of book dealers and collectors all of whom are completely unfamiliar with your previous writings.

If you aren't willing to post a few pages (tell me how the book can be pirated when you post a few pages,) then there are a lot of people unwilling to purchase it.

P.S. Check Amazon or most other online sites, you can read a portion of most every book, well except Willie's book. You know Willie, the guy who has read practically every book about pool in the English language.
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tommyceilings said:
Give the hard sell a break.

It gets tiring listening to you and your "you have to own this book, you are at a loss if you don't have this book, there is no better book ever written."
Then all you have to do is stop reading the thread!
As far as posting a part of the book, your idea of "is not a work of fiction where a sample of style might influence someone to read it." is totally untrue. In fact, I've talked to a number of book dealers and collectors all of whom are completely unfamiliar with your previous writings.

If you aren't willing to post a few pages (tell me how the book can be pirated when you post a few pages,) then there are a lot of people unwilling to purchase it.
You weren't going to buy it anyways.
P.S. Check Amazon or most other online sites, you can read a portion of most every book, well except Willie's book. You know Willie, the guy who has read practically every book about pool in the English language.
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How can you say that it's not a work of fiction is untrue? Oh, wait, that because you ASSumed that he wrote other books, when no one has said or even implied that he has.

With your reading comprehension skill, I strongly suggest you do NOT buy this book. It's not a novel, it's a textbook. You have made it very clear in the past that you will think it is a bunch of baloney anyways. Just save your money for an anger management counselor, you will be better off.

It's not a book designed for quick fixes, (although for students that already have an idea, just doing a few things different can give immediate improvement), but rather is a textbook for long term improvement and study. How long that "term" is, is dependent on how "quick'" the student is, and on how much time they have to practice.
 
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