Not for a professional and recycled materials from previous publications:
I was excited by the title of this book because as a koi enthusiast since I was a little boy, I know how hard it can be to get something beyond the introductory level text on these beautiful fish. When I got this, book, I was disappointed since, as soon as I opened it, I recognized both pictures and the information. I turned to my bookshelf to see if I could find this book already there, but with a little digging I realized I didn't have this book but much of it is RECYCLED MATERIALS from "Koi and... more info
Suggest caution if seeking advice...:
...from any of this author's books...Ms. Barrie was just the publisher's secretary...the publisher is Herb Axelrod and under cross-examination during litigation against him Ms. Barrie said whenever Axelrod assigned her to do a book she just went to the library for references and then spent a week writing each one...Axelrod ultimately was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax evasion and Ms. Barrie is now working as a dental hygienist...Axelrod carries some weight among fish fans but I'd be cautious about... more info
Impractical Guide:
This book does not appear to be good for beginners or professionals. It does have details on constructing ponds, but it is seriously lacking in the `care and feeding' of koi. This area is covered conversationally and although the important topics are mentioned, it does not provide details. So it is not a practical beginner's guild. Nor does it provide technical details such as chemistry or anatomy that you might expect in a professional's guide. I liked the photography. However, if you are looking for... more info
Not really the Professional's Book:
This is more of a book geared toward beginners and enthusiasts. Too often the comments are very general in character -- under anatomy, for instance, the author tells us that koi have all the usual internal organs one would expect -- and the author frequently refers the reader to other publications. There are numerous very nice color photographs and the book is easy to read. It just scratches the surface, however, and so is perhaps not aptly named.
