• BOOK REVIEWS

    We remember our favorite teachers... the ones who inspired us and made learning fun! An excellent teacher has the skills to concurrently promote learning and loving the experience.

    BUILDING BRIDGES – An Introduction to the Card Game BRIDGE by Jeanne R. Wamack reflects Jeanne’s love of the card game, love of teaching the card game to others, and her love of us... her students. Jeanne infuses her text with stories of her own experiences learning BRIDGE, which adds humility and humor to the voluminous amount of information collected, organized, and indexed for her readers’ behalf.


    Many Bridge Masters have written a book to teach what they have learned. They illustrate the principles of Bridge with any number of “sample hands,” but there is a problem. Those hands will never be encountered because of the nearly infinite number of possible Bridge hands.

    Jeanne uses a better method: learn the “logic” behind the principles and draw upon your understanding as you approach each hand, regardless of which cards are in that hand. The advantage is obvious to students/readers, who have a variety of learning styles. Jeanne is the skilled favorite teacher because she rises above the challenge their variety presents. She encounters each reader where they are and in such a way as to mesh with his/her learning style, level of skill, and experience – both current AND as their skills improve: the Goldilocks spot – “just right” for each individual.

    When the logic makes sense, the play of the Bridge hand makes sense! Now BRIDGE can fulfill on multiple levels of appeal: mental stimulation, satisfaction of accomplishment, social interaction, and best of all – the joy of play!

    Jeanne holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. She understands students’ needs, and she wants them to succeed while enjoying learning. This book, Jeanne’s first, was awarded by the American Bridge Teacher Association’s “Book of the Year” contest.

    Students and lovers of BUILDING BRIDGES have added their own accolade. I join them with enthusiasm!

    REC, M.D.

    Lover of BRIDGE and BUILDING BRIDGES: An Introduction to the Card Game BRIDGE

    ♠♥♦♣

    Jeanne Wamack has written the perfect workbook for bridge players of novice level and beyond. Each chapter comprises a comprehensive topical explanation followed by exercises with a thorough answer key. The chapters systematically build on one another. By the conclusion, the reader will have an encompassing knowledge of bidding, defense, and play of the hand. This solid manual bears multiple readings. I continue to learn something new each time I review BUILDING BRIDGES.

    MK, Professor, Samford University

    ♠♥♦♣

    We, my husband and I, learned how to play the game in Jeanne’s classes, something we’ve wanted to do for a very long time. BUILDING BRIDGES is NOT a boring bridge book! It is a pleasure to read and is easy to understand. Jeanne is a talented writer (and teacher) who makes learning fun, and by association BUILDING BRIDGES makes learning fun too.

    ♠♥♦♣


    MEDIA PRESENTATION REVIEWS

    I’ve taken beginner bridge lessons taught using various media, and I prefer the BUILDING BRIDGES digital program. The superiority of the digital method probably does not need explanation, but I will share the student’s point of view. 

    I can clearly see everything that appears on the monitor. There are no problems with faint markers or illegible handwriting. The program is not limited in scope like a whiteboard - we can go through several pages if necessary, allowing the class to go into much more detail. We can easily go back to a previous page to review or clarify a point because information never has to be erased to create space for extra material or bidding examples. Best of all, after the description of a new concept, in the BUILDING BRIDGES program, we always bid and discuss several hands onscreen that exemplify that concept, priming us for follow-up play. It has made bridge easier to understand.

    BK

    ♠♥♦♣

    Several years ago I took Jeanne’s BUILDING BRIDGES course. Last year, when I decided to take it again for a refresher, I was pleasantly surprised at her new teaching method. Gone was the old white board where she had to hand write everything. In its place, a big screen. Her book is loaded on a computer and flashed onto the screen. It is so much better - very colorful examples, easier to read and follow along. Love it!

    SJ