I quickly learned that when seeking information about Native American collectibles in Pennsylvania, the best place to start is with Fogelman Publishing Co. They also offer books of wider scope, for example, Gary L. Fogelman's All About the At'-latl (At least as much as you'll ever need to know).

The author has certainly not overstated the extent of the information contained in this publication. Although it does not look like much, it will surprise you. Its appearance is quite deceptive. It is a plain, cardboard stock cover with center staples and the thickness is not impressive. Yet, the contents are overwhelming!

Fogelman has covered everything from the origin and pronunciation of the name to the world records. He takes us around the world for a look at the various functional and ceremonial atlatls. Those ceremonial ones are all to die for and several of the functional ones are almost too beautiful to use.

The chapter on throwing, with a sequence of six photographs, will give you complete instructions for distance and accuracy. I can vouch for this man's ability to explain why you may not be achieving the desired results. As soon as I read this section, I realized what I have been doing wrong.

He included information about hunting and the regulations, organizations and tournaments, safety rules and examples of injuries, and even the atlatl in art. He provides contact information for various organizations and for individuals that make atlatls.

I love Fogelman's writing style. You feel as if you are standing there beside him and having a one-on-one conversation about the atlatl. He has a laid-back style and uses examples that anybody can identify with and quickly grasp. His writing is descriptive and his illustrations clean, clear and highly detailed. He is an outstanding instructor.

Fogelman was born with a love for all things Indian and archaeological. He grew into a life created around these and became a researcher, writer, collector, restorer, appraiser and dealer/trader. He learned flint-knapping and honed his skills in the art, became the 1998 World Champion in atlatl throwing, has remained in Top Ten atlatlists in the world, and is the co-founder of the Eastern Seaboard Atlatl Championships. He knows his atlatls and writes from the heart. He is the founder of Indian Artifact Magazine, the co-author of The Pennsylvania Fluted Point Survey and the author of Glass Trade Beads of the Northeast and several other books.

JoAnne Fogelman, his wife, added immeasurable value to this publication through her magnificent photographs of the atlatl in use. She did an excellent job of stopping the action for clarity and catching the flexibility of both the atlatl and the dart. I commend her because movement has been the death of many would-be photographers.

If you have any interest in atlatls, Indian collectibles, Indian weapons or archaeology, this is a must-own booklet. Two-time atlatl world champion William R. Perkins says this is the only atlatl book that he has ever recommended. I do not have his expertise or credentials -- just a meager classroom instruction by an anthropologist in California -- but I have to give this booklet my highest recommendation.