"I read Werner's Black River Dreams while fishing dark water, glancing over my shoulder for bear between casts, and waking at daylight to strange cabin dreams. So his book fit well with my experience, although I'm not sure it's a good idea to read a book about someone doing something while you are doing it. Maybe an instruction manual on fly fishing, but not the poetic account of fishing that Werner offers... I particularly enjoyed his understanding of bait fishermen and the killing of fish, having grown up the son of a commercial fisherman where big fish and killing were common. Reading Werner's book reminded me that fisherwomen and fishermen have similar questions. And he offers an occasional tip for those of us still learning the details of fly fishing... It's a nice collection of great stories, vivid characters in knee-deep water."

"Right from the Preface Max has a way of engaging the reader. I am not much of a fly fisherwoman but can relate to everything he is saying from mayflies to interpreting our environment. My family spends a lot of time enjoying the outdoors on rivers and lakes boating, camping, hiking, biking, skiing, hunting, and learning from our fragile planet. Max says "...ecology not only changed how I looked at myself, but also how I viewed other people and the many animals I encountered while on the water. Suddenly the activity of fly fishing had become an opportunity to speculate, wonder, and reflect on the seamlessness and grandeur of life. Anyone who loves the outdoors will enjoy this book and hopefully will walk away with a new appreciation of the environment. Whatever gets one outdoors is a good activity. When we are outside we should "be still" so we can listen, look and feel our surroundings. We can learn so much from our interactions with and observations of the environment. Max is a good example of this throughout the book. This is a wonderful book. The reader will not be disappointed. I love it!"