Rating: 
Summary: Well worth the money for the speed & ease of the technique
Review: "Socks Soar" has gotten a lot of buzz in the knitting world for its demonstration of a method for knitting socks (and for that matter, other small items in the round, like sleeves or mittens) on two circular needles, instead of using 4 or 5 double-pointed needles. I have tried to knit socks on double-pointed needles and found the experience frustrating and anxiety-provoking -- and since one of the chief reasons I knit is for pleasure and to relax, quickly abandoned that method and reconciled myself to a few "two-needle" sock and mitten patterns, with the requisite seam-sewing. After hearing about Bordi's book, I ordered a copy and within fifteen minutes of trying her method, was knitting quickly, easily and proficiently on a sock -- and loving it. For me, learning this technique and being able to use it effortlessly was well worth the price of the book. I have used the basic sock pattern at least 4 or 5 times already (and I've only had the book a month) and probably will try some of the other patterns included in the book. That being said, some of the criticism the book has received is justified. For example, the production quality of the book isn't great; ... you get a paperback book that is less than 50 pages long, with only black and white photographs, and less than 10 sock patterns. I personally found the chatty, cutesy, conversational style of the writing a little much to take at times. The patterns (with one or two exceptions) are written only in one size, to fit the dreaded "average women's medium" without adjustments for kids or men (or us ladies with big feet). And the sock patterns are rather ho-hum; several are just stockinette with slight variations in the gauge but no substantial or particularly creative alterations. If you approach this book for what it is, namely an introduction to a new technique that may well convert you to circular sock knitting, then your expectations are likely to be met. If you are looking for a creative or exciting sock pattern book, or are already proficient and comfortable with your dpns, then perhaps this isn't the book for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally! A far better way to knit socks (and hats, gloves...
Review: After years of being annoyed by dpn's and their little problems like losing one under the couch, getting stabbed, fiddling every few inches to change needles, etc etc, I finally saw this book and bought it. Am I ever glad it was written! Everything came through clear as could be on my first try and I am now knitting socks like a dream. This book is a work of genius. The author even explains how to take this method and use it on dpn patterns so you never need dpns again. I've already used it for a sweater on the sleeves instead of dpns.
I really like the way the author talks to you as if you are sitting beside her watching. It helped me understand and feel confident.
Rating:
Summary: Rises above all other sock books
Review: I am a minority, a man who knits. More and more men are taking up this age-old art, though. In my office (I am an architect) two other men knit also. Centuries ago it was men, not women, who did the knitting. Anyway, I have been knitting socks for my size 14 feet for several years, laboriously following the traditional methods and using the same tools as those men did centuries ago: sets of double-pointed needles. They have certain small advantages, but nothing compared to the amazing speed and opportunities the two circular needles offer. I will never use double-pointed needles again. It takes literally moments to learn Cat's method. So why do you need her book? It contains handsome patterns for both men and women, and explains clearly how to translate the old kind of pattern to her method. That way you can still use your favorite sock patterns (one of mine is a Nancy Bush design). It's so simple (Cat even says so) that you scarcely need the book. But you do--because of the vaariety of patterns she offers, as well as pages and pages of tips and tricks that you'll use later for socks and collars and sleeves and all kinds of other knitting. One more thing--she is funny and gentle, and she understands that you need good explanations. The photographs are so beautiful you could frame them. Get this book, and your feet will have more socks!
Rating: 
Summary: Good technique but not a good book.....
Review: I bought this book fairly soon after learning how to knit socks. I have been knitting for over 30 years, but only recently got bitten by the sock "bug". I found the instructions confusing and frustrating, and her chatter to be pretentious at best. And that she has actaully copyrighted a knitting technique (turning the toe) is enough to make me gag. People have been knitting for thousands of years. Maybe she re-discovered something, but she sure didn't invent it. As I was trying out the circular needle technique, I found it was really cumbersome as the stiches kept getting hung up or snagged when I tried to slide them onto the circular needles. Well, after buying at least 10 other sock books and patterns, perusing the web and making several pairs of socks using dpn - top down, toe up, turned heel, decrease heel, etc., I decided to give the circular needle technique another try and I'm sold on it and will never go back. But it wasn't this book that helped me so much as other resources on the internet or in other books. It's really important to have a really good circular needle that the stitches don't get hung up on every time you slide them up onto the needle. Addi Turbos are about the best. I now make all my socks without a pattern, from the toe up, and they fit!
Rating:
Summary: As magical as her TREASURY OF MAGICAL KNITTING
Review: I didn't know this sock book existed. I had not expected to ever knit a sock. But I learned the two circular needle technique in Ms. Bordhi's latest book, A TREASURY OF MAGICAL KNITTING, and then I just had to try it out on socks too. Both books are super but this one, the sock one, is her first book I think, and it is not as fancy and full color as the Treasury book.
What is the same about both books are these things:
1. Ms. Bordhi writes so clearly and you feel like she is your friend sitting beside you. The kind of friend who you smile just to think of them.
2. The knitting discoveries are really amazing. It's like a whole new world of knitting.
3. Both books make you want more!!!!!
So don't miss them. And you can see previews of her third book on her website catbordhi.com
Rating: 
Summary: Only O.K.
Review: I don't understand why some people gave this book five stars. They must be very advanced knitters and didn't notice that some explanation and diagrams are missing.
I didn't like that the pictures are in black and white- Don't be fooled by the colored socks on the cover! It made it very hard to get a good look at the socks and see what Ms. Bordi did. And the only close-up is of the most advanced sock in the book- the Leaf and Tendril! How about some close-ups of the other socks? The most basic one would have been helpful! Like- picking up stitches along the heel flap or joining the heel with the instep so that there isn't a gaping hole on either ankle? Huh? Because, all you said was "You're going to twist this stitch around on the next round so that there's not a gaping hole." And that's all you said about it. What- what is that even supposed to mean to me?
So you can see that the directions could be confusing as well- especially if you aren't too sure how to differentiate between any the following: gusset, instep, heel, heel flap. There's should be a diagram (like when you see the cuts of beef on a cow) showing the different areas of a sock.
And she tells you to finish off the sock by grafting the end. That's it. I have no idea what grafting is or entails, but she expects me to. What's up with that? This book could easily have been twice as thick, with better pictures and instructions and I would have given it 5 stars. As it is, you'll need plenty of other books to help you get through the most basic sock pattern in here.
Plus, she makes the same tired joke over and over again- "Eat rice & beans for a week so that you can buy more circular needles." "Go make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich- you're saving for needles, remember?" "Stop eating- Buy needles." "Sell you children- Buy More Needles." She makes it sound like to buy needles is to forsake food/clothing/heat/etc.
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing
Review: I have been knitting for thirty years and was excited to purchase a book about a new knitting techniques. I was disappointed in this book because of the lack of detailed pictures which are common in instructional treatises. The photos were in black and white and not as sharp as they should be. I found sites on the internet, and another book, the Magic Loop, which was more helpful in explaining the circular needle technique.
Rating:
Summary: Missing toe up socks
Review: I raced to my local yarn store completely prepared to purchase this book - and didn't buy it. Why? Because I'd already learned how to knit on two circular needles (this information is available on many websites). And I already have plenty of patterns for knitting socks from the top down. I was really hoping that this book would have the courage to focus on socks that start at the toe but it didn't. Bottom line - if you don't have many sock patterns and haven't been able to learn the two circular method off the net, than this book is probably a good resource to own. Otherwise, try to look at it and judge if you need it. That caveat aside, knitting on two circular needles is absolutely wonderful and well worth learning!
Rating:
Summary: There are better instructions on the web.
Review: I'm an intermediate beginner, I guess. I've succesfully made mittons, for instance. I had attempted to knit socks in the past but the DPNs were too frustrating for me. At first, I was going gung-ho on my first sock using this book but I got thoroughly confused after constructing the heel, about how to pick up the stitches and finish the sock. The directions were really vague and unclear (at least to me, a novice sock knitter) and I couldn't figure out how to translate traditional sock knitting instructions from my other books to this technique. The author makes a lot of assumptions about what a novice knitter would know. You will need other books to figure out her instructions. It was extremely disappointing. I've since purchased bamboo DPNs in hopes that there will be less yarn slippage and frustration with the old-fashioned method.
If the author revised the text to include more thorough explanations this would be a good buy.
Rating:
Summary: opens up a whole new world of techniques
Review: I've been knitting for over forty years. I consider myself a very good knitter. But since buying and reading and applying the techniques in this book (Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles)I feel like I have suddenly advanced another forty years. Cat Bordi introduced me to ways of using two circular needles that made my mouth hang open. Her sense of humor and friendly writing made me feel like she was sitting beside me, guiding me step by step. She used to teach school and you can tell, because she explains things so well. She's a stickler for details, like getting increases and decreases to lie smoothly, and has some new ways of doing this. The socks in the book are marvelous, too. I'm thinking of making a sweater to match the exquisite Leaf and Tendril sock, using the sock leg design for the arms of the sweater, and the leaf lace design for the midriff. I do hope that this is not the only knitting book we'll see from this innovative designer and knit-inventor. There are so many pattern books out there, but this one gives you beautiful patterns as well as techniques to change the way you knit forever.
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