Book Description
A major new history that changes our understanding of World War I, incorporating the latest in military, political, and economic research, destined to become the definitive account for years to come.
The standard account of World War I says that the war happened because politicians lost control of events, and that once the war began, it quickly became an unstoppable machine. But in this major new work, historian David Stevenson shows that politicians deliberately took risks that led to war in July 1914, and that battle by bloody battle, their decision remained to continue the fighting. Cataclysm presents the disturbing reality that the course of the war was the result of conscious choices--including the continued acceptance of astronomical casualties.
Rather than the standard Germany-vs.-England account, Cataclysm is a truly international history, drawing on previously undisclosed records from the Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Ottoman governments. From the complex network of secret treaties and alliances that eventually drew all of Europe into the war, to the way that World War I reconfigured how societies mourn and memorialize wartime dead, Cataclysm is a major revision of World War I history.
Customer Reviews:
excellent.......2006-03-30
Cataclysm is a very professional and scholarly one volume history of WWI that covers all aspects of the war from the battlefield to the home front, including the economics and internal politics of the combatants. Even though the writing is dry it is quite readable and its separation into chapters devoted to topics rather than a time linear narrative make it an excellent source of reference.
Personally, I am more of a dilettante than a scholar and am more concerned with generalities than facts and figures. Therefore I found this book a little turgid with numbers and details that I could have done without, however if you want a very comprehensive, fact-filled general history of WWI this is most definitely the book for you.
Riveting.......2006-03-06
I stumbled on this excellent book via a review in the Atlantic Monthly, and bookmarked it as a curiosity. Receiving it as a gift by surprise, I immediately put it in line behind other books on my shelf. For some reason though, the mood struck me to open it, I barely put Cataclysm down until I finished.
Stevenson interjects no sentimental pining for the time before the 20th Century's wars, and leaves no room for romanticized notions of warfare. He could be accused of cold rationality. But his objective and unsparing view allows for a great massing of facts and analysis in a compact but thorough history. The reader can sense the depth of understanding lying behind Stevenson's words, without having to wade through an historian's primary sources and two-handed waffling.
Having spent many an hour considering the Second World War and the Cold War, I now understand how "cataclysmic" the Great War was in its day. It was perhaps an even more important event in world history, in terms of the turn the world took from the past, than either of the later world wars. Further, I have new appreciation for how the First sowed the political, economic, diplomatic, military, and cultural seeds for the rest of the 20th century and beyond.
Stevenson has given us an important gift for understanding this critical event in world history. Don't miss it.
Stunning Work.......2005-11-22
While my other esteemed reviewers rightly highlight the impressive scholarship into virtually all social, political, military and diplomatic aspects of the Great War, I think the real treat of this tome is the final chapters on the Versailles Treaty, rememberance of the war and its impact on later European developments. The author impressively argues that the Peace was not in fact a Diktat in practice, but largely the outcome of precedence and geo-political and social necessity. Likewise, the author rightly in my mind faults the Allies for abandoning France in terms of the enforcement of the peace, debunking the notion that Gallic torpidity and passivity caused French leadership to crumble at the onslaught of Facism. As insightful as the discussion of the war, its causes and the social aspect of the conflict, I think that his final chapters on peace and aftermath are truly revealing.
The war to end all wars.......2005-09-04
It has been a while since I've really gushed about a book, but I won't be able to help myself with this one. Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy, has to be one of the best books I have ever read on World War I, and one of the most compact yet comprehensive history books I've seen. It is less than 500 pages, but it covers every aspect of the war, from the strategy involved to the politics of starting, running, and, most importantly, ending the war. It goes beyond even that, though, by discussing the impact the war had on the post-war years, analyzing the years between the two world wars and even how memories of the war affected how the second one was fought. As a final thought, the conclusion discusses how the war has been looked at over time, how perceptions have changed, not only of who started the war, but also how it was fought.
All of this in under 500 pages? The coverage must be fairly superficial then, right? Not at all. Not only is Cataclysm thorough, but it's incredibly dense. This is not a book that you will read quickly. I am a fairly fast reader, and it took me nearly two weeks to finish the book, because it is extremely packed. Long paragraphs (sometimes almost a page long) abound, with the richness of the detail flowing off the page. Some books take this long to read because they are excessively dry, trying to stuff everything into the book but not integrating it very well. This book doesn't do that. Everything is related, and Stevenson draws the reader in with a lot of interesting information about whatever he is talking about.
The flow of the book is logical, but it is not completely chronological. The first section discusses the outbreak of the war, giving extensive detail about what led to the war. He even gives a few details about the minor wars that happened in the years leading up to World War I, such as the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, and discusses what the world was like before the outbreak of the war. He uses all of this information to give insight into the thought processes and events that led to the almost inevitable conflagration that turned into one of the most horrific wars of our time. After this section, he discusses the widening of the war, the battles of 1915-1917, and then jumps back to cover other aspects of the war. This includes the home front, the political maneuverings in all of the belligerent governments, naval warfare, tactics, economics, and war aims, just to name some. He then moves on to the outcome of the war, how it ended, the politics of the ceasefire, and the collapse of the German army. Finally, he discusses the aftermath, and he doesn't just stop at the peace treaty. He goes all the way up to the end of World War II and beyond.
This is what I loved about Cataclysm. Stevenson doesn't just give us what happened. He discusses the purpose (or at least what the purpose was at the time, even if it doesn't seem to make any sense in modern times) of what happened, what the politicians were thinking, and what they were trying to accomplish. He delves into how the politicians managed to keep the civilians engaged in the fighting, and how limited any anti-war movements were until the war seemed to be an intractable stalemate. Stevenson even gives great detail about lesser-known campaigns, such as that in the Middle East which has produced much of the modern-day strife. He covers Austria-Hungary and their battles against both Russia and Italy, as well as the war with Serbia, most of which have been given short shrift in World War I books I have read.
The writing, as I have said, is quite dense, but it's not his prose which makes it a slow read. I did not see any superfluous text in the book at all, and almost all of it was interesting. I kept stumbling upon things that I didn't know, or I knew little about, and Stevenson covers it all in a depth that is surprising in a book under 500 pages. I did have to laugh at his introduction, where he says that he has deliberately kept the end notes to a minimum in each chapter. Then I discovered that there are many chapters with notes that run into the three digits. I think this is a good thing, as I love notated history books, but I did find it funny that he would say that. Cataclysm is thoroughly researched, and the number of notes reflects this. The bibliography is quite extensive too. All of the maps are at the front of the book, and there are definitely many.
The only minor fault was the use (or non-use) of commas, and this could just be a legitimate way of doing it that I have never heard of before. A number of times, I would read a sentence and have to go back and re-read it because a comma appeared to be missing, completely jarring my understanding of the sentence, or at least the flow of it. However, if that is the worst thing I can say about the book, it must mean the book is wonderful. And it is. This could be considered the definitive book on World War I and all its aspects. I do know that you won't find anything like this in as small a package as Cataclysm is. If you have any interest in the war, or just military history in general, you should pick this one up.
David Roy
Best single volume history of the war .......2005-03-30
This book is written by an economist rather than a professional historian and as a result the narrative structure is different. Rather than looking at the details of individual battles the book looks at the result of offensive periods and the phases of the war.
The continuing impression of the war is one of a long pointless stalemate in which incompetent commanders used young men as cannon fodder in pointless attacks against well-entrenched infantry. Something which caused so much disillusionment that the regimes responsible for the war, those of Germany and Austria collapsed as did other such as the Russian autocracy who fought the war so incompetently.
Much of that image of the war can now be seen as having some partial truth but in reality being wrong. The highest casualty rates occurred early in the war when massed armies met each other in the open field. The development of the trench system led to far lower casualty rates for most of the war. The trenches providing protection against artillery and machine gun fire. Over time both sides developed offensive skills which allowed for attacks to be more successful. The Germans developed storm trooper units who were heavily armed with machine guns, trench mortars and flame throwers and used infiltration techniques. The allies used tanks extensively and also developed the use of light machine guns, hand grenades, trench mortars and air support. Both sides developed the use of artillery so that it became more accurate and barrages were aimed at fire suppression rather than elimination of the enemy.
Despite the fact of German revolution and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy the next few years saw most of the belligerents keen for war again. Italy and Germany were taken over by nationalistic movements and the Axis did not consist of those countries alone. Hungary, Roumania, Bulgaria and Slovakia were part of the deal. In reality the war pushed most countries somewhat to the right.
During the war both sides faced different problems and that was the reason for the long period of the conflict. Germany was somewhat better at warfare and throughout the conflict inflicted more casualties on their opponents. They were however outnumbered and had to not only to fight both France and Britain but also Russia. Their one real ally was the Austro-Hungarian Empire which had a poorly equipped army and whose leaders were incompetent. The balance kept subtly shifting through the war. The casualties suffered by France were offset by the development of a large conscript army by Britain and the entry into the war of Italy and Romania. The defeat of the Russians by the entry into the war of the Americans.
The book re-affirms the reality of German war guilt. Previous historians had seen the interlocking system of alliances combined with both sides mobilisation plans as something which lessened the ability of individual politicians to make decisions about whether there would be war or not. In reality this was not the case and the German monarchy could have resisted but saw war as inevitable at some point.
This book is probably the best single volume history of the war so far printed but it is not for those who are keen on a narrative history.
Book Description
Sinisterists were Fascists, Comunists and Nazis and are today's Leftists
"Why trust people who mock truth and who deny that lying is bad? Why believe, Stalin and Hitler, whose holocausts surpass mere nightmare, when these monstrous liars each claimed to be polar opposites? Why trust them or their disciples about anything? Why trust evil?
"Sinisterism is the vicious system of Mao, Mussolini, Marxists and Nazis. It is the alibi for holocausts, the excuse for senseless cruelty, the intolerant faith of a godless religion whose rites are nihilism and destruction.
"Its disciples hate Jews, hate Christians, hate America, hate Israel, and hate the Author of Creation, and hate normal, decent people, but they love power, and they will do anything for the sake of power."
the author
Customer Reviews:
BEWARE OF REVISIONISM, HIDE YOUR BOOKS.......2007-04-20
I'm sure this author would love to see many books burned (not the King James Bible of course). That said, I find the book a bit interesting because it gives some insight into "conservative" ideology. I've read plenty of Marxist literature, studied the rise of fascism in Europe and observed the decline of the left in America since Regan, but I didn't reach the same conclusion to which Mr. Walker reaches. I'm specially puzzled by his inability to see within the "conservative" ideology for any resemblance to fascism. This book seems like just another ways for this radical "conservatives" to muddy the waters of debate and politics. It's sad to see how we are eager to work together to create the most advance technology for our phones but fail miserably to work together to create real political debate in order to solve our pressing issues. The truth is: if you read Marxist literature (which by the way is a philosophy and a theory on how society could work; and has several different branches that differ in many fundamental ways), if you read fascist literature, and if you read chronicles from the countries which these two philosophies clashed like in Spain, Italy, Turkey, to name a few, YOU will reach a different conclusion that Mr. Walker. A conclusion that most peer-reviewed writers in countless academic journals have reached; a conclusion that many people that suffered from fascist regimes like in Spain and Italy reached; a conclusion that different branches of Marxism reached during the rule of Lenin and Stalin in the USSR; in the end the conclusions that those people reached was simple: something that this writer fails miserably to see. That in politics there isn't only two sides left or right. The world of politics is not like the US that only has two major parties (which are not that different from each other). The world of politics is a rainbow of parties, ideologies, philosophies, beliefs, issues and many more things. A simplistic view of politics only helps those that want to convince you of something with little effort, and with little chance for debate. Beware of this book, but read it. Once you're done, move on to a Marxist book, maybe brush up on your World War II history, and take an interest in Middle Eastern culture. Once you do, you'll recognize those mudding the waters of debate, you'll be ready to truly help change the world for the better.
For the lack of a proof reader..........2006-10-25
I agree with the positive responses here, but this book would be much easier to read if it had been proof read before it was published. It is an effort to have to reconstruct sentences and phrases while one reads. That makes it seem a less serious work than it actually is, and it must make the author's academic critics lick their chops. It is important to have this well researched information available. It refutes the revisionist history that has replaced information and knowledge with slogans that float in the vacuous remnants of our culture. Whittaker Chambers brings the reality of sinisterism home, if you haven't read "Witness". If you have read that, you will always recognize the mark of the Sinisterists as they continue to demonstrate in the streets of our nation.
Collectivist power cults versus Judeo-Christianity.......2006-03-05
Walker believes there are two kinds of people - those who seek power over others by any means, and those who just want to live their lives without lording it over others. By examining politics he comes to the conclusion that terms like Left and Right or Reactionary and Revolutionary are incorrect and deceptive.
This is exactly like Ayn Rand's distinction of collectivism versus individualism, where all collectivist ideologies like Communism, Fascism and Nazism seek to subdue the individual to the state. Because the religion of Jews and Christians is based on moral and ethical principles that include respect for the individual, the aforementioned collectivist ideologies are its natural enemy.
Walker thus defines Rand's "collectivism" as Sinisterism, the secular religion of the lie. He demonstrates how these power lusting beliefs use the lie to deceive and oppress, with reference to George Orwell and the Soviet Union. He explores the many similarities between the European dictatorships of the 20th century and reveals the extent to which history has been distorted by a false dichotomy between Left and Right.
National Socialism and Communism were very similar despite the superficial differences. Nazi Germany and the USSR were in fact allies and divided up the countries of Eastern Europe between them before Hitler broke the pact by invading the Soviet Union.
Next, Walker looks at the history of Judaism and Christianity from Roman times up to the Second World War. The decline in Christian belief from the late 19th century onwards played a part in opening the door to the rise of collectivist philosophy in the 20th.
Walker's discussion of the similarity between Islamism, Nazism and other extremist religious ideologies is particularly enlightening in view of the current world situation. The author does a splendid job of revealing why the collectivist power cults have such an intense hatred for the Judeo-Christian belief system.
He also deals with the founding of America, the Puritans and their moral foundations on Judaic and Christian roots. The book is timely and valuable for these strange times that resemble the 1930s. It now appears that the secular European welfare state has merely been a type of Sinisterism Lite.
After a brief window of freedom, Russia is sliding into fascism and allying itself with enemies of the West like Iran and Hamas. In Europe, there is now a 5th column of Islamists, and the trouble has started with the murder of Theo van Gogh, the 2005 riots in France and the Danish cartoon uproar.
How will Europe respond to this existential threat? In my opinion there is a real danger that the continent might embrace a new form of Sinisterism, obscured under the mask of a Christian Renaissance. At this stage, Red State USA and other parts of the Anglosphere are the last vestiges of Judeo-Christian values, but for how long?
Other books that cast more light on various aspects of Walker's argument include Deliver Us From Evil by Ravi Zacharias, People Of The Lie by M Scott Peck, Unholy Alliance by David Horowitz, History Of The Jews by Paul Johnson, Worldperfect by Ken Spiro, The Dragons Of Expectation by Robert Conquest and The West And The Rest by Roger Scruton.
Makes sense of nonsense.......2006-01-27
At last, a book that debunks the whole silly idea of a "Right" wing and a "Left" wing! What do people think that the "National Socialist German Workers Party" was anyway? Does that sound like a "Right" wing movement? The quotes from people who wrote about Nazis, Marxists and Fascists at the time is especially interesting, as is the very revealing history of the friendly relations that Christians and Jews have had throughout most of history (not what you learn in school these days!)
Average customer rating:
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The Water Manifesto: Arguments for a World Water Contract (Global Issues Series (Zed Books).)
Riccardo Petrella
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Write Right!: A Desktop Digest of Punctuation, Grammar, and Style, 4th Edition
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Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit
ASIN: 1856499057 |
Book Description
Within 20 years some three of the eight billion people on earth will, if present trends continue, lack access to sufficient drinkable water. Already, a half billion do not have drinkable water, and another two billion generally lack clean water. The rest of humanity faces a degradation in the quality of fresh water supplies because of agricultural and industrial pollution. Riccardo Petrella looks at the reasons behind this issue. He shows the obstacles to an adequate response, focusing on those with power—the corporate interests in the water industry who build the dams, control the catchment areas, and distribute what were previously publicly owned water supplies. He sets out a cogent critique of a market-oriented system that treats water as a commodity rather than as a precious resource and fundamental human right. In an urgent call to action, he asks for a world water contract to enshrine fresh water as an essential good to which all people have a right—controlled by communities in the public interest, and with international rules for its equitable management and distribution.
Book Description
We've all heard the reports—the great housing boom that has fueled premium prices and sellers' dreams is slowing down. The real estate market may experience ups and downs like any other, but it's not likely to implode spontaneously. With proper planning and a little knowledge, homeowners, investors, and other stakeholders can avoid disaster and in fact profit on their properties regardless of what the market does. Beyond the Bubble takes a balanced look at what drives changes in real estate markets and how these changes affect property owners and investors. Readers will learn:
* the history, nature, and dynamics of market `bubbles'
* how to anticipate a coming downturn and act accordingly
* the regional nature of real estate market conditions
* differences and similarities in residential and commercial markets
* other profit strategies when selling is difficult or impossible
* how to analyze the market using facts, not hype
Thorough and well-reasoned, Beyond the Bubble will help property owners maintain a strong and level foundation for their financial futures.
Customer Reviews:
Learn How to Handle Real Estate Bubbles.......2007-08-14
The authors examine the components of real estate bubbles and provide useful guidance in detecting changing conditions to determine when a bubble is present. The book provides readers with a roadmap to become aware of the key factors affecting real estate prices and learn how to predict real estate price increases and decreases.
According to the authors, there is neither a single real estate market in the United States, nor a single bubble due to regional differences. Certain markets will remain hot because of the location, climate, jobs, etc., while other cities may experience declines due to excess speculation and price increases (for example, Florida and California).
The five phases of a bubble and the history of bubbles are described so that readers can understand what to look for. The four signs to recognize that a real estate market is about to change are fleshed out. They include: activity of development and inventory available, speculation increasing near the top, market statistics turn negative, and lending statistics become ominous. The authors also describe bubbles by property type (residential, retail and commercial). Moreover, the ten key factors to consider when making an objective decision about a real estate purchase that you are interested in is covered in detail.
Other topics covered in the book are how to use real estate in your investment portfolio, using options on real estate, how to profit in rising or falling real estate markets, and limited partnerships, REITS, ETF and REITs
Anyone considering buying a house, especially in an inflated market should read this book before making a move. Knowledge is power, especially in real estate negotiations.
Great Book.......2007-06-27
Great Book. very informative. Puts things in plain language and easy to understand.
Only wish I had read it sooner.
If you're an investor, get it, read it and highlight parts of it.
Book Description
Real Life 101 is a practical guide for young adults that teaches them how to make smart, informed decisions on the everyday issues encountered in the real world.
Customer Reviews:
Wow - thanks!.......2005-12-10
I cannot thank these guys enough! They put everything I needed into print ans have helped me begin my life after the army on the right foot.
Excellent Reference Book.......2004-08-31
Real Life 101 is the most important book I own right now. I just rented an apartment and I'm getting heath insurance for the first time. This book, along with a course should be standard cirriculum in high schools and colleges across the country. I'm using the first chapter on budgeting right now, and the workbook to create a financial plan. I would reccommend it to virually anyone, especially those in or just out of school like me. What happens is, your parents and your schools take care of your insurance, transportation, budgeting, and credit cards. Then, once your on your own, you inherit these responsibilities on top of making a career. There are lots of great tips in here to help you navigate these responsibilites, so that you can focus on what you really want to do. "Real Life 101" is an excellent reference book, I truly thank the writers for putting it out.
Sincerely,
Josh
Where was this book when I graduated?!?!.......2004-08-16
This is a wonderful book for those just starting out in the 'real world'. It's perfect for high school or college graduates. In school, you learn a lot of good stuff like history, math, etc., but you do not learn how to interface with the real world. This book helps you answer questions like: should you buy or lease a car? How much should you realistically expect it to cost? How do you set up appropriate healthcare for yourself?
This is all explained in plain english as well. I would recommend the companion workbook too, as it provides excellent worksheets.
This is the perfect graduation gift and I have already sent a few copies to some new entrants into the 'real world'.
a professor's point of view.......2004-08-15
An excellent source for young people graduating from high school or college and entering the world of work. Excellent tips for getting started with the complex choices facing young people today.
Wow! I didn't know what I didn't know!.......2004-07-21
I am a high school and college graduate - from many years ago. But I was recently widowed and on my own for the first time in my life. My grandaughter bought this book Real Life 101 for me! I never thought I would need such basic, elementary advice. But, as a widow, I had to do so many things on my own. And this book was my lifeline! I had to rent an apartment for the first time in my life. I had to learn how to develop a budget and handle my own finances. This book, and the workbook, was my "how to" map. Easy to understand guidelines, templates, fill in the blanks, kind of assistance. The combo book and workbook is a user-friendly, real-world tool for making INFORMED decisions about some pretty basic, pretty major decisions in life.
Customer Reviews:
This is REAL!.......2001-11-20
This book is amazing! I purchased it when I was a junior in high school and continue to reference it to this day (I'm 27 now)! It simplifies everything from credit cards and car insurance, to how to find an apartment and set up a budget. A must have for anyone who is about to go out on thier own. A great gift for that hard to shop for teen/young adult!
Book Description
This clear, lively, and systematic presentation examines the scientific evidence for evolution and reaches for the widest possible audience—from scientific minds to those with no science background at all. Forcefully rejecting creationist objections to evolution and including a critique of Intelligent Design, it argues that they are part of a larger social agenda. With discussion that celebrates the fascination to be found in studying the diversity and complexity of life, this examination suggests with some urgency that the science of evolution is crucial to the existence of science itself.
Customer Reviews:
Passionate defense of science.......2007-08-04
Skybreak is solid on her biology, and the passion in her writing really helps to carry it through. The science is solid and up-to-date; for example Tiktaalik roseae, published in 2005, is one of her examples of a transitional fossil.
Skybreak takes on the Creationist claims against evolution without blinking, and also exposes their underlying (and lying) political and cultural agenda. Skybreak's own far-left political cant only shows through in brief moments.
A few small criticisms: There's a photo secion in the middle, but the book would be better if the pictures had been integrated with the text. Example: if you're explaining the few small deviations known in the gentic code, a table of codons would show just how minor these changes are. Highlighted sections that are not part of the regular text run on too long; anything that takes over a page ought to be integrated into the main text to aid continuity. Chapter 8 reiterates arguments made earlier in the book, rather than summarizes them, so it drags a bit. Up until then the book flows pretty well. Skybreak refers to evolution as "proven." This is appropriate for common language, but inside the world of science, nothing is ever "proven", only supported by overwhelming evidence. And the evidence is overwhelming, indeed.
I see a few reviews claiming this book is full of scientific mistakes; I challenge those reviewers to provide examples, because I didn't notice many at all. (I am a molecular biologist.) "The Professor" claims that the 95 - 99% conservation between the human and chimp genomes represents 150 million - 60 million base pair differences. Do the math and realize how many unchanged base pairs that means. He's playing loose with the numbers.
If you buy only one book on creationism, make it this one!.......2007-03-30
"Everyone needs to understand the basic facts of evolution as well as the essentials of the scientific method... When people are deprived of a scientific approach to reality as a whole, they are robbed of both a full appreciation of the beauty and richness of the natural world and the means to understand the dynamics of change not only in nature but in human society as well."
-Ardea Skybreak, "The Science of Evolution and the Myth of Creationism"
Ardea Skybreak's new book, "The Science of Evolution and the Myth of Creationism: Knowing what's real and why it matters" is a comprehensive treatment of creationism, in all of its forms, in relation to the practice and teaching of evolution and science in general. This book provides a point by point description of creationist arguments and refutation of those arguments, and a very usable summary of the related evolutionary concepts.
Skybreak describes and summarizes evolutionary theory focusing on the areas usually brought up by creationists (such as speciation, micro- vs. macro evolution, transitional fossils, etc.). She clearly positions anti-evolution arguments in a broader context as an "assault on science in the name of god" and she positions the "science of evolution" as fundamental to science itself. In her treatment of the most recent forms of creationism such as Intelligent Design Creationism, she makes the argument that IDC is largely just more of the same thing, but does not dismiss the specifics of the argument ... rather she address them. Then, of course, they are dismissed as the drivel that they are. You can expect this volume to serve as a reference tool in that it describes and carefully treats all the creationist "schools of thought" providing both convincing arguments (for fence sitters) and the tools an educator should have in addressing these issues. At present, this may be the most comprehensive discussion available, and it is certainly up to date.
The book is loaded with dozens of "supplemental" inserts, which you can think of as side-bars, on a variety of topics. For example, "Were We Bound to Evolve? -- The Role of Random and Non-Random Factors in Evolution;" "Humans and Dinosaurs?! Another Creationist Absurdity;" and "Rare Variants of the Almost Entirely Universal Genetic Code Are Evidence of Evolution, Not Design."
The author could possibly be characterized as a nontheist or atheist with Marxist or progressive leanings. Her treatment of the religious aspects of creationism's attack on evolution is crisp and dismissive. At the same time, her approach is not idealistic, but rather, appropriately materialistic and straight forward. Her philosophical comments are limited to the obvious condensate from the interaction between incredibly stupid ideas and basic science. I don't think Skybreak's book requires rejection of religion to accept evolution, but if you are looking for a way to reconcile religious belief with scientific reality, you won't (thank god) find it here.
I think you could use this book in a college biology class, because it covers the basics of evolution, along with well chosen examples. If you are interested in teaching students evolutionary biology and at the same time giving them the tools to address creationism as it rears it's ugly head in social, educational, and political contexts, then add this inexpensive and well written volume to your reading list. The book is organized in such a way that various chapters and side-bars (supplementals) can be linked to the usual reading material in any introductory or intermediate course on evolution. One could argue that setting up any straw man is good pedagogy if done correctly. This volume does a good job at teaching evolution by using creationism in its various forms as a kind of Swiss Army Knife of Straw Men.
This is the only book I have read that has encomia from both leading experts in the field as well from guys in prison... oh, and from one high school student.
This book is a joke.......2007-03-22
I would never buy this book, but I happened to run across it at the public library...and I must say this is probably about the most unprofessional "science" book I have ever read. The author is obviously angry and full of hate towards anything and everything that hints of the Bible or the Christian religion. And what's so funny about it is the author assumes that the only people who don't believe the fairytale of selectionist evolution are evangelical creationists. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is evolutionary science is falling apart at the seems. They don't know if evolution happens gradually or puntually, whether or not evo devo plays a role, what the object of selection is, and other basic premises. Not only that, but evolutionists can't even pinpoint a mutation that creates a beneficial body part...how the heck is selection supposed to pick from something that doesn't happen?
There are so many flaws in this book, I don't even know where to begin. It starts with the so-called "proof" of natural selection by way of antibiotic resistance...obviously the author is not up to date in this area and does not know that resistance of all kinds comes from horizontal gene transfer; that bateria don't compete with each other, they cooperate and share genes. Oh, and what a shock -- horizontal gene transfer is not even listed in the index. But then again neither is epigenetics, gene expression, phenotypic plasticity, developmental plasticity, jumping genes, reverse transcription, non-random mutations or any of the other mechanisms that destroy any and all form of darwinism.
This book is a joke....he/she needs to grow up, stop misrepresenting his/her opposition and stop avoiding the issues that destroy her beloved theory.
Hundreds of mistakes.......2007-01-25
This has got to be the worst book ever on this topic. Skybreak dichotomizes the origins issue, referring the Darwinism as "the truth" (page 3) and all theistic world views about origins as "myth" (page 15). She does admit her own bias; she left graduate school to devote herself "broader social and political commitments" (page 337) and became "a writer with a revolutionary communistic perspective" (page 338). Her book reflects this as she often directly or indirectly refers to her heroes, including Mao Tsetung (such as on page 280, 297, 299 and 325), Lenin (page 300), and Karl Marx (such as on page 22 and 299). She calls theistic evolutionists "creationists" (page 299) and openly defends "dialectical materialism" and the "communist" world view (page 299). She uses such examples as antibiotic resistance in bacteria as evidence of Darwinism and ignores the fact of fitness cost. I have taught microbiology for 20 years and every text we used did an excellent job covering this topic and none claimed that this complex adaptation system is evidence for neo-Darwinism. She notes that the difference between human and Chimp DNA is from 95 to 98 percent similar but ignored the fact that this represents between 150 million and 60 million base pair differences, an enormous chasm between the two creatures. She also neglects to discuss the many problems with these estimates and the fact that greater differences exist at the protein level. One cannot look at gene differences alone, but also the regulation system as well. She makes wild and irresponsible claims such as we could not deal with certain problems as antibiotic resistance without believing in neo-Darwinism, ignoring the fact that no small number of microbiologists, some who have make key discoveries in this area, are Darwin skeptics. I personally know of a handful. This is actually a favorite topic of, not only Intelligent Design advocates, but Creationists as well. She makes numerous medical claims that are worse than irresponsible, such as back problems are due to our evolution from quadrupeds when many quadrupeds have more back problems then humans. Back problems in humans today are largely due to lack of exercise, poor posture, improper lifting and our modern sedentary lifestyle among other reasons. I have never read a book with so much misinformation. I must admit this book is, for this reason, an interesting read. Almost every page has mistakes or misrepresentations on it. I just wonder, how in the world did she ever get this published??? Was there no review process?
A refreshing way to defend evolution.......2006-12-23
A very interesting attack on creationism. Skybreak presents a very up to date scientific case for evolution and against creationism (including "intelligent design"), taking care to explain all of this in an accessible manner. This really is a book for the general public, with no trace of a dry textbook tone. What makes it particularly interesting is the way Skybreak does not shy away from attacking fundamentalist religion and politics, treating evolutionary science as an integral part of a strongly leftist political point of view. Most defenses of evolution tend to avoid politics and adopt a superficial liberal compatibilism where religion is concerned. Skybreak makes it clear that she has no use for the supernatural and that evolution is part of the reason, while acknowledging that many liberal religious people also oppose creationism. The result is a book well worth reading, both as an introduction to the debate and as a way to brush up for those already involved. Skybreak's Marxism is not too heavyhanded, and her overall approach is quite refreshing.
Book Description
Although the ocean provides living space for about 97 percent of life on Earth, less than 5 percent of the ocean below the surface has actually been seen, let alone explored. Now, using the geographic information system (GIS), marine scientists are gaining new insights into a once-mysterious world. A technologically sophisticated information-management and analysis system, GIS holds tremendous potential for mapping, interpreting, and managing ocean environments- from the seafloor to the shoreline.
Place Matters explores how marine GIS is contributing to the understanding, management, and conservation of the shores and ocean of the Pacific Northwest, where scientists, resource managers, and conservationists- often in collaboration- are making advances in the way that data are collected, documented, used, shared, and saved.
The contributors to Place Matters show how together they are using GIS to handle and exploit present and future data streams from observatories, experiments, numerical models, simulations, and other sources, yielding fresh insights into oceanographic, ecological, and socioeconomic conditions of the marine environment.
The book includes a conceptual framework that lays out selected methods and models for conservation-based marine GIS, working examples of marine GIS tools and large-scale implementations, and a section on the use of GIS by environmental advocacy and local citizens' organizations. A companion website includes GIS maps and databases, as well as extensive Web-based resources. With its unique focus on the use of GIS to solve marine conservation problems, Place Matters offers an important new resource for all who study and work to protect the world's oceans.
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Real-Life Wit and Wisdom to Help You Sort Out What Matters Most
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Advances in Research and Development: Optical Characterization of Real Surfaces and Films, Volume 19: Optical Characterization of Real Surfaces and Films (Thin Films)
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Book Description
This new volume of the highly respected
Physics of Thin Films Serial discusses inhomogeneity in real films and surfaces. The volume, guest-edited by K. Vedam, follows the growth of thin films both from the surface of the substrate, and from the atomic level, layer by layer. The text features coverage of Real-Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (RTSE) and Reflectance Anisotropy (RA), two major breakthrough optical techniques used to characterize real time and insitu films and surfaces. In six insightful chapters, the contributors assess the impact of these techniques, their strengths and limitations, and their potential for further development.
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- Dereliction of Duty : Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam
- Devil's Guard III: Unconditional Warfare
- El Arte de la Guerra: de la Sabiduria Oriental a la Excelencia Occidental
- Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World: From Marathon to Waterloo
- Great Siege: Malta 1565 (Wordsworth Military Library.)
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