History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Science Play!: Beginning Discoveries for 2-To 6-Year-Olds (Williamson Little Hands Series)

Average customer rating:

Enthusiastically recommended for parents, teachers, and caregivers of young children everywhere.
A fun way to introduce science to little kids!
Outstanding resource
This series is GREAT
Dissatisfied in Annandale

Science Play!: Beginning Discoveries for 2-To 6-Year-Olds (Williamson Little Hands Series)
Jill Frankel Hauser
Manufacturer: Williamson Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

School & Education | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Research | Education | Science | Subjects | Books

Experiments & Projects | Experiments, Instruments & Measurement | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Preschool & Kindergarten | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1885593201

Customer Reviews:

Enthusiastically recommended for parents, teachers, and caregivers of young children everywhere........2007-04-14

Kindergarten teacher Jill Frankel Hauser presents Science Play, a compendium of over 65 safe, age-appropriate activities designed to foster creativity and a sense of discovery in children ages 2 to 6. Step-by-step instructions and simple black-and-white illustrations walk readers through activities such as observing earthworms at work, making puddle prints with food coloring, water, and a simple medicine dropper, or gathering and sorting rocks. Young children will most likely need an adult's help with reading the instructions, but the activities themselves are easy to do and highly inexpensive. Enthusiastically recommended for parents, teachers, and caregivers of young children everywhere.

A fun way to introduce science to little kids!.......2006-02-13

It's absolutely perfect for our 3- and 5-year olds! It's a great way to introduce science concepts to them. The experiments are simple to prepare, very interesting and lots of fun. Also, most of the materials are common items used at home. We have done a number of the experiments without spending much money at all. It comes very handy, too, during rainy or snowy days. The activities help keep the kids from getting bored inside the house.

Outstanding resource.......2004-02-08

My kids loved these fun learning activities. Enough to keep them busy through early childhood. Nothing canned here. . . all creative and discovery-focused. Makes biology and even physics accessable to very young children. You can't go wrong with this outstanding guide.

This series is GREAT.......2003-07-31

This is really handy for the budding scientist in your preschooler. Experiements are written so that the early reader can understand and do the experiments on their own (it lets the reader know when a parent needs to help or supervise, such as when scissors are involved) and has question that the parent can use to further expand on projects. Also check this whole series, such as math play, arts and crafts from around the world, rainy day play, weather, shapes, etc. My son loves these activies. Plus for the price, you can't beat it. (...)

Dissatisfied in Annandale.......2003-01-12

This book had some neat ideas and experiments, but not enough explanations for them. I have a very inquisitive 4 year old and this book just didn't satisfy his curiosity or my expectations.

LIFE: The Greatest Adventures of All Time

Average customer rating:

0 stars for the forward by Robert sullivan
Life the Greatest Adventures of All Time

LIFE: The Greatest Adventures of All Time

Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Life Millennium: The 100 Most Important Events and People of the Past 1000 Years

ASIN: 1929049064

Book Description

LIFEcaptures all the drama passion and excitement of the world's greatest adventures across centuriescollected in one stunning volume! Now, for the first time, in one lavishly illustrated heirloom volume, the editors of LIFEhave captured the riveting drama and endless fascination of the greatest adventures the world has ever seen.

Customer Reviews:

0 stars for the forward by Robert sullivan.......2001-01-25

The stories and photos are both excellent and engrossing, although the essays are needlessly truncated for the modern one minute attention span. This could have benefited greatly from a bit more detail, a bit more fleshing out of the characters and circumstances. Something of a Cliff Notes for recent explorations.

What I and two other people I spoke with found utterly offensive was the forward by Robert Sullivan. This guy literally says there were no "adventurers" before 1900. He discounts everyone from Columbus to Lewis & Clark to Leif Erickson, and his reasoning is wholly specious, as if modern explorers did not have patrons or ulterior motives. Do yourself a favor and skip his naive and offensive ramblings and get right to the lusty tales of the ambitious souls who have bravely expanded our horizons.

This book should never have been called the "Greatest Adventures of All Time" since it's really only the greatest adventures of the last century, but in the end that is sufficient. It was an amazing Century and an amazing time to be alive.

Life the Greatest Adventures of All Time.......2000-11-12

All the major adventures of the previous century that you really ought to be familiar with! Simply impossible to put down once you've picked it up, this book is required reading. Illustrated with contemporary photographs throughout, most have been seen before and much of what is written and illustrated is to be found elswhere. What you have here, though, is the whole lot - end to end. If this doesn't fill you with awe - nothing will!

The Children's Discovery Bible: Discovering God's Word for the First Time (Faith Parenting Guide)

Average customer rating:

easy for children to understand
excellent

The Children's Discovery Bible: Discovering God's Word for the First Time (Faith Parenting Guide)
Rose Drew
Manufacturer: Faith Kidz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Picture Bible

ASIN: 0781434998

Book Description

In addition to hundreds of pages of full-color artwork, this Bible presents over 150 Bible stories.

Customer Reviews:

easy for children to understand.......2006-03-13

i checked this book out from the library for my 7 YO son. he is really enjoying the stories and asks me to read from it every night. the stories are written on a child's level and are easy for him to understand. they flow from one to the next. important lessons are taught and reinforced.

excellent.......1998-11-05

I have a very active five year old - he loves this bible - calls it his favorite book. Short amount of text per wonderfully illustrated page. Attention getting animation. Scripturally acurate. A wonderful bible for 4-8 year olds - especially boys

The Man Who Found Time: James Hutton and the Discovery of Earth's Antiquity

Average customer rating:

A Solid, Breezy Overview of an Important Subject in the Earth's Geology
Rebuttal of "Rocky Road"
Geology and the Scottish Enlightment
The Birth of Modern Geology
Another One of Britian's Gifts

The Man Who Found Time: James Hutton and the Discovery of Earth's Antiquity
Jack Repcheck
Manufacturer: Perseus Books Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Scotland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 073820692X
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Book Description

The story of the gentleman farmer from Edinburgh who discovered that the earth was millions of years old, not six thousand, and paved the way for Darwin's theory of evolution.

There are three men whose contributions helped free science from the straitjacket of theology. Two of the three-Nicolaus Copernicus and Charles Darwin-are widely known and heralded for their breakthroughs. The third, James Hutton, never received the same recognition, yet he profoundly changed our understanding of the earth and its dynamic forces. Hutton proved that the earth was likely millions of years old rather than the biblically determined six thousand, and that it was continuously being shaped and re-shaped by myriad everyday forces rather than one cataclysmic event.

In this expertly crafted narrative, Jack Repcheck tells the remarkable story of this Scottish gentleman farmer and how his simple observations on his small tract of land led him to a theory that was in direct confrontation with the Bible and that also provided the scientific proof that would spark Darwin's theory of evolution. It is also the story of Scotland and the Scottish Enlightenment, which brought together some of the greatest thinkers of the age, from David Hume and Adam Smith to James Watt and Erasmus Darwin. Finally, it is a story about the power of the written word. Repcheck argues that Hutton's work was lost to history because he could not describe his findings in graceful and readable prose. (Unlike Darwin's Origin of the Species, Hutton's one and only book was impenetrable.) A marvelous narrative about a little-known man and the science he founded, The Man Who Found Time is also a parable about the power of books to shape the history of ideas.

Customer Reviews:

A Solid, Breezy Overview of an Important Subject in the Earth's Geology.......2007-02-21

It is hard to find a more significant figure in the history of geology. James Hutton (1726-1797) was an exceptional amateur geologist who was the first to put together a compelling explanation of the age of the Earth. This interesting and accessible book presents in a compelling manner the life and work of this remarkable Scotsman. Written in a breezy style, it will not satisfy scholars but it nonetheless presents a compelling introduction for non-specialists in the history of geology. A Scottish physician, Hutton dabbled in all types of scientific inquiry, especially the practical aspects of farming, crops yields, and the like. While engaged in this effort he began to study the surface of the Earth, gradually forming questions and methods of resolving them.

This book is a breathless survey of the life and career of James Hutton as a gentlemen scholar, his work on the age of the Earth, and his place in the larger story of the Scottish Enlightenment. Trained as a physician, Hutton lived a life of ease where he undertook scientific investigations and scientific farming. In terms of his work on the geology of the Earth, he really published three items. The first is an abstract of a talk that he gave in Edinburgh in 1785 outlining in general terms his conclusion that the Earth must be far older than the 6,000 years usually thought because of the analysis base on the Bible. He then published a longer paper, "Theory of the Earth; or an Investigation of the Laws Observable in the Composition, Dissolution, and Restoration of the Land upon the Globe," in 1788 in the "Transaction of the Royal Society of Edinburgh" that created a huge stir among scientists and led to denunciations from several zealous academics. In 1795 he published a two volume "Theory of the Earth, with Proofs and Illustrations" that sought to answer his critics, but written as he was rapidly declining this work proved insufficient to counter their arguments.

Hutton was correct that the Earth is much older than the biblical account would lead one to believe. He was also right to posit a dynamic structure at the Earth's core and the shaping of land masses based on cataclysm and upheaval, though probably not a universal flood. Because of some committed believers who came later, this understanding became dominant in the nineteenth century.

This is a very fine, easy read about an important topic. It ranges far across the eighteenth century, especially commenting on the Scottish Enlightenment, which gave us several great thinkers including Adam Smith and David Hume as well as Hutton. It even explores the Scottish rebellion of the 1740s led by Bonnie Prince Charlie in a chapter that seems misplaced in this volume. Overall, "The Man Who Found Time" is a useful introduction to an important subject. For those seeking a more detailed, scholar account, I recommend Dennis R. Dean's "James Hutton and the History of Geology" (Cornell University Press, 1992). For those interested in the larger questions of the Earth's geology, especially the age of the planet, I recommend G. Brent Dalrymple "The Age of the Earth" (Stanford University Press, 1991).

Rebuttal of "Rocky Road".......2006-11-01

No one who looks closely at this book, or at the reviews of this book, could reasonably expect it to be an exposition of James Hutton's important but long-superceded geological notions. This is a social history, a story of science as a cultural phenomenon, and as such it is neither meandering nor disorganized. As Mr Rocky Road himself acknowledges, it's engagingly written, economical of words, almost never repetitive, witty, and not at all a difficult piece of reading. In fact, it's a short book and a quick read, and if you don't know much about the 18th C explosion of knowledge, it's a great introduction.

Geology and the Scottish Enlightment.......2006-10-14

I found this book to be an interesting new perspective for me on the Scottish Enlightenment--the role of science. The central focus is James Hutton (1726-1797), a Scottish geologist whose pioneering work would disprove the then (and perhaps still) current assertion that the world was not more than 6,000 years old. No less a figure than Newton himself had made this influential calculation. Hutton's theory was based upon his study of the effects of erosion in conjunction with the dynamic movements of the earth's surface generated by intense subsurface heat. He spent much time simply studying various cliffs in Scotland, which convinced him of the ancient nature of the Earth. The author well sets the stage, with introductory chapters on the religious perspective, Hutton's early life, the political context in 18th century Scotland, the role of Edinburgh ("the Athens of the North") as a catalyst for Enlightenment intellectual and scientific development, and the evolution of a scientific study of geology. A chapter is included on Charles Lyell, an influential geologist and author who did much to spread knowledge of Hutton's findings and theories, including being influential on Darwin who read his "Principles of Geology" while on the Beagle voyage. And of course, Hutton's theory was of critical assistance to Darwin, because it indicated that the earth had been in existence for millions of years, during which the slow processes of evolution would have had an opportunity to develop. This is another of the new breed of fairly short books (228 pages) that are just excellent in rich in content, putting some of their longer counterparts to shame. An excellent appendix deals with key geologic terms and some current views of Hutton; a valuable extensive bibliography is also included. Just a most pleasant read about a novel topic.

The Birth of Modern Geology.......2006-08-11

Part geology, part biography, part history of Scotland, this excellent book is a tribute to James Hutton, the originator of modern geology. Starting with the status of geology in the eighteenth century and the use of the Bible as the basis for estimating the age of the earth, the author weaves the intriguing story of James Hutton and how he came about discovering signs of the earth's true antiquity. The political situation in eighteenth century Scotland is well described and illustrates the times in which Hutton lived. But the book goes further in that the evolution of geology after Hutton's death is also discussed, ending with modern estimates of the age of the earth and a brief description of the methods used to produce them. This is a very well-written and exciting book that should appeal to a wide audience.

Another One of Britian's Gifts.......2006-06-18

James Hutton was a tall thin Scotsman, a non-practicing medical doctor, who was independently wealthy and devoted to farming. Unlike many lately, but like some other residents of the United Kingdom, such as Smith, Darwin, Talbot and indeed the fabled figures Sherlock Holmes and Henry Higgins, he used his wealth not to acquire numerous homes but to engage in intellectual endeavors. There are those who may have found him "difficult," but it is hard to fault his priorities.

Hutton became convinced that the world was much older than generally believed in the last half of the eighteenth century. Although the author is not sure of the genesis of Hutton's belief, he does describe the books that had been written in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that posed scenarios markedly different from that in the bible. Hutton appears, or had the opportunity, to have read them. In 1788 he scouted the rocky, inhospitable, Scotch coast and discovered sedimentary rocks, (Silurian greywacke) tilted like the pages of a book below an unconformity which in turn was overlaid by Upper Old Red Sandstone, all exposed to the sea. This finding confirmed his thought that the world was very, very old, much older than then thought.

But what did nearly everyone else think at that time and why? It is one of the better parts of the book. Repcheck describes Eusebius chronology of world history, written in Greek for Constantine in 325. It was translated into Latin by St. Jerome in 382 and that document "inspired chronologists for the next 1400 years." Eusebius had borrowed from the Hebrew Bible; now known as the Septuagint Bible. It contains the Book of Genesis which gives definite years for the life spans of a few of the celebrities mentioned, e.g. Adam 930 years, Noah 950, Abraham 175, Moses 120, etc. From these and a chronology constructed by Julius Africanus between 212 and 221 he calculated that the birth of Jesus Christ took place 5500 years after God had reportedly worked for six days and rested for one. This was the belief that Hutton faced, and it was then, as now, very widely held in the West. (In China, as there is no belief in a creator, Hutton would have had a somewhat easier time.)

At the time Hutton was farming, most mineralogists believed that all visible rocks were precipitates from the universal ocean. Hutton did not, because he could not dissolve in water every substance found in rocks. He concluded that heat from within the earth coupled with pressure caused lithification. He was wrong on the need for heat. However, he was the first to recognize the need for pressure. (Heat and pressure being necessary for the formation of metamorphic rocks, they were then thought to be also required for sedimentary solidification.) Hutton's importance was stated by Lyell, who was inspired by him, "[Hutton] was the first... to explain the former changes of the earth's crust, by reference exclusively to natural agents." Hutton stated his ultimate conclusion succinctly: "In the economy of the world, I can find no traces of a beginning, no prospect of an end." The effect of his insight was summed by Lyell: "The imagination was first fatigued and overpowered by endeavoring to conceive the immensity of time required for the annihilation of whole continents by so insensible a process." Hutton originated uniformitarianism, which Lyell took to another level. Unfortunately it does not account for catastrophes, which Repcheck notes later caused some resistance to the impact thesis. The strength of the book is its description of the evolution of thought and the intellectual impediments that were overcome.

Average customer rating:

Buyer beware!

Marco? Polo! (Time Warp Trio)
Jon Scieszka
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0670061042

Book Description

Did you ever wonder what might happen if someone had a time-warping book they got from their uncle who was a magician and they took it to the local YMCA pool while they played Marco? Polo! with their two best friends?

Well, wonder no more. In the sixteenth adventure of the Time Warp Trio, it happens to Joe (and Fred and Sam). And what happens is: sandstorms, desert bandits, a smelly camel, strange horoscopes, the emperor of all China, hungry hunting dogs, attack leopards, killer hawks, and one very famous (if he doesn't get lost) explorer. If the explorer is Marco Polo, this must be 13th century China. And the Time Warp Trio's horoscope says, "Beware of mean cats, mad dogs, and even madder Chinese astrologers."

Customer Reviews:

Buyer beware!.......2007-02-08

Our first edition copy of this book had a printer error. Pages 29 and 30 were completely blank. I sent it back to amazon and they promised me a refund. I don't know if all of the first edition books are like this, or if we were just unlucky. But if you want this book, you might consider waiting for the second edition or the paperback to come out.

Average customer rating:

A Noble, Extraordinary Life

A Time for Reflection: An Autobiography
William E. Simon , Gerald Ford , George P. Shultz , and John M. Caher
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Adventurers & Explorers | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Time For Truth

ASIN: 0895261707

Book Description

Written just before Simon's death, this book is a breathtaking odyssey of his adventures crossing the Arctic Sea in a sailboat; a nearly tragic scuba diving accident with his sons, and his direction of the Federal Energy Administration at the height of the oil embargo.

Customer Reviews:

A Noble, Extraordinary Life.......2004-03-01

William Simon's is an extraordinary lifestory, and reading his memoir, published posthumously this year following his death in 2000, was thoroughly enjoyable. Simon's life had so many incarnations -- prescient Wall Street trader, principled public servant (energy czar and treasury secretary), conservative intellectual, pathbreaking merchant banker, champion of the U.S. Olympic movement, philanthropist, intrepid adventurer, Eucharistic Minister -- that it's hard to fathom one person leading such an eclectic, richly diverse life.

Known for his sharp opinions while in public office, Simon is largely magnanimous in recounting his life experiences. For example, he declines to elaborate on the reasons for his falling out with a longtime colleague and business partner, saying only that he trusted someone he thought was his friend. He pulls no puches, however, in expressing outrage at wrongheaded government decisions, such as the 1989 FIRREA Act (which suddenly made struggling S&Ls insolvent), Pres. Carter's Olympic boycott (which accomplished little other than prompting Soviet retaliation four years later) and foolish government meddling in the oil market (rationing, price controls, etc. which largely created the 1970s energy "crisis").

The memoir offers several colorful, revealing anecdotes. For example, Simon's pointed counsel to Ronald Reagan, urging him to drop former Pres Ford from consideration for the Vice Presidency. (I never heard or read of this before; Lou Cannon makes no mention of it in his new biography of Reagan's pre-presidential years.) Also, Simon's confrontation -- nearly leading to blows -- with an inebriated Vice President Rockefeller. This is fascinating stuff.

Equally fascinating are the chapters on Simon's pioneering role in the use of Leverage Buyouts to restore underperforming companies to sound profitability. Simon eschewed hostile LBOs, preferring to work cooperatively with, and empowering, management, and deftly abandonded the business when it attracted a surfeit of "takeover artist" capital in the late 1980s.

Simon's separation from, and reconcilliation with, his wife of 40 years is particularly poignant, as is his ministry to indigent AIDs patients and other destitute people. The caring and compassion behind a gruff -- sometimes mercurial exterior -- is palpable.

William Simon led an amazing, noble life. Emulating such an extraordinary human being is beyond the reach of most of us. But thanks to this new book, we can at least read about and admire him. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:
Real Astronomy with Small Telescopes: Step-by-Step Activities for Discovery (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
Michael K. Gainer
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
Astronomy | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Human Vision and The Night Sky: How to Improve Your Observing Skills (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories

Astronomy Hacks: Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky (Hacks)

Practical Guide to Lightcurve Photometry and Analyis (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

The Herschel Objects and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

Accessories:

Celestial Mechanics: The Waltz of the Planets (Springer Praxis Books)

Distant Worlds: Milestones in Planetary Exploration

Praxis Manned Spaceflight Log 1961-2006 (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration)

ASIN: 1846284783

Book Description

This book is about using an 80mm refractor / 90mm Maksutov (such as a Helios 80 or Meade ETX90) as more than a "quick look" instrument, but rather something capable of use as an introduction to scientific observations. Emphasis is on measurement and discovery activities rather than on casual observing. There are two objectives to these activities: to re-enact the process of discovery and to provide amateur observers with the knowledge and skill that will help them make genuine contributions to the field of astronomy.

It is often said that users of small telescopes can conduct worthwhile scientific work, but â€~howâ€™ is seldom explained except in the context of observations carried out by the most advanced amateur astronomers. This book provides the necessary introduction â€“ derived from the authorâ€™s many year of experience in teaching the subject â€“ that will be the starting point for serious work.

Users will find many activities and projects suitable for an 80mm refractor or 90mm reflector or Maksutov that have not been published elsewhere.

Time's Pendulum: From Sundials to Atomic Clocks, the Fascinating History of Timekeeping and How Our Discoveries Changed the World

Average customer rating:

Good overview
Two books in one, both interesting!
If I could keep time in a bottle....
An interesting book
A compelling introduction to the history of clockmaking

Time's Pendulum: From Sundials to Atomic Clocks, the Fascinating History of Timekeeping and How Our Discoveries Changed the World
Jo Ellen Barnett
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Time | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0156006499

Amazon.com

Likely you've heard that the mechanical clock is one of humanity's most significant inventions, comparable to the printing press, or electricity, or the automobile. But first-time author Jo Ellen Barnett admits that most of us, if we're honest, don't quite see why. Our perception of time, and our artificial division of it into little, repeatable pieces, is so ingrained in us that we forget it's an invention.

Barnett, who admits to having been fascinated by time all her life, seems the perfect person to clear up this conceptual blind spot. Drawing from many disciplines, she's conducted a sweeping survey of our relationship with time, from our earliest attempts to measure and understand it to our more recent breakthroughs with carbon dating and atomic clocks. Time's Pendulum never skimps on the science, with its detailed explanations and unapologetic technical discussions. But what makes the book so very likable (and readable) is Barnett's passion for meditating on time's cultural and even spiritual mysteries. If you're already intrigued by time, Time's Pendulum makes for a satisfying, meaty read, rich in insights and historical anecdotes; if you aren't already intrigued, you will be. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

A perfect balance of science, history, and sociology, Time's Pendulum traces the important developments in humankind's epic quest to measure the hours, days, and years with accuracy, and how our concept of time has changed with each new technological breakthrough. Written in an easy-to-follow chronological format and illustrated with entertaining anecdotes, author Jo Ellen Barnett's history of timekeeping covers everything from the earliest sundials and water clocks, to the pendulum and the more recent advances of battery-powered, quartz-regulated wrist watches and the powerful radioactive "clock," which loses only a few billionths of a second per day, making it nearly ten billion times more accurate than the pendulum clock. A tour of the discoveries and the inventors who endeavored to chart and understand time, Time's Pendulum also explains how each new advance gradually transformed our perception of the world.

Customer Reviews:

Good overview.......2007-06-15

I've already had some interest in the topic, but wanted to pickup another book and see what else I could learn, so got this one based on the reviews. A very good book, would highly recommend for someone who wants to learn about the history of keeping time.

Two books in one, both interesting!.......2004-03-10

Jo Ellen Barnett has written two books here, hidden between one set of covers. The first part goes over the history of how we have measured (and, truly, how we have defined) the time of day, starting with the "temporary hours" of a sundial (longer in summer, shorter in winter, and not even counted during the night), and transitioning to equal (but still based on the sun) hours (local apparent time), then to local mean time, to standard (time-zone) time, and ending up with the current Coordinated Universal Time, based on atomic phenomena. The story is absorbing and well written, and would be an enjoyable book all by itself.

Then she has a second part, concerned with the way we have determined the age of the earth. This could be said to start with the speculations of the Babylonians and Greeks, but really took off in earnest with medievals' attempts to build everything on a Biblical basis, reading into the Biblical account whatever they needed to build their chronology. When the geologists tried to account for their own observations, however, it was clear that the few thousand years the Bible literalists derived for the age of the earth was far too small, but physicists like Lord Kelvin (while arriving at a longer time than the Bible provided) still reached an age of the earth too brief to mesh with the geological evidence. Only with the discovery of radioasctivity and the refinement of the techniques of deriving chronological data from radioactivity measurements could the physicists and geologists be reconciled.

Both parts make it clear that ultimately time has become defined in terms of atomic phenomena (though different parts of the atom) and only through our measurement of these can accuracy be attained (whether in the case of the time of day or the time the earth has taken to evolve since its origin).

Unlike some other two-part books I have reviewed, this one puts them both together successfully. It is a very interesting book.

If I could keep time in a bottle...........2002-10-27

How many times a day do we unconsciously look at our watches, or the clock on the stove or the VCR (provided it's not permanently blinking 12:00)? Yet for many years, the capture of time to a clock was at best around the right hour of the day. Bernett takes us through the refinement of clock technology and clock making, and how this more exact time changed our lives, some would argue with the idea of a change for the better. She takes us on a simple and entertaining sweep of time from sundials to measuring the beats of an atom in order to tell what time it really is. Along the way there are arguments about the prime meridian and time zones as we are forced to go from telling time by the sun above each of us, to entire time zones on a single time, irregardless of where the sun exactly is. At least the trains could run on time.

Then Barnett pulls back and looks at the greatest clock around - the planet Earth itself. The question of how old the Earth is was a question that kept pushing the answer back and back further in time. Of course the Earth was only 6,000 years old, according to biblical interpreters. That is until the strata and fossils began to be understood, and then half life of radioactive elements could fix time ever more exactly. Now that we are able to "read" a good part of the clock that is the Earth, our placement of ourselves in time has also settled. So now we have a concept of where we are in time, and how to find it. At least until the earth slows some more due to friction in the tides. An interesting book that doesn't delve too deep and pulls you along on an interesting, everyday subject.

An interesting book.......2001-06-15

Time's Pendulum is a book not only about time and how time is measured, but also about our perception of time -- from the moment we as a species started worrying about it right up to today. Barnett does not only discuss clocks and how clocks work but the importance of time in daily life. Also excellent is her discussion of 'deep time' -- thinking about time on astronomical scales. I was also pleased by the more subtle connections. For example, the influence of the railroads on not only synchronizing watches over extending longitutes (i.e., time zones), but also their contribution to geologic time through uncovering the fossiliferous rocks during their construction.

A compelling introduction to the history of clockmaking.......1999-05-08

This is really two books--the first is a chronological history of time measurement devices, and the second is a history of humankind's perception of the age of humanity, the earth, and the universe. The first book is fascinating and well written. Writing for a general readership, Barnett explores the development of clockmaking and how the existence of ever more accurate clocks has irrevocably changed everyday life for us all. Her detailed explanation of the verge-and-foliot escapement was especially fascinating, as was her discussion of "the equation of time" and how it gives rise to the Mean in Greenwich Mean Time. Overall, the first half of her book is a wonderful introduction to an underappreciated portion of humanity's history. The second half of Barnett's book, however, is a rehash of material that Isaac Asimov explored fully in his nonfiction writings in the 1960s and 1970s. It may hold the interest of readers unfamiliar with Asimov, but for me it was a real disappointment, especially after such a compelling introduction to the history of clocks and clockmaking.

Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition

Average customer rating:

Great read...
Gripping and Insightful
Excellent research team and analysis
"They could not have foretold such an odyssey"
Amazing and Factual Read!

Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition
Owen Beattie , and John Geiger
Manufacturer: Greystone Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Expeditions & Discoveries | World | History | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Arctic | Polar Regions | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1553650603

Book Description

This new edition of Frozen in Time expands on the history of early British Arctic exploration and places the tragically fated Franklin expedition in the context of other expeditions of the era, including those commanded by George Back and James Clark Ross, which also suffered unaccountable and devastating losses. The authors' research reveals an unexpected — and ironic — cause for the mystery illness that befell the explorers. Never-before-seen photographs from the exhumations, updated research results, additional forensic corroboration, and a new introduction by Margaret Atwood complete this fascinating account.

Customer Reviews:

Great read..........2006-03-14

God this book was amazing. It took me months to read because it was so dense with information and I kept gaping at the pictures, but it was worth it. The best thing about Frozen in Time was that the anthropologists that excavated the bodies were so emotional about it. The whole book, despite being a scientific account, is so incredibly creepy. One of the creepiest books I have ever read. The contents of this book completely permeated my brain, even after I finished reading the book.

I guess the authors had a distinct advantage by choosing to excavate members of the Franklin expedition. I don't think there are many things that people today are morbidly curious about than cannibalism, and because it was proven to have taken place again and again on this Arctic expedition, reading about the deaths of members of the crew would be captivating regardless of what aspect(s) they were analyzing.

In this book, the major focus was what killed everyone so quickly, and I think the only issue I had with this book is that in the beginning they kind of hinted at lead poisoning, then focused on scurvy for awhile, then went back to lead poisoning, then, FINALLY, in the last chapter or two, analyzed the cans found concluded that lead was the most probably cause, and that contrary to previous belief, it was nearly impossible to die from scurvy that fast when they had limes on board. Despite the occasional digressions, the way the anthropolgists describe the bodies (especially that of John Torrington) is incredibly sincere. Many books published these days are boring, emotionless scientific accounts, with very little feeling mixed in. These scientists were completely consumed with what they were doing. They couldn't get over the sadness and loneliness involved with dying alone in the high Arctic. The fact that these sailors were beyond help, that Torrington was so young (20, I think) inspired extreme amounts of emotion. Just to be working with a 150 year old corpse of a person that died in such loneliness haunted all of the scientists throughout the book.

I guess there's nothing more to say, other than the fact that Frozen in Time is the best scientific account of an Arctic expedition I have ever read, not only because of the sheer morbidity of cannibalism, but because the scientists who wrote it were so sympathetic and filled with emotion.

Gripping and Insightful.......2006-02-04

I got this book for my birthday this past year and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It is a well written account not only of the fate of the Franklin Expedition, but also of the difficulties and many hardships faced by many of the Arctic Explorers of the time. It details the many problems that faced the various crews prior to Franklin's fated expedition and those of the many crews that searched for those 128 men.

The second part of the book tells of Owen Beattie's search for the Fate of those men, and his startling discoveries that showed the most likely cause of the tragedy. From finding the first bones on King Williams Island to excavating the three men on Beechey Island, the second part of the book is just as interesting as the first. Both are tales of discovery and the challenges associated with them.

All in all this book is one of those to spark the interest of anyone interested in Naval History and the history of Exploration. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent research team and analysis.......2005-10-02

Having had the luxury of actually communicating with Dr. Beattie and his team of their work, I can attest that they carried out their project professionally and with dignity. This is in contrast to many who tried or will try to answer the fate of the 129 (this field of research is ripe with many egos fighting for turf over which theory of their demise is correct, and the "glory" of finding that "holy grail" -- either Franklin's grave or his log books).

Dr. Beattie and team approached this project with a quest to forensically answer what may have killed everyone on the basis of toxic levels of lead found in disarticulated remains on King William Island (Kekertak) in a previous 1981 excavation. At the time they had a theory but needed to prove if the KWI specimens were indeed true or a fluke. Having gotten permission from the Canadian government to exhume the bodies (and after taking considerable time to try to locate relatives to gain permission to exhume the only properly interred remains on Beechey Island -- although not mentioned in the book, John Shaw Torrington appears to be last descendent of his line, having no siblings [his mom died in childbirth]), they proceeded to exhume Torrington and partially Hartnell in 1984. In 1986, with a larger and more technical team of experts, they conducted an even more thorough exhumation (showned very well on Nova's "Buried in Ice" documentary) of Hartnell and Braine.

This book offers a brief history of the 1845-48 Sir John Franklin Northwest Passage Expedition, and goes on to detail the 1981 excavations on King William Island, the 1984 and 1986 Beechey Island exhumations, then concludes with the lab results (further proving that the lead exposure was indeed from the cans, not just the environment). The big mystery still about that finding is if indeed everyone had such high lead levels, or only the sick (who more than likely were fed "better" tinned provisions) were so grossly affected.

Strongly recommend readers in getting this book and deduct the evidence themselves (this book does read like a True Crime novel), then to make up your own mind if the medical evidence is enough to answer the fate of the 129. For who knows, someone out there [you] may indeed have an answer that eluded many for almost 200 years.

[A special thank you to Dr. Beattie, Dr. Amy, Brian Spencerley, and Joelee Nunqag for your communications, insights and materials to flesh out your work. BTW, another photocopy observation -- Recheck Braine's plaque and what I mentioned in a 1993 letter, with the recent copper finding off of KWI. Very much related. :x ]

"They could not have foretold such an odyssey".......2005-05-06

The first time I heard about the Franklin expedition on Dr. Bob Brier's television documentary on mummies, I knew I had to learn more. Of course, the main cause of my fascination was the perfectly preserved bodies of the three sailors buried in 1846 on Beechy Island in the Canadian Arctic. The expedition set off in 1845 thoroughly equipped to find the elusive Northwest Passage. None of the 129 crewmen as well as Captain John Franklin survived. Years later expeditions were sent out to find out what happened to Franklin and his men. One search team in the 1850s led by M`Clintock, who was funded by Franklin's widow, discovered the only written record of the Franklin Expedition which gave a clue as to their progress and fate and a small boat with an odd array of articles and skeletons on King William Island. Headstones of three crewmen who died early in the expedition were also found on Beechy Island. The only conclusion that was made was that the men died of scurvy and starvation. In 1981, a team led by physical anthropologist Owen Beattie continued the investigation into the lost Franklin Expedition.

The reason this event was such a famous mystery was because Franklin's crew was so well prepared. Their two ships (HMS Terror and the HMS Erebus) were lavishly outfitted with survival equipment and supplies. Among their stock was a huge supply of canned foods (canning of foods being a recent practice at the time). Franklin once bragged that his provisions could stretch for 7 years (p. 18). In fact, empty tins littered the areas Franklin's crew camped. These artifacts proved clues to Beattie as to the fate of the Franklin expedition. Tests done on the lead level in bones found near Booth Point gave evidence that Franklin's men were poisoning themselves, weakening their bodies physically and impairing their decision-making. Beattie's team would exhume the bodies of the early Franklin deaths on Beechy Island to support this theory.

In addition to the exhumation and autopsies of the perfectly preserved bodies which is, of course, fascinating by itself, Beattie gives grisly details as to the evidence of cannibalism among the crew (p. 61), information on the sloppy soldering of the tin food cans (p. 113), and the rushed work of the Stephan Goldner company to fill the order for the canned foods (p. 159). A recreation of 20-year-old Chief Stoker John Torrington is described which even uses evidence found in his grave to show it was snowing lightly the day of his burial (pp. 123-7). It is unbelievable what scientists can find! One item I had not read before was that the odd choice of scriptures engraved on the headstones caused the team to first suspect foul play as the cause of the deaths (p. 93). The graves are a time capsule, and the Beattie team did an excellent job of learning from them yet also honoring them. The book includes amazing color photos of the bodies.

I have the 1987 out-of-print 180-page edition. This new edition appears to have additional information on other polar explorations giving all the more reason to check this book out. My copy ends with a comparison with the Challenger tragedy which is understandable as the 1986 disaster was still very fresh when this book was written. The big flaw with this comparison is that the powers-that-be in charge of launching Challenger knew of the dangers beforehand (even the specific warning about the fragility of the O-rings in frigid temperatures) and chose to ignore them. The Franklin Expedition really believed they were properly equipped with no idea of the fatal cargo they carried. There is a definite innocence about this tragedy on the part of all involved. They truly believed they would succeed. I also recommend the book Buried in Ice by the same authors. It is a juvenile book but has additional information not found in Frozen in Time, including photos of some of the articles used by the Franklin Expedition including a medicine chest and a complete food tin.

Amazing and Factual Read!.......2002-10-10

I loved this book! Well written for even the historical novice. Fascinating tale of hardship and tragedy from both historical viewpoint and human frailty. The additional trips made by the author, Owen Beattie, and company showed a true respect for humankind. His written words regarding the excavation and autopsies of the lost men, was both rewarding in explanation and thrilling in discovery. This historical book drew me in and I couldn't put the book down. I've become so fascinated with the fate of the Franklin Expedition that I am reading other books relating to this and other failed Arctic expeditions. Who knew history could be so fascinating? Highly recommended!

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