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.

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades

Average customer rating:

WELL WRITEN WELL DONE. VERY INFORMATIVE
Very Impressive
Phenomenal - This is a must read
Good book, but there are better ones out there
Knights Templar 201

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades
John J. Robinson
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0871316579

Book Description

One of the most magnificent books... putting it down is almost impossible. --Ocala Star-Banner

Customer Reviews:

WELL WRITEN WELL DONE. VERY INFORMATIVE.......2006-07-22

I enjoyed every page of this one. Not being an expert in this field, I certainly cannot vouch for each and every fact the author has given us, but the several facts I did take the time to further research proved the athor correct. The book is well written and in fact is quite a page turner. This is one of those I hated to stop reading and was rather sorry when I had finished it. It is important to understand this past era in order to understand where we are today. The consequences of the actions taken at that time are still being felt even to this day. Highly recommend this one.

Very Impressive.......2006-06-04

I am extremely impressed by the way Robinson conveyed the history of those tumultuous times in such a captivating manner. This work is rich in facts: both large and small, and all interesting. Aside from Templar history, I really appreciated Robinson's ability to clearly explain the major and minor players and the political machinery and machinations of all sides involved (Muslim factions, Hospitallers, Vanetians, the Popes, etc etc). Reading this work is a real learning experience, and Robinson's great writing is far from dry. After reading this book I will surely continue to read Robinson's other works.

Phenomenal - This is a must read .......2006-05-24

Where to start? This is a fantastic piece of work that takes you through the rise and fall of Templars. I would rate it better than Da-vinci code because this is no fiction. It is remarkable that a non-fiction work packs so much action and thrills. This is also the best account of Crusades that I have ever read. In addition, the author also touches upon the personal codes that governed the life of Templars (like the chastity belt, rules against bathing etc). All in all, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested about Crusades or Templars

Good book, but there are better ones out there.......2006-03-05

John Robinson does a very good job in complining information about the Templar and presenting it in an interesting and readable fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the Templar (and Robinson does include many details not found in the other Templar books I have read, contrary to those reviewers who claim it is all old material).

What I liked best about this book was its emphasis on context. Robinson does not just give an account of the Templar's doings; he provides an account of all the things which are happening around the Templars as well, which is essential for understanding the Templar.

I also liked Robinson's clear writing style. Some history book get you bogged down with dates and names, but Robinson does an excellent job of tying them together and helping you remember them so that events further into the book will make much more sense.

There are also two complaints I have about this book:

1. There are a number of small, careless mistakes which really should not have been there (i.e. slightly misquoting people, slightly incorrect dates, etc.) and which are rather annoying. As far as I can tell, none of his information is majorly wrong; he just does things like writing that events happened several weeks after another event when it was actually many months, so I guess it's not really a big deal.

2. He seemed rather biased against the Catholic Church. I myself am not Catholic, but even I do not think some of the things that they did were quite as bad as Robinson makes them out to be. For example, his comments to the effect that the charges of homosexuality against the Knights were very probably true because they had vows of chastity are simply underestimating the effect of religion upon people's lives and are just plain stupid. If the Templars couldn't take being chaste anymore, it is not very likely that they would choose to become homosexuals violating the ordinances of the Church rather than simply violating the laws of the Templar.

In conclusion, this was a very good book, but I think that there are better books on the subject out there. I would recommend Stephen Howarth's The Knights Templar. His book is slightly shorter (and thus has a little less detail), but it is also more accurate and is much more fun to read.

Overall grade: B+

Knights Templar 201 .......2005-04-28

Several readers have trashed this book, one saying 'Same old song in a new cover'. That reviewer then goes on to recommend two books written 10 years later.. That's probably why he thought that this was 'old'. While I can't compare this book to anything by Runciman or Tuchman, I will say that this is a pretty good book.

Before you buy this book, please pay attention to the title.. It is called 'Dungeon, Fire, & Sword The Knights Templar IN THE CRUSADES' In order to understand the impact of the KT in the crusades you have to understand the crusades themselves, and in order to understand the crusades, you need to understand the 'players', culture geography etc... The Crusades didn't revolve around the KT, they only played a part, albeit an integral one, in the crusades.

Yes this book is more than just the KT, and no it's not an in depth history of each of the crusades, but it's not supposed to be.. The reader should use this book as a building block about the KT, the crusades and even the Papal State.

What is interesting is that the more one reads about the KT the more you realize that there really is a lot of uncertainty and disagreement surrounding them. In his book, Howarth writes that the master of the Templars was never called the Grand Master, yet that is how Robinson refers to them. There were a few other descrepencies between the two books but nothing major.

The maps (all 3 of them) were ok. The tables of the 'players' in the back of the book were helpful.

I recommend this book.. Could you do better? Maybe, but with all of the junk that they are publishing about the KT these days you could do a heck of a lot worse.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

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Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the K G B

Average customer rating:

History all over again
The KGB Archives
Real
Longwinded but interesting
Amazing, dense and packed with info

The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the K G B
Christopher Andrew , and Vasili Mitrokhin
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0465003109

Amazon.com

In early 1992, a Russian man walked into the British embassy in a newly independent Baltic republic and asked to "speak to someone in authority." As he sipped his first cup of proper English tea, he handed over a small file of notes. Eight months later, the man, his family, and his enormous archive had been safely exfiltrated to Britain. When news that a KGB officer had defected with the names of hundreds of undercover agents leaked out in 1996, a spokesperson for the SVR (Russia's foreign intelligence service, heir of the KGB) said, "Hundreds of people! That just doesn't happen! Any defector could get the name of one, two, perhaps three agents--but not hundreds!"

Vasili Nikitich Mitrokhin worked as chief archivist for the FCD, the foreign-intelligence arm of the KGB. Mitrokhin was responsible for checking and sealing approximately 300,000 files, allowing him unrestricted access to one of the world's most closely guarded archives. He had lost faith in the Soviet system over the years, and was especially disturbed by the KGB's systematic silencing of dissidents at home and abroad. Faced with tough choices--stay silent, resign, or undermine the system from within--Mitrokhin decided to compile a record of the foreign operations of the KGB. Every day for 12 years, he smuggled notes out of the archive. He started by hiding scraps of paper covered with miniscule handwriting in his shoes, but later wrote notes on ordinary office paper, which he took home in his pockets. He hid the notes under his mattress, and on weekends took them to his dacha, where he typed them and hid them in containers buried under the floor. When he escaped to Britain, his archive contained tens of thousands of pages of notes.

In 1995, Mitrokhin, by then a British citizen, contacted Christopher Andrew (For the President's Eyes Only), head of the faculty of history at Cambridge University and one of the world's foremost historians of international intelligence. Andrew was allowed to examine the archive Mitrokhin created "to ensure that the truth was not forgotten, that posterity might some day come to know of it." The Sword and the Shield is the earthshaking result. The book details the KGB's foreign-intelligence operations, most notably those aimed at Great Britain and the "Main Adversary"--the United States. In the 700-page book, Andrew reveals operations aimed at discrediting high-profile Americans, from Martin Luther King to Ronald Reagan; secret arms caches still hidden--and boobytrapped--throughout the West; disinformation efforts, including forging a letter from Lee Harvey Oswald in an attempt to implicate the CIA in the assassination of JFK; attempts to stir up racial tensions in the U.S. by sending hate mail and even bombs; and the existence of deep-cover agents in North America and Europe--some of whom were effectively "outed" when the book was published.

Mitrokhin's detailed notes are well served by Andrew, who writes forcefully and clearly. The Sword and the Shield represents a remarkable intelligence coup--one that will have serious repercussions for years to come. As Andrew notes, "No one who spied for the Soviet Union at any period between the October Revolution and the eve of the Gorbachev era can now be confident that his or her secrets are still secure." --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

Disclosures from The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB, based on a secret archive of top-KGB documents smuggled out of the Soviet Union, are sure to make the front pages of newspapers throughout the West. According to the FBI, this archive is "the most complete and extensive intelligence ever received from any source." Its presence in the West represents a catastrophic hemorrhage of the KGB's secrets and reveals for the first time the full extent of its worldwide network.

Vasili Mitrokhin, a secret dissident, working in the KGB archive smuggled out copies of its most highly classified files every day for twelve years. In 1992, a U.S. ally succeeded in exfiltrating the KGB officer and his entire archive out of Moscow. The archive covers the entire period from the Bolshevik Revolution to the 1980s and includes revelations concerning almost every country in the world. But the KGB's main target, of course, was the United States.

Throughout the 700 pages of The Sword and the Shield, there are revelations of interest to journalists covering U.S. and international intelligence, history, and human interest regarding the following subjects:

-KGB's covert operations in the United States and throughout the West, some of which remain dangerous today.

-KGB files on Oswald and the JFK assassination that Boris Yeltsin almost certainly has no intention of showing President Clinton.

-KGB's attempts to discredit civil rights leaders in the 1960s, including its infiltration of the inner circle of a key leader.

-KGB's use of radio intercept posts in New York and Washington D.C. in the 1970s to intercept high level U.S. government communications.

-KGB's attempts to steal technological secrets from major U.S. aerospace and technology corporations. Their success seems to have inspired Chinese intelligence to do likewise.

-KGB covert operations against former President Ronald Reagan, which began five years before he became president.

-KGB spies who successfully posed as U.S. citizens under a series of ingenious disguises, including several who attained access to the upper echelons of New York society.

The Sword and the Shield is a work of great historical significance, which will fundamentally alter our understanding of Soviet history and modern international relations. For Russia's post-Soviet intelligence service, SVR, the publication of this book poses a real problem. No one who spied for Russia between 1917 and the final years of the Cold War can be sure anymore that his or her secrets are secure.

Customer Reviews:

History all over again.......2007-01-03

For someone who grew up in the former Soviet Union it is a hell of a read. It is like re-learning Soviet history all over again. Just hope it is true.

The KGB Archives.......2006-11-18

Mitrokhin & Andrews' book is just as described: an archive of information. As such, it is packed with information that the authors have tried to organize into something of a dry narrative. That said, this volume and its successor, "The World Was Going Our Way," contain a plethora of details on KGB tactics and experiences from WWII onwards.

What it doesn't contain is a good deal of information about NKVD operations prior to WWII. There are brief descriptions of a handful of operations, and a general outline of the organizations history and structure, but, as the title advertises, this is a work on the KGB and the KGB alone.

Andrews should be commended for making what I'm sure were dry and, at times, likely unreliable reports into a working narrative.

NOTE: The rating above should read four stars rather than three.

Real.......2006-10-26

Well, this is the real facts, is not a story , is real life, this book is not about the agents some have in their mind from the movie industry's prections of the handsome athletic agent who is " good to the bone". This book shows the truth and explains what happened and why, it might not be too much impressionism but it gives what was going on behind the scene. The truth is always good to know, this is the book on the subject that gets as close as possible. The book can be opened at any page and is still captivating to read.

Longwinded but interesting.......2006-03-11

Quite recently a colleague told me that he resented a newspaper columnist who had referred to a relative of his as a communist spy. My colleague believed his relative had been an innocent victim of McCarthyist red baiting. I knew that his relative was no innocent but a high-level KGB operative. It said so in the Mitrokhin Archive vol. I, "The Sword and the Shield".

One of the tragedies of the Cold War is that many western communist spies, traitors to their own countries and dupes to one of the worst systems humanity has ever known, managed to rebrand themselves as victims of persecution. The paradigm for this view is Miller's "The Crucible", where for
"witches" one should read "spies". Except that there were no witches but there sure were spies. The Rosenbergs were spies and they did help Stalin put together his nuclear weapons. Alger Hiss was a spy. And so on and on. And as we have known or suspected for a long time, many NGOs such as the World Council of Churches and many political parties and publications were also preferred haunts for KGB agents and contacts in its neverending propaganda war.

Volume I of the Mitrokhin files is bulky and a longwinded. The writing is what used to be described as workmanlike in that goes to lenghts to avoid rethoric and even elegance. It just piles on fact upon fact. The facts are fascinating. As noted above, many of us knew that the governing and the chattering classes of the West were filled with spies and fellow travelers, but the sheer magnitude of that presence is impressive. We also knew that the Soviet leadership often did not manage to make the best possible use of the extraordinary intelligence it managed to acquire (remember Sorge's warning about the operation Barbarossa, and how Stalin dismissed him as a stooge to the British?). The book goes in mind-numbing detail on just how often political or personal prejudice stood in the way of taking advantage of the information.

As a Latin American I am a much bigger fan of volume II of the files. But volume I is a good place to start, and to never let us forget that the Cold War was a real war, that it could have been lost, and what it could have like if that had happened.

Amazing, dense and packed with info.......2006-02-21

I have not finished the book yet (in the interest of being honest)...but so far its got some really interesting unheard facts. I heard the author on the NPR and what he said (about the sequel) was some really interesting, amazing facts about the KGB....unfortunately the book is more dense and layered down with codename after codename and I think a lot gets lost as a result. However, the intent was to release EVERYTHING that Mitrokhin smuggled out so thats what they did....if you can sit threw a lot of stuff, there are real nuggets of gold here.

The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun

Average customer rating:

This version offers more bang for the buck.
The Best Translation Available
Wonderful
A classical text
Giving life to the sword

The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun
Yagyu Munenori
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 4770029551

Book Description

This is a translation of an important classic on Zen swordfighting. Yagyu Munenori was so widely renowned that he was appointed official sword instructor to two Tokugawa shoguns. (The position was always coveted by Miyamoto Musashi, but he never succeeded in gaining the post). Yagyu's style is
known as the Shinkage-ryu style, for centuries the official style of the Tokugawa dynasty. His spiritual mentor was Zen priest Takuan. Here, Yagyu's Buddhist spirituality is clearly reflected in his central idea of the "life-giving sword" - the notion of controlling an opponent by the spiritual
readiness to fight, rather than during the fight. His mastery of restraint and diplomacy made him a trusted political and military advisor to the shoguns. This book is a look into a master swordsman's thoughts on nonattachment and even non-violence.

Customer Reviews:

This version offers more bang for the buck........2007-10-08

I have read three versions of The Life Giving Sword. This one is the best. The introduction is very informative. A student of Shinkage Ryu would really appreciate this books introduction. The translation is above average. This book also contains a catalog of Shinkage Ryu Sword techniques in the back. So if you want to read The Life Giving Sword this book will give you more bang for your buck.

The Best Translation Available.......2007-09-26

Of the several English translations available, I think this is the best. Each version is formatted slightly differently, but I find this version the most readable.Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

Wonderful.......2007-05-02

I give this book five stars simply because I love it. For anyone who finds Miyamoto Musashi's book a little hard to fathom at first, then maybe you could start with this.

I have a number of translations by William Scott Wilson, the most recent being 'The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts', I love them all and have to say that I prefer his translations over any other.

A classical text.......2005-05-13

Munenori's book is a classic work of Japanese literature that explores the Way of the sword through what we in the west might call a philosphical approach. Yet, I don't think the distinction between the physical style and philosophical approach would be seperate categories to Munenori. His book sets out to present the Way as a total approach of mind, body, and spirit, and not merely the development of each independently. Reading the book in any other way will probably make it fairly disappointing.

The other thing to remember about this book is its a classic by one of the most influential sword instructors of his era. In that respect, the book is rich with perspective on early 17th century Japanese culture. Particularly interesting are the reprinted plates in the back of the book showing the original inked pages of technique.

As other viewers pointed out, this is not a book for someone simply learning to wield a sword. Instead, Munenori's book is a fascinating account of swordsmanship that gives the reader insight not only to the richness of the Way, but also wonderful insight on a fascinating historical figure. Highly recommended for those interested in Japanese culture, history of samurai, and the feudal era.

Giving life to the sword.......2004-05-25

Anyone who looks to a book to learn how to swing a sword will forever be disappointed. Those of us who have actually taken the time train in the sword know that direct transmition is the only way (yes, the schools still exist -- go find one).

What this book presents (along with some very good subtle sword pointers) is the proper mental attitude you must gain in order to progress on the path. Mr. Wilson does a wonderful job translating a difficult text. If you are serious about sword, get this book AND go find a teacher ...

Average customer rating:

Swords at Sunset and Madalene Mandala absolutely superb

Swords at Sunset traces Holy Grail to North America

Swords at Sunset absolutely superb

Ego at Sunset

Something Totally New in the Grail Vain

Swords at Sunset: Last Stand of North America's Grail Knights
Michael Bradley , and Joelle Lauriol
Manufacturer: Manor House Publishing Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
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The Templar Meridians: The Secret Mapping of the New World

The Knights Templar in the New World: How Henry Sinclair Brought the Grail to Acadia

The Lost Colony of the Templars: Verrazano's Secret Mission to America

The Knights Templar in the Golden Age of Spain: Their Hidden History on the Iberian Peninsula

The Templar Papers: Ancient Mysteries, Secret Societies, And the Holy Grail

ASIN: 0973647744

Product Description

Swords at Sunset is the final book in Michael Bradley's bestselling trilogy on Holy Grail adventures in North America from 1398 to 1571, completing the saga related in Holy Grail Across the Atlantic and Grail Knights of North America (the author's research skills were also put to good use in the movie The Da Vinci Code). In Swords at Sunset, Bradley draws on evidence from The Book of Mormon, plus newly discovered artefacts from Lake Memphremagog and the Niagara region. Bradley offers a convincing argument that communities of Grail refugees - who had fled the Inquisition in Europe - were established in Niagara and Vermont before being defeated by Native tribes in 1571. Swords at Sunset also examines the origins of man and the concept of the Holy Grail, offering a new and different perspective of the Western religious history that has shaped so much of the entire world's history. Swords at Sunset presents a thought-provoking interpretation that will astonish and intrigue.

Customer Reviews:

Swords at Sunset and Madalene Mandala absolutely superb.......2007-05-18

Now here's a great combo: On author Michael Bradley's The Magdalene Mandala page, his bestselling novel has been paired with his non-fiction masterpiece, Swords at Sunset for a low package rate provided by amazon. I adore both books and it's wonderful they're paired.
This package offering is superb. I picked up both books and could not put either of them down until I reached the back cover. Amazing!

Swords at Sunset is the true story of Bradley's efforts tracing the Holy Grail to Canada and the United States. It's all supported by archeological evidence from digs in Vermont, Quebec, Niagara, Ontario and elsewhere. He raises many fascinating possibilities in this well argued book that left me wondering if descendents of Jesus Christ's bloodline now walk among us.

The Magdalene Mandala is a fast-paced thriller that's a bit like James Bond meeting the Da Vinci Code (author Bradley was a researcher for the Da Vinci Code movie and is a recognized Holy Grail expert). No wonder Bradley's prior two novels were major bestsellers: This book combines an exciting, action-filled story with meticulous research on the Grail. Well done!

I highly recommend both books. Each is absiolutely terrific and they do indeed make a great pair. The Magdalene Mandala

Swords at Sunset traces Holy Grail to North America.......2007-04-17

Much like his bestselling novel The Magdalene Mandala author Michael Bradley has again tapped into his Holy Grail expert credentials (he's written many books on the Grail and was a researcher for The Da Vinci Code movie).

But unlike The Magdalene Mandala, Bradley's Swords at Sunset is a nonfiction work that utilizes archeological evidence to support his well argued contention that the Holy Grail - the carriers of the Jesus bloodline - were smuggled into North America by the Knights Templar centuries before Columbus set foot here.

This is an absolutely fascinating book by a true expert on the Holy Grail. Highly recommended.

Swords at Sunset absolutely superb.......2006-12-20

Swords at Sunset traces the Holy Grail to Canada and the United States centuries ago, long before Columbus discovered either country.
Author Michael Bradley, who served as a researcher for The Da Vinci Code movie put his research skills to work on Swords, using evidence to support his theory that Grail knights were wiped out by North American natives.
That in itself makes this well written book a highly recommended terrific read. But Swords goes well beyond this to explore the origins of man.
I first picked this book up because one reviewer had compared it to Hitler's Mein Kampf and my curiosity got the better of me. However, anyone hoping to find a lot of anti-jewish nonsense will be gravely disappointed as there really isn't anything of the sort: Bradley traces not just Jews, but other major religious groups back to Neanderthal Man. However, he also notes Neanderthal's were large-brained (true) and highly intelligent. It's interesting that scientists today are only now catching up with Bradley's findings on Neanderthals and the origins and composition of Modern Humans. I found Bradley raised many interesting views and really made me think. I also found he jumped to some fantastic conclusions and expressed some viewpoints - such as White people in general having a predisposition to violence - that I cannot agree with. That said, it's well worth spending the time to travel through this author's mind and share his amazing discoveries even if you don't agree with all of his end conclusions. This is an education ride - and getting there is half the fun. Highly recommended.

Ego at Sunset.......2006-10-17

This book is horrible. Never mind the simplistic genetic philosophy straight out of Himmler. Jews are Cro Magnon and your basic Aryan is Neandethal, or is the other way around? Like the first reviewer said every other sentence is plugging his other two books which I actually enjoyed. In this he had no rational editor to filter the racist egotistical element out and keep his interesting material in. I think the author would benefit or perhaps pass out, if he read Norma Goodrich's book on the Holy Grail where she discusses the theory that Chretien De Troyes the first medieval author to mention the Grail was a converted Jew and perceived the Grail as a the Jewish Passover plate! Avoid this book unless you like reading 'Mein Kampf' on breezy summer day!

Something Totally New in the Grail Vain.......2006-09-12

I have not read the two book previously written before this one. But I might. This book carries on from the first two about the Grail coming to America with Sinclair (from Rosslyn). This book had some interesting discussion about the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon Gene pool of the time before Christ. I have not seen this before. The author does make some controversial statements related to 'Jews' so beware.
I dont think he needed to repeat his previous books' titles in every sentence. I kind of got the idea very quickly that he had written more than one book. The Epilogue is very interesting. More on the Cro-magnon, Neanderthal discussion.

OPERATORS: On the Streets with Britain's Most Secret Service (Pen & Sword Military Classics)

Average customer rating:

Very limited writing style
Great reading for the professional soldier!
Great book on 14 Intelligence company
14 INT

OPERATORS: On the Streets with Britain's Most Secret Service (Pen & Sword Military Classics)
James Rennie
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Intelligence & Espionage | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1844150992

Book Description

Few outside the security services have heard of 14 Company. As deadly as the SAS yet more secret, the Operators of 14 Company are Britain's most effective weapon against international terrorism. For every bomb that goes off 14 Company prevent twelve. The selection process is the most physically, intellectually and emotionally demanding anywhere in the world. Trained to operate under cover, Operators have at their disposal an arsenal of techniques and weapons unmatched by any other UK government or military agency. This is the true story of one Operator and of some of the most hair-raising military operations ever conducted on the streets of Britain.

Customer Reviews:

Very limited writing style.......2007-08-24

It is really hard to find the right words for this work that reads like it was written by an adolescent with a huge inferiority complex describing one of those violent video games. If you are one of those military blockheads you might find this book entertaining, but in all consequence it has no value when it comes to add to the aspects of the Irish War. The author's writing abilities are simply too limited. If this book is really a reflection on the workings of "Britain's Most Secret Service" then I have to worry about their abilities to handle such complex tasks as fighting terrorists.

Great reading for the professional soldier!.......2006-08-21

What I like about this book is its apparent honesty. The author does not over inflate his achievements. If he were lying, the book would be more blood and guts and" I wuz there." He is careful to make clear that he was not personally involved in some of the incidents he relates. I found the details about the selection process and later operational skills to be fascinating.

What was also valuable is that you see that the selection process was not just a bunch of crap, but was actually required for the job to be done. His treatment of weapons and capabilities is straightforward and accurate.

The book also touches on the sometimes jealousy and cooperation between Company 14 and the SAS.

(There is the possibility that some facts were altered for security purposes. The book was vetted by the Ministry of Defense.)

Any young troop contemplating some type of special forces selection process would to well to read this book (there are others) to see what kind of head games you are in for.

Great book on 14 Intelligence company.......2003-11-17

A great book concerning details about training, deployment and surveillance techniques of the 14 Company. These guys are by far the most competent anti-terrorism force out there (when it comes to surveillance).

14 INT.......2002-11-08

An excellent look at a military unit that is realitivly unknown and the covert operations that have taken place in Northern Ireland. Anyone interested in the conflict in Northern I reland or the British Army should read this book.

COLD WAR SECRET NUCLEAR BUNKERS: The Passive Defence of the Western World During the Cold War (Pen & Sword Military Classics)

Average customer rating:

Better As a General Reference Book.
More Secret Bunkers
US material contains mistakes
A Good Attempt
a good book

COLD WAR SECRET NUCLEAR BUNKERS: The Passive Defence of the Western World During the Cold War (Pen & Sword Military Classics)
Nick McCamley
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1844155080

Book Description

Secret Cold War Nuclear Bunkers tells the previously undisclosed story of the secret defense structures built by the West during the Cold War years. The book describes in fascinating detail a vast umbrella of radar stations that spanned the North American continent and the North Atlantic from the Aleutian Islands through Canada to the North Yorkshire Moors, all centered upon an enormous secret control centre buried hundreds of feet below Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. This is complemented in the United Kingdom with a chain of secret radars codenamed 'Rotor' built in the early 1950's, and eight huge, inland sector control centers, built over 100' underground at enormous cost. The book reveals the various bunkers built for the U.S Administration, including the Raven Rock alternate war headquarters (the Pentagon's wartime hideout), the Greenbrier bunker for the Senate and House of Representatives, and the Mount Weather central government headquarters amongst others. Developments in Canada, including the Ottawa 'Diefenbunker' and the regional government bunkers are also studied. In the UK there were the London bunkers and the Regional War rooms built in the 1950's to protect against the Soviet threat, and their replacement in 1958 by much more hardened, underground Regional Seats of Government in the provinces, and the unique Central Government War Headquarters at Corsham.

Finally the book examines the provision, (or more accurately, lack of provision), of shelter space for the general population, comparing the situation in the USA and the UK with some other European countries and with the Soviet Union.

Customer Reviews:

Better As a General Reference Book........2005-08-24

Mr. McCamley has certainly jumped right in to the world of bunkers, but frankly, this book is much better as a general reference book than it is as a good read. McCamley could have used the services of a good editor as the book is disjointed and contains a number of snide comments concerning the Cold War. Certainly one need not agree with Herman Kahn, but reality dictates that nuclear calculus is a bleak and callous field. McCamley doesn't seem to understand that, and continually editorializes, offering uneducated commentary and his feelings instead of clear, concise analysis.

The book begins with a brief overview of American and Canadian defense preparations during the Cold War, but spends too much time on actual dollar amounts and radar sites that were, for the most part, not hardened at all--they weren't bunkers.

He only briefly mentions American nuclear missile bunkers, and focuses on the large ones: Cheyenne Mountain, Mt. Weather, the Greenbriar, Mt. Pony, and Raven Rock. Again, he seems more interested in sneering at the people that built them and their likely effectiveness than giving any real insight to their reason for existence.

The rest of the book is very nearly just a catalog of the rather small bunkers throughout the UK, which are relatively similar to each other. There is a brief description of the Carrier Warning System that would have been used for warning the UK populace, but again this is glossed over.

As others have mentioned, the book could have used some fact-checking. While plenty of the errors are glaring, one has to wonder how many other things are wrong when it comes to more obscure facts.

Overall, I would suggest this book as a brief intro to American and Canadian Cold War defense systems and a catalogue of bunkers in the United Kingdom. Those looking for more will be disappointed.

More Secret Bunkers.......2004-09-29

This book is an excellent addition for the library of anyone interested in cold war facilities, radar and communication systems. There are some inconsistencies but overall a good reference. Lots of good photos and floorplans. Hopefully, those locations not noted in this book will be examined in a future book.

US material contains mistakes.......2004-03-07

This maybe a good book on UK bunkers of which there are many listed and detailed. US information contains many errors in the first edition. Example: Mount Pony Currency Vault for "North" of the Mississippi, should be "East" (the Mississippi flows North to South). The book is also full of the author anti-commentary, rather than descriptive analysis of the preparations. Does however have a map of Raven Rock which is rare to find.

A Good Attempt.......2002-11-27

Nick McCamley has done a good job at covering the the extensive network of passive defense sites in the UK. This is a difficult subject that the author has obviously spent quite a long time researching and documenting. McCamley should have stopped with the UK.

McCamley's treatment of North America lacks the thoroughness that his chapters on the UK show. The first part of the book attempts to cover the bunkers in the US and Canada. While he covers the Texas Towers in the middle of the ocean, he fails to even mention the RCAF bunker at North Bay in his chapter on Canada.

Additionally, the author's explanation of the causes of the Cold War and the effects are sophomoric at best. He attempts to summarize the complex political, economic, military, historical, and philosophical forces up in trite blame America explanations. He should have kept to his area of expertise.

The book shows a sloppy preparation by the publisher. For example, on the rear dust cover, it has a picture of a Titan II ICBM labeled as a "Peacemaker." The Peacemaker was the Convair B-36 bomber. Either the publisher was ignorant or they were mistaken and confused a "Peacekeeper" ICBM with a Titan II. There is no excuse for this kind of error, especially on the dust jacket. It can only lead you question the fact checking that the publisher did through the rest of the volume. The editing has typos, such as B-39 instead of B-29, and the book is choppy. Chapters seem to have been written independently and for different places than they were eventually put in the book.

I recommend this work as a starting point for those who want to know about the bunker system in the UK. If you can see past the short comings mentioned above, this is a good attempt at a difficult subject.

a good book.......2002-09-24

this is a very good book and read , i recommend it as it is chock full of information , but it mostly only covers the buildings of cold war england , which it didnt mention in the editorial review , though there is a bit about norrad and sage and some early american cold war projects in the biginning.i did expect some more indepth pictures of some of the sites which is why i only gave it a 4 (with more pictures i would have given it a 5) overall it is a recommended read and an excelent addition to a post ww2 library.

The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts

Average customer rating:

Plenty here for everyone
It certainly isn't bad, but it's not as good as some reviewers say
Much to learn from this book
Quite Simply THE Best Book of Its Kind ANYWHERE.
"THE" Book on sword combat.

The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts
J Christopher Amberger
Manufacturer: Unique Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Firearms & Weapons | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1892515040

Customer Reviews:

Plenty here for everyone.......2007-03-11

Provocative, witty, well argued and full of interesting anecdotes. I could hardly put it down.

Many of its chapters explore the "cut vs thrust" debate - an idiocy that sprang into existance along with the advent of that great fashion accessory, the rapier. With seemingly hundreds of eye-witness accounts to vividly back up his arguments, it makes enthralling reading.

It certainly isn't bad, but it's not as good as some reviewers say.......2006-08-07

This book is an entertaining read and is certainly well researched in parts. Amberger avoids some of the problem that Richard Cohen encountered in "By the sword" but by and large they both extend their considerable expertise just a bit too broadly to support their arguments. His personal experience in the German duelling halls are exciting to read. He wisely avoids much discussion concerning metalurgy and the actual production of blades and doesn't stray far from the European/American tradition which he knows well.

His dismissal of "academic" arguements is curious though, since writing a book is exactly the sort of thing that attracts academic comment. And even though it is certainly nitpicking to point out typos and grammatical errors rather than to address an author's ideas, when the typos begin to pile up (as they do in the last few chapters of this book) it makes the reader wonder about the degree of fact-checking that went into the rest of the text. His humor was enjoyed by some of the other reviewers, I found it irritating. That is just a matter of personal taste.

His sources for western sword work were voluminous and I would love to have access to the same rich fount of information. The problem with his sources came when he broadened out to Eastern arts. To cite Gilbey's "Secret fighting arts of the world" seriously is hysterical - the book is a deliberate joke. Likewise, Bruce Tenger's martial books have been around for a long time, but there are many other sources available regarding the points and techniques of unarmed Eastern martial arts.

"The Secret History of the Sword" is a nice introduction to the history of bladed combat in the West, but serious students should look further.

Much to learn from this book.......2005-09-05

Mr. Amberger did not set out to write a complete history of the sword and fighting techniques. He is an enthusiast writing for other enthusiasts, some previous knowledge and experience, which I lacked, is required. However, the book is mostly fascinating and well-written. His main themes seems to be that sword fighting techniques are much more ancient than commonly believed. He also writes much about the German mensur fighting, which actually is quite interesting. Another theme is he really wants to distuinguish between competitive fencing, which has little to do with real fencing, and duelling and combative fencing: one is a game and one is as serious as it can get.
I liked his writing style and his erudition. This book would be a serious addition to the library of any fencer with an interest in there sport/hobby.

Quite Simply THE Best Book of Its Kind ANYWHERE........2005-08-18

I have recommended this book to over ten people, and every one of them loved it and recommended it to other sword enthusiasts. If you enjoy the sword and its lore and technical aspects in history, practice or application or even all three, make this book your next purchase ASAP! It is an A++ book from cover to cover. (John H. Myers Jr.)

"THE" Book on sword combat........2005-02-01

AMberger's book is truely one of the best martial art books on the market. While the title suggests a historical tome, it is more an in depth analysis of the issues and theories surrounding sword combat. As for the very few negative reviews; it is hard to belive they have read this book. In style I found it to be engageing and fun. The many full passages from historical texts offer copious ammounts of info if even they are a bit hard to read (old language etc.) The many photos keep the book lively and bring to life the text. Amberger does not, in my opinion, make any argument for, or against any style or method. He is fair and balanced through the entire texts. He also brings other information that may seem periferal but plays such an under-investigated role in combat (Fear, bio-machanics, and psycology.)

Over-all, a wonderful and important text.

Live By The Sword: The Secret War Against Castro and the Death ofJFK

Average customer rating:

O.K., but Ultimate Sacrifice far superior
Falters on the assassination, but consists of much more
Don't trust this book!
Bobby Kennedy nearly caused Armageddon!!
Warning: Entering a world of sophisticated propaganda

Live By The Sword: The Secret War Against Castro and the Death ofJFK
Gus Russo
Manufacturer: Bancroft Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1890862010

Book Description

Humiliated at the Bay of Pigs, John and Robert Kennedy sought desperately to eliminate Castro. Their strategies for overthrowing the Cuban leader were so elaborate and bizarre, they could only engender paranoia. Castro openly threatened to retaliate. Pro-Castro agitator Lee Harvey Oswald learned that Robert Kennedy was personally supervising groups plotting against the Cuban leader. Filled with rage and a sense of destiny, Oswald went to the Cuban embassy in Mexico, announcing he would kill America's president in exchange for sanctuary in Havana. Live By the Sword forces the conclusion that members of the Cuban regime accepted the troubled American's offer.

Customer Reviews:

O.K., but Ultimate Sacrifice far superior.......2006-01-13

Gus Russo, a nice guy but intelligence connected (to put it mildly), has authored this book that, while filled with some worthwhile material, also has its share of spurious notions and so forth. On the subject, "Ultimate Sacrirfice" is far superior. Still, worth a (careful) look.
Vince Palamara
Secret Service expert, History Channel, author of 2 books, in over 32 other author's books, etc.

Falters on the assassination, but consists of much more.......2003-11-15

A more recent book by Leary and Seymour holds updated information that punches a hole in Russo's "Oswald did it alone" thesis. If that were all (or primarily) the content of this book, one might dispense with it. But it isn't. The main focus is on the terrorist campaign waged against Cuba by the Kennedys. Here the book contains a great deal of concisely documented material. This is then plausibly raised as something which could have motivated Oswald. When going through the actual evidence of the assassination, Russo points out relevant evidence which discredits the "grassy knoll" thesis. This has been further supplemented by Leary and Seymour, who likewise reject the popular "grassy knoll" thesis. Yet having come up with enough motives for why someone might be compelled to carry out assassination, and having discredited one very popular thesis, Russo seems satisfied in letting a question go. There is a point when, in discussing the assassination, he simply says that it would take too long to explain right here how he became convinced of the "single bullet theory" and so he is giving a "thumbnail sketch" in Appendix A. At this point, one can detect some logical incompleteness, although he does discredit some of the more popular myths about the assassination, but it isn't surprising to see Leary & Seymour producing newly released evidence supporting a wider "assassination plot" view. What is more to the point about this book is that it is centrally focused on the Kennedy role in the terrorist campaign against Cuba. On this matter, it corrects a number of errors in the earlier (still worthwhile) book by Hinkle and Turner, such as the point where RFK feigns surprise at the CIA being involved with the Mafia against Cuba. As documents have been released since the Stone film, the Camelot myth has become more and more what used to be called "an old wives' tale." This book sheds much light on why, but more complete information is needed if one is specifically looking at the assassination.

Don't trust this book!.......2002-12-29

Gus Russo is a man of many views, all of them contradictory. In the early 1990's, he embraced every conspiracy theory known to man, and was even listed as a "consultant" on Oliver Stone's JFK. He was a firm believer in the Stone school of conspiracy theories. He also endorsed Robert Morrow's dubious book "First Hand Knowledge" with a cover blurb. Then, came his conversion. After Gerald Posner's "Case Closed", Russo realized there was more money to be made in endorsing the opposite, i.e. "official", point of view espoused by the Warren Commission. Russo reversed himself 180 degrees and began hanging around with former CIA types who had been involved in the assassination plots against Fidel Castro (and possibly JFK as well). He was flattered by their attention and bought into their propaganda and disinformation. Hence this book. The book contains several theories, all contradictory: 1) Oswald did it, acting alone, 2) Castro was behind the assassination, and 3) It was all Bobby Kennedy's fault!! Russo also tried to persuade Seymour Hersh, and the Assassination Review Board, that the real assassin was a Cuban intelligence agent, but failed to convince either. Russo is being used, and is not to be trusted. His sources are dubious at best and have their own agenda. Don't believe everything you read.

Bobby Kennedy nearly caused Armageddon!!.......2002-06-24

This book is a remarkable piece of scholarship that provides the most thorough backdrop yet to the JFK assassination. I found the most significant part of the book to be the deep politics going on in the JFK administration. My worldview has been forever changed in learning that the character deficits of Bobby Kennedy and his obsession with getting Castro ultimately forced the Cubans to accept Soviet missiles for their own protection. Although I was taught that the Kennedy brothers heroically averted Armageddon in November 1962, it was their arrogance and inexperience that had actually pushed us to the brink in the first place! Thank you, Mr. Russo!!

Warning: Entering a world of sophisticated propaganda.......2001-12-02

" Take the red pill, and you continue the virtual life you had, without any memory of this meeting. Take the green pill, and I'll show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes . . ." [From the 1999 film "MATRIX"]

Contrary to the editor's claim, this is not the last book you will want to read on Dealey Plaza. And if one only wants to explore secondary materials, the Truth is scattered around in bits and pieces. Some of it is in the histories and files of foreign and domestic intelligence agencies. Some of it surfaces in new document releases. Some of it emerges in memoirs and biographies written by those close to the several decades of investigations. But you won't find all of it in a single book. Here, I only insinuate why that state of affairs persists.

The dawn of the 1990s. Stone previews "JFK" to Congress. Congress passes the 1992 JFK Records Collection Act. The lame-duck president stonewalls implementing the Act within its 90-day mandate for appointing an Assassination Records Review Board. Clinton is inaugurated. The original candidate list is "missing", and Clinton solicits another, appointing the ARRB about the time that Starr replaces Fiske as independent prosecutor.

The American news machine spins up to high revs, with headlines about Whitewater, Travelgate and Vince Foster. Starr is grasping at straws, hoping to find charges that stick. His closest advisors ask him to drop it, but he doesn't. By 1996, Starr looks foolish, and Richard Scaife, who supposedly has intelligence connections from the early 1960s, finds Starr a job-offer at Pepperdine University. Starr decides to stay on to pick at presidential scandal-scabs.

All along, ARRB is quietly holding hearings. A continuous flow of documents accumulating to 3 million in number pass through the ARRB process. They are declassified from CIA, State, FBI, NSA, and Pentagon, then transferred to National Archives. Small items appear in the papers, buried by the Clinton scandal headlines: ZR/RIFLE-- a collaborative assassination project between CIA and Mafia against Castro; Gerald Ford altering Warren Report evidence fixing the location of JFK's back-wound; a tug-of-war over possession of the Zapruder film.

The Act absolves key figures in assassination research from CIA non-disclosure agreements, and other witnesses come forward: Col. L. Fletcher Prouty -- Stone's "Mr. X"; Gaeton Fonzi, former investigator for the House Select Committee on Assassinations; Marita Lorenz, friend of Watergate burglar and caribbean assassin Frank Sturgis. Prouty publishes "JFK", pointing a finger at "General Y" -- Maj. Gen. E.G. Lansdale. Fonzi's "The Last Investigation" goes to press, opening a floodgate of leads, as he reveals the connection between Lee Oswald, Antonio Veciana, and David Atlee Phillips, CIA Director of the Western Hemisphere before the Watergate aftermath precipitated his retirement. Even Marita, who had been Castro's girlfriend at CIA's behest, publishes her book with the help of a collaborator. ARRB is releasing many documents; the puzzle-pieces are falling together, but the public allows a moral microscope of scandalous headlines to deflect its chronically deficit attention.

Starr's investigation falters. Something else is needed, because nobody anticipates a certainty of finding a news-gem like Monica Lewinsky. The ARRB is about to release the long-suppressed files of the HSCA, substantiating Fonzi's book -- the keystone puzzle-piece. Someone must act fast.

Seymour Hersh says he took five years to put together "Dark Side of Camelot", but he gathers most of his interviews during 1996 and 1997, when the book appears in print. Star witnesses in Hersh's book? Clare Luce for one, asserting that Joe Kennedy Sr. and Henry Luce were as chummy as Abbott and Costello. That story-line spotlights unlikely political bedfellows, and the Luces are one of two families highly suspect at a level above Lansdale and Phillips. Another Hersh witness? J Edgar Hoover, definitely a kingpin in the coverup conspiracy -- a man who had been in Meyer Lansky's pocket, because photos in Lansky's possession depicted Hoover and Tolson in flagrante delicto. Hersh's smear of Kennedy is substantial, and Generation X conservatives become dupes of a new era, conditioned by decades of reflex pre-propaganda associating "conspiracy" with "nut" and "dupe" with "communist".

So here comes Gus Russo -- surfing the document declassification waves, carrying the weighty tome "Live By the Sword". He renews the original Roselli-Martino-Phillips onion-peel cover-story of "culprit: Castro". But the new documents are a proverbial cat-out-of-bag: Russo needs to explain ZR/RIFLE, so he augments the old story, concluding that Castro made ZR/RIFLE backfire. Splendid! Russo has littered the publishing landscape with conspiracy-theory casualties; the Clinton declassifications are discredited, now that thirty years' collective work looks like a wild goose chase.

Whoops! Russo didn't mention the NSA declassifications highlighted in Bamford's "Body of Secrets" -- released in 2001. The NSA transcriptions of intercepted cable traffic among all Castro officialdom throughout the hemisphere point in another direction. It wasn't El Barbudo.

Here's the cake's icing, folks! Carl Bernstein identified Hersh as a CIA media asset in the late 1970s. If you wax skeptical, take a look at Hersh's many publications, and ask yourself if you detect a tintinnabular ring --"intel, intel, intel". Now, savor this pretty cherry on that icing, from Hersh's "Acknowledgements" at the end of "Dark Side" -- a section easily ignored by casual book-readers:

"Gus Russo did an outstanding job as a researcher, especially on organized crime issues. . . . . "

If you fancy yourself a serious student of propaganda and psy-war -- read this book. Read Hersh's book. Read both. But if you read one book on a subject and suddenly imagine yourself an expert, take a look at books by Chomsky or Simpson, so you have some idea what the barrage of media information -- print and broadcast -- may have quietly done to your unwitting psyche from the time you started watching cartoons.

Mr. Russo is preparing another book on the Chicago "outfit". Watch for insinuations he provides in that book to buttress this one . . .

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