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.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

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.

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Chinese is A breeze!
This is the very best Chinese phrasebook!

SPEAK E-Z CHINESE In Phonetic English
Fang Zhao , and Timothy Green
Manufacturer: INCITE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0977195309

Book Description

Now readers can by-pass the complex Pinyin system in favor of user-friendly words and sentences provided in straightforward phonetic English. Packed with humorous slang and favorite Chinese idioms, only SPEAK E-Z CHINESE provides the means to communicate in fresh, contemporary Mandarin at only a glance. Free audio companion offered online at www.CathayCafe.com.

Customer Reviews:

Chinese is A breeze!.......2007-01-20

Whether you're going to visit China or you have some chinese friends, or you just want to say a few things in chinese the next time you go to a chinese restaraunt this book really does make it easy! Just pick 3 or 4 words or phrases each week and practice. Well worth the money!

This is the very best Chinese phrasebook!.......2006-08-27

I've found this book to be extremely helpful in being able to grab a word or phrase at a glance and then pronounce it accurately. Designed for the beginner, SPEAK E-Z lives up to its word on making the learning process enjoyable and easy. I have three other Mandarin language books and they remain on the shelf. Thanks to its simplicity in usage and its fun bits of humor, SPEAK E-Z CHINESE is the only phrasebook the traveler in China needs.

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Never too late!
The most practical Chinese language book I've ever seen
Excellent Introduction to Non-academic Chinese

Survival Chinese
Don Snow
Manufacturer: The Commercial Press of China
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 7100031664

Book Description

Survival Chinese is designed for foreigners who live in China, and who study Chinese either on their own or with the help of a tutor. In a user - friendly way, it introduces the basic Chinese language tools -vocabulary, sentence patterns, Pinyin, and Chinese characters-one needs for coping with daily life in China. It also helps students learn how to learn Chinese more effectively.

Customer Reviews:

Never too late!.......2006-11-21

This is the book I WISH I had bought before coming to China 2 years ago. Simple, straight-forward, practical instruction coupled with some real choice insights -- like the fact that the /n/ in "shenme" is silent or that speakers often drop the rising part of the 3rd tone when followed by another syllable -- would have saved me a lot of struggling through more traditional Chinese textbooks (re: long vocabulary lists and not particularly useful dialogues about visiting Datong or attending a friend's wedding) and making simple mistakes for many, many months. But live and learn! I'm still glad I bought this book and will use it as an occasional refresher of some of the basics, especially for things I haven't done in a while (like changing money). Plus, I had the chance to meet Don Snow last spring, before I even knew about this book, and found him to be a really nice and fascinating guy who truly understands the complex experience of the foreigner living and working in China.

The most practical Chinese language book I've ever seen.......2006-03-26

Coming from someone who has amassed a very large collection of Chinese language learning books and tools, I have to say that this little book is the most practical one I've seen yet. This book is perfect for someone who is moving to China. The lessons cover material that you will need to use. Each chapter has handy little assignments, some to do with a language tutor and some to make you get out in the local Chinese community and actually COMMUNICATE. Though some may find it not scholarly enough, for those that are looking for practical language value, I highly recommend it.

Excellent Introduction to Non-academic Chinese.......2004-06-27

As a practicing language teacher (I have taught English, French, Spanish and Russian to Chinese speakers) who learned his Chinese in the US using British, American, French, Russian and Chinese textbooks and has lived in Taiwan for over 30 years, I can assure readers that this is a very well-designed primer with remarkably few defects.

The first 65 pages are devoted to the necessary groundwork for studying Chinese.

Introduction [pp. 1-7], "Why Another beginning Chinese Textbook?" explains that this book is designed to help people who are probably NOT in a formal classroom setting, but do need to get around in a (Mainland) Chinese environment. "An important part of Chinese study in such situations is learning how to work with tutors who know Chinese but don't know how to teach it. In other words, learners need to learn how to gently turn well-meaning native speakers of Chinese into effective language teachers."

The next section, "Studying Chinese With This Book," [pp. 8-29] presents three strategies: [Plan A: The First-Month-In-China Spoken Chinese Plan], [Plan B: The Speaking and Survival Reading Plan], [Plan C: The Total Mastery Plan]. Learners are responsible for deciding how and what they want to learn, instead of relying on what Mr. Snow diplomatically refers to as "well-meaning native speakers'" decisions about what a foreigner should be learning. This entails gauging one's energy levels and available time as well as deciding on a preferred study style. The author gives many intelligent suggestions, such as forming a support group of like-minded people and avoiding lazy (of course, Mr. Snow is too polite to say it directly) foreigners who claim Chinese is just too difficult.

The third section, "Working With Tutors," has many astute observations, such as why professional teachers usually don't make ideal tutors and how (and why!) to pay tutors without causing offense.

The fourth and largest introductory section covers pronunciation and the greatest stumbling stone for most foreign learners, the four tones. This is one place where I would disagree with Mr. Snow. His basic advice is sound (keep listening and practice a lot), but his description of tone is phonetically naive. Snow uses a 6-pitch scale (0-5) rather than the 5-pitch scale (1-5) used by modern linguists for the past 90 years or so. Snow is quite systematic about marking neutral tone (which he renames "light" tone), but inexplicably marks the general measure word "ge" as "ge4" throughout the text. Snow mentions tone sandhi (without using the technical word) involving two third-tone syllables, but ignores tone sandhi involving 1, 7, and 8 (which many Chinese also ignore, so at least he's consistent). Since this is a textbook for general readers who just want to get their feet wet, these problems are rather trivial.

The main body of this book is divided into 24 lessons. One of the things I admire the most is that this textbook is peppered with many practical suggestions on how to get out into the street and practice with real people, along with the occasional pep talk for those whose progress seems too slow. A few samples:

Lesson 8: Getting Things Fixed "Point to equipment and appliances that might break or have already cause problems and ask your tutor to say the names of the objects in Chinese as you write them down in Pinyin. Keep a notebook."

Tip: Accents and dialects
"There are only a few places in China where the average person actually pronounces things the way textbooks say they should. ...accept this as a reality rather than burning a lot of emotional energy getting frustrated by it. Perhaps even revel in it as a reflection of China's rich regional diversity."

The last two sections are a Chinese to English glossary (pp. 307-327) and a list of other Chinese books to continue one's study and three guides to language learning. Survival Chinese would be useful even for people who plan to live in Taiwan, because a tutor can readily point out the few places where "We usually don't say it that way." Most of the simplified characters can be readily recognized by Taiwanese -- they will supply the traditional forms used here. I have bought several copies of this book to give away to foreign friends.

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An Amazing Story

Exceptional

A Thousand Miles of Dreams: The Journeys of Two Chinese Sisters (Asian Voices)
Sasha Su-Ling Welland
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0742553132

Book Description

A Thousand Miles of Dreams is an evocative and intimate biography of two Chinese sisters who took very different paths in their quest to be independent women. Ling Shuhao arrived in Cleveland in 1925 to study medicine in the middle of a U.S. crackdown on Chinese immigrant communities, and her effort to assimilate began. She became an American named Amy, while her sister Ling Shuhua burst onto the Beijing literary scene as a writer of short fiction. They were both Chinese modern girls who sought to forge their own way in an era of social revolution and followed trajectories unimaginable to their parents' generation. The journeys of these extraordinary women spanned the twentieth century and three continents in a saga of East-West cultural exchange and personal struggle.

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing Story.......2007-09-28

Amy was my Grandmother and I learned so much about my family history from Sasha's book. I loved the exploration of the truth between the stories that we heard growing up and Sasha's extensive research on the reality of the stories. I loved Sasha's book and consider it an important part of my roots.

Exceptional.......2007-04-08

Professor Welland proves that extensive research and good storytelling are not mutually exclusive, which does not hold true for many of the academic books I have read. This book is unmistakably academic, with Welland adding a scholarly and critical perspective to the events she describes, but that is certainly not a bad thing. Layered with incredible detail, her graceful writing style made the stories of both her ancestors, and the search to reconcile their differences, extremely engaging. Certainly a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Chinese history.

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My Mandarin instructor recommends this!

Survival Chinese
Boye De Mente
Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0804836051

Book Description

A handy guide to the Chinese language, Survival Chinese contains basic expressions and key words that are necessary for getting around. The notorious tonal changes in the pronunciation of Chinese words are a challenge for any beginner in the language. De Mente shows how these variations become a breeze to learn with his additional guidelines on how the Pinyin phonetic alphabet letters are pronounced when used in Chinese words. Together with the standard pinyin pronunciations, these English phonetics serve as an excellent guide to approximating the correct Chinese pronunciation as closely as possible.

Customer Reviews:

My Mandarin instructor recommends this!.......2007-05-14

This was recommended and endorsed by my Mandarin instructor. It also helped me practice and reinforced the Mandarin class instructions.

Culture Shock! Hong Kong: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

Average customer rating:

Useful, but there's more to know (and other books can help)
dated but beneficial cultural reference
Good historical information, but time for an update

Culture Shock! Hong Kong: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)
Betty Wei , and Elizabeth Li
Manufacturer: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Hong Kong | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1558689311

Book Description

Whether you're conducting business, traveling for pleasure, or even relocating abroad, one mistake with customs or etiquette can leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. International travelers, now more than ever, are not just individuals from the United States, but ambassadors and impression makers for the country as a whole. Newly updated, redesigned, and resized for maximum shelf appeal for travelers of all ages, Culture Shock! country and city guides make up the most complete reference series for customs and etiquette you can find. These are not just travel guides; these are guides for a way of life.

Customer Reviews:

Useful, but there's more to know (and other books can help).......2001-11-14

When I lived in Hong Kong in the 90's, Wei's book was a useful introduction to ways to behave around Hong Kong hosts and clients. But the book suffers from a typical Hong Kong problem, the reluctance to prepare the first-time visitor for the more unpleasant "underbelly" of Hong Kong society, which any westerner has to deal with. There is a general sense of insecurity in Hong Kong society which affects all interactions with westerners, business or social, and grows out of the tragic influx of millions of refugees fleeing China to the safety of British Hong Kong - this aspect of Hong Kong is not dealt with by Wei, but is dealt with in Jan Morris's Hong Kong (which contains much other fascinating information). A knowledge of this tragic history (which is often too painful for Hong Kong Chinese to discuss - like any criticism of Hong Kong, it causes loss of "face"), is essential for any understanding of how the place works. The unpleasant fallout from this historical situation, in terms of the societal frustration and bad public behaviour it causes, is dealt with brilliantly in Bo Yang's The Ugly Chinaman and the Crisis in Chinese Culture. Two novels of Hong Kong, Timothy Mo's The Monkey King and Paul Theroux's Kowloon Tong, offer suprisingly accurate takes on many actions and attitudes that the vistor and short term resident in Hong Kong will encounter, but can again be too painful to discuss. All the above books deal with things Betty Wei doesn't, and knowing about them will enrich your understanding of this interesting city during your visit/domicile there. Also helpful for understanding Hong Kong is the "classic" Hong Kong book, Myself a Mandarin, by Austin Coates.

dated but beneficial cultural reference.......2000-10-31

While I've not been to Hong Kong, I've had supervisors and co-workers who were Hong Kong persons, and have done some reading about this unique cultural mix. Thus I can't speak for the accuracy of all details except to say that the ones I can verify are accurate.

The authors' knowledge of the SAR is clearly that of the native, and an effort has been made to explain cultural nuances that a non-Hong Kong author might never have seen. (Example: the way of life of the vast majority of low-paid publicly-housed wage labourers, most of whom are Chinese.) Of course, there's a tradeoff: we do not get the perspective of a non-Hong Kong person as to what stands out. Ideally one author would have been native and another an immigrant.

It was published, however, before the 1997 handover, so a lot has probably changed since then and I can't recommend it for those interested in the politics and government of Hong Kong. For those interested in the culture--which will change only slowly, barring drastic action by Beijing--it's a very useful reference.

Good historical information, but time for an update.......1999-04-07

This book contains a lot of good historical information on Hong Kong, but it came out before the biggest historical event of recent years -- the return of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule. I hope the authors are working on an updated version. It would also benefit from the inclusion of a good map to give people planning their first visit to Hong Kong a sense of proportion and location.

YAK BUTTER BLUES: A Tibetan Trek of Faith

Average customer rating:

Yak Butter Blues
I hated this book
A very good read and a fascinating journey
Wandering in Tibet with a Horse named Sadhu
A Breathtaking Read

YAK BUTTER BLUES: A Tibetan Trek of Faith
Brandon Wilson
Manufacturer: Pilgrim's Tales, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0977053660

Book Description

Description: Yak Butter Blues: A Tibetan Trek of Faith is an inspiring true tale of one couple's courage, love, faith and resolve to trek an ancient pilgrim's trail 1000-kilometers across Tibet. This story of human endurance provides an intimate first-hand look at the valiant struggle of the Tibetan culture to survive -- and at the humanity connecting us all. An IPPY award winner. From flap copy: A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND KILOMETERS BEGAN WITH ONE BOLD STEP. Author Brandon Wilson and his wife challenge the "impossible" and set off on an incredible 1000-kilometer odyssey on foot across Tibet. Join their adventure from Lhasa to Kathmandu, as they become the first Western couple to attempt this perilous trek across the unforgiving Himalayan plains. YAK BUTTER BLUES is a remarkable tale of survival. Alone, with only their stalwart Tibetan horse Sadhu, the Wilsons face Tibet's ruthless environment head-on: the blistering winds, extreme temperatures, sandstorms, blizzards, high altitudes and thinnest of air. Those conditions are made all the more challenging by exhaustion, hunger, illness, inflexible bureaucrats and trigger-happy soldiers. YAK BUTTER BLUES is an inspiring story of faith and the kindness of strangers. The land and climate leave their imprints daily. However, an even more lasting impression is created by monks and villagers eager to share what little they possess: yak butter tea, the warmth of their fire and faith in the Dalai Lama's return. YAK BUTTER BLUES paints a gripping portrait of a culture pushed to the brink of extinction by brutal occupation. YAK BUTTER BLUES is an intimate tale of personal enlightenment. Along the path, the couple gains a sense of greater purpose, wonder, renewed faith--and ultimately discovers what it takes to endure. Reviews: "Wilson observes the impact of the Chinese occupation on the daily lives of Tibetans... Recommended for adventure travel and Tibetan culture collections." ~ Library Journal "An engrossing, fascinating read sure to be relished by those readers interested in adventure travel and the Tibetan culture. It is also a highly spiritual story of faith which reminds us that nothing is really impossible..." ~ Midwest Book Review "A hair-raising yarn...a high-altitude tale of synchronicity, divine providence, begging monks, trigger-happy Chinese soldiers and dehydration." ~ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "You can almost smell the dust and feel the blisters. Worth a read by any adventure or travel-trekking novel enthusiast." ~ Backpacking Light "A true pilgrimage, one that plumbs the heart of troubled Tibet and teaches impatient and stubborn Westerners to slow down and appreciate this amazing planet." ~ Honolulu Advertiser "A wonderful and wild read...charged, alive, and a little threatening. Yak Butter Blues flickers insistently like a flashbulb afterimage in the mind long after the book is tucked away." ~ Richard Bangs, Producer Richard Bangs ADVENTURES "A soaring travel diary. It places the reader in the thick of the action every bit as well as Marco Polo transported Italians to China and, as it seems to me, better than Lowell Thomas led readers in the dust of Lawrence of Arabia." ~ Maui Weekly "Selected as a `Highlighted Title.' These books are honored each month for exhibiting superior levels of creativity, originality, high standards of design and superior production quality." - Independent Publisher "Told with humor and insight, this vivid narrative allows you to vicariously experience life at true Tibetan pace, one step at a time: so close, you can almost smell the yak butter." ~ Michael Buckley, author, Tibet: the Bradt Travel Guide "Inspiring, Engaging, Compassionate! This book is a treasure to the Tibetan people and to the rest of the world. It gives us a true glimpse of Tibet and captures a beautiful land and culture that may not be around in years to come. Well done!" ~ Naomi C. Rose, author, Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas

Customer Reviews:

Yak Butter Blues.......2007-05-26

In our over developed world full of luxury and faceless friends - Yak Butter Blues brought me back to a true adventure. Where the human soul and friendship with strangers is at the center of the adventure. Where we are reminded that true adventure means taking risk and facing hardship.

Brandon Wilson and his wife set off an a trek that took them 650 miles over some down right inhospitable landscape all in an attempt to find a piece of their soul not yet found. Following a traditional pilgrims route they attempt what no other western had before them.

The writing was excellent - capturing to the point where I could not put the book down. I loved the mix of insightful writing pared with just the right amount of adventure story, geography lesson, and spiritual commentary. As I love anything and everything from Tibet I found this book to be a real winner. Highly recommend !!

I hated this book.......2007-05-07

This book was not about a spiritual journey as it states. Rather it is a whiney tale of rich people using poor people for their own betterment. Their reason for the trip? No other westerners had done it, and they'd do it illegally if they had to. Then they complain when someone chooses NOT to allow them to spend the night in their one room house, or don't want to share their already sparce meal with others. When asked for compensation, they haggle over what they should have to spend. This is truly an UNenlightening story.

A very good read and a fascinating journey.......2007-03-16

This is a fascinating and entertaining story. Brandon Wilson's writing style is engaging and full of candor, and I'm quite impressed by what he and his wife accomplished. This was a most arduous trek, and the book made me feel that I shared something of it, that I trudged every step of the journey with them.

Reading "Yak Butter Blues" held my interest to the end. I often found myself reading it late into the night; I had to know if they made it over the pass, if they found a place to sleep, if they managed to find water and stay warm. And I learned something of Tibetan spirit, their history, and of the current plight of the Tibetan people who are in imminent peril of losing their culture altogether to the Chinese occupation.

This is one of the best book journeys I've ever had the pleasure to read. I highly recommend this true-life adventure.

Wandering in Tibet with a Horse named Sadhu.......2007-02-07

"Azure skies assured good weather and white tipped peaks never glistened more pristinely. Bleak hills, stark villages and clumsy yaks were all dusted, purified, with a powdered frosting, a serene fantastic vision, we finally faced our long sought after mind'e eye illusion of Shangri La; one destined to disappear with the rising sun." ~ pg. 215

After reading numerous books on Tibet, a common thread seems to weave through each story of human endurance and kindness. In Brandon Wilson's Yak Butter Blues world, we slip into a meditative journey complete with vivid details of Tibetan culture. Undaunted by the insurmountable challenges, Brandon Wilson and his wife Cheryl traverse a mysterious world braving harsh climates as they trek across an ancient pilgrimage trail.

This exploration of desolate landscapes takes them from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. Along the way they try to embrace their journey with a sense of spiritual purpose as they first enter into a world of incense and religious ceremony at the Potala Palace and then find the exploration turning to pure survival, guided by the kindness of local people along the way.

"The sweet scent of pine mingled with the relaxing rhythm of a cascading waterfall. Jade ferns gently wreathed clusters of rust hued boulders. Glistening steel blue waters rushed below us, engulfing us in their peaceful pulse, while the lonely cry of a spiraling hawk pierced the thin air above." ~ pg. 220

Strangers willing to provide shelter and food appear from dust storms and the elements are at times the least of their worries as they must fend off viscous dogs or avoid questioning by authorities. Yak Butter Blues is an authentic travelogue and odyssey across miles of life changing landscapes and opportunities for memorable photographs. Sadhu, the horse who makes their journey possible captured my heart and the conclusion was more emotional than I expected.

~The Rebecca Review

A Breathtaking Read.......2007-01-01

Brandon Wilson is masterful in describing the hardships and trials of his 650-mile journey across Tibet. He's equally adept at describing this harsh yet wondrous, high landscape known as the "roof of the world." Wilson is at his best, however, when he talks about the enchanting warmth of the Tibetan people who, as he and his wife crossed on foot, took them into their homes and shared their culture. Hardly a holiday sightseeing safari, Wilson calls his trek a "walking meditation" in which the couple sees through the dust storms and freezing winds to learn the good will and kindness that has survived generations of oppression. In this strange paradise, Wilson finds commonality with the Tibetans, yet mourns the continuing disappearance of their culture, noting that soon little will remain of it but their ancient yak butter tea. Fortunately, so will his book.

Culture Shock! Beijing: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! At Your Door: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

Average customer rating:

Fantastic for professional level use
Useful even for tourists

Culture Shock! Beijing: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! At Your Door: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)
Kay Jones , and Anthony Pan
Manufacturer: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558689435

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic for professional level use.......2007-05-13

This book was written by Kay Jones and her business partner- the top intercultural specialists in North America, IMHO. It is designed for ex-pats and professional users- if you are staying for a few months, if you are relocating to Beijing, or if you have business there often, you will love this. It is not designed for vacationers.

Also, if you are going to the 2008 Olympics and renting a place for a few weeks, get this one. It covers cars, rentals, utilities, food, etiquette, and living arrangements you will encounter.

Useful even for tourists.......2007-05-01

I got "Culture Shock: Beijing" in anticipation of a brief trip to the city combining some teaching with a family vacation. I enjoyed reading about the local culture but did not anticipate that it would be of much practical use, since it seems more geared to Westerners who become permanent or semi-permanent residents of the city. It's not a "traditional" guidebook so if you need the names of hotels or shops, etc., seek elsewhere first.

However, I became very gratified to have read it when the deputy director of the institute where my husband had been teaching invited us to dinner at a restaurant - I knew a lot more about dining etiquette and felt much more at ease. It also came in handy for advice related to haggling for purchases. So, even if you are "just" travelling as a tourist, it's definitely worth it - it's a fun read and you may just get some pointers you can really use.

Chinese Cinderella (Puffin Teenage Books)

Average customer rating:

Amazing
This book is totally unmissable!

Chinese Cinderella (Puffin Teenage Books)
Adeline Yen Mah
Manufacturer: Puffin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter

ASIN: 0141304871

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2005-12-13

A Great autobiograpy!!! Adeline Yen Mah Grows up unwanted. Her stepmothers children grow up spoiled yet she and her siblings are treated horribly.She Loves school.Itis unbeleivable how cruel someone can be.

This book is totally unmissable!.......2005-07-20

This book is totally heart wrenching, and i cried for ages over some of the sad parts, such as when her father forgets her name and date of birth, and when her pet duck, PLT ( Precious Little Treasure), is killed by the dog, Jackie. Chinese Cindrella is so beautifully written that i really felt Adeline's sorrows as if i was in her place. You must read it!

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