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.

Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities Forchildren (Keepers of the Earth)

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I can't say enough about these books!
Great for Homeschooling Ecology Unit

Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities Forchildren (Keepers of the Earth)
Michael J. Caduto , and Joseph Bruchac
Manufacturer: Fulcrum Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1555913873

Customer Reviews:

I can't say enough about these books!.......2002-04-02

The entire series is excellent!!! I have all four and I highly reccomend them. They teach science, literature, native american culture, and give children a respect for the natural world at the same time. (there is even the occasional bit of math thrown in). My son loves doing the activities with me! Excellent for unit studies!

Great for Homeschooling Ecology Unit.......2001-08-02

We use this book as a homeschool social studies/ecology resource. Each section begins with a Native American story related to the topic of the chapter, then moves on to a discussion of the subject matter. Each section also has activities/experiments, questions for review and discussion, and recommendations for materials for further study. My kids really look forward to each lesson in this book, because the information is presented in a fun manner, and the activities are appropriate for a wide-range of ages!

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Great Primer
Unbelievable
great introduction to natural selection
debunking creation
FABULOUS book!!

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution
Steve Jenkins
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618164766

Book Description

There are millions of different kinds of plants and animals living on the earth. Many millions more lived here in the past. Where did they all come from? Why have some become extinct and others lived on? In this remarkable book for children, Steve Jenkins explores the fascinating history of life on earth and the awe-inspiring story of evolution, Charles Darwin's great contribution to modern science.

Customer Reviews:

Great Primer.......2007-07-03

This book is a very broad survey of life on Earth basics for children new to learning about science, biology, and evolution. It's already proved invaluable in jumpstarting conversations with them about more specific points in evolutionary history (like horse evolution--in the book, there's a brief blurb about the first horses that led into a discussion about "toes" and grasslands and other specifics of their changes over time). My children are also able to make connections to other things that have read, learned, or noticed in other places, too, thanks in large part to the multitude of charming illustrations and varied species to support and flavor broad, boiled-down theoretical points. Fantastic classic picture-book with lots of opportunities for sparking interest, making connections, and explaining (in simple terms) the magnificence of evolutionary theory.

Unbelievable.......2006-08-27

I got this book from the library and was reading it with my daughter.
The illustrations are wonderful and overall it is a good introductory to evolution for kids.
However I find it unbelieveable that the author describes the appearance of the primate/human "common ancestor" as being descended from apes.
For someone who thinks himself knowlegable enough to be writing educational books for any age on the theory of evolution this "mistake" is unforgivable.
Considering the idea is the most repeated falsity used by ignorant opponents of evolution.
You are not helping to educate children by feeding them ignorance.
It`s enough to keep me from reading anything else written by this author.

great introduction to natural selection.......2006-04-06

I'm always on the look-out for engaging, informative books on the development of life on earth. My kids and I have actually read quite a few of them. I consider this book one of the better ones for young kids. It does not speak down to kids, nor is it too complicated. The illustrations are Eric Carle-esque with their paper designs and interesting to young ones.

This books begins with first bacteria and progresses through the emergence of human life. However, it does not cover the process of human development at all. It simply says that modern humans appeared on earth 130,000 years ago. I was a little disappointed by this book's lack of detail in the area of human development. If you are looking for a book to introduce human evolution to kids, this one is not for you. If you simply want to introduce Darwinism and the survival of the fittest concept--this book is great.

debunking creation.......2005-09-02

I bought this book because my 7-year-old has learned to say hi to Jesus when he passes by a church (thanks to grandma). He stopped believing in Mother Nature and I wanted to nip religious fanaticism in the bud. This book worked! It is beautifully illustrated, interesting, and full of cool facts. It furthered our discussions about creation vs. evolution and since my son is a lover of dinosaurs, he is on his way to scientific allegiance. I highly reccommend it to any parent who wants to teach children about the history of the earth and to unteach insipid mythology. *Although I must warn, it has quite a bit of writing and big words for young children.

FABULOUS book!!.......2004-03-22

FABULOUS book introducing the evolution of the earth and all its life forms! Perfect for children pre-k through all of the elementary school years (and parents too!). This book mentions Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands, survival of the fittest, variation and mutation, extinction, and more. Nice pictures. Highly recommended for homeschoolers.

Frozen Earth: The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages

Average customer rating:

covering the science and scientists of ice ages
a splendid piece of science writing
like trying to stop an avalanche
A real scientist writes about climate changes on Earth
Some perspective on the global climate

Frozen Earth: The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages
Douglas Macdougall
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520248244

Book Description

In this engrossing and accessible book, Doug Macdougall explores the causes and effects of ice ages that have gripped our planet throughout its history, from the earliest known glaciation--nearly three billion years ago--to the present. Following the development of scientific ideas about these dramatic events, Macdougall traces the lives of many of the brilliant and intriguing characters who have contributed to the evolving understanding of how ice ages come about. As it explains how the great Pleistocene Ice Age has shaped the earth's landscape and influenced the course of human evolution, Frozen Earth also provides a fascinating look at how science is done, how the excitement of discovery drives scientists to explore and investigate, and how timing and chance play a part in the acceptance of new scientific ideas.
Macdougall describes the awesome power of cataclysmic floods that marked the melting of the glaciers of the Pleistocene Ice Age. He probes the chilling evidence for "Snowball Earth," an episode far back in the earth's past that may have seen our planet encased in ice from pole to pole. He discusses the accumulating evidence from deep-sea sediment cores, as well as ice cores from Greenland and the Antarctic, that suggests fast-changing ice age climates may have directly impacted the evolution of our species and the course of human migration and civilization. Frozen Earth also chronicles how the concept of the ice age has gripped the imagination of scientists for almost two centuries. It offers an absorbing consideration of how current studies of Pleistocene climate may help us understand earth's future climate changes, including the question of when the next glacial interval will occur.

Customer Reviews:

covering the science and scientists of ice ages.......2007-04-25

This book describes the history of scientific research into ice ages, and explains the science itself. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic regarding ice ages, and covers the big names who worked in this field. The book makes good connections between the science of ice ages and other topics in science, such as human evolution, global climate change, plate tectonics, and extinction of species. The book gives good descriptions of the science involved without getting bogged down in it, thereby allowing the reader to go through the book quite easily. The overall science level is appropriate for anyone who has gone to college, and the book is quite interesting to read.

a splendid piece of science writing.......2007-03-28

Simply put, Doug Macdougall's FROZEN EARTH is science writing at its best. Compressed within this book's crystalline prose is a plethora of remarkable insights and revelations which should shatter any notions that our planet is a peaceful and stable haven of life.

The author explains how ice cores taken from remote regions have unlocked several of the mysteries of past climatic epochs. Factors such as the eccentricity of the earth's orbit, continental drift, greenhouse gases, mountain building and other phenomena are also examined for their role in altering earth's climate.

Some history is thrown in too. Geniuses like Louis Agassiz, Milutin Milankovitch, Harlan Bretz, and the relatively unheralded James Croll receive significant attention for their monumental contributions to the study of ice ages.

The FROZEN EARTH includes an interesting discussion about the impact of solar activity and cosmic rays on cloud formation and climate. Macdougall doesn't raise the issue, but this theory has gained prominence lately as an alternative explanation to CO2 levels for changes in the earth's weather (see Nigel Calder's THE CHILLING STARS: THE NEW THEORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE).

In the final chapter the author speculates on the effect of rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Macdougall clearly believes that it's something to be concerned about. He points out, though, that we're still in the grip of an ice age. The record of the last million years or so indicates that warm interglacial periods like the one we're experiencing typically last 10 to 20 thousand years before the ice returns. He wonders if this time it'll be different. Maybe our abundant CO2 emissions will delay the advance of the glaciers, or even set the earth on a new, warmer course free from the peril of recurring ice ages.

The FROZEN EARTH closes with the tacit admission that our present state of knowledge is too limited to provide a clear picture of the earth's future climate. There is much yet to learn.

like trying to stop an avalanche.......2007-02-24

Hey, I've been reading this kind of material for forty years....ice ages, Milankovitch cycles, loess deposits you name it. This book is a nice synopsis. The truth is in the ice cores and seafloor sediment cores....the truth is that an ice is something that nearly destroyed the human race while it changed it. The truth is that another will happen , in geological terms, VERY soon. The truth is that human caused greenhouse gases may have forestalled the onset of the next ice age already.....

This is a very good book and I recommend it for anyone with an open mind about global climate and the so called immenent dangers of global warming. However, being cynical, I'd say that people with minds open to this subject must account for less than one percent of the populace......so great is the global warming juggernaut.

Don't read the book if you want to actually KNOW something about ice ages that might shake your confidence in all the hype. Read it if you want to learn. But then, after you've learned, you'll have to keep your mouth shut on the subject since the present orthodoxy ( political correctness ) will brand you as either a fool or enemy of the planet or both if you so much as suggest that there may be more to the story than slick media propaganda teach.....

Yah, I know the sea level is going to rise and that the floods will be terrrible. How does a 400 foot drop in sea level for oh, about 100,000 years, sound as an alternative? Hummmmmm? Just how much has the sea level actually risen BTW? It's going to be time to see some real movement in that direction soon if the hypothesis is true that man caused CO2 is raising the global temp etc. My money is on the onset of a new ice age within several thousand years......but then, I don't have to compete for tenure or research grants as a climate 'scientist'.

A real scientist writes about climate changes on Earth.......2006-12-24

This is one of the best books i've read in a long time, and I read over 100 books each year. Macdougall covers a lot of territory in a rather small book, which could have been twice as long and probably been even more interesting.
Macdougall puts the long history of Earth's climate changes over billions of years into perspective. The earth had been nearly completely frozen, and nearly completely ice free several times in its history. Some of the more fascinating statistics deal with how glaciers have advanced and retreated over millions of years, how human evolution probably took a dramatic departure from our fellow apes due to glaciations, how the sea level has risen 400 feet since the last major glaciations just a few thousand years ago allowing mankind to walk the land bridges between Siberia and Alaska, and even from modern-day France to modern-day England.
This book has none of the hysterical "chicken-little" rantings of those who worry about global warming, and Macdougall shows us that there are far more plausible theories about climate change than the effect of CO2 and fossil fuel use, especially since the earth has had many more serious changes than even the un-educated Gores of the world have been predicting.
A great piece of writing by a real scientist.

Some perspective on the global climate.......2006-04-03

Doug Macdougall's "Frozen Earth" is clear, easy-to-read popular science for those interested in changes in global climate but without the scientific background to understand the often emotionally-charged discussion in the public media.

Macdougall's sub-title. "The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages", emphasizes the longer perspective he takes on how and why climate changes. He begins with the fact that we are likely living in an interglacial period of what has been a series of ice ages recurring at more or less regular intervals of several thousand years.

Macdougall gives his story a human aspect by describing how, over the last 300 years, a succession of scientists struggled to make sense of the physical evidence around them indicating that glaciers had once covered much more area than they do at present. The struggle leads to a still growing understanding of ice ages; the details of the story underline just how complex the workings of Planet Earth really are and how incomplete our understanding of these processes still is.

Macdougall loops back later in the book to relate how the ice ages interacted with human evolution; specifically, how the stress of environmental change forced both adaptation by early humans and selection of those best able to survive the changes. Macdougall's discussion of the "Little Ice Age" during the period 1600-1800 nicely links climate change to a human era we can still relate to.

Macdougall is properly cautious in weaving in the possible effects of mankind on climate change and global warming. The burning of carbon-based fuels clearly has some effect on climate, but Macdougall points out that this is only one of many factors that influence climate. At the same time, he makes clear that timing affects the impact of different factors, and lays out the possibility that the human impact may be altering the natural "schedule" of glacial and interglacial periods on earth.

This book is highly recommended to those readers interested in a longer perspective on climate change.

Shark Life: True Stories About Sharks & the Sea

Average customer rating:

Shark Life is cool!
Eye to Eye with a killer shark
Richie's Picks: SHARK LIFE
Shark life, true stories about sharks and the sea
Shark Life, True stories about sharks and the sea

Shark Life: True Stories About Sharks & the Sea
Peter Benchley
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440419549
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

In this riveting true adventure tale and informative guide to the sea, master storyteller Peter Benchley drew on more than four decades of diving experience to bring us face-to-face with the array of sharks and other marine animals he and his family encountered, almost always on purpose—but sometimes by accident.

Customer Reviews:

Shark Life is cool!.......2006-11-06

Shark Life is a good book for anyone that likes sharks.
Peter Benchley is a diver who studys sharks and other sea creatures.
He talks about the different types of sharks and how they live in the
sea. He also talks about Moray eels,Blue fish,Barracuda,and other creatures. He says it is important to keep a healthy habbitat for sharks.
I think this book is the best!

Eye to Eye with a killer shark.......2006-06-06

Take a plunge into the sea with Peter Benchly! This eye opening book shows the encounters this author has had with all kinds of different sharks all around the world you will encounter. Killer Sharks, like the Tiger sharkof compleatly harmless sharks like a Whale shark. Peter Benchly has been through it all. This book makes you feel like you are in the clear waters swimming right next to a shark. Find out what happens to him as he spends his life in the water with sharks and other kinds of sea creatures, in this amazing book of different kinds of sharks!

Richie's Picks: SHARK LIFE.......2006-05-31

SHARK LIfe is exceptionally entertaining and enlightening nonfiction for young adults. Benchley (the author of JAWS) moves back and forth between recounting his own heart-stopping adventures in the sea (sometimes purposely swimming with sharks and other deadly creatures, sometimes accidentally encountering them), and his simple and clear explanations of how man's interference with the balance of the world's oceans has already resulted in some dying regions. He cautions how further degradation of the seas will eventually threaten man's existence on the planet.

Shark life, true stories about sharks and the sea.......2006-05-15

I LOVE this book, The stories are AMAZING! I love manta rays and great white sharks.

Shark Life, True stories about sharks and the sea.......2006-05-14

It is one of my favorite books, the stories are AMAZING! I love Manta Rays.

Sea Stories of the Inside Passage: In the Wake of the Nid

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Sea Stories of the Inside Passage: In the Wake of the Nid
Iain Lawrence
Manufacturer: Fine Edge Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0938665472

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all the world's a stage
A Dear Friend of Mine!
My favorite!
An Evolutionary Fairy Tale
Unique !

Life Story
Virginia Lee Burton
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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ASIN: 0395160308

Book Description

A beautifully designed book set up as a play in five acts. The passage of time is shown visually on each page.

Customer Reviews:

all the world's a stage.......2007-09-19

I read this book almost 20 years ago in the first grade and was immediately hooked on natural history, dinosaurs, life sciences, and the like, not to mention storytelling itself. The illustrations are entrancing and the format--the history of life as a play in several acts on a world stage--is enthralling. It's highly informative, too, for a young reader (or even an old one), and it was one of the most memorable and entertaining "educational" books I read as a child.

Now out of college, I have recently repurchased it for nostalgia and read it again. It remains a wonderful work. Being from 1961, it is slightly dated in spots. For example, it says that there is no record of life 2 billion years ago, whereas today we have found lifeforms dating back twice that far. Also, the dinosaurs' extinction is attributed to a cooling climate, because at the time the meteor theory was not widely accepted.

But this of course is nitpicking. The ultimate point of the book is that it's an introduction to the history of our planet and everything on it, including us. The central message--that our own life stories fit into the grand tapestry of life's history--remains. This is a remarkable book, and paticularly if you have a young child, I highly recommend picking up a copy.

A Dear Friend of Mine!.......2005-10-08

As a child this was my favorite book as well. I had it checked out of the school library so often I may as well have owned it. I was thrilled to recently find it still in print, and I ordered a copy for my kids -- and one for myself!

The artwork is incredible. There's something about the style of it that almost... psychedelic. There's a swirling flow to it, with orderly ribbons of plants and animals winding into the distance. Yet while highly stylized, the artwork at the same time offers a wonderful sense of realism. The swamps of the Carboniferous seem so dark and mysterious; the verdant forests at the opening of the Cenezoic Era are infused with the essence of life born anew. And the intricate borders around the "program" at the beginning remind one of the lovingly detailed borders one might find along the high ceiling of some Victorian-era museum.

Even after 40 years, the science behind the book holds up amazingly well. If you want to inspire a love of natural history in your children, get them this book!

My favorite!.......2005-09-15

I am so glad to see that this book is still in print. It is my favorite book from childhood and I still have my battered copy which I hope to share with my own children some day. The book is beautifully illustrated and written. The author conveys the beauty and the grandness of Earth's origins in a paen to natural history. The illustrations are what always captured me though. They are like nesting russian dolls, each layer presents its own story and suggests new meanings. It is a great introduction to the joys of exploring our world and our history.

An Evolutionary Fairy Tale.......2005-03-07

If you want to introduce your children to a prevailing modern paradigm/belief system regarding the origins of life, this isn't a bad book to do it with. It is understandably written with Ms. Burton's charming illustrations. As you will see from my title, I regard it as a fairy tale which I want my children to be familiar with. I shelved it next to D'Aulaires Greek Myths.

Unique !.......2004-07-27

Why don't the bookstores carry this one? In the tradition of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and Katy and the Big Snow, Life Story presents its main tale in VLB's characteristic artwork wrapped with interesting mini drawings. My children and I enjoyed this title, and I am considering buying several more copies to keep on hand as gifts. (This review was titled and written with the assistance of Sal, age 8.)

The Tri-State Tornado: The Story of America's Greatest Tornado Disaster

Average customer rating:

interesting little book
The most intense storm on Earth
Fascinating and highly informative
A must for severe weather freaks.

The Tri-State Tornado: The Story of America's Greatest Tornado Disaster
Peter S Felknor
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0595311881

Book Description

The Tri-State Tornado is a gripping account of the worst tornado disaster in American history. Claiming 689 lives during a three-hour rampage across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925, the storm had one of the longest uninterrupted paths (219 miles) and one of the widest (up to one mile) of any recorded tornado. Its continuous energy was so extreme that it completely obliterated several small towns in its path. Although the fatality count was nearly that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, with the exception of meteorologists and residents of the affected area, few had ever heard of this catastrophe until this book's initial release in 1992.

The Tri-State Tornado reconstructs the tragedy, using vivid eyewitness accounts of fourteen survivors who lived along the tornado's path from the Missouri Ozarks to southwestern Indiana. The clarity with which they recall that day in their lives over sixty years earlier will give readers the unsettling feeling that the tornado struck days, not decades, ago.

Customer Reviews:

interesting little book.......2006-03-29

There are quite a few stories, books, etc. about this event, but this book is different in a way, with newspaper accounts, and direct information from the survivors and their kin themselves.It's an easy read and one most weather buffs will enjoy.

The most intense storm on Earth.......2006-03-22

Tornadoes are the most powerful storms on Earth. They may not be the biggest in size, but the destruction they can cause is insurmountable.

The Tri-State Tornado gives the readers the perfect example of how devestating these storms can be. Even in this day in age with our advanced technology, meteorologists have a difficult time understanding the true nature of these storms.

This was evident back in 1925 when that fateful day came when one single tornado had struck three states, killed 689 people, and traveled 219 miles at a rapid pace anywhere between 60-73 miles per hour. No one saw it touch ground or disappear.

The author does a great job of interweaving interviews from the actual survivors. Who better to explain that day than the people who saw this mile plus wide tornado barreling down in front of them.

The Tri-State Tornado remains one of the most bizarre and deadliest tornado to have ever hit the United States.

Fascinating and highly informative.......2005-11-21

At around 1:00 p.m., March 18, 1925, a tornado touched down in Reynolds Country, Missouri. But, this was no ordinary tornado. This was an F5 multivortex tornado that proceeded east-northeast across 219 miles, 13 counties and three states (Missouri, Illinois and Indiana). By the time the tornado dissipated, it had destroyed a number of small towns, erased a number of farms, and killed some 689 people. This was one of the worst tornadoes in U.S. history, and this book tells its story.

This is quite a fascinating book. The author does an excellent job of telling the story of the Tri-State Tornado with factual reporting, but yet brining alive the horror of what happened. The book is an interesting mixture of Mr. Felknor's narration and accounts from some fourteen survivors of the tornado.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and highly informative book about a little known subject. If you are interested in tornadoes, then you simply must get this book about the granddaddy of them all! I highly recommend this book.

A must for severe weather freaks........1999-09-22

I first read this book while taking a class in severe & unusual weather at the University of Illinois a few years ago. If you're into jaw-dropping weather phenomena, you really need to get this book. There are great interviews with survivors, a few astounding pictures, and some good basic science to back it all up.

From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth's Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book)

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my daughter loves this book, and so do i!
A lot of learning in an easy-to-absorb format
Accurate science for children and adults!
Where did I come from?
Vividly illustrated in striking color

From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth's Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book)
Jennifer Morgan
Manufacturer: Dawn Publications (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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ASIN: 1584690429

Book Description

"Once upon a time" meets science in a children's picture book that tells the thrilling story of how life began on Earth. The second in a trilogy of Universe stories - the first being the award-winning Born with a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story -- this book picks up the story with the first appearance of life on Earth. It's a thrilling story about how Earth triumphs over crisis to become bacteria, jellyfish, flowers . . . even dinosaurs! The author, Jennifer Morgan, studied evolutionary science and saw its storytelling possibilities when she explained it to her elementary-age son. Coupled with brilliant artwork by Dana Anderson, who also studied Cosmology, these books will intrigue children and adults alike with their storytelling style and colorful pages. The third book in the trilogy will be available in Spring 2005.

Customer Reviews:

my daughter loves this book, and so do i!.......2007-09-03

i was a little unsure about getting a book that made the universe a consciousness being. but i have to say that the way in which this book, and the first in the series, are written is very easy to read, and very easy to understand. some books in this genre are harder to read, because they are more like text books with words. this book flows smoothly, and reads like a story book, and keeps my daughters interest the whole way through. my daughter is always asking me to "read the universe story" and "read the lava book!" i have not purchased the 3rd in the series, but after reading the first 2, i will definitely be purchasing this author's take on evolution!

A lot of learning in an easy-to-absorb format.......2007-02-05

After reading this book, my five-year-old grandson brought me a picture he had drawn of a eukaryote with a twisted DNA helix and mitochondria. I promptly order its sequel. I even reread the book on my own to help my understanding of the terminology of early evolution.

Accurate science for children and adults!.......2006-12-09

As a scientist who works on early evolution I was looking for a book for my 7 year old cousin who is fascinated by science that would counterbalance the creationism he is getting in Sunday school. I purchased this book after reading reviews but was skeptical that it would be accurate. I was beyond thrilled while reading through it! Jennifer Morgan does an excellent job of taking the origin of life, evolution of eukaryotes, prokaryotes and metazoans, the oxygen crisis, migration from sea to land and mass extinctions and making it understandable to children (and lay adults!)
I found no true errors in the science, only things that I wish were expanded on such as calling the "mounds of bacteria" what they are, stromatolites (though I may be biased as I work on these and other similar structures!)
Evolution is never mentioned by name though she does a wonderful job of saying that certain animals are "your ancestors" and, for example, how dinosaurs evolved into what are ancestors to modern birds.
I honestly believe that not only should every child be reading this book and that it would be an excellent addition to grade school science curriculum, but that every adult in the United States should read this as well. I had several adult friends and family members read it and they said they finally understood certain concepts that I work on and have tried to explain to them in the past. One friend actually said "oh so that is the difference between a eukaryote and a prokaryote!" I'm going to purchase a second copy to keep for myself to help explain the origins of life and early evolution to others.
I look forward to purchasing the other two books in this series and highly recommend this book to anyone.

Where did I come from?.......2003-03-19

Told as if the Universe has patted her lap & invited to you up for grand story, she takes you back into a time before time, when the Earth was formed, long, long before you or I were motes in the storm. Long before dinosaurs were born & flowers grew.

Told in a confidential, amusing & lyrical turn of phrase, FROM LAVA TO LIFE spills the beans on how life began here from microscopic cells in a churning brew of chemicals as our raw orb rolled around the heavens.

Fascinating images! Dana Lynn Andersen captures our imagination with her broad strokes of things bigger & smaller than one pair of eyes can see. Jennifer Morgan's sense of humor is both reverential & irreverent, charming & instructive.

If you are stumped when your kids ask the oldest of questions: "Where did I come from?" Then FROM LAVA TO LIFE & its prequel BORN WITH A BANG are for you!

Vividly illustrated in striking color.......2003-03-10

From Lava To Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story by storyteller, educator, and environmental advocate Jennifer Morgan is the second volume in an amazing summary series for readers ages 8 through 12 of what science can tell us about how the Earth came to be, and how life arose upon and in it. Vividly illustrated in striking color by Dana Lynne Andersen, From Lava To Life is a most fascinating introduction to science for young readers, beginning with the formation of the earth and concluding with the age of the dinosaur. From Lava To Life is also available in hardcover. Also very highly recommended for young readers is the first volume covering the birth the universe and the development of the solar system, Born With A Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story: Book 1.

The Story Of Earth & Life: A Southern African Perspective on a 4.6-Billion-Year Journey

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The Story of Earth & Life: A Southern African Perspective on a 4.6 Billion Year Journey

The Story Of Earth & Life: A Southern African Perspective on a 4.6-Billion-Year Journey
Terence McCarthy , and Bruce Rubidge
Manufacturer: Struik Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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A History of South Africa, Third Edition

ASIN: 1770071482

Book Description

â€~It is inordinately difficult for most people to relate past events described by earth scientists to the world we see around us today. Reason and logic are strained when they describe mountains that were once seas, or seas where there were once mountains. It is hoped that this book will go some way to alleviating this kind of difficulty.â€™-- from the Introduction

Southern Africa is without equal in terms of geology, a treasure trove of valuable minerals with a geological history dating back some 3 600 million years. In addition, the evolution of plants and animals, especially mammals and dinosaurs, is well preserved in the region, which also has among the best records of the origin of modern man. The Story of Earth and Life provides a fascinating insight into this remarkable history â€“ how southern Africaâ€™s mineral deposits were formed, how its life evolved and how its landscape was shaped. Along the way readers will be enthralled by accounts of the Big Bang that marked the beginning of time and matter, by drifting and colliding continents, folding and fracturing rocks, meteors colliding with the Earth, volcanic eruptions, and the start of life. Other topics include why South Africa is so rich in minerals, how glacial deposits came to be found in the Karoo, why dinosaurs became extinct, how mammals developed from reptiles, and how closely humans are related to the apes. The answers to many such questions can be found here. The book is comprehensively illustrated with explanatory diagrams and full color photographs.

Customer Reviews:

The Story of Earth & Life: A Southern African Perspective on a 4.6 Billion Year Journey.......2007-09-03

This is a fantastic book with a great deal of valuable facts and knowledge. Especially good for anyone studying in this field or just for the person wishing to increase their general knowledge. It contains lots of illustrations and information in an easy to read format.

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