Customer Reviews:
Very nice view from a non-prophetic Christian.......2007-06-24
I quite enjoyed this book, not that it gave great insight into moving in the Prophetic, but it gave great insight into the very real and present (physical and spiritual) dangers of being in the prophetic. The author, Mike Bickle, admits to being very non-prophetic, and as such he takes a very real stance on maintaining a proper balance of worship, teaching, leading, and prophetic ministering. I believe this is a MUST READ book for anyone who believes they have the gift of prophecy or for anyone who works with those who do.
Growing in the Pathetic.......2007-01-13
Unfortunately, Mr Bickle's book is little more than unauthoritative ideas taught with authority. Many of his statements of truth begin with, "I belive that" and "I am convinced that" followed by teachings that cannot be proven in the Bible.
He lifts up Paul Cain as a prophet equal to Old Testament prophets. Hmm. Cain has claimed that Jesus rode in the car with him one day and in order to discourage his upcoming marriage, placed his hand on him and removed all sexual temptation from him for life. Of course, Cain would later fall into sexual sin. Old Testament prophets aren't what they used to be.
Bickle is the prophetic movement's damage control arm. He is there to do the PR when things go wrong. For example, in this book he relates that one time a prophecy happened where a man told another man he was to have a music ministry. Bickle says that guy blew the prophecy because what he really saw was musical notes surrounding the guy. He interpreted the prophecy wrong. Oh, if only God would stop being so unclear!
I could go on, but I don't want to take the time. If you are a believer, pick read ALMOST ANY book on Bible interpretation and learn to discern truth from falsehood. If only Bickle had done so as a young man, we wouldn't be subjected to such nonsense.
Kansas City Metro.......2005-12-09
Mike Bickle is not just a great author...but he has sheparded a move of God. He is a great man of God with tremendous incite. He is also balanced and not overly emotional nor drawn to extremes.
I would recomend not only this book...but anything by him.
Insightful.......2005-02-18
The author tells of his own journey away from "prophetic chaos" toward a clearer understanding of God's order. Out of this experience he conveys insights beneficial for the development of prophetic ministry in the church today.
Helpful and Important.......2000-09-07
This book is enormously helpful. At first I sort of cringed and considered Mike Bickle to be hyper-analytical about the whole "prophecy thing." But after completing the book and coming to understand the extraordinary outpouring of the gift of prophecy at his church, I found his viewpoint and "hyper-analytical" approach to be a great gift and a crucial tool for keeping the proper focus (on the Creator) at his Kansas City church. What a blessing it is for others to have this very practical guidebook. For those who are "new" to the prophecy gift, I recommend Jack Deere's "Surprised by the Voice of God" for a more "passionate" picture. Then Bickle's book makes for a very nice and helpful "follow up" guide.
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False Prophet
Stan Rice
Manufacturer: Knopf
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Fear Itself: Poems
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The Radiance of Pigs: Poems
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Red to the Rind
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The Book for My Brother
ASIN: 1400041422
Release Date: 2003-09-09 |
Book Description
Stan Rice, who died in December 2002, was a poet of unique, uncompromising vision. Joy and brutality, faith and faithlessness, the beauty of truth and, at times, of untruth–these opposing forces come together one last time in his final book of poetry, a haunting collection of psalms.
Beginning with his “Psalm 151”–that is, taking up where the Bible leaves off–Rice calls us to his own kind of prayer and contemplation. “Lord, hear me out,” he begins. “At the point of our need / The storehouse shares its shambles.” An elegant, passionate, tragic lament for our condition, Rice’s homemade psalms exhort us indirectly to accept our fate–the world as it is. In the brave, unshrinking manner that has characterized his whole career, Rice has written a profound farewell.
Book Description
L.A.P.D. Detective Peter Decker doesn't know quite what to make of Lilah Brecht. The beautiful, eccentric spa owner and daughter of a faded Hollywood legend, Lilah was beaten, robbed, and raped in her own home -- and claims to have psychic powers that enable her to see even more devastating events looming on the horizon. With his heart and mind on his pregnant young wife, Rina Lazarus, at home, Peter finds it hard to put much credence in the victim's outrageous claims, or to become too deeply involved with her equally odd brothers and aging film star mom. But when Lilah's dark visions turn frighteningly real, Decker's world will be severely rocked -- as the "false prophet's" secrets and obsessions entrap the dedicated policeman ... and point a killer toward Decker's own vulnerable family.
Customer Reviews:
A Harmless Read.......2007-09-11
This is book number 5 in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series nd the two of them are now married and Rina is pregnant. The story really centers around Decker and his partner, Marge Dunn. Rina is in the background and plays a minor role in the development of this story and does seem somewhat extraneous. The characters are rarher well developed and the story tends to move along at a rather good pace. The plot varies from that which is expected and rather predictable to some very good double and triple turns of events. This is a good story which is a harmless read with characters that are of interest. It is fast reading even though it is somewhat forgettable. Take the book for what it is and you will have an enjoyable read.
False Prophet.......2006-11-10
I love ALL Faye Kellerman's books with Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus as the main characters. Recently I read another book where Jewish customs were an important part of the plot and realized that over the years I've learned a lot about them from reading Kellerman's books. But that's beside the point. She writes an interesting story that keeps you coming back for more. I can hardly wait until the next book. And I'm reading old books to make sure I haven't missed any.
DOUBLE DECKED.......2003-11-08
The problem with Ms. Kellerman's books is that sometimes it is difficult to adjust to the personal lives of Rina and Peter. They can find themselves in strained emotional conflicts over simple things; Peter sometimes seems so macho it's annoying, and Rina is so Jewish it's distracting. At least in this one, the plot focuses more on the mystery than the personal religious crises. Faye is good with her dialogue, and in this one she develops a few unexpected twists. However, I concur with one reviewer who felt the book just ended without any real closure. Who did kill who? And Pete's over-protection of his now pregnant wife foreshadows what type of new father he'll be. But to Kellerman's credit, I keep reading. Marge Dunn is also becoming a little too cynical and sarcastic, which is sad, because she used to be a lot more likeable.
Slow to start, but still a great book.......2003-07-13
The other reviewers seem to be mixed about this one. It's understandable. We've now read quite a few of these things (is this book 5 already?) and the honeymoon between Kellerman and the readers is definitely over. We're now reading the books not because they're as fantastic as the first one, but because we have time and emotion invested in Peter and Rina.
First, it's unfair to compare any of the Rina and Peter books to the first one. The first one was simply the best.
One of the reviewers gave a good plot summary, so I'll refrain from doing that here. Instead I'll say that the book is a little slow to start, but about midway, picks up at a tremendous pace. The characters become wonderfully complicated and Kellerman pulls quite a few tricks out of her hat which caught me by surprise. This book has its twists and turns!
One last comment. Some of Kellerman's books focus more on Peter and Rina's personal relationship, and some focus less. This one is less, for better or worse.
If you've made it to this book, chances are you'll read the next one. See you there! :-)
Complex family relationships.......2003-02-21
Faye Kellerman always has two plot strands running through her Peter Decker/Rina Lazarua Mystery Series--the personal and professional parts of their lives. In this, the fifth book of the series, Rina is pregnant and cranky. Her sons and his daughter are a bit put off by the pregnancy and Peter is wondering if he's too old to be fathering a child by his young wife. The professional part of the story deals with a case in which Lilah Brecht, the daughter of a famous actress is assaulted and raped while her mother's jewels and some important papers are stolen from her safe. She clings to Decker in a way that makes both Peter and Rina uneasy. As he delves into Lilah's life, Peter discovers a complex and dysfunctional pattern of behavior between Lilah's mother and her children. Revelation follows revelation until Peter and his partner Marge finally put all of the pieces together. Kellerman is a dependable writer who turns out complex and interesting mysteries with an emphasis on what motivates people to do the things they do.
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The False Prophet: Rabbi Meir Kahane--From FBI Informant to Knesset Member
Robert I. Friedman
Manufacturer: Lawrence Hill & Co
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ASIN: 1556520786 |
Customer Reviews:
Why continue to be deceived..........2006-06-29
Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, and others in the Pre-Trib circle, such as Ed Hindson, Tommy Ice, Chuck Missler, Zola Levitt, Thomas McCall, John Hagee, Grant Jeffrey, Marlin Maddox, Perry Stone, Texe Marrs, John Walvoord (deceased), etc., continue to put forth the same deceptions that Hal Lindsey popularized decades ago. The notion of a pre-tribulation rapture is foreign to scripture, it is foreign to the teachings of the early Church, and it is grooming the Church for destruction through ignorance and lack of preparation for what is really coming. These men are novices and not prophecy "experts" or "scholars" by any stretch of the imagination; they are those who tickle the ears of gullible Christians. Why continue to be deceived? Tim Cohen, in his excellent book, "The AntiChrist and a Cup of Tea," provides biblically sound and testable evidence to show that the coming AntiChrist is known NOW. Not only that, the same author (Tim Cohen) has now put out the strongest presentation on the whole issue of the rapture EVER offered to the saints of God in Christ: "The REAL Rapture". If you really want to know the truth about the timing of the coming rapture, then you need to hear Tim Cohen's "The REAL Rapture" (based on a volume in his forthcoming "Messiah, History, and the Tribulation Period" series (see Prophecy House's site for details on these items, which are also available via Amazon).
False and Full of Lies!.......2003-02-08
I was looking foward to reading this book. Because I thought it would be full of facts. Instead I found Lie after Lie. First off anyone who knows anything about Islam would throw this book in the trash. The writer shows no respect towards Islams prophet Muhammad. And he states false historical facts for example on page 129 its written "The Muslims in Armenia murdered and robbed these Armenian Jews, who became known as Ashkenazi Jewry." When did this happen in his imagination? Please people don't believe everything you read! People like this writer are just breeding Hate.
The Counterfeit Trinity of Bible Prophecy.......2000-05-15
Returning more fully to the Reformation theology theme of the first volume ("The Antichrist 666"), which theme indeed undergirds the entire series, author and researcher Wil Sutton examines what the Bible has to say about "The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet" the Devil's counterfeit trinity at the end of time. He examines all forms of paganism/ spiritualism, Satan's original religion from Eden until now (the Dragon), Roman Catholicism (the Beast), and apostate Protestantism (the False Prophet). Sutton shows how these three forces are working together to effect the downfall of humanity today, in the years immediately preceeding the Second Coming of Christ. Too strong a comment? You NEED this book! Things are NOT what they seem; what often seems good to human beings ISN'T! The streams of the previous four volumes meet and end in this one. Bible prophecy will finally make real sense to you. You will learn what is right ahead of us in time, and what YOU need to do to get ready: something you owe it to yourself and your family to learn. Read this one with your 'King Jimmy' open! I urge you to get this book TODAY! Thanks, Wil, for a wonderful series (and thanks to your lovely wife Debbie for her tireless assistance as well!)
Book Description
A critical reassessment of the ideas that shaped modern management. According to Jim Hoopes, the fundamental principles on which business is based--authority, power, control--are increasingly at odds with principles of life in a democratic society--freedom, equality, individualism. False Prophets critically examines the pioneering theories of the early management thinkers, such as Taylor, Follett, Mayo, and Deming, which intended to democratize corporate life yet have proved antithetical to the successful practice of business. Hoopes challenges popular management movements that followed in the wake of these thinkers and accuses today's business theorists of perpetuating bad management in the name of democratic values. He urges executives and managers to recognize the realities of corporate life and learn to apply the principles of power. He also unveils a new management agenda that will be of paramount significance to modern organizations.
A rich and lively read, False Prophets provides a refreshingly new and original overview of the history of management in the larger context of the American culture, brilliantly illustrating its evolution--from the ivory tower to the shop floor.
Customer Reviews:
Insightful!.......2004-06-08
Despite its title, this book doesn't say much, or much of substance, about business today. Instead, it concentrates on lively professional and personal profiles of eight twentieth century management theorists of varying impact. Hammer and Champy, who launched the 1990s re-engineering movement, are mentioned only in the conclusion, and the gurus behind managing for shareholder value aren't mentioned. A little less detail about peccadilloes of the long dead and a little more about crucial management ideas that have shaped contemporary business might have made the book more relevant. Interestingly, it indicates that slave owners anticipated some of the progressive ideas in modern management but the author leaves it to the readers to make the connection: voila, contemporary workers believe the cant of empowerment about as much as the slaves believed the plantation master's pieties. We recommend this book for its anecdotal, gossipy entertainment value. It will make you cautious about management consultants - but if you aren't already, you can't have spent much time in business.
The Myth of the Democratic Workplace Exposed.......2004-05-27
Hoopes does an very good job deconstructing the neo-managment concept of a democratic workplace, contrasting it with the juxtaposition of top-down power in an ostensibly democratic society. If one believes that the US is a democratic society (it's not, it's a republic), then one might take umbrage with his not novel revelation that the workplace functions best in a top-down style. Americans, in particular unionized America, has a big problem accepting this. His examples support this, but further, add light to the discussion that top-down power must be mitigated to some degree (the adage of absolute power corrupting withstanding). After reading his book I beleive that top-down power within a workplace that changes its policies as needed based on the demands and needs of the workers while fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities, is the best mix for success: keep you eye on why the institution exists (profit and/or service), but take care of your workers to accomplish your goals, and yes, management is in charge... This book helps illuminate how we got where we are, without burying the reader.
Can't wait for the Prequel & the Sequel........2004-02-15
I had to read this book twice.
First time with my jaw hanging and the second time highlighting, annotating and working up a storm of sticky notes so I could go look up the names & the fames.
The ripple effect has been tremendous, and I'm looking forward to Dr. Hoopes moving his socio-managerial microscope back to the Middle Ages to dissect vassalage and explain the pathology of serfdom and its parallel to today's corporate structures as well as why this phenomenon persists (prequel).
Then, I'd really like to see him turn the scrutiny on managers of the Great Shareholder Abandonment of the 2000's (WorldCom, CSFB, Enron, Global Crossing, etc.) and prescribe some remedies (for example, a vigorous enema would be just the ticket for Quattrone). I'd also like to see him attend to the waves of college graduates whose opportunity has been sold out from under them to the third world countries with the best Washington lobbyists (this book would be the sequel).
As it is, FALSE PROPHETS is a righteous "Perils of Pauline" cliffhanger, ending with Pearl White (who did all her own stunts, btw) tied to the tracks.
Or, to upgrade the reference, FALSE PROPHETS stops at a corporate "Empire Strikes Back" chapter, with dutiful nonexempt employee Han Solo frozen in a block of schmutz while all the jobs are being offshored and the middle class is posing for the picture that will decorate milk cartons.
Insightful!.......2003-10-16
Despite its title, this book doesn't say much, or much of substance, about business today. Instead, it concentrates on lively professional and personal profiles of eight twentieth century management theorists of varying impact. Hammer and Champy, who launched the 1990s re-engineering movement, are mentioned only in the conclusion, and the gurus behind managing for shareholder value aren't mentioned. A little less detail about peccadilloes of the long dead and a little more about crucial management ideas that have shaped contemporary business might have made the book more relevant. Interestingly, it indicates that slave owners anticipated some of the progressive ideas in modern management but the author leaves it to the readers to make the connection: voila, contemporary workers believe the cant of empowerment about as much as the slaves believed the plantation master's pieties. We recommend this book for its anecdotal, gossipy entertainment value. It will make you cautious about management consultants - but if you aren't already, you can't have spent much time in business
Over-rated.......2003-09-26
A book of considerable potential, which it fails to achieve. Worth investigating, but check it out from the library and read it before you buy it.
His basic thesis is that all employees in commercial organizations need to be led from above, but that power corrupts so we should all be skeptical of being led from above. He does have some interesting and useful observations on managment/organizational behavior experts through the nation's (U.S.) history. Unfortunately his personal opinion as opposed to a critical evaluation of their merit keeps getting in the way. Pity, because a well considered opinion of the ideas, impacts and evolution over the years would have been an interesting read.
Book Description
U.S. Marshal Custis Long is dispatched to track down the Indian known as Many Thumbs, who left the reservation-supposedly to spread the good word of the Lord. Instead, he's leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
Customer Reviews:
"Many Thumbs came on with blood in his eye and murder in whatever he had where a heart should have been.".......2006-11-18
This is the July 2006, episode, in the long running western series.I have read many of them over the years;and by and large,Iwould rate them 4 or 5 Stars. This is one that is pretty good,but just not up there with the best of them.The cover is better than normal and gives several images of the characters the author had in mind.However; the characters could have been more imaginative and better developed.The storyline leaves a lot to be desired and Longarm seems to be stumbling around ,just filling the pages,and neither he or the story really get focused until the last couple of chapters. There is not much in the way of good shoot-outs,old-fashioned fights and skirmishes and the sort of things we usually get in a real good Longarm western. I found this a rather short read,and noticed that where each episode has about 180 pages; and this one has 182.In this case there are 37 chapters and roughly a full blank page between each chapter.That is an unusual amount of empty pages!
Along with the details of the book Amazon have something new,that I had not noticed before.
See "Inside the Book" and "New";you will find "Text Stats"
Here we see this episode has 214,371 characters;a Fog Index of 7.4 and there are 6,477 words per Dollar price of the book. A check of #327,shows 289,547 characters,a Fog Index of 9.7,and a Words per Dollar of 8,926. Quite a difference and comfirms my thoughts.
As a further comparison,I checked a book that I recently (October 15,2006) wrote a review; by the title of "Paddy Whacked" by T.J.English.It is about "The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster". The Text Stats for this book is an interesting comparison.It has 1,142,880 characters;a Fog Index of 14.1 and Words per Dollar of 23,619.
If you've never heard of the FOG Index,it gives an idea of how difficult the writing is to comprend.An index about 6 or 7 is Grade School level,12 to 15 is High School level and 18 and over becomes very difficult.A complete explanation can be found by searching "Fog Index" on the Web.It is a simple thing to calculate.
The Words per Dollar shows how much reading one gets foe their reading dollar.These indexes have nothing to do with how good or interesting a book is,but indicates how easy the writing is,and how much you are paying for the hours of reading you are buying. It is most interesting when you compare the stats with other episodes in the series,though.
Customer Reviews:
It's all about his saving grace. .......2007-08-23
I have not had the opportunity to read the book but I was browsing Amazon and the title and reviews caught my eye. This does not in anyway describe the Adventist church that I have been apart of for 35 of my 39 years. I was educated in in Adventist schools and in my heart I do believe that the adventist church is the remnant church. We do not in any way, shape, or form acknowlege Ellen White over the awesome authority of Jesus christ. We do believe Ellen White to be a prophet, and is definitely inspired, key word, INSPIRED. Ellen White time and time again refers the reader to the holy sciptures. She does not by any means attempt to challenge or belittle the authority of Christ. Yes I do read the writings of Ellen White and I do believe she was a prophet of Christ, and the bible teaches us that we are saved by grace alone so that know man can boast! What an awesome God! In essence, know individual can work his way into heaven, including Ellen G. White. I believe all religious material should be prayfully approached so that the holy spirit can reveal the truth. Perhaps the writer needs to examine himself before writing on a subject that he clearly is clueless about.
Excellent Book Which Illuminates.......2007-02-09
This is an excellent review of the beliefs of Seventh Day Adventism. From believing that Ellen Harmon White was a prophet, that Christ was Michael the Archangel(what a pernicious heresy!), to soul-sleep, the Sabbath, and the whole nine yards of Adventism, revealing it for what it is: a nineteenth century cult,based on works, with many beliefs coinciding with the Russellite movement=falsely prophecying dates for the end of the world, etc... A small, excellent work.
SDAs are not themselves false prophets, but . . . .......2006-09-12
Having been a devout and believing SDA for the first 35 years of my life, having gone through 16 years of SDA education, and having been a genuinely sincere and earnest educator in the SDA college system, I feel that I can speak with a fair level of credibility about what Adventists believe.
Most practicing Adventists are so overwhelmed by their somewhat closed culture that they are not easily able see just how warped their thinking is. They are generally unable to recognize that theirs is a cult culture. If by the term "cult" one refers to a group (a) that filters all of its religious thinking through a single personality (Ellen White), and (b) that centers its faith around non-biblical doctrines (e.g., the elaborate SDA doctrine of the heavenly sanctuary), based on that personality's visions, then it's difficult to see how the SDA culture is anything other than a cult.
This doesn't make all Adventists false prophets, however, which is what the title of this book appears to insinuate. They are neither "false" nor "true" prophets; they are just true believers who (from my point of view) are frozen in a dead and discredited set of beliefs, that even during the nineteenth century were considered strange. To assume the legitimacy of the term "false prophet" presumes a set of beliefs I no longer find viable, but to the extent that the term has meaning for some, I think that E.G. White is a good candidate for being one. I think a more apt title for the book might have been Is Sister White a False Prophet?
I would be surprised if any non-SDA who reads about her life and her work as an SDA believes that she is a "true prophet" in the way that SDAs characterize her. However, the true believers inside the SDA fold appear to be completely unable to see her any other way.
Don't Be Deceived---Read This Book.......2006-04-29
Excellent book. I highly recommend reading this book. I wish I had read it before I became an Adventist. I never believed Ellen White was a prophet. There is only one book that you need to concern yourself with, and that book is the Bible.
Boldly Goes Where A Cult Dares Not!.......2006-03-15
I've been debating an Adventist for the last 2+ weeks via e-mails. And what I've read is true to what the Adventist believe, whom I've been debating. It seems that Ellen G.White can do no wrong, in their eyes. A false prophetess that seems to be a bit behind on her education of what the Bible really says, about what happens to the soul after the death of the body, and what happens to the soul at judgment. They teach the 'annihilation' of the wicked souls at judgment. The verses Rev.14:9-11, clearly show the punishment of those souls that take the Mark of the Beast, that is forever tormented in the Lake of Fire, day and night, but, they clearly choose not to see this fact! Since this cult's doctrine isn't as anti-Bible as other cults, such as the JW's doctrine, makes this group even more dangerous!
This is a cult that likes to fly under the radar, and then catch you by surprise. It's kinda like the frog, that is about to be slowly boiled to death in the pot of water, and then it's too late for it to jump out! They need to get rid of Ellen G. White, and they will be closer to mainstream Christianity, but, they will still be a hundred miles away! Great book! Get it, and get educated!
Book Description
From 1988 through 1993, guitarist/vocalist Steven Taylor toured the U.S. and Europe with the alternative rock group False Prophets, keeping a detailed journal with the intent of documenting the role of musicians in the international anarchist youth movement. His fieldnotes form the core of the book, accounting with honesty and aplomb the sometimes hilarious, sometimes harrowing, always engaging highs and lows of life on the road.
False Prophet situates punk, and the diary itself, in relation to contemporary critiques of identity and ethnographic representation, and links punk's emergence to the oral poetry renaissance of the 1950s, free jazz, and the do-it-yourself trend set by underground filmmakers in the 1960s. This innovative ethnography provides a theoretically informed account of a little understood genre of popular music, and a rare, intimate view into the everyday life of a working band. The audio CD contains some of False Prophets' most popular cuts.
Customer Reviews:
False Prophet Rings True.......2004-03-04
Steven Taylor's "False Prophet: Fieldnotes from the Punk Underground" succeeds on multi-levels. As anthropology, it is a comprehensive cultural study, as musical history it is a much needed document and as personal memoir it is wholly compelling. Taylor is a singular artist. While most rockers can't write about music and most rock critics can't tune a guitar, Taylor has the intellect, theoretical chops and the musical cache to cover all the bases. The story alone is riveting: accomplished musician signs on with band during Lower East Side punk explosion; band runs up against American corporate music biz and tours Europe while that part of the globe is undergoing intense upheaval. I can't recommend this book enough and it should prove riveting to not only a national, but an international audience.
Book Description
Much has been written about this compelling, controversial pharaoh whose appearance—elongated and effete—is totally at odds with that of the traditional Egyptian ruler. Scholars have speculated that he was perhaps a eunuch or a sufferer from a genetic disorder or even a woman. Known today as a heretic, Akhenaten sought to impose upon Egypt and its people the worship of a single god, radically affecting the country in every way, from art to the written language.
In this immensely readable reevaluation, Nicholas Reeves presents an entirely new perspective on the turbulent events of Akhenaten's seventeen-year reign. Reeves argues that Akhenaten cynically used religion for purely political ends in a calculated attempt to reassert the authority of the king, thus concentrating power in his own hands. Ultimately his revolution failed as political, financial, and moral corruption overwhelmed the regime. His traditionalist successors showed little mercy, and with a ruthless determination systematically expunged all traces of Akhenaten's existence. 141 illustrations, 23 in color.
Customer Reviews:
An interesting look at one chapter in Egypt's long history.......2007-09-23
The subject of Reeves' book is Akhenaten; a Pharoah who attempted to remake Egyptian society from country where a host of gods and idols were worshipped to a monothiestic society which recognized only one god: the Aten, or sun disc.
Reeves looks further back than most other authors for the origins of the Aten cult, seeing not just the trend of a priesthood that was becoming more and more politically powerful but also in other events during the 17th and 18th Dynasties which might have effected Akenaten's thinking. Reeves also discusses archeological proof as he tells the story (as it is known) and writes about different theories to explain this or that. Reeves does NOT fall into the trap of discussing the Aten cult as predecessor or influence on Judaism, which has become fashionable as of late. Overall, a good book.
Excellent history, reads like a novel.......2007-03-24
If you are fascinated with ancient Egypt, do not miss this non-fiction book about Pharaoh Akhenaten,which reads like a well-written novel. The mysterious Pharaoh Akhenaten, who tried to introduce one god, Aten, and overthrow the all the other gods, and became known as the "great heretic" is one of the most interesting and debated historical figures of all time. It is beautifully illustrated with photographs. It also has an early section that summarizes the history of the period up to that point, and it continues on to the reign of his son Tutankhamun. Worth the photographs alone, but well written, not dry.
More of the same.........2006-03-27
If you've read one Akhenaten title you've basically read them all. As with the countless versions which have preceeded Mr. Reeves treatment of the socalled False Prophet, the author reproduces and supports many of the curious claims surrounding the Amarna periods infamous ruler. One area the author appears to make headway is in identifying Amenophis III with the Aten. In detailing Amenophis III and his adoption of the Aten personna as his "deified physical manifestation", Mr. Reeves appears to defend Akhenaten from the status of "False prophet", but he quickly backpeddles and returns to the normal persecution completely ignoring his own statements.
So was Akhenaten a mad religious zealot or merely a devoted son expressing loyalty and love for his departed father? Was Akhetaten a new capitol city or simply the grandest form of tribute to the man whom truly gave him life? If Akhetaten was indeed the capitol city as is claimed then it appears that the new Pharoah was more of a visionary than many of his predecessors as the location of this new city was a centralized location. Halfway between the old capitols of southern and northern Egypt "as Mr. Reeves points out". This would serve to unify the country and make the Pharoah and his court more accessible to the population and not isolate them as is claimed in this book. Another curious and unverified claim adopted by the author from previous sources is the decline of the Egyptian empire under Akhenaten. As I have said this is an often repeated claim which is never verified. None of the authors who preach of the Egyptian empires decline under Akhenaten ever present verifiable facts to support their claim and Mr. Reeves is no differnt.
Most desturbing is the introduction of often repeated claims of incest on behalf of Akhenaten, again I would ask where except in the mind of the author is the proof of this? What Mr. Reeves does is introduce some very interesting ideals only to shrink back into long excepted ideals and accusations. I can only speculate as to the reason for Egyptology's deep animosity toward Akhenaten as he is befar the most reviled figure in Egypt's history. The hatred expressed for the man and his ideals by those who study him from a distance seperated by thousands of years is almost always skewed in the most vile manner. The use of bricks and usurption of temples constructed by Akhenaten by later rulers is helf up as proof of the hatred the man engendered with his ideals. Yet it is completely ignored that Ramesses "the offending Pharoah" did the same to his own father's constructions. So was Akhenaten anymore hated than any of his predecessors by his own or he simply viewed as a threat by outsiders struggling to make sense of a history long ago written?
These Reviews Vary Alot!!!.......2006-02-08
What I read in Reeves book is a good study and background on ANKH-ATEN (Akhenaten) thru the eyes of a schlor and on hands reseacher. In knowing that every schlor or reseacher who studies anything for that matter, especially history & religions, cannot never become apart of what their studying. Outside looking in!! So I do take his book with a grain of salt. One has to realize the the worship and diety of ATEN didn't start with ANKH-ATEN. It started long before there was a Upper and Lower Egypt (so-called). Also one must realize that his mother was a powerful figure behind his throne and his father throne. In which they did share together as many Kings of Kemet have. The polictical theories of this so-called new of ATEN. Is what can be debated until the end of time. The only reason why ANKH-ATEN closed the other temples because of his father poor health and the priest of AMUN wanted his brother to rule who was of the AMUN-RA temple. They called ANKH-ATEN not worthy to be King because of his linage, Queen Tiye been the daughter of the great Yuya (known as Joseph in the bible) So ANKH-ATEN was indeed from Upper Kemet and trying to fit in with the traditions of the priest of Lower Kemet and the people as well. This books does give new light on the place called Amarna. Also a point missed was that ANKH-ATEN never was agaist ANY other temple in Kemet!!! He was against those priest who didn't want him to succeed as King under the powerful hand of Queen Tye, his mother, who was a follwer of ATEN. She is the really reason he had so many problems with his reign. But she wanted to end her husband reign and get the people started on anew glory. Remember ATEN worship is fron the temple of RA, in which was common in Upper Egypt(Kemet), the Nubia, Sudan, Uganda, & Ethipia region today. These are where the darker skin Kemetians were and hailed from. The Lower Egypt, Egypt,Libia, & the middle east. They were lighter skinned Kemetians, all African! Just as we are now! So this Nefertiti was white theory is completly rubbish! If you want to see whites or europeans trying to look like Egyptians/Kemetians in art go to the Metro Muesuem of Art in NYC. One side is true Kemetic art, and on another side there is greco-roman-egyptian art. Totally seen as TWO different things by two different people in two different regions. The reviewers has this concept of ATENism so-called, confused. Makes me wonder how many of you practice it? BTW I do! Also King TWT-ANKH-ATEN was the birth name of King TUT when his father ANKH-ATEN left Amarna for Upper Kemet the priest of AMUN-RA had him changed his name to TWT-ANKH-AMUN. In which he did to be crowd king. I had this book for a long time and use it as a direct reference to geographical place of Amarna. And to read the writing from the great pictures Reeves has. It's a reference book to me as it should be to us all. A well needed one too!!
A Needed Reappraisal of Akhenaten.......2004-11-17
In my view, Nicholas Reeves delivers a long needed reappraisal of Akhenaten's reign by arguing that most interpretations of this controversial Pharaoh--as a benevolent ruler who merely believed in the existence of One God are totally at odds with the surviving facts from his reign. Although Reeves' book is devoted to the monarch, Akhenaten does not take centre stage until the beginning of Chapter 4(p.75) when he accedes to the throne. In the previous chapters, Reeves meticulously lays out the rise of the New Kingdom Empire, the discovery of El-Amarna and the tremendous wealth that Egypt enjoyed under the prosperous 38 year reign of Amenhotep III, Akhenaten's father.
Reeves argues, compellingly that rather than being a devout Monotheist (someone who believes in the existence of one God--the Aten here), Akhenaten used his Religious Revolution to cynically concentrate power in his hands--at the expense of more traditional political structures of Ancient Egypt such as the Amun Priesthood. The Amun priests were denied access to the considerable wealth of the Amun temples which had boosted the Egyptian economy after they had defied Akhenaten's wishes in his 4th Year. The wealth was instead conveniently diverted into the Treasury of the Egyptian state, ie. Akhenaten. Soon after, Reeves notes that Akhenaten unleashed a Wave of Terror against anything remotely concerning the old religious order--between his Year 8 and Year 12--as his agents actively destroyed non-Atenist religious statues and hacked out the names and images of these gods wherever they occured--on Temple Walls, Obelisks, Shrines and even on the accessible portions of Tombs. (pp.154-55) Rather than being a king who wished to reform the traditional Amun Priesthood or curb its power as Akhenaten's father had begun to do in the final years of his reign by paying more attention to the temples and shrines of other divinities such as Monthu, Re and Ptah, Akhenaten wished to create a New Order--his order.
The author observes that the scale of the anti-Amun persecutions were so terrifying that mass paranoia reigned throughout Egypt. Archaeological discoveries at Akhetaten show that many ordinary residents of this city chose to gouge or chisel out all references to the god Amun on even minor personal items that they owned--like commemorative scarabs or make-up pots--perhaps for fear of being accused of having Amunist sympathies. References to Amenhotep III, Akhenaten's father, were partly erased since they contained the traditional Amun form of his name. As the author aptly concludes: "Such displays of frightening self-censorship and toadying loyalty are ominous indicators of the paranoia which was beginning to grip the country. Not only were the streets [of Akhetaten] filled with the pharaoh's soldiers...; it seems the population now had to contend with the danger of malicious informers." (pp.154-55) In the end, Akhenaten's revolution collapsed from within after his death since the enormous costs of founding a new capital city at Akhetaten in modern day El-Amarna and the closing of the Amun temples choked off the growth of the Egyptian economy. A byproduct of Akhenaten's centralisation tendencies was the appearance of massive corruption among the king's state officials who held unprecedented control over all the wealth and produce of Egypt. Later Egyptians rejected Akhenaten's unhappy reign by systematically dismantling all his monuments, denouncing him as "that criminal from Akhetaten" (see 'The Inscription of Mes' dating to Ramses II) and abandoning Akhetaten, the seat of Akhenaten's religious Revolution, to the Desert.
On other matters, Reeves decisively rejects the view of a long 12 year coregency between Akhenaten and his father, Amenhotep III in favour of a shorter period of only one year. Reeves notes the clear evidence of docket EA 27--on a diplomatic letter written to Akhenaten--which is dated to the latter's Year 2 plus the evidence from Amenhotep III's own tomb, in which this king's name is always represented in his traditional prenomen/nomen form of Nebmaatre Amenhotep, rather than the later Akhenaten inspired "Nebmaatre Nebmaatre" which omitted any reference to his father's Amun-affiliated birth name. (pp.75-78) Regarding the mysterious Dahamanzu who corresponded with Suppiluliuma of Hatti, the author argues that this Queen could only be Nefertiti, rather than Ankhesenamun, as is traditionally believed. Reeves notes that the approximate time of the first correspondence by this newly widowed Queen occured late in the Autumn Season (ie: September/October)--a time which Hittite records show that Suppiluliuma I was beseiging the city of Carchemish. This corresponds perfectly with the known time of Akhenaten's death when the bottling of Wine from his Royal vinery was taking place. One of his Year 17 wine dockets was even been changed into Year 1 of Akhenaten's successor (cf. CAH)--which proves that Akhenaten had died during this process--to reflect this political change. Tutankhamun, by contrast, clearly died late in the Winter Season (December or early January) as the presence of the Blue Lotus flower in his tomb--which only blossoms in late February and early March--proves when one takes into account the traditional 70 day mummification process. The existence of a diplomatic letter, EA 170, found in El-Amarna from one of Akhenaten's Canaanite vassals which makes reference to a Hittite attack on the city of Amki is undoubtedly the same one which Hittite Annals record as being in progress at the time of Dahamanzu's first correspondence. (pp.172-77) In contrast, Tutankhamun had abandoned Akhetaten (El-Amarna) for Thebes at least 7 or 8 years prior to his death in his Year 10--a fact which removes the case for identifying Dahamanzu with Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun's Queen.
However, Reeves' suggestion in his book that Neferneferuaten was the same person as the male king Smenkhkare must now be rejected based on new evidence collated in 2004 which demonstrates that the former was a woman. (cf. Dodson & Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004, p.285, note 111)
Reeves' excellent prose and penetrating insight into the disastrous situation that Egypt was facing under Akhenaten's crisis filled reign shows the tremendous value of this masterful work. I consider it a must read on Akhenaten's tumultous 17 year reign and its terrible aftermath which left behind a weak and chastened Egypt bereft of her imperial possessions in Syria (which had now been lost to the Hittites), and struggling to recover her confidence and belief in the divine kingship of Pharaoh. It took 3 different Pharaohs--Tutankhamun, Ay and Horemheb--to fix the mess that Akhenaten left behind. The sole regret which I have with this work is its relative brevity--at 194 pages--before you reach the Bibliography and Index sections. But this does not detract from its great value and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to the general reader.
Books:
- Halo, Books 1-3 (The Flood; First Strike; The Fall of Reach)
- Heart of Darkness (Norton Critical Editions)
- Heartwood
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- How to Set His Thighs on Fire: 86 Red-Hot Lessons on Love, Life, Men, and (Especially) Sex
- In a Dry Season
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