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.

Average customer rating:

#3 in the Ghostwalker Series
JP-Night Games
Excellent continuation....
Pretty interesting.......
Probably more like 3.5 stars!

Night Game (GhostWalkers, Book 3)
Christine Feehan
Manufacturer: Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0515139769

Book Description

Gator Fontenot of the Special Forces paranormal squad must reel in the elusive Iris "Flame" Johnson, a victim of the same horrific experiments that warped Gator--and a red-haired weapon of unimaginable destructive powers bent on revenge in the sultry bayous of New Orleans. But can two people haunted by violent betrayals trust the passion that soon ignites between them? Or is one of them just playing another seductive and deadly night game?

Download Description

Robin Ryan's groundbreaking new book is designed to help readers take advantage of a paradigm shift in the workplace. Instead of hiring or promoting generally qualified people and improving their weaknesses, companies are now looking for workers who have the strengths that match particular jobs. Ryan shows readers how to identify those strengths and use that knowledge to advance their careers and better promote themselves to prospective employers. She shows how to establish an appealing career identity using self- branding tools like résumés, Mind Maps, and on-the-job success stories, and outlines fresh approaches to networking with colleagues and negotiating with bosses. Savvy and entertaining, Soaring on Your Strengths will be the job and promotion seekers guide for the twenty-first century.

Customer Reviews:

#3 in the Ghostwalker Series.......2007-08-14

This one was one of my favorites in this series. I didn't think they could get any better than Mind Game (book #2), but this one was. LOVED IT!

This is Gator and Flame's story, AKA Iris

I LOVED the New Orlean's setting, language and oh so romantic dialogue.

Gosh, Gator was SUCH a nice guy! These two made a great team.

JP-Night Games.......2007-07-19

Christine Feehan is an amazing writer, I love the way her story lines overlap characters so that you feel like you know them. This series about real people with extraordinary abilities keeps you hooked until the last page.

Excellent continuation...........2007-06-28

This book continues in the same tradition as the other "Ghostwalker" books and combines romance with suspense. The characters are well developed and once again the author lets the reader really get to know and understand the motivations behind the actions of her characters.

Pretty interesting..............2007-06-22

At the beginning of the story, it was pretty interesting and a bit bland to me, but I wanted to finish reading the book.

It got pretty interesting toward half of the book. The only problem that I have is......well the sex scenes. Well, the reason is that the one scene that Flame loses her virginity, she had sex like how many times? Not regular sex but some kinky sex... Well, Feehan didn't write out those scenes....but implied that they used sex toys.....paddles.....eggs vibration or something like that??? wtf??!! 0-0

I like the story lines for this Ghostwalker serie.....but plesae.....ease off on the sex scenes.....I sometimes skip the sex scenes since they are a bit too much for me.

God, are romance books is suppose to be all about sex? I never read a book that the couple had so much sex before!

But overall, the book was okay...although I do prefer the dark series still...

Probably more like 3.5 stars!.......2007-06-13

"Flame" Johnson has a secret, and while trying to remain in hiding, she finds herself fighting her attraction to the very sexy, rugged, Special Forces agent, Gator Fontenot. As they both learn to trust each other, Flame learns the origin of her destructive powers, and struggles with the knowledge that her destiny may be already written in stone. Fighting to accept his growing feelings, Gator sets out to protect Flame at all costs. However, the question that always in front and center for Flame is "Is Gator what he appears to be"? Or "was he sent to bring her back to the man she most fears"? And finally, "Is the evil Doctor Whitney, who created them both, still alive and shaping their futures, not just their pasts"? Over all, this was an easy read, and I would like to see more of the ghostwalkers in the future.

Neverwinter Nights(tm) 2 Official Strategy Guide (Forgotten Realms) (Forgotten Realms)

Average customer rating:

THE MISSING GAME GUIDE - SOLD AS A...STRATEGY GUIDE!
stratagy guide
Not a "Strategy" Guide
Not worth the money
Highway robbery

Neverwinter Nights(tm) 2 Official Strategy Guide (Forgotten Realms) (Forgotten Realms)
BradyGames
Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Video Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Entertainment | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0744007003
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

BradyGames’ Neverwinter Nights 2 Official Strategy Guide includes the following:

A complete walkthrough of the entire game.
Detailed area maps.
In-depth item and equipment lists.
Expert boss strategies to defeat even the toughest enemy.
Extensive bestiary.
Unbeatable tactics for each mode of gameplay.

Platform: PC

Genre: Role-Playing Game

This product is available for sale in North America only.

Customer Reviews:

THE MISSING GAME GUIDE - SOLD AS A...STRATEGY GUIDE!.......2007-10-08

Do you remember when games were an actual an art-form and were sold with respect to the paying customers? Innovative games that came in beautiful detailed cardboard boxes. Included were a number of artwork items (paper or cloth maps, pewter figurines) and thick, detailed guide booklets. Nowadays, all we get is a cheap plastic case. Usually broken.

Well, now the faceless accountants that run the gaming business decided to take the next shameless step: they are trying to sell the Game Guide as a Strategy Guide! Yes, this is the case here: a weak walkthrough (one can find much more detailed and helpful ones on the internet) and then whatever should have been included in a classic Game Guide: general maps, weapons list (without unique items), and incomplete lists of NPCs & enemies (bestiary).
Check your good old BALDUR's GATE: the above were all included in the Game guide!

My advice: Don't even think about it!

stratagy guide.......2007-08-14

while it maintain the main story there was so much this strategy guide left out.

Not a "Strategy" Guide.......2007-02-04

Unfortunately, this is one of the least helpful "strategy" guides I've ever used. Most of the information is in the manual, and the information that you REALLY want from a strategy guide, such as side quests, character subplots, and hidden secrets, is 100% absent. I was most disappointed that it didn't explain the character influence system - what situations and responses would change your influence, and what the ultimate result would be. For example, does influence trigger a side quest for each character or only for certain ones. Influence is hardly even mentioned in this guide. Another glaring omission is the lack of information about item crafting. I expected this guide to detail the different crafting materials, spells, and gems needed to build your own arsenal. Again, hardly even mentioned. I'm not sure what the value of this guide is, really, since everything in it would be discovered in the course of the most casual gameplay.

Not worth the money.......2007-01-12

This game is so full of bugs that it can't be played on the average computer. It lags and stutters badly. Even after several patches there is no improvement.

Highway robbery.......2006-12-29

I would like to know where I report this company for stealing my money... DO NOT buy this game. Period.

Average customer rating:

I Spy A Winner!
Striped Cat!!!
BAT
FOUND THREE SPRINGS
Austria needs help!

I Spy Spooky Night (I Spy)
Jean Marzollo
Manufacturer: Cartwheel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

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

ASIN: 0590481371

Book Description

From its rickety gate to its cobwebbed attic, this haunted house contains 13 spooky environments. Readers will marvel at Walter Wick's beautifully executed photographs as they travel through each enchanting scene and solve the rhyming riddles, reading the story along the way. Over two million "I Spy" books have been sold to date.

Customer Reviews:

I Spy A Winner!.......2006-12-13

The I Spy Spooky Night book is one of many 'I Spy' books our family has enjoyed. We have the 'I Spy Extreme Challenger!',
'I Spy Super Challenger', 'I Spy School Days', 'I Spy Treasure Hunt' and the 'I Spy Mystery' book just to name a few of them. They will entertain no matter what your age. Our children and now our grandchildren have pulled these books out many times. They are like magnets and will draw in whoever is around to your side to help find the hidden I Spy items. Here's a hint. If, no - when, you have trouble finding any of the objects turn the book upside down and that just might help. The I Spy Spooky Night Book in combination with the Boo-opoly Game will provide some frighteningly good Halloween entertainment. ~ Mrs. B.

Striped Cat!!!.......2006-10-09

Thank you to the earlier reviewers.... I (as well as my husband, father, and mother--not to mention my five year old!!) have been going CRAZY looking for the striped cat!!!

These books are just incredible--my son is well on his way to collecting ALL of them! And, we already have ALL of the CD-Rom games--he's solved them all several times. These are the perfect books (and software) for kids--and has occupied more than a few hours of my time since I discovered them. Even my 18 year old daughter has been challenged and frustrated by these books! There's not much out there that can entertain (or drive crazy) both kids and adults.

There are small differences in the books and software--some kids like the spooky motif of this book--while other kids seem to prefer the space or school motifs--but, all-in-all, any of these books and software are WELL worth the $$ you put into them. Enjoy!!! (Dang that striped cat! LOL)

BAT.......2006-06-20

The bat on page 19 is a baseball bat, held by the boy in the picture glued to the inside right door (just above the word "workshop").

FOUND THREE SPRINGS.......2006-06-20

The three springs on the library page: 1) on the "Smoke" book next to the chair ("Smoke" is on top of "Science Experiments"), 2) on the floor in front of the chair, and 3) on the grandfather clock to the left of the saxophone. THANKS for finding the striped cat!

Austria needs help!.......2006-04-25

Through friends in the US we got to know the great I spy books, but unfortunately we are not that perfect in English. Could someone explain to us what "birdies of brass" are? We don't even know what to look for! And what about the "ostrich beak"? Does that really meen the beak of an ostrich or is there a completely different meening of it when these two words are combined? And: could anyone give us a hint where the bat on page 18/19 is?
To help the person who looks for the third spring on page 16/17:
we assume that you are looking for the one on page 16 on the very edge where the books are (left from the wishbone)!

Average customer rating:

Saturnine Nights (Promethean)
Joseph D. Carriker , Jess Hartley , Wood Ingham , and Chuck Wendig
Manufacturer: White Wolf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1588466094

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night: Unauthorized Secrets & Solutions

Average customer rating:

Why, oh why, did I waste my money on this?
Just doesn't work out.
It was very helpful

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night: Unauthorized Secrets & Solutions
Bart Farkas
Manufacturer: Prima Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Video Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

ASIN: 0761511954
Release Date: 1997-10-02

Book Description

The ancient battle of good and evil becons . . .

Castlevania, the castle of Dracula, has mysteriously reappeared. Now Alucard must explore it and destroy the evil that awaits him. But first . . . enter Castlevania: Symphony of the Night–Unauthorized Secrets & Solutions and discover:

• Complete walkthroughs
• Maps of every level
• Secret areas revealed
• How to complete 200% of the game
• And more!

Customer Reviews:

Why, oh why, did I waste my money on this?.......1999-12-05

I wish I'd bought the Bradygames book first. This book was totally inaccurate; it was obviously based on the Japanese game. Sell it in Japan, then, because we don't need it here. What few maps there were were terrible, and there was no real walkthrough. He just told you what to do in each zone, and they weren't even in any discernible order! There were no special item lists whatsoever, or much help on where to find them (not that that would have helped, since he gave all the wrong names for the items). I liked how he described one set of dialogue as "Richter's girlfriend says something that sounds important." Obviously, he never played the American version. A picture is worth a thousand words, and there were so painfully few pictures that it became a chore to look up something in the strategy guide. That makes this book almost totally worthless. Zero stars.

Just doesn't work out........1999-07-15

Okay, lot of problems kept me from buying this one.

1: What little pictures there are are black and white. 2: The details barely skim the surface. It doesn't do the game any justice. 3: It tells you how to beat the game. Period. It doesn't tell you how and where to find every item, what every monster looks like and is located, and tells you nothing about the entire second quest of the game (Richter). 4: The strategy guide basically ruins the feel of Castlevania by telling you exactly where to go and then go there, thus beating the game as fast as you can. It says nothing about 'side-quests', that is, little extras they put in the game. I've clocked in at over 50 hours on this game alone, because the main idea in Castlevania is to EXPLORE and try out new things, not run through, win, and throw the game in the closet. Overall, a disappointment.

It was very helpful.......1999-05-03

It helped me get alot of the secrets in the game. And it gave me good ways to defeat some of the enemies.

Night's Dark Masters: A Guide to Vampires (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay)

Average customer rating:

Night's Dark Masters: A Guide to Vampires (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay)
Green Ronin
Manufacturer: Black Industries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Gaming | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 184416313X

Book Description

In the dark of the night the Vampire rules supreme. Masters of dark necromantic acts, terrible treachery and violent combat the Vampires of the Old World make ideal antagonists for would be heroes. Within this tome is contained all manner of truth and lies about these powerful beings. Learn of their bloody origins, murderous wars and secret plans for the Old World. Packed with information about the Vampire bloodlines, their culture, necromantic powers and deadly weaknesses, this book is a must for any player hoping to hunt these masters of undead. Gm¿s too, will find dark delight in this detailed sourcebook, for contained within is information on Vampires as enemies, allies and patrons, as well as a disturbing adventure in the region of Sylvania.

Average customer rating:

Review Neverwinter Nights- HOTU

nwn: hordes of the underdark

Not enough detail
Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark Official Strategy Guide (Brady Games)
Michael Lummis
Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Strategy Guides | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Video Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide Official Strategy Guide

Versus Books Official Neverwinter Nights Adventure Perfect Guide

Neverwinter Nights(tm) 2 Official Strategy Guide (Forgotten Realms) (Forgotten Realms)

Neverwinter Nights: Diamond Compilation Pack (DVD-ROM)

Neverwinter Nights: Kingmaker Expansion Pack

ASIN: 0744003415

Book Description

BradyGames' Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark Official Strategy Guide features a complete walkthrough to lead players through the entire game. Comprehensive bestiary and armory. Expert character development coverage. Plus, unique character templates for every class and more! Special full-color format allows for the sharpest screenshots!

Customer Reviews:

Review Neverwinter Nights- HOTU.......2007-01-10

good guide however the maps are too small; not enough info about development of characters;

nwn: hordes of the underdark.......2006-03-12

pros: good detail of game play, plenty of maps

cons: could have more detail of some game play areas & maps

Not enough detail.......2006-01-17

Maps are too small and lack detail. I got the feeling the writer was too much in bed with the developers and distributors of the game.

The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty: The Game, the Team, and the Cost of Greatness

Average customer rating:

Pinpoint Control
Heavy Weighs The Mantle...
Makes an eloquent case that the Yankees are done.
Feel the Pain
A review from a Non-Yankee / Sox fan...

The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty: The Game, the Team, and the Cost of Greatness
Buster Olney
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

History | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0060515074
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

For an extraordinary handful of years around the turn of the millennium, the Yankees were baseball's unstoppable force. With four World Series championships in five seasons and a deep bench of legends and comers -- Clemens, Rivera, Williams, Soriano, Jeter, O'Neill -- they dominated the major leagues.

For the members of the team, though, baseball Yankees-style was a pressure cooker of anxiety, expectation, and infighting. As the spending and emotion spiraled, careers were made and broken, friendships began and ended, and a sports dynasty rose and fell.

In The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, Buster Olney tracks the Yankees through these tumultuous seasons and into the scandals and disappointments of 2004, providing insightful portraits of the stars, the foot soldiers, the coaches, the manager, and the Boss himself. With unparalleled knowledge of the game and an insider's familiarity with the team, Olney also advances a compelling argument that the philosophy that made the Yankees great was inherently unsustainable, ultimately harmful to the sport, and led inevitably to that warm autumn night in Arizona -- the last night of the Yankee dynasty.

Download Description

For the members of the team, though, baseball Yankees-style was an almost unbearable pressure cooker of anxiety, expectation, and infighting. With owner George Steinbrenner at the wheel, the Yankees money machine spun out of control, and as the team's revenues skyrocketed, salaries were inflated unimaginably -- and smaller teams found themselves priced out of competition. True devotees of the game suffered, and so did Steinbrenner's employees. Emboldened by New York's unforgiving fans, Steinbrenner let the Yankees know loud and clear that their fat paychecks carried an equally exaggerated mandate: win now, and win all the time -- any season that doesn't end in a World Series victory is an unforgivable failure. As the spending and emotion spiraled, careers were made and broken, friendships began and ended, and a sports dynasty rose and fell.

In The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, Buster Olney tracks the Yankees through these exciting and tumultuous seasons, providing insightful portraits of the stars, the foot soldiers, the coaches, the manager, and the Boss himself. With profound knowledge of the game and an insider's familiarity with the team, Olney also advances a compelling argument that the philosophy that made the Yankees great was inherently unsustainable, ultimately harmful to the sport, and led inevitably to that warm autumn night in Arizona -- the last night of the Yankee dynasty.

Customer Reviews:

Pinpoint Control.......2007-10-01

A recent personal project required that I read a half dozen books on baseball over the course of about as many weeks. Buster Olney's cool, lapidary prose made a nice sorbet with which to chase down the overweening lyricism of one of the game's Grand Old Men of American Lettahs, and the pomposity of a second. (I resist, with difficulty, the temptation to name names.)

The first thing to do is to set aside that contentious title. Olney, who covered the Yankees for four seasons for the New York Times, is a nonpartisan, or does a fine impression of one. His book is neither the inflammatory crowing of a Yankee hater nor the pessimistic keening of a demoralized loyalist. He uses the seventh game of the 2001 Yankees/Diamondbacks World Series as the springboard for a close analysis of the franchise's history in the years approaching and following the turn of the 21st century, and the treatment is both dispassionate and compassionate. The book's structure has a cinematic quality, with players taking their turns in focused, background-providing flashbacks generated by the inning-by-inning action on the field. Olney's narrative is not an innovation, but with his scrutiny of the decisions (good and bad) that led up to this game, and his attention to the personalities involved, he achieves something rare and tricky. He reminds us that every big game, like every snowflake, is distinct from all others, and suggests that the outcome of Game Seven was foreordained by the confluence of circumstances and people (both on the field and at the executive level) representing the clubs on this night. Put another way, a big game is never one big story; it's a significant point within dozens of smaller stories -- the stories of the uniformed people you see on the field, businesspeople you may recognize in the boxes and clubhouses, and others whose names you might never have heard. If anyone were removed from the tapestry, the whole would be altered. All the obvious slides get their time under the microscope -- Roger Clemens, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Joe Torre, George Steinbrenner, et al -- but the author also finds space, in a crisp 355 pages, for pertinent and illuminating studies of relative peripherals: the intellectually brilliant but fatally detached former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette; the obsessive-compulsive 1994-95 Yankee manager Buck Showalter; the gifted, infuriatingly undisciplined former Yankee pitcher David Wells, whose "bloated body camouflaged exceptional athleticism," in Olney's words.

The book, as suggested above, casts a wide net, but every one of its portraits has the subtlety and finish of a fine aquarelle. Indeed, some of Olney's most eloquent passages are those devoted to men who were not on the field for the game in question, but who played important parts in seasons leading up to it. I think here particularly of the section on the gracious and articulate yet driven David Cone, a Yankee starting pitcher nearing the end of a distinguished career and attempting (sometimes successfully, other times not) to do with guile and sheer force of will what he could no longer do with velocity and power. And the chapter on substance-abusing Darryl Strawberry's many second chances, and many subsequent relapses, makes something poignant out of material grown hackneyed in both news and fiction. "[T]hrough addictions, incarcerations, and hearings, he had never lost the beautiful buggy-whip swing he'd had when the Mets picked him first in the 1980 draft," writes Olney, and that unshowy yet felicitous phrase (especially that splendid description of the swing) finds just the right note with which to begin a chapter on a man of prodigious natural gifts and abysmal judgment, a package made up of the extraordinary and the dismayingly, even tragically ordinary.

I have taken pains not to reveal my own allegiances, because they are not really at issue here. Whether one roots for or against the Yankees, this is an engrossing and educational book, a potent blend of anecdote and psychology from the perspective of an astute insider. Go along with the author or not on his central point that the seventh-game loss to the Diamondbacks in 2001 was, by itself, of epochal character; but he compellingly makes his case that this franchise, historically restless and overachieving from the top down, was in some way due for sobering disappointment, retrenchment and reevaluation. Though occasioned by a bruising postseason loss, this taking of stock need not have been an entirely bad thing. For baseball franchises, as in life in general, survival is renewal.

Likely to become a classic within its field.

Heavy Weighs The Mantle..........2006-05-22

Buster Olney, a former beat writer for the New York Times, looks at the New York Yankees' run of baseball success from 1996 to 2000 from the vantage point of the night it all came to an end, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Published in 2004, the book's title seems overwrought. The Yankees haven't won a World Series in the last five seasons, but they have that in common with a lot of other good teams, and the Bombers remain impressive, winning the American League East every season since 1998, and well over .500 in 2006 as of this writing.

But something was lost in 2001, a spirit that departed along with Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neill, and Tino Martinez. One of the remaining Yankees, Derek Jeter, is quoted bemoaning at the end: "It's not the same team." Olney makes a convincing case for that non-quantifiable game element known as team chemistry, both its presence from 1996-2001 and its absence thereafter.

Olney seems to model his book, consciously or not, on the classic Dan Okrent book "Nine Innings," which focused on a single regular-season game in 1982, using each half-inning as an excuse to digress on different elements on the game and its players. The great thing about "Nine Innings," or one of them, was the fact the game wasn't that important, it was just another mid-season game and presented Okrent for a backdrop as he divided his focus between the two small-market clubs playing that day. Here, the game is the last one of the 2001 World Series, and all the focus is on the Yankees.

One weakness is instead of leading each chapter with the game, and then pulling the reader into the backstory, Olney starts with the story he wants to tell, whether it's about pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre fighting cancer or pitcher David Cone's ability to spin the media spotlight to the team's benefit, then throws in a half-inning's worth of business in the last few paragraphs, sometimes connecting it to the rest of the chapter, sometimes not.

While not a solidly constructed book, "Last Night" abounds with a lot of good behind-the-scenes copy, like Mariano Rivera's fatalistic locker-room speech before Game 7 and how George Steinbrenner's tirades caused his general manager, Brian Cashman, to think about wearing a mouthguard to bed, to keep him from grinding his teeth in his sleep.

There's also some funny dish on players ("It was taken as fact in baseball circles that Albert Belle was nuts") and nice insights on how they play the game (Cone's many different release points compensate for underwhelming stuff, Jeter's unorthodox playing style is re-examined by a former teammate who was critical but now thinks Jeter is right). If Olney comes across a little too kind to the Yankees' most vicious player, Roger Clemens, he is repaid by Clemens with some good quotes and worthwhile insights.

Overall, Olney is a sympathetic if not uncritical observer, and those expecting to read "The Bronx Zoo" may be disappointed. I'm not a Yankee fan, and I enjoyed it; I can only imagine how interesting it will be for those who bleed pinstripes and think five years without winning the World Series makes for some kind of drought.

Makes an eloquent case that the Yankees are done........2006-05-01

I admired Olney's attention to detail, the way he explains the game, and how he gives an in-depth account of every key figure for the Yankees during their latest dynasty run.

I especially like the way he writes about Mariano Rivera, the centerpiece of the dynasty. He comes off as a very decent man, as well as very humble, considering how good he is.

I do not like to nitpick, but Olney did use a fair amount of cuss words, which I do not like. Even when he was quoting players who were using such language, he could have used indirect discourse.

Nonetheless, an excellent account of the team by a man with a great baseball mind, as well as one who came to know the Yankee team of 1996-2001, its glorious run, and the internicine feuds that often divided members of that unforgettably dominant team.

Feel the Pain.......2006-04-07

For Yankees fans, this book makes you re-live the pain of the final inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Why would you want to do a thing like that? It also happens to be a good read on how the Yankees teams of 1996-2001 were built, perhaps providing an excellent roadmap for how the current Yankees can get back on the path to postseason glory. Here's a hint: While adding expensive, Hall of Fame bound free agents every winter may create the appearance of guaranteeing World Series rings, the results show the exact opposite effect. Where have you gone Gene Michael, our (Yankees) nation turned it's lonely eyes to you...

A review from a Non-Yankee / Sox fan..........2006-02-23

I presonally am a San Fransisco Giants fan so I have neither great hatred or great love for the Yankees. The only reason that I bought this book is because I recently drove cross country so I needed something to fill the time when I wasn't driving, and I also really enjoy Buster Onley's writing. That being said I thought this book was phenominally informative and unlike some of the other reviewers I really enjoyed Olney using game 7 as the driving force behind this book. It really sheds light on why the Yankees were able to win 3 consecutive championships and how that team was able to essentially save itself from Steinbrenner during the '90s. The epilouge was also outstanding as the book was able to describe some of the differences between the current Yankees and the Championship Yankees.

Average customer rating:

"guidebook" not a how-to
Unbelievably disappointing
lousy guide
This guide is pain-inducing.
A horrible waste of money

Neverwinter Nights 2 World Editor
BradyGames
Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Video Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0744008263
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

BradyGames’ Neverwinter Nights 2 World Editor, companion to the Neverwinter Nights 2 Official Strategy Guide, includes the following:

Extensive guidance on how to build a world.
Detailed information on the entire Neverwinter Nights 2 toolset.
Complete instructions of how to form the script necessary to run the created world.
Assists in making a realistic campaign.

Platform: PC

Genre: Role-Playing Game

This product is available for sale in North America only.

Customer Reviews:

"guidebook" not a how-to.......2007-08-23

This book teaches you nothing about how to use the interface. It is just a guide to start a world. It simply suggests things you need to do to build your own world but tells you nothing. Skip this book unless you don't have any clue whatsoever about the world you want to make, and don't have any idea where to start.

Unbelievably disappointing.......2007-05-28

The NWN2 toolset is a powerful, yet complicated piece of software. If you work through this book page by page, you will not even open the editor until p. 38! The book is filled with story advise, boiling down to "don't do too much this, or too much of that...and be sure to plan ahead!" and other obvious advice. Where is the documentation on the scripting events? Where is the how to do stuff section? This leaves us all a very steep learning curve with no official help. Don't waist your money, go online for community help!

lousy guide.......2007-01-16

not sure why they would waste their time putting this guide together..all the screen shots are to small to read

This guide is pain-inducing........2007-01-10

All I can say, is AVOID THIS BOOK. It is nothing like the NWN1 builder's manual. Devoid of all useful content and filled with nothing but worthless interviews, you can quickly tell the authors never used the toolset themselves. So much has changed that even the handful of suggestions they provide are meaningless. Please I beg of you all! Check out the forums, vault and fansites for assistance and leave this dreadful guide out of it!

A horrible waste of money.......2006-12-19

Despite it's sharp looking cover (the best thing about this book), this is an utterly useless book, containing maybe 3 to 4 hours of basic info that you can get off of the net, in better form and with better screenshots, in the same time. The rest of the book is fluff. BradyGames has never, imho, done a good job with strategy guides and such, but this one takes the cream when it comes to shovelware.

Do yourself a favor - dont buy it. Get the Dont Panic guide off the net, and a lot of useful tutorials scattered around on the vault and on the official forums. You'll be much happier than if you waste time and money with this trash.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books