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.

$Navy Brides: Navy Wife\Navy Blues\Navy Brat$
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Navy Brides: Navy Wife\Navy Blues\Navy Brat
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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$Navy Grooms: Navy Woman\Navy Baby\Navy Husband (Mira Romance)$ Navy Grooms: Navy Woman\Navy Baby\Navy Husband (Mira Romance)
Navy Woman (The Navy Series #4) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 683)
Navy Husband (The Navy Series #6) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 1693)
Navy Baby (The Navy Series #5) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 697)
Someday Soon (Deliverance Company #1)

ASIN: 0778322483

The Soul Care Bible NKJV Navy Blue Bonded Leather 2275B

Average customer rating:

Bible Features---Yes; Quality---No
Would definitely recommend

The Soul Care Bible NKJV Navy Blue Bonded Leather 2275B

Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Bonded Leather

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0785258965

Book Description

The Soul Care Bible helps identify common counseling problems and needs, shows the reader how to cope with, manage, or overcome each problem with scriptural support and expert Christian advice, and gives hope and reassurance for resolving each problem with God's help.

Customer Reviews:

Bible Features---Yes; Quality---No.......2004-03-31

In one aspect I hate reviewing New King James Bibles. While I LIKE the NKJV tremendously, most of them are produced by Thomas Nelson, a name which has come to mean inferior, shoddy Bibles.
The Soul Care Bible is a very helpful edition, with topics that cover many, many problems people are having in today's complex world. The notes offer solid and positive helps in all these areas. The NKJV itself is a solid, word-for-word translation of what some feel are the better Greek texts. That of course, is debatable.
The Bible itself comes in navy or black bonded leather, with Nelson's unpleasant habit of installing ribbon markers that barely extend beyond the bottom of the page. I guess they feel it would cost them an arm and a leg to make the ribbon marker longer. The Bible is glue-bound, so it is not going to last you a particularly long time. The spine also tends to cave in. So, if it is quality you want in a New King James Bible, this is not it. Check out the Scofields done by Oxford.

Would definitely recommend.......2004-03-05

This is an excellent Bible! I would definitely recommend this Bible to anyone. There are many articles dealing with today's problems through related scripture. It is also a very good study Bible.

Average customer rating:

Great Story of Naval Aviation and AD-1 Skyraiders

Gold Wings, Blue Sea
Rosario Rausa
Manufacturer: Naval Inst Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Great Story of Naval Aviation and AD-1 Skyraiders.......2006-08-23

Great story on one man's journey through Naval Aviation from Pensacola to flying AD-1's in the fleet.

Navy Blues (The Navy Series #2) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 518)

Average customer rating:

Pathetic!
Waste of time.
reading blues
Good, but not the best in the series
MONOTONOUS BUT AN EXCELLENT READ

Navy Blues (The Navy Series #2) (Silhouette Special Edition, No 518)
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0373218451

Book Description

She needed just one night with him . . .

Despite her ex-husband's bullheadedness, Carol Kyle knew he'd be the perfect man to father the child she so desperately wanted. Yet she also realized that the strong, honorable man would never allow his child to be raised without a father. So Carol needed to plot, to plan, to maneuver, to seduce Steve into her bed for one last time . . .

And then once more.

Still, the passion when they were together was never the problem -- it was the absences that tore them apart. Had they grown enough to chance trying again -- especially when Carol's plan seemed about to work?

Customer Reviews:

Pathetic!.......2005-12-30

I agree with the reviewer above who wanted to give this book zero stars. Since I bought this book online and paid international shipping to get it I was about to cry with frustration after just reading the first 30 pages. The plot - whatever there is of it - drags, the writing is stilted and unnatural. The title has absolutely nothing to do with the story. In short - save your money!!!

Waste of time. .......2005-10-20

This book was horrible. I wish I could give it 0 stars.

First of all, the main character is immature, irresponsible and completely unlovable. If youre like me and cant get past the idea of a grown woman doing something so selfish and irresponsible as to try to use her unsuspecting exhusband as a sperm donor, youre probably going to spend the entire book wishing that this woman would get hit by a car.

The panty-waste exhusband is almost as unlikeable as she is. He spend the entire book being suspicious but unwilling to end the relationship. They break up and get back together a few times during the book, and the whole time I just wanted someone in that relationship to take a hint.

If you are in the Navy or have a loved one that is, you may be tempted to read it just because of the catchy little Navy theme and the pretty picture in front. This book has absolutely nothing to do with Navy life except for the fact that the ex is serving. He goes on one deployment that barely fits into the plot.

I spent the entire book thinking... This cant be all there is... This must be about to get really good. It never did.

reading blues.......2005-02-27

I have read and enjoyed many of Debbie Macomber's books, but this was my least favorite. The plot seemed boring and repetitive. The two lead characters, Carol and Steve, had no redeeming qualities at all. I also felt that this would never happen in real life. Sometimes I feel as though Macomber makes her male characters sound like women. I recommend Debbie Macomber, but not this particular story.

Good, but not the best in the series.......2004-07-05

To me the whole idea of Steve and Carol getting back together for the sole purpose of her getting pregnant just seemed crazy, but this book was still a fun and quick read.

MONOTONOUS BUT AN EXCELLENT READ.......2003-10-31

I READ THE BOOK IN ONE DAY, AND IT WAS CRUEL, SELFISH, AND LOVEABLE. BUT IT WAS A GOOD READ.

A BLUE WATER NAVY: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War 1943-1945, Volume Two, Part 2

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A BLUE WATER NAVY: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War 1943-1945, Volume Two, Part 2
W Douglas
Manufacturer: Vanwell Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1551250675

Book Description

Although the Royal Canadian Navy had spent the early years of the Second World War in a desperate struggle against German U-boats on the North Atlantic convoy routes, the service's professional officers never lost sight of the need to build a balanced national navy, one that included the larger warships required for Canada to project its naval power around the globe.

Part 2 of the Official Operational History continues the story of the Royal Canadian Navy begun in No Higher Purpose and carries the narrative into the decisive final years of the Second World War, as the navy largely achieves its "blue water" ambitions. Based on extensive research in Canadian, British, American and German archives, A Blue Water Navy follows the RCN's path to victory from 1943 to 1945 as Canadian warships engage the enemy across the globe in the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans as well as in the dangerous waters of the European littoral.

Beginning with the Allies' North Atlantic triumph over the German submarine arm in April-May 1943, the volume examines the navy's many roles in European waters, including the RCN's combined operations role in the amphibious assaults on Dieppe, northwest Africa and Sicily; the procurement of large fleet destroyers and their operations guarding important Arctic and Mediterranean bound convoys; and the culmination of the RCN's overseas buildup with Operation Neptune and the invasion of Normandy.

A Blue Water Navy recounts the multitude of tasks Canadian naval forces performed in the war's final phases, from motor-torpedo boat, minesweeping and fleet operations to the inshore anti-submarine campaign. In tracing the acquisition of cruisers and Canadian-manned escort carriers, this important and well-illustrated history thoroughly explores the world-wide scope of the Royal Canadian Navy's involvement in the Second World War and its transition from a small-ship navy into a balanced force.

A Blue Water Navy was written by a team of professional historians and has been in preparation for many years. The first volume of this official history, No Higher Purpose, was highly praised by veterans of the RCN, current sailors and naval officers, and students of military and naval history. This second volume will be equally well received.

First Blue: The Story of World War II Ace Butch Voris and the Creation of the Blue Angels

Average customer rating:

An excellent history of the early Blue Angels
Two books about one man.
First Blue
"Take charge. Go do it."
Interesting Time, Interesting Person

First Blue: The Story of World War II Ace Butch Voris and the Creation of the Blue Angels
Robert K. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0312322496
Release Date: 2004-09-23

Book Description

The Remarkable Story of a True Hero of American AviationThe U.S. Navy's Blue Angels are the most famous flight demonstration team in the world. While millions of aviation enthusiasts see their shows every year, the story of the man who formed the squadron has never been told. He is Roy Marlin "Butch" Voris, a World War II Ace and one of only two aviators ever to command the Blue Angels twice.First Blue details the epic journey of an unassuming man whose strong character and desire to fly launched him into a life of drama, heroism, and accomplishment unique in his field. Because he wanted to serve his country during World War II, a young Butch Voris found himself flying fighter planes as part of the pitifully prepared and outmanned front in the early stages of the Pacific theater. He was nearly killed there but went on to be a leader in one of the most fearsome naval air squadrons in the Pacific. As a pilot, Butch is unquestionably in the same class as more recognized aviator heroes such as Chuck Yeager and Pappy Boyington. While his World War II experience alone could comprise a book, Butch may be best known for his efforts in the creation of the naval air demonstration team, the Blue Angels. After the war, Voris was personally chosen by Admiral Nimitz to start the Blue Angels and to lead them, first in prop planes and later in jets. The story of his efforts is as exciting as it is inspirational, and it's told here in meticulous detail and with great humor. Today the Blue Angels still follow traditions established by Butch. Butch's involvement in military flight didn't end with the Blue Angels; he became a major player in the development of the F-14 Tomcat and NASA's Lunar Explorer Module for Grumman. Butch dedicated his life to his work, and here, finally, is the remarkable, untold account of this true American aviation pioneer and hero: a man whose life had unparalleled influence on naval aviation and whose legacy continues to inspire millions of Americans each year.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent history of the early Blue Angels.......2007-02-05

The book is well written and the author has done an excellent job of describing the man and his work.

Two books about one man........2006-10-19

You could easily divide this one into two halfs. The first half is Butch's WWII Naval air combat exploits in the Pacific Theatre. The second half skips a beat then covers the Blue Angels and his Naval career after the war.

The WWII stuff is a great read. I'd give that half 5 stars. Lots of first hand accounts dealing with famous and not so famous battles.

The second half, and ostensibly the reason for writing the book, deals with Butch's role in forming the Navy Blue Angels, and his post war career. This half, while interesting enough, bogs down and does a pretty good impression of a tail dragger from time to time. I got the feeling the author struggled with this half of the book, I did.

At times there is plenty of action and excitement in mid-air collisions, falal crashes, near death near crashes, etc. The rest of the time the author is fighting to move the story along. He tries to make the day to day job as thrilling as the flying. It's a decent effort, but not entirely sucessful.
This half has more than it's share of filler... speculation based on newspaper clipings of air shows (like those were ever accurate to begin with)... Endless accounts of what a great guy Butch was... it gets old after a while.

The first half I read in two days. The second half took me a week.

I have to say one thing that's fairly important. The author is up front about speculation. You won't have much doubt about the veracity of the rest of it. In that regard it's excellent.

Call it a four star book on a five star subject.

First Blue.......2005-09-17

As a pilot and Navy vet.I enjoyed reading this book,
it was well done.Had a friend from our Essex days who
became a plane capt.on blue 4 and thus i was able to meet
some of the boys back in 1960.Buch Voris spent time at
North Island San Diego as i did for some 2 1/2 years.
The book brings back some fine memories.
T.J.Johannsen

"Take charge. Go do it.".......2005-02-02

First Blue is a sterling biography of one of the best known and most admired Naval aviators of the 20th century--Butch Voris, who not only started the Blue Angels after WW II, but restarted them after the interruption of the Korean War. In detailing Butch's career from his aerial combat in the Pacific to his service with NASA and the space program, Wilcox shows us a man of unflagging courage, devotion to his craft and his country, and constant pursuit of perfection in the performance of his duties.

In incident after incident, Butch's character emerges dramatically--the character accurately understated in a 1943 fitness report by his first skipper, Jimmy Flatley: "He has a very strong personality." His perfectionism saved the lives of his flying teammates, as well as his own life, many times over. The hair-raising air show disaster Wilcox opens the book with is only the first of a series of near-death experiences for Butch. As zealous in implementing good ideas of others as in pursuing his own innovations, he improved on almost every aspect of Navy practices and procedures he came in contact with, including the squadron-basing system for the Pacific fleet and methods of choosing and developing the best aircraft for the Navy's needs.

Wilcox is especially informative on the politics that cause turkeys like the F7U Cutlass to be purchased by the Defense Department--but rejected by Butch for the Blue Angels. And he reveals how Butch's detective work was instrumental in exposing the dishonesty in General Dynamics' development of the F111B fighter, crediting Butch with "raising the F-14 [Tomcat] from the F111B's ashes." A vivid encounter with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara helps us understand how a brilliant business leader can disastrously mislead the government and the armed forces.

Honesty and loyalty were rarely, if ever, in conflict for Butch. He repeatedly risked his reputation and career for the sake of both. Wilcox often reveals Butch's motivations through his own words: "Every time you are put to a test and survive, you learn something more. I think it was just my nature. Take charge. Go do it. I'm a great believer in that. It's my basic instinct."

First Blue is as informative on the technicalities of flying a hot fighter plane as it is on military-industrial politics. Wilcox's description of the difficulty of landing a prop-driven fighter on a pitching aircraft carrier deck is the best I've read, and for an encore he vividly shows us how doing it in a jet fighter is even trickier.

Wilcox also includes countless nuggets like how Butch got his name, how he had an unexpected chat with Winston Churchill after the war, and how he saved the fledgling Tailhook Association from the risks of south-of-the-border partying.

Butch Voris will forever be inseparable from the Blue Angels, the foremost precision flight team in the world, but this book shows convincingly that his contributions to America's superiority in the air and in space were far more numerous than that. The honors showered on him for these achievements make your head spin, leaving you unprepared for the revelation of the weaknesses in the Navy's promotion system that allow it to lose a superb officer like Butch.

Interesting Time, Interesting Person.......2004-10-27

In March of 1941, Butch Voris joined the Navy as a pilot trainee. This was a time of peace. But before his training ended, it was no longer peace time. The country and soon Butch Voris was at war. The planes they flew were Wildcats, not exactly the best machines to use up against Zeros. Not to many of the early fliers survived the war, but in spite of a number of close calls Butch did.

After the war Butch was personally selected by Admiral Nimitz to set up a demonstration team to attract people to join the Navy. He did, it was called the Blue Angels. Before too long, another little situation came up called Korea. After that Butch went back to the Blue Angels, the only person ever to command it twice. Butch Voris eventually left the navy and went ot work for Grumman, being involved in the development of the F-14.

The book is well written, and covers an interesting period of an interesting person's life.

Blue Steel: The U.S. Navy Reserve (Osprey Colour Series)

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Blue Steel: The U.S. Navy Reserve (Osprey Colour Series)
George Hall , and Jon Lopez
Manufacturer: Osprey Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Pew and Worship Bible, Navy Blue)

Average customer rating:

Difficult Font but a Great Translation
Larger than other pew bibles

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Pew and Worship Bible, Navy Blue)

Manufacturer: Crossway Bibles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581343795

Customer Reviews:

Difficult Font but a Great Translation.......2006-04-24

I bought this because it has the largest font of any of the ESV editions. However, I still find it difficult to read. It's not a particularly small font. And in any case I don't normally have trouble with small print. So I presume it's the style, rather than the size, of the font. I do hope they come up with something easier on the eyes. I'll stick with my old RSV till I get an ESV that's as easy to read.

Larger than other pew bibles.......2005-12-04

This pew bible is larger than other pew bibles I have seen. This is likely due to the 10 font. It is more readable than portable. The book lays flat, has good line spacing, and has decent paper. The page format is easier on the eyes than is the hard cover classic reference. The pew bible will likely see the more use.

Crossing the Line: A Blue Jacket's World War II Odyssey

Average customer rating:

One of The Best
A wonderful little book
A real page-turner!
A wonderful memoir of the life of a young Navy sailor during
A little-known modern classic

Crossing the Line: A Blue Jacket's World War II Odyssey
Alvin Kernan
Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1557504555
Release Date: 2005-04-15

Amazon.com

Alvin Kernan, seeing no prospects in his native Wyoming, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1941. As a seaman on the U.S.S. Enterprise, he saw the destruction and smelled the fires still burning as the aircraft carrier returned to Pearl Harbor from maneuvers on the day after Japan's surprise attack. Years later he would see and smell much the same thing in Japanese harbors. In the time between, Kernan had some exceptional adventures, which are chronicled in Crossing the Line. This reflective memoir is utterly unpretentious in providing an engaging view of ordinary Americans at war. Leaving the grand historical themes for other writers, Kernan tells us what it was really like for the sailors in the fleet, during fierce combat as well as during some lively recreation.

Book Description

Crossing the Line is a classic coming-of-age account, it achieves the rarest possible right tone for looking back on the self at an earlier stage, less sophisticated, less knowledgeable, but with the essential characteristics in place without apology or impatience.

Customer Reviews:

One of The Best.......2006-02-15

Alvin Kernan has written one of the best books on WW2 I have ever read, and I've read a lot of them. His descriptions of his wartime experiences are crisp, vivid, and relevant.

If any of us are ever tempted to generalize in a negative way about sailors in the U.S. Navy, I suggest they read this book all the way to the end. What Kernan went on to do after the war is just as impressive as what he did while he served Uncle Sam.

A wonderful little book.......2005-12-30

Alvin Kernan was a 17-year-old from a poor family when he enlisted in the Navy in 1941. He was assigned to the carrier Enterprise and was aboard on Dec 7, 1941. He served aboard carriers most of the war, including a tour aboard the Hornet and he was aboard when she was sunk. He spent most of the time with the torpedo squadrons and gives a vivid account of the Battle of Midway. Most war histories are written by or about the leaders and it is unusual to find someone who was there for all the battles but who was seeing it all from the bottom up. After the war, he went to college on the GI Bill (as did I) and eventually ended his career as dean of the graduate school at Princeton. This is a vivid and knowledgeable account of the carrier war from one who was there and is a skilled writer. Anyone interested in the navy in World War II should read this book.

A real page-turner!.......2005-07-25

. When you think of an east coast university professor who specializes in the humanities--Shakespearean literature, in this case--you probably won't be visualizing someone who started adulthood by engaging in vicious aerial gunnery duels with Japanese fighters and otherwise living the stressful, profane, hazardous life of an enlisted sailor on three World War II aircraft carriers, one of which was sunk while he was aboard. Such is the case, though, with retired Yale professor Alvin B. Kernan, author of "Crossing the Line," one of the most interesting and often gripping sagas of navy life that I've read.
. The book came as a surprise to me, on two counts. One, I knew that Kernan had been an aviation ordnanceman on the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway, and later an aerial gunner. But I had very little notion of the depth of his wartime experiences, not only as an aircrewman but also in escaping the sinking of the USS Hornet in the Guadalcanal battles and in a harrowing deployment aboard the escort carrier USS Suwanee (CVE-27). Suffice to say in this short review that Kernan earned a Navy Cross, a DFC, and five air medals from inside the turret of a TBF Avenger!
. And two, I had previously read Kernan's fictitious account of the Battle of Midway, "Love and Glory," which I thought was interesting but flawed in a number of regards (see my review on Amazon). For that reason, I was a little dubious about reading "Crossing the Line." Would this be another "interesting but flawed" piece of work that would cause me to keep my red pen handy while I read it? No. Crossing the Line is simply outstanding. Anyone with an interest in WWII naval air action will also want to read this book. I highly recommend it. Yes, there are a couple of minor nits that a very knowledgeable historian might want to pick, but they are so insignificant as to be unworthy of mentioning here. "Crossing the Line" will not disappoint you. In fact, you'll probably find it hard to put down.
. (Reviewed by R. W. Russell, Battle of Midway Roundtable, www.midway42.org)

A wonderful memoir of the life of a young Navy sailor during.......2001-03-05

Alvin Kernan's "Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey" is a wonderful memoir of the life of a young Navy sailor during World War II. Written in a humorous and sophisticated writing style, it provides the reader with a strong sense of what it was like for a young boy to leave his home and spend four years growing up in the midst of a war at sea. I am sure that Kernan's experience parallels that of my grandfather, who left rural Arkansas for the first time ever as a young 17-year old to take part in large Pacific invasions. If only young people today could understand the sacrifice and hard work that these young men faced. Kernan vividly makes his youth come to life with "Crossing the Line." A must read for avid readers of Navy and World War II subjects.

A little-known modern classic.......1999-12-23

The modesty and intelligence of this amazing book are equalled only by the gripping story it tells. One of the best memoirs of youth, war and manhood I have ever seen.

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