The Mysterious Benedict Society

Book Description

Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them.Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed.Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete.To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies.So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

Customer Reviews:

The Mysterious Benedict Society.......2007-10-04

The adventure begins when orphan Reynard Muldoon (Reynie) answers an advertisement in the paper - "ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?"

Answering the ad leads Reynie to a strange building that opens at odd times and is filled with classrooms of children taking bizarre tests. I found myself taking the tests along with him, and although I was utterly confused by the questions, I was extremely relieved when Reynie was able to ace every test.

At the end of the testing, only four children are picked to take the final exam. Reynie, Sticky (George Washington), Kate Wetherall (who would really like to be called The Great Kate Weather Machine) and Constance Contraire master a maze, well let's say they all almost master a maze, and after some soul searching, they each decide to be part of a team that will embark on a dangerous adventure.

This story was wonderful to read. It gave me the same feeling as when I was reading the Harry Potter series. A little bit of science fiction, with a lot of mystery and a very warm and happy ending is my best "short" synopsis. I loved the description of the places and people throughout the story and it was complete with big spooky houses, bridges over troubled waters and creepy laboratories.

I also recommend this book as a gift. Middle school, high school and adults will enjoy this story. I'm sure it will be added to their collection of "read more than once" or "listen to many times" category.

A sure winner for middle grade readers, boys and girls.......2007-09-27

The Mysterious Benedict Society begins when eleven-year-old orphan Reynie Muldoon responds to a newspaper ad that asks: "ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?" The ad leads Reynie to a series of examinations, to which he applies intelligence, ingenuity, and ethics.

Following the exams, Reynie finds himself part of an elite team of children. Children whose mission is nothing less than to save the world. With only a smattering of adult guidance, the children go undercover at a mysterious school, where they find horrors almost beyond comprehension. But they also learn to be resourceful, and to be loyal to one another. They become a sort of surrogate family, and learn that the unique strengths that they each bring to the problem are all necessary for its solution.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is an adventure novel with an old-fashioned feel (clear from the very picture of a mysterious house on the cover). There are Morse code messages, creepy laboratories, and secret tunnels. The school is even set on an island. But it's also a highly entertaining book, aimed squarely at the middle grade set, too, with humor at various levels (from irony to slapstick). Trenton Lee Stewart is very very funny. I flagged some dozen passages, and had a difficult time pruning it down to my favorite two.

Team member Kate, challenging the cliche "know it like the back of your hand":

Kate again, poking fun at her team in witty fashion:

"Aren't we a depressing bunch?" said Kate. "If we continue like this, we'll have to start calling it remorse code." (Codes and Histories)

A leader at the school, informing the children about the somewhat irrational rules:

"You can wear whatever you want, just as long as you have on trousers, shoes, and a shirt. You can bathe as often as you like or not at all, provided you're clean every day in class. You can eat whatever and whenever you want, so long as it's during meal hours in the cafeteria. You're allowed to keep the lights on in your rooms as late as you wish until ten o'clock each night." (Traps and Nonsense)

The four children are clearly drawn, and each arouses the reader's sympathy in a different way. The character of Constance, the smallest and crankiest of the children, is a delight, even as she's clearly annoying to the others. I also loved the brilliant but shy and insecure Sticky (he has a sticky memory). Kate is the epitome of bravery and resourcefulness. And Reynie is everyone's conscience, doing the right thing, and thinking clearly, until the end.

The Mysterious Benedict Society includes small illustrations at the start of each chapter. Carson Ellis's pen-and-ink drawings support, in tone, the old-fashioned feel of the book. But they also add to the book's humor, and capture the distinct personalities of the children.

I would have adored this book when I was 10 or 11. The Mysterious Benedict Society is a sure winner for middle grade readers, boy and girls, especially if they like puzzles, or reading about mystery and adventure. I think it could also be a fun read for their parents, too. Recommended for anyone, ages nine and up.

A slightly longer version of this book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on September 26, 2007.

A fine leisure library pick........2007-09-07

An ad for 'gifted children seeking special opportunities' invites dozens of children to take a series of mind-bending tests - but the winners, four special children, are to go on a secret mission which proves dangerous and compelling, introducing them to new worlds in THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY. Advanced teen readers will quickly become absorbed in the challenging adventure which holds plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing, making it a fine leisure library pick.

Great Book!.......2007-08-22

I bought this on a whim at a book fair. Captivating. Great characters, nice plotting, really good. Beware, tho, my book was missing ~30 pages in the middle.
Also try "The Penderwicks" by Birdsall, also a really well written kids' book.

page turner alert!.......2007-08-18

an 11 year old orphan answers an ad for "gifted children looking for special opportunities". the book is a worlwind of activity and mystery. when reynald ends up investigating a school of children run by a criminal mastermind he might just be up to his ears in trouble. his fellow benedictians are also all orphans and are just as loveable as he is. the ending has a surprise twist that is really fun. you won't be able to put this down!

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

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.

Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts: Mysterious, Magical, Easy, and Fun

Average customer rating:

Ricky Tim's Convergence Quilts
An easy technique that makes everyone say WOW!
Convergence Quilting
Simple but spectacular
This Book is FUN!!

Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts: Mysterious, Magical, Easy, and Fun
Ricky Tims
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 157120217X

Book Description

Popular quilting expert Ricky Tims presents an imaginative new piecing technique that quilters will adore! Convergence quilts feature two or more fabrics cut into strips, sewn together, then cut and pieced again. They may look complex but are fun and easy to make. Four projects walk you through the process, and Tims shows how to add appliqué, beadwork, and other decorative touches to achieve an infinite number of looks from one ingenious technique!

Customer Reviews:

Ricky Tim's Convergence Quilts.......2007-09-11

One look inside and I just couldn't wait to make won of these. Easier than they look. They can be so very pretty.

An easy technique that makes everyone say WOW!.......2007-08-25

Some quilting books show gorgeous quilts that you know you'll never make. The techniques are complex and time consuming, or the writing fails to give you confidence that you understand the steps involved. Perhaps it'd make sense if someone showed you just once... but the instructions are confusing.

Ricky Tims avoids these pitfalls, with a book that is *incredibly* well written -- and yields brilliant results.

Just how easy is this? I made my first convergence quilt top in two or three hours, while I was also watching a baseball game, using 4 fat quarters that I already had on hand. And I'm no quilting wiz.

Since then, I've made two additional convergence quilts, and I'm sure to make several more (the holidays are coming, after all). As a quilting instructor pointed out, these are like potato chips, in that you can't stop at one. I've loved every quilt I've made, and so has everyone who has seen these quilts.

Do note that the basic quilt is very small -- perfect for a wall quilt but not much more. I think you could create several of these as blocks to turn into a bed quilt, but you'd be on your own to do so. The quilt is so easy to make and I like the results so much that I am tempted to give it a try.

This would be a great book for someone who is fairly new to quilting. I wouldn't suggest it as your very first book (you should do at least a few small traditional projects first), but the forgiving nature of the techique is sure to give you a quilt to be proud of. It's all straight lines, and despite the appearance of the quilt it has no complex piecing. What fun! Highly recommended.

Convergence Quilting.......2007-06-07

This book is a fantastic starting point to creating your own convergence quilt. The step-by-step instructions are very clear and the examples so varied and intriguing that you are inspired to step outside your comfort zone and create something totally unique and different. If you're ready to try a new and exciting technique, this book is for you!

Simple but spectacular.......2007-04-05

What a fun concept this technique is for both beginning and experienced quilters. It is basic strip piecing and takes advantage of some of the fabulous batiks and hand-dyed fabrics available today. Most of my quilting friends who've used this book took their basic Convergence pieced quilt top and embellished/appliqued them to the nth degree. It is a contemporary look to say the least.

This Book is FUN!!.......2007-03-06

Once again I will sing the praises of Ricky Tims and his "think outside of the box" tips & techniques. He understands we are not all degreed artists, and some us are a bit more creatively challenged than others. He, once again, shows some simple, yet at times a bit daring, techniques that will yield results to impress even the best artists. (I know because I was able to WOW a couple of pros with Masters Degrees in Graphic Art.) Anyone can do this, even children. You just need to be able to bring yourself to sew it together then cut it apart, a phobia you will quickly get over. Ricky actually shows you how to "break the rules" and live with yourself for doing so, because the results are amazing & totally unique every time! These techniques work with any fabric or color choice. (I intentionally put together 3 fabrics that normally would not work with each other- purple, orange, and green- just to see, and had fantastic results!) You can't go wrong, no matter what choices you make, and best of all, you don't waste fabric! It takes only a little to "test" your idea, and even that becomes a work of art all on its own. I HIGHLY recommend this book... It is FUN!!!!!

The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life

Average customer rating:

The Emotional Brain - the BEST
Bad book
Discussion of current theories of cognition and emotion
A very important book...
Great insight on human reactivity

The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life
Joseph Ledoux
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Neuropsychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0684836599

Amazon.com

Joseph LeDoux, a professor at the Center for Neural Science at New York University, has written the most comprehensive examination to date of how systems in the brain work in response to emotions, particularly fear. Among his fascinating findings is the work of amygdala structure within the brain. The amygdala mediates fear and other responses and actually processes information more quickly than other parts of the brain, allowing a rapid response that can save our lives before other parts of the brain have had a chance to react. He also offers findings and theories on how the brain handles--and in many cases, buries--extremely traumatic experiences. In all, a compelling read about the mysteries of emotions and the workings of the brain.

Book Description

What happens in our brains to make us feel fear, love, hate, anger, joy? Do we control our emotions, or do they control us? Do animals have emotions? How can traumatic experiences in early childhood influence adult behavior, even though we have no conscious memory of them? In The Emotional Brain, Joseph LeDoux investigates the origins of human emotions and explains that many exist as part of complex neural systems that evolved to enable us to survive.

One of the principal researchers profiled in Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, LeDoux is a leading authority in the field of neural science. In this provocative book, he explores the brain mechanisms underlying our emotions -- mechanisms that are only now being revealed.

Customer Reviews:

The Emotional Brain - the BEST.......2007-09-15

I found The Emotional Brain to be the most informative of 7 books that I ordered and read on the topic of emotions and the brain. After reading The Emotional Brain "cover to cover", the remaining books served as support and review of Joseph LeDoux's book but provided little additional information.

Bad book.......2007-08-11

It is not customary for me to feel so moved by a book that I want to write a review. This book is so bad, so disappointing that someone really should say something.

LeDoux waits until the very last chapter to admit: "I've passed the emotional consciousness buck. I've redefined the problem ...as how emotional information comes to be represented in working memory. This won't make you happy if you want to know exactly what a feeling is or if you want to know how something as intangible as a feeling could be part of something so tangible as a brain."

Duh! That's why I bought the book! After all, the subtitle is "The mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life."

What the writer does manage to do prior to his final chapter is report the history of brain research, which is useful primarily as a sleep aid. The final chapter is however interesting and worth reading. If we could remove the first eight chapters, I could recommend this book.

Discussion of current theories of cognition and emotion.......2007-06-27

Joseph LeDoux works very hard in this book, but in many ways, his fairness and ambition get in his way. He sets out not only to explain how emotions work in the brain but also to review the neurological, philosophical, evolutionary and psychological theories that explain the emotions. LeDoux makes sure he is fair to each theory, but that means that he takes entire chapters to discuss ideas that he ultimately dismisses as stepping stones. This tactic is informative if you're interested in history, but it will only slow you down if you're looking for a practical discussion of how emotions work. In addition, despite LeDoux's careful explanations, analogies and diagrams, the theories are complex and therefore challenging. We recommend this book to patient readers seeking a strong overall background on the emotional functioning of the brain. Human resource managers and others seeking insight into people's feelings and responses will find it especially useful.

A very important book..........2006-10-23

Ledoux reveals the basic functioning of the brain in this book. Based on his research and theories we may undertsand that:

* Emotion is the trigger to action
* The rational system follows the emotional system
* Present actions are driven by past experiences
* Present experiences dictate our emerging needs

This theory is now called "emtional imprinting" and is being exploited by marketing and advertising companies to sell products. Our responses provide insight into how the brain stores information as well as makes decisions. The book is not only basic psychology but also a guide for understanding managining and even mergers and acquisitions.

Highly recommended.

Great insight on human reactivity.......2006-08-08

A very thorough journey into the relationship between emotions and the brain. I was drawn to this book simply to answer the question: why is it that people don't make sensible choices sometimes but, rather, let their emotions rule? I got the answer and then some.
LeDoux cites a story of a scientist (I think it was Darwin, but he cites so many, I forgot which one) who was interested in the automaticity of fear responses despite rationally knowing that there is nothing to fear. Darwin went to the zoo and stood in front of a glass cage which housed an aggressive snake. As much as he told himself not to flinch, he could not control his reaction when the snake struck at the glass.
Fear is what has helped the species stay alive and evolve and is, thus, pretty hardwired. When ancestors were going to be someone's lunch, the survivors with the "fast" genes were the ones who created the next generation, and so on and so on...
Well then, why is it that we CAN make really smart, considered decisions and not be just a bundle of emotions reacting all over the place? That's because, as LeDoux demonstrates, there are 2 routes by which an emotional stimulus can reach the amygdala and one of them is through the cortex where higher reasoning is possible. The kicker is that the way the brain is structured -- right now at this point in evolution -- the amygdala has a greater influence on the cortex than the cortex has on the amygdala.
It the book a fascinating look at, essentially, human nature. Because there is so much fact, structure and research supporting these insights, it was hard to read through some of it. For that reason, it gets 4 stars, though its scientific plausibility would falter is it didn't have the depth.

Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells: Based on Quentin Cottington's Journal of Faery Research

Average customer rating:

great and strange english humour
Scotch-guard your wardrobe and prepare to be amused....
Rather inventive
Not just funny...
Have been looking for uncle Quentin

Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells: Based on Quentin Cottington's Journal of Faery Research
Terry Jones
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684832062

Customer Reviews:

great and strange english humour.......2004-11-11

I have bought this book as a gift for friends ever since I owned my first copy. It is funny, beautifully illlustrated and guarenteed to appeal to all artistic types with an affiliation for Monty Python, Black Adder and all things English and comedic! Not for children, even though they love the picture. It stands alone although is really best enjoyed along with the other Lady Coddington fairy books.
I am currently buying a copy for my graphic deisgner and his illustrator wife. I have no doubt he will add it to his collection of published weirdness!

Scotch-guard your wardrobe and prepare to be amused...........2003-03-01

...because Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells is, aside from nicely done art (by Brian Froud) and brilliant satire (by Terry Jones), a fairly good glimpse into the sort of creatures that are around even if you don't want them to be, even if you aren't the sort to have pixies and goblins about because you don't believe in them or believe in them so much it creeps the little creatures out. Check under your VCR or underneath the layer of papers covering a desk to see what I mean, as you've probably got Doggitus Mucilagus sticking some loose change to the wood.
Extremely funny and far from fiction, get it for yourself and as a gift for your favourite neat-freak.

Rather inventive.......2001-07-03

Hilarious and all-together head-scratching, as you find yourself realizing they're talking about something you've been wondering about all along. You may have thought you were the only one undergoing the cruel and unusual punishment of these noxious fumes and stains, but here you find you are not alone... If you're going to read this aloud as a bed-time book or as a book of quotations, you are required by law to read it aloud with an English accent. If you cannot speak with an English accent or if it is terrible beyond measure, please read silently. Don't even mouth the words as you read. If by chance, you meet someone who is talking about smells and stains in a bad English accent, smack him. If he's bigger than you, you may let him off with a warning...or politely kick him and run, because big guys take longer to build up the inertia to accelerate than little guys. If he doesn't catch you and is breathing heavily, then run up to him and smack him. That should get the point across.

Not just funny..........2000-12-12

...but also a bit disarming! Some of the stains and "odor" illustrations in the book look... well, "fresh". I'm not altogether sure that I want to know how the book publisher achieved this effect, but it definately adds bonus points in my mind.

So, the authors of the book claim to have found a gadget that allows them to communicate with smells and stains. Odd, to think that such things are sentient, but nonetheless, their commentary is, of course, hilarious.

Not that I mean to give anything away, but my personal favorite is "The Great Stain of the Apocalypse" and the theory surrounding it. You'll have to get the book (which I recommend) to find out more!

Have been looking for uncle Quentin.......2000-06-20

So nice that you all found uncle Quentin. I do need to talk with him. Can't believe everything that you read. What he is not telling you about is all the fairies that escaped from London and landed in (of all places) Des Moines, Iowa. I need to know where to get in touch with uncle.

Photo/Stoner: The Rise, Fall, and Mysterious Disappearance of Surfing's Greatest Photographer

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Incredible
Photo/Stoner: The Rise, Fall, and Mysterious Disappearance of Surfing's Greatest Photographer
C L A S S I C
great pictures
Captures the moment of change

Photo/Stoner: The Rise, Fall, and Mysterious Disappearance of Surfing's Greatest Photographer
Matt Warshaw
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811855333

Book Description

In 1965, Ron Stoner was the best surf photographer in the business. Every month, he shot the balmy beaches, bikini-clad girls, and achingly beautiful waves of Southern California for Surfer Magazine. Then, at the height of his fame, Ron Stoner walked off this sunny stage and disappeared forever. In Photo/Stoner, Stoner's strange story is recounted by surfing historian Matt Warshaw alongside Stoner's best photos, reproduced as never before. In these rare images, Stoner recorded more than just a beautiful wave or a perfect moment, he captured the effortless and innocent grace of coastal California pre-condominium. In word and in image, Photo/Stoner is a poignant ode to a lost era, and a lost man.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible.......2007-07-12

So happy to see Ron Stoner's work has survived and is in print. A must for surfing afficiandos.

Photo/Stoner: The Rise, Fall, and Mysterious Disappearance of Surfing's Greatest Photographer.......2007-04-12

Great, beautiful photoes and an excellent read of a social misfit in the same ilk as Van Gough

C L A S S I C .......2007-04-02

If you like Surfing and Photography this is for you, all the classic Stoner photos and much more, Matt Warshaw and Jeff Divine made an amazing book, showing not just the photos but also a deep insight on Stoner's life, when you end seeing the book for the first time you know you did a right thing buying it.

great pictures.......2007-03-11

This book brings back a lot of memories from when I surfed in the 60's in California. It is too bad where Ron eventually strayed, but the drugs caught up to him. Just a great table top book. Absolutely beautiful photography and written history.

Captures the moment of change.......2007-02-05

This is a beautifully photographed book and well presented with interesting but inobtrusive commentary. The book catches the moment in time that surfing changed into the modern sport, a period only just captured by Stoner during his short photographic career. The book captures the mood of surfing just before and just after the shortboard revolution and drug culture re-wrote the culture of surfing. I loved it.

Average customer rating:

Anno's Mysterious multiplying jar
Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar
This is an all-time classic. Every home with kids in it should have one.
A lovely book on counting and factorials
Terrific Teaching Tool

Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar
Mitsumasa Anno
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0698117530

Book Description

"Superbly demonstrating the conception of factorials in mathematics, the text and pictures combine to present a lesson in a palatable form as well as the pleasure of looking at pictures that only Mitsumasa Anno could invent." — Publishers Weekly "The book moves logically and elegantly from the concrete to the abstract. Once made clear, the concept is unforgettable, but the book entices the reader to return for further appreciation of the artistry with which it was designed." — The Horn Book "If you want a book that does a good selling job on the factorial concept, this one works." — School Library Journal

Customer Reviews:

Anno's Mysterious multiplying jar.......2007-03-10

A wonderful way to introduce the concept of Factorials. Book can be used year six onwards. A must for any teacher and at least a class set for the school. It will enhance English language learning and fire up kids imagination. Just a wonderful book! What else can I say. Get hold of it and enjoy! Rama

Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar.......2007-02-20

Great math problem for multiplication. Great for showing multiplication of factors.

This is an all-time classic. Every home with kids in it should have one........2006-02-28

'Nuff said.

A lovely book on counting and factorials.......2005-01-04

This picture book is easy to read, and presents two math concepts: the first is counting to ten. The second is factorials: If there are three kingdoms in two countries on one island, then how many kingdoms are there altogether?

Imagining some of the silly scenes (there are how many cupboards in how many rooms?) is a delight.

This book -- or at least the last half of it -- is best for kids who have been introduced to at least basic multiplication facts, but younger kids will enjoy counting and looking at the pictures even if the rest of it is over their heads. It is, therefore, a great book to read to your middle/upper-elementary student while younger siblings are looking on.

Terrific Teaching Tool.......2004-09-24

I read this book to a first grader and a fifth grader. The first grader immediately observed that with the turn of each page, there was one more picture, i.e., mountains, kingdoms and villages, etc., ending up with 10 jars. The next concept of factorials was not as obvious, but he was curious about the multiplying dots. To the fifth grader, the concept of factorials was much more apparent and he found the pattern easily. This book helps with multiplying skills as well as the mathematical concept of factorials. Also, there is further explanation as to the concept of factorials at the end of the book.

Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, 2 Volume Set

Average customer rating:

Definitely best price
Complete covers everything
Phenomenal 2 Volume Set!
A Very Intersting Ecylcopedia
A collection of animals reported to exist at some point

Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, 2 Volume Set
George Eberhart
Manufacturer: ABC-CLIO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1576072835
Release Date: 2002-12-17

Customer Reviews:

Definitely best price.......2007-04-02

No idea how it was done, but I got it 75% less price with amazon that with any other vendor, perfect condition, my son loved it, he just goes literally everywhere with them.

Complete covers everything.......2007-03-22

These books cover everything from scientific names to places. It is heavey on bigfoots from around the world and overlaps some on them but all in all a good read if your into the science part of cryptozoology.There are stories in the book about sightings but this is not a pure sightings book it is more about cataloging the cryptids.

Phenomenal 2 Volume Set!.......2004-10-17

Finally! A long overdue authoritative encyclopedia of cryptozoology! This set is awesome! There is so much information here that it'll take a veeery long time to digest it all.

I do have several suggestions though:
1) More photos and illustrations (especially photos and stills from film footage which are discussed, but not shown).
2) Dustjackets. The covers are gorgeous, but how long will they remain so without dustjackets? And at this price, you'd think the publisher could afford it. Which brings me to...
3) The price is outrageous. How can the publisher make any money by limiting it's buyers to libraries, rich people and fools like me? $60 sure, even $75, but $185? Jeez! And even though I paid WAY less than that for my set, it still almost killed by bank account.

Even so, I'm glad I bought it and wouldn't be without it.

A Very Intersting Ecylcopedia.......2004-10-16

I accidently stumbled upon this item while looking for anything on the Paranormal. The Book seemed very intersting and I bought it. The Price was a Killer, but it was worth it. It is set in 2 voulumes which is more like an Encyclopedia, but in the Final Sections of Volume Two mainly is Reference to all the New Species discovered in the 20th Century. Also in the real Final pages, are all Lakes that supposedly have Monsters in them like Lake Erie or Lake Champlain. I would recommend this Book for Reference, but not for reading from Start because like I said, it is more like an Encyclopedia than a Non Fiction Novel.

A collection of animals reported to exist at some point.......2004-09-25

This two-volume set is a basic layman's guide to the weird, wonderful world of unknown animals. These are animals whose existence has not been proven at this time. While the idea that there may be animals, including some very large ones, living in the world and we have no proof of their existence might be strange to some people it was during my lifetime that gorillas and rhinoceroses were removed from the category of fables.

For each entry the editors provide information on its physical description, behavior, distribution, possible explanations, significant sightings, and sources. This is a non-judgmental review of the reports from around the world presented in a typical encyclopedic style. Although it contains primarily creatures reported to exist but not proven it also includes some animals like the Dodo bird, which were known to exist and are believed extinct. But, because there have been occasional reported sightings in recent years these animals are included.

ABC-CLIO, Inc. published some of the best educational materials of this type on the market today. As always Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology is a high quality reference work written at a high-school level and so is accessible to everyone. Mysterious Creatures is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in this area and a recommended purchase for libraries.

Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization

Average customer rating:

Long but very important book
Underworld
Drivel
The Clues That Lie Under The Seas
Intriguing and Well-researched

Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization
Graham Hancock
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1400046122
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Book Description

From Graham Hancock, bestselling author of Fingerprints of the Gods, comes a mesmerizing book that takes us on a captivating underwater voyage to find the ruins of a lost civilization that’s been hidden for thousands of years beneath the world’s oceans.

While Graham Hancock is no stranger to stirring up heated controversy among scientific experts, his books and television documentaries have intrigued millions of people around the world and influenced many to rethink their views about the origins of human civilization. Now he returns with an explosive new work of archaeological detection. In Underworld, Hancock continues his remarkable quest underwater, where, according to almost a thousand ancient myths from every part of the globe, the ruins of a lost civilization, obliterated in a universal flood, are to be found.

Guided by cutting-edge science and the latest archaeological scholarship, Hancock begins his mission to discover the truth about these myths and examines the mystery at the end of the last Ice Age. As the glaciers melted between 17,000 and 7,000 years ago, sea levels rose and more than 15 million square miles of habitable land were submerged underwater, resulting in a radical change to the Earth’s shape and the conditions in which people could live. Using the latest computer techniques to map the world’s changing coastlines, Hancock finds astonishing correspondences with the ancient flood myths.

Filled with thrilling accounts of his own participation in dives off the coast of Japan, as well as in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Arabian Sea, we watch as Hancock discovers underwater ruins exactly where the myths say they should be—sunken kingdoms that archaeologists never thought existed. Fans of Hancock’s previous adventures will find themselves immersed in Underworld, a provocative book that provides both compelling hard evidence for a fascinating, forgotten episode in human history and a completely new explanation for the origins of civilization as we know it.

Customer Reviews:

Long but very important book.......2007-04-18

I believe this is a far more important book than most people realize. While the author suffers from a lack of editing and brevity, he more than makes up for it in his subject selection and hands-on detective work. I read the entire book and it was a detailed, highly convincing argument that mankind has done a really slipshod job of investigating our history in terms of looking at the oceans of the world.

I thought the photographs in the book were fantastic and my only complaint is that there weren't more of them! Especially interesting were the underwater photos of Yonaguni which I find almost impossible to believe could be natural phenomena. I wish Mr. Hancock had also put together a DVD release of this material as I think that the actual pictures tell a story that the written word itself can hardly match. The author does actually mention the difficulty of underwater photography in the various locations he travels and this is part of the importance of the book; that is, that we need advances in our ability to image places we are investigating in order to tell the story to the public and thereby capture both imagination and funding in order to continue exploring the hidden history of mankind.

Those who gave this book bad reviews are ignoring the fact that, to my knowledge, modern history has absolutely no explanation at all for formations like Yonaguni, if it is indeed man-made. The author's book is, as far as I can tell, one of the only attempts to provide any kind of real explanation for this. Yonaguni is an anomaly whose only other explanation (that it is a natural formation) is almost impossible to believe.

With some additional editing, etc., in a second edition, this book could easily rate five stars. And the subject matter is important enough that it needs to.

Underworld.......2007-03-09

As Far as I know no one else has informed us about all of these underwater places where people, at one time, lived. As always Handcock makes you think.

Drivel.......2007-02-15

These books are nonsense. Any books whose titles include any of the words 'mysterious', 'secrets', 'Templar', 'alien', 'code', 'supernatural', 'mythic', 'cosmic', are just giving away the fact that they are unscientific rubbish. They are based on wishes and dreams, but we should all know that children wish, adults decide.

The Clues That Lie Under The Seas.......2007-02-11

This is a very ambitious and rich journey to sites underwater as author Graham Hancock and wife/photographer Santha Faiia continue their quest in uncovering more clues to a "lost" ancient civilization.

Through a text that makes the reader part of the expedition and outstanding illustrations & photographs, the exploration touches on sites throughout the world, including the Bahamas, Malta, Japan and India.

Hancock again makes a compelling argument for his theory that global floods that brought an end to the Ice Age wiped out a civilization, with the survivors sharing their highly-advanced knowledge with newer ancient societies.

And that the path may lead under the seas makes for a fascinating read.

Intriguing and Well-researched.......2006-11-03

In "Underworld," Graham Hancock takes on the mythological story of The Flood. Tackled with the same attention to detail that he displays in his previous alternative archeology books, Hancock visits and describes underwater ruins and connects them with the mythological traditions of many cultures. He blasts the socks off of conventional archeological theory that says that civilization began only 6,000 years ago. The book is richly illustrated with beautiful photographs--both color and black and white--taken by his wife Santha Faiia.

Although I enjoyed the descriptions of many previous cultures and the author's intriguing theories, "Underworld" does not grasp my imagination nor does it inflame my speculation the same way my favorite Graham Hancock book, "Fingerprints of the Gods" does. I also adore Santha Faiia's photographs in "Heaven's Mirror" much more than in this book, probably because so many of the photos in "Underworld" were taken underwater and so tend to be bluish. Nonetheless, as with any Hancock/Faiia book, I am amazed at the amount of thorough research it took to write the book, I like that they actually visit the places they write about, and I appreciate the book as a reference in writing my own books.

Carole Chapman is the author of "When We Were Gods: Insights on Atlantis, Past Lives, Angelic Beings of Light and Spiritual Awakening," "The Golden Ones: From Atlantis to a New World," and "Blessed: A Quest for Atlantis in Egypt Leads to Apparitions of the Virgin Mary."

Joan: The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint

Average customer rating:

Grace apparent through a teenaged girl
Good, balanced interesting read.
Ultimately Unknowable

Joan: The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint
Donald Spoto
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060815175
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Book Description

During the tumultuous Hundred Years' War between England and France, a teenage peasant girl followed her heart and helped save a nation. A vision from God, received in her parents' garden, instructed her to take up arms and help restore the kingdom of France. Without consulting her family, Joan left home on one of the most remarkable personal quests in history. As a young girl in a world of men, she faced unimaginable odds, yet her belief in her mission propelled her forward. Within months Joan was directing soldiers and bravely fighting for her nation. Before long she had become a national hero and was the guest of honor at her king's coronation. Yet fame ultimately became her undoing. The English shrewdly realized that Joan's demise and defamation would disgrace France and provide a more direct route to victory. Captured in war, Joan became a pawn in one of the longest and bloodiest wars in history.

Since her death at the age of nineteen in 1431, Joan of Arc has maintained a remarkable hold on our collective imagination. She was a teenager of astonishing common sense and a national heroine who led men in battle as a courageous warrior. Yet she was also abandoned by the king whose coronation she secured, betrayed by her countrymen, and sold to the enemy. In this meticulously researched landmark biography, Donald Spoto expertly captures this astonishing life and the times in which she lived. Neither wife nor nun, neither queen nor noblewoman, neither philosopher nor stateswoman, Joan of Arc demonstrates that anyone who follows their heart has the power to change history.

Customer Reviews:

Grace apparent through a teenaged girl.......2007-09-21

Spoto's picture of Joan is of a brave, patriotic, spiritual girl who followed what she believed to be God's will.

His descriptions of her months of loneliness, terror and suffering -- chained in a dark dungeon and nearly starving -- and the disgraceful and dishonest onslaught from her tormentors will touch even a Joan skeptic.

Spoto's message: 1) God is against imperialism; and 2) He often sends the least likely person to do the job (in this case, defending the French nation and culture from English invasion).

Spoto's writing is lively, and he doesn't try to hide his admiration for this teenaged girl or his religious sensibilities. It is not a sermon, though, but an enthralling biography that makes a good introduction to Joan of Arc or adds to the understanding of those whom she continues to fascinate nearly six hundred years after her execution.

Good, balanced interesting read........2007-09-10

Having seen several films on her life, I wanted to know more.
The book explains the Englishes motivation to prosecute her, the wisdom of her responses, her belief in her life purpose/mission and expectation of an afterlife.

Ultimately Unknowable.......2007-08-02

This book disappointed me, but I think it was probably inevitable. I have a lot of respect for Spoto as a celebrity biographer, and as a professional theologian with a Ph.D. in religion, he's got the chops to write Joan's life. And, as he points out, due to the extensive contemporary historical records, including her long interrogation sessions, we probably know more about her life than we do about any of her contemporaries.

So why doesn't the book work for me? I think it is simply that Joan is ultimately unknowable. Much of how you regard her comes from what you think about the "voices" that guided her life -- were they legitimately divine, were they imaginary, were they the product of psychosis? Spoto knows this and spends a substantial amount of time on the voices, but in the end it's just impossible to come to any kind of opinion other than the one you held before you opened the book. And Joan in her testimony, straightforward and occasionally brilliant, is nonetheless opaque. When I finished the book, I felt I knew almost nothing more about her: she was an extraordinarily brave and clear-headed girl who heard voices, led military campaigns that essentially restored the king of France to his throne, and was abandoned by the monarch she returned to power and burned to death by the church that later sanctified her. But who was she, moment to moment? I'm not sure anyone will ever know.

Spoto subtitles the book "The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint." I'm not certain the mystery is one that can be solved.

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