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.

The Complete Art of War (History and Warfare)

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Excellent
The teachings of the greatest military geniuses of all time.
Sun Tzu and Sun Pin are timeless
Excellent
suffering

The Complete Art of War (History and Warfare)
Sun-tzu , Sun Pin , and Mei-Chun Lee Sawyer
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0813330858

Book Description

Presented here together for the first time are the greatest of the ancient Chinese classics of strategic thought: The Complete Art of War. Probably the most famous work of strategy ever written, Sun Tzu's Art of War has sold millions of copies in many languages around the world. Lost for more than 2000 years and only recently recovered, the Military Methods of Sun Pin (Sun Tzu's great-grandson) is a brilliant elaboration on his ancestor's work. Only The Complete Art of War brings the wisdom of these two ancient sages into a single volume and gives the reader a unique opportunity to master the essentials of Chinese thought on strategy, organization and leadership.

The Sun family writings on strategy have proven their value through the ages, and they continue to reward careful study. By unveiling the complex, often unexpected, interrelationships of armies locked in battle, they reveal the enduring principles of success in the struggle of life itself. With a practical index to the essential principles of strategy, and Ralph Sawyer's thoughtful chapter-by-chapter commentaries, The Complete Art of War is designed to bring the reader new insights into the nature of human conflict.

Whether it is playing the game of politics or building a successful marriage, closing a deal or managing a large organization, making war or even making peace, The Complete Art of War stands as one of the ultimate guides to a deeper understanding of human affairs.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2006-01-01

Bought a copy. Lost it. HAD TO buy another to replace it. An excellent book, Sawyers commentaries modernize and place in context applicable to today's managers. Clearly a lot of work went into his explanations. A must have, must read, must study. Provided me with months worth of reading material at lunch.

The teachings of the greatest military geniuses of all time........2003-11-10

Sun Tzu collected his teachings into the ancient Chinese treatise on military strategy known as "The Art of War" about twenty-five hundred years ago. Afterward his teachings were passed down through the Sun family, or a group of disciples, who edited or expounded upon the original writings until they assumed their current form. Sun Pin was the great-grandson of Sun Tzu, and he used the teachings of his brilliant ancestor to develop his Treatise "Military Methods". This wonderful translation by Ralph D. Sawyer includes both of these ancient texts.

"The Art of War" has been studied the world over by military, political and business leaders seeking to understand the nature of human conflict in all it's forms. Although thousands of years old, the teachings of Sun Tzu remain relevant even today. The maxims of Sun Tzu have been applied by students of "The Art of War" to such modern conflicts as the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Sun Tzu's teachings range from the seemingly simple, such as "Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests cannot advance the army", to the more complex and thought provoking, such as "In order await the disordered. In tranquility await the clamorous. This is the way to control the mind." The manual covers such diverse topics as training, supplies, terrain, the seasons and the use of spys, and includes detailed commentary by China's greatest military leaders through the centuries.

"The Art of War" should be read by anyone who studies military history or strategy, and is part of the curriculum of many of the world's military academies. Studying the teachings of Sun Tzu can help you to form strategies for conflict resolution or negotiating in business, political or social endeavors through a greater understanding of human interaction.

Sun Tzu and Sun Pin are timeless.......2001-06-18

The Art of War is the oldest and best military treatise this world has seen. It is amazing how Sun Tzu can talk about strategy and warfare in thirteen short chapters. His book is just the best about competition and strategy. And now we get to Sun Pin, the military strategist. I have awesome respect for him. He was betrayed and mutilated by his best friend, and still, he survived. He defeated his nemesis in a great strategic way that Sun Tzu would have mostly likely done. These two are the best and if they were in this world today, they would won every war that we fight, by their ability to adapt. If you want to get Ancient Strategy and Chinese Culture, get this book.

Excellent.......2001-06-04

The publishing of both Sun Tzu's and Sun Pin's works together makes for a valuable purchase. I've found that this translation is also quite easy to follow, and the comments assist with interpretation. These works represent awesome insights into the nature of warfare.

suffering.......2001-04-20

The text does not remotely fill the entire page to lengthen the book and suggest a happier price. Sun Pin's addition is severely garbled because the original text was damaged and it's contadictory. The most likely reason that Sun Pin's methods were forgotten and preserved only in a tomb was because (GEE GOLLY) people believed it wasn't worth reading. The commentary uses the word obvious extremely often among various other uneeded lengthening exercises.The author describes himself as an imaginative entrepenuer.(Sun Tzu flirts with perfection)

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The Oldest Treatise on Game Theory
A well thought out treatise, all in a little book
The Optimistic Jew
Required reading at many military colleges around the world
Human Nature

The Art of War (Shambhala Classics)
Sun Tzu
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486425576

Amazon.com

The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality. Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition trail Sun-tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their soldiers." Elsewhere, Sun-tzu has told us to plunder the enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food? The Tang dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned." Most passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure them in with the prospect of gain, take them by confusion" or "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability is in the opponent." Sun-tzu's maxims are widely applicable beyond the military because they speak directly to the exigencies of survival. Your new tools will serve you well, but don't flaunt them. Remember Sun-tzu's advice: "Though effective, appear to be ineffective." --Brian Bruya

Book Description

Widely regarded as "The Oldest Military Treatise in the World," this landmark work covers principles of strategy, tactics, maneuvering, communication, and supplies; the use of terrain, fire, and the seasons of the year; the classification and utilization of spies; the treatment of soldiers, including captives, all have a modern ring to them.

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Sun Tzu's classic treatise on the art of warfare

Customer Reviews:

The Oldest Treatise on Game Theory.......2007-09-30

There are many translations of this work which has long been in the public domain. This is the popular translation by Lionel Giles made even more popular by the introduction from the best-selling author of Japan epics, James Clavell. It contains Giles' commentary along with the translation. The annotations give historical examples of the strategies in action.

Game theory is calculated strategy. The Art of War by Sun Tzu is probably the oldest and most important book on game theory ever written. It is the culmination of the development of the best warfare tactics prior to the 5th century BC. It is considered the foundation for all military plans and is still used to this day. It is most popular for its ability to win wars without fighting one. Its application has shaped the world as we know it.

The Art of War can be understood as a breakdown of the chaos of warfare into components that can be analyzed and understood. The tactics are mostly about controlled organization, recognizing environments and situations and the correct response to each one. Organization is subject to change in competition. The Art of War is essentially the strategy of responding to changing environments. Response is thus relative to evolving conditions.

1 - "Laying Plans"
The core message of this chapter is to calculate as much as possible before committing yourself. Important themes include discipline, ethics, environmental conditions and assessing the competition. It's about setting up the mission and evaluating the competition.

2 - "Waging War"
The important detail of this chapter is to win as quickly and as economically as possible. Prolonged struggle means wasting resources and undermining confidence. When winning, use the spoils as rewards and capital. It's about making war pay.

3 - "Attack by Stratagem"
This chapter is about deployment of the previous two chapters. The central message is to know thyself and know thy enemy. This stage indicates problems such as sieges, bad management and interior anarchy or legal/government interference. Advantages such as good management, exploiting opportunities and attacking tactics are covered. Strength is about cohesiveness and is independent of size.

4 - "Tactical Dispositions"
This one stresses putting yourself in a position where you cannot be defeated and waiting for the opportunity to defeat the enemy. It is about recognizing the breaks and taking them as opposed to creating the breaks.

5 - "Energy"
This part focuses on the power of deception to lull the enemy into a false sense of security and the use of spies to learn the enemy's moves. It also stresses the need to evolve in battle. It's about building up war capability.

6 - "Weak Points and Strong"
This chapter encapsulates all the previous five chapters into an advanced war strategy producing outcomes, calculating and responding to events as they unfold. The strategies are developed here. It is about creating breaks.

7 - "Maneuvering"
This deals with managing units and the internal problems they face on top of how to respond during movement to various circumstances. It is a chapter based on types of situations and responses.

8 - "Variation of tactics"
This section expands on the evolution of tactics and strategies based on situations and responses but concentrates on what causes failure.

9 - "The Army on the March"
This is advanced maneuvering especially across long distances with different terrains and how to deal with encounters. It is about interpretation.

10 - "Terrain"
This describes the various terrains that an army can encounter and when and how to occupy them. It talks about distances, potential dangers and obstructions. Positioning is important.

11 - "The Nine Situations"
This piece explains the condition of each terrain in terms of its tactical advantages and disadvantages and how to deal with both. It is a very intensive chapter because of the number of complex conditions dealt with.

12 - "The Attack by Fire"
Arson in war is probably the single most troubling weapon that an army could have inflicted on the enemy around 500 BC. This chapter is obviously based on the most advanced weapons of the time which have since been developed. It is about using the principle of creating disorder and chaos to win.

13 - "The Use of Spies"
Without spies don't war. War is won based on foreknowledge not by calculation but by direct information about the plans of the other side from spies. Spies are managed in this chapter.

Even though the work is quite short (about 100 pages or less with commentary) it is complex enough to warrant several readings. It is the equivalent to learning how to play advanced chess, a game which compliments this study. There is a lifetime of thought within the pages. Napoleon was said to have used it and lost when he didn't follow it.

The Art of War has become one of the most important self help books of this century popularized in big business as many executives have had recourse to this material because it offers a sound winning strategy. Most readers come away believing that the book's message finds it adaptable to many environments because it is all about adjusting to variations and so can be applied to anything and everything.

The Art of War is not supposed to be an exciting read. It is a strategy book, a step by step guide to how battles are won and why they are lost. It is more to be memorized as a set of responses, including when not to respond, than to be understood. The combinations of the responses are unlimited. There is enough on the plate without asking why. Understanding why would come later and the answers to these questions would come from a very sophisticated understanding of the theory. It is an endeavor that remains open to the reader if they can come to terms first with the information that is here.

Even if the book is not followed up on by subsequent study it can still leave a long lasting impression with its tips on discipline and achieving goals. It is great value for the amount of information contained in such a short burst. It will get you thinking strategically and that is more or less its claim to fame.

A well thought out treatise, all in a little book.......2007-09-12

A very good treatise on the Taoist perspective on war. It carries so many parallels to today's modern combat, and is required reading in Asian businesses and for Asian military officers, especially the Chinese People's Liberation Army. It's a fairly easy read and very good to understand as well. Compare it to the Machiavelli book of the same name and you'd see a stark contrast to it. Recommended for those who want to learn what would be good military strategy and tactics, especially if those support a military with greater autonomy than many countries have now.

The Optimistic Jew.......2007-08-31

B.H. Liddell Hart's favorite military thinker even though he lived 2,000 years earlier. Like Liddell Hart his thought transcends the military sphere and influenced me in my writing of "The Optimistic Jew". Worthwhile reading even today.

Required reading at many military colleges around the world.......2007-08-21

Written in approximately 470 BC, The Art of War is a Taoist treatise on martial and political philosophy ... one of the most famous ever written, and one of the most often quoted. The fact that it is still popular and well quoted, after more than 2,000 years, should say something about its timeless qualities.

It's composed as a list of terse, keen and ingenious observations, sayings, and maxims ... with various translators over the centuries each adding their own interpretations and commentary. There's something on almost every topic ... from siege planning, use of formations & maneuvering, the virtues of adaptability and cunning, speed, the use of positioning & terrain, disinformation and the use of spies, etc.

The author's advice spans both low level tactics ["do not stop an army on its way home" {Brad: because they'll be more likely to fight to the death} ... "a surrounded army must be given a way out" {Brad: channel their retreat into a killing zone of your own creation}] ... and high level strategic thinking ["a superior militarist foils enemy plots without the need to fight; the next best {strategy} is to ruin their alliances; next {best strategy} after that is to attack their armed forces; worst {strategy} is to beseige their cities"]

It's required reading at many military colleges around the world.

Human Nature.......2007-05-24

The reason this book is a timeless classic is because it analyzes all aspects of war from the standpoint of human nature, and makes a solid case that any endeavor that fails to take into account human nature is doomed to failure. Because the subject is warfare, including its causes, and the analysis is solid, one is left with not only the first order result (how to handle a war situation effectively) but also a life changing understanding of the humbling constraints of human existence and the pragmatics of applied psychology. Anyone who is bored by this book (and this particular one is excellent) is not yet ready to learn basic lessons about human existence. Anyone who is capable of humility will be changed by this book. It should be read by everyone, several times throughout life.

The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu's Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work

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A woman's translation for women of the original Art of War that has been in print for centuries.
Helpful Advice for Issues that are Ages Old
Sun Tzu as You've Never Seen Him

The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu's Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work
Chin-Ning Chu
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ASIN: 0385518404
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

Forget everything you think you know about strength, strategy and success. This brilliant adaptation of the ancient masterpiece The Art of War shows women how to use Sun Tzu’s philosophy to win in every aspect of life.

Would you like to transform your weaknesses into strengths? Succeed at work without compromising your ethics? Integrate your style and personal philosophy into every action you take? If so, this book is for you. In The Art of War for Women, bestselling author Chin-Ning Chu brings the eternal wisdom of philosopher-general Sun Tzu to women looking to gain a better understanding of who they are – and, more importantly, who they want to be.

In the West, when we think of war, we imagine battle, casualties, brutality. But Sun Tzu, the man who wrote the Art of War some 2,500 years ago, was Chinese, and the Chinese think of war differently than we do in the West. In their view, war does not revolve around fighting. It is about determining the most efficient way of gaining victory with the least amount of conflict.

That’s why Sun Tzu’s Art of War is particularly appropriate for women. Let’s face it, as intelligent and accomplished as we may be, there are very few of us who are comfortable with direct confrontation or situations where our triumph means someone else’s defeat. We are natural negotiators and problem solvers; most of us prefer win-win situations to those in which winner-takes-all.

But there is another reason The Art of War is particularly appropriate for us. Although Sun Tzu’s book is about the application of strategies, every one of those strategies begins with having a deep understanding of the people and the world around us. They also require us to understand ourselves – our strengths and weaknesses, our goals and fears. In other words, the aim is not to apply a series of rules coldly and dispassionately, but rather to integrate ourselves and our unique talents into the strategies we will employ.

This is not a feel-good book. (But you will feel good after reading it.) It is not a motivational book. (But you will be motivated to achieve what you want, once you are done.) Ultimately, its purpose it to provide women with the strategies we all need to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of our goals and dreams.

Sun Tzu’s Art of War is the most influential book on strategy ever published, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide in several editions. Written by one of today’s foremost authorities on Sun Tzu, The Art of War for Women is sure to become a classic in its own right.

Customer Reviews:

A woman's translation for women of the original Art of War that has been in print for centuries........2007-05-01

I enjoyed reading this book. It didn't set my world on fire, but it was fairly well written and easy to follow. I don't like being told too much what I'm going to be told later. The author did a little more of this than I usually put up with. I would have liked the book better if it had just said what it wanted to say.

It contained 13 chapters as follows:

1. Planning: The Elements of Strategy
2. Doing Battle: Speedy Victory
3. Strategy: Know Thyself & Others
4. Disposition: Win First, Then Fight
5. Momentum: Use Timing to Generate Momentum
6. Real & Unreal: Illusion is the Other Side of Reality
7. Conflict: Don't Show Your Hand
8. Imagination: See Things No One Has Seen
9. Managing the Troops: The Principles of Management
10. Terrain: Move According to Your Environment
11. Nine Battlegrounds: Be More Competitive by Doing Less
12. Attack by Fire: Fireproofing Yourself
13. Espionage

If you have goals and dreams, then you may find this book helpful when trying to put together a strategy for trying to reach them. It will remind you that you have strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in your life. And a little strategic planning can help you solve your problems in an efficient manner.

My favorite chapter was #1. The six elements discussed there were:

>> Righteousness: How to make winning decisions.
>> Timing: From universal to personal timing.
>> Resources: Turn your liabilities into assets.
>>Leadership: A state of mind.
>>Managing: It's all about execution.
>> Deception: Appear weak when you are strong.

The book is just as applicable to men as it is to women. But the author's target audience is women. Everything in the book is written as though the author is speaking to a woman. 4 stars!

Helpful Advice for Issues that are Ages Old.......2007-04-29

Back about 2,500 years ago, a Chinese man named Mr. Sun went through many hardships and lived in a world full of civil war. Seeking to gain employment with the current leader, he wrote a "military resume". This work outlined his tactics in an obscure manner so that the leader would be intrigued enough to talk to him - and would need to keep Sun around to interpret and put into action the words. That opus was of course The Art of War, and "Mister" in ancient Chinese was written as Tzu.

2,500 years later, it seems that this deliberately complex and vague work has become the guidebook for men and women in all aspects of life. Its advice on how to approach a problem, how to deal with adversity and how to handle the whims of fate are as valid today as they were back then. People are still jealous, deceitful, and harsh. Businesses still undercut each other. Co-workers still back-stab to get ahead. The problems that Sun Tzu wrote about are problems we face today. The answers, in essence, are the same.

Chin-Ning Chu, an accomplished female Chinese business strategist, has taken on this work in a fresh light. Yes, the tactics are great for men facing battles in a male world - but in modern times, women have stepped up to gain their stage. A revolution not seen for thousands of years is taking place, where women are educated, can vote, have full and equal rights alongside men. As they say in the movies, with great power comes great responsibility. For perhaps the first time in history, it is no longer enough to blame the glass ceiling, the upbringing, the pressures of the world for our success or failure. We have - more than perhaps any generation which came before us - the ability to take the reins in our hands and give it our very best shot.

That's the straight-from-the-hip advice provided by the book. With numerous examples, we hear how women claimed they were helpless and unfairly turned down for promotions and advancement, when investigation found that these women actually sabotaged their own chances. Life isn't always fair, but in order to succeed in whatever arena you choose - family life, charity work, the boardroom - you have to do your very best to shine. Success won't be handed to you just because you think you deserve it. You need to be your own most vocal advocate - and to do that promotion in a way most in line with the atmosphere you are in.

The book is realistic. If you've got a nasty co-worker that is always undermining you, various techniques will be offered to help you overcome the situation. However, in the end, it may be best to find another job. You might claim that the job is perfect for you - but a job is a complex combination of many factors, which includes the people you work with. Another job will be *more* perfect because its combination is more in line with your path for yourself.

You also get a message echoed in many other current releases, which is to make sure the path you're on is one you really *want* to be on, deep down. People strive to be top in business because it's expected of them, not necessarily because it will make them personally happy. If you'd rather be home with the kids, running a small business from your home office, then find a way to make that work. It is critical that your daily life reflects your dreams and goals if you want to be truly happy, for your family and friends around you to share in that joy, and to find a real measure of success.

I found a few of the sections to be a bit extreme. One area talks about sexual harassment and says that women get offended by a pat on the shoulder. Perhaps some women do - but I don't! I find encouraging physical contact like that to be an important part of our society. It's very sad if we've gotten to the point that patting someone on the shoulder as a congratulation is grounds for legal action.

In general, though, I found a lot of helpful advice in here. At its very core, the entire book is a reminder that nothing is new under the sun. Issues that we find pressing in our current modern world were just as important 2,500 years ago. People are simply the way they are. By reading through the wisdom of the ages, we can help make our own world one which are are proud to live in, and our path one we are happy to follow.

Sun Tzu as You've Never Seen Him.......2007-04-22

There are so many of these books. Sun Tzu for this, Sun Tzu for that, Sun Zu for a landscaper, that I thought several times before buying yet another. But the book is slim, so I bought. Glad I did. Chu gets to the point: a woman needs to pick whether she wants to be Cinderella or a CEO, but she can't be both(Sun's advice to know yourself); don't blame discrimination for not moving ahead even if real( pick your battles and don't pull the litigation trigger mindlessly); a jealous co-worker trying to undermine you, then "slap her twice the first time she steps out of line"(as Sun wrote, "keep your plan as dark as the night/when you move/be as unpredictable as the thunderbolt."). Always keep in mind that your goals and decisions must be righteous---do the right thing for the right reason. This is not cuddly advice(been dating a guy for several years and he won't marry you? Read her section on the Tao of Closing the Deal for both personal and business advice. ) She makes clear that Sun must be read as a whole, that each section of the Art of War compliments the other. A welcome addition to the literature.

Average customer rating:

A feast for the eyes.
Great Work
Farewell to a Bygone Era
Town and Country

Slim Aarons: A Place in the Sun

Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810959356

Book Description

Since 1940 Slim Aarons has been hard at work, first as a war photographer, then with unprecedented access as a photographer to the rich and famous. In this gorgeous sequel to Slim Aarons-Once Upon a Time, he develops the environmental portrait to the level of art, always showing his subjects in their natural setting, in a circumstance synonymous with their station in life. He documented a particular world that is vanished. A Place in the Sun is that special glimpse of privilege under a bright and beaming sky, whether on sandy shore, snowy slope, or elegant home where cares are few. Through 250 stunning color pictures, Aarons provides a veritable who's who of high society: Aristotle Onassis with his first wife, Tina, and their children, Christina and Alexander; C.Z. Guest at her villa in Palm Beach; the Aga Khan at his Sardinian resort; and Truman Capote in Palm Springs. From Mustique to Monaco, from Aspen to Gstaad, only Slim Aarons can take us on a journey to the most exclusive playgrounds of the rich, inspiring even the most jaded armchair traveler.

Customer Reviews:

A feast for the eyes........2007-01-22

Beautiful pictures that tell us volumes about the social class portrayed in them.

Great Work .......2006-07-02

Being that Slim Aarons recently passed away, his work warrants an even closer work. What this book and the equally impressive Once Upon a Time have in common is that they portray true grace, elegance and class that makes todays celebrities look like a bunch of bums.

Farewell to a Bygone Era.......2006-06-03

With the recent death at age eighty of Slim Aarons the end of the time of the 'beautiful people' seems at an end - at least the photo documented class of the rich and famous as seen by the chief photographer of that elite group.

Slim Aarons earned his place in the sun. He was a combat photographer in WW II and after the war in which he lost his twin brother, he simply elected to not look at things that were ugly any more: saturation from the scenes of war played out its dynamic in a distant path for Aarons. He spent his fifty-odd years photographing the haunts of the wealthy and the beautiful, finding the special places, and openly introduced to the clans. He found the elegance of wealth as his subject, photographing beautiful people in their beautiful surroundings. Some would call this a shallow obsession, but his photographs became famous, e.g. Hollywood Legends, Joan Collins demurely stretched out on her bed with her pink poodle, etc.

Now Slim Aarons is gone and with him has passed the time when leisure among those who had it all has been tainted by the paparazzi. Aarons kept it clean and eloquent, and we are fortunate to have this excellent volume of his works as a celebration of his talent. Christopher Sweet is the one to thank for that and he has created a photo album well worth perusing, well worth remembering when times were different. Grady Harp, June 06

Town and Country.......2006-01-21

Slim Aarons really knew how to capture the jet set of a certain era, his images are so well crafted and the lucky subjects are always shown in there best light, literally and figuratively. The best picture in an array of amazing photography, and one that perfectly captures this rarified air, is the iconic picture of CeZe Guest standing by her pool, it captures all you need to know good and bad, through the prism of a beautiful woman, in a beautiful setting without a seeming care in the world, the very definition of, "To the Manor Born". Mr. Aarons captures so perfectly a life of unapolegetic jet setting opulance, and whether he means to are not he also captures the shallowness of it all, and you wonder, with all of this, are these people really any happier than the rest of us?

Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers; 50 Strategic Rules

Average customer rating:

Managers Cookbook
Comprehensive translation and interpretation!!!
Even More Relevant and Valuable Today
Sun Tzu for today
Very relevant modern adaptation

Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers; 50 Strategic Rules
Sun-tzu , and Gerald A. Michaelson
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1580624596

Book Description

Sun Tzu's Ihe Art of WarR, written in 500 B.C., has achieved international recognition as the foundation of Eastern military strategy.

Customer Reviews:

Managers Cookbook.......2007-10-01

This is a helpful book for helping me deal with staff. I have learned good skills that has helped me with being with a supervisor. It is easy to read and understand.

Comprehensive translation and interpretation!!! .......2007-02-20

For a first time reader, this book provides a good introduction to the concepts in the Art of War by Sun Tzu.

This book briefly mentions the differences between western and eastern strategy. The book "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz is believed to be the foundation of much of the Western strategy. Clausewitzian theory concentrates on the big battle as the way to win. His work expresses so many ideas that it can be used to justify any positions and in addition, it is filled with convoluted sentences and difficult to read. On the other hand, the eastern strategist Sun Tzu's the Art of War is a masterpiece of simplicity.

The fundamental principles of strategy are the same for all managers at all times and situations. Only the tactics are likely to change. Strategy is best defined as "doing the right thing" while tactics is "doing things right". The dividing line between tactics and strategy is indicated by the point of contact. Therefore, strategy stops at the border in war and at the HQ door in business, whereas tactics begins with contact with the enemies in war and customers in business.

The book is divided into 2 parts.
Part 1 is divided into 13 chapters like the original work, sharing the same title as the original translation. Each chapter provides the correlation of the teachings to the present business world, ending with examples on actual business scenarios.
Part 2 provides a useful guide to practical applications. The practical applications are cited by real persons working in various industries, giving examples of key Sun Tzu concepts in which they have applied in their line of work.
Finally the book ends with an outline of Sun Tzu's key concepts to aid in applications and which also serves to provide a good summary of the entire book Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

Even More Relevant and Valuable Today.......2006-02-07

The review which follows is of a book which I read when it was first published in 1999. I recently re-read it. Here are my reactions to it seven years later.

Many of those who read my reviews are owners/CEOs of small businesses. Whenever I receive an e-mail from one of them asking me to recommend books which will be of greatest practical value, I always include a choice of R.L. Wing's or Samuel B. Griffith's translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War on the list. Occasionally, someone who has read The Art of War asks for a recommendation of related sources. There are several to select from, notably The Art of Business: In the Footsteps of Giants written by Raymond T. Yeh and Stephanie H. Yeh; two books by Mark R. McNeilly, Sun Tzu and the Art of Business and Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare; and this one, which I read when it was first published and only now am I reviewing. Here are a few of the reasons for my rating of Michaelson's book.

First, Michaelson has selected and then discusses 50 "strategic rules" suggested by Sun Tzu's classic. To facilitate and support periodic review, the key concepts are summarized on pages 169-190 and range from" Thoroughly Assess Conditions" to "Practice Counterintelligence." Don't expect any head-snappers. The greatest value of The Art of War is that it helps, indeed insists that its reader think strategically. (Please keep in mind that it was written 2,500 years ago.) Michaelson fully understands that. His purpose is to apply ancient concepts to major perils and opportunities in the contemporary.

I also appreciate Michaelson's provision of several reader-friendly sections such as those in which he quotes a passage from The Art of War and then offers a "translation" of its relevance, followed by a "Manager's Commentary" in which he recommends appropriate application of Sun Tzu's insight. Throughout his rigorous and eloquent narrative, Michaelson also includes checklists such as the one found on page 114 when he identifies "key ingredients" which are common to all growing organizations: customer focus by creating systems that deliver perceived value; selection (i.e. hiring) of decent as well as competent people; and then training them with highly-interactive learning sessions which are both formal and on-the-job.

Finally, I hold this book in high regard because Michaelson also includes 13 brief but insightful commentaries by senior-level executives who share their own real-world experiences. Fort example, Domminick Attanosio (senior advisor, Young and Partners, LLC) explains how a public pharmaceutical company developed a new delivery system to adjustable dosing of oral medications by following each of several of Sun Tzu's basic principles:

"Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight 100 battles with no danger of defeat."

"Travel where there is no enemy."

"Pursue one's strategic designs to overawe the enemy."

"An army can be raised only when there is money at hand."

"The general whose only interest is to protect his people and promote the best interests of his sovereign is the precious jewel of the state."

"The enlightened rulers must deliberate upon the plans to go to battle, and good generals generally execute them,."

"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence."

Obviously, it would be a fool's errand to manage by slogans but even more foolish to ignore what can be learned from sources such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The knowledge these sources provide can -- and should -- guide and inform the careful selection and then effective execution of appropriate strategies and tactics. Credit Michaelson with a thorough understanding and brilliant interpretation of what can be learned from arguably the world's first management consultant.

Bravo!

Sun Tzu for today.......2005-07-29

If you liked the Art of War you will like this. I really liked the summary of all the rules at the end of the book.

Very relevant modern adaptation.......2005-05-13

I will try to to keep this short. All the other 5 stars point out the merits for this book. In short it gives modern insights to a very important book on strategy. Shows that true wisdom rings true for thousands of years.

The criticisms that I have read on this book are true but are not really fair. This book is not designed to be a play by play guide for managers that have no insights of their own. If this book doesn't generate ideas for you without spoon-feeding examples and how to's then you will never lead a winning organization. You are a sheep not a shepherd.

If one understands Sun Tzu, if not a master as no one really is, they would realize that any example given automatically is rendered useless. A widely publicized tactic lacks the element of surprise, rule #19.

My criticism of it is that he doesn't understand history that well, at least the Revolutionary War. He cites things that are common misperceptions about that war to support his arguments. The rebels always employed unconventional tactics not just towards the end. Also almost all of the battles were fought conventionally and on open fields. This is contrary to what the author writes. Stick to business examples.

Also citing Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski does little to advance his point. Who could have known and I'm sure any future editions will strike this reference.

This book isn't perfect but if you are a shepherd and can generate ideas on your own then this book is for you. It will help give fire to the sparks you already have. Quit wasting time and order it. Assume your competitor has already read it and is using its insights against you.

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)

Average customer rating:

Story of trials drawn in a rectangular style
Arrow to the Sun : A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)
Arrow To The Sun By Gerald McDermont
Level 5: Escape the serpents and the room of lightning
Why I love Arrow to the Sun

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin)
Gerald McDermott
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140502114

Customer Reviews:

Story of trials drawn in a rectangular style.......2007-01-12

To those who pay attention to the myths of various cultures, the fundamental premise of this book comes as no surprise. The Sun, in this case a god to the Pueblo Indians, sends a spark of life down to Earth and impregnates a woman. The child is a boy who is ridiculed by the other boys because he has no father. He then goes on a search for his father and gets no results until he consults the arrow maker.
The arrow maker understands the situation and turns the boy into an arrow. He then shoots him into the sky so that the boy can converse with the Sun. After he claims to be to be the son of the Sun, the boy is given a series of trials, which he passes. He is then returned to the Earth and acknowledged by all as the son of the Sun. There is great rejoicing among the people as they now appreciate who the boy really is.
This is a delightful tale that is illustrated in the style of the Pueblo Indians. The drawings are made using almost exclusively lines drawn at right angles. Most shapes are made from a combination of rectangular figures, yet so well done that it is still possible to detect the emotions of the characters. It is an excellent story for young children, it will teach them something about another culture and that is always a good thing.

Arrow to the Sun : A Pueblo Indian Tale (Picture Puffin).......2006-01-15

Children in my classroom didnt enjoy this story but it was worth reading.

Arrow To The Sun By Gerald McDermont.......2004-11-18

This is an inside look about Indian heritage and the kinds of myths they had in their times. The reader really gets a feel for how the strange boy feels when he gets picked on because he is different. This is a fictional and adventurous book with such great details that it almost seems real as you're reading it.
This story is set in a little pueblo where a mother is giving birth. Suddenly the God of the Sun sent down an arrow to the women and she gave birth to his son. As the little boy grows up, all the other boys make fun of him because he looks different and has no father. Then finally one day he sets off to find his father and to truly know who he is.
The author does such a fantastic job on his voice and sentence fluency that when you're reading the book it seems like you are the strange little boy. This is my favorite children's book because I read it over and over since I was a kid and I enjoy Indian myths. I also enjoy this book because the pictures are phenomenal and the colors are amazing.
People who like adventure and can relate to the little boy would love this outstanding book. This book is very inspiring and shows that you can do anything you want to if you try. I gave this book five out of five stars and I hope you'll like this awesome book just as much as I did.
By Tanner

Level 5: Escape the serpents and the room of lightning.......2004-11-10

I don't think I can judge Gerald McDermott's 1975 Caldecott winning picture book, "Arrow to the Sun" fairly. You see, I am a child of the 80s. I remember the early days of Colico Vision and Atari. I have very clear images in my head of some of the first arcade games, like Q-Bert, Donkey Kong, and Super Mario Brothers. Why do I invoke such images when I'm (supposedly) reviewing "Arrow to the Sun"? Because like these games, "Arrow to the Sun" suffers for its time period. Author/illustrator Gerald McDermott strived very hard to make this story both deeply original and timeless. In many ways, he has succeeded. But if you, like myself, played a single pixilated arcade game in the late 70s or early to mid 80s then you'll take one look at this book and notice its video game aspects. It's a beautiful story. It's just tainted in the eyes of the children of the 80s.

In this retelling of an ancient legend (or so the bookflap assures me), we learn about a boy unlike any other. When the Lord of the Sun sent a "spark of life" to earth, it found a young woman in a pueblo. The woman then gave birth to a son who found himself desperate to know his father. The boy leaves home and finally comes to realize from whom he is descended. To prove himself to the Lord of the Sun he withstands numerous video game-like trials and finally is transformed so that he may bring the Sun's spirit to the world of men.

Echoes of this story have been found around the world in everything from the birth of Christianity to ancient Zeus-appears-as-a-shaft-of-light type tales. This particular rendition of such a story is a little more tasteful in its presentation. McDermott has always had a keen sense of storytelling. This is apparent in everything from his fan-freakin'-tastic, "Zomo the Trickster Rabbit" to the more contemporary "Creation". "Arrow to the Sun" has just the right tone of voice and increasing urgency one needs in a good story.

As for the pictures, they look like characters from a Commodore 64 game. According to all-knowing bookflap, this tale, "captures the stylized look of Pueblo Indian art". I'm fairly certain I've seen Pueblo Indian art before. And I'm almost certain it didn't give me urges to go play Load Runner or Frogger. While much of the art in this book is very beautiful (the design on our hero's chest is a lovely geometric shape) it suffers from its form. The colors are beautiful, no question. The designs on many of the pictures is great. But the odd blocky pixel-like look is jarring and (to my mind) overly familiar.

So unfortunately, McDermott ended up doing something he didn't want to. His intentions, I'm certain, were to create something timeless. Instead, he make a picture book that remains firmly stuck in the age of Pac-Man. If arcade settings and characters don't disturb you, you may be the perfect consumer for this tale. If, on the other hand, you prefer your picture books to be a little lovelier and a little less circa 1983, you might want to pass this puppy by. Just a warning to you Gen X parents out there.

Why I love Arrow to the Sun.......2004-02-12

This book just calls to me. I love the words, I love the pictures. Most of the time when I read a book over and over I get bored with the book. But every time I read this book I love it even more. I give it 5 stars. I think it is the best book ever.

Average customer rating:

Great edition for gift giving
If only GW Bush had read it first.
book arrived on time and in condition described
eager for audiobook of this
Factoids

The Art of War: An Illustrated Edition
Sun Tzu
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1590301854
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Amazon.com

Sun Tzu's Art of War just got better. The Illustrated Art of War enlivens Thomas Cleary's complete translation, including commentaries, with full-color reproductions of paintings and statuary from China and Japan. Talk about martial art--these depictions show full battles scenes, the Chinese god of war, weaponry, processions--even an ancient map. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

Compiled more than two thousand years ago by a mysterious warrior-philosopher, The Art of War is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world today, as eagerly studied by modern politicians and executives as it has been by military leaders since ancient times. As a study of the anatomy of organizations in conflict, The Art of War applies to competition and conflict in general, on every level from the interpersonal to the international. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through understanding of the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict. This illustrated edition includes some of the finest works of art from China, Japan, and Korea, selected from museums, galleries, and private collections in countries throughout the world, deepening the reader's appreciation of the teachings of The Art of War.

Customer Reviews:

Great edition for gift giving.......2007-07-11

This edition makes for a terrific gift for the college graduate. The illustrations and photos add visual interest; the text layout makes for "easy" reading. Although we already own several editions of this classic, this will be added to our personal collection.

If only GW Bush had read it first........2007-07-03

This is a classic work on what works and doesn't work it war. It is from the 3rd century BC and cuts through the BS of modern war science. Must reading for all future Presidents, Secretaries of Defense and General Officers.

book arrived on time and in condition described.......2007-06-12

book arrived on time and in condition described

eager for audiobook of this .......2007-04-11

As a Chinese, I can say that author grasp the essence of Art of war and the English is beautiful.

I see adiobook on this topic. What no one for this version? strongly suggest and if come out I would buy it firstly.

Factoids.......2007-04-09

Thought I provide some facts about this edition of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, translated by Samuel B. Griffith. The translation in this book is the same as the UNESCO edition, but there are some differences in the contents.

Removes Appendix III. Sun Tzu in Western Languages
Removes Appendix IV. Brief Biographies of the Commentators
Removes the Maps
Adds seventy-five images
Pages are in a satin texture

In addition, this translation was done earlier than the findings from 1972, however, the analysis and commentary is top notch, so I would definitely recommend reading this and additional more up to date translation to complement.

Average customer rating:

sunny side up
Stark beauty of a devastating weapon
100 suns
100 suns is the ultimate photo book!
Excellent idea, poorly executed

100 Suns
Michael Light
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1400041139
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Book Description

Between July 1945 and November 1962 the United States is known to have conducted 216 atmospheric and underwater nuclear tests. After the Limited Test Ban Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1963, nuclear testing went underground. It became literally invisible—but more frequent: the United States conducted a further 723 underground tests, the last in 1992. 100 Suns documents the era of visible nuclear testing, the atmospheric era, with one hundred photographs drawn by Michael Light from the archives at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the U.S. National Archives in Maryland. It includes previously classified material from the clandestine Lookout Mountain Air Force Station based in Hollywood, whose film directors, cameramen and still photographers were sworn to secrecy.

The title, 100 Suns, refers to the response by J.Robert Oppenheimer to the world’s first nuclear explosion in New Mexico when he quoted a passage from the Bhagavad Gita, the classic Vedic text: “If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst forth at once in the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One . . . I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” This was Oppenheimer’s attempt to describe the otherwise indescribable. 100 Suns likewise confronts the indescribable by presenting without embellishment the stark evidence of the tests at the moment of detonation. Since the tests were conducted either in Nevada or the Pacific the book is simply divided between the desert and the ocean. Each photograph is presented with the name of the test, its explosive yield in kilotons or megatons, the date and the location. The enormity of the events recorded is contrasted with the understated neutrality of bare data. Interspersed within the sequence of explosions are pictures of the awestruck witnesses.

The evidence of these photographs is terrifying in its implication while at same time profoundly disconcerting as a spectacle. The visual grandeur of such imagery is balanced by the chilling facts provided at the end of the book in the detailed captions, a chronology of the development of nuclear weaponry and an extensive bibliography. A dramatic sequel to Michael Light’s Full Moon, 100 Suns forms an unprecedented historical document.

Customer Reviews:

sunny side up.......2007-09-04

This is a beautiful book. Very powerful (no pun intended). Exceptionally well-conceived. Lovely art direction. High printing standards. All of which were established with the author Michael Light's previous book, The Moon. (With a surname such as Light, he was destined to be a photographer.) I first saw a copy of 100 Suns at a friend's place in Paris and, without knowing it was the same photographer who had collated the pictures in both books, said how much its aesthetics and purpose reminded me of The Moon. Rather than NASA's various explorations to the lunar mass (assuming you believe, like me, that they did indeed go to the moon), this book is devoted to the war-mongering Americans' obsession with nuclear warfare. As a counter-balance to the predilection of other superpowers, such as the former USSR and China, for power, the Americans went for gold from the outset, initially possessing a ridiculously huge nuclear arsenal, a dominance that wained during the supposed Cold War (a propaganda exercise to rival the Nazis, if ever there was one). Then, for a spell, the Soviets possessed more nuclear warheads than the Americans, which is perhaps fair enough since they did send the first man into space (well done Yuri). However, throughout the atomic age, the Americans, like the pesky French, the irritable Russians, the stroppy North Koreans, the determined Chinese, the desperate Pakistanis, the resolute Iranians, etc, have continued to conduct tests of nuclear weapons. Unfairly, the French have even arrogantly and selfishly pursued theirs in the Pacific, which, as New Zealanders, my family, friends and I occupy. Is it any wonder we now have global warming? Isn't it at all conceivable that the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of nuclear tests conducted underground, on land, at sea and in the air are partially (perhaps even largely) responsible for global warming? These are, after all, mammoth disruptions to the harmony of earth and her atmosphere. I use the word 'mammoth' on purpose too because, like the furry fellow, we may one day be utterly extinct. Of course, if nuclear weapons (and the woeful double bombing of Japan to end the Second World War) are a crucial counterbalance between good and evil, the haves and will haves, they are perhaps a necessary (yet problematic) deterrent. Now, having jumped atop my soap box (actually, bar stool in front of my computer), I must admit that the pictures in 100 Suns are utterly bewitching. To say they are beautiful is fraught with guilt, since it is members of our very species who created and propagated such an evil force. However, in many things evil a kind of beauty resides, whether we wish to concede this or not. And there is something strangely, hypnotically, philosophically haunting about the 100 pictures of nuclear tests in this book. They look like amoeba, jelly fish, demons, and, yes, mushrooms. They appear to be the visual manifestation of some weird hallucinatory concoction - though in this case it's the result of mankind's intellect run amock. Not enough is spoken about the nuclear age. The pictures in this must-have book say much. Let the buyer beware.

Stark beauty of a devastating weapon.......2007-07-09

As terrible as a nuclear detonation can be, this book manages to capture the spectacle and beauty from the above-ground nuclear tests conducted at the Nevada Test Site and other detonation sites in the 50s and 60s.

The book is a collection of 100 colour and B&W photos from the US National Archives and LANL of various detonations. Some are taken mere milliseconds after detonation and show fascinating detail. Others show the detonations with soldiers looking on. Aerial shots show the impressive scale of the detonations.

Captions for the photos giving details on the test are listed in the back so as not to distract from the photo itself. It's an interesting book to look through and to see the scale of the above-ground nuclear weapon testing that was done in the middle of the 20th century.

100 suns.......2007-06-05

Some of the most brilliant photos of nuclear explosions you will EVER find. The book is almost all photos with a small documentary section in the back to help augment the photos. VERY nicely done for the non-technical person.

100 suns is the ultimate photo book!.......2007-05-21

this book is awesome! it has very stunning photos and is just plain cool.this is definitely the best coffee table book for people facinated by nuke technology.

Excellent idea, poorly executed.......2007-02-17

I agree with the review about the mushroom cloud in the center of the binding, split in two. That really reduces the effectiveness of the shot.

The idea of this book is great. I think the book is one-of-a-kind...to date I have not found a more comprehensive collection of *photos* in one place, of atomic explosions. That is cool.

But! The book misses the point! I wish there was so much more information, give me some specifications. How wide is that explosion? How tall? As I recall, there was scant info, such as power (X kilotons), but that is way in the back of the book. How annyoing to have to flip around the book to find out what could easily have been printed on the page where the photo is, such as a legend.

Here are a few things that would have pushed this book over the top.
- explosive power.
- width
- height
- location
- a perspective item, such as the transamerica pyramid, so we can see how big the cloud is.
- Etc. Surely there is declassified information available that the authors could have brainstormed, and included...?

I'm guessing the authors didn't want to "pollute" the pristine images with this extra info, however, by leaving out this critical information, we are left with images that fail to measure to their full grandeur. It's like when astronomy books show us pictures of galaxies, but don't tell us how many light years across they are, or how far away they are. Something's missing.

I give the idea of this book 4.5 stars. I give the execution 1.5 stars. The book is incomplete.

The UV Advantage: The Medical Breakthrough That Shows How to Harness the Power of the Sun for Your Health

Average customer rating:

ok
Everyone should read this book!!
Works for Me
Excellent information on Vitamin D
Another Dissident Dermatologist

The UV Advantage: The Medical Breakthrough That Shows How to Harness the Power of the Sun for Your Health
Michael F. Holick
Manufacturer: IBooks, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1596871172

Book Description

Sunshine is good for you! While too much sun causes wrinkles and raises other health concerns, a lack of sun exposure, our primary source of vitamin D, can cause serious health problems. Dr. Holick, the discoverer of the active form of vitamin D, has pulled together an impressive body of evidence in support that no one should be--as he puts it--a sunphobe, nor, for that matter, a sun worshipper. His conclusion: relatively brief, but unfettered exposure to sunshine and its equivalent can help to ward off a host of debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases, including osteoporosis, cancers of the colon, prostate and breast, hypertension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression.

Customer Reviews:

ok.......2007-07-27

Lightweight introduction to UV and vitamin D. No slight intended to Dr Holick who has been and is a key researcher on vitamin D and is presenting important health information to the public. But this book is like a friendly conversation between a well-informed doctor who is giving essential information to a lay audience, but he assumes they don't want much detail. If you have read a few web-pages about vitamin D, you may already know everything here - vitamin D RDA is too low, many people are deficient, deficiency is associated with a number of illnesses, sunlight exposure will give you what you need but don't get sunburned, supplements can also help but are inferior to sunlight because you need to determine appropriate dosage. The book has repeated information, padding (sentences along the lines of 'countless poets and songwriters attest to the enjoyment of sunshine'), while some things that could have been described in depth - like vitamin D toxicity from supplements (or potentially from diet I guess) - get short shrift. If you don't know much about vitamin D and want a high-level introduction, it's fine. If you wanted more detail or science, skip it.

Everyone should read this book!!.......2007-01-31

This is an easy to read book that has scientific research that convinced me that we all need vitamin D to prevent many of the health problems that are prevelant today. The author writes that vitamin D is best absorbed from natural sunlight and shows how this balances with the problem of too much sun which causes skin cancer. There is alot of skin cancer information in this book also. I highly recommend this book!

Works for Me.......2005-08-13

Living in AZ, for many years I have observed that my "attitude" tends to improve after an hour or so by the pool. To discover that the beneficial effects go much deeper than that reinforces my subjective impression. You DO want to Google up the < < ABCD Skin Cancer >> Asymmetry, Border, Color, or Diameter would be my cue to investigate a likely-easily-fixed Skin Cancer - the notion that LACK of Vitamin-D can cause stuff to go seriously wrong at the Deeply Invisible internal levels such as bone-metabolism, well, that's more than a matter of "attitude" !

Excellent information on Vitamin D.......2005-07-13

The book is well written, easy to understand, & full of pertinent, well documented information on Vitamin D. I have been doing a lot of research on the subject, since I have a Vitamin D deficiency. So far, this is the best resource I have found. I liked it so well that I also sent a copy to a family member who also has a vitamin D deficiency.

Another Dissident Dermatologist.......2005-06-25

By Dr. Ralph Moss
from CancerDecisions.com Newsletter

A. Bernard Ackerman, MD, is an exceptionally distinguished dermatologist and one of the world's foremost authorities on the subject of skin cancer. In 1999, after a long career in academic medicine, he founded and became director of the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology in New York.

Largely because of his leadership and high standards, Dr. Ackerman's institution quickly became the world's largest training center in the field of dermatopathology. (Dermatopathology is the study of the disease processes that affect the skin. It involves detailed knowledge of the microscopic anatomy of the skin's structure in health and disease.) Dr. Ackerman and his six associates examine more than 100,000 skin specimens and do more than 4,000 consultations per year. Dr. Ackerman has published 625 research papers and his list of honors and awards includes this year's Master Award, given to one person a year by the American Academy of Dermatology.

What makes this accomplished scientist particularly interesting is not just his distinguished career in academic medicine but the fact that he challenges some of the dermatology profession's most cherished dogmas. According to an article in the New York Times (July 20, 2004), at age 67, Dr. Ackerman "continues to teach and write, and also to ask for data and question his field's conventional wisdom."

"The field is just replete with nonsense," he told the Times. For instance:

Dr. Ackerman does not believe that the link between melanoma and sun exposure (a central dogma of dermatology) has been proven. He himself is deeply tanned and unafraid to expose his body to the sun.

He does not believe that sunburns, even the painful or blistering kind sustained early in life, necessarily lead to cancer. While some studies do show a small association, he says, others show none. Even those studies that show some such correlation "disagree on when the danger period for sunburns is supposed to be," writes Gina Kolata, author of the New York Times article. Taken as a whole, "the research is inconsistent and fails to make the case."

He doesn't buy the argument that sunscreens protect against melanoma. He points to a recent editorial in an orthodox journal, Archives of Dermatology, which also concludes that there is scant evidence to support this crucial dogma (Bigby 2004).

Finally, while the incidence of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma have been shown to be closely linked to lifetime sun exposure, Dr. Ackerman challenges the tenet that the more intense a person's exposure to the sun, the greater their risk of melanoma. He believes that the data for this also is not compelling. Although we are told that the incidence of melanoma increases in populations that live nearer the equator, the correlation is not that simple. Epidemiological data on melanoma, says Dr. Ackerman, are imprecise and inaccurate. The data simply "cannot demonstrate cause and effect."
Indeed, a recent case-control study of 966 patients (Kennedy, 2003) studying the effect of painful sunburns and lifetime sun exposure on the incidence of several types of skin cancer concluded that lifetime sun exposure is predominantly linked to an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma and to a lesser degree with two common types of basal cell carcinoma. By contrast, this study found that lifetime sun exposure appeared to be associated with a lower risk of malignant melanoma.

Dr. Ackerman advises people to stay out of the sun in order to avoid premature aging of their skin. He also says that if you are very fair, you can prevent squamous cell carcinoma, a less dangerous cancer, by avoiding sunlight. (Squamous cell carcinomas, although they can be disfiguring, are rarely life-threatening.) But don't make the mistake of thinking that by avoiding sunlight or using sunscreen you will be protected against deadly melanoma. This, he says, is a myth.

Other knowledgeable researchers agree that sunscreens fail to protect against melanoma. Dr. William B. Grant, for example, who heads the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center (SUNARC) in San Francisco, points out that sunscreens primarily block the shorter wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whereas it is the longer wavelength UV that poses the greater risk for melanoma.

Dr. Grant feels that while there is some evidence pointing to a link between sunlight and melanoma, it is not a simple cause and effect relationship. There are many other factors that have to be taken into account. For example, Dr. Grant points out that while it is true that melanoma rates increase with increasing latitude, it is also true that even as far north as Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands, occupational exposure to solar UV radiation is associated with a reduced risk of melanoma. Conversely, for those of northern European ancestry living south of their latitude of origin, such as in Australia, New Zealand and the US, melanoma rates are much higher than they are in their countries of origin.

In addition, Dr. Grant points out that there is substantial evidence that dietary factors, particularly vitamin D, can have a significant effect on the risk of developing melanoma. He points to the work of Millen and colleagues, of the National Institutes of Health, showing that diets rich in vitamin D and carotenoids, and low in alcohol, may be associated with a reduction in risk for melanoma (Millen, 2004). Therefore, Dr. Grant feels that diverse factors including diet, skin type, the presence, number and type of moles, and ethnic, ancestral and geographic origin also have a major influence on melanoma risk. To say that sunlight causes melanoma is at best an oversimplification and at worst a distortion of the scientific evidence (Grant, 2004).

A Melanoma `Epidemic'
Dr. Ackerman is a questioning sort of person. He even debates whether the much-vaunted "epidemic" of melanoma actually exists. The definition of melanoma, he points out, has changed over the past few decades, leading doctors to diagnose, remove and cure lesions that until recently would not have been called melanoma at all.

"The criteria today, clinically and histopathologically, are diametrically different from those 30 years ago," he said. In medical school, he told the Times, "we were taught that melanoma is a big, black, fungating tumor that kills. Who would have believed then that you can recognize melanoma for what it is when it is small and flat and the size of the fingernail on your pinky? You would have said they were insane" (Kolata 2004).

As noted, a central dogma of the dermatology profession is that sun exposure promotes melanoma. The American Academy of Dermatology's website states that it is clear that excessive sun exposure can promote the development of melanoma. But if this is correct why do African-Americans and Asians develop melanoma precisely on those parts of the skin that are not exposed to sunlight - the palms, soles, nails and mucous membranes? Even among whites, the most common melanoma sites are the leg (in women) and the trunk (in men). These are hardly the most sun-exposed body parts. Why not on the face and arms, which are much more frequently exposed to Old Sol?

Ackerman's arguments (and he is by no means alone in feeling this way) leave conventional dermatologists sputtering with frustration. One leader in the field told the New York Times that "it was perverse of Dr. Ackerman to pick the data apart." But is it perverse to question dogmatic beliefs? This official further claimed that melanoma can occur in unexposed places because "sunlight suppresses immune cells in the skin's surface that ordinarily hold cancer at bay." While many would undoubtedly disagree with him, Dr. Ackerman does not accept this `immune surveillance' argument. He sees it as a tenuous theory manufactured in order to support a dubious hypothesis.

This insightful interview with Dr. Ackerman comes at a crucial moment in the history of dermatology. In my opinion, the dermatologists have painted themselves into a corner on the issue of sun exposure, sunscreens and melanoma. The best that can be said is that they are trying to stem what they perceive to be a rising tide of preventable melanoma cases with a public health campaign. But the science behind this campaign is shaky, at best.

Some leaders of the field, such as Dr. Ackerman, are now trying to help their profession find its way back into the light. Although it is not mentioned in this interview, the recent forced resignation of Michael Holick, MD, PhD, from his dermatology professorship at Boston University has overshadowed this debate and moved it from the back rooms of Academe squarely into the medico-political realm. As readers of this newsletter may remember, Holick was asked to resign after he expressed opinions that were essentially identical to those of Dr. Ackerman. But Dr. Holick took his arguments directly to the laypeople in a popular book (The UV Advantage) and-unlike the retired Dr. Ackerman-was in a position that was vulnerable to retaliation.

I believe the dermatology profession should reconsider its dogmatic positions on the relationship of sunlight to melanoma. It should also reexamine its embrace of the sunscreen industry, whose sales have grown from $18 million in 1972 to almost a half billion dollars today. The supposedly protective effect of sunscreen against the development of melanoma is a major reason for that boom. According to medical writer Michael Castleman, writing in Mother Jones magazine:

"...[D]ermatologists get much of their information from the SCF [Skin Cancer Foundation, ed.], and the SCF, in turn, is heavily supported by the sunscreen industry. (A sunscreen manufacturer even funded SCF's quarterly consumer publication, "Sun and Skin News.") No wonder the foundation doesn't give much credence to the growing number of studies showing that even so-called broad-spectrum sunscreen doesn't prevent melanoma. Like the road-destroying trucks that guaranteed work for the concrete company, rising melanoma rates scare people into using more sunscreen" (Castleman 1998).

The Skin Cancer Foundation has dozens of members of the sunscreen industry, such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble, on its "Corporate Council." In return, the SCF awards its Seal of Recommendation to many of these same companies' products. It is a cozy relationship indeed.

To restore their collective good name, dermatologists need to come clean with the public about what is scientifically proven and what is merely speculative about the relationship between cancer and sunlight. In particular, truth-seekers in the field need to band together and demand that B.U. reinstate Dr. Holick. Nothing less will convince the public of the dermatology profession's intellectual honesty.

--Ralph W. Moss, PhD

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