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.

Same Sex in the City: (So Your Prince Charming Is Really a Cinderella)

Average customer rating:

Could NOT put this thing down!
Very Informative!
It's just a collection of people's stories...
Just what I've been waiting for...
Outstanding Novel

Same Sex in the City: (So Your Prince Charming Is Really a Cinderella)
Lauren Levin , and Lauren Blitzer
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Happiness | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1416916326

Book Description

At last, a relationship book for lesbians that tells it like it is . . .

The journey from sexual curiosity to finally coming out can be confusing without proper guidance and empowering role models. In Same Sex in the City, Lauren Levin and Lauren Blitzer provide women -- gay, straight, and bi-curious alike -- with firsthand insight into the advantages and challenges of being a lesbian. In prose that is at once honest and uplifting, the Laurens relate their own experiences and those of the women they interview, as well as offer serious advice, titillating anecdotes, and a positive attitude for girls who know they're gay -- and for those who are wondering about their sexuality but are not yet sure whether their Prince Charming is really a Cinderella.

Part confessional, part informational, Same Sex in the City covers the gamut of lesbian life -- from dating to heartbreak, and from hooking up with straight chicks to raising a family. It's the book that millions of women have been searching for -- a relationship guide that will help every woman come to terms with and celebrate her sexuality, whatever it may be.

Customer Reviews:

Could NOT put this thing down!.......2006-08-22

I was up until the wee hours of the morning for three nights in a row--this book is a page-turner. I'm not gay (that's what they all say, but four beers later...), so the dating info wasn't really helpful to me, except in a fascinating, peek-through-the-keyhole kind of way. The narratives were riveting: two on Chanukah cruises in the Caribbean, threesomes gone bad, raw and real stories about coming out and breaking up, and hilarious, read aloud anecdotes about dating, bar-hopping, and "going in for the kill." I was sad to read about the parents crying over their beautiful gay girls and glad to see them come around. I've already recommended this book to half a dozen people--you don't have to be gay to fall in love with it.

Very Informative!.......2006-08-18

I really enjoyed this book, and it helped me realize that the feelings that I've been having toward women for the majority of my life are common and lots of other females have been in the same boat as me. The only semi-negative message I got from the book was "pretty popular girls can be lesbians, too".

It's just a collection of people's stories..........2006-07-25

Not only is this book, that is authored by TWO people, unaffecting, it's not even really written by them. They've got an intro in every chapter, and that's basically it. It's a collection of people's stories. That is something that should appear in GoNYC magazine, not in a book. This is the first of it's kind, and I expected it to move me. It's not informative and it's not different. It's full of cliche's and there's even a rip of a dashboard song. "Turning to you is like falling in love when you're 10." If you're going to have most of your book written for you by real people, at least have what you write be REAL and YOURS. Even Greg Behrendt's "It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken" is more effective than this. This is the book that stereotypes are made of.

Just what I've been waiting for..........2006-07-20

I want to thank the authors and the wonderful women who contributed their stories to this book. When I came out several years ago, it was a scary time as I had the same stereotypical views of what a lesbian was as the next person. I was unsure of myself and even more scared that I would never find people like me, which is to say a femme girl who happens to like femme girls. Through the years, I have discovered that this world does indeed exist. In a way, this book has reinforced to me just how many of us there are out there and it will give the rest of society a chance to see into this cross-section of the lesbian world. It was so great to read so many of these stories and know exactly how these women were feeling and what they were thinking. It has also been a great way to get my friends and family to better understand exactly where i'm coming from. Thank you again for this great book!!

Outstanding Novel.......2006-06-03

This book is nothing short of marvelous. For a mid-western lesbian "outcast" i learned everything i need to know about lesbian life style, and felt good about it! Not only do the authors boost a gal's self esteem, but the how to guide's couldn't be more on point! Every straight, bi, gay or curious girl should have a copy! It's also the perfect gift for a gay woman to give to her straight friends and family to understand what a she is going through in the coming out experience, as well as lesbian lifestyle. You go girls!

Average customer rating:

An obvious first novel
Wise and powerful
An enthralling story written by a very promising Author
Good debut, but it's single volume nature is both its strength and weakness
Excellent book

Elantris
Brandon Sanderson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0765311771
Release Date: 2005-04-21

Book Description

The exciting debut of a fresh new voice in fantasy A s fantasy surpassed SF in popularity, much of it becamepredictable. Elantris is a welcome exception, a rare epicfantasy that doesn't recycle the classics.

Customer Reviews:

An obvious first novel.......2007-09-29

I picked up this book because of the orson scott card remark on the cover only to remember later that these things tend to be favors, bought and even part of publishers contracts.
It took me a while to get over the obvious, Elantris/Atlantis name. Sanderson's naming scheme in this book was problematic. A lot of his made up words and character names sounded the same or read similarly. Even though i know it was intention to have the names reflect the culture it made it difficult.
The various plot "twists" were weak and often forced. I got the impression that Sanderson wanted to write a novel of intriguing and political savvy. It's obvious that he just doesn't have the mind to think like that. His character's were a little shallow.
Lastly, and this might just be me but reading between the lines I saw Sanderson trying to hard to counter act his Mormon frame of mind especially when it came to talking about the various religions in the book.
Yet, beside all that I wanted to finish reading the book, wanted to know what happened. It wasn't poorly written, slow or boring. I did though get a little disheartened when at the end the subplots and characters felt mashed together to finish the story as quickly as possible.

Wise and powerful.......2007-07-28

Elantris is Brandon Sanderson's debut novel and it is a much needed shot in the arm to the fantasy genre.

Elantris is a once great city which was the magical, intellectual, and artistic center of not only the nation of Arelon, but for the whole world. It's inhabitants were godlike creatures, tranformed by a mysterious tranformation known as the "shaod." Once this occured, the person was able to manipulate magic by drawing symbols known as "Aods" in the air, which could accomplish nearly anything, delicate surgery, great works of art, transportation over large distances. The Shaod, came about overnight, and was limited to the inhabitants of the nation of Arelon. At the setting of this novel it has been 10 years since a cataclysmic event took place which turned elantris into a city of decay and its inhabitants into leprous type creatures, unable to die, and for whom the smallest injury can amount to unending and unendurable pain. Those that succumb to the Shaod are now treated as dead and thrown into Elantris' city gates and forgotten about. Elantris has become a savage and despairing hell, where its citizens are brutalized and mad from the pain.
Thus when King Iadon's son Raoden is taken one night by the shaod, he is quietly exiled to the prison of Elantris and treated as dead. Raoden was to be wed to the princess of Teod, Sarene. She was traveling to meet Raoden for the wedding, having only met him through letters and a sort of magical communication. SHe is unaware of what has happened to Raod, and arrives to find that he is dead, but her engagement contract has bound her to the union. The contract was meant to ally the last two countries that stand against the powerful and tyrannical Fjorden, an imperial religion that threatens all the world with dominion. She is a stranger in a strange land, married for life to a dead man she has never met.

Thus the story follows the Raod in his quest to reclaim his humanity and dignity, as well as to decipher the mysterious Shaod and the shattered Rune magic that once offered great power and majesty, and Sarene who is strong willed and politically savvy as she seeks to save her new land from the powerful fjorden empire. Sarene is confronted by one of Fjorden's High priest, Gyorn Hrathen. He has been sent to convert Arelon to Shu-Derethi, the militaristic religion that underlies Fjorden's power. Hrathen seeks to bring down Arelon by wit or political savvy -- both qualities Sarene shares -- but he is not averse to taking the country in blood and fire.

What is so refreshing about this novel is Sanderson's understanding of the redeeming value of self determination and sacrifice. Sanderson's wisdom of the true nature of humanity permeates the novel. Evil is exposed for what it often truly is, not a devil with horns, but those who crush the wills of others by taking their choices from them in the name of peace and ultimate obedience to the wisdom of their governance. People may not always know the bad guys are by the outside, but with a true moral compass it is pretty clear who they are. On a micro level, Raoden delivers hope and a sense of self worth to the Elantrians by giving them a purpose. Rather than lying in their filth and waiting for someone to save them, they rebuild their lives. Sarene on the outside rallies her support not through the demands of nobility, but through the promise of self determination. Sanderson deftly handles religion neither elevating it to the omnipotent power of some fantasy novels, nor demeaning it as could have been done. He treats it with reverance, offering true insight into the crisis of faith that many have and the ultimate tranformative power of goodness in faith.

There are some flaws in this book. Sarene can be just a bit too plucky at times, and there are just a few too many pep talks. The payoff for Raoden's plight seems to take and interminably long time. But the story resolves itself nicely and is filled with enough real tension and suspense as to make itself a page turner. While there is enough left for another story (and that is a good thing) we are left with a satisfying conclusion, which in this age of 10 book fantasy series has became a rarity.

Elantris is a rarity in the fantasy world and a promising debut from a very promising author. I look forward to more!

An enthralling story written by a very promising Author.......2007-06-12

This is narrative as it should be written: sharp, clear, engaging style, original and, one would say, apt to the bigotry-ravaged current times, setting, interesting and convincing characters, tight plot. And this rare thing of a single-novel self-concluding story! This novel has real magic-the magic of the true writer! Don't miss it!

Good debut, but it's single volume nature is both its strength and weakness.......2007-05-30

I purchased this book because I always love checking out new authors, especially in the fantasy genre because it's always cluttered with 10 book series and the like.

I just finished Elantris last night and can say it is fair to say it is a decent book and a good debut from a new author. Many praise this book because it is a single volume in a genre filled with trilogies. While it is refreshing for an approach like this, I feel that it actually the root of some of the novel's shortcomings. Here are the problems I had with the book.

1. Average dialog. Because fantasy themes are very similar, I always look to the characters to bring something interesting to the table. Unfortunately, the characters in this book were fairly stereotypical in nature and didn't have realistic flaws for the most part. The dialog also seemed a bit too modern in many ways for my taste. It was almost an anachronism in many cases and felt a little unnatural. You had the good natured/popular/charismatic leading man (Raoden), you had the villain who at the end learned the errs of his ways and finally turned to good (Hrathen). I do commend the author on his approach with Sarene and not writing her like a basic princess, although I felt she had large amounts of masculinity, she didn't feel like a woman to me by the way she thought, spoke, or her actions.

2. Rushed third act. Now I know that the final acts should always have a faster pace than others, but this one was extremely quick. I felt like I was drudging through all the history and world-building in the first act, then the story concluded in a matter of moments at the end. I feel that is this book was another hundred pages, the pace may have been more consistent with earlier acts; either that or shorten acts 1-2.

Now the good things:

1. Good world-building. Sanderson has creating a unique system of magic and the nature of things in this book. While at times it felt like more of a D&D setting than a realistic world, I admire his unique approach. I really liked the story behind the city of Elantris, and how he linked the basic nature of the world/universe to the magic and explained how it worked.

2. Chapter construction. I really do like the fact that Sanderson rotates whats going on with each character in the chapters. You're never stuck on one character for very long which keeps the reading fresh.

I really did enjoy this book, I just felt it was necessary to be a little more descriptive of what was wrong with it because there are so many 5 star ratings when I don't believe it deserves that. It is a nice first novel and I look forward to seeing Sanderson hone his skill in future books.

Excellent book.......2007-04-27

I loved the way magic was used in here. I hope Brandon comes back to this storyline and writes more about it. I will now have to grab is new series and see if it is just as good.

The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York and the Genius of American Life

Average customer rating:

The Real Story About Mayor Guilian's Revolutionary Impact
Heavily researched, strictly respectful of the facts, and first-rate reading
The inner workings of a city in trouble
prince
a fine biography of one of our most successful politicians to date

The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York and the Genius of American Life
Fred Siegel
Manufacturer: Encounter Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1594031495

Book Description

The Prince of the City is at once a fascinating character study of one of America's most charismatic public figures, a history of New York over the last forty years, and a classic inquiry into the issue of how cities thrive or die. Siegel's story culminates with a dramatic account of September 11, 2001, revealing how Giuliani's s eight years in office had prepared him and the city to rise to this tragic occasion and how in the aftermath of the attack he became America's Mayor. Siegel concludes with a look at how Guiliani's successor, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has handled his legacy and at what lies in Guiliani's political future.

Download Description

In this first comprehensive account of the career of "America's Mayor," Fred Siegel shows how Rudolph Giuliani's successes in New York-restoring law and order, cutting taxes and radically reducing the welfare rolls-demonstrated that cities might again become vibrant and dynamic places to live after thirty years of middle-class flight. The Prince of the City is at once a fascinating character study, a history of New York over the last forty years, and an insight on how cities function. The story that Siegel tells culminates with an account of September 11, 2001, showing how Giuliani's eight years in office had prepared him and the city to rise to the occasion.

Customer Reviews:

The Real Story About Mayor Guilian's Revolutionary Impact.......2007-08-10

Bottom Line: A Great Read - If you are interested in New York City

What You Will Learn: This book provides a very positive, but not one-sided perspective on Mayor Guiliani's political life. If you like the inside baseball type stories, including books by Bob Woodward, you will enjoy these details of how Guiliani dealt with all the great characters in New York City, including other famous politicians like Al Sharpton, Congressman Charlie Rangel, and Governor Mariou Cuomo.

Parting Shot: If you have even a passing interest in Mayor Guiliani or New York Politics this will be a great read for you.

Heavily researched, strictly respectful of the facts, and first-rate reading .......2007-05-12

Written by professor of history Fred Siegel, The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York and the Genius of American Life is an eye-opening look at how Mayor Rudy Giuliani successfully turned around one of America's most troubled cities, beset with budgetary woes, white flight, and skyrocketing crime rates, with an efficiency and eye toward achieving results worthy of Machiavelli's "The Prince". The Prince of the City is as much the story of modern New York itself as it is a portrayal of Giuliani, with especial focus on the flaws of Giuliani's predecessor, Mayor Dinkins, particularly Dinkins' vision of social programs that simply failed to prevent crime as effectively as the deterrent of a strong police force. Giuliani's landmark reforms, such as facilitating a police department that shared information more openly and laterally, merging duplicate bureaucracies, pushing workfare over welfare, and much more created a positive cycle of New Yorker pride banishing fear. The Prince of the City also recounts the many attacks on Giuliani's career, and troubles and fallout from such disastrous incidents as the police shooting death of Diallo. The final chapters offer a dramatic account of the September 11th attacks, revealing how Giuliani's eight years in office prepared the city to endure and properly respond to the tragedy. Though written from a conservative perspective, The Prince of the City is heavily researched, strictly respectful of the facts, and first-rate reading for biographers, historians, and anyone wishing to learn more about Giuliani as a statesman, a politician, a moral leader, and a successful problem solver beset with a myriad of complex quandaries. Highly recommended.

The inner workings of a city in trouble.......2007-04-16

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is as much the story of New York City since the 1960s as it is of Rudy Giuliani. I ordered it to read more about the mayor since he has become a serious candidate for president. The story of the city and its problems was almost more engaging. The left liberal political culture had run the city into the ground. CUNY, the "poor man's Harvard" had collapsed into a city-wide babysitting service. Teachers who had graduated from CUNY were illiterate and were training an illiterate generation of high school "graduates." The author points out how Giuliani became aware of the magnitude of the problem when protest signs held by teachers were filled with misspellings. I also learned a lot about Al Sharpton I wish I didn't know. The fact that Giuliani was able to master this collection of anarchists and hustlers and hacks, and get things done, is a great testimonial to his talents. The errors he made are also on full display so this is not a partisan hagiography. The mayor is there, warts and all. An excellent biography of Giuliani and of the city, itself.

prince.......2007-04-05

This book gave an interesting description of the Giuliani years and the context in which he came to power. It was quite discouraging how so many other New York politicians put their own power and politics above the interested of New Yorkers.

a fine biography of one of our most successful politicians to date.......2007-02-05

This is as much a story of the shark invested waters of being a mayor of New York as it is a biography of Guiliani.
Siegel likes Rudi and it comes through but more importantly Siegel likes New York and his detailed knowledge of its inner workings of this most American city provides a valued backdrop for a compelling tale of electoral politics. The certainty is that politics is race and race is politics and the mothers' milk are jobs and patronage.
He does not spare Dinkins or Pataki or Bloomberg from criticism saving particular aim at Al Sharpton and his ruination of the failed electoral runs of Ruth Meissenger and Mark Green. Coincidentially, at the same time, reading this book, Gentleman Al appeared on MSNBC's Hardball Show to chat and watching the fawning Chris Matthews compliment this race baiting huckster, it was clear that his sins of his past were wiped away by the power of being a celebrity. Conversely, will Guiliani's substantial achievements in governance be wiped away by the media charade which passes for political commentary in this time and age? This book helps keeping those successes front and center.

Average customer rating:

I couldn't put this book down!!!!!!!!!!!!
best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worth the read
Finding Courage

Ride the Gods Own Stallion, To
Diane Wilson
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

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ASIN: 0789468026

Book Description

"Better that you'd never been born." His father's bitter words torment Soulai. Even worse, he fears they may be true. Soulai isn't brave like his sister. He isn't an accomplished harness maker like his father. He is just a boy who likes to sculpt clay horses--so unimportant that his own father has sold him into slavery. But in Nineveh, the seat of the ancient Assyrian kingdom, Soulai gets his first glimpse of a stallion named Ti; a horse so regal he bears the mark of the gods. Like Soulai, Ti is owned by the spoiled young Prince Habasle. And like Soulai, the stallion's courage is questioned. Prince Habasle believes that Ti's strange markings promise a future of greatness--a grand destiny liked to Habasle's own determination to become king. As Soulai is suddenly swept into the dangerous world of palace intrigue where his life, as well as Ti's, is put at risk, he can only wonder: Will he find the courage to make a mark of his own? Diane Lee Wilson brings to life an exotic, fascinating world in this moving and inspiring epic adventure of two very different boys and the horse that stands between them; three unlikely allies, each bound for his own kind of greatness.

Customer Reviews:

I couldn't put this book down!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-22

This Is an awesome book that will make childrens imagination's run wild Soulai is a dynamic character that shows a lot of growth! This book definitely deserves 5 stars! I hope that all young readers read and cherish this timeless novel!

best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-01-29

this is an exellent book because it was exiting and teaches you about hard times and trew friendship

Worth the read.......2001-07-27

Follow the story of Souli as he is sold into slavery to repay the debts of his father. Souli is not very brave, which is why he was sold. I liked this book a lot, it was intruiging and interesting to learn about ancient Assyria. I did not like it as much as the author's first book, "I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade" but it was still very good. The ending left opening for many possibilities to thrill the imagination, but it was satisfying somehow, you'd have to read it to understand. Definetly worth the read, is "To Ride the God's Own Stallion".

Finding Courage.......2001-04-26

It was nice to find a historical fiction book that has a boy as its central character. The adventures and intrigue Soulai finds himself a part of will keep the interest of almost all children. Girls will enjoy the horses in the story, especially the stallion, Ti. A word of caution to parents, there are references to the birth of the prince (coneceived, lain with) that may generate questions. Also, the stable master uses colorful language in addressing the stable slaves. All in all, though, a good book. I would recommend this.

Interpreting the Renaissance: Princes, Cities, Architects (Harvard University Graduate School of Design)

Average customer rating:

are you ready for this book?

Interpreting the Renaissance: Princes, Cities, Architects (Harvard University Graduate School of Design)
Manfredo Tafuri
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Renaissance | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0300111584

Book Description

Manfredo Tafuri (1935–1994) is acknowledged as one of Italy’s most influential architectural historians. In his final work, Interpreting the Renaissance, published here in English for the first time (the Italian edition, Ricerca del Rinascimento, appeared in 1992), Tafuri analyzes Renaissance architecture from a variety of perspectives, exploring questions that occupied him for over thirty years.
What theoretical terms were used to describe the humanist analogy between architecture and language? Is it possible to identify the political motivations behind the period’s new urban strategies? And how does humanism embody both an attachment to tradition and an urge to experiment?
Tafuri studies the theory and practice of Renaissance architecture, offering new and compelling readings of its various social, intellectual and cultural contexts, while providing a broad understanding of uses of representation that shaped the entire era. He synthesizes the history of architectural ideas and projects through discussions of the great centers of architectural innovation in Italy (Florence, Rome, and Venice), key patrons from the middle of the fifteenth century (Pope Nicholas V) to the early sixteenth century (Pope Leo X), and crucial figures such as Leon Battista Alberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Lorenzo de’ Medici, Raphael, Baldassare Castiglione, and Giulio Romano.
A magnum opus by one of Europe’s finest scholars, Interpreting the Renaissance is an essential book for anyone interested in the architecture and culture of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Italy.

Customer Reviews:

are you ready for this book?.......2006-09-01

I give 3 stars to this book is not because that it does not have the top quality. instead, i'm sure it is a solid piece inside-out.

The reason for it is because this book is not for every reader. It has gone too far for most of readers who mainly focus on architectural practice, and just want get to know renaissance or have some knowledge to show off. This topic will be too boring to attract your GF/BF.

The author, Tafuri, stood between architects and politicians as a history detective, track down the behind scene plot of renaissance history, introduce both an in-depth history research methodology and a new way to interpret the clues. The work bounds architecture with politics tightly, and it helps to understand even contemporary architecture trend. However, it requires a huge amount of Italian architecture, zoning and history background. I cannot recommend this book for the students as a start reading. It is an ocean for kids to learn swimming.

Average customer rating:

The artwork has been underrated
Little boy gets interesting visitor.
Great First Reader. Please re-publish

One Monday Morning
Uri Shulevitz
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374456488

Book Description

"One Monday morning the king, the queen, and the little prince came to visit me. But i wasn't home . . . "

Customer Reviews:

The artwork has been underrated.......2000-03-22

I think the artwork in this book has been underrated, perhaps because only a few colors were used in printing. It's clever: the run-down New York City neighborhood is drawn in meticulous detail. I use it to show Inuit students what a city looks like! By contrast, the royal entourage is cartoon-style, not realistic. Not only does the royal family's entourage grow larger with each repetition of the pattern, but the characters themselves grow larger, until at the end of the book they have to hunch over to fit into the boy's tenement apartment. At the very end, the characters turn into playing cards (only in the art, not in the text) and the royal barber (who, we somehow suspect, is a self-portrait of the author) becomes a doll that has been sitting half-seen on the window sill all along. Lots to look at in this book.

Little boy gets interesting visitor........1999-01-09

One Monday Morning is the story of a little prince who each day of the week brings more friends to visit. However the little boy he's coming to visit isn't home. The story is much like the 12 days of christmas with the addition of interesting characters each day of the week.

Great First Reader. Please re-publish.......1999-01-07

This book is a great first time reader. It is better than Dick and Jane for several reasons. This book adds people and words as the story unfolds. It is an easy story to follow. It adds words that are pretty common to today's early readers. I am a literacy volunteer and I use this book for my older reading students.

Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much

Average customer rating:

The dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci

Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much
Robert Daley
Manufacturer: Moyer Bell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1559213809

Book Description

In the early 1970's, the Federal Government undertook to investigate corruption penetrating the entire criminal justice system in New York, particularly the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of the narcotics division of the New York Police Department. Young and enthusiastic detective Robert Leuci was chosen by federal prosecutors Rudolph Guliani, Maurice Nadjari, and Tom Puccio to probe this world of corruption as an undercover agent. Leuci had enjoyed a swift rise from patrolman to the rank of detective. He knew Frank Serpico and while he was sympathetic with Serpico he felt the corruption filtered down. The police were at the bottom of this food chain.

This is the true story. Leuci helped put together corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures and some of his own. Leuci seemed perfectly suited to his special job. His cover was deep with only the Police Commissioner aware of his dual role. As team leader within the SIU, Leuci had access to all of the players in criminal justice from judges down. He walked a tightrope that made his life a nightmare. His life was in jeopardy from both sides.

"If Prince of the City is any good, and I hope it is, this is because during the weeks and months of our interviews, I had the wit to keep silent and let Detective Robert Leuci talk. Having witnessed so much bizarre, comic, tragic, complicated human conduct on the streets of New Yoark, having observed and remembered every detail, his stories were more vivid and emotional than I had expected," said Robert Daley. Daley has captured Leuci's story and laid bare the contradictions in the criminal justice system.

In a world where conflicting pressures are excruciating, who should indeed bear the burden of being right when so much of the system is wrong.

Customer Reviews:

The dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci.......2006-01-07

Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much is the dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci, a deep cover sleuth who assembled corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures, and even some of his own, putting his own life in peril for the sake of law and justice. Written in the style of a novel, Prince Of The City offers an unflinchingly honest portrait of the rigors of policework, the toll it can take, and the horrors it encounters all too often. An introduction by Rudolph Giuliani rounds out this mesmerizing chronicle of courage and duty.

Average customer rating:

Fun, Fast Read!
Decent, but Lukewarm Follow-Up
Better than the first and keeps on going...

Arthur and the Forbidden City
Luc Besson
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060596260
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Book Description

Arthur's quest takes him into the heart of the forbidden city ...

Arthur's backyard looks like a peaceful, ordinary garden -- if you are human-sized, that is. But if you're half an inch tall, like the Minimoys, this backyard is a vast world where fierce battles are fought, ferocious monsters are faced, and one evil wizard, Maltazard the Cursed, rules with cruel power from his terrifying stronghold: Necropolis, the forbidden city.

Now ten-year-old Arthur -- magically transformed into a Minimoy -- and his Minimoy companions, brave Princess Selenia and mischievous Prince Betameche, must somehow find a way into this forbidden city. Their mission: to rescue Arthur's grandfather, recover a stolen treasure, and save the land of the Minimoys once and for all, before it's too late.

But once you're inside the forbidden city .... can you ever get out again?

Customer Reviews:

Fun, Fast Read!.......2006-12-25

This sequel to Arthur and the Minimoys is still a Honey I Shrunk the Kids meets The Secret of Nimh with a smidge of Indiana Jones conglomeration, and I rather like that about it. In this book, we pick up right where the first one left off and we get answers to all the questions left unanswered before -- Will they make it to the Forbidden City? Will they be able to stop the evil M, the cursed? Will Arthur get the treasure back before the cruel Mr. Davido boots his grandma out of her house? We also find out just how vile Maltazard is, we get a look at the Necropolis and of course, the lair of the evil villain. The author is also still parrelling the plight of the Grandmother and Mr. Davido with that of Princess Selenia and her people against M. These are the stark good vs. evil kind of stories where you just KNOW the good guys are going to win in the end...but you still find yourself watching because you HAVE to know HOW they do it and how it all plays out in the end.

In the second half we find Arthur married to the princess...a bit surprising since he's ten...but ok. We also get to meet Arthur's parents who are, well, more interested in finding the rubies than the are in finding their son. In fact, other than voicing their concern they don't seem to care at all but that does seem to be the pattern in the child hero/adventure type stories...the parents are either absent (dead) or indifferent (caring more about stuff or work than about their children). This is a convenient plot device which frees the child to be bolder and more heroic than they might otherwise be allowed to, but with suspension of disbelief, readers can disconnect from what is illogical with regards to a ten year old saving the world (Indiana Jones style) and just enjoy the story for what it is!

Overall...this isn't great literature; it's just plain old fun reading. The story is easy to follow, the good guys are all good (and likeable even) the bad guys are all totally evil and the parallel story line between the "real" world (the M, the Cursed and Mr. Davido) and the world of the Minimoys adds a nice second layer to the story. This book would make nice light reading for a couple of nights for readers aged 8-12...nothing too taxing, but highly entertaining for a few hours! I give it four stars.

Decent, but Lukewarm Follow-Up.......2006-09-16

In the sequel to Arthur and the Minimoys, Arthur, Princess Selenia and Prince Beta brave Necropolis, The Forbidden City. Arthur is searching for a lost treasure that will save his family's home, and Selenia and Beta seek the evildoer who threatens their entire people.

In Necropolis, a seedy market leads to a seedier palace, in which danger and fear are the norm. Imprisoned by Maltazard the Cursed, the three adventurers see little hope for escape. What they find in the prison and deeper in the palace will change everything. Hope MUST be found, or all the Minimoys will be doomed.

Although this installment carries the spirit and creativity of the first, it seems to lose some of the promised gusto. Things seem to come together a little too easy at times (a toy race car shows up right when and where it is needed), and a little too stretched at others (why did Arthur's grandmother and parents not to more to search for him while he was missing?).

The story is well crafted, but it is missing that intangible something that a truly great story possesses. It's one of those qualities that is hard to describe, yet easy to recognize. Perhaps it is spirit, or cultural differences, or perhaps it is something else altogether.

This is a decent follow-up to the first book, but in the end, some readers might leave with a lukewarm feeling.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
9/15/2006

3½-BALLOONS for WUAT Kids!; 4-STARS for Amazon.com

Better than the first and keeps on going..........2005-09-16

Wow...

I use to say that writing in books don't do justice to living through events. But in this book I find I want to live these words and in this world. Realationships in this world make more sense they are easier. Kissing and Love this man has these themes down to a "T". Perfect from cover to cover. Just The right amount of humor. I couldn't put it down and I tried. I am so impressed with the writing that I'm learning french in order to reread the first two books and get the second two before they make it to the us translation.

Fabled Cities, Princes & Jinn from Arab Myths and Legends (World Mythology)

Average customer rating:

quite excellent in the opinion of this non-Arab
The Legends of the Ancient Arabs

Fabled Cities, Princes & Jinn from Arab Myths and Legends (World Mythology)
Khairat Al-Saleh
Manufacturer: Bedrick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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Customer Reviews:

quite excellent in the opinion of this non-Arab.......2006-10-15

I wrote this (actually, _write_ this--I don't believe in protracted drafts) with some exigency after noting that the thoughtful reader who ascribed five stars was--aha!--of Arabic derivation. I occupy quite the other end of the spectrum: I'm Jewish! To begin with, even though I'm an adult--quite a learned adult, at that--I am utterly in love with the World Mythology series published by Peter Bedrick/Peter Lowe/Eurobooks (WARNING: do NOT confuse this with the Library of the World's Myths and Legends, a vastly inferior series that concentrates on artwork first, sketchy synopses of myths second, boring extravagations on mythic archetypes third). The stories are well told, the notes supplied with the text are informative, and the illustrations--which belie the artists' love for and fascinating with the material--truly complement and support the verbiage.

All those excellences aside, the book left me wanting in one area: I fail to have achieved a crystal-clear grasp of the true nature of the schism between modern and extinct Arab beliefs, particularly, in the legends and fables associated with the structure of the heavens (the pearl throne, the celestial whale, etc.). How do those motifs fit into/with/around/aside the Koran? Do they supplement, or contradict, or squeeze between the lines? Do they, perhaps, derive from the Hadith? Maybe such concerns--presented in that manner, at any rate--are too deep for the intended audience, but there must have been some way that this information could have been captured and inculcated, as I'm sure these questions have also tugged at other readers' casuistries, eschatologies, and associated, less arcanely labeled, logics.

The Legends of the Ancient Arabs.......2003-06-12

I searched high and low before I managed to get my hands on this book, and I admit that I am very happy that I did. As the name should imply, the focus of this book is on Arabic myths and legends. Most of these stories are common to the Arab people, beyond religious or geographic barriers, but many have spread across the world thanks to the spread of Arabic culture. Hence, some influences of these stories pop up in Africa, southern Europe, Russia, India, Persia, Turkey and elsewhere. One of the most interesting aspects here is that the book shows a focus on the pre-Islamic myths from the Jahiliyyah (time before the coming of the Prophet Mohammad), as well as more familar Bedouin folk tales and stories from the 1001 Nights.
After starting out with an introduction to Arabic culture and history (which has a nice map of the Arab world), we are given an overview of the pagan Arab religion. Names, symbols and roles of important deities such as Hubal, al-Ussa, Manat and such are presented, along with sacred sites, wells, rocks, animals and stars. Views on the afterlife are provided, as well as a history of Mecca (a holy site long before Islam) and an overview of how idolatry reached Arabia. This chapter alone is worth the read simply for the amount of insight into pre-Islamic Arab beliefs. After this we are given stories about the five mythical extinct tribes of ancient Arabia (the peoples of Thmud, Tasm, Jadis, 'Ad and the Jurhumites) including the story of Iram of the Pillars. Next we go on to learn of various myths, legends and stories from North Arabia and South Arabia (the two Arab culture groups of ancient Arabia). These include some well known ones like stories about Suleiman, the tale of the Year of the Elephant and the ancient cities of Yemen. There are chapters about great seers, priests and shaman (including some simple proverbs and sayings) and stories of valor and honor. Another chapter goes into detail about the cosmologies of the ancient Arabs (some of which survived into the Islamic era and actually influenced/inspired Arab scientists), and conveniently enough, a chapter about the Angels and Djinn. Both, of course, are common to Middle Eastern myths and beliefs beyond the Arabs, appearing in Persian, Turkish, Jewish, Armenian, Greek, Berber and even Indian and African legends. Closing out the book are some stories from the 1001 Nights, including the story of the City of Brass. Finally, theres a nice little section on the symbols of the Arabs. The sources listed in the back were also interesting, including many Arabic sources.
I cannot say strongly enough how much I loved this book. Even aside from the wonderful Bedouin stories, Islamic parables and folk-tales and re-tellings of tales from the 1001 Nights (itself not entirely Arab btw; its origins lie to the east amongst the Iranians, Turks, Indians or even Chinese originally), there was a veritable treasure trove of pre-Islamic Arabic lore in this book. Considering that so little of the pagan Arab religion survived the comings of Christianity and Islam, and the dearth of information (and interest) in ancient Arab beliefs in the west, this is a wonderful and essential book for anyone with an interest in the stories and culture of ancient Arabia. If you can find this book, get it.

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