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.

Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Caldecott Honor Book, BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)

Average customer rating:

This is a beautiful book in word and illustration
My baby loves to hear these poems
Superlative book should stave off "nature-deficit disorder". . .
Listen for me on a spring night...and I'll sing you to sleep
Bug bug bugsy

Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Caldecott Honor Book, BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)
Joyce Sidman
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0618135472

Book Description

From spring's first thaw to autumn's chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Though seemingly quiet, ponds are teeming with life and full of surprises. Their denizensfrom peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetleslead secret and fascinating lives. A unique blend of whimsy, science, poetry, and hand-colored woodcuts, this collection invites us to take a closer look at our hidden ponds and wetlands. Here is a celebration of their beauty and their mystery.

Customer Reviews:

This is a beautiful book in word and illustration.......2007-10-06

I waited for this to arrive and now it has. It is one of the most totally beautiful books I've bought. The illustrations are wood cut and water color. I love them. The poems just pull you into the pictures. The subject matter is new to me and now I realize what I have been missing.
Can't wait to read this a million times to my grandchildren.

My baby loves to hear these poems.......2006-12-04

Since I had a baby this past summer, I have been looking for great books to read to her that are educational and just plain fun to read. She is now 5 months and I read her "The Song of the Water Boatman," and her eyes light up and she laughs and smiles. This is not only a whimsical little collection of poems about pond life, it is beautifully illustrated and informational on a pond's wild inhabitants.

Superlative book should stave off "nature-deficit disorder". . ........2006-03-20

This book is an absolute delight, and the 'pairing' of poet and artist is inspired. Beckie Prange's woodcuts are reminiscent of the genius of work by Gustave Baumann (1881-1971: Chicago, Brown County INDIANA, & New Mexico).

"Song of the Water Boatman" is given its wider readership just as psychologists are announcing concerns about "nature-deprived" children." Blessed be all educators who use this book to plan units & field trips that open eyes and hearts to the natural world so greatly in need of future protectors.

Joyce Sidman packs as much information per square inch as there are microorganisms in the drop of water showing off the "water bear," or "tardigrada." There are favorite segments on every page. In southern Indiana we already are being 'lullabied' by Spring Peepers, grateful for our woods and pond setting. Children are responding with glee to the repetitious "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" - - a musical chant in a four-page spread with 'lessons' about survival and the food chain. Not as beautiful as the dragon fly, the remarkable metamorphosis of the caddis fly, described as a "fashion story" of transformation, will nonetheless fascinate all. Other revelations include the water boatman, and its not-quite-mirror-image, the back swimmer which always swims on its back; both carrying their own bubbles of air with them.

This reviewer will never venture out-of-doors again without more finely tuning my senses to these wonders. We will definitely be exploring our creek with increased enthusiasm. Reviewer mcHAIKU urges that we not allow "nature-deficit" to creep into our souls, and allow our minds to limit periods of hibernation! LET'S THRIVE ON LIVING & LEARNING !

Listen for me on a spring night...and I'll sing you to sleep.......2006-03-07

Take it from one who grew up -- and still lives -- across the street from a pond, Joyce Sidman knows pond life! With the beautiful, strong first poem "Listen to Me" about the peeper frogs waking in the spring, SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN introduces readers to all aspects of pond life, from cattails to painted turtles to the food chain. In addition to poems written a variety of styles, Sidman also includes a paragraph of interesting facts about the subject. And it's all capped off with the Caldecott-honor-worthy woodcuts created by Beckie Prange. All in all, a wonderful read-aloud for kids grade 1-4 studying ponds, ecosystems, or poetry...or just for fun. "Listen to Me" joins my personal list of all-time favorite poems. 2006 Caldecott Honor Book.

Bug bug bugsy.......2006-02-02

Poetry's not my bag, baby, so when I find myself reviewing a children's book of poetry my confidence just ooooozes away. Oozily. I know enough about poetry to know that I can't judge meter or metaphor or any of that jazz. I can tell if a line scans or not, and that officially marks the limits of my poetry-criticism qualifications. It's so much easier when a book garners universal praise. That way I know it's good and I can follow suit. Now as of this review "Song of the Water Boatman" has appeared on School Library Journals Best Books of 2005, the Boston-Globe Winners of 2005, the Bulletin of the Center For Children's Books Blue Ribbon Awards of 2005, and the New York Public Library's 100 Titles For Reading and Sharing circa 2005. Oh. And a little something called the Caldecott Honor, but who's counting? From all these high muckety-mucks in their own little separate worlds, I can only reach the obvious conclusion that there's something pretty cool going on with "Water Boatman" here. A quick peek inside, a swift skimming of a poem or two, and then an in-depth read of every word and image did indeed convince me that it's a lovely work. Would I go about handing it shiny silver medals? Probably not. But as poetry goes it's gorgeous and, almost more importantly, there's a little non-fiction stirred into the mix for spice!

Eleven poems about ponds and their animals, that's what we've got here. North American ponds, to be exact. On her bookflap, author Joyce Sidman clarifies the impetus that drew her to this project. "I noticed a pool that was obviously drying up and wondered about its inhabitants: Where would they go? I imagined them as creatures in a drama, with personalities of their own". That is where Sidman excels, actually. No matter how big or small or downright bizarre a critter is, they appear on these pages as full-bodied three-dimensional characters. The poem, "Diving Beetle's Food-Sharing Rules" gives you a pretty good sense of this. "if it moves, it is mine / If it's anywhere near me, it is mine / If I'm hungry (and I'm always hungry), / it is mine, mine mine". The last line? "do not forget what is mine / For if I return / and you have taken it / YOU / are mine". As with every other creature in this book, there is factual information placed on the page opposite the poems giving in-depth details and little known facts about the pond denizen speaking. From all this we learn about the food chain, what the real nature of duck weed is, the cleverness of the caddis worm, and the definition of "emergents". Couple everything with artist and first-time children's book illustrator Beckie Prange's superb woodcuts ala watercolors and you've a book that simultaneously fulfills intellectual curiosity as well as poetic leanings.

I could be forgiven for not necessarily knowing who Joyce Sidman was before looking through this book. A resident of beautiful Wayzata, Minnesota (I once had to commute there on a daily basis from St. Paul, and it truly is a lovely little area) Sidman is obviously drawing on Minnesotan wildlife for this book. To my mind, the saving grace of the book (not that it isn't nice BUT) is that it has humor. Humor is so undervalued these days that whenever I read through a children's book and find even a scrap of it lurking in the corners I am filled with a kind of manic glee. This manic glee response came to me more than once while reading Sidman's words. Only she would think to make the titular song of the waterboatman (with a refrain by a cheery backswimmer) sound more like a tune fit for a pirate than a bug. She even works in an accumulative poem (ala "The House That Jack Built") with her food-chainish, "In the Depths of the Summer Pond". Lest I steer you wrong, let me just say that Prange's illustrations are realistic and not cartoonish in the least. If you're looking for a visual humor to back up the written, look elsewhere. I was disappointed, by the way, to find that though Prange lists her webpage in the back of the book, the site says that it will be up and running in the "winter". I am writing this in February of 2006. Can't get much more wintery than that, now can you?

Why is it important that this book be written? I will tell you, faithful readers. Picture this: A high-faluting children's room in New York City just across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. A uniquely talented and, if I might be so bold, cute-as-a-bug children's librarian is approached by an addled teacher. The teacher says that she wants an interesting book on ponds. "Not a problem", says the perky librarian, looking up the keyword "pond" in her database because while she's excellent on the Library of Congress decimal system, Dewey has never been her strength. "Oh", says the teacher as an afterthought, "And it needs to be for young kids. First graders". "Erm... okay", says the now less-than-confident but still game librarian. Her searches only seem to be yielding the names of titles of books published in 1943 anyway. "And can the book be kind of fictional but with lots of facts in it as well?". If this librarian is aware of the existence of "Song of the Water Boatman", she will be able to deal with this request with aplomb. If she is not aware of it, she will suffer the indignity of trying to refer the patron to other library branches. This, ladies and gentlemen, happens in one form or another EVERY DAY. Thousands of children's librarians are peppered with ridiculously intense requests for very specific types of books. And while you may not believe me, I actually got this kind of a "pond" request about a year ago. "Song of the Water Boatman" had not yet reached my shelves. Hence, my gratitude for its existence now.

The book reminded me of many many other titles out there already. The songs coming from insects and the variety of different poetical styles brought to mind Paul Fleischman's Newbery Award winning, "Joyful Noise: Poems For Two Voices". It would be an excellent companion to this title. Also, the idea of pairing animal and insect poems alongside remarkably beautiful and strangely (for the author) subdued illustrations is found in, "If Not For the Cat" by Jack Prelutsky. Of course, in that particular case we're dealing with watercolors and not woodcuts, but Beckie Prange is just as adept with the watercolor brush as Ted Rand so the two pair up quite nicely. I don't want to imply that this book will only be interesting to those people into pond poems and pond facts. There's a lot of superb information in here that rural and urban kids will equally enjoy. Just the same, no matter where you're living I suggest you take a trip to a pond straightaway with "Song of the Water Boatman" at your side. Show your children how an ecosystem really works and how some of these bugs really act. This book is great in and of itself, but nailing it home with a little one-on-one experience will truly make it memorable.

Average customer rating:

Memorable!
unforgettable
Great read
What a twisting river!
A Very Good Story

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water: A Novel
Michael Dorris
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Family Saga | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0312421850

Book Description

Michael Dorris has crafted a fierce saga of three generations of Indian women, beset by hardships and torn by angry secrets, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of kinship. Starting in the present day and moving backward, the novel is told in the voices of the three women: fifteen-year-old part-black Rayona; her American Indian mother, Christine, consumed by tenderness and resentment toward those she loves; and the fierce and mysterious Ida, mother and grandmother whose haunting secrets, betrayals, and dreams echo through the years, braiding together the strands of the shared past.

Download Description

The national bestseller A Yellow Raft In Blue Water is a fierce saga of three generations of Indian women, beset by hardships and torn by angry secrets, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of kinship.

Customer Reviews:

Memorable!.......2007-08-30

There were times in this book when I had to force myself to keep reading because it slowed down. But for the most part, it was astonishing. As a reader, just when you think you've made good judgements of the characters, light shines on the passed leading up to the moments of judgement, and a whole new perspective is found, over and over again. Of all the books I've read this book has left the deepest impression on me. Fantastic!

unforgettable.......2007-06-08

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water is a novel I won't soon forget. Set in Seattle and Montana, it tells the tale of three Native American women--Rayona, Christine and Ida--each in her own voice. They are related, a family, and their worlds intersect and tear apart, span out and braid back together, but it is not until the ending that the reader fully understands how the events which start the novel have come to pass.

It is told in reverse, starting with the youngest, Rayona or Ray for short. At first, her strength lies in the unconditional love she has for her mother but after her mother deserts her and she is forced to fend for herself (and is molested by a priest), she shows that her strength does not come from others. She is a warrior and by the end of her story, she comes to embody the spirit of all those missing who came before her--all those we don't truly know about until the end of the book.

Christine seems weak, diseased and tormented with feelings that her mother did not love her. These lifelong feelings led her down a path of promiscuity and jealousy goaded her into pressuring her beloved brother to enlist. And when he does and dies in Vietnam, it is as if he is reborn in her daughter. The same feelings of unworthiness consume her until her health fails and she returns home to find love again--love in an old friend, love in her daughter and love in the woman who raised her.

Aunt Ida is the true enigma and the undying and unexpected source of strength. She has martyred herself and because of this, the lives of others have turned sour. But her goal was an honorable one. She wanted love and to be loved. She wanted safety. She wanted to weave together disparate parts and form a whole. As shown at the end of the book when Ida takes the one man who never hurt her to the roof of her house, she wanted to braid her loved ones together and have them be stronger for it.

Great read.......2007-01-06

Absolutely wonderful. Three women. Three intertwined lives - like braiding "the rhythm of three strands, the whispers of coming and going, of twisting and tying and blending, of catching and of letting go..."

What a twisting river!.......2007-01-05

I had to read this book for a class, but once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The identities of each character are so distinct and well-written that you begin to believe you are there with the character. Dorris provides a great insight of family and womanhood. There are so many surprises and jolts along the way, I just LOVED it. The book really reminds me of people today, of the old generations before us and how they see the new group. Very good book indeed. Plus its an easy read.

A Very Good Story.......2006-12-12

"I sit on the bed at a crooked angle, one foot on the floor, my hip against the tent of Mom's legs, my elbows on the hospital table."
So starts "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water," one story told in turns by mother, daughter, and granddaughter. When I first heard about this, I was looking for a book for school. It looked intriguing, so I chose it. By page 50, I was having difficulty putting the book down. The first part of the book is told by Rayona, a 15 year old girl with a Native American mother and an African American father, and the basic plot and the outcome is revealed. Then the story switches to Christine, the mother of Rayona, and the story is embellished and added to, until finally Ida takes over. Ida is Christine's mother and Rayona's grandmother, and she finally supplies the last piece of a story spanning three generations. The only pieces that are not so great are the ending, which seemed a little clunky and unresolved, and the end of each of the sections, especially Rayona's. This is overall a very good book, and I recommend it.

Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign

Average customer rating:

accesible and intriguing tale of the man that changed the Western Hemisphere
The facts behind the legends
Disappointing Read
Private or privateer?
Hooked from first page!

Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign
Stephan Talty
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0307236609
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

He challenged the greatest empire on earth with a ragtag bunch of renegades—and brought it to its knees. Empire of Blue Water is the real story of the pirates of the Caribbean.

Henry Morgan, a twenty-year-old Welshman, crossed the Atlantic in 1655, hell-bent on making his fortune. Over the next three decades, his exploits in the Caribbean in the service of the English became legendary. His daring attacks on the mighty Spanish Empire on land and at sea determined the fates of kings and queens, and his victories helped shape the destiny of the New World.

Morgan gathered disaffected European sailors and soldiers, hard-bitten adventurers, runaway slaves, and vicious cutthroats, and turned them into the most feared army in the Western Hemisphere. Sailing out from the English stronghold of Port Royal, Jamaica, “the wickedest city in the New World,” Morgan and his men terrorized Spanish merchant ships and devastated the cities where great riches in silver, gold, and gems lay waiting. His last raid, a daring assault on the fabled city of Panama, helped break Spain’s hold on the Americas forever.

Awash with bloody battles, political intrigues, natural disaster, and a cast of characters more compelling, bizarre, and memorable than any found in a Hollywood swashbuckler—including the notorious pirate L’Ollonais, the soul-tortured King Philip IV of Spain, and Thomas Modyford, the crafty English governor of Jamaica—Empire of Blue Water brilliantly re-creates the passions and the violence of the age of exploration and empire.

Customer Reviews:

accesible and intriguing tale of the man that changed the Western Hemisphere.......2007-09-13

A wonderfully well-written (flows perfectly and keeps the interest of the reader with brilliant description and exciting prose), this is the story of Henry Morgan and his historic role in the threshold of New World history between the old, honor-bound, religiously dominated Nationalism of Spanish control and the cut-throat, money-ruled, trade-dominated, mercantile rule of England. Henry Morgan, a patriot and a ruthless privateer, was a bloody genius, a democrat, and he embodied all that the pirates stood for in the New World: freedom, power, and riches--all for the taking by anyone not fettered by ideas of nobility and birthright. Henry Morgan is compared and contrasted with the average pirate (who he increasingly distances himself from) and the Spanish and British nobility. Fascinating and accessible. Grade: A-

The facts behind the legends.......2007-08-13

I'm not a history buff, but I really enjoyed reading what some of the legends about pirates are based on. In particular, I didn't know about Henry Morgan, and found reading about his exploits so enthralling, the book was difficult to put down. It was a nice touch to convert the pirates' takes into todays dollar equivalents. These guys were major players! Very enjoyable book.

Disappointing Read.......2007-08-08

I expected an engaging read about Henry Morgan, but found this writer's style not to be my cup of tea. I found it boring and gave up after 75, or so, pages. I recently finished "Einstein" and expected a similar narrative, but came away disappointed.

Private or privateer? .......2007-08-03

I've never been much interested in pirates, but I found myself enthralled with Stephan Talty's Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign.

Empire of Blue Water begins with the British trying to muscle in on Spain's hold in the New World by conquering Jamaica. At the time, Welshman Henry Morgan was a young sailor. But by the end of his life, he proved to be one of the most influential men in the Caribbean and helped to change the course of world history.

There was a thin line between being a private or a privateer, with Morgan being in the latter group. Privateering was actually invented by Henry VIII. This cash-strapped king offered commissions to sea captains to harass the French, attacking and capturing enemy ships. But unlike regular pirates, privateers gave a percentage of their "profits" to the crown. A romantic imagine exists today about pirates, but pirating was a very hard and dangerous life. But unlike most jobs, pirating was a "democratic institution." "The most important decisions were made from the bottom up." As for leadership, "the captain was only in charge when the crew was fighting, chasing a ship, or being chased."

Henry Morgan made a name (and a fortune) for himself by amassing large groups of pirates and staging four of the most daring raids of that period. They were against Granada, Portobello, Maracaibo and Panama. The Caribbean was akin to the Wild West in these days and Morgan proved to be a bold and brilliant leader. His cunning strategies allowed him to assess the weaknesses of the Spanish and to beat them at almost every turn. When England and Spain finally signed a peace treaty, pirating was outlawed. Morgan was one of the few who made a successful transition to private life, running his Jamaican plantation and becoming deputy governor.

There are fascinating tidbits of information in Blue Waters and I enjoyed how Henry Morgan and his exploits affected the world stage. Morgan had much to do with breaking the back of the Spanish Empire. "Without him, who knows what the map of the Caribbean and even the United States might look like." After 1713, Spain ceased to be a world power. Also, an earthquake in Port Royal four years after Morgan's death destroyed this Jamaican trade capital. Trade with Port Royal was then diverted through the American Colonies, never to return.

So, was Captain Morgan a bold, brilliant privateer or a "rampaging, torturing, thieving pirate?" Read Stephan Talty and decide for yourself!

Hooked from first page!.......2007-07-27

A very enjoyable, informative read. As someone who enjoys reading about this time period, I found this book to be extremely well researched and well written. The author captures the complexity of the time period and conveys it in a very engaging manner! I highly recommend "Empire of Blue Water"

Average customer rating:

Must Read for Stuart Woods fans

Blue Water, Green Skipper
Stuart Woods
Manufacturer: W W Norton & Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0393032035

Customer Reviews:

Must Read for Stuart Woods fans.......2004-12-04

Over the years I've read many Stuart Woods books starting with White Cargo which is still one of my favorites. From there I read many of his early books and read many later books up until the last three years. Having spent so much time reading his different writings including one of his early novels of sailing, I thought it would be worthwhile to read his first book. Blue Water is about Stuart Woods' love of sailing and his adventure in participating in a transatlantic race solo. While this book shows signs of an inexperienced writer, inordinate details that do nothing to move the book along, it does provide a great framework of what is involved in undertaking such a challenging race including the dangers at sea which become quite clear in the last 8th of the book. In addition, if you have studied Woods' other books you get a look at his early life and how those influences may have affected his writings.

If you are a fan of Stuart Woods' novels, this is a worthwhile read. If you are a fan of the sea and sailing, you'll also enjoy this book. Other than that, I wouldn't take the time to find this book and pay the high price necessary since it is so far out of print and sells at a high level.

Offshore Pursuit A Guide to Fishing Atlantic Blue Water

Average customer rating:

Offshore Fishing Must Have
Offshore Pursuit ... a great catch!
Offshore Review
My Offshore Rview

Offshore Pursuit A Guide to Fishing Atlantic Blue Water
John Unkart
Manufacturer: Geared Up Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Complete Book of Baits Rigs & Tackle

ASIN: 0978727819

Product Description

Learn how to rig trolling baits like the pros do, with different methods to fit different situations. Find the most productive offshore trolling areas. Tease marlin to the hook. Apply the tactics and techniques detailed by blue water fishing pro John Unkart, and your catch rate is bound to grow exponentially. Whether you're after billfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo or tuna, you'll gain the hard-earned insight and knowledge Unkart has accumulated through more than 40 years of offshore experience.

Customer Reviews:

Offshore Fishing Must Have.......2007-06-02

I've been fishing offshore for close to 20 years and wish I had read this book long ago. There are great tips for necomers to the sport as well as those who consider themselves experienced. I recommend this book to anyone who is going to fish offshore. It is an easy read and will help you catch more fish. Great Book

Offshore Pursuit ... a great catch!.......2007-04-27

Interested in venturing further into deeper waters in my fishing experiences, after reading "Offshore Pursuit", felt I had found the secret recipe for successful fishing. Although not a very experienced fisherperson, found the tidbits and instructions easy to understand and apply It was very informative and will be a reference for more successful trips ahead. Highly recommend for any fisherman desiring to catch the big one(s)!

Offshore Review.......2007-04-17

Excellent book for all who enjoy fishing. It brings together techniques, equipment and strategies that have been proven by an experienced fisherman with a passion for what he does.
The author provides information that the beginner can use to select the correct, rod, reel and lures.He then presents it all in such a way that you feel as though you are on the boat watching a pro show you exactly what to do.

My Offshore Rview.......2007-04-14

I found the book to be an excellent tutorial for the novice ocean fisherman and a great reference guide fot the more experienced fisherman.
The author writes as if he were talking directly to you on your level.I think this is a great book to keep on-board the boat. rjc/MD

Average customer rating:

Blue Water: A Novel
A. Manette Ansay
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0380732882
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Book Description

From New York Times bestselling author A. Manette Ansay comes an unforgettable story of two families united by tragedy -- and one woman's deeply emotional journey toward a choice she'd never thought possible.

On an ordinary morning in Fox Harbor, Wisconsin, Meg and Rex Van Dorn's lives are irrevocably altered when a drunk driver -- Meg's onetime best friend, Cindy Ann Kreisler -- slams into the Van Dorns' car, killing their six-year-old son, Evan. As Meg recovers from her own injuries, she and Rex are shocked when Cindy Ann receives a mere slap on the wrist. In their rage and grief, they buy a boat to sail around the world, hoping to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Cindy Ann. But when Meg returns to Fox Harbor for a family wedding, she's forced to face the complex ties that bind her to the woman who has destroyed her peace.

Fly Fishing the Inshore Waters: How to Catch Stripers, Blues, Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, and More

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Fly Fishing the Inshore Waters: How to Catch Stripers, Blues, Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, and More
Lefty Kreh
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1585746053

Book Description

The master's tips on how to catch all inshore saltwater gamefish on a fly rod.

Fouled Away: The Baseball Tragedy of Hack Wilson

Average customer rating:

Hack Wilson deserved a better writer than Clifton Blue Parker
Walloped!!
As Solid as Hack Wilson
Hack Wilson De-Mystified
Fouled Away, the Story of Hack Wilson

Fouled Away: The Baseball Tragedy of Hack Wilson
Clifton Blue Parker
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Baseball | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

History | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0786408642
Release Date: 2000-05-01

Product Description

A hundred and ninety-one. Mention the number anywhere near a ballpark and before you can ask who or what, fans will almost certainly shape their lips with a single word: Wilson. They ll tell you Hack Wilson, a burly, bull-necked outfielder who roamed Wrigley Field in the 1920s and 1930s, was the man who drove in 191 runs in 1930 more than most players had hits. A few of them will know that in 1929, Wilson racked up 159 RBI and hit 39 home runs. Still fewer might be able to tell you that for the four seasons 1927 1930, the slugger hit no fewer than 30 home runs a season and drove home no fewer than 120. But you are unlikely to find more than a handful of fans who know how the Cub great's career came to an end. Or when. Or why. The heir apparent to Ruth s title of world-beater, Wilson was a star by his late 20s and a record setter by 30. But he was also an alcoholic who was as practiced at swinging his fists as he was his bat. By his early 30s his days as a full-time player were behind him, and by 48 he was dead; his son refused to claim the body. This biography examines the turbulent life and career of one of the most dominant short-stint powerhitters ever to pull on a uniform. From Wilson s early career as a steelworker, through his time as the beloved ballplayer and icon for the City of Big Shoulders to his days as a down-on-his-luck baseball washout and itinerant laborer, an unflinching look at this Hall of Famer is provided.

Customer Reviews:

Hack Wilson deserved a better writer than Clifton Blue Parker.......2006-03-30

Clifton Blue Parker had a great subject in Hack Wilson but Parker fouled out with his writing.
Parker took a interesting ballplayer and turned him into a bore. His chapter "Hacking Toward Immortality" was written like it was taken out of a daily newspaper. To many mundane accounts of each and every RBI. It would have been nice to also have a little more info on his second wife in the years after Hack died.
It took me weeks to finish this book. I couldn't believe I spent so much money on this bio. I will not buy anything else from Clifton Blue Parker. I think he is a overrated writer.

Walloped!!.......2004-02-12

This book is full of lively anecdotes written in a thoroughly illuminating and informative manner. Learning about the highs and lows of Hack Wilson - one of baseball's biggest enigmas -- was a rollercoaster ride of fun. Heartily recommend it.

As Solid as Hack Wilson.......2001-05-30

I found this to be a very well written and very interesting book. Clifton Blue Parker has done an excellent and very thorough and complete research of a rather difficult subject, and pulled off a solid read from start to finish. Clifton Parker is correct in one of his assessments late in this book...People are forgetting Hack Wilson. Here today and gone tomorrow aptly applies to the career and life of Hack Wilson. That is sad indeed. Hack Wilson was a character of the game both on and off the field. What Mr. Parker has done is preserve a life, career and very important lesson in life in his book.

Clifton Parker puts Wilson's 191 RBI's into perspective and does not candy coat it. He backs it up with reasonable assumptions and hard facts. A tragic figure is Wilson, and Mr. Parker portrays him accordingly. Interesting how some of today's so-called athletes and heros are really no different than Wilson...

I consider this a must read for anyone that loves baseball history. This is as good a read as you will find. An interesting subject and an equally interesting read.

Hack Wilson De-Mystified.......2000-10-06

I read a lot of baseball biographies, and one of the worst things is reading player propaganda. It seems that hero worshipping infects far too many endeavors in the baseball arena, including biogaphies. Refreshingly, this book on Hack Wilson does not hero worship. It is a serious thorough accounting evidently based on plenty of research. It covers Wilson's rise and fall, from cradle to grave, with warts and heroics, and all. Prior attempts on Wilson's life never gave an adequate accounting of his life otuside baseball. The one thing that would have helped this book is any surviving members of the Wilson clan. That's no fault of Parker, who writes in an engaging, almost poetic, manner about this fascinating character out of Baseball's Roaring 20s. I hope to read more of his work!

Fouled Away, the Story of Hack Wilson.......2000-07-14

The author makes a diligint effort in telling baseball fans the accomplishments and lifestyle of Hack Wilson, one of baseballs most over looked Hall of Famers. The author does an excellent job tying in the roar 20's and the city of Chicago into the book. Wilson's best years were spent in Chicago at Wrigley Feild with the Cubs. All the accomplishments and downfalls of Wilson are noted. What the author does leave the reader wondering is first who exactly is this complicated yet modest man, which may be of no fault of his own. Second, the author fails to describe why the small West Virginia town of Martinsburg was so important to a man who was a star in the "Second City".

Super Blue to the Rescue (Paint with Water)

Average customer rating:

Gave me the "Blues:
Terrible!!
Not as good as others - would NOT recommend

Super Blue to the Rescue (Paint with Water)
Golden Books
Manufacturer: Golden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0307276120
Release Date: 2001-10-15

Customer Reviews:

Gave me the "Blues:.......2007-09-09

I was excited to find 'paint with water' books for my granddaughter, Lily. This book, however, was of very poor quality. The colors ran together into a muddy greenish brown... I don't think this is worth the cost.

Terrible!!.......2006-01-19

I bought this paint with water book because they are so hard to come by in my area. I had a few others (Care Bears) that were wonderful. This one is simply terrible. The colors disappear as soon as the water hits the paper. With the exception of the blue, which bleeds all over the surrounding areas. I wish I had read the other review first! SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!

Not as good as others - would NOT recommend.......2005-12-04

My daughter is 2 years old and we recently got her started on paint with water books. She loves to do them but they are very hard to find in the stores. We have bought the Little People books several times and they are very colorful. Since she had already done 3 of those books we wanted something different and bought the Blue's Clues paint with water book when we saw it. I was very disappointed because the colors were very bland and gray. I would not recommend this book.

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