An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't

Average customer rating:

Some People Have No Sense Of Humor

Nothing quite as frustrating as an extended intellectual misfire

THIS BOOK DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL ! !

Disappointed

a great book

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't
Judy Jones , and William Wilson
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Research | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books
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An Underground Education : The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields of Human

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge: A Desk Reference for the Curious Mind

The Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured Class

Everything You Pretend to Know And Are Afraid Someone Will Ask

ASIN: 0345468902
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

You'll find everything you forgot from school--as well as plenty you never even learned--in this all-purpose reference book, an instant classic when it first appeared in 1987. The updated version takes a whirlwind tour through 12 different disciplines, from American studies to philosophy to world history. Along the way, Judy Jones and William Wilson provide a plethora of useful information, from the plot of Othello to the difference between fission and fusion. It's not a shortcut to cultural literacy, the authors write in their introduction, but it's an excellent "way in" to the building blocks of Western civilization: the "books, music, art, philosophy, and discoveries that have, for one reason or another, managed to endure." Think of it as finishing school for your brain; study up and you'll gain a lifetime's worth of cocktail conversation--as well as a new list of books you simply must read.

Book Description

When it was originally published in 1987, An Incomplete Education became a surprise bestseller. Now this instant classic has been completely updated, outfitted with a whole new arsenal of indispensable knowledge on global affairs, popular culture, economic trends, scientific principles, and modern arts. Here’s your chance to brush up on all those subjects you slept through in school, reacquaint yourself with all the facts you once knew (then promptly forgot), catch up on major developments in the world today, and become the Renaissance man or woman you always knew you could be!

How do you tell the Balkans from the Caucasus? What’s the difference between fission and fusion? Whigs and Tories? Shiites and Sunnis? Deduction and induction? Why aren’t all Shakespearean comedies necessarily thigh-slappers? What are transcendental numbers and what are they good for? What really happened in Plato’s cave? Is postmodernism dead or just having a bad hair day? And for extra credit, when should you use the adjective continual and when should you use continuous?

An Incomplete Education answers these and thousands of other questions with incomparable wit, style, and clarity. American Studies, Art History, Economics, Film, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Science, and World History: Here’s the bottom line on each of these major disciplines, distilled to its essence and served up with consummate flair.

In this revised edition you’ll find a vitally expanded treatment of international issues, reflecting the seismic geopolitical upheavals of the past decade, from economic free-fall in South America to Central Africa’s world war, and from violent radicalization in the Muslim world to the crucial trade agreements that are defining globalization for the twenty-first century. And don’t forget to read the section A Nervous American’s Guide to Living and Loving on Five Continents before you answer a personal ad in the International Herald Tribune.

As delightful as it is illuminating, An Incomplete Education packs ten thousand years of culture into a single superbly readable volume. This is a book to celebrate, to share, to give and receive, to pore over and browse through, and to return to again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Some People Have No Sense Of Humor.......2007-09-14

People who pan this book can't seem to grasp the fact that a reference book doesn't have to be dry and boring to be informative. Not only does this book provide a wealth of information about everything from chemistry to classical music, it is also laugh-out-loud funny!

I bought the first edition of this book years ago, and I still refer back to it often for the simple joy of reading it. I learn something new every time I pick it up.

Highly recommended!

Nothing quite as frustrating as an extended intellectual misfire.......2007-08-12

I appreciate brevity. Seems to me most commentary and analysis goes on too long. That was my attraction to this title, but that's not the problem here. Every topic is handled concisely though often not very effectively. The problem here is a twisted central view that produces sheer nuttiness like this books anachronistic take on Freud. I wish I had more time to elaborate, but, suffice it to say, you WILL be disappointed. This book is about a dozen re-writes from something worthwhile, and I wish I'd looked the reference section over a little more rigorously before wasting my money on this tome.

THIS BOOK DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL ! !.......2007-08-03

I had given this book 4 stars in an earlier review, but AFTER READING OTHER REVIEWER'S COMMENTS (below) I am upgrading my rating to 5 STARS !!

I think that people need to read the book's introduction to see what the book is SUPPOSED to do before they slam it.

No, the book isn't going to be exhaustive or complete. How can it be? It's only one book and it's not even that thick!

The idea is just to learn enough of someone else's subject so you can navigate and know what they are talking about. You will need to read about it in more detail elsewhere, but at least this book will help you get started.

I did not find any SIGNIFICANT factual errors in the book. Perhaps in a book that attempts to cover all knowledge of the known (and unknown) world there might be an itty bitty error here or there, but I did not notice any. One assumes the authors used appropriate consultants for certain subjects. In the subjects that I am trained in, there were no errors.

Also, I did not find the authors to be condescending, nor did the humor interfere with my learning. In fact, my enjoyment and learning were increased.

That said, I would have to agree that completely serious, humorless people will not be happy with this book.

Disappointed.......2007-07-29

"Should have learned" is the key phrase in my review. Should have learned according to whose opinion is the question? This authors, apparently in order to sell books. I ordered this book, reviewed it and then returned it. It is packed with factual information, but 90% of it is irrelevant and you will never have the use for it. I am an elementary school teacher and I bought this to use as a reference for tid bits of information here and there to engage my students. There is nothing engaging about this book.

a great book.......2007-07-26

It doesn't fill in every gap, but it offers a chance to get some learnin' from two interesting, opinionated intellectuals.

Wonder, Love, and Praise: A Supplement to the Hymnal 1982

Average customer rating:

If you're a Christian singer, you delight in this supplement

Wonder, Love, and Praise: A Supplement to the Hymnal 1982

Manufacturer: Church Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0898692261

Customer Reviews:

If you're a Christian singer, you delight in this supplement.......2002-07-31

If you haven't had a chance to hear the wonderful music in this supplement, you are in for a treat. Recently, the Nativity choir joined with other local Episcopal parishes for a sing-through of many of the songs in the supplement. What a wonderful job the committee has done in providing new praise music and some traditional overlooked spiritual gems. If you are a Christian singer, you won't want to be pass this by.

Wonder, Love, and Praise, for the most part, moves us on in time to contemporary composers and writers. Many of the hymns in the supplement contain verses with modern language and address contemporary issues.

The musical styles are also varied. Many hymns come from other Protestant traditions. But there were also chants from the Taize Community as well as some Plainsong that is being "re-presented." This supplement is a very impressive work which helps to expand our Episcopal music horizons. Appearing below is an example of the more contemporary texts from one of the hymns that we sang that Saturday.

When Jesus came to Golgatha - third verse
When Jesus cries, "Forgive them for they know not what they do,"
and still it rains the winter rain that drenches through and through;
the crowds go home and leave the streets without a soul to see,
and Jesus crouches 'gainst a wall and cries for Calvary.

The verse is very "here and now" with reference to the homeless, but it was actually written just after World War I by a British theologian, Rev. Geoffrey Studdert-Kennedy. WLP gives background notes on the hymns: "He (Studdert-Kennedy) worked tirelessly to open the eyes of the privileged to the suffering of the lower classes." And the second stanza which is not quoted herein mentions "indifference" which was a reference to the industrial slum of that time in Birmingham, England. The hymn has been re-presented with the verbs changed to the present tense to highlight the text relevance for us today.

Book Description

The inspiring true story of two great friends, a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-yr-old giant tortoise named Mzee (Mm-ZAY). When Owen was stranded after the Dec 2004 tsunami, villagers in Kenya worked tirelessly to rescue him. Then, to everyone's amazement, the orphan hippo and the elderly tortoise adopted each other. Now they are inseparable, swimming, eating, and playing together. Adorable photos e-mailed from friend to friend quickly made them worldwide celebrities. Here is a joyous reminder that in times of trouble, friendship is stronger than the differences that too often pull us apart.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful pictures and a moving story.......2007-10-01

This excellent account of the true story of Owen and Mzee will delight any young reader. The beautiful pictures of the animals and the park are perfectly complemented by the easy-to-read text making this book a wonderful story-time resource. Though young readers may be saddened when Owen loses his mother, his adoption by Mzee will soothe any lingering concerns while teaching a powerful lesson about acceptance. This book would be an inspiring addition to any family library.

I like this book.......2007-09-08

I bought this book for my four year old neice. It is a great story of friendship with the added bonus of being a true story. There are a lot of great photos in the book and my neice really enjoyed talking about the pictures and she added some details to the book just my commenting on what she could see in the pictures. I think this is a good purchase.

Great Book for Both Kids and Adults.......2007-08-31

Such a cute book and sent in mint condition. I would recommend this book for both children and adults.

Wonderful.......2007-08-01

What a sweet story. This book makes a great gift.It is excellent for adults to share with children.

Best Book About Love for Kids.......2007-07-21

This book is beyond heartwarming...my eyes brim with tears nearly everytime I read this remarkable story about dear Owen and sweet Mzee. My girls have been inspired by this story to not just let something be...get involved if you think it's right and not to judge a situation, to think "outside the box" and see how brilliant mother-nature is! This is a survival story and WE LOVE IT! Buy it, NOW!

Average customer rating:

Predictable
Book of Wonders
Year of Wonders
Year of Wonders
Good research but...

Year of Wonders
Geraldine Brooks
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0142001430
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Amazon.com

Geraldine Brooks's Year of Wonders describes the 17th-century plague that is carried from London to a small Derbyshire village by an itinerant tailor. As villagers begin, one by one, to die, the rest face a choice: do they flee their village in hope of outrunning the plague or do they stay? The lord of the manor and his family pack up and leave. The rector, Michael Mompellion, argues forcefully that the villagers should stay put, isolate themselves from neighboring towns and villages, and prevent the contagion from spreading. His oratory wins the day and the village turns in on itself. Cocooned from the outside world and ravaged by the disease, its inhabitants struggle to retain their humanity in the face of the disaster. The narrator, the young widow Anna Frith, is one of the few who succeeds. With Mompellion and his wife, Elinor, she tends to the dying and battles to prevent her fellow villagers from descending into drink, violence, and superstition. All is complicated by the intense, inexpressible feelings she develops for both the rector and his wife. Year of Wonders sometimes seems anachronistic as historical fiction; Anna and Mompellion occasionally appear to be modern sensibilities unaccountably transferred to 17th-century Derbyshire. However, there is no mistaking the power of Brooks's imagination or the skill with which she constructs her story of ordinary people struggling to cope with extraordinary circumstances. --Nick Rennison, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna's eyes we follow the story of the fateful year of 1666, as she and her fellow villagers confront the spread of disease and superstition. As death reaches into every household and villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must find the strength to confront the disintegration of her community and the lure of illicit love. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a "year of wonders."

Inspired by the true story of Eyam, a village in the rugged hill country of England, Year of Wonders is a richly detailed evocation of a singular moment in history. Written with stunning emotional intelligence and introducing "an inspiring heroine" (The Wall Street Journal), Brooks blends love and learning, loss and renewal into a spellbinding and unforgettable read.

"The novel glitters . . . A deep imaginative engagement with how people are changed by catastrophe." (The New Yorker)

"Year of Wonders is a vividly imagined and strangely consoling tale of hope in a time of despair." (O, The Oprah Magazine)

"Brooks proves a gifted storyteller as she subtly reveals how ignorance, hatred and mistrust can be as deadly as any virus. . . . Year of Wonders is itself a wonder." (People )

Customer Reviews:

Predictable.......2007-09-01

Year of Wonders was ok. It was incredibly predictable. I would call it very light historical fiction. Parts of it were good, but I was left wondering more about the real Plague Village servant instead of this trumped up fluffy character, Anna, who just happens to "blossom" into this superwoman heroine. Oh, please. For example, this woman was illiterate and within a few years she's reading and writing English and then understanding Latin in addition to holding two jobs, housework, managing a flock of sheep and raising two babies?!? Maybe they didn't need sleep back then or had more than 24 hours in a day. Oh wait...let's not forget nursing the plague victims. And don't get me started on the ending..... I won't spoil it, but it felt like it was the ending to a completely different novel with completely different characters. In conclusion, this is a good book to bring on vacation - an easy read with little substance.

Book of Wonders.......2007-08-31

I really enjoyed this book although when I read the Epilogue, I was in fact disappointed to learn that the author took liberties with the Pastor and his role in the book. It intrigued me enough to go back and learn more about the Plague. Worth the read - pretty quick and easy

Year of Wonders.......2007-08-28

`Year of Wonders' is a complete waste of time. The plot is unnecessarily tragic, completely unrealistic, and totally ridiculous. Don't read this book, you won't regret it.

Year of Wonders.......2007-08-27

This is a beautifully written, compassionate novel of the 1666 plague in a small English village. The story centers around the life of a housemaid, Anna Frith, and how she and her village inhabitants responded and met the challenge of this horrific event. It is a story of courage and hope without undue sentimentality. Attention to historical detail, authentic characters, and a dramatic plot make this a very worthwhile read.

Good research but..........2007-08-11

I'm not a fan of historicals as they often veer into silly romance and the reader is generally stuck with the narrator/protagonist's point of view, which is usually that of an ill-used girl (servant) who is savvy beyond her years, education, and background as to not be very credible as a character. I prefer factual accounts of history (if well written), but this novel was recommended by a friend and I persevered to the end--which gave the impression of being "tagged on". The novel itself was an unrelenting series of shock, horror, and death (to be expected in a novel about the plague, but some of the gory details seemed unnecessary). At the point where Anna and Elinor go down the mine to save the child's stake and the protagonist says something like, "Of course, we had no skill or knowledge in the ways of mining," I said to myself: well, yeah! Apart from the death of her babies, I managed to stay dry-eyed throughout as I never felt totally drawn into the story. What I enjoyed most were the references to the way people lived back then, but this aspect could have been gleaned from a textbook.

Guinness World Records 2007 (Guinness World Records)

Average customer rating:

Great book for kids and adults alike
Spanish Edition
guinness world records 2007
I was sent a wrong item
Didn't know it was written in Spanish

Guinness World Records 2007 (Guinness World Records)
Guinness World Records
Manufacturer: Guinness
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Curiosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1904994121

Product Description

Discover the most impressive world records with the latest edition from Guinness! Inside this packed reference, you ll find every conceivable record; from football legends to console gaming, action sports, graphic novels, and podcasting to music and movie stars, you re sure too find a topic that catches your interest. Each page features interesting articles, full-color photos, and plenty of documented world records.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for kids and adults alike.......2007-07-07

This is a great book for entertaining kids for hours. It is even fun to look at by adults. There are some amazing people in this crazy world we live in... and most of them are listed in this book!!!

Spanish Edition.......2007-06-04

I ordered this for my grandson's birthday and it came in time, but there was nothing in the description indicating it was printed in Spanish. We do not speak Spanish. I'm very disappointed in receiving the wrong product. If I had known it was in Spanish, I would not have ordered it. I will be returning it for a full refund.

guinness world records 2007.......2007-05-26

no se escribir en ingles,,, pero es bellisimo este libro,,,

mil gracias,, a ustedes

I was sent a wrong item.......2007-05-13

I had ordered a english edition of Guiness Book of records but received a Spanish edition. I returned the book to Amazon for refund and used the the original packing.
I received a letter from USPS after 2 weeks saying the box was damaged and the book was lost.
I lost my money in this bargain.
It has been an unpleasant experince so far.

Didn't know it was written in Spanish.......2007-05-08

I assumed this book would be in English. But after receiving it, realized that it is in Spanish. It would be helpful in the future for this information to be stated with the initial description of the item. I didnt' think I would have to search the document to find out what language it was printed in.

Average customer rating:

Useful addition to my library
I love this book!
Great Book
Great book
ONE-SKEIN WONDERS is packed with excellent, easy projects which rely on a minimum of yarn for completion.

One-Skein Wonders

Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Knitting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1580176453

Book Description

There are lonely, single skeins of yarn in every knitter’s closet — casualties of projects discarded in mid-row, single balls of luscious alpaca or cashmere that was too expensive to buy more than one, the leftovers from long-completed projects. Wherever they came from, those single skeins are a minor source of guilt for knitters everywhere. They really should be used, but for what?

Here are 101 original and charming solutions to the perpetual one-skein problem. Contributed by yarn shops across the country, there are hats, mittens, scarves, bags, socks, ponchos, baby sweaters, belts, headbands, a cell phone carrier, and even a tea cozy and a set of coasters for the home. A scrapbook of tastes and styles that celebrates the ingenuity of knitters nationwide, this is a collection with appeal for every type of stitcher.

With patterns arranged by yarn weight, knitters will easily find broad ranges of possibilities for their particular yarn orphans. Each pattern includes the names of the contributing yarn shop and the designer, and a black-and-white image of the completed project.

101 small, sweet patterns — enough to take care of the single skeins in everyone’s collection and prove once and for all that there is no such thing as leftover yarn!

Customer Reviews:

Useful addition to my library.......2007-10-09

I added this book to my library on a whim and I don't regret it. Small projects is about my speed at the moment with 3 young kids and little time. Nothing in this book absolutely leaps off the page at me, but at the same time there are lots of things in here that I will make to use up wool from my stash. It also doesn't have the most inviting layout but it is adequate and colour photos are available, just not next to the actual patterns.

So - to sum it up - this book is a good-of-the-road addition to my knitting collection.

I love this book!.......2007-09-24

I bought this book a few months ago, because I liked a bunch of the designs in it. I also get bored when doing huge projects, and can't go into a yarn store without coming out with a skein or two of yarn just because it looks pretty or was extra soft. So I thought it would be perfect for me, and it is. I started making Christmas gifts out of it and most of my list is finished. A word of warning though, most of the designs in the book are a little on the femine side, so if you are thinking you are going to make a bunch of stuff for the guys in your life, you may want to consider another book. There is a hat, and some socks and a coffee mit that could work for guys, but I can't think of anything else in the book that most guys would be really excited to get. I love it and it's really helped me make things for my mom and sisters and mother-in-law.

Great Book.......2007-08-11

This is my favorite one skein book. There is such a variety of things to knit. Some for adults, children and babies. Every project is very stylish. Great book..I highly recommend it.

Great book.......2007-08-09

This is a great one skein book. I am working on one of the scarf patterns now. Every project is photographed in color in the center of the book. I would have to say all the patterns are adorable and seem quick to knit. I am very happy with this book.

ONE-SKEIN WONDERS is packed with excellent, easy projects which rely on a minimum of yarn for completion........2007-08-06

Knitters have a passion for yarn and often collect skeins for projects to find just the right colors: ONE-SKEIN WONDERS comes from over 60 yarn shops across the country who contribute over a hundred patterns, each using only a small amount of yarn to accomplish projects. From a scrunchie hat and beaded bag to a poncho and tea cozy, ONE-SKEIN WONDERS is packed with excellent, easy projects which rely on a minimum of yarn for completion.

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders

Average customer rating:

Great short stories... some of them.
Delightful
Surprisingly good.
A litlle disapointed...
Watch an author evolve

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060515228
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

A mysterious circus terrifies an audience for one extraordinary performance before disappearing into the night, taking one of the spectators along with it . . .

In a novella set two years after the events of American Gods, Shadow pays a visit to an ancient Scottish mansion, and finds himself trapped in a game of murder and monsters . . .

In a Hugo Award-winning short story set in a strangely altered Victorian England, the great detective Sherlock Holmes must solve a most unsettling royal murder . . .

Two teenage boys crash a party and meet the girls of their dreams—and nightmares . . .

In a Locus Award-winning tale, the members of an excusive epicurean club lament that they've eaten everything that can be eaten, with the exception of a legendary, rare, and exceedingly dangerous Egyptian bird . . .

Such marvelous creations and more—including a short story set in the world of The Matrix, and others set in the worlds of gothic fiction and children's fiction—can be found in this extraordinary collection, which showcases Gaiman's storytelling brilliance as well as his terrifyingly entertaining dark sense of humor. By turns delightful, disturbing, and diverting, Fragile Things is a gift of literary enchantment from one of the most unique writers of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Great short stories... some of them........2007-09-04

To think that I'm reviewing ANY Neil Gaiman novel less than five stars! But this one, unfortunately, didn't deserve 5 in my opnion. Granted, some of the short stories (like the one with Shadow) deserves more than 5, I think overall it averaged out to just the three. However, Neil rocks, and I liked this book. As I said, some of these stories were just out of this world, and I find Neil's mind totally incredulous!

Delightful.......2007-09-02

In listening to Fragile Things, I found that Gaiman's strength is not necessarily is writing skill.

No, the man is a storyteller first and foremost. His literal voice matches his written "voice" for telling a tale.

Fragile Things is a wonderful collection of short stories -- tender and horrifying, hilarious and sad. Being an American Gods fan and very fond of Shadow, I especially liked the last novella, The Monarch of the Glen.

A Study in Emerald is sure to delight any Holmsian, and there are many other stories that will make you twitch, shiver or smile tenderly.

I encourage anyone who enjoys audiobooks to buy this with the wide eyes and open heart of a kid who looks up saying, "Tell me a story!"

*grin* Lucky Maddy, Holly and Michael...

Surprisingly good. .......2007-07-09

Even though Gaiman is one of my favorite authors, I was still surprised at how good this collection of stories was.

As an added bonus, it is actually read by the author. Many authors can't read their own work and have it turn out well, but Gaiman does a brilliant job.

A litlle disapointed..........2007-07-03

I love everything Neil Gaiman, despite having been disappointed in the past. The book cover is so good lucking it had be excited looking forward to all Gaiman has to offer. I must say that I was more than a little disapointed...If you're not a hard core fan like me and don't need to buy every Gaiman book that comes out, I'm sad to say I do not recommend you buy this book. Although some of the stories or the background of the stories might be interesting, there is very little substance to it. Obviously I'm not a writer, but I'm an avid reader and die hard Gaiman fan.

Watch an author evolve.......2007-05-23

Fragile Things is an absolute joy for Gaiman fans. We can see his improvement as an author since Smoke & Mirrors. We're also treated to a extension of American Gods.
Any book that opens with a fan fiction cross-over of Sherlock Holmes and Call of Cthulu earns four stars from me.

Wizardology: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin (Ologies)

Average customer rating:

Awesome book!
Excellent book, sure to capture the young imagination
Great book like all of the other ones!
the secrets of merlin
Wizardology

Wizardology: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin (Ologies)
Master Merlin , and Dugald Steer
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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

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

Curiosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0763628956
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

Aspiring wizards can tune in to the age-old wisdom of Merlin with this dazzling compendium of all things magical — unveiling novelty elements throughout.

For any apprentice determined to learn the arcane arts of wizardry, could there be a better teacher than . . . Merlin himself? Originally discovered in 1588, this remarkable text by history's most respected wizard is revealed to the world for the very first time. Lavishly illustrated by four delicate artists, WIZARDOLOGY's intricate design even conceals a series of hidden symbols that spell out a secret message when their code is deciphered — if the reader is clever enough to find them.

Among WIZARDOLOGY's special features are:

-a glittering crystal ball-like jewel on the front cover
- a world map showing locations of wizards around the globe
- tactile samples of a "fairy flag" with one wish remaining and a phoenix feather to aid in flying charms
- booklets explaining the proper use of spells, familiars, and potions
- a removable dragon pendant allowing the user to dowse for mythical beasts
- a pack of eight removable fortune-tellling cards
- a 48-page mini book of divination on the final spread

Customer Reviews:

Awesome book!.......2007-08-02

These "Ologies" books are great! I even love to look at them. They're crammed full of interesting information and all the little pull out items and 3D trinkets are really cool and engaging. These books keep my kids occupied for good periods of time, and they'll go back and look at them again and again.

Excellent book, sure to capture the young imagination.......2007-07-21

If the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" is true for 90% of books out there, then Wizardology falls into the other 10%. Captivating from first sight and not letting up all the way to the end, this book is just right on so many levels. Consider:

1. Its rich graphics are anything but boring. Elaborate designs, drawings, old-style text font, and drawings make every page rich and colorful.
2. Almost every page has something to touch, pull, or feel. This book engages the kinesthetic learner very well.
3. The author clearly knows what kids like. Wizards, dragons, magic, spells--they're all here.
4. Topics for discussion are everywhere. What does it mean to say yes to Magic and no to Science? Can animals communicate with us in ways we can understand? That's just the tip of the iceberg.

The one caution is that this book contains a lot of big words. However, in my experience, children are so engaged by everything else going on that they really don't stumble over them. Even so, I'd recommend this to about the 4th grade and up. Younger kids might get confused and overwhelmed, which would be a loss, because the actual text is arguably Wizardology's strongest attribute. Also, as some have said, I wouldn't worry about this book convincing kids to start casting spells everywhere or actually believing that Science isn't a good thing. The book's style is clearly presented as fiction, and young people quickly pick up on this.

All in all, I highly recommend this book for the upper elementary student, whether you're a parent, tutor, teacher, or a kid yourself. And it's pretty fun for adults as well.

Great book like all of the other ones!.......2007-07-13

A must have for the fan of the "ology" series!!! My son loves this book and so do I!

the secrets of merlin.......2007-07-04

This book is absolutly beautiful. Full of secret doors and pockets, it keeps you searching for more! a wonderful edition for young and old alike.

Wizardology.......2007-06-28

The book arrived in time. It had a few scratches on the cover by otherwise all was fine.

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

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

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

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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Museum of Lost Wonder
Unleashes something between strange and wonderful
Still thinking
Admirable in spirit
Delightfully Enlightening and Indulgently Educational!

Museum of Lost Wonder
Jeff Hoke
Manufacturer: Weiser Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1578633648

Book Description

The Museum of Lost Wonder is a book with a mission, simply stated: To illuminate life's mysteries. The execution is nearly indescribable. Think McSweeney's production values and design pyrotechnics. Think traditional esoteric symbols in a childhood garden of wonder. Think graphic novel and an adult version of the coolest activity book ever made. And you'll be somewhere in the neighborhood.

Jeff Hoke has created a history of the human imagination with visual cues and clues and wonderment about and around everything you ever thought and everything you wish you'd been crafty enough to think. He has built a museum accessible to all, in book format, arranged with 7 halls (representing the seven stages of alchemical process) in which the questions of the universe unfold. All one needs to enter is some basic understanding of the human experience.

Open The Museum of Lost Wonder, and step into an alternative world full of beautiful drawings, interesting historical tidbits, thoughtful challenges to common myths, and projects and pursuits to complete at home. Pages pull out with cutouts for building models. Hoke's museum is graphic novel meets quantum physics meets mythical journey meets spirit.

Hoke begins with The Calcinatio Hall where the featured exhibit is The Beginning of Everything and leads us into halls like The Sublimatio Hall, with the exhibit How To Have Visions. In The Separatio Hall the exhibit Where Are You Going challenges us in our own journey. Through each hall we are led into an exhibit that questions our own understanding of life and urges us into new ways of thinking. As in wandering the great, immense halls of an ancient museum with endless corridors and fascinating exhibits, the reader is instantly pulled into this enormously imaginative pursuit. Each page is full of depth and questions. And each hall features a special fold-out interactive page.

The Museum of Lost Wonder is a ray of hope in a dreary world. It is an oasis in an age when we are inundated everywhere we go with messages of consumption and materialism. It is an invitation into the imagination of a brilliant artist as well as a welcome back into your own imagination. It is a call to challenge your mind and your mind's eye to re-assess what you believe to be true and what you know to be true. Once you enter the museum, there is no turning back. For the price of admission you get a whole new perspective on the meaning of life and your purpose in it.

Customer Reviews:

Museum of Lost Wonder.......2007-07-18

What do you think of when you hear the word museum? Do you see glass encased exhibits with little tags of text beside various artifacts? Can you hear someone complaining about the loud whispers that can be heard? Can you feel the boredom setting in?

The Museum of Lost Wonder is an example of a completely different kind of museum. The pages of this book lead the reader on a journey of exploration and freedom of thought. Instead of stuffy scientific displays, this museum encourages the visitor to wonder and ask all of those questions that they always wanted to ask but thought they'd sound foolish or be glared at for even coming up with the idea.

This book is divided into eight alchemy themed exhibit halls: Calinatio (technology), Solutio (aquaria), Coagulatio (zoological), Sublimatio (observatory), Mortificatio (history), Separatio (science and faith), Conjunctio (arts), and Circulatio (the entrance and exit). Within each of these sections readers explore scientific, mythological, spiritual, and fantastic renditions that explain our world. Many of the exercises encourage visitors to use their creativity to come up with alternative explanations, to explore their own questions, to try various experiments, and to construct models of the various exhibit halls.

Unleashes something between strange and wonderful.......2007-02-07

I'm not sure what this book set out to do, but it certainly fires up the imagination of anyone who looks at it. The drawings and constructions are masterful, the little experiments and mental expeditions are thought provoking and the organization is absolutely indecipherable. If you have a brain and it could use a little exercise, get this book.

Still thinking.......2007-01-22

A beautiful book, interesting, creative, but somehow a bit quaint. The last forty pages seem very disjointed, but maybe I just missed the point. The artwork is meant to be in an old style, 1900's style with broad and heavy lines and unrealistic imagery. Yet intriguing.

It is worth the price of purchase just because it is so intriguing while at the same time being sometimes a bit too cutesy in a seeming effort of being creative.

Give the book a try. It is worth the mental tweaking.

Admirable in spirit.......2007-01-02

First allow me to extend my thanks to the several other reviewers who gave lengthy and informative reviews of this book. Without them, this review would be much longer.

This book has filled for me a very personal need for synthesis in science and mysticism. It is excellent in both its content, but also its approach. Jeff Hoke has managed to balance his satire of both mainstream science and orthodox religion very well. Regardless of what your personal background may be, this book will make you question some aspect of your current paradigm of thinking.

Further merit must be extended to Hoke for his popular delivery of some very interesting and profound ideas connecting alchemy and psychology. Although these ideas are largely due to the work of Carl Jung, the simultaneous presentation of a physical process of transformation (alchemy) and a mental process of transformation (a quest for transcendence) reflects the authors deft abilities as a museum exhibit designer. Having done some museum exhibit design for a course at MIT, I see that the themes of repetition and symbolism, visual splendor and quality text-based content, show the mark of a true master.

For someone who is interested in general patterns of varying systems, this book is a true delight. The focus on archetypes found in multiple settings, whether it be the origin and evolution of things in the physical universe, or the stages of personal development one encounters throughout life and one's quest for self-actualization and transcendence, is truly inspiring. Having the isomorphism between the physical and the mental sketched out in broad strokes is what really earns this book its five stars.

Before signing off, I must comment on some of the negative aspects of the book. There are sections and quotes, which make me question the historical accuracy of the book. This is a minor point and pales in comparison to the book's better qualities. I am not a professional historian, so take the following critiques with a grain of salt. Hoke tries to bill Socrates as an important figure who, upon sentencing, "escaped [the Athenian government's] wrath by suicide." (page 76) A read of Plato's dialogues Crito, Phaedo, the Apology, etc. show that Socrates was ordered to drink Hemlock posioning as his sentence, which he faithfully obeyed (seeing it as a commitment to the democratic process of Athens). This historical fact is extremely important for understanding a large section of Plato's work. Hoke's portrayal of Socrates as a coward escaping punishment through suicide, left a really bad taste upon first reading. The book still has its merit, but a little fact-checking would have prevented this unnecessary blemish.

Finally, I have to vent a little on the all too common popular packaging of just plain false things about quantum mechanics. Mr. Hoke joins in on this saying that a century of quantum mechanics has taught scientists that "the key to objectivity is to be emotionally detached to the point where we don't taint our experiences with projections of personal expectations" (page 84). This statement is true of the scientific method in general, pre-dating quantum mechanics handedly. Hoke, like so many other popularizers tries to bill the idea that somehow the Schrodinger equation includes a variable for the experimenter's mental state, where it certainly does not. Fortunately for all of us, Hoke sticks mostly to what he knows and appeals only generally to science.

Delightfully Enlightening and Indulgently Educational!.......2006-11-13

If you're looking for some "adventurous" reading during the coming cold winter months, you don't have to look further than Jeff Hoke's "The Museum of Lost Wonder." When I was preparing my thoughts about reviewing this book, I kept trying to figure out just where I was going to place this book as far as literary genre is concerned; How to categorize it? -- Where does it fit? Externally, it looks like just another "coffee-table" contribution. But even coffee-table books can be categorized for the most part. This book, however, is almost encyclopedic in its coverage, drawing its information from a vast variety of resources, including philosophy, astronomy, religion, biology, physics, psychology, the arts, ancient alchemy, modern quantum mechanics, and even Eastern intellectual thought. I have decided, therefore, to place this book in the seldom-used literary genre called intellectual "potpourri" (and, yes, there is such a category).

As for me, I'm going to leave it on the coffee table in my living room for quite a while so it can be easily perused by my guests and myself. It will be a coffee-table book in my home, at least for a while, although it is much more than merely another "showpiece." You see, this is a book not meant to be read from cover to cover in, say, one or two or even three sittings. This is a book to be, well, "savored"; think in terms of tasting and appreciating a fine wine or some unusual hors d'oeuvres. The enjoyment of the experience should be spread over time.

I think the best approach to this book is this: pick it up, read the introductory parts, and then skim through it, briefly pondering the excellent (and should I say, "tantalizing"?) artwork offered, and stopping here and there to read some of the text as one's interest is piqued. Then come back to the book now and then, find a section of particular interest, read that section, maybe do a few of the suggested experiments (yes, there are some interesting little adventures here!), and maybe put some of the models together. Models? Oh, yes, this is much more than a book to be read. It is also an "activity" book and, I suggest, mainly for older teenagers or adults (most of the models would prove difficult for young children to assemble, in my opinion). There are seven models that can be put together to illustrate the seven themes (or "exhibit" halls) of the "museum."

And, yes, it is truly a "museum," although not like one most of us are familiar with. The purpose of this museum is clearly stated by the author: "Discover...forgotten things in the world around us. Recover...forgotten things in the world within you. Uncover...forgotten things not in this world at all." There is no doubt that the museum -- that is, the book -- lives up to its purpose. As the author's bio in the back of the book points out: "This is not just a book, but an experience." And that, it truly is. One of the experiences you'll have is being accompanied through the museum, er..."book," by "Gnomon," a cartoonish stick-figure who appears now and then in comic strips or individual panels and seems to function as sometime guide and sometime thought-provoking character.

Each one of the seven exhibit halls has a specific theme, beginning with "Calcinatio" (Hall of Technology), continuing with "Solutio" (Hall of Aquaria), Coagulatio" (Zoological Garden),"Sublimatio" (The Observatory), "Mortificatio" (Mausoleum of History), "Separatio" (Science and Faith), and ending with "Conjunctio" (Gallery of the Arts). Each of these exhibit halls has its own "Muse"; now, if you don't know what that is, you'll have to find out for yourself. Within these informative halls the reader will recognize the likes of famous philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes, some very influential scientists, such as Abraham Maslow and Sir Isaac Newton, as well as discussions of topics both futurific and arcane. How about playing the "Heroic Vacation Game"? How about building a "Carousel of Life" model? How about performing a "sensory deprivation experiment" right at home? These and much more are here in "The Museum of Lost Wonder."

Now, a few words of warning to potential readers -- and these reflect strictly my own personal assessment of the book. If you have a closed mind, limited in its capacity for imaginative thought, this may not be the best book for you (although, I guess it could help open your mind a little if you gave it a chance!). If you are really squeamish about uncomfortable and unfamiliar ideas, you may want to think twice about reading this book (on the other hand, maybe this is just the antidote you need!). And, finally, if intellectual "weirdness" and wandering into "strange" territory will challenge your own beliefs and you're fearful of having to rethink those beliefs, you may want to pass this book by (but, of course, you'll pass up an opportunity to expand your horizons and enhance your life!). So, if you decide to go ahead and experience a trip through this "museum of lost wonder," don't say I didn't warn you.

In conclusion, just let me say that Hoke's book is delightfully enlightening and indulgently educational and the artwork is extraordinary, witty, and, in many ways, downright clever. And speaking of the artwork, which is really the bulk of the book (at least it seems that way), I'm glad that he was the one drawing it all because I wouldn't attempt to take on such a massive project (and it would be interesting to know how much time it took him to draw all the illustrations!). I highly recommend this book to everyone who really enjoys the experience of "wondering," that childlike phenomenon that we adults all too often lose, much to our own regret. This is a thought-provoking, mind-expanding, and thoroughly engaging book and, if you actually do the experiments and assemble the models, you'll get some physical exercise, too! What more could a reader ask for the cold winter months to come?

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