Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic

Customer Reviews:

Golen Age of the Pharaohs: offical Book of the Exhibition .......2007-09-09

Fantastic book; saved money by purchasing it through Amazon. Shows all the exibits. Very pleased with the book. A fine edition to anyones collection.

Very good book.......2007-09-09

I bought the book before seeing the tour in Philly. The book is very well done, and very good representation of the tour. Beautiful photographs, plus good rich text around the history of the 18th dynasty.

Other reviews talk about the tour, which isn't really what the book is about. The tour was rather crowded, and I was somewhat disappointed that all the objects were small, and no Tut sarcophagus. Very little explanation of the layout, so my son was complaining about the lack of Tut objects; they included many from the 18th dynasty.

I recommend the official DVD, its great; bought it at the show.

yasangel.......2007-08-31

Beautiful book, great pictures. Great to have with you if you get to see exhibit.

Gollden Age of the Pharaohs.......2007-07-16

Purchased in anticipation of the opening of the exhibition in London in November, the book is a mine of information. Not only does Zahi Hawass describe the objects on display, but he places them in context and gives a vivid picture of life in Egypt at the time of Tutankhamun and before his accession to the throne. Not only a great read, a reference for future use and up to Dr Hawass usual enthusiastic and vivid style. A must-have book for anyone interested in Egypt.

absolutly stunning....a once in a life time chance...........2007-07-04

First and formost DO NOT miss the King Tut tour.....the artifatcs are absoutely astounding and incredibly beautiful beyond words..It it truly extremely hard to wrap your mind around that every peice is wll over 3000 yers old. As for the book itself it is nithing short of amazing...caputring the exibit almost in its entirety....but NOTHING compares to seeing the absoultly stunnig tour live...a truly once in a life time experience...after the US tour concludes it it will never leave Cairo again...The book is worth its weight in gold...the awsome photography and articles by renowned archiloghits and her HRH the Queen of Egypt her self...THis tour the book by National Geographic and the Official DVD are some of the greatest gifts ever bestowed opon the world. A gift from the heart of Egypt to the world that will never be go on tour again...A humbling experience live and most interesting reading a msater work indeed...Bravo!!!

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

Average customer rating:

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

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

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

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.

The Golden Ratio: The Story of PHI, the World's Most Astonishing Number

Average customer rating:

"The Goden Ratio" by Mario Livio
Not the only imperfect book around
A strange, beautiful, and rare bird!
Some very interesting, many dead ends
The most sublime of numbers-well characterized

The Golden Ratio: The Story of PHI, the World's Most Astonishing Number
Mario Livio
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Research | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0767908163
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Book Description

Throughout history, thinkers from mathematicians to theologians have pondered the mysterious relationship between numbers and the nature of reality. In this fascinating book, Mario Livio tells the tale of a number at the heart of that mystery: phi, or 1.6180339887...This curious mathematical relationship, widely known as "The Golden Ratio," was discovered by Euclid more than two thousand years ago because of its crucial role in the construction of the pentagram, to which magical properties had been attributed. Since then it has shown a propensity to appear in the most astonishing variety of places, from mollusk shells, sunflower florets, and rose petals to the shape of the galaxy. Psychological studies have investigated whether the Golden Ratio is the most aesthetically pleasing proportion extant, and it has been asserted that the creators of the Pyramids and the Parthenon employed it. It is believed to feature in works of art from Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to Salvador Dali's The Sacrament of the Last Supper, and poets and composers have used it in their works. It has even been found to be connected to the behavior of the stock market!

The Golden Ratio is a captivating journey through art and architecture, botany and biology, physics and mathematics. It tells the human story of numerous phi-fixated individuals, including the followers of Pythagoras who believed that this proportion revealed the hand of God; astronomer Johannes Kepler, who saw phi as the greatest treasure of geometry; such Renaissance thinkers as mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa; and such masters of the modern world as Goethe, Cezanne, Bartok, and physicist Roger Penrose. Wherever his quest for the meaning of phi takes him, Mario Livio reveals the world as a place where order, beauty, and eternal mystery will always coexist.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

"The Goden Ratio" by Mario Livio.......2007-10-09

Highly readable and fascinating book by the well-respected Mario Livio. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Livio The book does not require a math background to understand or appreciate. Traces the origins and applications of the golden ratio through time, nature and art. Explores (and generally refutes) myths and misconceptions about the golden ratio. Highly recommended. Fascinating reading. Dan Brown (author of "the DaVinci Code") reportedly loved the book.

Not the only imperfect book around.......2007-07-13

I like Livio's cautionary tone throughout the book, ie he's not a starry-eyed Golden Numberist, who believes that the Ratio is the only measure of beauty and proportionality in the universe. That's probably his strongest point.

For one, I'm not so interested in the application of the Golden Ratio or Fibonacci sequence (also somewhat discussed in the book) to art in general. What's so great about Salvador Dali using the Ratio in "Sacrament of the Last Supper", or its apparent extensive use by Bela Bartok in his compositions? In fact, I found a tad irritating Livio's habit of filling page after page discussing the supposed use of the Ratio by some painter or musician, just to conclude that probably it was all just coincidental. Also annoying, at the beginning of the book, is his characterization as "famous" applied to almost every person cited. As if I didn't know that Einstein, Buffon, Pythagoras and Lord Kelvin are all famous!

On the other hand, I enjoyed the book rather terse treatment of the Ratio and the Sequence in pure plane geometry and Platonic solids, and even more interesting is the brief discussion of their serendipitous presence in nature --chambered nautilus and tree's leaf arrangements (phyllotaxis). Brief, sadly.

I also confess to having gotten a little bored and glassy-eyed, and pretty often had to lie down, half-asleep, on my bed while reading this book. Livio often goes off on a tangent, as I said before, following false leads, dead-ends, and even the occasional windmill. After all, I guess that's the price the reader has to pay when the author's trying to meet the publisher's magical, and very much de rigueur, rational proportion of about 250 pages per book.

In conclusion, and on a positive note, this book at the least (re)sparked my interest in the history of number theory, and other special numbers and figures (like 1, zero, pi, e, and i). So, I can't say I wasted my money when I bought it.

A strange, beautiful, and rare bird!.......2007-06-04

I had thought the Golden Ratio was simply the ideal aesthetic ratio between the length and the height of a painting or that of objects within a painting. According to Author Mario Livio, however, it has very little to do with the arts but a great deal to do with nature and the laws of physics, as well as some amazing abstract mathematical characteristics (discovered over the last several centuries). I believe the sub-title of the book is correct: it IS the world's most astonishing number. In other words, though it does not in the author's view have much to do with the Mona Lisa, the Parthenon, or the Pyramids, it does have some fascinating connections to nature, as well as numbers in the abstract, and their characteristics.

Well, what is the Golden Ratio anyway? Basically, phi or the Golden Ratio is such that if you break a line AB into 2 parts by adding point C to make AC and CB, such that AC is greater than CB and AC/AB = AB/AC. I t sounds pretty boring, but it gets a lot better, since it is also the convergence of something called the Fibonacci Sequence, a set of numbers beginning with 0 such that any 2 consecutive numbers added together equals the next number in the sequence (0,1,1,2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.). The Fibonacci Sequence can also be proved to be the same as the continued fraction of all 1's and also the convergence of the continuous nested square roots of 1's. (You can look on the net to see what these expressions look like, both somehow very satisfying aesthetically). I was amazed that these connections could have been made at all with phi, and that the Fibonacci Sequence is the most irrational of all possible numbers; that is, it converges the most slowly to its final irrational value. Call me weird, but that just blew me away!

I was most amazed that minds could think of these abstract things, and that the math connections to phi worked out so beautifully. Phi's abstract qualities are, in my opinion, every bit as impressive as its connections to nature itself (galaxies, sunflowers, hurricanes, and more). How did they think this stuff up, and why does it fit together so well? Some of the more bizarre are as follows:

The inverse of phi has the same numbers to the right of the decimal point as phi itself.

The square root of phi also has the same numbers to the decimal point as phi.

The sum of 10 consecutive Fibonacci numbers is = to the 7th number times 11.

The unit digit of a given Fibonacci number occurs exactly every 60 numbers.

All Fibonacci primes have prime subscripts (with the exception of 3).

The product of the first and third Fibonacci numbers in a set of 3 consecutive Fibonacci numbers is within 1 of the 2nd number squared.

Who would even think of looking into such things, and why does it work out so well?

There were also a couple of tangential points that were really neat to me. How about the First Digit Phenomenon (Benford's Law), that says if you have a random set of numbers, the probability of the first digit being a 1 is greater that it being a 2 is greater that it being a 3, and so on. How is that even possible in the real world? I'll have to think about that one a little more. And how about proof for the irrationality of the square root of 2? This elegant little proof was worth the price of the book, at least for me. It is a derivation of something called reductio ad absurdum: you prove something is true by starting with the opposite assumption and taking it to its logical conclusion to prove it can't be true.

Finally, I was struck by a broader question raised by the Mario Livio: how is it that math can so concisely define the laws of nature (gravity, motion, etc.)? I don't think that thought once crossed my mind throughout my high school and college careers in engineering! The book says that Kepler's Third Law, for example, states that the square of a planet's period divided by the cube of its semi-major axis is constant for all planets. How does that work out so well in such a brief, elegant formula, and how in the world did Kepler think of it? Are we talking Coincidence or Creator?

I was a little let down by this book as far as art is concerned; Livio simply doesn't believe it is a factor (except for a little 20th century art in the cubist genre perhaps). But I was surprisingly excited by some of the abstract characteristics of the Golden Ratio, and the minds that somehow put it all together. It was as exciting to me as seeing rare, beautiful, exotic creatures on a TV nature show.

The Golden Ratio is a strange, beautiful, and rare bird indeed!

Some very interesting, many dead ends.......2007-04-06

A lot of the early section about the history of mathematics, natural occurences, and the appearance of the phi is amazingly interesting.

Unfortunately, Livio then proceeds on a wild goose chase to mention many of the instances in which people have presumed (generally incorrectly) that various artists, writers, and other such public figures used phi in their work.

This book is certainly worth reading for the explanation of the origin of phi but I would recommend skimming the sections about artists, poetry, and musicians.

The most sublime of numbers-well characterized.......2007-03-18

Well titled, this book is an adventure. It is clear, concise, interesting and thought provoking.
I used it as inspiration for a course on the philosophy of architecture.

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

Average customer rating:

Female Courage
feets - don't fail me now...
Tales of a Female Nomad
Inspiring and Heart Warming
Tales of aFemale Nomad

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World
Rita Golden Gelman
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Travel | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0609809547
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Amazon.com

When Rita Golden Gelman traveled to Mexico during a two-month separation from her husband, she hoped to satisfy an old craving for adventure and, in the process, rejuvenate herself and her marriage. Little did she know it was the beginning of a new life, not just as a divorcée, but as a nomad of the world. Since 1986, Gelman has had no permanent address and no possessions except those she can carry. She travels without a plan, guided by instinct, serendipitous opportunities, and a remarkable ability to connect with people. At first her family and friends accused her of running away, but Gelman knew she had embarked on a journey of self-discovery and a way of life that is inspiring and enviable.

We know Gelman is not your typical middle-aged housewife from LA when, on that first trip to Mexico, she randomly picks a Zapotec village and decides to live there for a month, knowing nothing about the culture or the language. When she arrives, the villagers run away from her, terrified. By the time she leaves, there are hugs and tears. From there she travels to Guatemala and Nicaragua, Israel and the Galapagos Islands. But the heart of the book--and her 15-year journey--is Indonesia, where she lives for eight years. It is Bali that forever changes how she looks at the world, facilitated by her friendship with an aging prince. Tu Aji not only invites her to live with his family but decides that the education of Rita will be his final duty in life. Wherever she goes, Gelman has an uncanny ability to slip into other ways of life and become part of a community. And she is a person for whom doors open widely--her seatmate on the plane to Bali scrawls the prince's name on a piece of paper, she talks her way into a sojourn at Camp Leakey in Borneo where orangutans are studied, and an entire village in a remote part of Irian Jaya prays for the clouds to clear so her plane can land--and they do! Gelmen's secret is her passion for people. That being the case, the book is short on descriptions of place, but long on the rarer inside view of the peoples and customs of those places. This in itself is treat enough, but Gelman's animated and intimate story comes with a kicker--it's never too late to fulfill those dreams. --Lesley Reed

Book Description

“I move throughout the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities.” —From the Preface

Tales of a Female Nomad is the story of Rita Golden Gelman, an ordinary woman who is living an extraordinary existence. At the age of forty-eight, on the verge of a divorce, Rita left an elegant life in L.A. to follow her dream of connecting with people in cultures all over the world. In 1986 she sold her possessions and became a nomad, living in a Zapotec village in Mexico, sleeping with sea lions on the Galapagos Islands, and residing everywhere from thatched huts to regal palaces. She has observed orangutans in the rain forest of Borneo, visited trance healers and dens of black magic, and cooked with women on fires all over the world. Rita’s example encourages us all to dust off our dreams and rediscover the joy, the exuberance, and the hidden spirit that so many of us bury when we become adults.

Customer Reviews:

Female Courage.......2007-09-22

This is a wonderful book to learn about traveling alone throughout the world. The author's courage to wander and met people is inspiring. The book is interesting and easy to read.

A definite recommended read.

feets - don't fail me now..........2007-09-17

If you've ever wanted to grab your back pack and just head for parts unknown, this book is the kick in the *** you need. The copy I just purchased is the 11th one - I give this book to every woman I know and they all tell me they have passed it on and bought another for themselves. A gem, a treasure, a wonderful companion, Rita Gelman's delightful account of (some of!) her adventures is a tonic. It made me realize that I am not the only one who dreams - and that others make their dreams come true. Read it, savor it and pass it on. In her highly personal tale Ms. Gelman speaks for many of us. The Garden Club: An Althea Grey Mystery

Tales of a Female Nomad.......2007-09-03

Rita Golden Gelman is an inspiration to all women world travelers.I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not wanting to catch the next plane to adventure and self discovery.

Inspiring and Heart Warming.......2007-07-27

I cried when I finished Tales of a Female Nomad. I think it was because I didn't want it to be over!

I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of Rita's adventures around the globe; from her first evening in Mexico, in which she is fearful to eat alone, to her complete transformation in the last chapter in which she is living in a Thai village, unable to communicate in the local language but heartily helping to prepare meals with her hosts.

I am an experienced traveler and thought that I knew a lot about Globetrotting. But having now read Rita's book, I realize there is so much more depth to be had, not only in my travels but in my every day life.

I dispute the claims that this book is self-indulgent, self-congratulatory or dishonest. Rather, Rita makes a point of giving back at every opportunity. The one instance in which she feels she may be forcing her ideals on the locals, she promptly removes herself from the situation, recognizing that she is an observer and must not try to change others. She is completely honest about her experiences and, over time, she learns to dive in to every situation without hesitation and with all of her heart.

I have a list of women friends that I can't wait to buy additional copies for!

Tales of aFemale Nomad.......2007-07-07

Written with honesty and clarity, Tales of a Female Nomad shows that when a person is true to themselves, the world opens up. Fantastic description of cultures and the individuals within those cultures. A brave and fulfilling journey.

All That Glittered: The Golden Age of Drama on Broadway, 1919-1959

Average customer rating:

Mordden Does It Again
A fascinating retrospective on the role of Broadway in American culture
Play Time

All That Glittered: The Golden Age of Drama on Broadway, 1919-1959
Ethan Mordden
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0312338988
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

From the late 1920s to late 1950s, the Broadway theatre was America's cultural epicenter. Television didn't exist and movies were novelties. Entertainment took the form of literature, music, and theatre. During this golden age of Broadway, actors and actresses became legends and starred in now classic plays. Laurence Olivier, Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontaine were names to remember, etching plays into memory as they brought the words of Tennessee Williams or Eugene O’Neill to life. Joseph Cotton romanced Katherine Hepburn in Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story while Laurette Taylor became The Glass Menagerie’s Amanda Wingfield. Frederic March, Florence Eldridge, Jason Robards Jr. and Bradford Dillman showed us life among the ruins in Long Day's Journey Into Night. In All That Glittered, Ethan Mordden, long one of Broadway's best chroniclers, recreates the fascinating lost world of its golden age.

Customer Reviews:

Mordden Does It Again.......2007-09-30

Ethan Mordden has written many books on the topic of Broadway, although generally they have been about the musical stage. This time he writes about plays, (mostly) without music, and rather arbitrarily defines, perhaps for purposes of symmetry, its golden age as the period between 1919 and 1959 (although he can't help himself and goes on into the 1960s a bit). As usual one is amazed at his encyclopedic knowledge of Broadway history; one can imagine him spending weeks and months, perhaps even years, in dusty libraries reading all those old copies of Variety, Playbill and the New York newspapers. His all-but-copyrighted bitchiness is much in evidence and gave me more than a few chuckles. His penchant for pointing who was gay among the actors, authors and directors, and for finding gay themes where they aren't obvious, is prominent.

He chronicles the Broadway spoken play by decade and finds something characteristic about each period. I found his writing, always sparkling, becomes more so when he gets to the 1940s and beyond, perhaps because those plays and the people who made them are within living memory for many people. Clearly Mordden (who is right at sixty, although his glamorous never-changing dustjacket picture hasn't changed in at least two decades) has had personal contact with many of the people mentioned in those latter years and he has some tales to tell.

Included are some pretty obscure plays and we are all the more informed for that. He writes much about the important actors, writers, producers and directors and we pick up a lot of theater lore as a result. His writing style is dense with fact and sometimes hermetic but it always dances along. I had difficulty putting the book down.

Another valuable book by Mordden, possibly primarily for specialists but assimilable by the casual reader with even a modicum of interest in the subject.

Scott Morrison

A fascinating retrospective on the role of Broadway in American culture.......2007-06-25

I love theatre history, but Mordden is such a fine writer that I will read his "History of Plumbing" should he write one.

Unlike his essential seven-volume chronicle of the musical, this is not a show-by-show description. Instead, Mordden takes a thematic approach, insightfully linking the development of the Broadway play to broader cultural developments. The shift from rural to urban humor, the relationship between Broadway and Hollywood, and the role of theatre as educator to the unsophisticated are among his compelling through-lines. Despite my unfamiliarity with most of the titles referenced, this is a great read.

Play Time.......2007-04-06

Ethan Mordden is probably best known for three things: the impossibility of remembering how to spell his last name; the width and depth of his subject matter; and his encyclopedic knowledge of musical theater. To all this, we can now add a fourth; an almost equally deep knowledge of "straight" (in the theatrical sense) drama. While it is arguable as to whether the golden age began in 1919 and ended in 1959, Mordden's treatment of this span is as exciting and insightful as any of his other critical studies and that, as his readers know, is saying a lot! (Aside to Mr. Mordden: The title "Beggar on Horseback" may be more closely related to the saying, "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride."... just a thought). Oh, and the only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is to have somewhere to go for the next time.

A Vanished World: Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment

Average customer rating:

'No single tradition has monopolised every human expression of truth..'
Somewhat interesting, but it delivers less than what it promises
Religious Tolerance: 21st Century Pipedream?
The richness that was Medieval Spain
Time to move on?

A Vanished World: Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment
Chris Lowney
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743243595

Book Description

In a world troubled by religious strife and division, Chris Lowney's vividly written new book offers a hopeful historical reminder: Muslims, Christians, and Jews once lived together in Spain, creating a centuries-long flowering of commerce, culture, art, and architecture. Written with a narrative drive reminiscent of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, this new work takes us back to a medieval Iberia that prefigured the Renaissance.

In 711, a ragtag army of Muslim North Africans conquered Christian Spain and launched Western Europe's first (and to date only) Islamic state. In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella vanquished Spain's last Muslim kingdom, forced Jews to convert or emigrate, and dispatched Christopher Columbus to the New World. In the years between, Spain's Muslims, Christians, and Jews forged a golden age for each faith and distanced Spain from a Europe mired in the Dark Ages.

Medieval Spain's pioneering innovations touched every dimension of Western life: Spaniards introduced Europeans to paper manufacture and to the Hindu-Arabic numerals that supplanted the Roman numeral system. Spanish scholars translated what stood for centuries as Europe's standard medical handbook. Spain's farmers adopted irrigation technology from the Near East to nurture Europe's first crops of citrus and cotton. Spanish artisans graced luxurious homes with the fountains, gardens, and decorative tile that remain hallmarks of southern Spain's distinctive decor. Spain's religious scholars authored works that still profoundly influence their respective faiths, from the masterpiece of the Jewish kabbalah to the meditations of Sufism's "greatest master" to the eloquent arguments of Maimonides that humans can successfully marry religious faith and reasoned philosophical inquiry. No less astonishing than medieval Spain's wide-ranging accomplishments was the simple fact its Muslims, Christians, and Jews often managed to live and work side by side, bestowing tolerance and freedom of worship on the religious minorities in their midst.

A Vanished World chronicles this impossibly panoramic sweep of human history and achievement, encompassing both the agony of jihad, Crusades, and Inquisition, and the glory of a multireligious, multicultural civilization that forever changed the West. One gnarled root of today's religious animosities stretches back to medieval Spain, but so does a more nourishing root of much modern religious wisdom. In a world torn by religious antagonism, Chris Lowney offers enduring lessons learned from medieval Spanish villages where Muslims, Christians, and Jews rubbed shoulders on a daily basis.

Customer Reviews:

'No single tradition has monopolised every human expression of truth..'.......2007-05-11

This book is a great starting point in terms of understanding medieval Spain and appreciating the Iberian contribution to broader European enlightenment. Aptly subtitled 'Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment', Chris Lowney draws us into the accomplishments of Muslims, Christians and Jews over seven centuries.

Whether you choose to read this book as an historical statement of past accomplishments, or as a sign of hope for a more co-operative future, it provides a wonderful view of the golden age of the Iberian peninsula.

The book has a wealth of notes and suggested readings for those who would like to obtain more information about specific events or achievements.

Highly recommended to those interested in learning more about medieval Spain as well as those looking for instances of shared learning.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Somewhat interesting, but it delivers less than what it promises.......2007-03-16

The history of Spain between 711 (the date of the Muslim invasion of the Iberian peninsula) and 1492 (when the moors were finally vanquished and the spanish crown got back total control of what is today Spain; coincidentally this was the same year Columbus reached the Americas and Jews were expelled from Spain) is fascinating in itself. This book is kind of interesting, but it delivers less than what it promises. If you know some of the history before reading this book, you will not learn a lot from it. Moreover, it is sometimes overly credulous with its sources. One of the problems appears when you see that all the bibliography is in English; Lowney clearly doesn't speak either Spanish or Arabic, so the book is essentially second hand retelling of previous books. There is no original material here. Lowney is identified in the book as a former Jesuit priest, but he seems prejudiced against Christians, always comparing their supposed backwardness with the Muslims' supposed tolerance and brilliance. Look, if Christians were able to reconquer Spain after almost eight centuries, they must have done something right. Still, the book is not totally without interest, especially as an introduction to the subject.

Religious Tolerance: 21st Century Pipedream? .......2006-10-21

Chris Lowney resurrects with much brio the fascinating history of Medieval Spain, which became the only Islamic state that ever prospered in mainland Europe for more than seven centuries. After a "blitzkrieg" military campaign, Muslim conquerors hailing from North Africa rolled back Christian rule on most of the Iberian Peninsula in 711 C.E. Christian rulers, who were understandably resentful of this occupation, launched their Reconquista from the north of the peninsula after infighting started weakening al-Andalus (the Arabic name for the Muslim-ruled part of Spain) in the eleventh century C.E. Al-Andalus disintegrated itself into more than two dozen rivaling small kingdoms by the 1030s C.E that over time became easy picks for united Christian conquerors. This rivalry among these kingdoms was also a blessing in disguise.

To his credit, Lowney acknowledges and emphasizes the significant contributions of al-Andalus to transition the rest of Europe out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance. Without Islam, much western wisdom from the Antiquity would have been lost forever following the disintegration of the Roman Empire in the West. Furthermore, Medieval Spain became the conduit for bringing the best that the Islamic world had to offer to mostly backward Europeans. Cosmopolis such as Seville, Cordoba, Toledo, and Granada were the cities on the hill economically, culturally, scientifically, and religiously. The architecture of the older parts of these urban centers still reflects this past greatness.

Despite their differences, Medieval Spaniards showed for a time a tolerance for each other's religious and cultural background that remains a marvel to a world plagued by intolerance and obscurantism. Outstanding twelfth-century theologians such as the Jewish Moses Maimonides and the Muslim Ibn Rushd Averroes went as far as to subject their respective religions to rationality. Shias and Sunnis in Modern Iraq, especially in Baghdad, have much to learn from this peaceful religious coexistence. Obscurantism and intolerance were the perfect ingredients for the disastrous recipe that Medieval Spain itself ended up swallowing after the completion of the Reconquista.

With the fall of the Kingdom of Granada in 1491 C.E., the sole remaining Muslim territory in the peninsula, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella completed the Reconquista of Medieval Spain. They did not waste much time to impose Christianity on all their subjects. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella gave their Jewish and Muslim subjects little time to either convert to Christianity or leave most of their possessions behind them and leave Spain forever. The discovery of the New World and its riches bought Spain some time. After Catholic Spain passed by its zenith, it could no longer count on the genius of its former Jewish and Muslim subjects who along Christians had contributed to the greatness of Medieval Spain. Unsurprisingly, Catholic Spain became an increasingly troubled and weak state that only rebounded from its backwardness in the second half of the 20th century C.E.

The richness that was Medieval Spain.......2006-06-28

A first class read for any history buff. Right up there with 'The Ornament of the World' by Maria Rosa Menocal.

Time to move on?.......2006-03-11

This is the third book I've read recently about the Iberian peninsula from the 700s to 1500s during the coexistence of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. I first read Reston's "Dogs of God" (see my review) mostly about the 1400s' Christian reconquest of Spain, and their abuse and expulsion of Jews and Muslims. I then read Menocal's "Ornament of the World" mostly about the flowering of al-Andalus beginning in the 700s under generally tolerant and progressive Muslims.

Lowney's "A Vanished World: Medieval Spain's Golden Age of Enlightenment" is also about the same period as Menocal's book but initially more from the Christians' perspective. And initially I found his writing style somewhat tedious but farther along either it improved or I accommodated to it. Yet Lowney reveals aspects not covered by either Reston or Menocal so it's well worth the read if you want a balanced perspective of the period. And he provides extensive endnotes and annotated further readings.

Lowney concludes by lamenting the squandered opportunities resulting from religious bigotry and greed, and suggests lessons that could be learned by today's Christians, Jews and Muslims. But even here in the US, with our constitutional guaranteed religious freedoms, we still see contending for domination by some religious factions. Perhaps it's time we move beyond obsolescent religious teachings toward a New Enlightenment, as explored in my book "Concepts: A ProtoTheist Quest for Science-Minded Skeptics."

Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (World of Warcraft)

Average customer rating:

Rise of the Horde
Excellent sequel
Easy and fun read
Good History
Rise of the Horde; a legion of betrayal

Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (World of Warcraft)
Christie Golden
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743471385

Book Description

Though the young Warchief Thrall ended the demon curse that had plagued his people for generations, the orcs still wrestle with the sins of their bloody past. As the rampaging Horde, they waged a number of devastating wars against their perennial enemy -- the Alliance. Yet the rage and bloodlust that drove the orcs to destroy everything in their path nearly consumed them as well.

Long ago, on the idyllic world of Draenor, the noble orc clans lived in relative peace with their enigmatic neighbors, the draenei. But the nefarious agents of the Burning Legion had other plans for both of the unsuspecting races. The demon-lord Kil'jaeden set in motion a dark chain of events that would succeed not only in eradicating the draenei, but forging the orc clans into an single, unstoppable juggernaut of hatred and destruction.

Customer Reviews:

Rise of the Horde.......2007-09-17

My feelings were somewhat mixed on this book. What I liked about it was that the author really knew his WoW background. The story presented the history of the Horde and their conflict with the Draenei in a very concise and understandable way. It was an "easy read", and there was little to no confusion about what was happening.
What I didn't care for was how particularly violent this book was. The author vividly presented the blood and guts of conflict. I'm sure that is what the author intended, but the unintentional consequence was not feeling sorry for the Orcs at all.
If you are a hard core WoW fan, this book is a must read. Just be prepared for a "D-day" like story.

Excellent sequel.......2007-09-17

This is a follow-up to Christie Golden's Lord of the Clans, also contained in Warcraft: Archive.

This tale chronicles Thrall's recording of the rise of the first Horde on the world of Draenor, otherwise known as Outlands.

I learned a lot about the dynamics of the Draenei and thigns related to WoW:TBC that I would have otherwise not know since I play Horde exclusively.

A great read that I highly reccommend.

Easy and fun read .......2007-08-13

Tells the tragic story we have all wanted to know for years and does its best to blend the Warcraft 1,2 and 3 storylines not so easy.

This book is all the more tragic because ultimatly the reader knows the ending. I thought it was great because it showed what true friends Doomhammer and Doritan were.

Everything I have come to expect froma Bilzard book.

Good History.......2007-08-09

Excellent History of how the Horde came to be the Horde. A must for all Warcraft enthusiasts

Rise of the Horde; a legion of betrayal .......2007-05-10

By; Anthony Michael Tuzzolo.
First of all, If you have no idea what Warcraft is then go home! This story is set in a place called Hellfire peninsula in the shattered world of Draenor. The story starts out with a young orc named Duratan, who is heir to the Frostwolf clan, befriending another orc named Orgim Doomhammer. One day, the two friends are saved by an alien race,named Draeni who befriend them and allow them to stay in their marvelous city. When they grow up a very influintial shaman named Ner'Zhul had a vision from his deceased mate who told him that the ancestors were all with an omniescent being and that he would soon get a vision from it. Ner'Zhul gets a vision from a maelevolent being named Kil' Jaedan who tells him that the Draeni are no friends, but are instead enemies. Ner'Zhul then calls a meeting between with all the clans and send them out to attack the Draeni. The only clan that is not fighting is Duratan and his Frostwolf clan.Eventualy, Ner'Zhul gets another vision from his Mate who tells him that he was listening to the wrong being and that the ancestors will no longer answer to him. Guldan, Ner'Zhuls apprentice, betrays him and tells Kil' Jaedan about how Ner'Zhul tried to reach the ancestors. Ner'Zhul, now a demoralized husk of his former self, no longer is a threat to Kil'Jaedan and Guldan is now incharge. uldan then sends an all out attack on the Draeni fortress along with some demons brought by Kil'Jaedan. Although, some of the Draeni, including their leader, Velen, escape. The Orcs homeworld is dying so they open a portal to another world were the land is greater.

Average customer rating:

Perfect for 18 month old
One Of My Favorites From When I Was A Kid!
A Must Have for a Children's Library
By far my son's favorite!
13 Years Later & It's Still One Of Her All-Time Favorite Childhood Books!

I Am a Bunny (A Golden Sturdy Book)
Ole Risom
Manufacturer: Golden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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

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

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375827781
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Book Description

I am a bunny. My name is Nicholas. I live in a hollow tree.

In the spring, Nicholas likes to sniff the flowers, and in the summer, watch the frogs in the pond. In the fall, he watches the animals getting ready for winter, and in winter, watches the snow falling from the sky. This beautifully illustrated, gentle story is one of Golden’s most beloved titles.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for 18 month old.......2007-09-30

My son loves this book. There are only a few words on each page for his short attention span and the pictures are beautiful. The birds, flowers, insects and animals shown in the book are all actual species as well. It teaches about the seasons.

One Of My Favorites From When I Was A Kid!.......2007-07-20

I have such a tender place in my heart for this book. It is one of the very first books I remember reading all to myself when I was 4. It is a lovely book. The story is simple and the illustrations are sweet. Our friend, Nicholas the bunny, tells us what he likes to do during each of the seasons -- in fall, he watches the leaves fall from the trees, in winter he watches the "animals" (somehow, Nicholas does not realize that he's an animal) prepare, in spring, he chases the butterflies and the butterflies chase him, etc. I love reading it now to my two-year-old.

A Must Have for a Children's Library.......2007-07-11

My daughter received this book as a gift and it has become one of her top favorites. It is simply charming and endearing. The story is short, the words are minimal, and Richard Scarry's illustrations are captivating. We read this book every night before bed at least 2 times and my 15-month old will search it out and flip through it herself.

By far my son's favorite!.......2007-05-31

This book was given to me by my mother-in-law. Apperently, this was my husband's favorite book as a child. The apple must not fall far from the tree! My one year son LOVES this book. We have many other 'popular' children's books, but this is the only one he seems to really enjoy. I have to say it is a cute book and my son like to point out the bunny on each page.

13 Years Later & It's Still One Of Her All-Time Favorite Childhood Books!.......2007-05-07

I bought this book for my daughter thirteen years ago. She loved it then and asked for me to read it to her every night for years. On trips, my husband and I would recite it from memory to soothe her as we drove. She's thirteen years old now; her beloved book is safely packed away for her children someday, but my daughter still lovingly recites the entire book to me every now and then . . . and it's still one of her very favorite childhood books. Today we're ordering a copy for her cousin's new baby! Another generation needs to enjoy this lovely book.
"I am a bunny, my name is Nicholas. I live in a hollow tree . . . ."
After all those many, many readings, I still love it, too!

Plain Lives in a Golden Age: Popular Culture, Religion and Society in Seventeenth-Century Holland

Average customer rating:

Plain Lives in a Golden Age: Popular Culture, Religion and Society in Seventeenth-Century Holland
A. Th. van Deursen
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Netherlands | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Dutch | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Dutch | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0521367859

Book Description

st comprehensive study yet published of the plain lives of a ‘golden age’.f plague from the first outbreak of the Black Death in 1348 to the mid-fifteenth century. Through an innovative study of this evidence, Professor Carmichael develops two related strands of analysis. First, she discusses the extent to which true plague epidemics may have occurred, by considering what other infectious diseases contributed significantly to outbreaks of ‘pestilence’. She finds that there were many differences between the fourteenth- and fifteenth-century epidemics. She then sh

Peanuts: A Golden Celebration: The Art and the Story of the World's Best-Loved Comic Strip

Average customer rating:

This has "cherished treasure" written all over it...
classic time
Great Book
One of the best Peanuts collections ever!
Good Grief: A Golden Celebration for a Gem of An Artist!!

Peanuts: A Golden Celebration: The Art and the Story of the World's Best-Loved Comic Strip
Charles M. Schulz
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Peanuts | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

Peanuts Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown?

ASIN: 0062702440

Amazon.com

Charles M. Schulz has been cartooning for an astonishing 50 years (the "Peanuts" strip itself debuted October 2, 1950, but he drew an earlier incarnation called "Li'l Folks" before that). Peanuts: A Golden Celebration is a remarkable collection of strips spanning that time period. Readers get to see the first appearance of Linus, Marcy, Pigpen, and Woodstock, and even the momentous first time Lucy holds a football for Charlie Brown to kick. Schulz comments on the cartoons and his inspirations via notes in the margin, ranging from boyhood stories about his father (a barber, just like Charlie Brown's) to an account of the time the narcolepsy experts at Stanford University expressed concerns over Peppermint Patty's constant sleeping in class. One of the most interesting inclusions is that of several letters of complaint, ranging from readers whose religious sensibilities have been offended to a 1969 missive from Schulz's own syndicate asking him not to depict Franklin in the same school as the white students anymore. Naturally, the much-loved "Peanuts" holiday specials are covered, as is the musical adaptation You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, but it's the strips that really make the book. Readers can follow the evolution of Schulz's drawing style--deliberately less realistic as the years went on--and even check out a few panels drawn by Schulz's own cartooning heroes. This is a terrific compilation that serves well both as a chronicle of popular culture and as just a really funny collection of comic strips. Don't wait for the Great Pumpkin to bring you one. --Ali Davis

Book Description

Will Charlie Brown ever get to kick the footballs? Will Schroeder finally return Lucy's love? Will Linus give up his security blanket? Will Peppermint Party ever pass a test? And, most importantly will Snoopy--that canine literary ace--ever be published?

"To take a blank piece of paper and draw characters that people love and worry about is extremely satisfying. It really does not matter what you are called or where your work is placed as long as it brings some kind of joy to some person some place." -- Charles Schulz

Peanuts: A Golden Celebration honors the momentous 50th anniversary of Charlie Brown and the gang with over 1,000 carefully selected strips that tell the story of Peanutslike no other book before. In Schulz's own words we learn how he came to create the world's most popular comic strip characters from nostalgic and sometimes painful memories of growing up--such as the agony of classroom Valentine exchange and the longing for a little red-haired girl.

From the debut of Peanuts on October 2, 1950, to the golden jubilee, here are fifty years of the favorite episodes and the..."firsts," such as the first time Lucy pulled the football away from Charlie Brown. Included are scenes from the beloved Charlie Brown television. specials and the latest revival of the Broadway musical, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

These are the strips and events that have made Peanuts an awesome phenomenon, appearing in 2,600 newspapers worldwide everyday. Not bad for a round-headed kid called Charlie Brown.

Let the celebration begin!

Customer Reviews:

This has "cherished treasure" written all over it..........2007-03-27

There are far more comprehensive collections out there. But, if you want a large, beautifully presented coffee-table sized book with many, many strips from different Peanuts eras, then this is it. It is true that the cartoons are a bit gray (one reviewer's criticism), but this simply sets them off from the large, white pages of the book itself. It actually enhances the atmosphere for me.

I love the text in the margins where Mr. Shulz explains a little something about the characters. Very charming. I also love seeing the very first strip in which various characters appeared.

Many of the multi-strip storylines have been truncated. This is inevitable given the book's purpose. As I said, there are more complete collections out there. What you get is an overview that takes you beyond any one time-frame. And yes, the strips are funny, even if I know there is more to a particular story.

The front matter is also great: a photo of THE barbershop-apartment where Mr. Shulz lived, just for example. Lots of other great stuff.

I paid double the Amazon price because I bought it here in Tokyo...and it is worth every penny (or yen!).

Together with "Peanuts, The Art of Charles M. Shulz", this is my favorite Peanuts book.

Buy it now. :-)

classic time.......2006-09-23

charles schulz is truly a classic and is missed everyday..........from 1950---2000....peanuts was the best comic strip ever..........

Great Book.......2006-08-17

This book is a true delight for the Peanut enthusiast! Not only do you get the lovable comic strips but also unknown history about Charles Shultz and the Peanuts thru tellings and actual letters from both fans and non-fans! Great to add to any collection!

One of the best Peanuts collections ever!.......2006-07-21

This is probably one of the best Peanuts collections ever! I love them so much! Most of the comic strips are in black and white, while the others (especially the Sunday strips) are in vivid color. This book is so funny! Whenever I was feeling low and depressed, I would pull this huge book out, flip to any random page, and it would instantly make me feel better!
Buy this book, or else your love for Peanuts will be incomplete!

Good Grief: A Golden Celebration for a Gem of An Artist!!.......2004-08-04

When Peanuts made it's debut as a new comic strip in 1950, the world of the funny pages was changed forever. Charles Schultz was argueably the greatest and most certainly the most influential strip artist of all time, and Peanuts totally changed the perception of the medium, appealing to the entire family rather than mostly to adults, and broadening and deepening the intellectual plane on which the art takes form. Schultz, who writes most of the copy in this book himself and includes a short bio and some wonderful running commentary throughout, inadvertantly proves how revolutionary Peanuts was by including some of the strips which influenced him while growing up. These comics, from Krazy Kat to Wash Tubbs, are mildly amusing at best, woefully inferior at worst, and in virtually all cases have failed to stand the test of time. Peanuts, however, has never dated, and most of the strips still are very readable half a century after original publication. An excellent collection, to be sure, and one which belongs on any comic fan's shelf. So why only four stars? Because this collection celebrates Schultz's entire career (at the time), from 1950 to 1999, when in fact, his very best and most innovative work was produced during a comparatively narrow time frame, from about 1954 or so to 1966. Luckily, some of the most famous series of strips are represented here, from Snoopy's famous impressions of other characters (including a particularly hilarious Beethoven) to Charlie Brown's longing for the Little Red Haired Girl (any person who has ever been in love can relate to that one.) In 1966, however, Charles Schultz produced his most famous series of cartoons dealing with Snoopy and The Red Baron, a Walter Mitty-esque idea so brilliant, that neither he nor any other cartoonist has been able to top it since. From that point, Peanuts began declining in quality from sheer brilliance down to mere excellence; Snoopy in particular was never the same wonderful dog we had all grown to know and love. (Remember the endless series of strips from about fifteen years ago that centered on Snoopy's love of cookies? It seemed as if he could think of nothing else for two years or more!) The only character who seemed to grow and mature in these later years was Charlie Brown himself; it was nice to see him have successful encounters with girls, become a summer-camp hero (albeit with a paper bag over his head!) and actually WIN A BALL GAME!!! Luckily for us, Schultz still continued to draw the strip so well that it is still one of the most popular comics in the country several years after his death. In short, a very good collection, one that will hopefully lead the reader to search out and find individual collections of the glory years of Peanuts when Schultz was truly at his best. Good Grief, indeed!!!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books