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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swimming in the Sun: Discovering the Lord's Prayer With Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton

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Great Spiritual Reading!
I never realized Jesus could say much in so few words
1994 Catholic Book Award, First Place!

Swimming in the Sun: Discovering the Lord's Prayer With Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton
Albert Haase
Manufacturer: Saint Anthony Messenger Press and Franciscan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0867161930

Customer Reviews:

Great Spiritual Reading!.......2000-08-19

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking growth in their spiritual life. Father Haase has combined the best of St. Francis and Thomas Merton to produce a very helpful, thought-provoking book. Chapter One, "Abba!,Father" talks about God's unconditional love for us. Fr. Haase quotes Merton: "We need to see good in ourselves in order to love ourselves. He(God)does not. He loves us not because we are good, but because He is." This is just an awesome thought!!

Read this book slowly and then read it again. There is so much in this book that I want to remember, that I found myself making notes in my spiritual journal several times during my reading. I now have to find time to read several of Thomas Merton's books that are quoted in this book.

I would also recommend "The Gift of Peace" by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and "The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims" by Brother Lawrence.

I never realized Jesus could say much in so few words.......1999-11-24

Father Haase uses his life experiences to allow the reader to touch Jesus' words. Profound insights, enlightening. Thank you Father Haase for sharing your life with us.

1994 Catholic Book Award, First Place!.......1996-09-01

"Calling on the century-spanning kindred spirits of Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton as interpreters of the familiar words of the Our Father, Albert Haase takes us home. SWIMMING IN THE SUN brings the warmth, the intimacy, the majesty of our loving God face-to-face with the reader in a wonderful and unforgettable way. Rarely have we judges experienced so much wisdom, beauty and inspiration presented in such a short delightful book. It's very satisfying to go swimming with St. Francis and Thomas Merton with Father Haase as lifeguard."....The Judges of the 1994 Catholic Press Association's Catholic Book Awards, First Place for a First Time Autho

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Lords of the Known Worlds (Fading Suns)
Bill Bridges , Jackie Cassada , Sam Chupp , James Estes , Andrew Greenberg , Rustin Quaide , and Nicky Rea
Manufacturer: Holistic Design Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Average customer rating:

I Loved this book.
I loved the Valenwood series
Next in the series should be better
Interesting
Everything is wrong with this book

Lord of the Dark Sun
Stobie Piel
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Prince of Ice

ASIN: 0505525054

Customer Reviews:

I Loved this book........2005-12-25

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were great. I loved how they could laugh at themselves. The autumons were really scare in the fact that they were not real people & could not feal emotions. I loved the sub-characters, and I really with I could have my own bat.

I loved the Valenwood series.......2005-01-21

I've read the entire Valenwood series, twice. These books are wonderful. I enjoyed them completely. The series consists of: The Dawn Star #1; The Midnight Moon #2; The White Sun #3; Lord of the Dark Sun #4. If you have not read the previous books in the series, you will be a little lost and probably not enjoy this volume as much.

Next in the series should be better.......2003-02-13

The basis of this story is a good one. For a start, it carries the weight of a successful series behind it and the benefit of meeting again with old friends. Ariana is the daughter of Arnoth and Sierra from my own favourite of the series 'The White Sun'. The book opens with her capture by the Automon, a large group of machines, who have captured her ship and her shipmates. They are taken to a mining planet where they are to be companions to the men there - ultimately their only value being to breed replacement miners. Ariana hooks up with the leader of the tribe and eventually the two fall in love. After an escape that goes horribly wrong, Ariana believes her lover to be dead. Ten years later they meet again - the pirate calling himself Damen is in fact her long ago lover. Now the leader of a significant pirate force that works against the Automon, the two nevertheless are on opposing sides - Ariana as the daughter of the leader of the Intersystem worlds, and Damen as the pirate leader of a force that has obtained vast quantities of the most valuable fuel in the known systems by theft. Damen must get Ariana to trust him, but it's not a good start that he has kidnapped her and is holding her hostage....

The story is interesting, but it's a pity I can't say that about Ariana. Immature and oblivious is how I'd describe her, and quite seriously flawed as a leader. She talks of duty, but doesn't live that example by her own people as she rapidly forms an attachment to Damen at the beginning of the book instead of looking after her shipmates. The deaths of those she knows hardly appear to touch her, except for Damen's. She is vain, weak and silly, and essentially thinks she has qualities that are not borne out by her actions. I think the only redeeming feature is that even when she comes to agreement with Damen, she is quite clear of her intention to return home, sacrificing even her own happiness for what the reader knows is her daughter's sake.

There is much to enjoy about this book if the reader can overlook what I found to be a severely lacking leading lady. The secondary characters are great - Nob and his likeness to the lingbats, and Fia's story (clearly waiting for it's own book) should be a fantastic one - I wanted to know Fia far, FAR more than Ariana and look forward to reading more of her. The sensual aspects of the story are well described, as usual for Piel. The world building continues to be distinctive and believable and an integral part of the story, rather than simply providing a setting. That Damen and Ariana can laugh at their own vanity is endearing. If Ariana weren't so completely unaware of undercurrents in any given situation - to me unforgivable in any 'ruler', which Ariana is set up to be - I would like her a great deal more.

For me the writing is great, the story line is both funny and compelling. There is depth and complexity to this work that is perhaps less obvious in the previous stories. However, I found Ariana irritated me no end. I'm fiercely hoping that Piel will tell Fia's story, because you can bet I'll snap it up, but of all Piel's female leads, I like Ariana least.

Interesting.......2003-01-28

The only thing I will say is get at least 100 pages in the book before you decide to give up. The first 100 pages are slow, but do set the reader up for the rest of the story. The rest of the story was good, but this isn't a must read book.

Everything is wrong with this book.......2003-01-25

From the blurb on the back cover this book looked like it would be a fun weekend read. To bad that's not the case. This book combines all the worst of really bad series Sci Fi and really brainless Romance. On top of that I found something about the writing style choppy and hard to read. Even the characters internal thoughs seemed stilted and awkward. The plot had some promise, but there was no follow through.

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Beware of Immitators
Better than "Awakening" but not up to snuff
Sun Lord only lukewarm
Good idea, poor book
SUN LORD SHINES!

Sun Lord (Outlanders, 29)
James Axler
Manufacturer: Gold Eagle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Uluru Destiny (Outlanders)
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ASIN: 0373638426

Book Description

Perpetual Burden

Two centuries after Skydark, Earth remains chained to a sinister destiny spawned by hybrids and human traitors manipulating humankind from deep inside the chaos of forgotten worlds. Once a stone-cold protector of the ruling order, Kane and his compatriots strike back against the tide of extinction threatening to engulf the human race in a conflict with no boundaries in time, space or reality . . .

Gods Ascending

In a fabled city of the ancient world, the neo-gods of Mexico are locked in a battle for domination. Harnessing the immutable power of alien technology and Earth's preDark secrets, the high priests and whitecoats have hijacked Kane into the resurrected world of the Aztecs. Invested with the power of the great sun god, Kane is a pawn in the brutal struggle and must restore the legendary Quetzalcoatl to his rightful place -- or become a human sacrifice . . .

Customer Reviews:

Beware of Immitators.......2004-06-13

If I had to describe Sun Lord in only one sentence it would be as a smoking pile of fecal matter. This has to be one of the worst offerings ever to be trotted out by Gold Eagle, just the latest in a seemingly endless line of sloppy, substandard, and just outright disappointing storylines. It is becoming painfully apparent that anyone other than Mark Ellis who writes for the Outlanders series is going to produce a smoking pile of crap. What sounded like an outstanding plotline line was reduced to a never-ending parade of blunders that included poor characterization, an obsession with a naked Domi, sloppy construction of action scenes, and what amounts to a total disregard for the continuity and series history that Mark Ellis has worked so tirelessly to establish since Outlanders was first introduced.

Mr. Milan's attempt to use ancient Aztec gods, though a unique idea, was so convoluted and crowded with gods whose names sounded so similar that I found myself asking which gods where fighting which gods and who was on what side of the fight. The elements of science and myth weaved into fiction and fact that makes Outlanders such an enjoyable series to read was completely absent in Sun Lord. The plot was full of gaps, the largest being the how and why for Kane and companies resurrection as Aztec Gods in the ruins of Mexico City. A rich and colorful culture filled with ceremony and ancient rituals was almost completely ignored in favor of two-dimensional gods and characters that hardly entertained me much less enticed me to care about their ultimate fates.

Over all, Sun Lord for me was a colossal waste of time, energy, and my hard earned money. It was poorly written, not to mention written on a level that makes me seriously question if Mr. Milan even thinks his readers have the intelligence much above a block of granite. I could spend days listing all of the things that made this latest Outlanders book a painful read that does not even earn the right to have the Outlanders name attached to it. But it comes down to Gold Eagles ignorance as to why Outlanders has such a loyal and fanatical following. The usual fast paced thrill ride that Outlanders is. The bone-jarring journey through exotic landscapes filled with vibrant characters. A universe filled with twisting, spiraling, roads that wind through the halls of history weaving ancient myth and folklore with fiction, mystery and the truths behind the shadows that fill our world.

If these are the things that draw you to the Outlanders Series then do yourself a favor and avoid Sun Lord as if it carried the black plague as none of these things are even remotely present in this Outlanders offering. I been generous in giving this dreadfully awful piece of literature (A word I use loosely) a score of two out of five. I'm sorry that I took a chance on something in the Outlanders series that was not written by Mark Ellis. It is not a mistake I intend to make again.

Better than "Awakening" but not up to snuff.......2004-05-24

"Sun Lord" was better than "Awakening" on many levels but still had a lot of the same problems as that book--characterization inconsistencies and continuity issues, the major one being the interphaser shown being in use after it was destroyed in "Mad God's Wrath."

There was some good action sequences and an interesting new setting and I enjoyed the Aztec mythology worked into it. I wasn't offended by "Sun Lord" like I was with "Awakening" but this writer has a long way to go to get up to the standards established by Mark Ellis.

Sun Lord only lukewarm.......2004-05-13

First the good news. Sun Lord is much better than Victor Milan's first OL outing, Awakening. The bad news is that there is still a lot of room for improvement particularly in the areas of character consistency and series continuity with the tech and backstory. There is an awful lot of continuity errors in Sun Lord where the writer obviously didn't understand how things worked in the "Axlerverse".

There are other errors that should have been caught by the editors, like the interphaser still being used after it was destroyed in the previous book Mad God's Wrath, not to mention that its operation was completely wrong. This kind of stuff is very aggravating and distracting since to me it's due to laziness or apathy on the part of the editors. I won't list all the errors, just take my word for it that there are a lot.

The plot of Sun Lord is interesting and takes place in a new and colorful setting, a civilization based on Aztec mythology built on the ruins of Mexico City. In classic OL style two factions are struggling for control each using "gods" from Aztec mythology to battle it out. Kane, Brigid, Domi and eventually Lakesh end up channeling the aspects of four Aztec deities.

How this is done scientifically isn't explained in much detail, but it has something to do with Danaan or Annunnkai and even Archon technology. It's hard to tell since the writer gets them all mixed up, claiming that Lam, Balam's father, was an Annunnkai instead of one of the First Folk and this alien tech is just lying around.

Once Kane, Brigid and Domi get the powers of the gods, Sun Lord becomes like a cartoon show version of OL, with them showing off various super powers in over the top special effect heavy battle sequences, shooting rays out of their hands and controlling the weather. As colorful and entertaining as it was at first to see OL by way of X-Men, by the third time it was getting old.

There's a gratutous sex scene between Kane and a female hybrid and afterward he wonders if he impregnanted her. There is no mention whatsoever of Quavell, the pregnant hybrid who has been living in Cerberus since Far Empire.

The pacing of Sun Lord was slow compared to most OL novels and some chapters were very cumbersome and hard to get through. However, the main characters act more like themselves than in Awakening even though I had some problems with Grant and Domi's behavior.

Also for some reason Kane addresses Lakesh as "Doc" and more than once Lakesh is called "Dr. Lakesh." Always before when he's been addressed that way he's called "Dr. SINGH" since that's his last name. Lakesh is his middle name.

Overall I enjoyed this book more than I did Awakening but it was definitely written on a more juvenile level than the OL novels by Mark Ellis. Not as immaturely as DL, but still it had a juvenile feel to it.

I would have given this book 4 stars out of 5, but all the continuity breaches just piled up way too much and spoiled my enjoyment. My suggestion is for the editors to actually read the series they're editing and for Victor Milan to pay a little more attention to the finer details of this series.

I can't come right out and recommend this book to a long-time completist Outlanders fan. But if you're just a casual reader and aren't too concerned by off-model characterization and continuity errors, then you'd probably enjoy Sun Lord since the setting is colorful and is full of vivid but sort of mindless action.

Good idea, poor book.......2004-05-11

Sun Lord, a book by the fill-in writer who authored the dreadful "Awakening" has an interesting concept but the execution is poor.

There were plenty of inconsistencies and outright errors in both characters and the Outlanders continuity. As in Awakening, poor Domi has the most damage inflicted on her character. Grant and Brigid don't fare much better either.

I liked the basic idea of Sun Lord a lot more than I liked the book itself. The Aztec setting and the channeling of the powers of the gods was interesting, even though the explanation of how it was accomplished was confusing.

Although the plot was a good idea, all the errors detracted from my enjoyment. No one seemed to be in character, especially after everyone ended up in Mexico. The overstated "anam-chara" bond between Kane and Brigid came off as as unnatural and forced.

Also, the tone of the book was very "comic-booky" and the characters presented rather immaturely which further affected my enjoyment.

Unfortunately, the bad parts of Sun Lord drag the good parts down, and it all builds up to an abrupt, unsatisfying finale.

I've been an avid Outlanders fan for years, but this rather lame entry makes me wonder if the publisher thinks that the fans can't tell the difference between the usual well-researched and character-centered tales that have been a hallmark since the first book and childish fill-in material like this.

SUN LORD SHINES!.......2004-05-07

This latest Outlanders installment is a bit crazier than the others - and that's saying something!

In short, our main characters, starting with Kane, are imbued with god-like powers out of ancient Mexican myth. Kane awakes from a mat-trans jump into the body of a warrior out of time, with the powers of the sun at his disposal.

As the rest of his comrades look for him, they eventually find him in Mexico, where they too - except Grant - take on the embodiments of goddesses with different powers. And they are pretty cool too.

Fast-paced action and adventure, along with god-like battles with monsters in the guise of humans, thrown with some passionate sex, and you have one whale of a tale here.

Product Description

The two political classics in this book are the product of a time of intense turmoil in Chinese history. Dating from the Period of the Warring States (403-221BC), they anticipate Machiavelli's The Prince by nearly 2000 years. The Art of War is the best known of a considerable body of Chinese works on the subject. It analyses the nature of war, and reveals how victory may be ensured. The Book of Lord Shang is a political treatise for the instruction of rulers. These texts are anything but armchair strategy or ivory-tower speculation. They are serious, urgent and practical responses to the desperate situations in which they were written. They have been immensely influential both inside and outside China.

Customer Reviews:

www.sportofdistraction.com.......2005-11-06

The aspects found in both books that accompany this version of The Art of War are definitely worth the time & money. I've even heard it said that the 2nd book, The Book of Lord Shang, is more appealing than The Art of War. In any event, the exposure to Chinese culture through the paradigm of war strategy is quite interesting, and worthwhile.

All warfare is based on deception.......2005-04-14

As R. Wilkinson remarks in his excellent introduction, in the era when Sun Tzu wrote his 'Art of War', 'war had become the most serious business of the State, the key to survival or ruin.'

Warfare was for Sun Tzu first of all a question of psychology, before strategies and tactics came into play.
Psychologically, the art of warfare is the art to deceive.
Sun Tzu is a master in psychological warfare: sap the morale of your enemy and be cleverer (wisdom, not force alone).
For him 'supreme excellence is to subdue the enemy without fighting.'

His strategy is based on foreknowledge (spying) in order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses (political, geographical, defensive, offensive) of your enemy. And if you are not strong enough, you should be cleverer through diplomacy.

His basic tactics are flexibility, gaining the initiative and not fighting a protracted war.

For all that, you need the best commander, not the best sovereign, for a sovereign can bring misfortune upon his army, when ignorant of military affairs and\or command problems.
What the sovereign should do is 'bring his people in harmony with their ruler'.

This text is rightly a classic. People who launch preventive wars should follow a few of Sun Tzu's recommendations.
On the other hand, it says a lot about mankind that one of the first literary classics doesn't have the title 'The Art of Peace'.

General Tao Hanzhang's comments contain some excellent examples of cold war tactics, but he also forces Sun Tzu's hands.
'Bring people in harmony with their ruler' becomes 'the sovereign should use political pressure or other means to bring the people in harmony with him'; and, 'the ruler has to impose his will upon the people'.

Sun Tzu becomes an atheist because he doesn't believe in gods, but only in real spying.
He is also a dialectical materialist.
But he overemphasizes the function of generals. For Tao Hanzhang, Sun Tzu's principle that 'there are occasions when the commands of the sovereign (read 'Mao') need not to be obeyed' is now obsolete.
His evaluation of the Hitler\Stalin pact is a serious joke.

Excellent range of texts.......2004-01-08

The book has 3 parts. The first is a translation of Sun Tzu's classic The Art of War. Certainly almost everyone must have heard about it - it is considered one of the first books to be printed. It is 13 short chapters each one dealing with a specific aspect of strategy in warfare. The text is of a high quality and for those like me who are sick of seeing Sun's masterpiece massacred in today's bookstores with most titles offering extensive commentary on how to apply the battle strategies in "business" etc etc, this simple translation which presents what Sun himself actually said is a gem. There's no commentary as the translation is clear enough.

The second part is Tao Han Zhang's commentary on The Art of War. Tao was a commander in Mao Ze Dong's People's Liberation Army. On the one hand he does offer some interesting strategic insights. But on the other, it's hard to take someone collaborating with one of the most brutal regimes of the 20th century seriously, especially when he's talking about how Sun was an atheist and laid the principles of dialectic materialism!

The third part reverts to a primary Chinese source - it's the lesser known Book of Lord Shang. This is a treatise on how to rule a country with an iron fist, a handbook on how to be a ruthless and successful dictator. Compared in this edition to Machiavelli's The Prince, Shang actually makes Machiavelli look like a saint. His book and theories founded the Legalist school of thought and his policies were actually successfully implemented by China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang Ti (that's how he got to be emperor!). A must read in today's world considering how many of the 200-or-so countries are brutal dictatorships. Frightening and yet fascinating.

Another interesting thing is by putting The Art of War and Lord Shang in the same volume the publishers seem to be saying that both are the products of their time and were influenced by the feudalism of the era. A welcome change from forced large-scale comparisons to today.

Mind Lords of the Last Sea (AD&D Fantasy Roleplaying, Dark Sun Accessory)
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Mind Lords of the Last Sea (AD&D Fantasy Roleplaying, Dark Sun Accessory)
Matt Forbeck
Manufacturer: TSR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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4 Titles in Viking Era Series - Season of the Sun - Lord of Raven's Peak - Hawkfell Island - Falcon Ridge
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4 Titles in Viking Era Series - Season of the Sun - Lord of Raven's Peak - Hawkfell Island - Falcon Ridge
catherine Coulter
Manufacturer: jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000M4BMW4

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4 massmarket paperbacks

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Art of War; & The Book of Lord Shang
Sun Tzu , and 'Shang Yang'
Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0756794447

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The two political classics in this book are the product of a time of intense turmoil in Chinese history. Dating from the Period of the Warring States (403-221 BC), they anticipate Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" by nearly 2,000 years. "The Art of War" is the best known of a considerable body of Chinese works on the subject. It analyzes the nature of war, & reveals how victory may be ensured. "The Book of Lord Shang" is a political treatise for the instruction of rulers. These texts are anything but armchair strategy or ivory-tower speculation. They are serious, urgent & practical responses to the desperate situations in which they were written. They have been immensely influential both inside & outside China.

Bach Kantate Nr. 79 (7079): Gott, Der herr, Ist Sonn Und Schild; God, Our Lord is Sun and Shield (Edition Breitkopf)

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Bach Kantate Nr. 79 (7079): Gott, Der herr, Ist Sonn Und Schild; God, Our Lord is Sun and Shield (Edition Breitkopf)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Manufacturer: Breitkopf & Hartel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TYLAQ0

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