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.

Corals: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) (Oceanographic Series)

Average customer rating:

Good pictures
Beautiful pictures, but incomplete text
Good for quick reference
good picture book
Good First Reference Text, pity about poor quality binding and packaging

Corals: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) (Oceanographic Series)
Julian Sprung
Manufacturer: Ricordea Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1883693098

Book Description

A comprehensive field guide for aquarists, divers and naturalists, with detailed full color photographs of hundreds of species, encompassing the majority of coral genera one is likely to encounter on reefs around the world, This book defines corals and distinguishes them form similar hydrozoans, zoanthids, and corallimorpharia. The corals are described and compared to similar looking species, and their range and the correct pronunciation of the Latin name is given.

In addition, for aquarists who grow corals in reef aquariums, information is provided in quick reference charts concerning each coral's requirements for light, water movement, and food, hardiness in captivity, aggressiveness toward other corals, and proper positioning in the aquarium.

Customer Reviews:

Good pictures.......2007-02-12

This book has very good pictures but very little written information about each.

Beautiful pictures, but incomplete text.......2006-11-29

This book is full of fantastic full-color pictures with which one can easily identify many of the corals commonly available. Also includes many rare corals.

However, the text material about the corals, care etc. is extremely brief - much too brief. General care and lighting needs for a particulate coral species is given in the form of bar graphs and placement diagrams. This could theoretically be a helpful companion and summary of a more extensive text about the coral species being described. However, in this book, these diagrams are a *replacement* for the text. In and of themselves, the diagrams are inadequate to properly gauge the needs of the coral species.

I was also disappointed that the book completely leaves out many commonly available corals (for example the corallimorphs ("Mushroom corals"), which are common beginners corals). Leaving these corals out while including many rare species which the average hobbyist will never see seems to dilute the usefulness of the book.

I would recommend instead Borneman's "Aquarium Corals" (which I have and refer to constantly), and/or perhaps Sprung and Delbeek's more extensive 3-volume "The Reef Aquarium" (which has received good reviews, but I don't own (yet)).

Good for quick reference.......2006-08-05

If you already know a bit about corals, this is a nice book to have around for quick reference. I especially like that it lists similar corals and gives some basic information on how to tell them apart. It can be deceptive, though. The information it gives on the specific corals is very general, and should not be considered a good source for research on a coral you're planning to actually buy. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm happy I have this book, but I'd suggest supplementing it with a text such as Eric Bourneman's "Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History". This text will actually give you much more specific information on requirements to care for the corals, as well as some better techniques to identify certain corals, since many look very similar, and there's no way any book could show every possible shape and color for many species.

good picture book.......2006-05-31

Book has lots of good pictures to help you identify corals. IN this manner it can be used as a min-coral atlas.
However, the book comes up seveley lacking when you wish to get information on said corals. All info is in bar graph form -- not narrative. A coral may be listed as preferring light 3-7.
That is not helpful... 3 could mean keep it in the dark while 7 could mean it prefers direct light... the 3 and 7 are not informative! Same for feeding icons, coral placement icons, etc.
If you want a book that TELLS you all about different corals, how you care and feed them, etc, then this book is NOT for you!
BUT, the pictures are really nice, closeup, and clear.

Good First Reference Text, pity about poor quality binding and packaging.......2005-10-16

A wonderful first reference text from Julian Sprung. The necessary information is well presented and communicated in a clear manner. A word of advice, don't get the hardcover version as it looses pages through poor binding and Amazon's inability to package adequately results in the corners being damaged in transit.

Our Mysterious Ocean : Windows on Science Series

Average customer rating:

Our Mysterious Ocean : Windows on Science Series
Peter D. Riley
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Young Families
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1575840588

Book Description

This popular series opens a window on the natural and scientific world for young readers through the use of painted windows that dramatically reveal, page by page, the wonders of the physical and natural world.

A sensational see-through journey from a coral reef to the depths of the sea, Our Mysterious Ocean plunges readers into the wonderful world beneath the waves. Each turn of the see-through pages transports readers deeper and deeper, all the way to the ocean floor. Our Mysterious Ocean was vetted by Paul Sieswerda, curator of the New York Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation.

Dimensions (inches): 8 1/4 x 11 1/4

Average customer rating:

Great Book, Amazon shipping was terrible.

Slightly less biologically acurate than Life Aquatic

Clever Satire of the Classic Educational Children's Book Format

failed attempt to be clever

Very highly recommended for both science and humor collections

Animals of the Ocean, in Particular the Giant Squid (How)
Doris Haggis-on-Whey , and Benny Haggis-on-Whey
Manufacturer: McSweeney's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cats, Dogs & Animals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Marine Life | Oceans & Seas | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
Fauna | Marine Biology | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Humor | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Your Disgusting Head: The Darkest, Most Offensive and Moist Secrets of Your Ears, Mouth and Nose (How Books: Haggis-On-Whey World of Unbelievable Brillance)

Giraffes? Giraffes!

English as She Is Spoke: Being a Comprehensive Phrasebook of the English Language, Written by Men to Whom English was Entirely Unknown (Collins Library)

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ASIN: 1932416390

Book Description

Here is the third installment in a series of reference books, all written by Dr. and Mr. Doris Haggis-on-Whey, a team of highly energized and deeply focused scientists with over sixty-seven combined years of experience at their command, including six months spent lifting awkwardly-sized boxes.

Animals of the Ocean advances many heretofore unexplored discoveries and opinions, including squid dating dos and don'ts, why squid are not at all able to watch television in black and white, the ways in which people who don't know any better might think fish are not animals, the long-term effects of salt water on musical theater, and also the adventure of Gunther.

Animals of the Ocean, in Particular the Giant Squid comes with a foil-stamped and leather-inspired cover. Its pages are full color and illustrated without reserve. This book does not contain a warning label, but if it did, it would advise readers to enjoy its pages only in small and furtive doses, such as while waiting your turn at tetherball.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book, Amazon shipping was terrible........2007-09-14

The book is fantastic, completely hysterical. But, when Amazon sent the book they didn't package it well enough and it got all beat up and bent. The books I ordered used came to me in better condition.

Slightly less biologically acurate than Life Aquatic.......2007-02-21

Recently given this book to review for a deep sea biology website, I am thrilled to now own a copy. Infinitely quotable. A pure riot, although sometimes it exudes that zany for zany's sake 'underground-zine' feeling. The authors clearly had an understanding of the ocean, which threw out to the hungry, eviscerating beaks so they could re-invent the wheel...underwater. And you can be sure they wore a stack of hats whilst doing it. I'm a cephalopod biologist, and I endorse this book.

Clever Satire of the Classic Educational Children's Book Format.......2007-02-12

I think the reviewer that rated this book with one star lacks the absurdist humour necessary to appreciate this book. This is a perfect book for adults with a nostalgic soft-spot for the 1970s adventure books of their childhood and a irreverent brand of humour. Children will enjoy the silly, imaginative playfulness of the book-- without catching on to the classic informative children's book format that the book spoofs. From its matte pages to the mock-encyclopedia hard cover, from the 70s style illustrations to the "one-of-these-things-just-doesnt-belong-here" mock-educational exercizes, the book is a clever satire of the stiff scientific format past children's educational books. The imaginary authors, Dr. Doris Haggis-on-whey and Benny, are brilliant as the cold, clamy scientists. I think this book is also very much in the same vein as the film "the Life Aquatic". SO, how you felt about that film might also be similar to how you feel about this book. I don't give it a full 5 star rating because some of the absurdist humour in the book is random and nonsensical instead of witty, thoughtful humour.

failed attempt to be clever.......2007-02-07

This book surprised me very much.. when i read a book I expect to learn something or at least be entertained... I kept looking for the purpose and/or message of this book...I found it meaningless/pointless and not even based on truth. I guess the authors were trying to be clever.... it did not strike me as clever.
I am sorry to say I found no value... not for kids, not for adults... not for anyone.

Very highly recommended for both science and humor collections.......2007-02-03

OK, now you may think that ANIMALS OF THE OCEAN: IN PARTICULAR THE GIANT SQUID is to be a serious scientific treatise - or, given its slim appearance, that it's to be directed to younger audiences. Neither is true - with great British wit, irony, and tongue-in-cheek humor, The Haggis-On-Whey World of Unbelievable Brilliance packs in zany squid and science references and neo-science observations suitable for any fan of Monty Python British humor. So why isn't this reviewed in our Humor Shelf area? Because any involved in zoology can't miss it: it's unique, funny and makes fun of scientific method in general - using a format and presentation which seems to provide facts disguised as humor. Very highly recommended for both science and humor collections at either the college or public library lending levels.

Average customer rating:

Beach Stones by Josie Iselin, Margaret Carruthers
Great addition for any rock collection!
Great table book!
beach stones
A Magical Book

Beach Stones
Josie Iselin , and Margaret Carruthers
Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Rocks & Minerals | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Rocks & Minerals | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0810955334

Book Description

Walking along the water's edge, who among us has not stopped to admire the evocatively patterned, shaped, and multihued stones that beckon? Fun to collect and free for the taking, beach stones are objects of contemplation, beauty, and sentiment. This exquisite volume-at once a gorgeous art book and a nature guide-presents more than 200 exceptional stones from around the world and describes the fascinating natural processes that produced them.

Photographer and installation artist Josie Iselin, who uses a flatbed scanner to generate her imagery, has arranged these stones with great artistry, and nature writer Margaret Carruthers yields their secrets, revealing, for instance, that a pebble from Maine was created 400 million years ago during the birth of a great mountain range. Art lovers and beachcombing spirits everywhere will cherish this gift book.

Customer Reviews:

Beach Stones by Josie Iselin, Margaret Carruthers.......2007-06-12

This book has beautiful images and interesting text. A good book for people who love the beach. It would make a good coffee table book. I was disappointed in the lack of depth offered by the text. I was hoping for more in depth geologic information, and a greater variety of stones pictured. This is not the book for you if you want an in depth look at geologic process and the mineral composition of stones that wash up on the beach.

Great addition for any rock collection!.......2007-05-02

My Husband and I loved this book so much that we bought 3 and gave away 2 as gifts.

Great table book!.......2007-03-15

I pick it up at least once a week and remember summer vacation, walking on the beach. It is interesting, colorful, full of great pictures and fun for those that enjoy the beach. Answers all the questions that I have about beach rocks and why they look the way that they do.

beach stones.......2006-11-05

both books came around 15 pages in the center that were upside down.
i immediately called and they were replaced without question. i am very happy doing business with amazon
barbara karnes

A Magical Book.......2006-10-28

This book will be a source of revelation to anyone interested in the beauty of the natural world. Carruthers' text illuminates, in an engaging and readable way, the geological forces responsible for creating these fascinating stones. An ideal holiday present for both children and adults.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures (Audubon Society Field Guide)

Average customer rating:

Good field guide and beautiful picture book
If Frosted Flakes are grrrrrreat, this is so much better
OK for the Basics
Excellent
Great for Nature Watchers

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures (Audubon Society Field Guide)
Norman A. Meinkoth
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0394519930
Release Date: 1981-12-12

Book Description

Each of the 690 identification pictures is a full-color photograph of a seashore creature. Arrangement by shape and by color makes identification quick and easy. 666 species are covered in full detail.

Customer Reviews:

Good field guide and beautiful picture book.......2005-05-31

Perhaps I am going overboard in giving this guide a five star review but even a book with an adequate selection of color photos of marine invertebrates is just so darn beautiful I can't help but cause me to rave and this bok offers a selection that is more than just adequate. There is no way one can include all of the seashore creatures of US into one volume let alone a field guide and Audubon guides are not the best things to use for taxonomy. That being said it is a gorgeous little book and certainly helpful to the average beachcomber. Even if you are a Midwestern landlubber this is a great little volume. If nothing else consider it a mini coffee table book.

If Frosted Flakes are grrrrrreat, this is so much better.......2002-04-09

I live in North Carolina and catch and keep a lot of Invertebrates we we go to the beach. So far, every Invert that we've caught has been in this book, easy to find and we found out alot about it by reading. Anyone who sees something cool at the beach often should get this book. In fact, it's a Must-Have.
Shredda Out

OK for the Basics.......2001-08-18

I think that all of North Americas sea shore critters can not be described in a single book. Certainly not in a book of this size. The publishers where quite bold in the scope and as such much information has been left out. That said let me tell you what is good about this book. The pictures are GREAT! Much better than looking at technical drawings. However, they are not better for identification. The descriptions of animal groups are excellent. For the person with little biological background this will go a good way toward explaining the complexities of ocean life. The method of identification, sorting by superficial appearance is handy, again for the inexperienced. To sum it up, if you want one book to carry during your first summer of beach combing get this one. If you need a companion for a marine zoology class stay away, unless you already have everything else.

Excellent.......2000-11-30

Anyone who has used the National Audubon's Field Guides knows just how great they are. This one is no exception. Great picture plates and acccurate descriptions of organisms. For the biologist to the beach hopper, this book is easy to use and very informative.

Great for Nature Watchers.......2000-04-03

I found out about Marine creatures in my Marine Bio. class, and I loved them, so I got this book to further my looking into their world, and it's great. A must have for any person interested in going to the seashore, and just watching what runs around in those tidepools and on the beach.

Average customer rating:

I am a Marine Biologist and this is the best book for the West Coast - Period!!
A timeless classic
A Slightly Defaced Masterpiece
Still & always the classic
The standard field guide for the Pacific Coast of the USA

Between Pacific Tides
Edward Flanders Ricketts
Manufacturer: Stanford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0804712298

Customer Reviews:

I am a Marine Biologist and this is the best book for the West Coast - Period!!.......2007-02-23

This is a timeless classic, very readable as the author puts you in a place (rocky intertidal or a mudflat) and then describes the animals you will see. It is written with a wise eye and wry humor. The long lived sea anemone in Scotland that was done in after 80 some years by the "ineptitude of (we suspect) a botanist".
It is more specific to central California, but still useful in Southern Calif and the northern coast as well.

A timeless classic.......2005-11-27

This is an amazing book. It was a landmark in its time, and is still useful today.

A Slightly Defaced Masterpiece.......2004-08-18

This book, as it was written, is a masterpiece of natural history. It is a contribution to humanistic biology that has style and description that is uncrippled by the invidious academic flatulence of the professional "scientist". It makes no pretensions. It was written by a man fascinated by the tidal seashore and the animals found therein. Read it and read it well.
Then read "Beyond the Outer Shores" by Eric Enno Tamm an unconventional biography of Ricketts that does full justice to the man and the myths.
Having gone through these impressive volumes I hope you will join me in despising Stanford University Press for what they did to Ricketts before his death and for allowing David Phillips to desecrate his memory in Edition Five.

Still & always the classic.......2003-07-13

This is probably THE serious book to have if one is going to immerse oneself in the California intertidal. Originally produced by Ed Ricketts (of Steinbeck/Cannery Row/Log From The Sea Of Cortez fame) the book has been upgraded, revised, re-edited by a plethora of "co-authors" since Ricketts' untimely death. It still retains much of Ricketts' then-revolutionary Habitat focus, which will either work for you (it does for me) or annoy the hard-core systematists out there. This ISN'T a light book to lug into the field or a light book to read -if you are just day-tripping The UC Press has a number of smaller & more accessibly illustrated field guides that I would reccomend, But if you are seriously into mmarine Bio and have some time on your hands along the California Coastline, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Even here on the Coast of Maine and twenty years removed from the West I still fid myself referring to it...

The standard field guide for the Pacific Coast of the USA.......1999-05-19

I can't believe that someone else has not reviewed this excellent guide to the intertidal biota of the Pacific Coast. This book has set the standard for reference guides to marine life along the Pacific Coast, as well as other locations. It is much more than a field guide -- though it also serves that role. This book describes the intertidal zonation patterns of the Pacific Coast as well as the ecology and aspects of the natural history of the organisms that live there. The book contains good taxonomic references as well. This is the book that many of the country's marine scientists cut their professional teeth on. If you are interested in marine biology, the diversity of life, or the ecology of nearshore habitats, this book is definitely for you. The main strength of the book is the logical organization by type of habitat and vertical elevation on the intertidal zone. The main challenge of a book like this is to remain up to date, which the publisher has managed by producing revised editions on regular basis. This book is a must for any field or arm chair marine naturalist!

Average customer rating:

Ocean Life from A to Z (book & DVD)
Great content, respectful presentation, and fabulous videography
Great book and DVD
Librarian Loves It!
A wonderful Gift for Kids and Parents Alike!

Ocean Life From A to Z Book and DVD
Cynthia Stierle , and Annie Crawley
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 079441222X

Book Description

Kids will love this innovative book and DVD package that lets them discover the fascinating underwater world - without ever getting wet! The entry for each letter focuses on the ocean-dwellers that begin with that letter. Kids will find fun facts and interesting tidbits as they pour over the amazing photographs. The 45-minute DVD showcases incredible footage that kids will want to watch over and over again.

Underwater life is a part of all preschool thru high school curriculums! Some preschools and all early grades study the life cycle of the tadpole to frog, and all early grades study the different types of plant and animal marine life - this book and DVD package includes everything they would study and MORE!

Annie's interesting narrative on this DVD clearly explains what it is like to be a captain of a boat, a videographer, and an underwater diver for young children studying 'What Do People Do?" in school!

+ The 32 page book includes more than 50 different sea creatures with tons of beautiful color photographs and fascinating facts on ocean life such as barracudas, kelp forests, predators and prey, parrotfish, sharks, xeno crabs and so much more.

+ DVD in English and Spanish!

+ DVD includes 45 minutes of underwater footage, created and narrated by Annie Crawley, a photographer and videographer-http://anniecrawley.com/

+ The DVD includes 26 different A to Z sea creatures and tons of kid friendly factoids such as "Mouth mackerels are named because of the way they feed. They swim against the current and open their mouths, waiting for their meal to swim inside!"

+ DVD has 3 main parts: Meet Annie - kids can hear all about Annie and watch as she drives her boat, puts on her gear and gets into the ocean; A to Z - filled with cool pictures and fun facts all about ocean life from A to Z; You and The Ocean - kids can watch as Annie and other kids get in the water. DVD footage unavailable anywhere else!

Customer Reviews:

Ocean Life from A to Z (book & DVD).......2007-06-02

This title was originally purchased for the library that I work in. I reviewed the title for the collection and enjoyed it so much that I purchased a copy for my nephew. It is very informative as well as entertaining. The still photography and video are exceptionally well-done. I think it's a book and movie that kids will enjoy over and over.

Cynthia

Great content, respectful presentation, and fabulous videography.......2007-05-24

Many science and nature videos aimed at children offer little more than pretty pictures. Most A-B-C films merely recite a list of words chosen to match the letters, dressed up with brief and painfully dull commentary. Imagine our delight (no, our amazement) at this combination of spectacular videography and deep. instructive narration. Annie's voice and narrative pace are well suited to young viewers, but she delivers a great deal of information in a way that respects a child's ability and desire to learn. Every creature she introduces is described in ways that make it clearly, fascinatingly different from the others. Our son insists that we be quiet so he can hear every word.

On top of all this information quality, the videography is simply gorgeous. I don't know how she finds such crystalline water and beautiful subjects but these are the best underwater images we've ever seen. We cannot recommend this highly enough.

Great book and DVD.......2007-05-07

My sisters and I loved reading the book and looking at the pictures. We saw the pictures come to life when we watched the DVD. We think that all kids will enjoy learning about ocean life if they have this book.

Librarian Loves It!.......2007-02-27

I am a grade school librarian. I have read this book to all my pre-k -third graders and they love it! The DVD is a huge hit! My own four year old requests this DVD often! I give this book and DVD a definite thumbs up!

A wonderful Gift for Kids and Parents Alike!.......2007-02-27

I love this Book/Dvd. What a great concept! It is my top gift to give to all the kids I know (and their parents). I am a Scuba Diver, and am always being asked to bring my pictures over to show my friend's children. This book is SO much better, and the DVD can be played along with, or separately from the beautiful, hard bound book.

The Magic School Bus On The Ocean Floor (Magic School Bus)

Average customer rating:

Another delightful adventure on the magic schoolbus
A little complex for a 6 year old
Country girl
A great science book for children
20,000 Leaks Under the Sea

The Magic School Bus On The Ocean Floor (Magic School Bus)
Joanna Cole
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0590414313

Book Description

When Ms. Frizzle drives the Magic School Bus full speed ahead into the ocean, the class takes a submarine expedition that's anything but ordinary. With a well-meaning lifeguard in tow, the class takes a deep breath and learns about hot water vents, coral reefs, plant and animal life on the ocean floor, and more!

Customer Reviews:

Another delightful adventure on the magic schoolbus.......2007-07-16

The magical Ms. Frizzle takes her class to the ocean in "The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor." The bus transforms itself as needed, from a submarine to a surfboard and the class clothing changes with it from scuba gear to Ms. Frizzle's beachball sandels. The bus travels the continental shelf to the deep ocean floor and on to tropical coral reefs, with numerous excursions for children to examine the details.

The illustrations are filled with facts, labeled wildlife and wise-cracking children. The information is easy to swallow as well as interesting and the humor relies on lame sarcasm and a silly lifeguard -- kids should love it.

A little complex for a 6 year old.......2007-05-09

These books are very complex. A lot of little "notations" accros the pages. My daughter is a little overwhelmed by it. More suitable for an 8 or 9 year old

Country girl.......2006-01-18

I like this book because Miss Frizzel takes the kids
on wild feild trips. But in this book she takes the
kids in the ocean. Somtimes I draw pictures. So just read this wonderful book.

A great science book for children.......2004-09-07

An unusual science teacher takes her students from the classroom into the ocean - physically. The school bus she drives plunges right into the water and transforms, as needed, from bus into submarine, submersible, and surfboard so that her class can reach and explore every part of the ocean. The expedition starts at the continental shelf and moves through continental slope, ocean floor, deep-sea vents and a fringing coral reef. On their way, they children find themselves magically equipped with diving suits and they can now study plants, ocean water, animals and their habitats.

This book is beautifully illustrated and entertains while teaching important information. Kids will love it.

20,000 Leaks Under the Sea.......2003-10-14

At this point, Ms. Frizzle and her class have explored things like the waterworks, the many layers of the earth, the human body, and even outer space. So it's only natural that Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen would decide to lead their readers on an under-sea adventure. "The Magic School Bus: On the Ocean Floor" is another top-notch collaboration by two people who show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Written in 1992, "On the Ocean Floor" picks up where "Lost in the Solar System" left off. Ms. Frizzle's students are working on their ocean science projects, which makes their teacher very happy. However, it makes them hot and tired; the temperature on this day is soaring!

"I wish we could go swimming," comments one student while putting the finishing touches on a display about how ocean animals swim.

"As a matter of fact, children," says the Friz, "I've been planning a class trip to the ocean for tomorrow."

And, just like that, the class - as well as the reader at home - is being whisked away on yet another magical field trip. The kids think they're just going to spend a day having fun in the sun, but Ms. Frizzle has other ideas!

"On the Ocean Floor" rivals "Inside the Human Body" for the amount of information - not to mention good-natured humor - packed into one 48-page book. Just about everything you can imagine - and anything you can't - is touched on in this compelling romp through the heart of the ocean. At the end of Ms. Frizzle's latest underwater voyage, you will have a better understanding of what hidden treasures abound in the deep blue sea.

Ms. Frizzle's class learns all about ocean life; the kids come across things such as barnacles, grunts, limpets, sponges, sugar kelp, tubeworms, and whelks. More familiar entities include coral reefs, dolphins, lobsters, plankton, sharks, tunas, and whales. The students explore high tides, low tides, continental shelves, continental slopes, the ocean floor, hot-water vents, and waves. And I'm only bobbing the surface of what Ms. Frizzle has lined up for her class.

The end of the book leaves us with two things: 1) a little quiz distinguishing what things were true in the story and what things were made up; and 2) another clue as to what the Friz's next adventure will entail. From the looks of it, her idea of a field trip is so old, it's practically prehistoric!

As so often happens, it is common for the things we love in life to grow stale. Rarely does a book series get better with age. But Cole and Degen have managed to do just that. With each "Magic School Bus" story they produce, the product becomes more polished. I had never heard of even half the things this tale delves into, and I thoroughly enjoyed absorbing myself in the read. "On the Ocean Floor" is yet another high-quality effort from two people who wouldn't settle for anything less.

The fifth book in this wonderful series is definitely a keeper, as are the four volumes that precede it. Do yourself a favor, and take a ride on the magic school bus!

Amazon.com

Yann Martel's imaginative and unforgettable Life of Pi is a magical reading experience, an endless blue expanse of storytelling about adventure, survival, and ultimately, faith. The precocious son of a zookeeper, 16-year-old Pi Patel is raised in Pondicherry, India, where he tries on various faiths for size, attracting "religions the way a dog attracts fleas." Planning a move to Canada, his father packs up the family and their menagerie and they hitch a ride on an enormous freighter. After a harrowing shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, trapped on a 26-foot lifeboat with a wounded zebra, a spotted hyena, a seasick orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker ("His head was the size and color of the lifebuoy, with teeth"). It sounds like a colorful setup, but these wild beasts don't burst into song as if co-starring in an anthropomorphized Disney feature. After much gore and infighting, Pi and Richard Parker remain the boat's sole passengers, drifting for 227 days through shark-infested waters while fighting hunger, the elements, and an overactive imagination. In rich, hallucinatory passages, Pi recounts the harrowing journey as the days blur together, elegantly cataloging the endless passage of time and his struggles to survive: "It is pointless to say that this or that night was the worst of my life. I have so many bad nights to choose from that I've made none the champion."

An award winner in Canada, Life of Pi, Yann Martel's second novel, should prove to be a breakout book in the U.S. At one point in his journey, Pi recounts, "My greatest wish--other than salvation--was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One that I could read again and again, with new eyes and fresh understanding each time." It's safe to say that the fabulous, fablelike Life of Pi is such a book. --Brad Thomas Parsons

Book Description

Winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fiction

Pi Patel is an unusual boy. The son of a zookeeper, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior, a fervent love of stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.
The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional-but is it more true?
Life of Pi is at once a realistic, rousing adventure and a meta-tale of survival that explores the redemptive power of storytelling and the transformative nature of fiction. It's a story, as one character puts it, to make you believe in God.

Customer Reviews:

yeah, I'd recommend it.......2007-10-10

I kinda would like to rate this book a 4, because there are a few things I didn't like. I didn't like everything getting 'over-explained' in the end. That wasn't necessary. It was like the author didn't think the reader was smart enough to keep track of what was going on. That did a real disservice to the book.

And I didn't like all the start - I mean, too much opinion that seemed like an rookie blog.

But, I did recommend the book, and I wanted my Mom to read it and talk to her about it. So, what does that say? I don't do that too often. So, I gotta give it a five.

Read it and tell me what you think. :)

Fiction, Fable, Fantasy.......2007-10-10

Yann Martel's Life of Pi is at the least, a first rate adventure yarn. Even the simplest reader needs just to suspend a small amount of disbelief to join in the fun. There is enough texture to the writing-detail of place and experience-that the book is almost cinematic. You could imagine this being filmed as a simple 'survival in a lifeboat' story.
What makes this such a wonderful tale is that each little piece-the man-eating island, the orangutan, Pi's wonderful real name, is jolting and provocative. It's hard to hear the stories without connecting them to some other fantasy or alternative reality.
At the end, Pi's rescue and redemption are really nothing more than the technique of fantasy applied to the story itself. I'm sorry for the folks who were disappointed that this wasn't one kind of book and I hope they get a chance to experience the pleasure of it being a very good fable, fiction and fantasy.

----Lynn Hoffman, author of New Short Course in Wine,The and the slightly fabulous bang BANG: A Novel

What a fantastic ride!.......2007-10-07

A great book should not only answer questions, but lead us to ask questions about the very nature of our lives: our perceptions and beliefs. This book delivers all of that and more. Life of Pi is an amazing literary journey that carries the reader through the life of a young boy as he experiences life and becomes a man, a postmodern bildungsroman. It's all here: relationships with parents, God, nature, humanity, love, adventure, a quest for meaning, and a survival story. This is the stuff life is made of!

Martel is an apt storyteller, and this tale drips with allegory, symbolism, and skillful description. I didn't want it to end. I felt so connected to the story and characters, unlike any story I've read recently. I'm so grateful for the journey. Wow.

From interest to anger.......2007-10-05

This book plays on the reader's gullibility. I was willing to believe up to the man eating island. Then I just got upset. Is this book supposed to help me find God or is it supposed to prove that I am gullible enough to believe in a "better" story? Where do you find 16 year old boys who spend pages philosophizing on tigers while their own life is in great danger? The Boy Scout in my enjoyed the survival story of Pi, but the amazement of survival becomes overshadowed by things that don't add up. It made me lose sight of the meaning of the story. Then part 3 comes along and I am more confused about which of two unbelievable stories I am supposed to believe. It reminds me of Jesus' parables where even his direct reports couldn't understand. It leaves me asking "Why?". Why don't you just give me a story that clearly supports your point?

An Entertaining and Unique Piece of Art.......2007-10-05

I literally just finished reading this book a few minutes ago, and the first thing I did was come to this site to see what others said about it. I think this is going to be one of those pieces that grows on me the further away I get from it, like how I felt about the movie American Beauty, which by the way turned out to be one of my favorite movies after all.

My first feeling after I was done with it was of shock, but the longer I sit here, thinking about it and reading the negative "1 star" reviews, the more I find myself defending and liking it. All the people that said it was "unbelievable" in their reviews need to seriously get a grip. This is a work of FICTION, and an interesting and entertaining one at that! When did we start berating artists for creating works that are unbelievable? So should we bad mouth the movie ET for depicting a boy flying around on his bike with an alien, or the Harry Potter series for assuming that there can actually be wizards and witches living amongst us in secret? Come on, those are some of the most beloved works in pop culture history, and they, like Life of Pi, are FICTON. Isn't that why we read and watch fiction? To be entertained with a good story and take our minds off of our mundane lives? Besides, that's exactly what Pi was trying to tell the Japanese men at the end....sometimes we all just need a good story to make us forget all the bad stuff that we have to endure in the real world. At least that's why I enjoy it.

With that being said, I thought the Life of Pi was a very entertaining read. Yann Martel does a great job of infusing his own brand of philosophical musings about God, country and family into a straight good old fashioned piece of adventure themed story telling. If you're squeamish or have a hard time dealing with violence and extreme situations, then you probably won't be able to get too into this book. I found myself grimacing a few times actually, but it's not worse than most of what you find on the Discovery Channel on any given afternoon. Also, if you don't enjoy a fluid, sometimes digressive, often ambling narrative and prefer the style of more straightforward prose such as that of Dean Koontz, then this might not interest you as well.

The only other book I've read recently that reminds me of this one is the very popular Cormac McCarthy Pulitzer Prize winner and Oprah Book Club selection, The Road. They both chronicle the journey of a boy (in The Road's case, a boy and his father) beating unbelievable odds and inconceivable circumstances to try and survive after a catastrophic event. Both are also written in a way that makes you feel as if you are experiencing the distress of the main characters, but in opposite ways. The Road has short, grammatically incorrect sentences that convey the urgency and erratic behavior of the parent and child on the run and trying to stay alive. In Life of Pi, the author sometimes rambles on in a nonsensical way, the same way your brain would function if you were suffering from hallucinations while nearing death on a lifeboat in the Pacific for over 200 days. I think that the authors' styles are what take both of the stories from just a couple of unremarkable novels you'd find in the discount bin, to truly memorable works of art.

In fact, I'm finding it very discomfiting that so many people gave it such bad reviews. I read through some of them, and I think the negative things they had to say about it says more about them than Martel's work. One review says they wish they were illiterate so they wouldn't have had to endure it and it made them vomit and want to scratch their skin off in the shower like a drug addict. Gee...I don't think I have to explain myself on that one. Others said it was boring, which makes me question our society's attention span more than anything because many of those same reviewers said they didn't even finish reading it. These same people are the ones that stopped watching the tv show Lost at the beginning of last season for the same reason. Well, if they would have just stuck around for a little while longer, in both cases, they would have been in for a pleasant surprise.

*Spoiler Alert in this Paragraph only*
Also, a common theme in the bad reviews was their distain for the ending. I thought that the ending was what really made the book something special. While anyone with half a brain would know that his original story had to have been false, whether he knew it or not since his delirium was quite advanced at some of his lowest points, the fact that he actually gives an alternate version of the story to the Japanese men, felt like a big payoff to me. I'm the kinda gal that likes to know what really happened...it helps me to bond with the characters and ultimately enjoy the story more in the end.

I was starting to get really upset with all the "1 star" reviews, until I did the math. A staggering 78% (as of today) gave it 4 or 5 stars which means they liked or loved it. Well, knowing that at least restored a little bit of my faith in the general public, because though it's not perfect nor the best thing I've ever read, it definitely doesn't deserve to be called horrible.

If you read a lot, like I do, and are looking for a unique story told in a distinctive style, and have an open mind, then definitely give this one a try.

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