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.

Civil War II: The Coming Breakup of America

Average customer rating:

Chittums predictions are coming true
Very Good Book
Buy This Book. Your Life May Depend Upon It.
A glimpse of the present and the future
Dont buy this book unless you are ready for some startleing revelation's

Civil War II: The Coming Breakup of America
Thomas W. Chittum
Manufacturer: American Eagle Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0929408179

Customer Reviews:

Chittums predictions are coming true.......2007-03-26

One look at what's happening with our porous southwestern border, the throng of illegals streaming across it, and our ineffectual government's refusal to seal and protect it makes this important analysis a must read for those who know the score concerning the looming national disaster that the evening news refuses to cover.

Very Good Book.......2007-02-26

Chittum talks about phases of Civil War II: 1. Tribalization, or the undermining of the concept of citizenship. 2. The creeping loss of democracy to private, governmental institutions and international bodies. 3. Gradually falling wages. 4. The slow decay of infrastructure in our cities and the abandonment by Americans and their replacement by minorities wedded to welfare and affirmative action. 5. Growing legal and illegal immigration to transform America into a typical Third World country. 6. Massive drive for gun control to cripple military potential from the working class. 7. Cooperation of the mass media to dumb down the population.

Near the end of the book he makes projections that you can see happening right now:

1.Shrinking hourly wage. 2. More immigrants than Americans. 3. Foreigners hold most Federal Debt. 4. Twenty million Third World slums on our borders known as `colonias'. 5. Manufacturing jobs moved out of the USA making it impossible for us to make or sell anything to the world. 6. Republican and Democratic politicians refusing to deal with the immigration crisis. Worse, both parties aid and abet it. 7. Growing power of advocates of Aztlan or the reconquest of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas by Mexico.

Buy This Book. Your Life May Depend Upon It........2007-02-01

I moved cross country because of this book. I spent months doing my own research, trying to refute the claims by this author and couldn't. Multicultural nations are filled with animosity, fear, distrust and ultimately do not survive. Even the liberal Harvard researcher Robert Putnam (author of "Bowling Alone") reluctantly admitted that people "hunker down" in diverse neighborhoods and don't trust either people who look like them and amazingly, people who do look like them. According to Putnam, Los Angeles had the lowest levels of trust of any city, while Chittum stated that Los Angeles would be ground zero for the coming civil war. Putnam was so distressed by his findings that he said "we must create a new us." Only an intellectual could come up with something so foolish.

The best part of the book is that he provides a geographical map of where the new nations are likely to be. He even maps out the white enclave areas in Texas, Georgia etc. and shows you the lack of viability and logistical problems of remaining in these spots.

The checklist will make a believer out of you. Some of these trends were somewhat apparent in 1996, but the vast majority were not. This man either had a crystal ball, or he knows what he's talking about. I gladly paid over $50 for this book, but now you can buy it for much less, so what are you waiting for? I literally have hundreds of books in my personal library, but if I were only allowed to keep one, it would be Civil War II.

A glimpse of the present and the future.......2007-01-30

Great book!! The chapter titled Civil War Checklist is especially disturbing because many things he mentions have already come to pass.

The breakup of America is inevitable. The chaos and bloodshed will make the Balkans and our first civil war look like some sort of game.

Dont buy this book unless you are ready for some startleing revelation's.......2007-01-10

This book written about ten year's ago is unfolding like the daily newspaper.SO many truths that are being shown so many lies being unvealed for people who are ready for a life changeing reality check here it is if this dont get you you motivated nothing will.

Vision of the Future (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, Book Two)

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!
Romance...the Star Wars way
I couldnt wait for it to end
A must read for Star Wars fans!
really boring

Vision of the Future (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn, Book Two)
Timothy Zahn
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553578790
Release Date: 1999-09-01

Amazon.com

Timothy Zahn finishes the two-part Hand of Thrawn series with Vision of the Future. In the first book, Specter of the Past, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo battled the minions of the evil Grand Admiral Thrawn, long presumed dead. In the sequel, our heroes must prevent civil war and ensure that Thrawn's plans for a triumphant Empire are thwarted. Intergalactic intrigue, space battles, and heart-pounding action will thrill Star Wars fans in this eagerly awaited novel. Zahn is one of the most popular interpreters of the Star Wars universe with good reason.

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Grand Admiral Thrawn, long believed dead, has returned. Civil war is imminent in the New Republic. And what--or who--is the Hand of Thrawn? Vision of the Future is the conclusion of the two-part Hand of Thrawn series, written by Timothy Zahn, Hugo Award-winning author of the original trilogy based on the Star Wars films. The book is read by Tony Award-nominee Anthony Heald, who uses his theatrical talents to perform everything from love scenes to fight scenes as the story unfolds. His range of voices--from the "distinctive, somewhat prissy" voice of C-3PO to the gruff cynicism of Han Solo--is complemented by selections from John Williams's score and sound effects from the Star Wars films. (Running time: 3 hours, 2 cassettes) --C.B. Delaney

Book Description

Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn brings his epic two-volume series The Hand of Thrawn to an explosive conclusion with a discovery that rocks the New Republic to its foundations--and threatens to resurrect the Empire.

The Empire's master plan is under way. The New Republic is on the verge of civil war and the rumor that the legendary Admiral Thrawn has returned from the dead is rallying the Imperial forces. Now Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and their allies face the challenge of their lives. They must infiltrate a hidden fortress filled with Imperial fanatics, rendezvous with a double-dealing Imperial commander, and journey into enemy territory to learn the identity of those responsible for an act of unthinkable genocide. But most important of all is the truth about Thrawn. In his hands--alive or dead--rests the fate of the New Republic.

© 1998 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM
All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2007-02-13

If you've read other Star Wars novels by Timothy Zahn, you know he's the best author of the novels. Do yourself a favor and read the Thrawn trilogy. I'm still hoping Lucas will come to his senses and make a movie from those books.

Romance...the Star Wars way.......2007-02-07

I really like this book. Personally I am a fan of Luke and Mara and I have to had this book, I wanted to know how they end up together and even if some fans think they were more rational than passional, I think it is the Star Wars way for romance. They are two strong characters, they couldn't have a typical romance! I think it was very "in character" for them. The story is fast and entertaining, I like it, a lot.

I couldnt wait for it to end.......2006-05-18

I'm amazed at some of the positive reviews. This book was so boring. Probably one of Zahn's worst books, although i havent read all of them yet. To many things going on at once, no real connection to the main story. Which seemed to be the return of Thrawn. And how did it end? With a DUD. Simply horrible.

A must read for Star Wars fans!.......2005-08-24

This book was great. It was longer than most Star Wars novels (almost 700 pages), but well worth it. I read it after the NJO so I could see a lot of fore shawdowing for that series and also the new Dark Nest trilogy. You will enjoy this book.

really boring.......2005-05-18

the irritating writing style continues...unfortunately this time there is no attempt at a storyline and no interesting characters. we don't really need to be informed every time someone has to 'connect to the force', or runs through jedi meditation techniques, etc. it has to be implied at some point really.

Commander in Chief: How Truman, Johnson, and Bush Turned a Presidential Power into a Threat to America's Future

Average customer rating:

Red Hot Anger Harms Strength of Message
Excellent book
Brillant or Left Wing Propanganda ?

Commander in Chief: How Truman, Johnson, and Bush Turned a Presidential Power into a Threat to America's Future
Geoffrey Perret
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0374102171
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

This is a story of ever-expanding presidential powers in an age of unwinnable wars. Harry Truman and Korea, Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, George W. Bush and Iraq: three presidents, three ever broader interpretations of the commander in chief clause of the Constitution, three unwinnable wars, and three presidential secrets. Award-winning presidential biographer and military historian Geoffrey Perret places these men and events in the larger context of the post-World War II world to establish their collective legacy: a presidency so powerful it undermines the checks and balances built into the Constitution, thereby creating a permanent threat to the Constitution itself.

In choosing to fight in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, Truman, Johnson, and Bush alike took counsel of their fears, ignored the advice of the professional military and major allies, and were influenced by facts kept from public view. Convinced that an ever-more powerful commander in chief was the key to victory, they misread the moment. Since World War II wars have become tests of stamina rather than strength, and more likely than not they sow the seeds of future wars. Yet recent American presidents have chosen to place their country in the forefront of fighting them. In the course of doing so, however, they gave away the secret of American power—for all its might, the United States can be defeated by chaos and anarchy.

Customer Reviews:

Red Hot Anger Harms Strength of Message.......2007-06-16

I've just about finished a very uneven diatribe against American presidential power called "Commander-in-Chief," by Geoffrey Perret, an historian who wrote a good bio of U. S. Grant about 10 years ago. The basic premise of the new book is that Truman, Johnson, and Bush Two extended presidential power in unconstitutional ways to pursue wrongheaded wars, and they had help from Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and Bush One. JFK, Ford, and Carter get somewhat of a pass, but not JFK's advisors, and certainly not his generals.
Much of Perret's prose is so vitrolic and sarcastic that it takes away from the strength of the arguments he's trying to put forward. His footnoting of his research is also uneven; a claim that a Kuwaiti diplomat's daughter gave perjured testimony to the U.S. Congress about butchered babies in the Iraqi attack on Kuwait, and that this testimony helped persuade Congress to vote for war powers to attack Iraq in Gulf One, is unsupported by any footnotes. The hell of it is that he's basically on the money in his assessments.
I'm too old and fixed in habit to stop reading and listening to historical and political pundits, but I would solemnly advise you not to bother to do so, and just simply vote against any politician (such as Rudi Giuliani) who suggests that going to war is going to solve our problems. As Perret points out, the U.S. must reassess the limits of its power, find alernative energy sources other than in the Mideast, and stop parading around as the toughest guy on the block. Otherwise, the chaos and anarchy created by our unwise actions will ultimately combine to make us defeat ourselves.

Excellent book.......2007-05-29

Perret does a fine job of showing how the war powers of congress have been gradually eroded to the point where the president may take the country to war at whim and not be held accountable. He shows how the trend actually began with Truman and continued with a the series of our "smaller" wars. Overall, a very good analysis. No one else has summed up this material quite as well.

Brillant or Left Wing Propanganda ?.......2007-03-31

If you believe that the result of the Korean,Vietnam and current war in Iraq have permanetly harmed this nation and benfitted China then this book is for you. Perret trace the origins of the cold war and although condems Stalin's brutalty chareterizes the reponse of the Soviet Union and Mao as reasonable.

Perret traces the cold war to Gerald Ford and manages to only praise Kennedy's handing. He calls Nixon a mad man but the sub title doesn't mention him. He barely mentions Carter or Reagen which is suprising considering how even liberal historians give Reagen some credit for ending the cold war.

The last one third of the book descends into an anti Bush diatribe. Any pretension about being an even handed historian from a liberal bent are disgarded and every emotional /charge is made agaisnt GW Bush from calling him an action figure to a draft dodger drug user.He details Bush's alleged evil deeds such as signing statemnts. There appears to be factual errors in this part of the book but to detail them is beyond my responsibilty (much like the writer's I suppose). Perret inadvertedly makes Bush's arguments that the jihadists will follow us back to the US. Isn't it the Republican argument that it is better to fight them in Bagdad than in the streets of New York ?

It is said that those who do not learn the mistakes of the past are doomed to relieve them. However Perret stands this on its end by weaving history to fit his conclusions about the present.

I gave this three stars for the insignt one gets from the first half of the book but the second part should have been written twenty years form now when emotions cool .

The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back

Average customer rating:

Clubby "governing class" with its fingers in its ears
Neither the premise nor the conclusion is a surprise here
It's the book for the young to read and reread!!
Insightful Analysis
The Global Class War : How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win it Back

The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back
Jeff Faux
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0470098287

Book Description

Acclaim for The Global Class War

"You will never think about 'free trade' the same way after reading Jeff Faux's superb book. As Faux makes clear, the globalization debate is really about whose interests are served by global elites, and how we need to go about reclaiming a democracy that serves ordinary people. This book should transform public discourse in America."
-Robert Kuttner, founding coeditor of the American Prospect and a contributing columnist to BusinessWeek

"Jeff Faux's astonishing story of how class works will scandalize the best names in Wall Street and Washington-especially the much admired Robert Rubin, who along with other elites colluded behind the backs of ordinary citizens in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The most cynical Americans will be shocked by the sordid details. This really is an important book."
-William Greider, author of The Soul of Capitalism and Secrets of the Temple

"Globalization is a cover for American imperialism, but the beneficiaries are not the American people at the expense of foreigners but corporate executives at the expense of working-class and poor people wherever they may be. Jeff Faux offers a comprehensive and devastating analysis."
-Chalmers Johnson, author of The Sorrows of Empire

Customer Reviews:

Clubby "governing class" with its fingers in its ears.......2007-07-15

Basically, a lot of governmental decisions (such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA) get made by the "governing class", an insular group of government officials closely linked with the business world; alternative viewpoints (such as labor or environmental concerns) tend to be minimized. This results in outcomes that are not only detrimental to individuals and society in general, but can also backfire and hurt business as well (higher health care costs and the loss of the US steel industry are examples given).

NAFTA promised "good jobs" (many tied in to the import/export business), for Americans and Canadians, as well as better job opportunities (and less illegal immigration) for Mexicans. What happened, though, was a lot of manufacturing moved from the US to Mexico, where the lower wages paid did little to stimulate the economy. Mexico was hurt further when manufacturing, ever in search of cheaper labor, moved production to Asia.

There is also discussion about global organizations such as the WTO and their meetings in Davos. Same clubbiness, but on a worldwide basis. Labor, etc. is again shut out or co-opted by business, and what opposition there is often ends up ineffectual.

Even the US invasion of Iraq had a basis in developing markets for multinationals, not just oil and/or military strategy.

The subtitle states "How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future". The author does blame Clinton as much as he does Bush (41) for ramming NAFTA through over the objections of labor, environmental and other concerned groups. (Canadian and Mexican leadership, including the high level of corruption in Mexico, are also called to task) And he points out that almost as much corporate money flows to Democrats as it does to Republicans.

But he does save most of his opprobrium for the right: the "think tanks of the 1970's, followed by Reagan and Thatcher; the rise of the religious right; Friedman, etc.

Finally, the author puts forth his plan to "Win it back": a "Continental Democracy", essentially a reformed version of NAFTA with labor, environmental, and human rights provisions explicitly written in and enforced. In addition, a "Citizens Continental Congress" would be implemented. The three countries would be divided into several geographical regions, some of which would cross national borders ("Nine Nations of North America" anyone?). Sounds like part of a plan, but actaully "belling the cat" (i.e. getting the governing class to listen, let alone implement it) is left as an open exercise.

Neither the premise nor the conclusion is a surprise here.......2007-05-28

The premise of this book is that the global elites are more loyal to their own class than to their country of origin (see the discussion of universal health care in America under Clinton) and the conclusion is that the working class will be hurt more by the coming economic catastrophes in America than will the global elite who are the cause. In between those "well, duh" moments is a reasoned and thorough exposition of how NAFTA came into being and the consequences for the working class, especially in Mexico. Faux presents the differences between the Keynsian model and the social Darwinism under which we struggle at present. My dad was a professor of Economics, and a follower of Keynes, and he would have endorsed this book. Unfortunately, I think that Faux's idea of a North American union, while deserving of consideration, will not be accepted by US citizens.

It's the book for the young to read and reread!!.......2007-02-08

I read the book with a scant eye on the economists view of events but by the end of the first chapter I had a different attitude. I found myself thinking that my children must know this material in order to make sound decisions about their future and the future of the country. Every newscaster should be required to read this book before interviewing propective candidates for President. It has enlightend me on the workings of our government.

Insightful Analysis.......2007-01-15

Jeff Faux gives an insightful overview of the causes behind the gradual decline in living standards and income of not only the American Middle Class, but its counterpart in every other country of the world, orchestrated by the newly-globalized power-elite class. Intriguing and thought-provoking, the book looks at the big picture and brings into focus the reasons for some of the world-wide developments of which everyday people have become victims. It will give readers a whole new, and probably even more cynical take on political leaders of the present era.

The Global Class War : How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win it Back.......2007-01-09

good

Average customer rating:

d20 Future - Future Tech
LOOK AT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL TOYS!
Toys from the Future

d20 Future Tech (d20 Modern Supplement)
Rodney Thompson , and J.D. Wiker
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786939494
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Book Description

New Gear and technology for any d20 Modern or d20 Future campaign.

d20 Future Tech is an extensive collection of high-tech items for use by players and Gamemasters. Building on subsystems first presented in d20 Future, d20 Future Tech presents new gear and options for characters, vehicles, starships, and mecha. Covering technology levels from the current era to the far future, this supplement can be used in any style of modern or future compaign.

Customer Reviews:

d20 Future - Future Tech.......2007-01-04

D20 Future outlined things and presented a good sample of what is to be, but was a little on the thin side. This book complements d20 Future nicely and fills in many of the gaps the general rules leave open. You get extra almost everything (occupations, feats, classes, starships, mecha and a lot more, but, surprisingly, no cybernetics).

This supplement is great, but lacks for cybernetics and now you got to buy Cyberscape as well. This and Cyberscape should have been one hard-bound book for like $5 more. I would have bought it.

I was a sucker and bought them both. You may wish to do the same.

LOOK AT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL TOYS!.......2006-03-16

As the name implies d20 Future Tech is a new supplement for the d20 Modern RPG and the d20 Future Supplement. This book has all the goodies that sci-fi and high tech players will love...the gadgets, weapons, mecha, robots, and ships that you're just dying to get your hands on to outfit your characters. The book is broken down into six chapters dedicated to Personal Gear, Starships, Systems, Mecha, Robotics, and combat. The items in each chapter are presented in chronological eras of progress levels. For example, progress level 1 would be the Bronze/Iron Age, while our current age is progress level 5, the Information Age. These go all the way up to progress level 9.

Personal gear covers such things as weapons, ammunition and armor and includes things like gauss rifles and laser weapons, and at progress level 9, the deadly anti-matter launcher. The Starship section delves into the designing of starships and even space stations and the various weapons, armor, and engines that can be used. Various types and sizes of ships are included as well as all of the options that they can be outfitted with such as warp drives. The chapter on systems provides various types of gadgetry not associated with combat. These include systems such as retinal and genetic ID systems, Health and medical care, communications systems, and even gadgets for the home and kitchen.

The Chapter on Mecha will thrill players not only with the variety of Mecha types, armor and weaponry, but also with it's concise rules for combat, crew actions, training, damage effects, and more. There are even transforming mecha! The chapter on robots isn't just about robots but rather robots as heroes and PC's. Build the robot of your dreams with more options than the latest Mercedes. Seven sample bots are included to help get you started.

At 96 pages, d20 Future Tech can't quite be considered expansive, but everything in here is well written and well thought out and there's definitely enough to keep players busy in this new game system from Wizards of the Coast. Excellent art as always!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Toys from the Future.......2006-03-12

First D20 Modern product of the year and it's actually one of the better supplements of the whole series. A good portion of the weapons and such are revamped from Alternity's Star Drive setting. It also dovetails nicely with Cyberspace. And while there is very little for most players to improve themselves other than more choices for guns and rides as well as general gear there is also a chapter for those of us who want to play robots as well as for those that like smashing robots. Still no mecha like the Knight Sabers but some good stuff none the less. In essence this is a toybox. Nothing more and certianly nothing less. But oh, such wonderful toys they are!

Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Future of Combat

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Insider account of the Balkans crisis
Something to upset everyone
If you have to read this book, buy it used and save some $
The lessons of Kosovo
I don't sell many of my books...

Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Future of Combat
Wesley K. Clark
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1586481398
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Book Description

This memoir from the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, now revised and updated, offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how war is fought today.

In Waging Modern War, General Wesley K. Clark recounts his experience leading NATO's forces to a hard-fought and ultimately successful victory in Kosovo in 1999. As the American military machine has swung into action in the months following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, it has become clear that the lessons of Kosovo are directly applicable to the war against terrorism and the nations that sponsor it.

The problems posed, and overcome, in the war in Kosovo--how to fight an air war against unconventional forces in rough terrain and how to coordinate U.S. objectives with those of other nations--are the problems that America increasingly faces in the today's world. As the Los Angeles Times noted in late September of 2001, this book's "lessons are highly relevant now.... We need to think about exactly what steps will lessen, rather than increase, the terrorist threat. And we also need innovative commanders willing to improvise to meet a new kind of threat, more determined political leadership, a more flexible outlook in the Pentagon.... Gen. Clark has performed another service by highlighting these problems at a crucial moment in American history. "

Waging Modern War is history, memoir, guidebook, and forecast, essential reading for those who want to know how modern war is fought, and won.

Customer Reviews:

Insider account of the Balkans crisis.......2007-01-13

This book is formally an autobiography, but pays scant attention to the first 50 years or so of the author's life. Instead, Clark has written a strong account of his involvement in the two Yugoslav wars that took place in the 90s; first the Bosnia war, where he worked as a military adviser to Richard Holbrooke, and then his role as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in the Kosovo war a few years later.

These two roles gave Clark insight into the interactions of the objecives, often quite distinct, of military and political leaders. This was particularly true of his work as SACEUR (NATO commander), where he was the focal point of that tension, reporting to the defense ministers and heads of state of the various nations while leading the various armed forces. He also has a good deal to say about the practical issues in integrating units from different countries in a single operation, along with the longstanding problems of integrating the capabilities of the traditionally rival American services. This was, for me, the most informative part of the book, and would certainly make it essential reading for any officer or diplomat interested in this topic.

Clark also has a good deal to say about the institutional problems he had in Washington and the Pentagon. The Pentagon leadership, in particular, hostile to the idea of fighting an enemy that wasn't in the Middle East or East Asia and even more hostile to the current President, undermined Clark repeatedly and then, when the war was successfully completed anyway, arranged for his reward to be getting fired.

The book was clearly actually written by Clark without use of a ghost. This isn't always an advantage - Clark lack's the professional writer's eye for the telling detail so instead sometimes gives us too many details that add up to too little information. But in the end, a book written by the actual actor in these events tells us more than a book written with a smoother style by a ghost.

Something to upset everyone.......2005-12-09

General (ret) Wesley Clark's recollections of events leading up to the 1999 bombing campaign against Serbia truly has something to upset or annoy everyone.

Before we go into the details of all the various fashions in which GEN Clark can make everyone unhappy, let us consider the context of the publication of this book. The book was published in 2001, shortly after he was fired for his performance as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), both the military commander of NATO and the senior U.S. military officer in Europe. At that point, it seems likely that he was already considering his attempt to run for the Presidency. And limiting what he could say would be (hopefully) a desire to continue to protect classified information that he was in possession of as a general in the U.S. military. So we see indications that this work could be a self-aggrandizing apologia with a gag-order.

The first thing that can upset folks. GEN Clark personally pressured, directly and indirectly, the U.S. to rush into a European war in the Balkans. A constant theme through the text is that both military and civil leaders (including President Clinton) were very reluctant to get the U.S. more deeply involved in the troubles in the Balkans, and very, very reluctant to enter another war. GEN Clark repeatedly appealed to them to use military power to force Serbia under Milosovic to change his internal policies. He also went to directly to the media with his message and through public opinion forced elected leaders and their appointed representatives to comply to his (GEN Clark's) intent. The other interpretation of this is that GEN Clark was the only American leader that *really* cared about the Kosovars and their plight at the hands of the Serbs.

The second thing that should upset people. GEN Clark never mentions any attempt to find out why the Serbs were conducting operations in Kosovo. If, at the very first allegation of violence in Kosovo, GEN Clark and the NATO leadership had made a concerted effort to find out why the Serbs were doing what they were doing, they would have found out that the Kosovo Liberation Army were terrorists and heroin smugglers. This suggests many approaches to resolving the conflict without resorting to a bombing campaign. The Serbs were demonized from the first moment that events bagan to unfold in Kosovo, and never offered a solution other than "stop that or we shoot".

The third thing to upset everyone: GEN Clark put European interests ahead of U.S. interests. GEN Clark relates that Javier Solana, Sec. Gen. of NATO, expressed that failure to act in Kosovo would jepordize the existence of NATO, and that this could not be allowed. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, NATO has been floundering in search of relevance, and has evolved into more of an economic club than a true military defensive alliance. Ultimately, NATO is of much greater benefit to it's European members than the U.S. By supporting Solana's objectives, GEN Clark put NATO and European interests ahead of U.S. national security. The counter argument is that Europe's security is America's security, but with the competing interests and lack of agreement inside Europe, this argument is a sweeping generality, a great sound bite, but devoid of substance.

The fourth thing that should upset absolutely anyone: The bombing campaign was in its second month before NATO sat down and tryed to hash out what the objective, the goal, the desired outcome was. If an Army colonel were to begin a lower level operation (say with 2000-3000 soldiers) without a clear endstate, a concise discription of his/her desired outcome, that colonel would be relieved on the spot. If a four-star general begins an operation without a clear objective, a stated goal, well... GEN Clark seemed to take it for granted that this was OK.

On the other side of the ledger, the book is engaging and well written. The events are laid out chronologically and with enough detail to make it flow well. Despite the constant name dropping, the material was engaging and comprehensive. It also is an education into the inner workings of NATO, and the relationship between SACEUR, the Pentagon, and the President. It doesn't quite give a day by day description of the attack on Serbia, but would be an excellent resource for filling in the blanks behind a dry, academic history of the conflict. This will be an essential work for future historians of the post-Yugoslavia Balkans.

If you have to read this book, buy it used and save some $.......2005-05-22

This is not a book, but a rambling memoir filled with too many personal comments of little substance. Do not expect an objective analysis as to the causes or the events surrounding the Kosovo conflict. Nor expect a CLEAR or INSIGHTFUL book on how military decisions are made and executed.

Any value this book may have had in describing the decision making process between the US military and its political leadership was buried in the almost constant self complementary remarks.

The lessons of Kosovo.......2005-01-25

"Waging Modern War," by Wesley K. Clark, is an account of the 1999 NATO military action in Kosovo from the perspective of the author, an American army general who oversaw the operation. Clark notes that this book is "a personal memoir" and is not intended to be "a complete record of the war." Included as supplemental features are a "Cast of Characters," with descriptions of over 60 individuals from the international group of people involved in the story; a list of the abbreviations used; a map; and an index.

This is a gripping text that, at times, I found very difficult to put down. It's a fascinating look at war from the perspective of a general near the very top of the chain of command. Among the many issues Clark touches on are the following: the complexity of dealing with an international military alliance; humanitarian concerns; relations between military and civilian officials; and the role of the media. He touches in particular on the complexity of his "double-hatted" role in both the NATO and U.S. military structures. He also discusses some of his life before the Kosovo crisis.

Particulary interesting are his memories of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, whom Clark describes early in the book as "a supremely manipulative liar and bully." Milosevic emerges as a wily, fascinating true-life villain. Equally noteworthy is Clark's account of his working relationship with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, a former Spanish government minister. Clark shows how personalities, as well as terrain, tactics, and weaponry, impact a war.

This is a lengthy (479 plus XLV pages) and dense text; Clark hits you with a blizzard of facts, names, and acronyms. The book may be daunting to general readers, but I believe that those who take the time to read it carefully will be rewarded. "Waging" is not just a memoir, but also a theoretical work on modern war using the Kosovo campaign as a textbook example. As the Iraq war continues and people speculate on what future wars could embroil us, I believe that civilian and military leaders could benefit from the knowledge and insights in this important book.

I don't sell many of my books..........2004-12-14

but this one I had no trouble parting with. I purchased this book shortly after it was released, long before General Clark made his bid for the Democratic nomination. I've tried to complete it twice, but cannot bear to finish it. It's just too much celebration of General Clark and not enough discussion of events in his life or the the context of those events. It's a dissapointment , because General Clark is obviously intelligent, and has the resume to provide an interesting read.

The Next Cold War?: American Alternatives for the Twenty-First Century

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The Next Cold War?: American Alternatives for the Twenty-First Century
Jim Hanson
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0275954730

Book Description

The Next Cold War? sounds a warning: the United States may be contributing to another cold war through its competitive unilateral and regional economic policies. Whereas wars of the past usually resulted from political conflict, Hanson warns that a new cold war may result from economic conflict. This raises important questions for American policymakers. Will the United States be a world leader that promotes cooperation and unity, or will it seek to create competition and division? Will the United States address the basic problems of population, environmental deterioration, and economic stagnation in concert with other nations, or will it pursue narrow geopolitical and geoeconomic power strategies? This fascinating work explores both sides of these questions and poses alternatives that will promote world cooperation and unity.

The Bell Curve Wars: Race, Intelligence, and the Future of America (A New Republic Book)

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Provides Good Balance
Poor world
Poor science
Not much real content-except for Sowell's critique
The Other Side Reacts

The Bell Curve Wars: Race, Intelligence, and the Future of America (A New Republic Book)

Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0465006930

Customer Reviews:

Provides Good Balance.......2007-05-16

No matter what you think about the Bell Curve Wars, it is an essential companion to the controversial Bell Curve, for it explains not only the reasoning behind it, but the motive for writing it. Several eminent intellectuals provide a panoramic perspective of the Bell Curve, and even offer some insights as to its impact on our society. Some of these BCW responses deserve special merit, like Thomas Sowell's contribution, "Ethnicity and IQ.",and "Cracking Open the IQ Box",by Howard Gardner. The book will challenge proponents and detractors of the Bell Curve alike.

Poor world.......2005-10-01

As far as I know a high IQ has never prevented anyone to rot under ground after death. Call it the great (and eternal) nothingness curve. So, just be a good person and be of some help to the people around you! World needs love not pedantic morons. Of that sort we have more than enough, dont you think?

Poor science.......2004-12-11

Though I agree with the general conclusion that environment, as religion as well as things like the quality of foods have considerable over intelligence, I do not think the authors have
rendered any particular service. The high Jewish performance
reported known thoroughout history can without serious doubt be totally explained by Judaism's teaching children to visually
"see" in the mind's eye sylogistic relationships (IF--AND--THEN as the right end, center shaft and left end of a balance). Likewise certain Hindu castes put obsessive energy and time into teaching children math to a degree that in such a study such Hindu elementry school children scored double the problems solved in a given time than the average of various countries' scores, which all gave about equal score results.

Fraser has come to a conclusion which is in essence a prejudice and has attempted to "prove" it. And the product Fraser puts out has much in common with the Ashley Montegue kind of nonsense.

I do think "The Bell Curve" has some significant insufficiencies, which I address in my review of that book, but "The Bell Curve Wars" gives a good deal of poor science or poor scholarship. There are plenty of examples of racially mixed populations in the world. And race mixing has consequences: psychological, biological and social, beyond
any test.

Not much real content-except for Sowell's critique.......2004-01-19

The Bell Curve sparked an outpouring of liberal/leftwing anguish, and it was valuable for doing such- especially in exposing the hypocritical and deceptive assumptions that
have held sway in black education, especially the farce of
"affirmative action". Much of the sound and fury deals with
"racism" for pointing out the obvious-sub par black educational performance. The torrent of liberal anguish also may have helped to bolster conservative racism. After all with the liberals so upset, there must be something to it-"methinks they doth protest too much...."

Conservative economist Thomas Sowell's analysis pronounces a pox on both houses. He welcomes the exposure of the hypocrisy surrounding Race and IQ, and notes that many critics are long on shrill emotion and short on hard analysis.

H&R he asserts, are quite accurate in their analysis and presentation of the stats. Speculative conclusions are another matter. The authors claim that the higher incidences of incarceration in black populations and their higher illegitimacy rate is largely explainable by their lower overall IQ. But this does not stand up to the record of history. Whites of similar IQ have similar anti-social patterns, but also to be remembered is the fact that there are white ethnic groups in the US that have long had a pattern of high incarceration, high out of wedlock births, high levels of crime and violence, and a general disinclination towards education and learning. These folks are conveniently forgotten in the haste of many to point the finger at blacks.

They are called the white Irish, and the patterns noted above were seen not just in America but also over in Ireland and among Irish immigrants in Britain. In Sowell's "Ethnic America" for example, he points out that the illegitimacy rates among the Irish in sections of New York in the 1800s rivaled that found among urban blacks in the late 20th century. And as for levels of violence, just one of the many Irish riots back then killed more that all the people that died during the black riots of the sixties. Phrases such as "paddywagon" or "donnybrook" "fighting Irish" are based on historical realities like these. And let's not get into historically high levels of substance abuse (alcohol) among the white Irish... Over time the Irish improved their lot and behavior over time. Blacks are no different provided they are left alone to get on with the job.

Others have used the Bell Curve stats stats to argue that black intelligence is declining- hence the high rates of illegitimacy and incarceration. None of these speculations stands up to the record of history.

In fact the intelligence scores of blacks (along with other initially low IQ whites) have been rising for decades. As Thomas Sowell points out, it is the "norming" of IQ tests from their earlier baselines so that increases are reshuffled to yield a "normal average" of 100, that has concealed black

progress. When progress is measured from the original baselines, in fact, whole nations have experienced rising IQs. This change over time does some damage to H&R conclusions. It should be noted as well that Jewish soldiers scored rather low on Army mental tests given in WWI, leading some Anglo experts to cast doubt on the mental capacity of Jews- but who's laughing now?

Nor are Jews unique as to the moving pattern of IQ scores. As far back as the First World War, black soldiers from northern states, places like New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio scored higher on mental tests than white soldiers from southern regions like Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

Some patronizing white liberals argue that blacks need special "help" and preferences to register improvement- hence the farce of affirmative action. But history shows nothing of the sort. Back in the Jim Crow era, when blacks were blatantly and systematically denied opportunities open to whites, blacks were making progress without any "special" help or "preferences" from whites. All they needed was an equal chance. And when they did, all black PUBLIC schools like Dunbar High in Washington DC, along with many others for example, consistently produced test scores for decades ABOVE the white average.

Sowell exhaustively documents the above in books like "Black Education", 'Ethnic America", "Race Ind IQ" and "Inside American Education".

The Other Side Reacts.......2003-03-10

This is actually an interesting reaction to the findings of the Bell Curve and I enjoyed reading the articles to see how they would attack the foundations of Hernstein and Murray's thinking. I think it's good to read several viewpoints on a subject and then make up an informed opinion from there. The arguments presented against The Bell Curve's conclusions will have to be answered by more scientific testing. I do agree that none of these people who disagree with the book are running their own scientific tests and coming up with factual conclusions that contradict The Bell Curve findings. --Who has the pseudo-science? Only time will tell.

Egalitarians have emotional reasons for accepting the conclusions that they do. They do not want to accept a rigid determinism that would suggest that improving the environment of a group of deficient learners is futile and will not improve IQs. They do not want to accept the tag of permanent inferiority. On the other hand, determinists may have emotional reasons for accepting their conclusions; they do not want to accept the conclusions that if some group has a low IQ, it is the result of white racism that whites are guilty of.

Although egalitarians speak evil against determinists, egalitarian viewpoints on race have their own detrimental results by loading whites down with guilt and shame that may not be their fault and filling blacks with resentment against whites for problems that may be their own responsibility.

One effective argument against The Bell Curve was a mentioning ofHernstein and Murray's hasty dismissal of counter-evidence against their theories such as the testing of black and white children of white mothers in Germany that ended up with the same IQ scores. Another argument suggests that there really is no rising of a cognitive elite in America. Others give anecdotal evidence of people who did brilliantly in school but ended up in mediocre careers suggesting that high IQ does not spell success. (The Bell Curve authors agree with this conclusion.) It is also mentioned that H and M could have focused on white differences in IQ, such as white ethnic group differences in completion of college graduation, or IQ differences between southern and northern American whites. H and M are accused of not confronting these white differences as much because that would be too politically divisive.

One argument says that the H and M's conclusions are pseudo-science and that such "science" has occurred before in history, suggesting the inferiority of blacks to justify the unequal status quo and that this pseudo-science is actually hate literature. (I'm generally against defining conclusions as hate speech because it censors free inquiry. It's too easy to define heretical ideas that someone doesn't like as 'hate" and then get the government to censor them.) Hernstein and Murray are also portrayed as neo-social Darwinists in one essay; they present ideas that give credence to the belief in the survival of the fittest ethnic group and the inability to raise up a lower ethnic group to a higher level.

Another argument was that there are multiple intelligences that can't be measured by just taking a test. Some wondered what was being measured in an IQ test. What is this mysterious "G" (general intelligence) that H and M talk about? Some said that the historically bad environment that blacks have lived in has lead them to be culturally deprived and more money must be invested to improve deficient IQs. There is also some evidence the black/white gap in IQ is closing. Blacks are improving and whites are staying the same. Of course, one could argue that the whites should be improving also and something is wrong with the education system if it is not. Some of the argumentation is dauntingly technical and although a layman can get the gist of the argument, the details may go over his head.

War and Anti-War: Making Sense of Today's Global Chaos

Average customer rating:

Good book with ideas still useful today
Insightful and interesting speculations But our Reality since the book was written is more complicated
"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill"
WORTH GIVING IT A SHOT
Interesting, but not good enough

War and Anti-War: Making Sense of Today's Global Chaos
Alvin Toffler , and Heidi Adelaide Toffler
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446602590

Customer Reviews:

Good book with ideas still useful today .......2007-08-13

Here are some notes

The same forces transforming our economy and society were about to transform war as well
The biggest problem for democracies in relation to the military - Democratic armies cannot win wars without popular support/ consensus, but crises could arise faster than consensus could form. The military had to shift from an orientation toward space to an orientation toward time
The shape of tomorrow would be determined by economic, not military, warfare - nations becoming more economically interdependent
Knowledge is a factor of production which is versatile and inexhaustible unlike material finite resources therefore it may be used by both sides of the war
War success increasingly lies in the capacity for acquiring, generating, distributing, and applying knowledge strategically and operationally
Agriculture became the womb of war for two reasons. It enabled communities to produce and store an economic surplus worth fighting over. And it hastened the development of the state. Together these provided the preconditions for what we now call warfare
Past armies varied greatly in size, capability, moral, leadership quality and training. Weapons were unstandardized, and fighting was mostly close combat

Total war is waged politically, economically, culturally, and propagandistically, and the entire society converted into a single war machine. Total war blurred or completely eliminated the distinction between military and civilian targets

Mutually assured destruction

Poorly paid draftees armies reduce the incentive for technological substitution
If armies consist of more highly paid professionals, robots become a battlefield bargain
The spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear arms in the world is also likely to promote robotization by creating battlefields just too toxic for human soldiers. Robotic warriors can be custom designed to perform in just such environments
Robots did the work but humans made the decisions
Another feature of autonomous robots is speed. They can make decisions at faster than human rates, a key capability as warfare accelerates
The problem with remotely controlled robotic weapons is that they depend on vulnerable communications that link humans to them. If communication breaks down, disrupted, sabotaged or manipulated by the enemy, the robot becomes useless or potentially self destructive. If the ability to sense data, interpret it, and make decisions is embedded in the weapon itself, the communication links are internalized and more secure

*The implementation of total automation in warfare by means of robotization changes the relationship among the parts of the war machine specifically among the public and the state. Robotization removes the human aspect of war, the draftees and therefore reduces public patriotism and therefore support for the warfare. With zero cost in human life 2 scenarios may occur - 1 lost of public concern regarding any battle or war waged, 2 increase in unopposed criticism by the public to the states with regards to battle or war waged and increased focus of the opponent as victims rather than enemies. This occurs because the opponents casualty is not counter balanced by our own casualty and even the notion of risking human life is unavailable. Because of this, war is may not be morally justified if the opponents innocent public is killed. The war itself may not be justified if without public support to its necessity
The state therefore in a effort to reduce public opposition may 1 keep battles and warfare hidden from public view 2 increase military propaganda techniques

The new communication networks favor democratic nations - permits users to communicate among themselves at all levels of the hierarchy, precisely what totalitarian systems may not want

SIX WRENCHES THAT TWIST THE MIND - THE MEDIA BATTLEFIELD
1 the atrocity accusation
2 hyperbolic inflation of the stakes involved in a battle or war
3 demonization and/or dehumanization of the opponent
4 polarization "Those who are not with us are against us"
5 the claim of divine sanction
6 propaganda that discredits the other side's propaganda - its aim is to produce wholesale, as distinct from retail, disbelief

List of military propaganda techniques designed to exploit the mass media to sway mass emotion in mass society

Adding commercially available smart technology to old weapons can transform them into intelligent weapons at peanut prices that even impoverished armies can afford

Efforts at preventing the spread of mass-destructive weapons were based on ten key assumptions:
1 The new weapons could be monopolized by a few strong nations
2 Nations seeking such arms would have to produce their own
3 Small nations, in general, lacked the necessary resources
4 Only a few weapons or types would meet the definition of weapons of mass destruction
5 These weapons depended on a handful of raw materials that were monitorable and controllable
6 They also depended on a few specific, indentifiable technologies whose spread could also be watched and controlled
7 The actual number of secrets needed to prevent proliferation would also be small in number
8 Regulatory agencies could collect and disseminate information for use by the world nuclear industry without revealing knowledge that would help arms proliferators
9 Existing nations would remain stable and not break apart
10 Nation-states were the only possible proliferators

While interdependence may create bonds between nations, it also makes the world far more complicated. Interdependence means that Country A cannot take an action without triggering consequences and reaction in countries B, C, D, and so on
Some countries are hypo-connected to the rest of the world while others are hyper-connected.

War and peace forms pose a moral question. Apart from trying to withhold certain kinds of technical knowledge from potential troublemakers, it may be sensible for most technologically advanced nations to actually provide technical know how to less than friendly states. If some pariah state succeeds in developing weapons of mass destruction do we want the government to keep the weapon under careful control, lest it fall into unauthorized hands. If so, should we make control technologies available to it.

Government is under de facto control local business interest

Insightful and interesting speculations But our Reality since the book was written is more complicated.......2006-04-27

This is a very good and interesting book. It has many human interest stories including that of the Tofflers meeting with the late Don Morelli, a veteran of Vietnam who was to unfortunately die shortly afterward of cancer. Morelli's insights into the changing nature of the battlefield, of the importance that communications, information, quality people ,Intelligence would have on ' third wave' warfare are an important part of this book. Another important military figure Donn Starry also contributes to the major insights of the book. After investigating the turnaround tank- battle at Kuneitra in the Golan Heights in the Yom Kippur War he came to understand the importance of 'taking the initiative in battle' even when defending- and how those the initiative however outnumbered and outgunned are capable of determining the battle.
These insights fit into the Tofflers' larger framework insights about how after the Agricultural Wave, and the Industrial Wave we have entered the Wave of Information and Knowledge- and how the means of Warfare change in accordance with the Dominant mode of the historical time.
The Tofflers are not however dogmatic and schematic. They lay out possibilities for future transformations in warfare, from star- wars scenarios to those in which robot- soldiers shape the battlefields of the future. They talk about all kinds of interesting possibilities from 'niche wars' to global conflagrations initiated by 'crazy states'.
But my sense is that the outline of possibilities, and the raising of interesting ideas and scenarios is somehow today less vital than the analysis of the specific ' war - situation' or 'war - situations' Mankind finds itself in. Their book was published before 9/11 before the rise of an Islamic Fundamentalist global Terror threat which amounts to a Clash of Civilizations with the West.
The Tofflers have written an interesting book ( As they always do) but one which more than a decade after its publication does not provide a nitty- gritty analysis of our specific ' war- situation'.

"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill".......2005-04-01

Over the years I have read several of Toffler's excellent books.He has a marvelous talent to put logical thinking to work and reveal what is really happening right before our eyes;and most of all,explain it.It seems that it is a case of that old adage "can't see the woods for the trees."Any reader of Toffler is well aware of the First,Second and Third waves;and what he does in this book is to show how war is affected by the Third wave principles of change. As one reads this book,the reader should keep in mind that it was published in 1993- that's 13 years ago,and much of the thoughts and research probably took place sometime before that.It is a credit to Toffler's skill to read the book now and to see how dead on the mark he is.
The big thing that comes out in this book is that the whole world has not gone through these three waves;in fact some countries have barely entered into the first wave.All countries must try to get along regardless which wave they are in.Also some countries are operating in the first wave in some things,others in the second wave and even in the third wave in others.This is summed up in what Toffler describes as "A World Trisected."
When war is involved ,it is a matter of life and death,and if one does not adapt they will end up on the scrapheap of history.
This book opens ones eyes to so many things that are going on today.It is little wonder that the United Nations,which was formed during the second wave and continues to operate that way;that it has essentially been useless in dealing with terrorism around the world.One should also keep in mind that our governments and political systems along with our legal,criminal and justice systems were also developed for the second wave and continue to dwell there.
"You may not be interested in war,but war is interested in you."
-Trotsky

WORTH GIVING IT A SHOT.......2004-10-08

This is an interesting book. I cannot I say I agree with the entire premise, but I did find it rather thought provoking and certainly worth considering. As always, I do have a problem with the author's absolutelisms, but hey, it is their book and they certainly have a right to their opinion. Of course books such as this will only be given their final worth with time. Sort of gives you good incentive to live to be about 200 years old, huh? Anyway, I have this one three stars simply as I did not feel it was their best work, and parts of it were sort of sloggy, but I do feel it is worth the time to read it and certainly ponder it.

Interesting, but not good enough.......2003-06-16

Reading this book was rather like going into a 400 page Newsweek article. Even though the theory about "waves" can seem appealing, the authors fail to provide a theorical framework for the ideas they propose. Ok, so the wars of the future will be different.. so what?
There's no explanation within the book that tries at least to determine what the causes of the future wars will be. It leaves the door open for any "random" cause to ignite a war.
Anyway, I could say the anecdothic style of the book makes it easy to read, but if you're looking for a more in-depth text about wars and their future implications, forget about this one.

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