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.

Tom Wolfe Carves Wood Spirits and Walking Sticks (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers)

Average customer rating:

Good book for the very young
Hoped for more
Informative, Instructive, Well written, Great pictures
The best carving instruction I have ever received.

Tom Wolfe Carves Wood Spirits and Walking Sticks (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers)
Tom Wolfe
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0887404413

Book Description

Legend has it that the forest of the world are inhabited by elusive creatures known as "Wood Spirits." Tom Wolfe finds them everywhere and brings them to life in this delightful new instructional book. Using found wood such as driftwood, roots, and old beams from dilapidated barns, he leads the reader through the carving of wondrous, fanciful faces, that are both enchanting and beautiful. On a smaller scale, Tom also finds the Wood Spirits in walking sticks, creating treasures that are handsome and functional at the same time. Tom has been carving these Spirits for years, and they are constantly in demand. Now he leads the carver, step-by-step, through their creation, each step illustrated in beautiful color photographs. An extensive gallery is included, jam-packed with examples and ideas for the reader's own work.

, 250+ color photos, 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

Good book for the very young .......2007-06-19

The book is good for very young carvers. The pictures are great and the author does show everything. As a matter for discussion the author provides too much detail and if you need lots of detail then this book is what young starters can use effectively.

Hoped for more.......2005-07-31

Although it does cover the subject and offer examples for inspiration, it does so in very broad strokes. I had hoped for mre istruction and less inspiration.

Informative, Instructive, Well written, Great pictures.......1999-01-29

I used this book as a basis for all my carvings, This book actually started me in the buisness of woodcarving and I created my first Walking stick from the instructions therein.

The best carving instruction I have ever received........1997-05-06

Two years ago I purchased this book and a set of six tools. My goal was to create a hobby that was rewarding and relaxing. I can truthfully say that I have never been more satisfied with any purchase. I have found a world of enjoyment from the simple act of cutting wood. In three days, I will exhibit in my first show, The Tupelo Gum Tree Festival, Tupelo, MS. I have never been more relaxed and proud of anything I have done before. Thank you Tom Wolfe! Dennis Renfro

How to Carve Wood: A Book of Projects and Techniques (Fine Woodworking Book)

Average customer rating:

Covers a lot of ground
Woodcarving
Best Beginner's Book
A good technical guide to woodcarving

How to Carve Wood: A Book of Projects and Techniques (Fine Woodworking Book)
Richard Butz
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Fun with Paper & Wood, Stones & Knives | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0918804205
Release Date: 1984-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Covers a lot of ground.......2007-07-03

As a beginner, I appreciated the breadth of topics covered in the book, particularly the various styles of carving. This was my introduction to chip carving, and I think he covered it quite well. Sharpening is also covered, but I'd already bought "The Complete Guide to Sharpening" by Leonard Lee (of Lee Valley & Veritas) and found that to be a most comprehensive source of information on that topic.

Woodcarving.......2006-08-11

This is an excellent book that covers the fundamentals of carving plus adds great advice on what tools to purchase. Asked if I would buy this book again, my answer would be yes! I messed up on the rating of this book and I give it five (5) stars. Sorry!

David Self, New Boston, Texas

Best Beginner's Book.......2000-10-03

To an experienced woodcarver this book may seem unfocused and thinly spread, but for the beginner it does exactly what it should do. The book begins with a good grounding in the tools of the craft and how to care for and sharpen each type. After that it gives you a sampler of carving styles with at least one project for each. It's guaranteed there is at least one or two chapters the reader will not care for. Even this is useful since the reader avoids launching into the craft with a project they really have little enthusiasm for, and then lose interest in wood carving all together. This book should be required reading before the beginner spends a single dime on tools, equipment, or wood. If it's not 'the' best beginner's book, it's in the top five.

A good technical guide to woodcarving.......2000-04-05

A good general book on woodcarving. This book could be better if it didn't try to be all things for all people. There are better books for beginners out there for the money and more advanced carvers probably need to buy a book concentrating on their type of carving. I found it to be a little on the technical side and would have preferred a few more patterns for each type of carving.

My favorite sections were on finishes, sharpening, and the tool section. There are numerous photographs of some beautiful examples of the various types of carving. The author does show some very useful carving techniques in most of the carving styles.

Sections include tools, sharpening, woods and finishes, design, whittling, chip carving, relief carving, wildlife carving, lettering, archatectural carving, and a bibliography.

Average customer rating:

I love this book!

Songbird Carving

Rosalyn Diasey can help even a novice painter look great!

Rosalyn Diasey can help even a novice painter look great!

Excellent step by step guide for woodcarvers

Songbird Carving II (Songbird Carving)
Rosalyn Leach Daisey
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Fun with Paper & Wood, Stones & Knives | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Carving Award-Winning Songbirds: Three Step-by-Step Demonstrations to Build Your Carving and Painting Skills

Songbird Carving With Ernest Muehlmatt: World-Class Ribbon Winner Teaches You How to Carve and Paint 10 Favorite Songbirds

Waterfowl Carving With J.D. Spankle: The Fully Illustrated Reference to Carving and Painting 25 Decorative Ducks

Patterns and Instructions for Carving Authentic Birds

Painting Waterfowl With J. D. Sprankle: Step-By-Step Full-Color Instruction for 13 Projects

ASIN: 0887401198

Book Description

This is the second comprehensive wood carving manual by the successful team of Roz Daisey and Pat Kurman. Through a detailed yet concise series of carving and painting instructions, beautifully drawn illustrations and careful photography, novice as well as expert carvers are given all the information they need to complete realistic wood carvings of five different songbirds. The instructions for creating wooden replicas of the male and female Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, and American Robin provide five home seminars at your fingertips. Roz and Pat are experienced carvers and teachers who have developed systems that work for everybody every time. Their own carving achievements, abilities to illustrate and communicate, and their devotion to the bird carving art forms they create all combine here to inspire a new generation of wildfowl artist. , 276 color, 664 b/w photos/83 drawings, 8 1/2" x 11", Glossary

Customer Reviews:

I love this book!.......2007-05-15

It just arrived in the mail and I can hardly wait to carve another bird. This book gives the carver just what he needs--patterns from the front and side plus top and bottom views! Lots of black and white photos, but then you get color photos just when you need them--which is when you begin to paint the bird. Plus, I really like the way the birds look. If I can't produce a fine looking bird from this book it will not be from lack of direction. This beats just about any other bird carving book I have, and believe me I have bought a lot of them!

Songbird Carving .......2006-02-20

Rosalyn Daisey's book is a suberb example of how to author a "how to" book. It's top notch in patterns, instructions, and illistrations. You can't go wrong with any of her books. I'm impressed enough to own them all.

Rosalyn Diasey can help even a novice painter look great!.......2001-11-19

My husband, Ron, is an excellent carver and has been doing songbirds for about ten years. He brings life to his carvings by burning the feathers in with such detail nearly everyone reaches out to "pet" his birds. This past year he decided to go beyond the "natural" look and asked me to paint a robin so that the gift to our grandson would be from both of us.
I had only worked with watercolors previously and so, having had no experience with acrylic painting, I was still able to follow the instructions in this wonderful book and came out with a robin that looked very real. In fact, when painting one day, I had to answer the door and the guest flinched, thinking I was holding a real robin. Now if I can only come up with her instructions for painting a blue bird and/or a blue herron I would be grateful beyond words.

Rosalyn Diasey can help even a novice painter look great!.......2001-11-19

Excellent step by step guide for woodcarvers.......1999-04-27

Excellent step by step guide for both beginning and advanced woodcarvers. Provides detailed patterns and instructions for five different common songbirds.

Wood Art Today: Furniture, Vessels, Sculpture (Schiffer Design Book)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Book

Wood Art Today: Furniture, Vessels, Sculpture (Schiffer Design Book)
Dona Z. Meilach
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0764319124

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Book.......2006-12-24

This book is filled with photos of contemporary art made with wood. There are discussions about wood, its properies and characteristics. But being a woodworker myself, I found those discussions basic.

All of the photos are in color. Many of the photos are accompanied by a brief disussion of the piece. While there is a lot of furniture here, the focus of the book is art.

Some of the pieces show are wonderful examples of fine craftsmanship and will endure for many decades. Other items are abstract--some people will like them, others won't and only time will tell if they are are masterpieces. A lot of turnings are included: several of Bihn Pho's turned vessels are shown. There are also many abstract turnings.

Many of the pieces are very 'art-y'. The object's usefulness is limited. However, there are still a good many pieces where both form and function are given equal weight. Several of the rocking chairs (all of which are Maloofian) are just as beautiful as they are functional.

Fish Carving Basics: How to Paint (Fish Carving Basics)

Average customer rating:

Fish Carving Basics: How to Paint (Fish Carving Basics)
Curtis J. Badger
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0811724409

Average customer rating:

Turning Green wood
a god basic book
Great book for anyone interested in turning
This is an exotic art, and this book illustrates it well

Turning Green Wood
Michael O'Donnell
Manufacturer: Guild of Master Craftsman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1861080891

Book Description

“Covers the process of turning fresh lumber straight from the log without previous processing... teach[es] the reader how to work with the wood and make use of its many characteristics and features. It explains how to harvest and store timber, make the best use of grain patterns and provides tips for planning a turning project....Offers step-by-step instructions for six projects.” —Woodshop News.

Customer Reviews:

Turning Green wood.......2006-07-31

Great and a must have for all turners. The book is more oriented toward bowl turning but covers a ton on green turning with plenty of pics and diagrams. Michael O`Donnell goes to great length to educate the reader on how wood dries based on where it is cut form the tree.

a god basic book.......2006-06-14

this is a good basic book of how to deal with green wood and also the use of crotchwood. well written and illistrated

Great book for anyone interested in turning.......2006-02-22

As a beginning turner, I searched for books that were both informative and interesting to read. This book approaches turning with 'green' in mind but also has some very good information about wood properties and turning in general. Very much worth buying even if you are an experienced turner.

This is an exotic art, and this book illustrates it well.......2003-06-17

When I first saw a bowl turned out of green wood, and it was so thin, you could almost see through it, it caught my attention. That is what interested me in this book. The author does an excellent job of explaining how to work green wood, and it is well illustrated in the photographs.
When I saw a bowl at the woodworking show, and the artist illuminating the inside with a light bulb, so he could determine just how thich each part of the wall was. It all made sense. This book will give you everthing you need to know, and get you started on your own translucent bowl creation. Tools, lathe settings, and choosing your wood is covered. Highly recommended, and a sure fire way for guests to ask you about your creations.

Whirligigs & Weather Vanes: A Celebration of Wind Gadgets With Dozens of Creative Projects to Make

Average customer rating:

WOW!
This is the easiest whirligig book to understand on the market!
very helpful
Woodworking experience is helpful...
Whirligigs: Imagination in motion

Whirligigs & Weather Vanes: A Celebration of Wind Gadgets With Dozens of Creative Projects to Make
David Schoonmaker , and Bruce Woods
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806983655

Book Description

“A delightful collection of projects for creative students and beginning woodworkers, illustrated with large, full-color photos. Includes traditional whirling ducks and airplanes, as well as a shakin’ wind-powered Elvis and racing Coyote and Roadrunner. This wry history...is a gem.”—School Library Journal. “Full of ingenious designs.”—Country Almanac.

Customer Reviews:

WOW!.......2006-07-20

I LOVED JUST LOOKING AT THIS BOOK. THE IMAGINATION OF THE WHIRIGIGS AT THE FRONT OF THE BOOK WAS JUST AMAZING. THEY WERE LIKE WORKS OF ART. THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE ONES YOU ACTUALLY MAKE ARE NOT THAT ELABORATE THOUGH. BUT IT GIVES YOU LOTS OF IDEAS FOR WHEN YOU GET REALLY GOOD.

This is the easiest whirligig book to understand on the market!.......2005-07-20

I teach arts and crafts at a summer camp in the North Georgia mountains and am always looking for some fun, original folk art to do with the kids. After buying several other whirligig books on the market, I decided to buy this one, hoping it would be easier to understand. It was! Additionally, the photo gallery is phenominal. Whimsical works of art laughing in the breeze. If you are interested in building whirligigs, this would be the first book I would recommend.

very helpful.......2001-11-28

This book is filled with good quality color pictures of many projects. It also explains how to make the complicated parts of wind toys. It tells what kinds of wood will hold up, and what kinds of wood will fail. It improved my whirligig designs greatly, and added many new ideas for my new ones. Well worth the money.

Woodworking experience is helpful..........2001-07-27

I've had this book for a year and am finally making my first project (How the west was lost). IMHO you need to have some woodworking experience to do the projects other than the very simple ones. Making small parts is difficult on all but a scroll saw or bandsaw with a small blade. Step-by-step specific instructions are scarce. Still, I give this book 4 stars because I really like the projects. I also like being able to come up with my own colors and painting rather than paint by the numbers. I can tell you that the materials that they tell you to use for the mechanical parts are right on. Wire is just too flimsy from my experience. Use a photocopy machine to increase or decrease your pattern sizes. Use spray adhesive to stick the patterns on the wood and you'll get the size you want.

Whirligigs: Imagination in motion.......2001-06-21

Here's a "how to" text that works! WHIRLIGIGS AND WEATHERVANES is beautifully formatted with rich bold photography, clean helpful graphics and clear textual instruction. After reading Paul Fleischman's WHIRLIGIG, I wanted my students to share the experience of the novel's protagonist, 16-year-old Brent Bishop, who must build four whirligigs. Brent finds a used book that gets him started. It's simple, clear and useful, and it provides the basic skills and knowledge Brent needs to create his own inspired inventions. I discovered WHIRLIGIGS AND WEATHERVANES while searching for a very similar title Fleischman used in his story - Make Your Own Whirligigs and Weathervanes - which just MAY be an invention inspired by Schoonmaker and Woods's text!) My husband and I are now finishing OUR first whirligig - "Soul of the Woodworker" - incorporating a profile of my husband's head and a silhouette of my left hand! Instructions are found on pp 44-5!

Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees

Average customer rating:

Amazing, Insightful, Fascinating.
Take this book to Oaxaca!
Oaxacan Woodcarving
Not just a picture book, but a book about people...
Informative but disappointing.

Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees
Shepard Barbash
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Prehistoric & Primitive | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0811802507

Book Description

Increasingly prized by collectors worldwide, Oaxacan woodcarvings are among the most popular form of folk art available today. These fanciful, brightly colored figures created by rural Mexican woodcarvers reflect the myths and traditions still very much a part of the carvers' daily lives. A spectacular gallery of over 160 full-color photographs beautifully portrays these artisans and their work, while an informative text examines the intricacies of the carvers' craft. The only volume devoted exclusively to this distinctive and magical art form, Oaxacan Woodcarving will inspire and inform anyone with an interest in folk art, photography, or anthropology.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing, Insightful, Fascinating........2007-09-28

...I bought this book in a discount house on a whim. It has turned out to be one of the most worn books in my library. This is NOT an encyclopedia of Oaxacan woodcarvings, or a catalogue of such, which may have been to the disappointment of one of the reviewers. The writer does an OUTSTANDING job at studying this group of people and their craft/artform as an anthropological survey, that is not in the least bit dry. Great stories, and imaginative professional photography of numerous pieces. This is the book, that caused me to travel 2,000 miles and spend thousands of dollars to meet the people that the author writes about....and that is the only caveat I have towards this book; it will introduce you to a culture steeped in poignancy, depth and every bit as 'magical' as its' title suggests. 5 stars. No, 10 stars.

Take this book to Oaxaca!.......2006-08-09

My copy of Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees arrived just before my husband and I left the U.S. for a 3-month RV tour through several states of Mexico. Much of our 4 weeks in Oaxaca were spent in small villages enjoying the colorful works and the artisans who created them. We saw a wide variety of styles and themes, many of which are represented in this book. What gorgeous colors and what a sense of humor!

Oaxacan Woodcarving.......2002-11-09

This a beautiful and colorful book about Oaxacan Woodcarvings. It illustrates their vivid history and humble beginnings by folk-artisans in Mexico.

Latin American crafts are special because they're created by people who have a passion for life. They express it in their art with vibrant colors and whimsical expressions.

I sincerely appreciate the work that goes into creating these figures. This book captures all of the above and more.

Not just a picture book, but a book about people..........2002-06-10

I picked this book up just recently and was rather delighted by what I found. Vicki Ragan's photos are lovely, but it is Shepard Barbash's text that is the real delight here. How many of those who buy this book will be like the lady below who, apparently without reading the text, complains that the book does not feature all her favorite artists and all the little alien figures which she is sure are the most important images coming out of Oaxaca?

Please do buy this book, enjoy the lovely pictures, but then read the text. Barbash raises, rather subtlely, the question of whether these woodcarvings are folk art or a response to a commercial demand; he questions whether we are right to put our own "surrealist" readings on these wonderful little figures which are hardly conceived out of some sort of pychological dream matter.

Instead he puts this work into its proper context. These wonderful, brightly colored woodcarvings are the work of individuals with their own stories, hopes and fears -- for whom the incomprehensible wealth and technology of the United States is far more surreal than anything they might produce.

I have one of the cute little aliens the reader below speaks of. They are nice, but superficial beside the personal stories and personal expression that occasionally finds its way into this fascinating art that exists somewhere between folk and commerce.

Informative but disappointing........2000-10-19

This book is very informative for those interested in learning more about the artists behind the woodcarvings. However it only represents a few of the carvers and the photos while excellent quality will be a disappointment to those who may own or have seen many of the other wonderful carvings that these artists create. The photos seem to concentrate mainly on human style figures and although it does contain quite a few photos of animal figures most are those more on the conventional side. The more elaborate and colorful figures are not represented, neither are some of the more exotic animals like dragons, giraffes, and armadillos. There is nothing at all on the small `alien' monsters which are now considered the trademark emblems of this area. For those wanting a book to show friends just what these artists can do it will be a bit of a disappointment, however since it's the only book available at present there is little choice.

Carving the Human Figure: Studies in Wood and Stone

Average customer rating:

Carving the Human Figure: Studies in Wood and Stone
Dick Onians
Manufacturer: Guild of Master Craftsman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1861081790

Book Description

Five chapters deal with carving various parts of the body....Clay modeling is used to graphically demonstrate how bones, muscles and fat contribute to the outward shape. Emphasis is on carving with wood, but sculptors in stone and other media will find the information equally valuable.... Dozens of color photographs showing finished pieces and works in progress.”—Woodshop News.

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