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.

A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age

Average customer rating:

The Hobo Philosopher
The Essence of the Dark Ages
Full of falsehoods and totally biased.
William Manchester
A good, wrong read!

A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age
William Manchester
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316545562

Amazon.com

It speaks to the failure of medieval Europe, writes popular historian William Manchester, that "in the year 1500, after a thousand years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the best on the continent." European powers were so absorbed in destroying each other and in suppressing peasant revolts and religious reform that they never quite got around to realizing the possibilities of contemporary innovations in public health, civil engineering, and other peaceful pursuits. Instead, they waged war in faraway lands, created and lost fortunes, and squandered millions of lives. For all the wastefulness of medieval societies, however, Manchester notes, the era created the foundation for the extraordinary creative explosion of the Renaissance. Drawing on a cast of characters numbering in the hundreds, Manchester does a solid job of reconstructing the medieval world, although some scholars may disagree with his interpretations.

Book Description

It speaks to the failure of medieval Europe, writes popular historian William Manchester, that"in the year 1500, after a thousand years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the beston the continent." European powers were so absorbed in destroying each other and in suppressingpeasant revolts and religious reform that they never quite got around to realizing the possibilities ofcontemporary innovations in public health, civil engineering, and other peaceful pursuits. Instead, theywaged war in faraway lands, created and lost fortunes, and squandered millions of lives. For all thewastefulness of medieval societies, however, Manchester notes, the era created the foundation for theextraordinary creative explosion of the Renaissance. Drawing on a cast of characters numbering in thehundreds, Manchester does a solid job of reconstructing the medieval world, although some scholars maydisagree with his interpretations.

Customer Reviews:

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-08

When I saw this book I couldn't believe that it was written by my William Manchester - but it was. What was he doing in Medieval times and not World War II or post war America? I enjoyed the book. I see that it has brought a lot of medieval critics and experts out of the catacombs. I'm no medieval expert. For me it was a fun a interesting read. It was Manchester throughout and I had no trouble keeping up an interest. When I finished I said to myself, This guy can make anything interesting. He had a great knack. He was a darn good writer.

The Essence of the Dark Ages.......2007-08-18

A World Lit Only by Fire is a fascinating study of the end of the Middle Ages in Europe and the beginning of the Renaissance. Originally intended as an introduction to a biography of Ferdinand Magellan, A World Lit Only by Fire is an engaging introduction to medieval and Renaissance cultures.

Not a scholarly study based on first hand research, the work is intended for the general audience. However, Manchester is an accomplished historian and biographer of prominent 20th Century figures. This is arguably a strength in writing this book. Manchester brings both a professional historian's critical eye and a fresh outlook to examine a pivotal historical period.

The book contains two chapters only: a 25-page overview of the Middle Ages and a 264-page portrait of the pivotal people and ideas responsible for destroying the medieval (primarily Roman Catholic) world view.

Manchester begins by examining what made the Dark and Middle Ages so dark and so middling. His answer is: the death of classical civilization and the subsequent dominance of the Catholic Church. He captures this stifling dominance when he writes, "the entire medieval millennium took on the aspect of triumphant Christendom....the life of every European, from baptism through matrimony to burial, was governed by popes, cardinals, prelates, monsignors, archbishops, bishops, and village priests."

Manchester's general descriptions of the Medieval period's darkness are particularly interesting in the various sad, fascinating, and little known details he provides. For example, "in the year 1500, after a thousand years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the best on the continent." He describes a Yorkshire gravestone that attests to the reality of Robin Hood, and he provides some details behind the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who was more a sadistic pedophile than a fairy tale enchanter.

The author captures an essential aspect of Medieval world in describing the lack of individuality among most Europeans: "The most baffling, elusive, yet in many ways the most significant dimensions of the medieval mind were invisible and silent. One was the medieval man's total lack of ego. Even those with creative powers had no sense of self." He notes that most Europeans of the time had no surnames, and that the builders of Medievaldom's most famous creations, the soaring gothic cathedrals, were anonymous.

The ugliness and brutality of medieval life, Manchester argues, was made possible by an institutionalized mindless. The people and their leaders considered most worthwhile knowledge to be already known - and since much of that knowledge was based on religious authority, to challenge it was usually considered heresy. He quotes Saint Vincent of Lerins saying the Church was, "a faithful and ever watchful guardian of the dogmas which have been committed to her charge. In this secret deposit she changes nothing, takes nothing from it, she adds nothing to it." Manchester quotes another cardinal who asserted, "The Church is not susceptible of being reformed in her doctrines. The Church is the work of an Incarnate God. Like all God's works, it is perfect. It is, therefore, incapable of reform." Thus, to "appeal from the living voice of the Church," was "a treason.' "

The absolute authority of the medieval papacy resulted in its abuse of power, as exemplified by the Borgia popes. Their political and religious corruption was matched only by their sexual depravity. These pontiffs would hardly be recognized by today's masses of Catholics who adore the papacy.

Both in spite of and because of the Church's disgraceful behavior during this period, the seeds of the Renaissance were planted by prominent Catholics. With the rediscovery of classic Greek and Roman literature, many Renaissance artists and intellectuals became prominent within the bosom of the Catholic establishment itself. Manchester covers several, including such illustrious figures as Di Vinci, Copernicus, Michelangelo, Thomas Moore, and Erasmus.

Manchester also provides a vivid portrait Martin Luther, depicting him as both a conservative and a radical individual - driven by a devout religious idealism and tormented by demons from his abusive childhood. This young German theologian would come to change the face of Christianity by his obstinate refusal to accept the absolute power of the Vatican. The tremendous bloodshed resulting from the subsequent Protestant Reformation occurred not only between Catholic and Protestant, but within each group. Protestant sects became ever more zealous in trying to purify their lives and faiths, leading to absolutist Christian religious theocracies, such as that in Geneva led by John Calvin. On the other side, the Catholic counter-Reformation and the Inquisition became infamous for their wide-spread practices of torture and murder of anyone suspected of being a heretic or a Jew.

In the end, Manchester returns to Ferdinand Magellan, presenting an inspiring portrait of the man whose story was the impetus for this book. We see Magellan as a microcosm and culmination of the age. A mariner of almost unbelievable fortitude and courage, Magellan's iron will forced his tiny armada of five ships onward and onward, covering vast stretches of the world's oceans, overcoming mutinies and horrific living conditions. Though Magellan did not survive the journey, due to an overzealous evangelistic streak, the historic first circumnavigation of the globe he made possible forever shattered the medieval world view by providing European society with visceral, convincing evidence - lacking in more theoretical demonstrations - that the Earth is a sphere. This feat was instrumental in destroying the mindless inertia that was the essence of the medieval mind. In fracturing the Church's philosophic dominance, Magellan achievement directed men's eyes outward toward the horizon and the promise of life on this Earth, instead of upward or downward toward the mysteries of the next life.

A World Lit Only by Fire provides an engaging view of the death of the medieval world and the rebirth of Western civilization. Manchester thereby demonstrates the power of ideas to significantly change the course of history. Excellent reading.

Full of falsehoods and totally biased........2007-08-16

This book is completely irresponsible. It is full of falsehoods, some of which are slanderous. And it is extremely biased.

For example, early in the book, Manchester accuses St. Augustine of holding that sex was evil. On the next page he goes even further and says that Augustinians considered even procreation to be evil! This couldn't be further from the truth. Augustine was so clear in recognizing the goodness and legitimacy of sexuality that he wrote an entire treatise entitled "The Good of Marriage." In this treatise he defends the legitimacy and goodness of marriage AND the sexuality and procreation associated with it.

The bias of the book is apparent in every way, although by the title of the book this should not be surprising. In his own introduction to the book, Manchester notes that he is not a medieval historian, and prior to writing the book, had only a typical educated man's familiarity with the time period. And he notes that the real medieval historians that he had look over his work took an enormous number of exceptions to what he wrote. There's a shocker!

If you want to learn about the history of the middle ages, try The Civilization of the Middle Ages: A Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of Medieval History. If you want to read a tabloid, they're available at your local grocery store.

William Manchester.......2007-08-13

If you like history, you'll love this. Manchester has a wonderful approach to discussing the medieval peoples and how they thought and acted. A great read.

A good, wrong read!.......2007-08-03

I'm a medievalist. Yes, Manchester got a lot of the Middle Ages stuff wrong, or at least very distorted. He doesn't make facts up, but he presents some *highly* selected facts and bases fairly wild conclusions on that selection.

He says, for instance, that no technological progress happened in the Middle Ages, but reading even the title of the book "Horsecollar, Waterwheel, and Cathedral" proves otherwise. For another instance, he professes to believe that medieval man had no sense of self, "a total lack of ego," because there are no signatures or records of those who built the cathedrals. Yet if we look at any modern construction project -- bridge, skyscraper, or jet plane -- we likewise find no signatures, no egos except those of the corporation which built it. Are we modern people, then, also without ego? Not exactly.

Furthermore, it's true that Manchester seems to thoroughly enjoy the R-rated aspects of the medieval church, so much so that's it's hard to believe this is the same man who wrote the somber, dignified "Death of a President" or most of Churchill's biography, "The Last Lion." I can only assume that, having survived the serious illness that he mentions at the start of this book, Manchester was in a "what the hell!" mood, and just let 'er rip.

For the record, medieval society did make advances in the lives of common folks; for just one example, the invention of the horse-collar, which sounds mundane now, enabled animals to pull loads and heavy plows so much more easily that whole areas of Europe were opened up for agriculture for the first time.

And the medieval church, while it surely had its bad apples, also kept literacy and science alive and provided all the social services that governments struggle to provide today.

Furthermore, the great Renaissance men he admires weren't always all that great. Manchester here uses the familiar trick of criticising the "enemy" for what he *does," while praising the "good guys" for what they *think.* For instance, Galileo's science was indeed wonderful, but the way he treated his two young daughters -- forcing them unwilling into a convent at ages 12 and 10, so that the younger went insane -- might be reasonably set alongside the antics of rotten old Pope Alexander VI as a way *not* to treat your children.

So, yes, Manchester's wrong about a lot of things. But he has so much fun with it that I, for one medievalist, don't grudge him his pleasure. The book is lively and entertaining, which most medieval histories are not. Those readers who go away thinking that the Middle Ages was stagnant and the popes were evil will at least have learned a few things about Renaissance advances in science. Other readers may be tempted, by this spicy taste of history, to look further and deeper. Either way, it's good.

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Superstar Edie!
The Girl Is On Fire
Edie: Girl on Fire Review
Edie: Girl on Fire
Edie:Girl on Fire!

Edie: Girl on Fire
David Weisman , and Melissa Painter
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811855260

Book Description

Model, film star, socialite, friend, lover, addict, Edie Sedgwick was the first "it" girl of the Andy Warhol Factory scene and later muse to Bob Dylan. The arc of Edie's life traced the rise and fall of the 1960s from idyllic experimentation to dissolute recklessness. After being toasted by the whole of New York City, Edie died alone of a drug overdose in California at the age of 28. David Weisman (with John Palmer) filmed Edie for the last five years of her life in his cult film Ciao! Manhattan. When he recently uncovered lost footage of Edie, David was inspired to create Edie: Girl on Fire, a book and a documentary film that explores Edie's true story. He and coauthor Melissa Painter have tracked down and interviewed many of Edie Sedgwick's surviving intimates, including Danny Fields, Baby Jane Holzer, and Ultra Violet. They also unearthed hundreds of never-before-published photos portraits, professional ad shoots, and heartbreaking snapshots of the girl who won New York's heart and nearly burned down the Chelsea hotel. The book also features a CD with Edie's last interview ever, a riveting account of a rollercoaster life. Sure to be seen as a rebuttal to Hollywood's highly fictionalized film Factory Girl (coming this fall), Edie: Girl on Fire creates an insightful and startling portrait of a woman that nobody quite knew.

Customer Reviews:

Superstar Edie!.......2007-05-13

I adored it...full of photo's I'd never seen before of Edie...new quotes, etc. Really gave me insight into her whole vibe & electricity. major fun! and it comes with a great CD with an interview.

The Girl Is On Fire.......2007-04-23

Edie: Girl On Fire is chalked full of rare pictures and new commentary from the people who knew Edie the best, her husband, friends & family. The co-author of the book, David Weisman, not only shares never-before-seen pictures of Edie but, also marvels at the Edie obsession some 36 years after her death. Weisman & Painter do an excellent job of portraying the real Edie through pictures & stories shared by Edie's family & friends. They don't romanticize Edie as being an victim. In fact, they show that Edie was just like the rest of us. A flawed human being who was trying to find a place in the world during a turbulent time period. Edie's flaws are not glossed over or explained away. Instead, they show what a disturbed and lost young woman she was. Weisman himself knew Edie personally for years. Weisman saw Edie at her zenith and watched her fall apart and ultimately lose her life because of her own addictions & obsessions.

One of the best parts of the book is the pictures. After years of seeing the same Edie pictures over & over, there are finally pages & pages of glorious "new" pictures including scrapped "Life" magazine photoshoots and newspapers covering one of the many fires that Edie started at various hotels due to her speed usage. Another awesome part is the cd of audio interviews Edie conducted towards the end of her life for what would be her last movie "Ciao! Manhattan!" (made by co-author Weisman). Edie talks about her many drug trips and her time at the Factory. She's candid, well spoken and heartbreaking. When listening to this cd of Edie's voice and looking at the pictures, you almost want the ending to change. You want Edie to pull through all this garbage and rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Just like any story, the ending never changes and there's really no happily ever after.

Edie: Girl on Fire Review.......2007-03-25

The book is filled with many great photos of Edie. Many I've never seen before. The text if fine, mostly quotes from many different people. I think I would have given this book a 5 if it contained more of a narrative type of text vs. many quotes.

Edie: Girl on Fire.......2007-03-21

This book is excellent. The pictures really tell the story of
Edie Sedgwick, '60's Warhol groupie, actress, model who lived a "roller coaster" life. Comments by those who knew her make the tale of her life
interesting & real.

Edie:Girl on Fire!.......2007-03-18

Hot coffee table book with lots of rare Edie interviews & photos! A must for all Edie fans & a great companion to the Ciao Manhattan DVD! Brilliant!

Jazz Age Beauties: The Lost Collection of Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston

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Beautiful!!
Very nicely done
A beauty unto itself
Beautiful
Purchased for the photos, enjoyed the text

Jazz Age Beauties: The Lost Collection of Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston
Robert Hudovernik
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0789313812
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

Despite Prohibition, the '20s was the decade of jazz, flappers and hip flasks. While some took their vote and joined the Woman's Christian Temperance Movement, others, well, took liberties. Compiled here for the first time are more than 200 publicity stills and photos of some of America's first "It" girls—the silent film-era starlets who paved the way for the cacophony of Monroes and Madonnas to follow. Accompanying these iconic images are the stories behind them, including accounts from surviving Ziegfeld Girls, as well as ads featuring them that helped perpetuate the allure of It girl glamour. When rare and striking portraits of these women surfaced on the internet in 1995, author Robert Hudovernik began researching their source. What he discovered was the work of one of the first "star makers" identified most with the Ziegfeld Follies, Alfred Cheney Johnston. Johnston, a member of New York's famous Algonquin Round Table who photographed such celebrities as Mary Pickford, Fanny Brice, the Gish Sisters, and Louise Brooks, fell out of the spotlight with the demise of the revue. A sumptuous snapshot of an era, this book is also a look at the work of this "lost" photographer.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful!!.......2007-10-02

I cant say enough about the beauty of this book. I was pleasantly surprised at the top notch quality. I highly recommend it.

Very nicely done.......2007-07-01

I'm a photographer and also a big jazz fan, so when I saw this title it caught my attention. I found it to be an interesting mixture of text, photography and history. I'm a big fan of vintage photography and often buy quality images and negatives at garage sales and flea markets whenever I can find them. I'm always amused by what was once considered daring, and risqué' and always interested in seeing the vintage clothing styles and backgrounds including the furnishings and automobiles as well as the subject of each image.

By any measure Alfred Johnston was a great photographer, and in my view one luck man. Firstly his images all give the models dignity, grace, and pose, and the nudes are done with exceptional taste. Image if you can being a photographer during that era and also being lucky enough to have access to a pool of models that included the stars, both real and wannabes, as well as the Ziegfield Girls! But Johnston does much more than just shoot pretty faces and bodies. The care given to each pose, especially the attention given the eyes and face, the makeup, the props, they're all first rate. All the images, especially the nudes speak volumes about this photographer's passion for producing quality images.

From a technical perspective, it's easy to pick at some of the work. Some of the lighting and shadows, and the extensive use of soft focus might give some a reason to critize. But there was no "Photoshop" software to edit these images; in fact the technology of photography was very crude by today's standards.

This is a first rate collection of vintage photos and the carefully written text makes it a great book for anyone with a serious interest in photography or the history of the craft.

A beauty unto itself.......2007-04-19

Not only does this book contain some of the most stunning photography from the jazz age but is also full of wonderful stories about some of the people pictured. I've been studying the 1920s for years now and some of this information came as a delightful surprise. This is a treasure from anyone who loves great history and fine art.

Beautiful.......2007-03-13

They just don't make 'em like they used to. So many beauties, all beautiful for different reasons.

Purchased for the photos, enjoyed the text.......2007-02-21

I purchased Jazz Age Beauties for the beautiful photographs. Alfred Cheney Johnston brought an aristocratic air to classically posed black and white nudes. The photographs from the 1920s illustrate that beauty is timeless. However, as I read through the text, I gained an insight of life passing from youthful beauty to adulthood and often the troubles that followed. The text brought the photos to life. More than just a book of excellent photographs, Jazz Age Beauties offers the reader a glimpse into another time, not unlike our own.

Facial Expressions: A Visual Reference for Artists

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Facial Expressions
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY!
Excellent reference for drawing comics
Ummm a little disappointing great book
good drawing book

Facial Expressions: A Visual Reference for Artists
Mark Simon
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823016714

Book Description

All artists are tired of persuading their nearest and dearest to look sad…look glad…look mad…madder…no, even madder…okay, hold it. For those artists (and their long-suffering friends), here is the best book ever. Facial Expressions includes more than 2,500 photographs of 50 faces—men and women of a variety of ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities—each demonstrating a wide range of emotions and shown from multiple angles. Who can use this book? Oh, only every artist on the planet, including art students, illustrators, fine artists, animators, storyboarders, and comic book artists. But wait, there's more! Additional photos focus on people wearing hats and couples kissing, while illustrations show skull anatomy and facial musculature. Still not enough? How about a one-of-a-kind series of photos of lips pronouncing the phonemes used in human speech? Animators will swoon—and artists will show a range of facial expressions from happy to happiest to ecstatic.

Customer Reviews:

Facial Expressions.......2007-09-29

This is a wonderful resource for artists. It offers a variety of models with a wide range of expressions. I Highly reccommend it.

ABSOLUTE NECESSITY!.......2007-09-19

I just recently started creating a webcomic and I never could have done it without this book. The expressions range from highly exaggerated to more subtle and, I promise you, will work for almost any expression you want to create. Also, many expressions are shot at multiple angles, making it much easier for me to create the exact image I am thinking of. Perfect.

Excellent reference for drawing comics.......2007-08-23

I'd used this book often when drawing my manga. However do note that the facial expressions are mostly very exaggerated. When drawing my characters talking or just a gentle smile, I could not find reference from there.I'd to use a mirror. I hope there's a volume two with two people interacting with each other and different camera angles.

Ummm a little disappointing great book.......2007-07-16

I think it's the only book right now which has addressed reference material for facial expressions. It's really useful, but professionals may get disappointed with the quality of some pictures and blurriness. It's not that all pictures are bad quality, but when you have such an amazing reference you ought to expect a lot and that's where this book is disappointing. But for sure this book will be useful for all beginners and probably higher level artists. For this price don't hesitate to buy if you really want a reference for facial expressions. Some people may not like the quality of the paper, but I think you should also consider the price.

good drawing book.......2007-07-05

i thought the book was something different from what i ordered. but i guess its good for artists

Average customer rating:

Sophisticated art.
Self-Censorship from the land with no First Amendment
As complex as its subjects
Beautiful Subjects
Barely Misses the Mark

The Age of Innocence
David Hamilton
Manufacturer: Aurum Press, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1854103040

Customer Reviews:

Sophisticated art........2006-08-15

Lectori Salutem,

In the Beauty of young human beings, lies the hope of the world.
Those photographs are like classical music.
Some people are afraid of the power glowing from the portrets ,
and start a witch hunt. Don't do it. Never lose an opportunity to seen anything that is beautiful: For beauty is God's handwriting.(R W Emerson)

Ferdinand Huismans.

Self-Censorship from the land with no First Amendment.......2005-11-12

Doubtless going to rattle a few cages here, on *both* sides: the people who consider his stuff impermissibly naughty, and the people who wax rhapsodic about this particular work. But it has to be said.

Britain, the land that pioneered imprisonment without charge before we did, the land that criminalizes self-defense against burglars in your own home, is also the land without a First Amendment; and this has seemingly scared Mr. Hamilton into self-censoring and mutilating his own product. This is a first-rank tragedy, as he is arguably the best-known and most highly respected photographer of this entire genre, and therefore the most likely to prevail in a frontal assault against the philistinism which equates nude photography with pornography.

Instead, however, he has in this volume essentially raised the white flag and abandoned *nude* photography in favor of topless photos which won't arouse the ire of the British police. An astonishing number of his photos are awkwardly cropped for legal, rather than aesthetic reasons, so what was clearly shot as an integral figure study gets published as an amputated torso. This phenomenon was *not* present in his early works, including his films and his photos for the Spanish edition of "Playboy"--it manifested itself only when the world got uniquely psychotic about "child pornography".

Even in the USA, where a 17-year-old Marine who carries a machine gun for a living can be considered a "child" if photographed wrongly, Sally Mann and Jock Sturges haven't thrown in the towel (or draped the model in it ;-). Nor, of course has Bourboulon or Ionesco.

So I say: Boycott! The guy's got a right to protect his hide, of course, and even Galileo recanted when the Inquisition threatened to murder him for saying the Earth goes around the Sun. But would you spend your money on a book that says it's the other way around?

As complex as its subjects.......2004-04-30

This is possibly the most beautiful set of photo portraits I've ever seen. Like the subjects, though, the beauty has a scary side to it.

There's a lot more to say. The pictures are intense, and more intense as a collection. I'm sure everyone who sees it will have more to say, and everyone will say something different. For that matter, I could discuss this in three or four contradictory ways. This time, I prefer to let the pictures speak for themselves and to let the readers form opinions of their own.

Beautiful Subjects.......2004-04-03

Physical beauty is something that we have for only a brief period in our lives. It is a temporary stage during our lifespan. Unfortunately, we discourage young women from sharing their physical beauty with others who can appreciate it. It really is quite a shame that we try to enforce modesty. David Hamilton gave us this gift so that we may be able to share his admiration for the young, female physique. I am grateful to the young subjects, who were gracious enough to share their beauty with us.

This is a remarkable book. It is obvious that David Hamilton is very passionate about his subjects. He has taken his appreciation and admiration for young women and shared that enthusiasm with the world. I highly recommend this book.

Barely Misses the Mark.......2003-12-10

If I could have rated this book 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 stars I would have. It certainly is a beautiful artistic endeavor. However, it fails the mark of perfection because of a few (VERY FEW) photos that are too suggestive for girls of their age, and a few comments by the author that would seem to provoke dangerously misleading thoughts in the minds of young people who might get their hands on this book. As the step-dad of a teenage girl I have experienced first-hand the confusion of an easily influenced child, who lacks the full capacity to reason and misperceives what she has seen and heard. Too many (pre-teen and teen) children think they are supposed to be sexually active, and there are certainly a few paragraphs and photos in this book that would help contribute to that pattern of thought. There is some mild homosexual content in a few frames and some of the writings. Otherwise this is a finely crafted work.

Many of the photos are soft, muted, elegant, and almost dream-like, while others are sharp and rich in color and contrast. There are full figure studies and a variety of portraits. Some of the girls look confused, content, generally happy, thrilled, curious, and some disgusted. Unlike similar works by other photographers, the majority of the models do not appear to be emotionless, melancholy, or tormented. There are no portrayals of violence or mishap. The quotes from classic poetry are at times provocative but still tasteful and refreshing, especially if you are one who enjoys traditional Western European poetry. The author/photographer makes several attempts at poetic verse but they do not work so well.

I do realize that the entire theme of The Age of Innocence is the psychological tumult experienced by young girls who are approaching womanhood, so the sexual element does have to be "taken with a grain of salt." As an artist and photographer I do highly recommend this book and treasure my own copy, but I strongly suggest caution when selecting an audience to share it with; teenage boys are not a proper audience.

Overall this is quite a clean representation--with a few exceptions--of the human form and psychology of young women.

Citizens and Kings: Portraits in the Age of Enlightenment

Average customer rating:

Citizens and Kings: Portraits in the Age of Enlightenment
Sebastien Allard , Robert Rosenblum , Guilhem Scherf , and MaryAnne Stevens
Manufacturer: Royal Academy of the Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Themes | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1903973236

Book Description

Portraiture was at a crossroads from 1770-1830, a period when the influence of monarchs and aristocrats waned in favor of the new pioneers of democracy. This beautifully illustrated catalogue traces the evolving presentation of the portrait sitter, with sumptuous full-color reproductions of works by masters presented alongside lesser-known but equally intriguing pieces. An international team of scholars provides valuable information on sitters as well as artists, plus discussions of key works from the Enlightenment and revolutionary period.

Where's Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt (Waldo)

Average customer rating:

Amazed, Delighted, & Absorbed
shocked and dismayed
As interesting...
wheres wally
Where's Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt

Where's Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt (Waldo)

Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0763630438
Release Date: 2006-05-09

Book Description

Waldo's back in the picture in a brand-new adventure! Find the bespectacled traveler in never-before-seen illustrations, along with special stickers and a slew of other novel features.

Waldo's back, and he's anxious to show you his pictures. But not so fast — you have to find them first. Enter Odlaw's Picture Gallery and admire the framed images, then try to track them down in the crowded scenes that follow. Got the picture? Now frame it, using the handy stickers at the back of the book. But your challenge is just beginning! There are hidden characters and objects to hunt for, spot-the-difference spreads, silhouettes to match with originals, and plenty more. And don't even think of cheating: virtually all the art in here is new or previously unpublished, and as maddeningly intricate as ever. Happy hunting!

Customer Reviews:

Amazed, Delighted, & Absorbed.......2007-07-19

I bought this book for my boyfriend so we could do this together and share our childish side.
Both of us were extremely happy with the book, once you start you cant stop. Every book has posed a challenge but this was the best yet.
Great Choice!

shocked and dismayed.......2007-04-30

I've always been a fan of the waldo books and so when I saw that there was a new one available I jumped at the chance to buy it. Little did I know that this particular book would be filled with nothing more than [...]. I was horrified when I sat down with my son to read it. Don't let the wholesome cover fool you. These pages are filled with lewd and disturbing images. The mermaids were particularly offensive. And the Waldo that I once knew was nowhere to be found.

As interesting..........2007-02-07

This book is as interesting as the other books.
I'm happy with my purchase. ^o^

wheres wally.......2007-01-09

this book is great for kids. Kids therelittle brains going for ages. There are so many things to look for. Great imagination.

Where's Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt.......2007-01-09

My son loved this book! He is 8 and is very interested in the Waldo series. I recomend this book to anyone who collects the Waldo books.

Average customer rating:

Simple yet profound.
No longer half, but whole
Americans All
I am Hapa and so are my Kids... we are Hapa HAWAIIAN
Wonderful Author, Great Idea

Part Asian, 100% Hapa
Kip Fulbeck
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

China Blossoms Deluxe Notecards

ASIN: 0811849597

Book Description

Originally a derogatory label derived from the Hawaiian word for half, Hapa is now being embraced as a term of pride by many people of Asian or Pacific Rim mixed-race heritage. Award-winning film producer and artist Kip Fulbeck has created a forum in word and image for Hapas to answer the question they're nearly always asked: "What are you?" Fulbeck's frank, head-on portraits are paired with the sitters' own statements of identity. A work of intimacy, beauty, and powerful self-expression, Part Asian, 100% Hapa is the book Fulbeck says he wishes he had growing up. An introduction to the rest of the world and an affirmation for Hapas themselves who now number in the millions it offers a new perspective on a rapidly growing population.

Customer Reviews:

Simple yet profound........2007-07-14

My wife and I discovered this book in a cafe during our visit to the Big Island, Hawaii and immediately fell in love with the book. A wonderful portrait of mixed races with simple photographic portraits.

No longer half, but whole.......2007-06-09

Kip Fulbeck has created a community for those of us who identify ourselves as wholly members of our communities, but who are often not perceived by others as fully included. We are the exotic, the other, the mixed -- the products of the melting pot. We are as different from one another, as alike, as complex, as unique, as are other people of other backgrounds -- which is to say, as much as is true for anyone (of any ethnic heritage), we hapa can not be defined by our ethnic heritage, nor can we dismiss the great influence our varied heritage has exerted on our personal identities. It is lovely to have these truths acknowledged. Thank you, Kip Fulbeck. This work of art has been carefully crafted, and is deeply meaningful. While some of the references -- visual and otherwise -- may not be fully understood by those who have not experienced life as a hapa, or as a hapa of a particular generation, nevertheless I think that everyone will discover something new and beautiful within these pages. This is a rare gem. Not to be missed!

Americans All.......2007-05-20

A perfect example of one picture being worth a thousand words but the few words of copy are also very good.

I am Hapa and so are my Kids... we are Hapa HAWAIIAN.......2007-05-15

I am 100% Hapa, i was born and raised in Hawaii and i am very familar with the term and pleased to see it making its way into mainstream culture. I bought this book as a fathers day gift for my husband who is always asking why our first son looks nothings like him (he is Irish) and i am Hawaiian-Irish-Portugese.
I only wish that the title of the book was more inclusive of Hawaiian and Pacific islanders who are also Hapa and originated the term.

Wonderful Author, Great Idea.......2007-05-12

I heard Kip speak in 2003 at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. At the time he was selling his book, Paper Bullets, which I highly recommend. I value my autographed copy. Today he was on CNN promoting this book and it's truly worth the money. My only wish was that CNN had discussed his credentials or even allowed him to read a bit from one of his books. Kip is intelligent, engaging, real, and a person who illuminates a room. I'm marrying an Asian American man and our children will be Hapa. I'm forever thankful to Kip for his books.
This is a must read, as is Paper Bullets.

Valentin Serov: Portraits of Russia's Silver Age (SRLT)

Average customer rating:

Disappointed.

Valentin Serov: Portraits of Russia's Silver Age (SRLT)
Elizabeth Valkenier
Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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ASIN: 0810118262

Book Description

The remarkable achievements of the painter who led Russian art into the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed........2004-06-05

The profoundly poor reproductions in this book, most especially the few color ones, are awful - the colors are incorrect, sallow, grainy and make the Russians all look as if they are ill and dying! The publisher should be ashamed of this pitiful production. What an insult to one of Russian's great painters!

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