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.

Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels 2007 (Rick Steves)

Average customer rating:

Great advice on what to see and do
The best way to see Amsterdam, Bruge and Brussels
Good book for reference
great book- but get something extra for Brussels
Perfect resource!

Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels 2007 (Rick Steves)
Rick Steves , and Gene Openshaw
Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1566918057

Book Description

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best ways to meander around Amsterdam's Van Gogh museum, explore its maze of canals, and find the tastiest breweries and restaurants. With Rick Steves’ Amsterdam 2007, travelers can experience everything Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels have to offer — economically and hassle-free.

Completely revised and updated, this guide includes:
• Opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights
• Friendly places to eat and sleep
• Suggested day plans
• Walking tours and trip itineraries
• Clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot

America’s number one authority on travel to Europe, Rick’s time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

Customer Reviews:

Great advice on what to see and do.......2007-08-13

Rick Steves always give good direction and advice when you are visiting a new country.

The best way to see Amsterdam, Bruge and Brussels.......2007-08-02

Rick Steves is my new travel guru. He was correct on everything he wrote about. After this trip I have complete trust in his observations and suggestions.

Good book for reference.......2007-06-07

Good book for inside tips. More Hotels shoud be listed. Coupons in the back for tear off ( book is heavy to take around)

great book- but get something extra for Brussels.......2007-06-06

Rick Steve knows all- I am one of his many, many followers. i think his walks are great, and he gives really practical info as well as providing personal commentary that allows you to judge what sights are actually important to see.

However, If you are going to be in Brussels for more than three hours, get another book. It sort of comes across that Rick doesn't like Brussels, and tells you very little about what to do outside of eating in the Grand Place (the cities main tourist square) and indifferent (or downright hostile) descriptions of the attractions. AND the restaurant in the grand place he suggests stinks. worst meal i had in all of Europe. If I had realized rick's preferences ahead of time, I would have gotten another book.

happy travels!

Perfect resource!.......2007-05-21

We went to all 3 of these places with just this book. Great suggestions, guides, helpful hints. We had already booked hotels, so didn't use his hotel suggestions. If you're going (especially to Amsterdam) BUY THIS BOOK!

Floating Cities: Venice, Amsterdam, Leningrad-And Moscow

Average customer rating:

Brilliant
Floating Cities
A savant at work!
The Wrong Description
The Wrong Description

Floating Cities: Venice, Amsterdam, Leningrad-And Moscow
Stephen Wiltshire
Manufacturer: Summit Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0671755684

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2002-08-09

Stephen Wiltshire's pen and ink drawings are fantastic. He captures each subject perfectly and in incredible detail...sometimes having only seen the subject for a few minutes. Incredible drawings made even more incredible by the fact that Stephen is autistic.

Floating Cities.......2001-11-30

Reading this book was an inspiration.The intricate detail and elegance of each drawing is breath-taking.
As an autistic individual he is able to capture the beauty an essence that a normal person with their eye would not see.
His work seems effortless, and takes him no time to do at all, but yet he is a perfectionist, right down to the last detail.
I am not an art critic, but certainly now I do appreciate the architecture that surrounds me and realize how beautiful it really is, and although Autism is not really understood and how it is actually caused.
Stephen, no matter what level of autism he seems to possess, he has truly mastered and captured the gracefullness of each buillding that he draws.
In a word he is an "Artistic, Autistic Genius."

A savant at work!.......2001-05-06

This man's pictures have to be seen to be believed. Stephen Wiltshire actually is Autistic,operating on a six year old level for most of his adult life. He has a very rare talent of being able to visually process all that he sees and reproduce these images on paper. I have seen him on a TV show being flown around London on a helicopter and reproducing a image of 4 square miles, including 11 London landmarks and over 600 buildings with perfect perspective and scale in less than three hours.

This book has to be appreciated for what it is, a work of a genius!

The Wrong Description.......2000-06-24

I agree that this is not the correct description of the book. Floating cities is actually a series of drawings done by a young english autistic boy. They are absolutely fantastic renditions of famous buildings, made more incredible by the fact that Stephen himself has this overwhelming disability, and many of them were done by memory. This book will make you realise that disabilities are by no means disabling, and can open up worlds unaccessable to the rest of society.

The Wrong Description.......2000-06-24

Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance

Average customer rating:

Informative Read!!
Problems of Muslim Community in Europe
Beyond right and left
much more than a murder
Lots to Digest

Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance
Ian Buruma
Manufacturer: Penguin Press HC, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1594201080

Book Description

Ian Buruma returns to his native land to explore the great dilemma of our time through the story of the brutal murder of controversial Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh at the hands of an Islamic extremist.

It was the emblematic crime of our moment: On a cold November day in Amsterdam, an angry young Muslim man, Mohammed Bouyeri, the son of Moroccan immigrants, shot and killed the celebrated and controversial Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, great-grandnephew of Vincent and iconic European provocateur, for making a movie with the vocally anti-Islam Somali-born Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali that "blasphemed" Islam. After Bouyeri shot van Gogh, he calmly stood over the body and cut his throat with a curved machete, as if performing a ritual sacrifice, which in a very real sense he was.

The murder horrified quiet, complacent, prosperous Holland, a country that prides itself on being a bastion of tolerance, and sent shock waves across Europe and around the world. Shortly thereafter, Ian Buruma returned to his native country to try to make sense of it all and to see what larger meaning should and shouldn't be drawn from this story. The result is Buruma's masterpiece: a book with the intimacy and narrative control of a true-crime page-turner and the intellectual resonance we've come to expect from one of the most well-regarded journalists and thinkers of our time. Ian Buruma's entire life has led him to this narrative: In his hands, it is the exemplary tale of our age, the story of what happens when political Islam collides with the secular West and tolerance finds its limits.

Customer Reviews:

Informative Read!!.......2007-09-29

"Murder in Amsterdam" was able to shed new light on the immigration plight that The Netherlands is experiencing. The author explains how some of the immigrants, especially the second generation, are having a difficult time assimilating into a compeletely different culture than that of the Middle East. Ultimately, many of these immigrants, probably more so the males (since they have more freedom) find themselves being sucked into the thoughts and ways of radical Islam.

I thought this book was divided up pretty well. Not only does the author explain why and how the death of Van Gogh happened, but he also mentions how other political leaders in that country are also targeted by radical Islam. There is also a chapter devoted to Van Gogh's killer.

In doing so, he relates this to how the Dutch culture has felt guilty for turning a blind on the Jews during the Nazi occupation. For this reason, the Dutch feel that they need to be more tolerant to present day immigrants, mostly from Morocco and Turkey. But too much appeasement, may be doing more harm than good. In addition, the Netherlands since the 1960's is becoming more secular which makes it easier for radical Islam to penetrate a country that doesn't hold much religious convition.

I had no idea that Van Gogh's and Pim Fortuyn's murder had such a great impact on this tiny nation. If anyone is looking for a closer read on not only the murders, but the national psyche of the Netherlands, then "Murder in Amsterdam" will be a fulfilling read.

Problems of Muslim Community in Europe.......2007-07-16

This is not a murder mystery. We learn up front about the death of Theo van Gogh, why he was killed by Mohammed Boyeri over a film critical of Islam he made with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The book explores the life and thought of these three Dutch persons in great detail. The real topic of the book is given by the last line of the subtitle, what are: "the Limits of Tolerance" in an open, democratic society towards culturally very different immigrants?

The Netherlands has a Muslim minority of about 15 percent, immigrants and descendants of immigrants, who form a separate community which is assimilating to Dutch ways only slowly if at all. Virtually all intend to maintain their adherence to Islam, and Islamic culture. How great differences can a society tolerate? Surely not murder, not killing for religious, political, or family honor reasons. Can a western society tolerate polygamy, permitted by the Koran? Sending children "home" to be religiously educated in a madrasa, and to learn the parents' language to the exclusion of the national language? Forced marriage of young women?

Ian Buruma, a journalist who grew up in the Netherlands, is well placed to explicate many of these issues. In Theo van Gogh he examins a writer who was outspokenly critical of Islam and the multi-cultural ideal. In Hirsi Ali he assesses a woman who has entirely turned away from her birth culture, and in Boyeri the exact opposite, a Dutch born individual who became an Islamist radical. The role of the Islamic immigration community is a major issue in Europe today. The book is well worth reading for examining part of this question through the life of three individuals.

Beyond right and left.......2007-06-20

Most of the reviews of this books have misunderstood the complexity of its story. Some seem to have been looking for a book that confirmed their prejudices about Muslim immigrants in Europe. Instead, Buruma tells a story that cannot be assimilated to either the ¨¨war on terror¨¨ or apologistsfor terrorists. He paints a picture of a society which is tolerant of lifestyles but very homogeneous culturally and perfectly happy to stay that way. Tolerance means becoming Dutch and any conception that a person could be Dutch and a devout Muslim seems inconceivable to many of Buruma's compatriots. This is in spite of the fact that he interviews many Dutch muslims who see no contradiction in that identity and are in that way like millions of Muslims in the US. The circumstances of Van Gogh's murder are explained straignt-forwardly and the author offers no excuses for the murderer. But he does make it clear how Dutch society creates the conditions in which people like that develop. That is not the same as justifying or apologizing. Read this book with an open mind and a willingness to chalenge all your presuppositions--whether they come from Bernard Lewis or Noam Chomsky. This is not a book to comfort those who already think they know the truth.

much more than a murder.......2007-06-19

more than the murder of Theo Van Gogh the author explores how such a thing could happen in small liberal loveable Holland of all places.How could such a place welcome people from all over the world allowing Amsterdam to become 45percent foreign born now be a place where freedom of speech is dangerous?How does it follow that this enourmous population of Moroccans and Turks who receive every possible state assistance and then some be so resentful of the country that welcomed them?
Holland is of course, a microcosm of the European Welfare State.

I think many of Burumas"s explanations for the turn of events happening in Holland described by other readers are interesting but the one that captured me was the collective feeling of guilt which started in the 60s when the world finally faced and spoke of the Holocaust. With some exceptions such as Anne Frank most of the country and the rest of Europe as well did little but watch their citizens be hauled away to be murdered.Now with the facts out in the open the Europeans had to face their share of the blame and the guilt.Surely they would be careful never to be racist again.Very very careful.
And who should arrive just about then but first the Moluccans and Surinamese(who after all were Dutch Citizens)paving the way for the Turks and Moroccans to do the dirty work the Dutch would not and then their families and then anyone who called themselves "refugees".This continues to this day.
So the irony is that guilt for the slaughter of the jews is what allows the Europeans to bend over backwards enabling and protecting the people who would slaughter the jews again.
And need I mention bringing about the demise of western civilization.

Lots to Digest.......2007-03-04

My headline is not original. It's a quote from another review below. I used it because it is so apt.

Buruma's writing flows. It's like having coffee with him as he recounts his experiences with Theo and describes Theo's life, TV show and art. He explains the earlier, but separate, murder of Pim Fortuyn. The flamboyant libertarian/conservative Fortuyn, killed by an animal rights activist, credits the Enlightenment with his ability as a gay man to be elected to public office. He saw the intolerance of Muslim culture as a threat to the fullfillment of civil rights that Dutch society has finally evolved to provide.

Most provocative are Buruma's interviews. He meets with Ayaan Hersi Ali and (something like) her Dutch foster family. He talks with a psychiatrist, friends of Theo, Theo's mother, young Moroccan women who work in a shelter for Muslim women, welfare workers, teachers... and many others representing a wide range of opinion.

Buruma explains how WWII and its myths and legends hang over the Netherlands of today. Buruma cites the influence of this recent past on the immigration policy and the climate of tolerance. The book takes us to the last "home" of Anne Frank and into "dish cities". The question posed by the subtitle, how to be tolerant of an intolerant society is debated on many levels.

I highly recommend this book.

Average customer rating:

Blandsterdam
Not Really Worth The Effort
Too many unanswered questions.
Flowing Prose...Not as Much Story
Able, masculine, articulate, incisive (although events are sensational and finally twee)

Amsterdam: A Novel
Ian McEwan
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385494246
Release Date: 1999-11-02

Amazon.com

When good-time, fortysomething Molly Lane dies of an unspecified degenerative illness, her many friends and numerous lovers are led to think about their own mortality. Vernon Halliday, editor of the upmarket newspaper the Judge, persuades his old friend Clive Linley, a self-indulgent composer of some reputation, to enter into a euthanasia pact with him. Should either of them be stricken with such an illness, the other will bring about his death. From this point onward we are in little doubt as to Amsterdam's outcome--it's only a matter of who will kill whom. In the meantime, compromising photographs of Molly's most distinguished lover, foreign secretary Julian Garmony, have found their way into the hands of the press, and as rumors circulate he teeters on the edge of disgrace. However, this is McEwan, so it is no surprise to find that the rather unsavory Garmony comes out on top. Ian McEwan is master of the writer's craft, and while this is the sort of novel that wins prizes, his characters remain curiously soulless amidst the twists and turns of plot. --Lisa Jardine

Book Description

On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is editor of the newspaper The Judge. Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister.

In the days that follow Molly's funeral, Clive and Vernon will make a pact with consequences that neither could have foreseen. Each will make a disastrous moral decision, their friendship will be tested to its limits, and Julian Garmony will be fighting for his political life. A sharp contemporary morality tale, cleverly disguised as a comic novel, Amsterdam is "as sheerly enjoyable a book as one is likely to pick up this year" (The Washington Post Book World).

Customer Reviews:

Blandsterdam.......2007-09-17

Having just gone on a two week Ian McEwan jag, reading "Saturday," "On Chesil Beach" and "Amsterdam" in rapid succession, I would warn any McEwan first-timers to read something else first. I thought "Saturday" was a terrific fast-paced novel of ideas. I thought "On Chesil Beach" was engaging and charming, if a little heavy handed. I just thought "Amsterdam" was boring. It's not humorous enough to be funny, not smart enough to be thought-provoking and not suspenseful enough to be gripping.
It's a banal character study of two professionally-successful narcissists that ends with a strange but not quite believable twist.
Amsterdam is a short, quick trip but doesn't really take you anywhere.

Not Really Worth The Effort.......2007-09-04

Sure, it won the Booker prize, or the writer did -- whatever: the best thing I can say about this is a) I liked the ending and b) I wish it hadn't taken quite so long to get to it. Would have made a great novella.

Too many unanswered questions........2007-09-02

This book was very odd. The story begins with the death of Molly. Molly who was the friend of several men, and the lover of several others even though she was married. Two of her previous lovers, Clive and Vernon, attend the funeral and pay their respects. Then they go off and continue to live their lives, but they have both been changed as a result of the loss of their mutual friend. I am still trying to figure out what the plot was. Is jealousy the main theme or friendship gone array? Is it the continuation of life after the death of someone very close? Life that follows a dismal path. I don't have the answer to these questions. I found the writing to be a bit too wordy. I also found the ideas to be choppy and scattered. This is the first McEwan book I have read and I have to say, I am not impressed.

Flowing Prose...Not as Much Story.......2007-08-24

This was my first Ian McEwan read. I picked it up as it was our next book group book.

At the funeral of Molly Lane, the reader is introduced to three of her ex-lovers: Clive Linley, a musical composer; Vernon Halliday, editor of a tabloid newspaper; and Julian Garmony, and important political figure in London. Clive and Vernon catch up as they are old friends and make a pact that they will never let the other suffer as Molly had suffered prior to passing. Through out the book they both make decisions that impact their lives. This book deals with themes of: ambition, betrayal, trust, and selfishness.

If you are someone who can appreciate prose and a writing style without needing the story to be incredibly captivating and page turning then you might enjoy this read. The story itself is not overly compelling but McEwan's description and writing style flow so beautifully that you'll appreciate the book perhaps more than you thought.

Able, masculine, articulate, incisive (although events are sensational and finally twee).......2007-08-12

McEwan's vigorous style grabs you from the outset, but it's not merely strong, it's intelligent too. Occasionally even insightful.

Interesting that while the book opens by centring around a woman's death, women are almost invisible in this story. Instead McEwan pours himself into a detailed meditation on a couple of alpha males.

The twist ending made it feel like a short story that inflated into a novella: the symmetrical conclusion was surely the basis of the tale. Short stories that get out of hand like this can often lose their charm and sting, but the reverse is true of `Amsterdam': this book excels when it indulges in detailing the thoughts and motivations of editor Vernon and composer Clive. The latter in particular is an excellent characterisation: our feelings towards him change throughout the book - he surprises us but remains consistent. Moreover McEwan manages to devote several pages to descriptions of the composition process without boring us (well, me anyway). And is there even a bit of honest self analysis for a successful middle aged writer subtly peeling away the dignity of his established professional artist to reveal delusional vanity?

In delving into Clive the book really soars, however I felt that the twee ending actually reduced a good book to a merely competent or clever one. Still, that's saying that my toughest criticism is that at his worst here McEwan is better than many.

Average customer rating:

Ok I guess
Compact and helpful
Eyewitness Guides
This is a great travel Book!

Amsterdam (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK Travel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 075662441X

Customer Reviews:

Ok I guess.......2007-08-19

Although Eyewitness Travel Guides may offer more visual guidance than other guide books, they are still quite terrible. Maps are difficult to read and information is inconsistent.

Compact and helpful.......2007-08-16

This book offers worthwhile information to a range of different readers. The first pages, "Four great days," offer itineraries for art lovers, shopping fans, history buffs, or families with kids to please. I don't think anyone will stop there, but I imagine many readers starting with those day-trips and filling in the edges.

The rest of the book presents the city in lush photography, legible maps, and clearly organized descriptions. The part of the book (about two thirds) divides Amsterdam into seven geographical districts. For each, the reader gets a bit of history and general layout, followed by detailed descriptions of many attractions. The remainder of the book talks about out-of-town points of interest and general information about food, culture, and other helpful travel information.

I'm going to Amsterdam soon on business, and have just a little time to enjoy this amazing city. This guide has been very helpful in planning those scraps of free time. Maybe this book won't meet every traveler's needs, but it meets mine.

-- wiredweird

Eyewitness Guides.......2007-06-15

Eyewitness produces terrific City Guides. We used them in London and Paris last year and will 'test drive' the Amsterdam Guide next week.
They are very comprehensive and user friendly at the same time.

This is a great travel Book!.......2007-05-25

I Love the Eyewitness Travel Guides. They give you beautiful pictures, & lots of information. I usually buy one for each European City I travel to.

Average customer rating:

the most original artist of his time
A GREAT JOURNEY WITH VAN GOGH
A Quality Work!!
Didn't see the exhibit? Read the book!
brillant

Van Gogh's Van Goghs
Richard Kendall
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810963663

Amazon.com

This lavish but manageable book is the catalog for one of the most successful van Gogh exhibitions ever (at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., through January 3, 1999, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from January 17, 1999, to April 4, 1999). Judging from the haunting, beautifully reproduced paintings and drawings in the book--which range from the iconic to the rarely seen--it is easy to see why hordes of people keep pressing through overcrowded galleries to get a glimpse of the originals. The ones here are all from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, where most of Vincent's work resides.

Author Richard Kendall does a heroic job of writing van Gogh's tortured story one more time. Few artists have analyzed their own work with the clarity and insight Vincent brought to his. And Kendall relies heavily on Vincent's letters to his brother Theo, giving the reader broad access to the ultimate expert, the painter himself. The wealth of color plates is intoxicating--70 paintings, including The Potato Eaters and other early, gloomy works, a dozen self-portraits, Almond Blossom, Wheatfield with Crows, Butterflies and Poppies, The Bedroom, The Zouave, and The Courtesan (van Gogh's take on a Japanese geisha in full regalia).

It seems trivial to further praise the book's designers for holding it to only 150 pages, but the length makes an important difference. This is a volume that fits comfortably on the lap, to be perused and enjoyed at close range, for hours if you want, and not just displayed in unwieldy glory on a coffee table. --Peggy Moorman

Book Description

The brilliantly colored paintings of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) are loved around the world. This stunning volume accompanies the largest exhibition of the artist's works outside the Netherlands in more than 25 years. The show opens at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in October 1998 and at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in January 1999.

This unique group of paintings is from the extraordinary collection of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, home to the single greatest assemblage of the artist's paintings, drawings, and letters. The collection is based on works acquired directly from the artist by his brother Theo, an art dealer and the source of Vincent's financial and emotional support. Among the museum's treasures reproduced here are some of the best-known images in art: Potato Eaters, The Bedroom, Self-Portrait as an Artist, Harvest, and Wheatfield with Crows.

Richard Kendall's essay addresses Van Gogh's major themes and the different phases of his career. John Leighton contributes a history of the Van Gogh Museum and a biography of the artist.

Richard Kendall is an independent scholar.

John Leighton is director of the Van Gogh Museum

Customer Reviews:

the most original artist of his time.......2004-07-09

Vincent van Gogh is the artist who I feel I relate to most on a personal level. His demons are my demons. His yearning to some day find "the right girl" is my yearning. His spiritual faith in God is my spiritual faith. His weaknesses are my weaknesses. His strengths are my strengths. I'm very fond of van Gogh. He made many mistakes, including getting involved in a doomed love affair with a prostitute, or how he cut off his earlobe in a fit of anguish. Well, okay, I identify with him but that's something I've never been tempted to do haha. Vincent was a troubled and tormented and deeply under-appreciated artist in his day, only managing to sell one or two paintings in his life. Now he is among the very most popular. His works sell for many millions, even minor works.

David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness"

A GREAT JOURNEY WITH VAN GOGH.......2001-11-15

One of the best pieces that I ever read explaining paintings along the different periods which were passed by Van Gogh. Also, it gives a complete ride through his life and personality.

A Quality Work!!.......2000-08-29

I have this book and I am so glad ,I discovered it. I am, a painter,and have always been influenced by Van Goghs work. However most of the books I own do not have very good quality , printing .This book however is excellent! It is very close to , standing in front of the original painting. I would recomend this book to anyone that loves Van Gogh. I am so proud to make this book a part of my art library. Get it while you can!!

Didn't see the exhibit? Read the book!.......2000-05-06

The next best thing if you weren't able to make it to this record-breaking exhibition in Washington and Los Angeles. This book, an overview of the exhibition, is an extremely thorough and interesting overview of the 70 works on display. But it's more than that. I was very impressed with Richard Kendall's commentary in the book. Not only is this a comprehensive and thoughtful look at the "Van Gogh's Van Goghs" exhibition, it's also an excellent look at Van Gogh's life and career--period. I might have expected this--this major exhibition was superb and this catalogue is a worthy companion. Exhibition or not, this book is first-rate.

brillant.......1999-02-08

Interest in Van Gogh heightened with Hollywood movie with Kirk Douglas an Hollywood actor. My mother has a wood painting of sunflowers (l6) and she asked that we research this for her, it has numerous local newspaper clippings taped to the back, which raises even more questions. It is signed Vincent? I saw a one man narrative of Van Gogh's life depicted by his brother Theo, Actor: Jim Jarrett called Vincent. It was much informative of the letters Vincent wrote to Theo. . This enlightened one as to Vincent's odd behavior. Vincent the man. Mr.Kendall, if possible please cooresponde back. My sister is also in contact with you. Thank you for reading this message and any redirect would be appreciated.

Average customer rating:

Convenient, but lacks detail
life saver
Hard to read
Streetwise Amsterdam (Streetwise)
Amsterdam Map

Streetwise Amsterdam (Streetwise)
Michael E. Brown
Manufacturer: Streetwise Maps
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map

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ASIN: 1886705917

Book Description

STREETWISE(r) AMSTERDAM
Revised yearly, STREETWISE(r) is the best-selling map of AMSTERDAM, with coverage from Rembrandt Park to the Tropical Museum. Localities covered are the Anne Frank House, and the Heineken Brewery Museum. Points of interest such as museums, hotels, parks, and popular sites are highlighted and fully indexed. Laminated for durability, accordion folded to fit in your pocket or purse, STREETWISE(r) gives you AMSTERDAM in a clear, concise, and convenient format.

Customer Reviews:

Convenient, but lacks detail.......2007-09-04

I set out from central station with this map to check out Amsterdam. I found myself lost before long, and was able to use the map to interpolate between landmarks and get back over to Dam Square. However, the small streets are not on this map, so it's generally useless for figuring out exactly where you are and how to get where you are going.

life saver.......2007-07-18

i bought this product on a whim and was it a life saver. the map was easy to read and navigate. because it was laminated it held up great, was drunk proof and survived numerous visits to the amsterdam night-life and pub scene. we literally never felt like we were lost with this thing. it fit easily in my back pocket and was a good companion to 'get lost:the cool guide to amsterdam' guide book that we purchased as well. i highly recommend this map...smartest thing i did to preopare for my trip.

Hard to read.......2007-05-02

I took this map to Amsterdam but wound up leaving it in the hotel room because it's so hard to read. The print is tiny, and the gray/black color scheme doesn't help. Although it omitted many small streets, the free map offered by our hotel was more useful.

Ideally, you would carry this nicely indexed map to use when you are thoroughly lost among small neighborhood streets and a free hotel map for public transportation and convenient reference.

Streetwise Amsterdam (Streetwise).......2007-02-19

Convenient pocket map! Included Tram routes and stops, which was very helpful. Key points of interest and attractions mapped as well.

Amsterdam Map.......2007-02-18

An excellent map - easy to read and to fold. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Amsterdam
Great Resource
Get a more recent edition
Reliable and Informative Travel Guide
Good list of cheap eateries

Lonely Planet Amsterdam
Andrew Bender
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 174059908X

Book Description

Marvel at the Dutch Masters and take a step back in time in an elegant merchant's house. Join the late-night revellers in the Red Light District or cosy-up canalside in a `brown cafe'. Get the low-down on Queen's Day and see the Royal Orchestra at the Concertgebouw. Elegant, history-steeped port; liberal, laid-back party town. Connect with your Amsterdam using this stylish and streetwise guide.

COMPREHENSIVE LISTINGS - more than 250 reviews of the best restaurants, cafes, coffeeshops and clubs in town

EXPANDED ARCHITECTURE CHAPTER - get gable-gazing with our chapter dedicated to this remarkable city's characterful buildings

BE INFORMED - in-depth analysis of current events gets you under the skin of the city

EXPLORE THE CITY YOUR WAY - tailor-made cycling and walking tours and recommended canal cruises

Customer Reviews:

Lonely Planet Amsterdam.......2007-07-05

A bit disappointed in the useablility of the book. I've used many Lonely Planet books before, and generally like them. The layout of the book leaves a bit to be desired. The descriptions of attractions and restaurants are pretty good, but where the book falls down is that then you need to look up the map the attraction is on (at the back of the book), then look in the index of the map (behind the map), and then back to the map to find the attraction/restaurant.

It would have been much better if they put those references beside the descriptions as well as the index of the map.

In addition, being in the Netherlands, Windmills are nice attraction, and the book said that we had to go on an excursion to near by towns to find Windmills. The book did not mention that there are 8 Windmills within Amsterdam itself. Granted, the ones outside Amsterdam are probably nicer, but if there is limited time in a city, knowing there were some in the city limits would have helped.

Overall, the book is decent with descriptions and local information, (hence 3 starts), but can be greatly improved.

I wouldn't recommend this book because of some of these errors, but more importantly, like another reviewer said, most Museums are being renovated, or are totally closed until 2009. And if you are going to wait till 2009 to visit Amsterdam, I'd buy a more current book anyways.

Great Resource.......2007-03-12

Recently I have had the lucky opportunity to go to Amsterdam several times. This book has been invaluable. While you need to double check the operating times for some sites ( you do with any book as there is a lag time between publishing and the gathering of info) the descriptions of places are engaging, accurate and most importantly informs me well as to where I should spend my time. Bender is very good at his restaurant descriptions and his take on all things cultural and historic. A real blessing. I have looked - and bought several others but this is the only one I carry around while I am in Amsterdam.

Get a more recent edition.......2006-09-10

Lonely Planet has a 2006 edition for Amsterdam--which you need (or one more recent) because so many museums are closed (apparently until 2008/09) and there is much construction going on in the city.

Reliable and Informative Travel Guide.......2006-08-15

Over the past two years, I've purchased and used five Lonely Planet guides, and this one ranks among the top. Andrew Bender provides humorous yet accurate information on the culture and norms of Amsterdam as well as key surrounding areas (Den Haag, Haarlem, etc.) Day after day during our week-long trip, we turned to his guide for advice and weren't disappointed. Highly recommended.

Good list of cheap eateries.......2004-05-15

The value in "Lonely Planet Amsterdam" is in the thumbnail sketches of cafes and reasonably-priced restaurants. The descriptions of the establishments that I am familiar with were right on the money. They are grouped by neighborhood and have basic information, such as opening hours. I was disappointed that Indonesian restaurants were short-changed, because they "aren't authentically Asian." True, but an Indonesian rijstafel shared between half a dozen or more people is not too expensive and is an authentically Dutch form of entertainment. The biggest problem with the book is that it doesn't open flat. You need both hands to force it open wide enough to read comfortably and then it's hard to flip through the pages. And you will do a lot of flipping, because there's no good index to help you find things.

There are about half a dozen pages of photographs of the Amsterdam area, unnaturally sunny and uncrowded. Amsterdam is one of Europe's most interesting and picturesque cities, but nobody goes there for the weather, and the crowds of pedestrians and bicycles are part of the charm. The description of Dutch culture was spot on. Amsterdammers in particular are very broad-minded-one of the reasons that Amsterdam is a favorite vacation spot for gays and lesbians--but they're not part of the have-a-nice-day crowd. Expect them to be polite and helpful, rather than effusive.

Amazon.com

Anne Frank's diaries have always been among the most moving and eloquent documents of the Holocaust. This new edition restores diary entries omitted from the original edition, revealing a new depth to Anne's dreams, irritations, hardships, and passions. Anne emerges as more real, more human, and more vital than ever. If you've never read this remarkable autobiography, do so. If you have read it, you owe it to yourself to read it again.

Book Description

The diary as Anne Frank wrote it. At last, in a new translation, this definitive edition contains entries about Anne's burgeoning sexuality and confrontations with her mother that were cut from previous editions. Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl is among the most enduring documents of the twentieth century. Since its publication in 1947, it has been a beloved and deeply admired monument to the indestructible nature of the human spirit, read by millions of people and translated into more than fifty-five languages. Doubleday, which published the first English translation of the diary in 1952, now offers a new translation that captures Anne's youthful spirit and restores the original material omitted by Anne's father, Otto -- approximately thirty percent of the diary. The elder Frank excised details about Anne's emerging sexuality, and about the often-stormy relations between Anne and her mother. Anne Frank and her family, fleeing the horrors of Nazi occupation forces, hid in the back of an Amsterdam office building for two years. This is Anne's record of that time. She was thirteen when the family went into the "Secret Annex," and in these pages, she grows to be a young woman and proves to be an insightful observer of human nature as well. A timeless story discovered by each new generation, The Diary of a Young Girl stands without peer. For young readers and adults, it continues to bring to life this young woman, who for a time survived the worst horrors the modern world had seen -- and who remained triumphantly and heartbreakingly human throughout her ordeal.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing diary of a young woman .......2007-10-01

Anne Frank is remembered for being a sweet young girl that went into hiding during the holocaust only to be found and sent to a concentration camp where she died 3 months befroe her 16th birthday. The time in between these two horrible events is full of fear, fights,learning, and love, basically life. This version of the diary has more material than the orginal, which some people think is too much, but it is what she wrote left alone. It has what she intended the book to be. It includes story from the restrictions put on her while she wasn't in hiding because she was Jewish to her chores that she did quietly in the Secret Annex such as peeling potatoes and rubbing beans. It is not always the most interesting book, but it does provoke thought. It's sad in the fact that you know how its going to end before you start, but Anne does not as she's wrting it. Anne Frank's writing surpass her age, she writes not as a stuborn teenager, but as an intelligent young woman.

A Powerful and Intimate Portrait.......2007-09-30

You know the storyline - a Jewish girl, her family, and some friends go into hiding for two years during the Nazi regime in Holland. Said girl writes her thoughts and observations of her life during this time in a diary, which is found and published after her death in a concentration camp. It has become a classic, and it was written by a young teenager.

My favorite aspect of this book will forever be Anne's powerful narrative voice. Her words speak, and more than that they smell and taste and touch. She gives her diary, "Kitty," an intimate portrait of life in the "Secret Annexe," both public and private - of the ups-and-downs of people's relationships, of her inner struggles and growth, of her love. Reading her diary is like looking through the window at the war from two perspectives - one from the outside in, at the life of a girl and a family who were sucked into the Nazi vacuum through no fault of their own; and the other from the inside out, at the crazy world war swirling around the epicenter of one fourteen-year-old girl.

Book Report: Diary of a Young Girl.......2007-09-30

This book tells an amazing story of a young girl living in Germany in World War II. And to think it was all a journal is amazing. Anne Frank, a brave young Jewish girl, spends two years hiding in the secret annex from the Nazis. Anne Frank started to keep this diary on her thirteenth birthday. She called her diary, Kitty. At the start of her diary, Anne describes fairly typical experiences, writing about her friendships with other girls, her crushes on boys.
Later, the Franks had moved to the Netherlands in the years leading up to World War II to escape persecution in Germany. They were forced into hiding with another family, the van Daans. There, they listened closely to the radio and everything that happened during the war. Anne kept up with everything that happened while she was there. It was very hard for her because she was separated from all her friends and her normal life style.
I suggest this book for all ages. It is a very inspirational story. It gives a different perspective on life.
-Hayley Robertson
6th period
10/4/07

Very interesting.......2007-09-26

Very interesting. I bought it for my sister. I already read the book, it is very nice and it has all the information need it.

Daughter loved it.......2007-09-04

I didn't read it, but my daughter did & found it fascinating. Not morbid tho times certainly horrifying.

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