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.

The Emperor's New Clothes : An All-Star Retelling of the Classic Fairy Tale (with Audio CD)

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Innovative, Funny, and Magically Illustrated
Star-Spangled Spectacular
A great boy's book!
Delightful Attempt that misses the point.
The best and most fun book I have ever read to my sons.

The Emperor's New Clothes : An All-Star Retelling of the Classic Fairy Tale (with Audio CD)
Starbright Foundation
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0151004366

Amazon.com

Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes," first published in 1837, has been told and retold in hundreds of ways, but never, ever by such a star-studded cast of scribes and artists as this. Sure, we still get the vainglorious, fashion-obsessed Emperor who is duped into parading down the street in an "invisible suit of clothes." And, of course, we still welcome the Honest Boy, the only one with enough gumption to point out that the Emperor's fancy-pants birthday suit is exactly that--a birthday suit. In this quirky, comical version, however, the story is crafted from the diverse, occasionally vulgar, often charming narrative perspectives of the Emperor's entire entourage--from his servants to the Spinning Wheel to the Imperial Dresser's spectacles to His Royal Highness's own underwear--all of whom have very good, self-invested reasons for not wanting to reveal that the Emperor's new clothes are nonexistent, however expensive. A smart-alecky moth, drawn by the beloved illustrator Quentin Blake, ironically patches holes in the piecemeal narrative with smoothing, if not soothing, transitions.

Each snippet of story--doused in shameless punnery--is performed on the audio CD by one of 23 celebrities, including Jay Leno (the Moth), Madonna (the Empress), Fran Drescher (the Heralding Horn), Jeff Goldblum (the Imperial Wizard), Robin Williams (the Court Jester), and Calvin Klein (the Emperor's Underwear). The Honest Boy? Steven Spielberg himself, the creative director of this ambitious enterprise designed to benefit the Starbright Foundation for seriously ill children. If the startling display of glitterati isn't enough to spark your interest, then the truly astounding, fresh, full-page art of 23 preeminent children's book illustrators (including Maurice Sendak, Mark Teague, Chris Van Allsburg, Tomie dePaola, and William Joyce) surely will. The bumblingly hilarious accents of the celebrity narrators, combined with the whimsical and eclectic musical effects, make this quite an auditory treat. Though the words on the pages and those on the audio CD don't exactly match, the combined experience of a favorite old story, clever narrative play, gorgeous artwork, and just plain silliness will amuse kids ages 8 to 108. (Click to see inside art from the book! © 1998 The STARBRIGHT Foundation) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

A fully illustrated retelling of the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen complete with compact disc of more than forty-five of the grandest talents in the entertainment world. “The cast is A-list. The plot, legendary” (USA Today).

Among the writers are Academy Award -winning and -nominated actors and actresses and other personalities from the worlds of entertainment and popular culture. Each celebrity contribution is illustrated with a stunning piece of art by illustrators who have created some of the most treasured classics of children's literature-Caldecott Medal and Honor winners, Kate Greenaway Award winners, Pulitzer Prize -winning cartoonist, New Yorker cover contributors, and many other internationally esteemed artists.

The contributors' talents are outshined only by their generosity: All of the royalties and contributors' fees from this book have been donated to Starbright, an innovative charitable foundation committed to improving the lives of seriously ill children. The result is a gift book like no other, a glorious celebration for the whole family.

Customer Reviews:

Innovative, Funny, and Magically Illustrated.......2006-07-12

I am buying this book again because the first one I bought years ago is worn out from being loved and enjoyed by my oldest grandchild. Now that my youngest grandchildren are seven and eight, it's time to introduce it to them.

It probably is too sophisticated for younger children, but anyone from seven years and up will enjoy it tremendously. The illustrations pop off the page and, on the CD, the actors emote to fairy tale perfection. The fact that it raises money for a good cause is icing on the cake!

Star-Spangled Spectacular.......2001-10-27

This book is wonderful!!! I purchased this a little while ago and I love to listen to it. It has Beautiful illustrations by major illustrators including: Steven Kellogg, Tomie dePaola, and Graeme Base. Plus, if you get the CD with it, you get to hear Stars like Robin Williams (Jester), Johnathan Taylor Thomas (Prince), Melissa Joan Hart (Princess) and the Narrator, Jay Leno, read their own words. Spielberg did a great job giving actors parts that match their personalities like Fran Dresher as the Heralding Horn, Angela Lansbury as the Spinning Wheel, and Madona as the Empress. This is a great rewriting of a traditional story. The one thing that I didn't like was that the CD isn't broken up into sections so you can't just skip ahead to your favorite actor's part. But that doesn't really matter because the whole thing is great.

A great boy's book!.......2000-11-17

I have three boys 10,7,and 6. They absolutely loved this book, especially my 7 year old! He must have listened to it 50 times in 2 weeks. We read a lot of books and I have never heard him laugh out loud like he did for this book. He has talked about it ever since he first read it. This version adds humor and wit to an old classic without ruining the story line. The story is told from the perspective of the people and objects involved in it. This is a fabulous way to tell the story! The wonderful artwork and change of voices on each page holds the attention of younger children all the way through this rather long book. The kids enjoyed looking at the pictures and retelling the story themselves without listening to the CD as well. The only problem we had with this was the fact that the CD couldn't jump to the page we left off on. We always had to start the story over. The kids never seemed to mind it - just me!

Delightful Attempt that misses the point........1999-09-24

I enjoyed this book and the accompanying CD very much. It is appropriate for the 8-12 year old set as well as for adults. My only problem was that the moral of the story was misconstrued. The moral of this story is that we should have the courage to challenge the status quo. While the moral of the original is to point out the outrageously foolish lengths that people will go in support of leaders (Royalty or Presidents). Irreverence and attacks on the status quo were interesting when they were unusual. The generation of Hollywood stars who so amusingly narrate this story appear cut of the same 1960's cloth and use this format to promote their ideas of the proper role of the individual in society. All In all this is a good book/CD package and I recommend it.

The best and most fun book I have ever read to my sons........1999-08-31

This book is absolutely wonderful. My sons, ages 7 & 11, enjoyed this book more than any other we have read together. It had us laughing out loud. The illustrations are far better than any I've seen. We checked it out of our local library. We have purchased it since. It is a must for any family library.

The Emperor's New Clothes/the Naked Truth About the New Psychology

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The Emperor's New Clothes/the Naked Truth About the New Psychology
William K. Kilpatrick
Manufacturer: Good News Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0891073418

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The Emperor's New Clothes
Hans Christian Andersen
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618344209

Book Description

Illustrated by the beloved creator of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Little House, and Katy and the Big Snow, here is a delightful version of the tale that boys and girls have loved for centuries. The Emperor himself, his court, and his clothesor lack of themare ridiculous as only the master storyteller Hans Christian Andersen can make them. Fifty-five years ago, Virginia Lee Burton added to this tale of fun her own irrepressible humor in pictures and design. This brilliant new edition features Burton's original illustrations photographed anew, freshly exhibiting her lively concoction of remarkable spirit and beauty.

The Constitution of Europe: 'Do the New Clothes Have an Emperor?' and Other Essays on European Integration

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European integration, as a process, an ideal and a reality everybody has to deal with...

The Constitution of Europe: 'Do the New Clothes Have an Emperor?' and Other Essays on European Integration
J. H. H. Weiler
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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European Constitutionalism beyond the State

ASIN: 0521585678

Book Description

In a series of highly accessible discussions concerning the legal framework of the European Communities and the European Union, Joseph Weiler describes the gradual strengthening of transnational European institutions at the expense of national legislators. The Constitution of Europe thus provides from a legal perspective a balanced and uniquely authoritative critique of the attractions and demerits of the goal of European integration.

Customer Reviews:

European integration, as a process, an ideal and a reality everybody has to deal with..........2005-10-12

"The Constitution of Europe: "Do the New Clothes Have an Emperor? and other essays on European Integration" is an excellent book that I borrowed from a nearby library by chance. Truth to be told, I plan to buy this book even though I have already read it, due to the fact that it is the kind of book you just want to have. This book includes several essays and articles written by J. H. H. Weiler on European integration, from different points of view. That variety can be seen simply by reading the titles of some of the essays in this book, for example "The transformation of Europe", "Introduction: the reformation of European constitutionalism", "European democracy and its critics: polity and system" and "To be an European citizen: Eros and civilization".

Those essays were written by the author during a period of 10 years, and were finally revised, updated (when it was necessary) and compiled in this book, released in 1999. According to Weiler, he considered rewriting all these essays into a monograph, but settled on keeping their format in order to allow the reader to choose exactly what he wanted to read, according to his interests and available time. In Weiler's own words, "I expect that no one will read all the essays and articles in this book- not even my own doctoral students. But I do hope that many more will read some of its essays and articles that would be the case if this were a scholarly monograph of equal size".

I specially liked the fact that every chapter (that is, each individual essay) can be read as a standalone, because I think that allows everybody to choose exactly where to begin reading this book, and gives the opportunity of not reading something if the theme isn't particularly appealing. Despite that, if you start this book because you are interested in one particular chapter, it is highly likely you will end up reading at least some of the others, as the writer's engaging writing style will tempt you to go on reading. Also, and from the point of view of a non-native English speaker (my case), it is a pleasure to read something that is so well-written...

All in all I can say that all these essays and articles are highly interesting, and allow the reader to learn something more about European integration, as a process, an ideal and a reality everybody has to deal with. In my opinion, this book somehow manages to tackle quite well both the structure and ends of European Integration, and that is no easy task. Whether you are a student or someone who is just interested in the subject, I recommend this book as great reading material that allows you to read exactly what you find interesting and at your own pace.

Belen Alcat

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Vanity and Pride confounded...

The Emperor's New Clothes
Marcus Sedgwick
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811845699

Book Description

Hans Christian Andersen's classic fable of vanity and pride is given a refreshing twist in this beautiful picture book illustrated by Alison Jay in her award-winning crackle-glaze style.

Customer Reviews:

Vanity and Pride confounded..........2005-08-18

With an animated twist on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, this beautifully illustrated book offers a lesson in vanity and pride, couched in simple language, when an Emperor orders a new set of clothes from a pair of tailors, who, "for a bit more gold" will cast a spell that will make his clothes invisible to "all who dull or foolish be". The Emperor is more than willing to pay extra for such cleverness, delighted by the prospect of such unique clothing. Unfortunately, it is the Emperor who is deceived, prancing about his kingdom in nothing at all. The whimsical illustrations add personality to this rogue's gallery of weasels and servants, a variety of elegant tortoises and hares. Pages tinted in an old world gold lend a medieval patina that assumes all the splendor of any self-respecting fairy tale, the characters costumed in royal gowns, except, of course, the Emperor, who wanders about, unaware, in only his "birthday" suit: "As the procession set out, everyone stared and gawked, too frightened to say what they really thought". An intrepid frog declares "The Emperor's wearing nothing at all!"

Chronicle Books is an imprint much admired for its quality presentations and illustrations and The Emperor's New Clothes is no exception, the artwork exceptionally detailed and imaginative. This wonderful tale will engage any child with its much-loved parable, combined with the distinctive crackle-glaze art style of illustrator Alison Jay, a truly enchanting book. Luan Gaines/2005.

Average customer rating:

Helped my son to read
A delightful gem
A Wonderful Way To Read With Your Child
Over rated. Too wordy and advanced for children under 15.
I really was pleased with it, and so was my little sister.

The Emperor's New Clothes
Eve Tharlet
Manufacturer: Michael Neugebauer (North South Books)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0735817014

Book Description

Virginia Lee Burton has added her own irrepressible humor in pictures and design to the tale children have loved for centuries. The Emperor, his court, and clothes -- or lack of them -- are ridiculous as only Hans Christian Andersen can make them. The whole is a delightful concoction.

Customer Reviews:

Helped my son to read.......2002-01-20

I had been given 2 of these books from a friend and I decided to see if there were anymore. My son loves this book. He's now working on reading the adult side. It's a great idea to have a page each, 1 for the adult and 1 for the child. We have several of these books now and I see my son sitting down and reading them on his own.

A delightful gem.......2000-04-05

Generally, I do not care for audio books; many of the readers speak in a dull voice that rapidly drives me either away from the story or to sleep. However, there are a few exceptions; this is one.

Understand, that this is not the normal audio book; this edtion has a large cast of actors who collaborated to produce this item as a fund raiser for Starbright.

The result is an ensemble piece that is witty and charming. Part of the fun for me, was guessing who was reading before looking at the cast list included in the box.

Other folks feel that this isn't for children; I don't know as I don't have children, but I found that my "inner child" was highly entertained for 40 minutes with this tape.

If you are a fan of one or more of the actors in this edition or like puns (there are many here!), then you will probably like the Starbright edtion of the Emporer's New Clothes.

A Wonderful Way To Read With Your Child.......1999-09-30

The format of this book and the others like them give a young reader a very enjoyable experience. The adult side helps to embellish the story but the children's side lets a new reader be part of the story not just a listener. Our first grader takes great pride in his part of the book and seems to have better comprehension. These are a great find.

Over rated. Too wordy and advanced for children under 15........1998-12-11

The book is nicely illustrated and the book quality is good. However, it is too advanced for children. It is over-rated I suspect due to the voices of the celebrities that are on the CD. Many pages are actually quite depressing and negative. I like more upbeat books even if there is a moral to be taught.

I really was pleased with it, and so was my little sister........1998-01-20

I read this book to my little sister, she is 9 and thought it was the funnist book she had ever heared of. She really liked the part were the emporer.... well I won't give the ending away. But, I hope you enjoy it.

The Emperor's New Clothes: A Tale Set in China

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Why is a swastika in this book?
A great book
Good version, beautifully illustrated
A Chinese-style version of the classic tale.

The Emperor's New Clothes: A Tale Set in China

Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689830688

Amazon.com

Hans Christian Andersen's beloved, wise, and humorous tale about the emperor who cares more about his appearance than about truthfulness is retold here by award-winning illustrator Demi. A weaver and tailor arrive at the palace one day, promising to make the most beautiful, soft clothes the Emperor has ever seen. Furthermore, these clothes are magic--only clever people can see them. The silly, vain Emperor is soon marching about almost buck-naked (except for some magnificent royal boxer shorts and an undershirt). Will anyone risk being dubbed a fool, and call the Emperor's bluff?

This spectacular version of the story, set in ancient, provincial China, is minimal in text, but overflowing--literally--with exquisite artwork. Several of the pages fold out to 3- or 4-page spreads, lavishly decorated with metallic gold, deep, flat red, and delicate, pale green. Closer examination reveals some comical touches--mainly in the expressions of the sly "magical" tailor and weaver, and the befuddled, blustering Emperor. The people of the province manage to maintain their composure for the most part, but it's clear they're ready to burst into laughter. This truly splendid rendering deserves a place in anyone's fairy-tale collection. Demi's many other original and traditional picture books include The Empty Pot and Kites: Magic Wishes that Fly Up to the Sky. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Long ago in a province in China there lived an emperor whose greatest pleasure in life was to dress in new clothes.

So begins Demi's retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a proud emperor who does not see what is obvious until he hears the truth from a child.

Based upon several different translations of the original Danish story, Demi's tale is set in old provincial China. Filled with exquisite details, bright panoramas, and golden hues that leap off a wealth of fold-out pages, this story lures readers into a magical place and time. The story follows the four seasons of the year and is packed with visual elements of Chinese culture for readers to pore over for hours.

Demi has captured in text and paintings all the majesty of China and all the magic that makes for the very best fairy tales. This elegant edition of a favorite story is sure to be cherished by all.

Customer Reviews:

Why is a swastika in this book?.......2006-04-25

I have always been a fan of Demi, so I am doubly puzzled by her inclusion of a Swastika as a symbol for happiness in this beautifully illustrated book. What could the author have been thinking? I would love it if anyone could explain to me why it was included. The book is lovely in its illustrations and the story is ok (my son and I were puzzled as to whether the Emperor really did realize who the fools were in his province), but due to its offensive inclusion of a Swastika, I can't recommend it.

A great book.......2005-12-22

My 6 year old loves this book! We first found it at the library and my child kept checking the book out so frequently that we bought it for her for Christmas. It's very hard to find locally.

Good version, beautifully illustrated.......2003-05-03

As a mother of a 28-month-old, I often feel that children's fairy tales should only be read by adults because such stories tend to be filled with objectionable levels of text and illustrations reflecting sexist, heterosexist, racist, violent and outright scary themes. (Despite Bettleheim's views on the uses of enchantment for children, I don't always agree that such content is useful or even benign for contemporary young children given the realities of today's American culture and media.) In order to familiarize our son for an upcoming children's musical theater production of The Emperor's New Clothes, I have been searching for the least objectionable of such books. I found 2 other versions that were barely passable but this one, by Demi, is not just passable but actually good. The illustrations are classic Demi (i.e. stunningly beautiful), including some fold-out 3 and 4 page panoramas. The text is straightforward, appropriately simple and clear but not wordy. This combination of stunning pictures and clear text make it a great read-aloud for toddlers and pre-schoolers and a beautiful book for adults to enjoy. The story is well-told with all the key plot elements included but without offending social-political sensitivies. Though I recognize that monarchies were just as objectionable in ancient China as they were in the Western world, the Chinese setting did help to make the story more palatable for my pro-democracy mind and it is nice to have a setting with exposure to a different culture as the incidental backdrop instead of being the obvious focus. I would highly recommend this book even if you don't have a particular event requiring a version of this classic tale.

A Chinese-style version of the classic tale........2000-06-03

Demi retells Hans Christian Anderson's tale of "The Emperor's New Clothes" with Chinese-style illustrations. Always a pleasure, her artwork in this book- bold compositions with bright colors and lots of "gold leaf"- is similar to that in many of her other books, such as "Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly in the Sky." Her use of Chinese symbols and imagery here is not as relevant here as it is in her "Kites" book; it merely provides a new twist to an old tale. The book has several fold-out spreads, which kids enjoy, but these are not integral to the story as they are in her magnificent book, "One Grain of Rice: A Mathmatical Folktale." The ending of Demi's version of this fairy tale is not quite satisfactory: we do not see the emperor embarrassed by his situation. Instead he obstinatly marches on, seeming without shame or remorse. In short, "The Emperor's New Clothes" is not Demi's best or most original work, but it is an attractive new version of a favorite story.

Rabbit Ears Treasury of World Tales: Volume 4: The Firebird, The Emperor's New Clothes (Rabbit Ears)

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Rabbit Ears Treasury of World Tales: Volume 4: The Firebird, The Emperor's New Clothes (Rabbit Ears)
Rabbit Ears
Manufacturer: Listening Library (Audio)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0739350641
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Book Description

Rabbit Ears Treasury of World Tales Volume 4 enlightens and entertains with these classic stories read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today's greatest artists.

The Firebird
Read by Susan Sarandon
Original Music by Mark Isham

When an archer named Ivan brings a golden feather from the Firebird to the Tsar, he is ordered to present the entire bird or lose his life. Next, he is commanded to retrieve a princess from the end of the earth for the Tsar to marry. but when Ivan himself falls for the princess, he--along with his companion, the Horse of Power--must find a way to thwart the Tsar. This tale captures the essence of old world Russia.

The Emperor's New Clothes
Read by Sir John Gielgud
Original Music by Mark Isham

Everyone in the kingdom understands the king's passion for new clothes. But when two swindlers claim to create the most beautiful cloth in the world, they cleverly proclaim that the "magical" garments they are weaving for the Emperor are invisible to anyone lacking intelligence. Who will have the courage to speak the truth?

The Emperor's New Clothes: Biological Theories of Race at the Millennium

Average customer rating:

Outstanding book on the history of racist thinking
One Human Race
Postmodern Philosophy Mixed with Science
Splendid
empassioned but accurate

The Emperor's New Clothes: Biological Theories of Race at the Millennium
Joseph L., Jr. Graves
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 081352847X

Book Description

A scientific dismantling of the concept of "race."

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding book on the history of racist thinking.......2005-04-28

Graves' book, "The Emperor's New Clothes," is outstanding. Graves describes the history of racist thinking and prejudice from the ancient world to the Middle Ages and up to colonial America and the present day. Graves then addresses two of the biggest myths and misconceptions regarding race: diseases and intelligence.

I find it funny how so many racist, Jensen-influenced reviewers accuse Graves of being a fraud and dismissing his work as a ploy of "political correctness." The racist, Bell Curve thinking regarding intelligence, for example, is so contradictory that even those who subscribe to its premise are too blind to see it. For example, Jensen and his followers maintain that Asians are the smartest "race," followed by Jews, then whites, and then blacks. Additionally, Bell Curve advocates will lump Latinos into the same category as blacks regarding intelligence. Now here is the real contradiction. Mexicans, for example, have a geographic ancestry that is by and large a blend of European (Spanish) and East Asian (those who crossed the Bering Straight and settled into Mesoamerica). By the Bell Curve's own logic, Mexicans (as a blend of European and Asian) would fall between these two groups in the hierarchy of intelligence. Mexicans would be slightly less intelligent than Asians, but of a greater intelligence than Europeans/whites/Caucasians. When Bell Curve advocates and Jensen supporters acknowlege the superior intelligence of Central Americans (induced from their very own arguments), I will start to take them a bit more serious...but I'm not going to hold my breath on this one.

Back to "The Emperor's New Clothes." My favorite part of this book is actually the chapter where Graves discusses the notions of inequality and prejudice in the ancient world. The author discusses the way in which people have abused and taken the Holy Bible out of context to promote racist ideologies, which actually have no basis in actual Biblical scripture. The author goes on to discuss how the ancient Romans admired Egyptians and Ethiopians, once the locations of great civilizations, but regarded the people of modern-day Ireland, Britain, and Germany as "primitives," "savages," "brutes," "barbarians," and inferior peoples for having never achieved any worthwhile accomplishments. Later, this same essential logic was used by the Spanish, French, English, and Dutch to brand Africans, Australians, and indigenous Americans as inferior. As we can see, ideas about racism grow out of extreme ethnocentric viewpoints.

If you lack a background in biological sciences or genetics, Graves's chapters on intelligence and disease may be a little difficult to comprehend. Other than that, the book is a fairly easy and enjoyable read, even for those without extensive backgrounds in science. My biggest critique with this book is that Graves chooses to focus on notions of race strictly within the North American world. It would have been nice to see some data and analysis on concepts of race and racial categories around the world, such as Asia and Latin America. The concept of race in Latin America is vastly different from that of North America, yet few Americans (white or black) are aware of this.

One Human Race.......2003-04-06

Joseph Graves' The Emperor's New Clothes is a well-written exposition of the evidence for one single human race. Graves correctly points out that the human species could have developed into separate races, but that it didn't happen. This isn't a book of wishful thinking, but rather a book of hard science. If there is a political slant to the book, I didn't find it noticable. I enjoyed reading this book. A familiarity with high school-level genetics is required for a full appreciation of Graves' arguments and my 4-star rating is based on my feeling that Graves' intended this book for a wide audience, but wrote it beyond the level of many of the people it was intended for. People who are ignorant of one subject tend to be ignorant of many subjects. How many bigots actually paid attention in high school biology and remember their lessons in genetics?

Postmodern Philosophy Mixed with Science.......2002-09-08

C. Loring Braces's review above is a rehash of his review in the newsletter of the National Center for Science Education. It is a remarkably uncritical review. Dr. Brace stresses Dr. Graves role as a scientist. But he is also a professor of African-American Studies. Although the book shows impressive scholarship, it seems more of a political tract than a scientific one. To suggest that race is merely a "construct" is facile and wrong. This is a political line of the left that does not gain credibility merely by repitition. It is also a line imbued by disingenuousness. To paraphrase: race is a mere construct invented by the white race to justify the racism that is a characteristic of the white race. Dr. Graves is to be commended for his openess about his hatred of Sir Frances Galton, but that does not make it palatable. To blame Galton for Hitler's use of the word "eugenics" implies that Hitler's motivation was what he claimed and that he was not opportunistically stealing a term from science. Why do people give Hitler so much credit intellectually? Why can't they recongize that his motives were baser than he claimed? The connection of Galton with Hitler's later use of the term "eugenics" has always been nothing but a cheap shot.

Splendid.......2002-07-15

Contrary to the aimless rant of a previous viewer who accused the author of The Emperor's New Clothes of special pleading (Whatever that means), Joseph Graves presents a calm, highly rational and well researched refutation of two centuries of theories propounding the inferiority of people of African descent. I won't pretend to understand the very technical arguments he puts forth to reinforce his very factual claims, but I do have a grasp of the history of scientific racism and its origins. Joseph Graves does a tremendous service to the lay reader by combining hard science with a clear, socio-historical presentation and anylsis of his topic. The format of the history segment is chronological, enabling the reader to get a sense of how the fallacies of racial differentials, underpinned by warped science progressed and adapted through the decades even when discredited. Its a shame really that a book like this has to be written;a bigger shame that those who cling to ideas of the inferiority of any group in the human species makes this scholarly endeaver a necessity. But, as Graves points out, in regard to the American context, many people still believe that there are innate racial differences. Hence, out of these assumptions spring the stereotypes that are often damaging to the group so stigmatized. One thing Graves did not delve into, which I wish he had, was how dominant groups in other societies maintained control over disadvantaged, disenfranchised populations. By showing, for example how Japan's Korean minority has been the object of much of the same derision suffered by African Americans would have gone even further in bolstering the author's historical side of his argument. It would show that a group, racial, ethnic,religious, etc, wishing to stay at the top of a social hierarchy will concoct negative propaganda about lower echelon groups to maintain its position. No matter how adherents to the concept of black inferiority may argue its scientific validity, the fact remains that the architects of this thinking, as Joseph Graves has shown, were supported by an establishment bent on maintaining its power and position over dark skinned people. Of course dark skinned people were not the only victims. Whites who did not fit into the Anglo-Saxon mold also fell under the lash of this spurious science. Like the fairy tale emperer, this book does an excellent job of exposing the lies of scientific racism. The public should be saturated with more literature of this kind. It would, hopefully, bring greater enlightenment to individuals lingering in the darkness of erroneous racial ideas.

empassioned but accurate.......2002-04-28

As a medical scientist at Duke University, I would like to commend Dr. Graves on a superb overview of genetic differences between human populations from different parts of the world. This book makes a very clear statement of what is now mainstream science, though unfortunately it may be difficult to understand for readers without sufficient scientific background. What makes this book especially remarkable is its expert weaving of a tale involving the history of research in this area with the parallel history of social concepts of race. Given the importance of its topic in the world today, this book should be more widely publicized.

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