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.

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival

Average customer rating:

Don't Underestimate an Older Person
A classic story takes a new form
Got a mom? Send this book to her!
Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Simple really is profound

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Velma Wallis
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bird Girl and the Man Who Followed the Sun: An Athabaskan Legend from Alaska
Still Life with Chickens: Starting Over in a House by the Sea
If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska
Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in Coming of Age Story from the Yukon River
The Covenant

ASIN: 0060723521
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Book Description

Based on an Athabascan Indian legend passed along for many generations from mothers to daughters of the upper Yukon River Valley in Alaska, this is the suspenseful, shocking, ultimately inspirational tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe during a brutal winter famine.

Though these women have been known to complain more than contribute, they now must either survive on their own or die trying. In simple but vivid detail, Velma Wallis depicts a landscape and way of life that are at once merciless and starkly beautiful. In her old women, she has created two heroines of steely determination whose story of betrayal, friendship, community and forgiveness "speaks straight to the heart with clarity, sweetness and wisdom" (Ursula K. Le Guin).

Customer Reviews:

Don't Underestimate an Older Person.......2007-06-24

In this well-told tale of two tribewomen who are in their old age we see what determination can do. Having earned the respect of their tribe these two women have been content to let others do for them over the years. But their age hinders the tribespeople's movements and they are facing a brutal winter. The chief makes the decision to turn these two out into the harshness of the bleak Alaskan Yukon to live or die.

Together these two women forge a bond of friendship and recall the skills of their younger days, conquering the pain of unused muscles and fear of the unknown to survive even the harshest of conditions. The story comes full circle when they again meet up with their tribe and the chief who once turned them out now finds he and his people have need of their wisdom.

A wonderful book for just about everyone. Full of hope and determination.

A classic story takes a new form.......2007-05-27

A very classic story takes a new form here- two old women are the victims of betrayal from their tribe when it's too cold to continue to support them. The two women must venture out of their own and make a life for themselves. The book comes full circle when the old women themselves are in the position to save the tribe themselves.
The story of the courage to overcome the odds, and the stregth and struggle of the two women is a wonderful tale. Classic in that you learn you should not over estimate anyone, and you never know who in life you'll need. It's a touching tale, and well-told. It's a quick read.

Got a mom? Send this book to her!.......2007-05-26

This book is the best. I read the reviews and thought it would make a nice gift for my 76 year old mom for Mom's Day. Well, when I got in the mail I decided to take a peak. There was no putting it down. It's the most beautiful story of courage, friendship, determination and reflection. The story is very well written. The author brings you into the journey of these two women. Not just a geographical journey but a journey of reflection. I'm telling you, you'll love it. I sent it to my mom but I really want another copy just to keep under my pillow. Corny - read it.

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival.......2007-05-20

I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone. Young readers would enjoy it too. It's about two old women and survival in an area that seems to have very little to survive with. They were very innovative. As happens so often they were able to help their families in the end even though the young thought the elders had lost their usefulness.

Simple really is profound.......2007-02-14

As a teacher, I appreciate a book that can be read by any student at any age level. The life lessons taught in this tribal legend are timeless. The story unfolds begging the question of the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few or the one(Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn).

The chief of the tribe must make choices - difficult ones at that. The conditions are harsh, the two old women have been using their age as a tool to get the younger tribe members to serve their whims - they even fake some physical maladies to play upon the Peoples' compassion. This, it turns out, backfires on them. The chief makes the decision to banish them from the tribe to serve the needs of the trible. He is concerned that the women will bring the tribe down.

There are times when people in charge have to make decisions that are unpleasant - this is a reality.

The women are left to fend for themselves and the tribe moves on. The issues of family, societal expectations, and betrayal loom heavily in the reader's mind.

It brings about the discussion of modern society's obsession with youth and our disdain for those who are aged. Our nation's homes for the elderly are brimming - this book speaks to that issue. Getting old does not mean useless!

The women call upon lessons learned in youth to survive. They also discover that they need each other in more ways than one.

While the book is an easy read-don't let that mislead you into thinking it is not sophisticated fare. The life-lessons taught are important for everyone to learn and take to heart. I am astounded by this book! It gets my highest recommendation. Buy it-read it-learn from it.

Average customer rating:

brilliant
So disappointing
A stew of greatness
A story in three parts
Intricate plot, excellent book. How does Simmons think this stuff up?

Ilium
Dan Simmons
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Olympos
Rise of Endymion
Endymion
The Fall of Hyperion
Hyperion

ASIN: 0380817926
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Amazon.com

Genre-hopping Dan Simmons returns to science fiction with the vast and intricate masterpiece Ilium. Within, Simmons weaves three astounding story lines into one Earth-, Mars-, and Jupiter-shattering cliffhanger that will leave readers aching for the sequel.

On Earth, a post-technological group of humans, pampered by servant machines and easy travel via "faxing," begins to question its beginnings. Meanwhile, a team of sentient and Shakespeare-quoting robots from Jupiter's lunar system embark on a mission to Mars to investigate an increase in dangerous quantum fluctuations. On the Red Planet, they'll find a race of metahumans living out existence as the pantheon of classic Greek gods. These "gods" have recreated the Trojan War with reconstituted Greeks and Trojans and staffed it with scholars from throughout Earth's history who observe the events and report on the accuracy of Homer's Iliad. One of these scholars, Thomas Hockenberry, finds himself tangled in the midst of interplay between the gods and their playthings and sends the war reeling in a direction the blind poet could have never imagined.

Simmons creates an exciting and thrilling tale set in the thick of the Trojan War as seen through Hockenberry's 20th-century eyes. At the same time, Simmons's robots study Shakespeare and Proust and the origin-seeking Earthlings find themselves caught in a murderous retelling of The Tempest. Reading this highly literate novel does take more than a passing familiarity with at least The Iliad but readers who can dive into these heady waters and swim with the current will be amply rewarded. --Jeremy Pugh

Book Description

The Trojan War rages at the foot of Olympos Mons on Mars -- observed and influenced from on high by Zeus and his immortal family -- and twenty-first-century professor Thomas Hockenberry is there to play a role in the insidious private wars of vengeful gods and goddesses. On Earth, a small band of the few remaining humans pursues a lost past and devastating truth -- as four sentient machines depart from Jovian space to investigate, perhaps terminate, the potentially catastrophic emissions emanating from a mountaintop miles above the terraformed surface of the Red Planet.

Download Description

From the author of the Hyperion Cantos -- one of the most acclaimed popular series in contemporary science fiction -- comes a powerful epic of high-tech gods, human heroes, total war, and the extraordinary transcendence of ordinary beings. The first book in a two-part epic. ""I am in awe of Dan Simmons."" -- Stephen King

From the towering heights of Olympos Mons on Mars, the mighty Zeus and his immortal family of gods, goddesses, and demigods look down upon a momentous battle, observing -- and often influencing -- the legendary exploits of Paris, Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, and the clashing armies of Greece and Troy.

Thomas Hockenberry, former twenty-first-century professor and Iliad scholar, watches as well. It is Hockenberry's duty to observe and report on the Trojan War's progress to the so-called deities who saw fit to return him from the dead. But the muse he serves has a new assignment for the wary scholic, one dictated by Aphrodite herself. With the help of fortieth-century technology, Hockenberry is to infiltrate Olympos, spy on its divine inhabitants ... and ultimately destroy Aphrodite's sister and rival, the goddess Pallas Athena.

On an Earth profoundly changed since the departure of the Post-Humans centuries earlier, the great events on the bloody plains of Ilium serve as mere entertainment. Its scenes of unrivaled heroics and unequaled carnage add excitement to human lives devoid of courage, strife, labor, and purpose. But this eloi-like existence is not enough for Harman, a man in the last year of his last Twenty. That rarest of post-postmodern men -- an ""adventurer"" -- he intends to explore far beyond the boundaries of his world before his allotted time expires, in search of a lost past, a devastating truth, and an escape from his own inevitable ""final fax."" Meanwhile, from the radiation-swept reaches of Jovian space, four sentient machines race to investigate -- and, perhaps, terminate -- the potentially catastrophi

Customer Reviews:

brilliant.......2007-08-22

The way Simmons blends history and his own tale is a delight to read. As a fan of the Hyperion series, I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't disappointed at all, though I only rated Olympos a four because I think Hyperion is better. Ilium's future/alternate world doesn't seem as convincing to me and its characters weren't deeply compelling. The novelization of the Trojan war could stand alone though, and carries the volume.

So disappointing.......2007-08-10

I wanted to like this book. I'm a huge fan of Simmons' Hyperion/Endymion books, and the premise for this one sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, it's a mess. There are three interwoven storylines and at least 2 of them don't make any sense. The characters are never fleshed out, so by the time anything happened to any of them, I found I just didn't care. I understand that the reason for the abrupt ending is that the story is finished in Olympos, but when I got to the end of this one I just had no desire to find out what happened.

I'll give it three stars because the Troy storyline is such a pleasure to read. Simmons's way with language shines through in those sections.

A stew of greatness.......2007-08-02

Simmons takes greek gods, robots, evolved humans, and a 20th century schlub and tells a masterful sci-fi tale. Can't be done? HAH!
This is a book that is hard to put down. There are three stories that alternate faithfully throughout the book. The first is the story of a 20th century professor brought back to life to observe the Trojan War, the second is a Jovian robot who is sent to investigate the energy emissions that are given off by this war, and the third is the story of a few of a one million surviving humans on earth.

The story was unpredictable and kept me guessing, but consistant in it's quality. The perspectives of each of the different viewpoints was very well done, and the universe was more imaginative than any I have read. I'm really impressed by this book, and Simmons has vaulted to the top of my favorite authors list.

A story in three parts.......2007-07-18

I liked it. It has been years since a book kept me up reading until 1:00 am night after night!!

It was a story in three parts:

Chapter 1 starts on another earth at Ilium (Troy) 3,000 years in the future where the Trojan War is being fought by Nanotech'ed pre-literate humans. All the major players are there including the gods and the story is repeated with some variance on the "Iliad" and told in the first person by a reconstructed classical scholar who died in 2006. The gods, who are obviously not really the Greek gods, act just like the gods of the Myths and the humans, although they all look like "they are all members of the greatest health club in history", are cruel barbarous killers, even the women.

Chapter 2 takes place at the same time on a post-literate earth where "old-style" humans are ignorant of just about everything. History, Geography, Reading, etc are all lost skills. The "old-style" humans are also Nanotech'ed but they a connected to various networks which they do not know about nor care but they can still interface with it through their palm screens. It is just a matter knowing the right symbols to visualize in order to activate the function. The humans of this time live in an idyllic play ground which not only guarantees them a hundred year of life, but relieves of all the responsibilities of providing for that life.

Chapter 3 starts on one of the moons of Jupiter where the still literate cyborgs, known as moravecs, spend their free time, that is when they are not mining the moons for resources, thinking and debating the relative values of Shakespeare, Proust and other "Lost Age" literary figures. It has always been my contention that good Science Fiction must an element of Philology in it and I find it absolutely hilarious that he chooses to put the Philosophical portion of the story into the hands of some very non-human character. That is and physical abilities, non-human in appearance but very human in thought.

Not wanting to give away anything: The book follows the chapter order until near the end when the timelines splits a bit too much, and will keep you guessing all the way through. He destroys the Iliad's story with a nice little war against the gods, allows the humans to see the error of their ways which way so much the understatement, and put a nice little twist on the moravecs story that I admit, I did not see coming. Damn good book and one hell of a writer.

Intricate plot, excellent book. How does Simmons think this stuff up?.......2007-04-04

Mr. Simmons is arguably one of the best genre-hopping authors around, having pulled down awards for SciFi, Horror, Fantasy, etc. But this massive book (700+ pages in the paperback) makes me wonder exactly how does he think this excellent stuff up?

Ilium mixes the Trojan War (is it the real Trojan War, or a setup re-creation?), future humans (who are so pampered that they have forgotten or have been forced to forget their history, basic skills like reading and cooking, etc.), post-humans (evolved in some fashion) and Jupiter/Asteroid Belt organic-plus-Artificially Intelligent miner/workers into a story that is part future, part past. Combining these characters with literary references to Shakespeare, Proust (the Jupiter miners have all of ancient Earth in their databases and a weakness for literature), Homer and others, would in the hands of a lesser writer, make for a slogfest of a read.

Simmons masterfully blends these characters, time-shifting settings and science fiction creations into a plot that is a page turner for the majority of it's bulk. The plot opens up, little by little, letting the reader slowly but surely put these pieces together, while keeping us engaged with what's happening. The science of the science fiction is added to make this complexity quite possible, which is what good science fiction is all about.

The only issue I have with this novel is that (without giving away any spoilers) one has to read the next novel, Olympos. But it is a small issue, and, given the quality of Ilium, I will happily dive into Olympos.

Highly reccommended!

Average customer rating:

Disappointing and Dark
Good idea, not delivered well
Great book for Maguire lovers
Not Maguire's Best
Wonderful, Wonderful

Mirror Mirror: A Novel
Gregory Maguire
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel
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Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Leaping Beauty: And Other Animal Fairy Tales

ASIN: 0060988657
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Book Description

The year is 1502, and seven-year-old Bianca de Nevada lives perched high above the rolling hills and valleys of Tuscany and Umbria at Montefiore, the farm of her beloved father, Don Vicente. But one day a noble entourage makes its way up the winding slopes to the farm -- and the world comes to Montefiore.

In the presence of Cesare Borgia and his sister, the lovely and vain Lucrezia -- decadent children of a wicked pope -- no one can claim innocence for very long. When Borgia sends Don Vicente on a years-long quest, he leaves Bianca under the care -- so to speak -- of Lucrezia.

She plots a dire fate for the young girl in the woods below the farm, but in the dark forest salvation can be found as well ...

A lyrical work of stunning creative vision, Mirror Mirror gives fresh life to the classic story of Snow White -- and has a truth and beauty all its own.

Download Description

"E-Book Extra: "Little Snow-White" by the Brothers Grimm (read the original version of the classic fairy tale)Think you know who's the fairest of them all? Think again. Bestselling re-imaginer of classic fairy tales sets the Snow White story in Renaissance Italy, where the madly vain Lucrezia Borgia plots a dire fate for seven-year-old Bianca de Nevada (a.k.a. Snow White).A lyrical work of stunning creative vision, Mirror Mirror is set in Renaissance Italy, where Gregory Maguire draws a connection between the poison apple in the original Snow White story and the Borgia family's well-known appetite for poisoning its foes. In Mirror Mirror Snow White is called Bianca de Nevada. She is born on a farm in Tuscany in 1495, and when she is seven, her father is ordered by the duplicitous Cesare Borgia to go on a quest to reclaim the relic of the original Tree of Knowledge, a branch bearing three living apples that are thousands of years old. Bianca is left in the care of her father's farm staff and the beautiful -- and madly vain -- Lucrecia Borgia, Cesare's sister. But Lucrecia becomes jealous of her lecherous brother's interest in the growing child and plots a dire fate for Bianca in the woods below the farm. There Bianca finds herself in the home of seven dwarves -- the creators of the magic mirror -- who await the return of their brother, the eighth dwarf, long gone on a quest of his own. In the evocative style of Maguire's earlier novels, Mirror Mirror is a fresh, compelling take on a beloved classic tale.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing and Dark.......2007-08-05

Having read Wicked, Son of a Witch, and Confessions, I was ecstatic to find the time to sit down with Mirror Mirror. I wish I had done anything else! While Maguire's cleverness is apparent, I found myself speedreading ahead to see when another inane description of something small and pointless would end, and skipping ahead at the frequent pepperings of bodily secretions and functions. While the ideas and approach to the Snow White fairy tale are brilliant, they are delivered with a cold darkness that paints the world in a light that I read to escape. The theme of the sexual situations left me feeling defiled and dirty, as if I had stumbled onto something hideously grotesque. And, as a woman, I was greatly insulted at the description of Bianca's first menses. Of all the research done for this book, Maguire couldn't ask one woman what menstruation is like? It reminds me of the ignorant descriptions of school boys who know nothing of the female mysteries and talk about it as though they are professors- much to the disgust of those surrounding their ignorance. Maguire has lost a great deal of my respect with this one. Inappropriate for children under 16.

Good idea, not delivered well.......2007-07-22

I feel that Maguire, in all of his novels, makes the reader think about different perspectives on classic stories in a way that is refreshing and intelligent. Unfortunately, "Mirror Mirror" was not as great as all of his other novels to me. It was choppy and I was often times lost. Time moved too quickly was was only explained by many-year-long sleeps. I found this irritating and unimaginative. I also feel as if Maguire has the idea in his mind, but cannot tell it effectively.

Overall, good story if you can look past the confusing word choices and broken story-telling.

Great book for Maguire lovers.......2007-07-20

Fun two-night read. Takes you on a quick surreal journey. Great book for Maguire fans.

Not Maguire's Best.......2007-06-15

Maguire has made himself quite successful spinning off fairy tales, but this variation on Snow White seemed lacking. His take on Cinderella in "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" was steeped in history, and "Wicked" was immersed in the fantastical world of Oz, while "Mirror Mirror" couldn't decide if it wanted to be history or fantasy.

"Mirror Mirror" changes perspective often. The lustful and incestual Borgias, the innocent and fair Bianca, her father on his quest for a limb from the Tree of Knowledge, and the mystical "dwarves" all take turns narrating. I often found it choppy and inconsistent. While I enjoyed it, I've enjoyed Maguires other books much more than this one.

Wonderful, Wonderful.......2007-05-12

This may be the most successful of Maguire's several attempts to wander through old stories with a new vision. His most well-known is, of course, WICKED, but the plotting and development of this re-telling of the Sleeping Beauty is more intricate and sophisticated and the resolutions more interesting. What he does with the seven dwarf motif is beath-taking.

There are books I read and give away. And then there are books I read and put on the shelf, because I know I will refer to them and will want to read them again.

Average customer rating:

Terrible waste of time
So,so.
A road trip story with the gods
It's Just that Nothing Happens
Masterpiece written by an icon

American Gods
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
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ASIN: 0380789035
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

American Gods is Neil Gaiman's best and most ambitious novel yet, a scary, strange, and hallucinogenic road-trip story wrapped around a deep examination of the American spirit. Gaiman tackles everything from the onslaught of the information age to the meaning of death, but he doesn't sacrifice the razor-sharp plotting and narrative style he's been delivering since his Sandman days.

Shadow gets out of prison early when his wife is killed in a car crash. At a loss, he takes up with a mysterious character called Wednesday, who is much more than he appears. In fact, Wednesday is an old god, once known as Odin the All-father, who is roaming America rounding up his forgotten fellows in preparation for an epic battle against the upstart deities of the Internet, credit cards, television, and all that is wired. Shadow agrees to help Wednesday, and they whirl through a psycho-spiritual storm that becomes all too real in its manifestations. For instance, Shadow's dead wife Laura keeps showing up, and not just as a ghost--the difficulty of their continuing relationship is by turns grim and darkly funny, just like the rest of the book.

Armed only with some coin tricks and a sense of purpose, Shadow travels through, around, and underneath the visible surface of things, digging up all the powerful myths Americans brought with them in their journeys to this land as well as the ones that were already here. Shadow's road story is the heart of the novel, and it's here that Gaiman offers up the details that make this such a cinematic book--the distinctly American foods and diversions, the bizarre roadside attractions, the decrepit gods reduced to shell games and prostitution. "This is a bad land for Gods," says Shadow.

More than a tourist in America, but not a native, Neil Gaiman offers an outside-in and inside-out perspective on the soul and spirituality of the country--our obsessions with money and power, our jumbled religious heritage and its societal outcomes, and the millennial decisions we face about what's real and what's not. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Shadow is a man with a past. But now he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with his wife and stay out of trouble. Until he learns that she's been killed in a terrible accident.

Flying home for the funeral, as a violent storm rocks the plane, a strange man in the seat next to him introduces himself. The man calls himself Mr. Wednesday, and he knows more about Shadow than is possible.

He warns Shadow that a far bigger storm is coming. And from that moment on, nothing will ever he the same...

Download Description

"Special Feature: This PerfectBound e-book contains ""On the Road to American Gods: Selected Passages from Neil Gaiman's Online Journal"". The storm was coming..Shadow spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place. On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. And Shadow, a man with nothing to lose accepts. But working for the enigmatic Wednesday is not without its price, and Shadow soon learns that his role in Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. Entangled in a world of secrets, he embarks on a wild road trip and encounters, among others, the murderous Czernobog, the impish Mr. Nancy, and the beautiful Easter-all of whom seem to know more about Shadow than he himself does. Shadow will learn that the past does not die, that everyone, including his late wife, had secrets, and that the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. All around them a storm of epic proportions threatens to break. Soon Shadow and Wednesday will be swept up into a conflict as old as humanity itself. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought-and the prize is the very soul of America. As unsettling as it is exhilarating, American Gods is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page. "

Customer Reviews:

Terrible waste of time.......2007-09-30

I was suckered in by virtue of reading all Nebula and Hugo winning and nominated books each year. But folks, the committees were "out to lunch" on this one. The premise was great, the execution terrible. The plot was lost in blathering vignettes of minute, if any, consequence. At 3/4 through the book, after page flipping through the second hundred pages looking for plot, after exclaiming to my wife: Where's the beef? a number of times, I just gave up. I tore the book into pieces and threw it forcefully into the trash can so nobody could repeat my exact mistake. I do this once every 3 or 5 years. That's how disappointed I was.

So,so........2007-09-24

Well, although I know this book has been very popular, it was not very interesting to me, and I stopped reading in the middle. The places, and the characters in the book are in my opnion not very Neil-geiman, and less creative compared to his other publications.

A road trip story with the gods .......2007-09-23

_American Gods_ is a road trip story of sorts, though one that visits places that are "behind the scenes" in this great country. It is also an epic quest, a story of destiny, prophecy, and a story of conflict between old and new. Also, much in the book is not as it appears.

The protagonist is a person by the name of Shadow, released from prison a few days before the completion of his sentence due to the death of his wife in a car accident. His best friend was unfortunately (for several reasons) was with his wife Laura, and as his friend had a job lined up for Shadow when he got out, our hero is at loose ends.

Or is he? On the plane ride home he encounters a strange older gentleman by the name of Wednesday. Knowing far more about Shadow than anyone could really know, he offers Shadow employment. Shadow tries to ditch him, getting off the plane at a layover and going across country in a rental car. Wednesday however finds him in an out of the way diner.

It seems Shadow cannot escape this Wednesday and his offer to be an assistant, so he accepts. Is also seems that Wednesday is a god. Odin to be specific, head of the Norse pantheon; though Shadow at first of course disbelieves this, it soon becomes clear that Shadow - and all of humanity - was unaware of what occurred behind the scenes in the mortal world.

Wednesday is not the only divinity living and working as a human (or sometimes animal) in the United States. Not only is the country a nation of immigrant mortals and the cultures they came from, but it is also a nation of immigrant gods and goddesses (and other beings) from every land and culture, including some very old cultures.

Wednesday gravely informs Shadow that a war is coming between the deities, one with the older, fading powers on one side - such as the Norse and Russian deities among many others - and the new, rising, American-grown powers on the other side. The beliefs, passions, and interests of people in the United States have unknowingly given rise to a new crop of arrogant, powerful, and rising gods of the internet, news media, automobiles, and credit cards, feeding off the power and unknowing sacrifices of millions of Americans. Apparently not content to become more powerful than the old gods, Wednesday says these new, American gods intend to hunt down and destroy the old deities.

What follows is a cross country trip by Wednesday and Shadow, trying to bring into the fold the scattered older gods, attempting to put up some united front against the much more powerful and better connected new gods. The two meet many interesting and vividly described characters along the way.

There are many good things about this novel. Even some of the most apparently minor secondary characters are well-drawn and vivid. Much of the quest took the two to small towns throughout the country (with Shadow hiding in one for an extended period of time) and Gaiman did a very good job of giving the feel of small town life to the reader. The book took place in winter and without overwhelming the reader Gaiman never let him or her forget the season either. The gloomy, snowy, wintry conditions really suited the storyline.

I liked the many gods, goddesses, and mythological monsters encountered by Shadow in his travels, some hiding in plain sight as normal humans and animals, others visible only by those who can see things behind the scenes. There were several vignettes, some quite good, early in the book describing how various deities and mythical beings made it over to this country, how the faerie of the British Isles or the gods of Africa for instance made it to these shores and thus remain in this country to this day, carried over by the actions of immigrants, residing in their hearts and minds. The variety of beings described is quite diverse and included some surprising inclusions.

The book had a great twist ending and much of the book was not as it appeared, that I also liked.

Laura, for reasons apparent to the reader later in the book, becomes a surprisingly important character, she was interesting.

As for the bad, well, there were several very graphic sex scenes early on in the novel, including one that was quite bizarre, even horrific (not gory, but definitely of a supernatural nature). Wednesday disappears for large segments of the book, leaving Shadow to his own devices. Though what Shadow does during his employer's absences is quite interesting and ultimately largely relevant to the greater plot, it does give the reader a feeling that much is being missed at times as to the nature of events in the book.

All in all a very good modern fantasy story.

It's Just that Nothing Happens.......2007-09-19

After hearing so much about this book, I thought it would be only fair to read it a few years after it has been out. But as another reviewer already wrote, this book is "numbingly SEDENTARY". It's painful to read as there are sentences that don't belong. There are too many "gods" who disappear and really have no significance. Basically, it's about a bunch of people (who are gods), that sit around, drink coffee, smoke, and bull. Really.

I can't believe I paid for this crap.

I'm giving it 2 stars because the Gods idea is cool.

Masterpiece written by an icon.......2007-09-14

As Time magazine said in a recent issue, Neil Gaiman has been an icon in the world of comics and fantasy for a couple of decades. Neil himself has said he is already more famous than what he is comfortable with. My first introduction to Neil was Anansi Boys followed up with his book Neverwhere. I was immediately hooked. Neil thinks adults deserve good fairy tales, and I think he's just the right person to give them to us. Neil says he wrote American Gods in longhand (Stardust too). This book is a clash between the old Gods (Odin, Loki, Thor, etc.) and the new Gods (the Gods of credit cards, freeway, and internet). But America is not a good place for Gods. Too dynamic, too wild and untamed. Moving too quickly. Gods struggle to survive in such conditions. But dreams burn bright. Neil has also said that he believes there are tricksters in America. They hang around the edges. Tricksters lose. Gods and heroes win. Sometimes. This book is a complex mix of myth, magic, danger, and secrets told by a master storyteller. Each chapter starts with a quotation. Chapter 13 has one of the best rants I have ever read. It goes on for a page and a half starting with the statement "I can believe things that are true, and I can believe things that aren't true and I can believe things where nobody knows if they are true or not." I guarantee you will share this rant with a few friends. It's amazing. And Chapter 18 (which starts with a quote that says "Poetry ain't what you'd call truth. There ain't room enough in the verses") is my favorite chapter in the whole book. This is a book of literary magic that will resonate long after the last page has been read. It will only add to the Gaiman legend (sorry Neil).

Average customer rating:

Hmmm....
To Carlos, with gratitude
Best guide for introducing Toltec wisdom.
Journey as Allegory
Not very helpful

Journey To Ixtlan
Carlos Castaneda
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Separate Reality
Tales of Power
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The Second Ring of Power
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ASIN: 0671732463

Book Description

This volume shows the reader the means by which a "man of power" sees, as opposed to merely looking, and how by his concentrated "seeing" he can, indeed must, "stop the world." In it, Carlos Castaneda describes the lessons, the omens, the exercises of the will and body, the arduous trials and tests, the simple yet mysterious demonstrations, the extraordinary visions and experiences by which don Juan, his mentor and friend, prepares him for the task of perceiving things as they are, instead of describing them by the words, conventions and standards of conventional, a priori ideas and language. Here, in the high mountains and in the bright arid desert, Castaneda reaches for power in a series of startling encounters with the unknown--a confrontation with death and the past in the form of an albino falcon, with the twilight wind, with a flesh-and-blood mountain lion, with a mountain fog--and learns the techniques, the concentration, the compassion of the hunter, the man who is "without routines, free, fluid."

Customer Reviews:

Hmmm...........2007-07-01

Probably the most significant book I have ever read. That doesn't say a lot but hey I never like the bible. For some its almost petty to the number of polished novels and books already on the market and waiting for you pocket book. I must say though, this is quite the exquisite example of whats possible in our world or reality to get metaphyiscal. Many of the writes or teachings of castaneda are just that but this book to some is a starting point from which to begin the journey. The not-doings and small samples are just a small example for what in it. I highly recommend this book for anybody. Maybe you'll get hooked maybe not. Either way, some may care to read it.

To Carlos, with gratitude.......2007-06-22

Carlos Castaneda was one of the most controversial writers of the twentieth century. Some in academia branded him a fraud for claiming his stories were biographical rather than fiction, while lauding him as a great novelist for exposing a mass audience to otherwise inaccessible philosophical abstractions they claimed were largely plagiarized. Each of his works is a piece of a larger puzzle, which makes it impossible to critique any one book without addressing the larger context into which it fits.

His first two books, "Teachings of Don Juan" and "A Separate Reality" describe experiences induced by ingesting psychotropic hallucinogenics prepared by a Yaqui Indian shaman from Sonora, Mexico he called don Juan Matus, and accounted for his becoming a guru to a generation seeking short cuts to spiritual enlightenment, as well as his lifelong interest in the relationship between perception and reality, a theme now explored in many popular books on consciousness and quantum physics. Unfortunately, these books remain his best selling works, in spite of Castaneda refuting their importance in his later works. Readers would be best served to skip these and avoid the risk of being turned off to Castaneda and missing the more stimulating works that followed.

His third and fourth works were "Journey to Ixtlan" and "Tales of Power." In Ixtlan he admits to over-estimating the value of his drug experiences, which caused him to overlook the more profound teachings of don Juan which became the focus of future writings. What emerges is a spiritual discipline dating back to the Pre-Colombian Toltec sorcerers of Latin America, culminating with don Juan's departure from our world, effectively ending Castaneda's direct affiliation.

In his fifth and sixth works "Second Ring of Power" and "Eagles Gift" Castaneda suffers strange flashbacks of what seem to be memory fragments of events he is unable to fit into any logical time sequence. In his seventh and eighth works, "Fire From Within" and "Power of Silence," Castaneda succeeds in reconstructing his lost memories, which derive from teachings previously administered by don Juan while Castaneda was in a "heightened" state of awareness.

In books nine and ten, "Art of Dreaming" and "Active Side of Infinity," Castaneda focuses on what he describes as inorganic predators from another dimension, some having the power to imprison humanity in "ordinary reality" so they can feed on the dark emotional energies we produce when succumbing to the negative thoughts they insert into our minds.

In later years several seemingly substantiating works appeared by two of Castaneda's female apprentices, Taisha Abelar and Florinda Donner-Grau. In addition, two scathing exposés were also published by two of his ex-wives. The first, "Magical Journey with Carlos Castaneda" by first wife, Margaret Runyon, offers little corroboration, since her marriage pre-dates the time when the bulk of Castaneda's adventures were claimed to have occurred. While steadfast that Castaneda was a sorcerer, she doubts the existence of don Juan, even claiming authorship of many of the concepts Castaneda ascribed to him.

The second, and more credible work, is "Sorcerer's Apprentice," by well-known writer Amy Wallace, daughter of the late best selling novelist Irving Wallace. Here again, we find little corroboration since the time of the events she describes is well after the period when Castaneda's relationship with don Juan is alleged to occur. What the book does provide is a troubling look inside Castaneda's final years, a picture of descent into what seems sexual addiction and possibly madness, leaving one to wonder if Castaneda was just one cup of cool-aid short of a Jonestown.

Many have asked why I put any stock whatsoever in Castaneda. A story from my autobiography, "The Vortex" may shed some light. A year before Castaneda published his first book I had an experience that would remain a mystery until Castaneda published "Power of Silence" twenty years later.

For a brief time, in my youth, I became a practicing Muslim, meticulously performing the complex prayer ritual five times a day. Then one night, sitting in my car, frustrated and complaining at not being able to find the address of my next sales appointment, something inside me snapped. It was as if some part of me had disconnected from my body and assumed control, lecturing me about my lack of discipline. A profound calm settled over me, rendering me simultaneously detached and engaged. For two days my sales figures soared. It was as if no one could say no to me. On the evening of the second day I decided to put my new state of being to the acid test by visiting my parents. Their behavior was so uncharacteristically supportive I hardly recognized them. It was enough to convince me that I was now living in an altered reality. But by the following morning I had returned to "normal." So distracting had this event been that I completely forgot to perform my Muslim prayers, and in fact, never did so again.

Twenty years later, in a chapter of "Power of Silence" entitled "Place of No Pity" Castaneda describes a very similar experience. In the aftermath of the event don Juan explains that humans are like televisions stuck on a channel called "self-preoccupation," lacking the energy to tune into any of the vast array of other channels available to us. To change channels, he explains, we first need to accumulate energy, by practicing rituals that are deliberate, precise and repetitious. Do this long enough and eventually our stored energy precipitates a shift to a channel where self-importance and self pity become impossible. Once this happens we connect with the force that controls the entire universe, a force don Juan called "intent," and everything can be bent to our will and even more channels can be opened, assuming we remember to keep practicing the rituals that save our energy.

This one realization alone was enough to inspire me to dedicate my autobiography "To Carlos, with gratitude."

Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma

Best guide for introducing Toltec wisdom. .......2007-05-30

Over the years, I've read all of Castaneda's books multiple times trying to extract the wisdom embedded within. Along the way, I have also supplemented my reading in other Toltec Lineages: Mares, Eagle Feather, and Ruiz, to name a few. Different lineages branch out in different directions covering diverse ground and the inevitable snipping across boarders of those who negatively critique Castaneda. While all the various traditions offer some insight, I find Castaneda to be the most compelling.

Like the previous commentator, this book contains a distillation of all of Castaneda's books with regards the concepts and exercises for transforming one's life from a common man into that of a warrior. I differ with the reviewer below in that allegory (in my view) is not a major component of Castaneda's book - at least this one! I say that based on my experience and mentorship with Tom Brown ("the Tracker") and living with other indigenous peoples all over the world.

The stories conveyed by Castaneda conducted in the wilderness, on hunting, tracking power, and so forth, ring true with the other teachings I've been exposed to by those indigenous peoples still living in their original ways. The insights and practices on the spirit-that-moves-through-all-things is a common element of all native teachings cross culturally. (And if one doubts that, I invite you to enter an original culture to corroborate the experience yourself!)

My advice is to read this book through a couple of times, and then again a third time, in an attempt to discern the propositions offered. The key is to live out the propositions. Make them your own. The deeper you can engage these concepts into praxis, the deeper the transformation will manifest in your life. Herein the rub: no small task by any means.

I recognize some people will need teachers to engage this system. And for those you have who do need that, an abundance of "teachers" in the Ruiz lineage hang their shingle out, and offer their services for huge fees. If you need that, that is certainly one option. But, you can also do it on your own. Victor Sanchez is another author who has used these propositions on his own and offers a good summary in his many books.

If you do not need someone holding your hand for you, then these insights can be learned directly from the books with a little dirt time. I would also recommend supplementing these books with Tom Browns books and if able to attend his workshops.

Journey as Allegory.......2007-02-17

Journey to Ixtlan, almost summarily, contains most of the wisdom and core ideas found throughout the Castaneda books. This book is really the only one you need to read, in the sense that the best of the storytelling and lesson summaries are all here. Regardless of your opinion of Castaneda's personal life, the lucidity of this storytelling stands on its own merits.

The journey is an allegory, a metaphorical map for one's own journey through life. Cogent lessons from the first 2 Castaneda books are expanded and reiterated here: Becoming Accessible to Power; Using Death as an Advisor; Losing Self-Importance; Not-Doing (Taoist connection); Assuming Responsibility etc.

The fundamental question this book insists on is: How will reading it change you through changing your perceptions of everyday reality? This one bears re-reading several times. Highly recommended.

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

Not very helpful.......2007-02-09

Don Juan attempts to teach Carlos Castaneda vague lessons by engaging him in a series of nonsensical activities. Many of the themes are common to other spiritual traditions (e.g. breaking routines, becoming inaccessible, not doing, or stopping the world--in the language of this book) and because of this, the reader may have a clue as to what Don Juan is getting at. However, Don Juan consistently spurns Castaneda when he asks for explanations, insisting on showing him instead. Unfortunately, the demonstrations seem to be pointless and nonsensical. Maybe, that's the point, but it gets tiresome to endure this over and over again throughout the book. I'm a big fan of psychedelic drugs and solipsistic thinking, and I approached this book with a great amount of focus but finished it mostly disappointed.

African American Literature: Voices in a Tradition

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African American Literature - High School Loved It
Teacher's lifesaver
Teacher's lifesaver

African American Literature: Voices in a Tradition
William L. Andrews
Manufacturer: Henry Holt & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0030474248

Customer Reviews:

African American Literature - High School Loved It.......2004-09-29

This book is excellent stand alone and in conjunction with other literature concurrent in time. It dovetails well with 'The Great Gatsby' because of the selections from the Harlem Renaissance in Unit Five. Other periods can supplement this text; and it can be used in Social Studies as well (Unit One - Three touches on ancient Egypt,African Proverbs and exerpts from Olaudah Equiano,Benjamin Banneker. Units Six - Eleven cover writings to the Eighties. I have used this book for years, the students keep asking for more.

Teacher's lifesaver.......2002-04-30

Let me just tell you this book kept 8th graders loving literature like no other literature could. There is violence, love, jealousy, family, struggle... in practically every story. Lots of great nonfiction, too. A wonderful wonderful item for read aloud even.

Teacher's lifesaver.......2002-04-30

Encyclopedia of American Folklife (4 Volume Set)

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Encyclopedia of American Folklife (4 Volume Set)

Manufacturer: M.E. Sharpe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Literature (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

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Am Lit I used for CLEP Exam
GREAT FOR AMERICAN LIT CLEP
Conversation Helper
Great book.
Great for the American Literature CLEP Exam

The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Literature (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
Laurie E. Rozakis
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

American Literature (EZ-101 Study Keys)
English Literature (EZ-101 Study Keys)
From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature
CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature with CD-ROM (REA): The Best Test Prep for the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature Exam with REA's TESTware (Test Preps)
CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the CLEP (Test Preps)

ASIN: 0028633784

Book Description

You're no idiot, of course. You know that Samuel Clemens had a better-known pen name, Moby Dick is a famous whale, and the Raven only said,"Nevermore." But when it comes to understanding the great works of Mark Twain, Herman Melville, and Edgar Allan Poe, you'd rather rent the videos than head to your local library. Don't tear up your library card yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Literature teaches you all about the rich tradition of American prose and poetry, so you can fully appreciate its magnificent diversity. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

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Customer Reviews:

Am Lit I used for CLEP Exam.......2007-09-19

I read the book and I also used the Pass Your Class Study guide and I passed.

GREAT FOR AMERICAN LIT CLEP.......2007-03-10

I just passed the American Lit CLEP and would not have had a chance if it were not for this book. I used it almost exclusively along with spark notes for plot outlines and peterson for practice exams. If you are goin go to take the American Lit CLEP you MUST buy this book!!!

Conversation Helper.......2006-12-11

At a recent book club gathering, I was embarrassed to realize how little I knew about the history of American literature. Although this book isn't comprehensive -- as it's not meant to be -- it does provide a pretty good overview, enough to enable one to hold their own in a conversation. However, I fail to see what great contribution Groucho Marx made to American literature.

Great book........2006-07-09

I used this book to study for a CLEP American Lit exam. It was very helpful. Great study guide to hit the basics.

Great for the American Literature CLEP Exam.......2006-05-14

I studied this book for two weeks, along with American Literature (EZ-101 Study Keys) and passed with a 66! While the text doesn't cover everything on the exam, it gives you enough info (coupled with EZ-101) to pass.

I also half-heartedly recommend paying $20 for access to Peterson's online practice exams. For 90 days, you have access to three full-length exams complete with answers. The tests and answers were a great help to prepare, but I did not like the fact that once you take the exams they cannot be reset, or taken again.

Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature

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Beautiful and inspiring.
beautifully written and inspiring
An OK book but largely a rehash of existing material

Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature
David Suzuki , and Peter Knudtson
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553372637
Release Date: 1993-09-01

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and inspiring........2005-08-30

With this book, David Suzuki takes us on a journey around the world and shares with us the intimate knowledge that idigenous tribes still have about the natural world they live in. Most of us live in cities and have all but lost our 'link' to the earth; this book makes me want to fight to get it back.

beautifully written and inspiring.......2000-05-25

A beautiful synthesis of native ecological knowledge and western scientific insights. Suzuki and Knudtson call for a new way of relating to nature by combining the "ways of knowing" of the indiginous and western mind. It is not only beautiful to read but incredibly important to our time. Highly recommended.

An OK book but largely a rehash of existing material.......1999-02-19

David is a sincere man and his TV series The Nature of Things broke ground in many areas. This book is well written but is mainly a collection a material from other sources pointing out that native peoples have had much more experience dealing with nature than science has. Many good points but does not draw strong philophical directions for those seeking to apply the illustrations to daily life.

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