Book Description
The Story of the World CD audiobook is a collaboration between Jim Weiss, whose voice is "liquid gold" (CNN TV), and Susan Wise Bauer, whose writing has been described as "timeless and intelligent" (Publishers Weekly). These spirited readings of the first volume in Bauer's history series bring to life the stories and records of human history from ancient times to the present.
Written in an engaging, straightforward manner, this volume of the popular Story of the World series weaves world history into a storybook format. The first volume begins with the ancient nomads and ends with the last Roman emperor.
This audio CD edition may be used along with the print books, as a supplement to a traditional history curriculum, or independently. 6 audio CDs.
Customer Reviews:
Boring for 9-year old.......2007-09-19
We took this CD on a road trip with our 9-year-old son. He thought it was boring and very repetitive. Because of this, he was not willing to listen to it. I am sure that there is very useful and interesting information in the book, but perhaps it is more appropriate for a younger child.
Never leaves the kid out of the equation.......2007-09-13
This author never forgets she's writing for a student. At every turn, she's offering connections and thought-provoking questions that invite the child into the ancient history world.
Colorfully written with lively action, this book offers a valuable classical education in ancient history for the home schooled or afterschooled child.
So-so.......2007-08-29
My nine-year-old son thought that this was boring. Very repetitive and talks down to a kid. Kind of patronizing.
audio book.......2007-08-23
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition (Story ... the World: History for the Classical Child)
entertaining way to learn history for the whole family.......2007-04-13
This classically minded set is conscientious in providing kids with interesting stories from ancient cultures as well as explaining how historians have learned about them. Stories will hold the kids' interest and are narrated well. I felt this cd set succeeded in introducing grade school children to all the world's ancient civilizations with enough detail to keep their interest (some stories are told from ancient childrens' perspectives) without boring them with too much detail that they may not be ready for yet (ex: carbon dating was not mentioned in the overview of what an archaologist does).
Amazon.com
When Rita Golden Gelman traveled to Mexico during a two-month separation from her husband, she hoped to satisfy an old craving for adventure and, in the process, rejuvenate herself and her marriage. Little did she know it was the beginning of a new life, not just as a divorcée, but as a nomad of the world. Since 1986, Gelman has had no permanent address and no possessions except those she can carry. She travels without a plan, guided by instinct, serendipitous opportunities, and a remarkable ability to connect with people. At first her family and friends accused her of running away, but Gelman knew she had embarked on a journey of self-discovery and a way of life that is inspiring and enviable.
We know Gelman is not your typical middle-aged housewife from LA when, on that first trip to Mexico, she randomly picks a Zapotec village and decides to live there for a month, knowing nothing about the culture or the language. When she arrives, the villagers run away from her, terrified. By the time she leaves, there are hugs and tears. From there she travels to Guatemala and Nicaragua, Israel and the Galapagos Islands. But the heart of the book--and her 15-year journey--is Indonesia, where she lives for eight years. It is Bali that forever changes how she looks at the world, facilitated by her friendship with an aging prince. Tu Aji not only invites her to live with his family but decides that the education of Rita will be his final duty in life. Wherever she goes, Gelman has an uncanny ability to slip into other ways of life and become part of a community. And she is a person for whom doors open widely--her seatmate on the plane to Bali scrawls the prince's name on a piece of paper, she talks her way into a sojourn at Camp Leakey in Borneo where orangutans are studied, and an entire village in a remote part of Irian Jaya prays for the clouds to clear so her plane can land--and they do! Gelmen's secret is her passion for people. That being the case, the book is short on descriptions of place, but long on the rarer inside view of the peoples and customs of those places. This in itself is treat enough, but Gelman's animated and intimate story comes with a kicker--it's never too late to fulfill those dreams. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
“I move throughout the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities.” —From the Preface
Tales of a Female Nomad is the story of Rita Golden Gelman, an ordinary woman who is living an extraordinary existence. At the age of forty-eight, on the verge of a divorce, Rita left an elegant life in L.A. to follow her dream of connecting with people in cultures all over the world. In 1986 she sold her possessions and became a nomad, living in a Zapotec village in Mexico, sleeping with sea lions on the Galapagos Islands, and residing everywhere from thatched huts to regal palaces. She has observed orangutans in the rain forest of Borneo, visited trance healers and dens of black magic, and cooked with women on fires all over the world. Rita’s example encourages us all to dust off our dreams and rediscover the joy, the exuberance, and the hidden spirit that so many of us bury when we become adults.
Customer Reviews:
Female Courage.......2007-09-22
This is a wonderful book to learn about traveling alone throughout the world. The author's courage to wander and met people is inspiring. The book is interesting and easy to read.
A definite recommended read.
feets - don't fail me now..........2007-09-17
If you've ever wanted to grab your back pack and just head for parts unknown, this book is the kick in the *** you need. The copy I just purchased is the 11th one - I give this book to every woman I know and they all tell me they have passed it on and bought another for themselves. A gem, a treasure, a wonderful companion, Rita Gelman's delightful account of (some of!) her adventures is a tonic. It made me realize that I am not the only one who dreams - and that others make their dreams come true. Read it, savor it and pass it on. In her highly personal tale Ms. Gelman speaks for many of us. The Garden Club: An Althea Grey Mystery
Tales of a Female Nomad.......2007-09-03
Rita Golden Gelman is an inspiration to all women world travelers.I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not wanting to catch the next plane to adventure and self discovery.
Inspiring and Heart Warming.......2007-07-27
I cried when I finished Tales of a Female Nomad. I think it was because I didn't want it to be over!
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of Rita's adventures around the globe; from her first evening in Mexico, in which she is fearful to eat alone, to her complete transformation in the last chapter in which she is living in a Thai village, unable to communicate in the local language but heartily helping to prepare meals with her hosts.
I am an experienced traveler and thought that I knew a lot about Globetrotting. But having now read Rita's book, I realize there is so much more depth to be had, not only in my travels but in my every day life.
I dispute the claims that this book is self-indulgent, self-congratulatory or dishonest. Rather, Rita makes a point of giving back at every opportunity. The one instance in which she feels she may be forcing her ideals on the locals, she promptly removes herself from the situation, recognizing that she is an observer and must not try to change others. She is completely honest about her experiences and, over time, she learns to dive in to every situation without hesitation and with all of her heart.
I have a list of women friends that I can't wait to buy additional copies for!
Tales of aFemale Nomad.......2007-07-07
Written with honesty and clarity, Tales of a Female Nomad shows that when a person is true to themselves, the world opens up. Fantastic description of cultures and the individuals within those cultures. A brave and fulfilling journey.
Book Description
What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew? What happened to Anansi the Spider in the Village of the Plantains? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome?
Told in a straightforward, engaging style that has become Susan Wise Bauer's trademark, The Story of the World series covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americas—find out what happened all around the world in long-ago times. This first revised volume begins with the earliest nomads and ends with the last Roman emperor. Newly revised and updated, The Story of the World, Volume 1 includes maps, a new timeline, more illustrations, and additional parental aids.
This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. Enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations.
Customer Reviews:
Not for younger children.......2007-09-27
Now, keep in mind that I have not read the book and have no idea how good it is for older children. This is specifically for younger children. I bought this book to read aloud to my 5 year old thinking it would be a fun way to introduce her to ancient cultures in our homeschool. Boy, was I surprised when it arrived and it was just a normal sized paperback with no pictures! It is not something that any but the most cerebral 5 year old would sit through. So it will sit on my shelf collecting dust until she is ready for it. Also, considering that it is just a paperback with no pictures it is really not worth the price even for older kids. Maybe grab it from your local library, but don't buy it.
One of the best children's narratives on the market.......2007-08-17
In my mind, S. Wise Bauer has attempted and succeeded: She has made history fun again. The children reading (or listening to) the books will not be writing a dissertation based upon what she has written-- but they will be inclined to pick up another history book, and another... Her writing will get them thinking and talking about history beyond dates.
That's why I like this series. I believe some of the negative reviewers have lost site of the purpose: To engage readers on an elementary level. If readers are following the classical model, they will see more detailed information about the events again (probably twice). This first go round just provides a point of reference for later study.
Examining historical events does not begin and end with one book or source. A true historian will pull together many resources in order to form a composite.
In defense of Bauer's writing, I think that some reviewers are expecting a grammar stage history "holy grail" of some sort. I have yet to find one. Every history book has it's pros and cons. In my mind, this one has more pros than cons.
Bauer does not claim to be the final resource or authority for grammar stage world history. As a matter of fact, she provides extensive lists of additional resources in her other books, like the Well Trained Mind and in the companion workbook. This is the main reason I give this book 4 stars. I wish I could give 4.5. Perhaps an abbreviated version of the resource lists should be included in each volume as an appendix if it is going to stand alone.
Overall, I think it's great for what it aims to do: spark discussion and develop life long learners.
Liked the format and presentation - not the facts.......2007-06-27
I was looking for a history book as I homeschool my daughter. I was very happy with the workbook format and projects as well as history presented in chronological order. As I am not a history scholar, I was enjoying learning the history along with my daughter up until I was reading her chapter on Christianity. Being a Christian who has studied much of the bible, I am familiar with a good amount of these facts. Some of the facts she presents are so wrong that now I question many of the facts she presents from other cultures. If you are looking for an easy read and presentation of different cultures this book is good. I will continue thru the series as I do like certain things about it, however, I am now aware of its weakness and will use other books to supplement the fact presented so the information will be more accurate.
It's OK, but I'm wishing for more.......2007-03-22
My expectations for this book were too high, based on some reviews, although I was worried about comments about inaccuracies. I found it disappointing.
I think what I react against is that this book is just one of many which seem to say the only ancient history that's at all important is what happened in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. There is a chapter on India and a chapter on China, but they are hat-tipping kinds of chapters that don't give the awesome breadth of those amazing cultures. And I was super disappointed with the chapter on the Americas. Mexico, according to this book's geography, is part of Central America. North Americans are all termed nomads, as if they were wandering around aimlessly instead of in the amazing variety of communities that they really lived in - some villages, some awesome cities, and others who didn't settle in permanent villages still had definite territories they exploited.
There is actually more material given on characters of the Bible, which are not labelled as from the Bible but treated as actual historical characters, than there is on the ancient Americas, or ancient China for that matter.
This really doesn't seem to be the story of the world, but the story of western civilization, with a smattering of other cultures thrown in as an afterthought.
Excellent Book.......2007-03-15
This is a great book for kids and I also loved it! The activity book is excellent too.
Amazon.com
By age 6, Waris Dirie was herding her family's sheep and goats, fending off hyenas and wild dogs as the family carved a path through Africa. She was just twice that age when she ran off into the vast furnace of the Somali desert to escape an arranged marriage to a much older man. Traveling for days without food and water, she made her way to Mogadishu and later to London as a servant to her uncle, the Somalian ambassador. There she wrestled with culture shock and got her first taste of the modeling life that eventually brought her into the public eye. Dirie is resilient, having survived drought, hunger, and the ritual female genital mutilation that marks a step toward womanhood among some traditional Moslems but, argue critics, steals or ruins many girls' lives. "As we traveled throughout Somalia," says Dirie, "we met families and I played with their daughters. When we visited them again, the girls were missing. No one spoke the truth about their absence or even spoke of them at all." As a special ambassador to the United Nations, Dirie has spoken out loudly on this subject and championed environmental causes, too. How much of her sometimes breathless story is gospel truth and how much embellished is hard to say. Like Dirie herself, though, the combination is intriguing, powerful, and unique. --Francesca Coltrera
Book Description
Waris Dirie leads a double life -- by day, she is an international supermodel and human rights ambassador for the United Nations; by night, she dreams of the simplicity of life in her native Somalia and the family she was forced to leave behind. Desert Flower, her intimate and inspiring memoir, is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about the beauty of African life, the chaotic existence of a supermodel, or the joys of new motherhood.
Waris was born into a traditional Somali family, desert nomads who engaged in such ancient and antiquated customs as genital mutilation and arranged marriage. At twelve, she fled an arranged marriage to an old man and traveled alone across the dangerous Somali desert to Mogadishu -- the first leg of an emotional journey that would take her to London as a house servant, around the world as a fashion model, and eventually to America, where she would find peace in motherhood and humanitarian work for the U.N.
Today, as Special Ambassador for the U.N., she travels the world speaking out against the barbaric practice of female genital mutilation, promoting women's reproductive rights, and educating people about the Africa she fled -- but still deeply loves.
Desert Flower will be published simultaneously in eleven languages throughout the world and is currently being produced as a feature film by Rocket Pictures UK.
Customer Reviews:
Still a good read.......2007-08-13
I had read an excerpt from this book years ago and when I saw that I could purchase it, I jumped at the chance. It really is a good book and I would recommend it to others to read. If you'd like an even better book, but along the same lines, I would strongly recommend Slave by Mende Nazer.
A Survivor .......2007-07-12
Waris Dirie and Cathleen Miller take the reader through an awakening of one young woman - a desire for a safer life, an exciting escape, difficult journey to a new world, the pain of creating and the rewards of a new life, and still the reader is reminded of the necessity to understand that this is a true story of events taking place - right now - injustices - unspoken until this book. A read for all especially to remind women of the world that, collectively we can move forward to a safer life.
VERY GOOD AND EASY READ.......2007-07-06
I really enjoyed the Desert Flower by Waris Dirie. I look forward to reading her other books!!!!
Read this book and think about it.......2007-07-03
I might have seen Waris Dirie in many magazines over the years, advertising make-up or clothes, a stunning supermodel. Flicking through those pages, without a second thought, really shows how many times we can be fooled by appearances. There's a story beyond any of us and who would have thought that that lovely, proud African lady had such an incredible, painful one to recount.
This is a difficult book to read, not because of its prose, but for its contents, especially the ones related to the female genital circumcision. What Waris had to endure and her accomplishments in life later on, after her escape from native Somalia, are something quite amazing. She is currently an Ambassador for the UN, focusing on the fight against FGC in Africa and in the Western World.
This is a book that will often make you stare into space, trying to come to terms with the reality that Waris describes. It is not, however, written in hatred or spite. The love for her native country and for her family is there, so strong, despite everything. This book is an eye-opener and an educational one, as well as an autobiography.
Extraordinary Story.......2007-01-09
I found Desert Flower to be an extraordinary biography. Waris Dirie's life story, from her childhood as a desert nomad in Somalia to the start of her career as a supermodel in England, provides a great deal of cultural insight. Her strength of conviction, faith in a higher power, and courage in the face of great danger are truly inspiring. This is a very frankly written, often disturbing account meant to spread awareness of the dangerous but all-too-common cultural practice of female genital mutilation. Ms. Dirie brings to light her own personal tragic experience and its impact on her health and well-being. She has worked avidly with the United Nations towards the goal of bringing an end to this dangerous rite-of-passage through educational programs and legal avenues. Ms. Dirie courageously addresses an issue rarely heard of outside of the African continent, and in doing so brings help and hope to countless girls and women who are condemned to suffer lifelong infection and pain, if they do not die as a result of the procedure. This book also contains beautiful pictures of the author and her family. I admire Waris Dirie for her bravery, and I look forward to reading the sequels to this book.
Amazon.com
Thomas Cahill, author of the bestselling How the Irish Saved Civilization, continues his Hinges of History series with The Gifts of the Jews, a light-handed, popular account of ancient Jewish culture, the culture of the Bible. The book is written from a decidedly modern point of view. Cahill notes, for instance, that Abraham moved the Jews from Ur to the land of Canaan "to improve their prospects," and that the leering inhabitants of Sodom surrounded Lot's lodging "like the ghouls in Night of the Living Dead." The Gifts of the Jews nonetheless encourages us to see the Old Testament through ancient eyes--to see its characters not as our contemporaries but as those of Gilgamesh and Amenhotep. Cahill also lingers on often-overlooked books of the Bible, such as Ruth, to discuss changes in ancient sensibility. The result is a fine, speculative, eminently readable work of history.
Book Description
The author of the runaway bestseller How the Irish Saved Civilization has done it again. In The Gifts of the Jews Thomas Cahill takes us on another enchanting journey into history, once again recreating a time when the actions of a small band of people had repercussions that are still felt today.
The Gifts of the Jews reveals the critical change that made western civilization possible. Within the matrix of ancient religions and philosophies, life was seen as part of an endless cycle of birth and death; time was like a wheel, spinning ceaselessly. Yet somehow, the ancient Jews began to see time differently. For them, time had a beginning and an end; it was a narrative, whose triumphant conclusion would come in the future. From this insight came a new conception of men and women as individuals with unique destinies--a conception that would inform the Declaration of Independence--and our hopeful belief in progress and the sense that tomorrow can be better than today. As Thomas Cahill narrates this momentous shift, he also explains the real significance of such Biblical figures as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Pharaoh, Joshua, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
Full of compelling stories, insights and humor, The Gifts of the Jews is an irresistible exploration of history as fascinating and fun as How the Irish Saved Civilization.
Download Description
The premise of The Gifts of the Jews is simple but bold: to show how the religious, moral, philosophical, and political systems developed by the Jews -- descendants and followers of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Saul, and David -- profoundly shaped the world we know today.
Customer Reviews:
Good service.......2007-09-10
Book arrived in great condition. I gave it to my son as a gift. Cahill is great too.
Ugh.......2007-08-29
I found this book to be so biased as to be virtually a tract of propoganda. As someone who is not Jewish or Christian, although familiar with both faith traditions, I found the boundless admiration expressed by Cahill to be shallow, uncritical and unexpected. I have read three of his other books, and enjoyed their mulit-faceted summaries of the cultures involved; in this one, I think Cahill's theological background took precendence over his academic analysis, resulting in a much weaker book.
Kind of a mess.......2007-06-20
Well, this was a change from the other Hinges books, and is definitely my least favorite. The other books are popularized histories: this reads like a long, rambling essay; it's embellished to the point of ridiculousness in places; and the folksy recap of the Bible is not only annoying, but a classic example of a blind man describing an elephant. Cahill doesn't "get it," not at all, not even slightly, and he tries to "take charge" of the Bible with a combination of buzzwords and sly interjections of his own opinions.
It gets a 3 because it was fun light reading. If you're easily offended, look elsewhere; if you know nothing about the Bible, Judaism, Christianity, etc, but would like to, start elsewhere. The subject deserves a more accurate, dignified, and less "state of the question" (as Screwtape so aptly put it) introduction.
Generally good, I thought........2007-05-08
Cahill has a fondness for speaking in hyperbole, I think, which is honestly a bit of a turn-off from his writing. He relies heavily on sweeping generalizations and a very casual way of speaking that would have had my professors going crazy had I employed the same style in my own writing.
However, it DOES make for an enjoyable read, and as long as you can ignore some of the more blatant blanket statements, he brings up some very interesting points. It's indeed true that the Children of Israel had a very profound impact on how much of the world today views time, space, and their relationship with the divine. I am not attempting to say, as Cahill does often, that the Hebrews were the first to think of a lot of these revolutionary ideas, but the fact is that they're the ones who first spread those ideas easily.
I appreciate the amount of effort he went in explaining the Biblical Hebrew's relationship with God and the relationship that their concept of God had with the rest of the local world.
All in all, I found this a very interesting and thought-provoking work, although it's far too casual in style and presentation to be considered a scholarly piece. Still, I think it's well worth a read for anyone who is interested in Judaism and Jewish culture.
Breaking the Cycle and Seeing Progress.......2007-04-15
Dr. Cahill's text serves as a very brief overview of a topic with great depth but does not promise to be anything other than that. It is not written in a style which looks to present a fully academic, detailed historical reprise of Judaism. Instead, it is written with one (blatantly stated) intention: That the Judaism and its concept of God are foundational for the West (and indeed for the world).
In light of this, Cahill explains those Jewish dispositions which grew as they came to realize (and experience) a God who was more than a deity of cyclical immutability. While he presents some of his arguments in terms which are somewhat caustic toward other cultures, he does not stray from this pivotal realization in history. The Jewish experience has influenced Billions of people (through Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and all the societies which they have encountered). Indeed, some scholars like Hans Urs von Balthasar would argue that it is impossible to view post-Christian civilizations as though they were unaffected by the ontological and praxeological reflections of Christianity.
Because of this influence, the Judeo-Christian realization of human dignity in the Image of a freely-loving, creative God is a leaven for the world which was truly a hinge of history. While Cahill sometimes uses imagery which (as he even admits) is somewhat questionable, his central point remains true and is as well defended as it can be in such a short text. While the text is deficient in this as well as by having a somewhat untouched (yet briefly mentioned) understanding of brutality in Scripture, I still give it 3.75/5 stars and suggest it as a quick, but thought-provoking read. If nothing else, it will get you thinking about the world through the light of Jewish revelation.
Product Description
A lot has changed since well-known Canadian author Robin Pascoe wrote Culture Shock! A Parent's Guide. The world has become globalized, digitalized, and sadly, terrorized. That's the big picture that Pascoe examines in Raising Global Nomads. In her own life, the author's day job raising her two children has ended as her daughter begins a career as an environmental activist and her son heads to university. In her fifth book for expatriate families, the author recounts with honesty and trademark humour what worked for her family and shares the hard lessons learned. Parenting styles in general, and of third culture kids in particular, have changed dramatically, prompting this timely and comprehensive reexamination of the challenges of parenting abroad.
Customer Reviews:
Well-researched and easy-flowing.......2007-09-10
My husband and I will be relocating abroad shortly, taking our toddler with us. Though this has been planned for a long time and we both look forward to it, moving abroad with a kid will definately be a shock to our system. This book has been an excellent pick to open our eyes to several issues that one tends not to dwell too much upon.
Very well-researched and easy to read without getting bogged down into details, coloured with a lot of the author's own personal experience and of those she has met in the same situation, all in all an excellent read!
Global Nomads in the year 2006.......2006-10-01
Robin understands, feels, lives, and breathes the issues of raising global nomads. 2006 now faces technology of a 24/7 world of change for all children, teens,and parents. Be prepared to learn, cry, laugh, and accept the precious experience of being a "Global Nomad."
At last an answer to 'are we doing the right thing?' in relocating with children .......2006-09-16
Perhaps no life decision is so wrought with uncertainty and apprehension as the one to relocate your children overseas, whether temporarily for an overseas assignment, sabbatical or extended world travel or permanently as emigrants. Will we be damaging them? Will they hate us? Will they suffer academically, personally, emotionally, physically? These are big questions, and before Robin Pascoe's wonderful new book 'Raising Global Nomads', there were few answers.
Pascoe takes us on a wonderful, humourous and above all intensely informative journey with her family, and yours. Every overseas family will instantly see themselves in Pascoe's often moving description of her family's trials and tribulations in adapting to life abroad. Workaholic spouse caught in a pressure cooker? Insane academic standards -- in kindergarten? Worries about safety, hygiene, friends, family, communication -- for everybody? Pascoe has an answer, and a calming and reassuring word, for them all. She also takes a clear and accurate look at 'parenting abroad in an on-demand world', assessing the impact of digital and virtual living on expatriate life.
In her 25 years as a foreign service spouse, journalist Pascoe moved her family a dozen times to destinations as diverse as Bangkok and Seoul, New York and Beijing, and found the toughest move of all was 'back home' to her native Canada. Pascoe generously shares not only her own experiences, but also the results of her extensive research into parenting abroad, including interviews and contributions from psychologists, sociologists, academics, consultants and relocation specialists.
If you make only one pre-departure, or pre-repatriation, purchase, let it be this book. Make sure your teenagers read it, your children's teachers, your spouse, the family's employers and above all their HR department. And keep it under your pillow.....
Book Description
This comprehensive activity book and curriculum guide contains all you need to make history come alive for your child!
Don't just read about history—experience it! Color a picture of a Minoan bull-jumper, make a model of the Nile River, create Roman armor and Celtic jewelry and more. Designed to turn the accompanying book The Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient Times into a complete history program, this Activity Book provides you with comprehension questions and answers, coloring pages, lists of additional readings in history and literature, and plenty of simple, hands-on activities—all designed for grades 1-4.
Customer Reviews:
What a wonderful way to teach kids history!.......2007-09-25
We homeschool our 5 and 6 year old children. We haven't had a real history book yet, but I wanted to try sparking interest in history for them early. When I read Susan Wise Bauer's "The Well-Trained Mind" a guide for classical education at home, she suggested this book so I checked the reviews.
I just bought the first volume, but will be buying the rest of them as we go forward. I think the activity book is an absolute MUST HAVE to accompany the book. My kids have been interested in the way she writes, they remember the stories well, and I especially appreciate the pronounciation guide she gives in the back of the book. I couldn't begin to pronounce some of these names or places-thank goodness for the extra "help".
I look ahead to the next chapter and reserve the books at our library that she recommends to supplement that lesson. That way, there are other resources to amplify their learning. I love the review questions, maps, and coloring pages. It gets my 5 year old involved too.
All of Susan Wise Bauer's books are wonderful. I just keep adding to my collection. Most of all, the kids are loving their education at home-with me!
Great Time Saver.......2007-06-29
I guess we could all put together enough coloring and activities to go along with Story of the World Vol. 1, but some of us have other things to do. My kids enjoyed the activities. We certainly didn't do all of them and we tended to go with the more hands on. The Nile Delta was a big hit as was the pyramid. The instructions were simple enough to be adapted if we needed to do that... I see that as a plus. My kids are not into coloring, but there were plenty of other ideas to choose from. I am sure that your kids might get bored if you had them do EVERY SINGLE THING, but as a former classroom teacher, I recognize a resource that is well thought out and designed to appeal to a variety of learning styles.
I Wish I'd Bought This Sooner!.......2007-06-21
We bought "The Story of the World" book one last year, but didn't buy the activity book until this year. Big mistake! Although our girls were enjoying listening as we read aloud from the book, adding the activities has made it so much better. There are coloring pages about each chapter for them to work on while we read and then fun activities and games when they are done. We've made simple costumes in under 10 minutes, paper dolls, photo copied and played the board games, and read through the review questions. The review questions really help us to know how much they understood from the chapter. Our whole family is learning so much about history!
An excellent resource.......2007-05-17
I bought the workbook for my 9-year-old daughter, to go alone with the "textbook" and it's been an informative and interesting addition to our homeschooling library. I've even used some of the worksheets (the maps in particular) with my older son. Bauer included a lot of helpful information on ways to integrate the lessons into larger activities. It is well-organized and very useful.
Good point.......2007-05-12
The book made some ggod points I think I will check the book a well trained mind.
Amazon.com
Never mind that upon her death in 1993, the then 100-year-old Dame Freya Stark rated a three-column obit in The New York Times. Mention her name to most Americans, and it will elicit a "Freya who?" The tales and travails of this romantic traveler, who marched alone into the Middle East from Persia to Yemen, discovering lost cities and creating an anti-Nazi intelligence system along the way, are captured in this compelling biography by former New York Times reporter Jane Fletcher Geniesse.
The author unveils not the fearless wanderer whose mappings and 30 books brought Stark awards from the likes of the Royal Geographical Society and made her a darling of British society. Instead Stark is seen as humble, insecure, and forever caught in the role of perpetual alien--be it when the English-born child grows up in Italy, where her mother lives in scandal, or when she plunges alone into the East, a feat never before accomplished by a Westerner.
An unwilling iconoclast whose love of travel, she would say, began as an infant when her father carried her in a basket over the Dolomites, Stark longed for the social security of the times: marriage and children. Proposals fell through, on occasion her beloved was married, or the romantic emotions she felt went unrequited--and besides, as a friend later pointed out, marriage would have spoiled her with its confinements. Rising above depression, self-imposed ostracism, and her numerous illnesses, Stark learned Arabic and how to climb mountains, map, partake in geographical digs, and find a niche in strange cultures.
Initially ridiculed for her passionate fondness of the Middle East, her writings ultimately generated vast interest for that mysterious part of the world, where she was surprisingly embraced, made privy to political movements closed to most foreigners, and even shown precious Islamic documents. At times a nurse, a war correspondent, a negotiator, Stark was a one-woman revolution of her time. Geniesse's intoxicating documentation of her life not only serves to stir up new interest in Stark's many books; it also ensures that the name Freya Stark will live on long after her obituary is but a scrap of yellowed, crackling newsprint. --Melissa Rossi
Book Description
Freya Stark—traveler, explorer, Arabist, and woman of letters—began the extraordinary adventures that would glamorize her—and would catapult her into public life for the next sixty years—in 1927. And with the publication of The Valley of the Assassins in 1934, her legend was launched.
Leaving behind a miserable family life, Freya set out, at the age of thirty-four, to explore remote and dangerous regions of the Middle East. She was captured in 1927 by the French military police after penetrating their cordon around the rebellious Druze. She explored the mountainous territory of the mysterious Assassins of Persia, became the first woman to explore Luristan in western Iran, and followed ancient frankincense routes to locate a lost city. Admired by British officialdom, her knowledge of Middle Eastern languages and culture aided the military and diplomatic corps, for whom she conceived an effective propaganda network during WWII.
But Stark’s indomitable spirit was forged by contradictions, her high-profile wanderings often masking deep insecurities. A child of privilege, she grew up in near poverty; she longed for love, but consistently focused on the wrong men. This is a brilliant and balanced biography—filled with sheikhs, diplomats, nomad warriors and chieftains, generals, would be lovers, and luminaries. Author Jane Geniesse digs beneath the mythology to uncover a complex, quixotic, and controversial woman.
Customer Reviews:
David Neel, Mallart et al.......2007-06-11
My Journey to Lhasa: The Classic Story of the Only Western Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the Forbidden CityForbidden Journey (Marlboro Travel)I don't understand why other great women travellers are not mentioned in any of these reviews. If you like this author, don't forget about Alexandra David-Neel who paved the way and Annemarie Schwarzenbach and Ella Maillart who traced their own unique paths. All but Schwarzenbach have been translated into English and are available from amazon.
another "thumbs-up" vote.......2006-12-31
Having just scrolled through the other reviews, I don't have anything to add except the comment that I am another fan of this book. I think the author did a good job of bringing this complex, interesting woman to life.
Fascinating story of a complex historic figure.......2006-11-12
Freya Start was a pioneer in her day -- a remarkable and complex woman whose intellectual curiosity led her to explore a region --the Middle East-- where few Western women felt comfortable to go in company, let alone, as a solo traveler. THis book describes her character as it developed over time, headstrong, determined, and driven to compensate for her plain features and disfigured face with daring adventures. Her advise and counsel to the British foreign office proved to be amazingly prescient, though she was not always heeded. A very good book of historical and human significance.
Passionate Nomad.......2005-10-15
Another amazing book about another amazing British lady of the ealy 1900's. Gertrude Bell (Desert Queen ) and Freya Stark are two incredible women who broke all the barriers of their era. Another must read for those interested in the development of the Middle East in the early 1900's, the cultures of these people and the strength and determination of an incredible woman in a time when only men ruled the world.
A fascinating historical landmark.......2005-08-24
The book offers a well-researched and - presented insight into the life a remarkable woman who had a passion for the region we know as the Middle-East; who lived amongst the people in the region and observed their way of life and worldview with an open mind and with immense humanity, an attitude uncharacteristic of her compatriots.
Amazon.com
Many dream of traveling the world, but few actually do so. If you've decided to put your money where your fantasy is and save for the trip of trips, Edward Hasbrouck is your travel guru. He's circumnavigated the world twice, and coordinates a travel agent's around-the-world department. He explains why you ought to chose (and stick to) your route in advance but needn't start and finish in the same city, and above all why you ought to take the travel plunge. He shares hard-won truths about saving money--and in Thailand or Bali $100 saved earns an extra month of freedom.
Book Description
Invaluable tips and information make taking the plunge towards an extended vacation easier. Edward Hasbrouck, the Internet's best-known authority on international airfares and travel planning, provides guidance and advice for independent travel anywhere in the world. Get helpful information on airfare strategies, ticket discounts, and the inner workings of the airline reservation system; tips on travel documents, border crossings, and entry requirements; guidance in choosing destinations, routes, and traveling companions; and find a global perspective that makes The Practical Nomad useful no matter where in the world your journey begins.
Customer Reviews:
waaaaaayyyy too much information.......2006-07-21
This book is exhaustive to the point of being exhausting - and as such isn't really useful for anyone who's traveled at least once overseas. The book is divided into sections on choosing destinations, surface transportation (100 pages!), air transportion (140 pages!), travel docs, safety and health, baggage, practicalities, the bottom line, and resources. Some of the information was useful - such on how to take advantage of open jaw airline tickets - but so much of it is a rehash of what every traveler knows. I mean, I didn't need to pay $22 to learn that I should use a credit card when making travel plans.
For the novice - anyone else, pass on this one.
Excellent Resource for Around the World Travel.......2006-04-19
My husband and I are currently traveling through Asia and used Edward Hasbrouck's book in preparation for our trip. It is a comprehensive book, that explores every aspect of around the world travel. He covers everything you need to know and more, from preparation of paperwork to interacting with people along the way. He is a expert in this field -- one of the best, and he generously shares his knowledge in this book. Travelers are fortunate to have such expertise in their hands, what it would take years for an individual to acquire is shared here. His compilation of fact and opinion is well-balanced. He also includes an excellent resource section, with many books and websites for further research. Starting your research with this book will save you a lot of time and effort -- it's all right here.
Best Practical Planning Book For Long-Term Travel.......2006-04-11
I am planning a year-long, around-the-world trip, and The Practical Nomad is by far the most useful of the many books I have read.
The book is not for casual readers who are looking for the next A Year in Provence. The book is dense and fact-filled, a result of the author's twenty years of experience as a round-the-world travel consultant. The section on airline ticket pricing is as challenging as any text I read in law school -- and more rewarding. _Every_ travel topic is covered.
Several of the Amazon reviews complain about the author's politics. Even though I disagree with almost all of the author's political opinions, his views add color and coherence to the book; they are candidly disclosed and never intrusive.
This is a book about long-term travel by a factual pack rat who has done it himself and has helped thousands of others take their dream trip. If you plan to engage in independent travel for more than one month, you should certainly buy this book.
Info I couldn't find elsewhere.......2006-02-07
This book is intimidating when you first pick it up and start paging through it, but I quickly found answers to some questions that I was having difficulty getting answers to such as 1) How do I carry all that currency that I'm going to need for 6 months? and 2) How practical is it to send pictures over the internet? and 3)Help - I'm not on an open-jaw or round-the-world ticket what are my options?
Some of the stuff I don't agree with, like the recommendation against carrying a camera, but there are a lot of Practical tips in here.
This book is much easier to deal with than the net groups I've been reading. Those are FULL of egos and biases and this book is no worse (if not better) in terms of bias It also has the added bonus of not having to wade through the flame wars about how stupid someone is.
Fun to read, but biased.......2005-12-09
I have just finished reading the 3rd and latest edition, dated 2004. As an experienced traveler and someone who is generally interested in the travel industry, I couldn't put it down!
Hasbrouck is at his best when he's providing tips for traveling outside the First World. Those tips are interspersed throughout the text; some aren't obvious. For example, Hasbrouck makes several references to the shift in perspective that's necessary when traveling in less-developed countries. Early on, he points out that capital is scarce but labor, plentiful. Later, he applies this to different situations, such as road travel (hire a driver/guide, not a self-drive car) and mobility for people with disabilities (hire an attendant to make up for physical barriers).
The First World train information is weak; that section was obviously an afterthought. The statement that "[h]olders of any type of Eurailpass can travel without supplement on any trains in the covered region, including the TGV" was incorrect at press time and is becoming more incorrect each day. The Resource Guide refers people to pass-pushing RailEurope and Eurail, without mentioning the various national railways, even though they have been selling heavily-discounted point-to-point tickets online for some time now. Visitors to the USA are treated to a dose of pro-Amtrak propaganda. Were I new to Amtrak, I'd rather learn about the weekly menu of 70% discount fares available online (not mentioned) than that I could get a [much smaller] discount by joining a pro-Amtrak lobbying group or that "[t]here is simply no comparison between...the fast-food restaurants where buses stop versus the dining-car food on the railroad" (Europeans would find either option unpleasant, as would members of religious or cultural groups with dietary restrictions).
The airfare section is hailed as the best part of the book. There is lots of useful information here. Problem is, Hasbrouck colors it with personal opinions. His rant against electronic tickets leaves out one of their greatest advantages: that you can't lose them! In an age where many tickets are only valid on a specific airline, the endorse-to-other-airline benefit afforded by paper isn't worth much. Hasbrouck explains at great length why the lowest ticket prices aren't published in the computer systems that ordinary travel agents use. Curiously, he promotes one distribution mechanism for below-published-fare tickets (opaque, international, multi-level networks of "consolidator" travel agencies) but dismisses another (Web-only fares sold through airline Web sites) as a potential example of "unfair or monopolistic practices" on the part of the airlines. I am suspicious of the consolidator tickets he recommends.
None of what I have said so far detracts from the fact that this book is, overall, fun to read. The only thing I cannot forgive is the book's political bias. My favorite example is Hasbrouck's observation that "the United States is a violent country with an astonishingly heavily armed civilian population." In the same breath he gives tips for traveling in countries reeling from the effects of civil war, economic collapse, and near-total poverty.
Book Description
In this acclaimed work, the anthropologist Piers Vitebsky offers a unique account of the Eveny, nomads who live in intimate partnership with an extraordinary animal. For centuries reindeer have provided the Eveny with food, fur, transport, and spiritual sustenance, enabling them to survive in the world's coldest inhabited region, the Siberian taiga, where winter ice freezes six feet thick and the temperature drops to ninety-six degrees below zero.
The book presents a gallery of unforgettable personalities, including shamans, psychics, wolves, bears, dogs, Communist Party bosses, daredevil aviators, and the spirits of fires and rivers. Based on nearly two decades of fieldwork, The Reindeer People is an enthralling and moving testimony to a Siberian native people's humor and endurance at the ecological limits of human existence.
Customer Reviews:
I didn't know the Russians sent Reindeer to Alaska.......2007-08-15
I learned here that Reindeer herding for the commercial meat market has been a staple of Artic communities throughout the 20th Century (hence the effort to translpant it to Alaska in the 1920s).
This is an amazing story of a British anthropologist's 25+ years visiting and documenting the life of some of the last indigenous Siberian people to herd domestic reindeer. We meet many keenly individual men women and children, from the university-trained to the descendants of shamans. I was reminded of the Mongul family in the documenary movie "The Weeping Camel," and of Amundson's antarctic expeditions, which used native skills while Scott died using modern mechanical aids. We learn what it was like to live under Soviet rule (when labor camps drove the meat markets); we watch Perestroika as it affects both animals and people, and we witness the region's disastrous ecological and economic decline under Putin's Russia.
Anthropological Fieldwork at its Finest!.......2007-05-26
For someone who has only traveled so far as a few hundred miles in a sedan, my world is mind-numbingly small. Logistically, I rely on MapQuest to get me from "Point A" to "Point B"... and hopefully back in one piece. Without truly comprehending the land and life enveloping me in a "rural-suburban" town located somewhere in the cesspool of Bowash, I sorely needed a wake-up call to the raw emotion and spirit that has been inherently ingrained in the Eveny people, their reindeer, and their relationship to the expanses of Sakhan Siberia. As Vitebsky relives such experiences in The Reindeer People, his strikingly vivid account of living side-by-side with the Eveny not only intrigues, but brings to light the troubles faced by indigenous people that have been perpetuated by the Soviet era as well as its horrendous aftermath. Vitebsky's tale of the inevitable downfall of what was once a pristine way of life for these people offers a poignantly bittersweet glimpse of what is becoming all but history. Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest books to come my way in a long time!
Anthropology that reads like a novel........2006-03-17
Vitebsky's book is a wonderful look at the life, lives and living conditions in an area of the world most of us would consider uninhabitable. While it is an anthropological study, it overflows with human feelings and contact that make this a truly unforgettable read. This truly shows the need for humans to coexist with nature, not rule it.
Read this book.
Tungus life.......2005-12-29
I don't know where exactly to put this book - it is partly a memoir, a travelogue, an anthropological study for the lay reader...
Vitebsky spent a number of summers with different bands of Eveny, a Tungus tribe in mid Siberia. These Eveny were all associated with a 'State Farm', a Soviet era relic that regulates the use of the territory assigned to the bands, shipping of reindeer meat and antlers and bringing in supplies. The Farm was in this case controlled by an incompetent, alcoholic director and his cronies, who had been responsible for a number of disastrous decisions that had a big impact on the region as a whole.
Eveny have been hit hard by Soviet times and even harder in the chaos of the perestroika. They lost their shamans and the number of men willing to spend their winters herding reindeer in the forbidding sub sub zero taiga is decreasing, especially as the women refuse to leave the relative comfort of villages for the traditional nomadic way of life. As Vitebsky trails the herders on their annual migration, he is witnessing the impressive array of skills these people have to survive in one of the most inhospitable regions n this planet; slowly, as he is taken into their confidences, he also sees a part of their life that is hidden from the casual visitor. Although their shamans have all been killed, and the rituals all but stamped out, a number of folk 'superstitions' control all areas of Eveny life. Propitiating spirits of the land, dead ancestors, interpreting omens and dreams all play a central role in Eveny activity. There is a number of striking similarities with NA Indians in the relationship to the land, their respect of silence, mutual assistance and the non verbal communication that happens in that silence. Like the Indians, Eveny don't speak much, but when they do, the words mean something... like the Indians, the Eveny are getting destroyed by alcohol.
Vitebsky is mostly interested in social aspects of contemporary Eveny life - social tensions, alliances, intrigues and gossip. Given the tools he has he does a good job in bringing us a portrait of a native community deep in Siberia. Unlike what one might expect, his eveny are no ignorant herders - these guys have been around in schools, the military, they read astronomy, Wittgenstein and Mme Blavatsky and listen daily to radio Moscow; they seemed to be way better informed about the world situation than your average American (which doesn't say a lot).
Nevertheless, given its ambitious title, the book somehow does not deliver what it promises, at least it not for me. 'Living with animals and spirits' was missing something, i guess it was animals and spirits. Above all, Vitebsky is all too careful to approach these except through his informants. Now I also know why I am not an anthropologist. It would be very difficult for me to watch the State Farm director destroy people's lives without getting involved in some way; well, V. is an anthropologist and documents the disintegration that occurs with professional detachment. Still, there is good stuff in there and if you are interested in reindeer, this is the book to read.
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- String Games
- Tales of the Dominion War (Star Trek: All)
- Teach Yourself VISUALLY Chess (Teach Yourself Visually)
- Teach Yourself VISUALLY Chess (Teach Yourself Visually)
- The Asian Monsoon (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences) (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences)
- The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cigars (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
- The Egyptian Jukebox: A Conundrum
- The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts
- The Everything Kids' Mazes Book: Twist, Squirm, and Wind Your Way Through Subways, Museums, Monster Lairs, and Tombs (Everything Kids Series)
Books Index
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The Story of the World: Activity Book 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Third Edition
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 2 Audiobook: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance, Revised ... the World: History for the Classical Child)
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition (Story ... the World: History for the Classical Child)
Story of the World, Volume 4: The Modern Age Audiobook CD: From Victoria's Empire to the End of the USSR (11 CDs) (The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child)
Story of the World V3: History for the Classical Child
