Book Description
Jay Pasachoff and Alex Filippenko combine extensive research experience, teaching experience, and textbook-writing experience to offer a book that is unparalleled in its ability to present the latest science in a way that students can understand. This brief, beautifully illustrated text - one of the briefest available for the course - offers concise coverage of a wide range of astronomical topics. The authors have struck a balance between the fundamental concepts and the exciting topics at the forefront of astronomy, conveying the spirit of contemporary astronomy within a big picture context. The authors emphasize the central theme of origins in this text, first by singling out specifics in the headings of each chapter and then by dealing with a variety of relevant material in the text itself. An early discussion of the scientific method stresses an importance on the verification of observations, and sets the stage for the text's consistent focus on astronomy as a science.
Customer Reviews:
Great - Simply Great.......2006-05-16
As I look at a beautiful new astronomy book like this one, I am reminded of Galileo who was sentenced to be shown the implements of torture and then confined under house arrest for the remainder of his life for publishing that the sun went around the earth rather than the other way around. Galileo's first telescope was probably about eight power, about standard these days for binoculars.
Today with the advanced state of even inexpensive commercial telescopes, CCDs and advanced software which can be processed quite easily on the very powerful home computers fo today, the home astronomer is up to about where the pros were a dozen or so years ago.
If you are a student using this book as a text, you are lucky.
If you are just interested in astronomy, this is a highly recommended book. It's writing quality, and the quality of its printed pictures is supurb. It's up to date with as good a discussion on recent findings such as the accelerating expansion of the Universe (one of the authors AF, was on one of the teams that discovered this), dark energy, dark matter, and of course the eleven dimensions that make up superstring theory as you will find in any book. They even make these subjects clear without having to go into deep mathematics. (Then again, going into deep mathematics may well not make these subjects more understandable at all.)
Now updated in its third edition this book accurately reflects the current state of astronomy. It would make a great present to an amateur astronomer.
Great Astronomy Text.......2006-02-24
This is a great introductory Astronomy text. It is easy to understand and learn the material presented. There are magnificent photos and easy to understand illustrations for those who are visual learners. I recommend it to anyone wanting to just have an understanding of the subject, whether in an educatinal setting or just wanting to learn it on their own.
The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium.......2002-11-26
This is a five-star book! Designed as a textbook for basic astronomy courses, it also serves as a stand-alone book for the average person who wants seriously to find out more about the universe. The content is clear and easy to follow, moving from the earth through the solar system, stars, galaxies, black holes, quasars, and finally issues of cosmology. Pages are well laid-out for easy reading, and enhanced with beautiful four-color photos and diagrams. Each chapter concludes with a concept review and questions for reflection. Help in learning terminology is provided by boldfaced vocabulary throughout the book and a glossary at the end.
Special features that are set apart in the text, either on separate pages or in boxes, include interviews with people in astronomy (excellent diversity of persons), exercises in calculation, expanded "closer looks" at topics, biographies of scientific figures, and exercises in finding things in the sky.
Web-enhanced features for students that go with the book include www sites for more information using the Internet, web-links, chapter maps, quizzes, and even a source on popular misconceptions. Instructors' ancillary materials include photo resource catalog, overhead transparencies/slides, and a computerized test bank.
You don't have to be a scientist to read this book! Anyone can learn a great deal about the universe from these 395 pages. Pasachoff and Filippenko have produced a winner. Enjoy!
Book Description
This book describes how understanding the structure of reality leads to the Theory of Everything Equation. The equation unifies the forces of nature and enables the merging of relativity with quantum theory. The book explains the big bang theory and everything else.
Customer Reviews:
The Real Deal.......2006-09-25
Although Mr. Wheatley is a little verbose in sections, his documentation of Zen Buddhistic Principles found throughout the disciplines of Mathematics, Physics, Theology, etc. forms a nice reference guide for anyone tuned into that wavelength. In particular, his explanation of how Godel's Theorem and Cantor's "Confusion" shed great light on the difference between GOD's Logic and Man's Logic should be a revelation to any undergraduate level math students who encounter these ideas for the first time. Curiously, Mr. Wheatley makes many misstatements about both Zen Buddhism Principles and the Bible, however. For example, by accepting the false biblical teaching of Original Sin, he misses the point that eating the proverbial apple gave Adam and Eve the ability to make Moral Discernments in fulfillment of GOD'S PERFECT PLAN. As proof, read Genesis 1 which states that Man and Woman were made in GOD's Image. Genesis 4 shows that Adam and Eve weren't the first humans on Earth at all, there were plenty of others by then. The allegorical meaning of the story of Eden, then, isn't that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth, but they were the first humans with the ability to make Moral Discernments (in GOD's Image). In fact, Moral Discernment is God's Unique Gift to Man, which is the basis of consciousness, not some Math Formula. But because the wages of the resulting, unavoidable sin are Death, many people foolishly try to return to Eden by: (1) living a sinless Life (2) by removing choice altogether by passing and enforcing strict Laws (3) by attempting to do away with Moral Discernment and the resulting consequences for our actions altogether by trying to remove Shame from Shameful actions. GOD is not some ethereal Man-In-Space, but is simply the Totality of all Real Things, The Set of All Real Sets. GOD's Love manifests itself from the amazing sub-atomic relationships that underly this magic Life all the way to the grandest of Macroscopic Scales, the Interconnected Totality itself. The Zen Buddhism connection can be found by simply superimposing the 0 symbol and the symbol for infinity (8 on its side) in Mr. Wheatley's supposedly "new" formulation that 1 = 0 x infinity. Superimposing them gives you the yin-yang symbol. A potential disadvantage of artificially separating the infinity from the zero, however, is that Mr. Wheatley is able to equate the entire expression to be equal to 1. This potentially might obscure the fact that the deepest meaning of the yin-yang symbol is that it is both 2 and 1 AT THE SAME TIME. His overall equation does preserve that important meaning by utilizing a single element on one side of the equation and two elements on the other side of his final TOE equation. This may be hard to see for some at first, however, which could potentially obscure the richest meaning of this beautiful symbol/equation. A much more GODLY TOE, in my opinion, comes from Euler, who discovered that e ^ (i * pi) - 1 = 0. When someone can explain that relationship, then they can say they know GOD.
A life changing experience??.......2005-06-13
This book is an easy read and does succeed in being somewhat thought-provoking. However, I am a little surprised at the awesome, "life changing" experience it apparently was for many of the readers. Wheatley's conclusions were interesting but nothing really new. All of his material should have passed through the mind of any thinking person without the aid of this book.
The reason I gave this book three stars is because he uses unneccessarily wordy ways of describing simple things. Also, the author and many other reviewers insist that Wheatley makes only one assumption. Wrong-his whole theory is one big assumption.
Overall though it was a very interesting and worthy book.
Should be Required Reading for everyone.......2004-06-26
This book will change your life. You will never think the same way you did before reading it.
I have a degree in chemistry and I think this book should be read by everyone in the sciences. Without a doubt, the best book I've ever read. Why and what are two of our best friends
A Very Important Book.......2004-01-26
I must preface my review by stating that I have never been so excited and moved by a book that I have wanted to contact the author. That is what I found myself doing upon reading this book. This book is just what its title says. The author does not "miss a beat" describing in great detail using practically every aspect of scientific knowledge from atomic structure through logic to quantum theory---we are even given a valuable explanation of Love. This text may be challenging to read for those unfamiliar with scientific terminology. And it can also be difficult for those with a science background, such as myself. However, for me it is well worth the work necessary to strive to understand the unfamiliar terminology. (I am continually learning from this book. I am presently on my third reread).
One of the author's main messages is "not" to believe anything without first verifying it with reality, as we know it. He calls it the "Personal Explanation Principle". He indicates that religions are just such belief systems that we as people "fall" victims of; because we do not verify the beliefs with the facts, as we know them, of reality. He gives a very detailed explanation of how the New Testament can be explored using his methodology.
The author methodically and meticulously walks us through his thought processes, which took 30 years to assimilate, of delineating the structure of reality and the nature of consciousness. Included in the "walk" are many of reality's phenomena made revelatory. An example of that, for me, would be the dual nature of light. It's particle/wave duality, which is explained as "functions". Also, when the author took me on the mental journey of "Setness" an exhilaration of the magnificence of life swelled up in me.
To me this is a very important book that should be read by all that are seekers of truth. It is for all those wanting to gain an understanding of the purpose for their existence, wanting to know where life is headed towards, and wanting to know who God is.
This book will enlighten and develop one's mind substantially. You will discover that this is our objective.
And yes, I contacted the author and he responded openly.
Illuminating!!!.......2002-12-30
This is a really great book. It combines philosophy and science in order to tackle a multitude of existential problems. The author's style of writing is fresh and alive, I recommend ths book to anyone interested in expanding the fronteirs of their understanding. Books I also liked are a Universe in an Nutshell by Steven Hawkings and Descent into Illusions by Paul Omeziri.
Average customer rating:
- Cosmos Book Leaves Mere Confusion, Not Chaos in its Wake
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Chaos In The Cosmos: New Insights Into The Universe
Barry Parker
Manufacturer: Basic Books
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ASIN: 0738206318 |
Book Description
From award-winning science writer Barry Parker, the only book to consider chaos theory in all areas of astronomy.
Customer Reviews:
Cosmos Book Leaves Mere Confusion, Not Chaos in its Wake.......1997-07-29
As a caption to a photograph early in the book, Parker writes, "A field of stars. Some of them may be chaotic." To term an object "chaotic" is meaningless unless one specifies what behavior (its motion, its fluctuations in brightness) is displaying chaotic characteristics. This ambiguous and imprecise tone permeates the rest of the text, hindering a clear understanding of the sometimes counter-intuitive concepts of chaos.
_Chaos in the Cosmos_ aims to be a layperson's introduction to chaos, with applications to problems in planetary science, astrophysics and cosmology. Despite the careful attention Parker has paid to describing technical concepts in plain language, his explanations are not clearly constructed, and on several occasions include factual errors, contradictions and misunderstandings that lead me to guess he is not well-conversant on the subject himself.
Anyone who has read the fine work of James Gleick in his book, _Chaos_, will be disappointed with _Chaos in the Cosmos_. Readers already familiar with the history of chaos science and its basic concepts may find useful the discussion of recent research, and the particular focus on astronomical applications (though this is brief and confined to the last half of the book). Those who are new to the study of chaos will glean some knowledge from reading the initial chapters, but I do not recommend it as an introduction to the discipline, since the inaccurate and inefficient explanations are misleading to the novice.
Book Description
The definitive Moon atlas is back! Revised, updated, and improved with expanded text and maps, this venerable atlas is the ideal reference guide for beginning Moon-gazers and expert lunar observers alike. Along with master lunar cartographer Antonín Rükl's exquisite maps, you'll find comprehensive lists of lunar formations and sights. This new printing is also free of red ink, making it much easier to use at the eyepiece.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-06-25
The maps in this book have an incredible amount of detail. They are hand drawn and Rukl has obviously invested a great deal of time in this work. It is an excellent resource for anyone looking for maps for our closest celestial neighbor. Personally, I think this book is as much a work of art as it is a practical map. This book is to lunar maps as Gray's Anatomy is to human biology.
The maps are hand drawn in order to give a consistent view of the entire lunar surface. Lunar observing is incredibly dependent on angle sunlight hits your target. Many lunar features appear drastically different depending on when you are looking at them. Many features, such as craters, look spectacular when they are on the terminator, but extremely dull and uninteresting when viewed during a full moon. Drawing a map allows you to closely examine and portray each feature in a consistent manner. Contrast this approach with trying to compile pictures of every lunar region. Certain pictures might highlight one aspect of a feature over another depending on the angle sunlight hits them, and there would be no consistency.
This being said, I'm sure Rukl has made some mistakes, or more accurately, he's made some misinterpretations in his drawings, but I have yet to find any in my observations or when I compare his drawings to photographs.
Every significant feature on every map is accompanied by a short summary. The summary gives historical information about who the formation is named after and usually includes geographic information about size and depth (or height).
In addition to the maps, this book actually has an excellent summary (about 60 pages) of nearly everything related to the moon. It contains eclipse dates, photos of the more famous lunar features, numerical figures, history of lunar probes and landers, and geological background on different formations.
This book is a must have for any serious lunar observer.
Best Atlas for Lunar Tics.......2006-12-21
This is the most detailed map of the moon I have ever seen. It's great for identifying smaller lunar features not shown or named on other maps. It also contains detailed information about lunar geology, exploration and so on.
It would make a great gift for a serious amateur astronomer who enjoys lunar observing.
A beautiful book to help plan your next lunar adventure.......2006-08-22
-This book is a beautiful complement to a photographic atlas or description. I was surprised to find how this graphically drawn atlas seems easier to use than a photographic one, even if the accuracy cannot be quite as good -- photos do not always look like the view in the telescope, they are far harsher, and the shading often affects your perception enough to confuse some features (the author did include photos of some of the more prominent features). The book obviously shows considerable love for the science and patience, which are terrific qualities for any observer to take to the eyepiece.
-The atlas is also divided up into small sections which makes it more enjoyable to plan a "visit," with plenty of description about the people for whom the craters are named (of course, one can never be satisfied that enough features are named). Users of both small and large telescopes can enjoy using this book. The author has complemented his research with a good bibliography, comprehensive charts, and a brief description of the art and science of observing the moon. Surprisingly, and disappointingly, he gives very little description about his work in drawing the lunar features or general astronomical sketching, which in my opinion is a missed opportunity to add some charm and value to an already aesthetic book. He also says little about some of the pre-scientific ideas and musings about this object which has captivated and enriched the imaginations, as well as the mind, of so many people for so much of our history. Well, there are other sources, but it would have been nice to have the artist's perspective.
-Observational astronomers often complain about the moon as a source of light pollution. So did I, until I decided to join in and enjoy what I couldn't change (the moon is also less subject to the many vagarities of astronomical seeing). This is a superb book to use with either a small or a large telescope and the rich artwork will add to your enjoyment of one of our most beautiful astronomical companions. May the moon brightly "light up" your observing.
Awesome guide to have on hand!.......2006-08-21
Being a Moon-lover, this book is a treasure to me. The text and charts are all first class, my only complaint being that any distances and sizes are given in metric not standard notation.
The standard for lunar atlases.......2005-05-15
If you are a serious lunar observer, this book belongs on your shelf. An absolute must since so many other refferences rely on it. The problem of red ink has been corrected in this edition. Get two copies: one for scope-side use, the other as a desk refference.
Product Description
The Stars: A New Way to See Them. By H.A. Rey. This remains our all-time favorite guide to learning the constellations. Written for older kids and adults, its simple style has made it a top seller for more than 40 years. Classy cartoon illustrations and star charts round out this fine guidebook. 160 pages, softcover.
Customer Reviews:
Great but flawed printing.......2007-10-03
This is a wonderful book but the version I was sent did not match the See inside version. The copy I received was printed in China, rather than the United States, and had numerous problems. The binding cracked when I opened the book, one page had obvious misprints in the constellation drawings (p. 30), and the constellation charts on pp. 74-105 were printed all the way into the gutter margins, making some of the text very difficult to read. Also, the text on facing pages was not aligned. Great book but poor production values, at least in the copy I received.
getting one for my kids.......2007-09-09
I love this book! My Dad had this book when I was a kid, and I had the best time using it to find the constellations. It was simple enough for me to understand. I'm buying my own to share with my kids.
The best beginning astro book ever..........2007-05-25
Purchase this book...even if you are taking college astronomy courses! This book actually places the cosmos in one's hand. Well worth the price.
The Stars - The Way They Were Meant To Be Seen.......2007-04-26
i love my curious george star book!
this book is an incredibly easy way to learn the star constellations, i have only had it for a week and i can already recognize alot of them. the night sky is making sense and becoming more familiar. the book shows the constellations in easy to remember shapes and easy ways to locate each.
in one week i have learned more about the stars and the earth's movement than i have in 39 years.
i think every average family needs to keep this book around, it is alot of fun for the whole family and will be a "must" to bring camping, and on those weekend trips to the lake.
: - )
wake.
curious george has hit the stars, by greinke, samuel.......2007-04-14
The Curious George author presnts the stars in easy to understand language "imagine the sky as if looking into the underside of an umbrella..."
It's a great book for basic understanding and knowledge of the heavens.
greinke, samuel
Customer Reviews:
Awesome.......2005-11-27
"Deep, profound, complicated and eventually simple, like all truths....", someone said.
Forget it! The views offered by D.K. and A.B. are awesome.
They offer depths within depths, within depths.
No simplicity here! Headache guaranteed.
No person can ever hope to fully understand.
If you are into New Age, please skip this book.
But if this is the quality Mrs. Bailey and D.K. offer, their books will find their way to my bookshelf!
Excellent.......2002-07-25
Deep, profound, complicated and eventually simple, like all truths....I have had this book for several years, I have read parts of many times and I am just about to delve into it yet again. A book to read and digest slowly. The information is so profound it takes time to assimilate and a certain level of previous understanding of metaphysical concepts to grasp at all. Not for the beginner on the path, just as a doctorate level physics text is not enjoyable for someone in secondary school. It takes some patience and dedication but is very much worth the effort. Profound.
Lucidity for the Soul.......2001-04-09
In my opinion this book was written for the training of the Soul and not the personality. It has been my opinion that this is a book written in a harmonic that resonates in understanding at a level above the concrete mind and should be read through even if not completely understood at the moment of reading.
I have had others verbally express the same opinion as above to me without my input. In my opinion this is a book that will keep coming back at you for a very long time.
Of the hundreds of books of similar orientation that I have read, I consider this one book to be the most Lucid! Of the approximately 1300 pages, the first 6 to 7 hundred addressing the creation of reality through mind, may change the way you participate with life!
As Buckeroo Banzai said, " No matter where you go, there you are!"
Also worth reading (though not at the level of the above, but still superb!) I. K. Taimni (Science of Occultism, and his other books) Torkom Saraydarian (Especially his Science of Meditation, and Science)
Understanding and classifying the Livingness of Matter.......2000-01-06
This truly extraordinary book (abbreviated TCF) contains information at several levels. If you read and understand this book you will know and understand the Secret of Life. Matter is energy, as we know from E=mc(squared) but this book talks of all energy and matter as Life! This Life evolves at the atomic level, human level, planetary level, etc.
TCF has succeeded in describing and classifying many types of life inherent to matter/energy. It talks of the sumtotal of Life on the Physical Plane, the Astral Plane, the Mental Plane. Everything ever written about auras in Theosophical or New Age texts can be understood at depth in TCF. It talks about the chakras; not just the human ones, but those of animal/vegetable/mineral, and of the larger Lives such as for a Planetary Being (Logos).
The reader will soon see that TCF is an ambitious book; its words painting the inner bodies of humanity and a description of the Egoic Lotus or the vehicle of the human soul which "sends down" incarnations.
The remarkable thing about TCF is its coherence as a workable theory. Properly understood, it generalizes just about every New Age and Religious belief system, without being sectarian in any way. It accepts the sanctity of the Buddha, the Christ and other World Teachers. If you understand the "14 Rules of White Magic" from TCF you will have no need for Wicca as all of what it represents is subsumed in the knowledge of various devas and elementals. The "14 Rules" were themselves expanded into AAB's book "A Treatise on White Magic", which is written at a more superficial level than TCF.
My first reflective/meditative reading of TCF took me six months of daily 1 to 3 hour sessions in 1986. Even today, I count this time spent in real terms as an asset more valuable than my joy for knowledge which led me to obtain a PhD in mathematics.
My physical lifespan is of course limited. However, the insight I've gained from this book will serve me long after this incarnation is at an end.
A Treatise on Cosmic Fire.......1999-12-14
One of a handfull of the most significant writings of the twentieth century. The content is extremely deep and cannot be comprehended in one reading, nor in one lifetime. However, it contains many of the true secrets of the universe, but only for those who are truly prepared to understand. Along with the Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled by H.P. Blavatsky and Esoteric Astrology, The Dictionary of Astrology for the 21st Century, and the Jewel in the Lotus by Douglas M. Baker, the handful is nearly complete.
Average customer rating:
- Fascinating book
- Maya Cosmogenesis 2012
- 2012 Research starts here
- The real End Times on 2012
- Fascinating
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Maya Cosmogenesis 2012: The True Meaning of the Maya Calendar End-Date
John Major Jenkins , and
Terence McKenna
Manufacturer: Bear & Company
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Similar Items:
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Galactic Alignment: The Transformation of Consciousness According to Mayan, Egyptian, and Vedic Traditions
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The Orion Prophecy: Will the World Be Destroyed in 2012
ASIN: 1879181487
Release Date: 1998-08-01 |
Book Description
While researching the 2012 end-date of the Maya Calendar, John Major Jenkins decoded the Maya's galactic cosmology. The Maya discovered that the periodic alignment of the Sun with the center of the Milky Way galaxy is the formative influence on human evolution. These alignments also define a series of World Ages. The fourth age ends on December 21, 2012, when an epoch chapter in human history will come to an end.
Maya Cosmogenisis 2012 reveals the Maya's insight into the cyclic nature of time, and prepares us for oue own cosmogenesis--the birth of a new world.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating book.......2007-09-27
Cosmogenesis 2012 is a compelling book about the meaning of the Mayan and Mesoamerican calendric images. It reveals evidence as to why the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012 along with explanations as to what this could entail for humanity. I recommend it for anyone interested in the end date of 2012.
Maya Cosmogenesis 2012.......2007-03-09
This work of Jenkins was all and more than I thought it would be. I share his path to where we are going in 2012. I would purchase any work of Jenkins as I know I would not be disappointed.
2012 Research starts here.......2007-02-18
John Major Jenkins has looked into the question of why the Maya ended their 13-baktun cycle in the Gregorian year 2012, and has researched the matter in incredible detail, and comes to conclusions that result from detailed study of many archaeological and specialist works. His study shows that the Maya deliberately targetted this point in time as the end of the cycle, and the evidence is found in king-accession rites, mythology, architecture, and the ball-game.
As you will know if you've read other reviews, the reason is the alignment of the winter solstice sun with the galactic equator - an event that happens only once in a cycle of precession - around 26,000 years. This IS NOT the "alignment of the solar system with galactic centre" or any of the other misrepresentatations of his work that have appeared.
This work stands whether or not anything noticeable happens in the years around 2012 - the fact is, that the Maya predicted that something would happen around 2012. This has become evident since the publication of this book, since the Tortuguero prophecy entered the public domain. In April 2005, the existence of Tortuguro monument 6 was revealed, (though known to a few specialists before that). The stela gives the end-date 4 Ahau, 3 Kankin, 13 Baktun (a combination of 3 calendars that gives the 21 December 2012 date) and gives an accompanying prophecy of the return of the Nine Gods.
The real End Times on 2012.......2007-01-23
I will make the boldest prediction of all... and when the time comes, you will remember this. Great spirits have come to me... great spirits... They have revealed their predictions and they have revealed their secret names to me. Remember this well on 2102. The named spirits were Jackson Danniels, James Beehm, Jonathon Wocker, and the ancient Russian sage, Stolly Chanaya... And here is what they said - in telepathic visions to me: On January 1, 2012, this is what will happen:
"The year 2011 will now be 2012." And later that year, many peoples will predict the end times will again visit in 2039 and that they never really meant 2012... it was a telekinetic typo....
Fascinating.......2006-11-30
Full of interesting facts about the Mayan civilization, how they saw the earth and their brilliant understanding of the Universe. I now understand how the complex calendar works. As to the prophecy, yet again, we can only wait and see!
Customer Reviews:
GOOD BUT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.......2006-02-09
THIS BOOK IS FASCINATING, HOWEVER IF YOU DON'T LIKE SCIENTIFIC READING IT MAY BE HARD TO FOLLOW. OTHERWISE ITS A GREAT READ IF ARE INTERESTED IN ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AND EARTH'S MYSTERIES.
Dissapointed with ending.......2005-11-02
I found the conclusion of the book to be inconclusive and feel that it is not based on any hard science; its the author's opinion supported by sketchy facts, figures and theories from other sources. It's artful and entertaining, but it's not like its going to leave you with the truth of 2012 being the end of the world.
I don't regret reading it, however, and would recommend it to someone who is interested in learning about the subject. It just gives you one more opinion to chew on and ponder. And, I like pondering things.
Futhermore, there is some historical information on the Central American Civilizations of the past, the Mayan calendars, as well as some interesting theories on Sunspot's.
Dodgy..........2005-06-21
The blurb on the back reads "The present world will end on 22 December 2012. So prophesied the Maya 5,000 years ago..." - yet on page 4 the authors indicate that the Maya appeared around 500AD, which by my reckoning is only 1,500 years ago.
Such internal inconsistencies riddle this book, and make it unreliable. On the face of it - and ignoring the 2012 prophecy, which uses some pretty tortuous mathematical manipulations - there is a lot of interesting information here about the Maya, but I'm afraid I just don't know how much I can believe or trust.
I'm sure many people will lap up this book, and simply assume that the "facts" on the Maya must be true because they are written in an authoritative manner, but please keep an open mind - which includes remembering that the authors may be wrong.
Very dissappointing.......2004-09-09
It was implied that the earth's magnetic field reversed 3K years BC. This caused Atlantis to sink and new lands to appear. This scenario would make sense. What doesnt make sense is that according to a geographic magazine (scientific fact), the last time the earth's magnetic field reversed was 780,000 years ago. Moreover, its occurrence is random and not in some sequence deciphered by the Mayan calendar. Assuming the Mayan calendar was true, then what would happen in 2012? The facts are that the sunspots activity align with the Mayan calculations. In a period of years before and after 2012, there will be instances of very few or no sunspots occuring. This will effect fertility and weather patterns but mostly in the equator area. Hence, Mexico, India, Southeast Asia, Africa will be affected. The only reason the rest of the world will be affected is due to the side effect of us polluting the world with CO2 from too much cars and waste dumping, thereby melting the polar ice caps. The sunspot event before and after 2012 will just make things worse. So the doomsayers would come out and point to the Mayan prophecy as applicable to the whole world. As you can see if we did not pollute, North America would not be affected.
I give this book 1-star for the first chapter and explanation of the Mayan number system. I dont agree with the chapter about how images came up when Pacal's tomb cover were superimposed. The fact is that one can superimpose any drawing or try even Michaelangelo's fresco's. By careful delineation, one would come up with weird forms as what the author found in Pacal's about a jaguar? a bat?
Nonsense.......2003-07-09
This book is about coincidences. The authors notice a similarity between certain large numbers in the Maya calendar cycle and their own astrological theories about sunspot cycles. The numbers don't match, but from this "coincidence" the authors conclude that the Maya warned of a cosmic disaster for the year 2012.
The book could have stopped there, but instead it digresses into a sort of personal log of the authors' visits to Mexico, then revisits old material on transatlantic contact, Atlantis mythology, Edgar Cayce, Velikovsky, and other nonsense. Some of the historical material about Mexico is interesting and well written, but is clearly taken from other sources.
Some of the claims are bizarre, such as that the crystal "skull of doom" was used as a magnifying glass in a fire ceremony. Or that the "loops" on the Palenque sarcophagus represent magnetic field lines on the sun, something the Maya couldn't possibly have known about.
The authors' contempt for those with other points of view is annoying. The book that derides Von Daniken, astrologists, and professional archaeologists all at the same time.
The sloppiness about numbers is also annoying, especially since their entire case rests on numbers. The authors cite a "remarkable correlation" between the dates given for the great flood by Plato (9500 B.C), Cayce (10,500 B.C.), and the Maya (11,205 B.C.) These dates differ by over 1700 years, a variation of 15% relative to the present day. Considering that one of the authors claims to be an engineer and a scientist, this is inexcusable.
The Maya civilization is a fascinating and impressive one, and no doubt there is much wisdom we have yet to learn from them. You won't find it in this book.
Book Description
Communicating his ideas in the form of a classical dialogue between a youth and a wise elder, cosmologist Brian Swimme crafts a fascinating exploration into the creativity suffusing the universe. His explication of the fundamental powers of the cosmos is mystical and ecstatic and points directly to the need to activate one’s own creative powers.
Customer Reviews:
The Universe is a Green Dragon.......2007-09-30
I am not a scientist, but a college science student. I am also passionate about my sprirtuality. This is a wonderful book. Remembering that all spritual and religious language is peotic metaphor, this book only affirms my understanding of the divine loving nature of the Trinity and Jesus, the Christ. If you are a fundamentalist "Christian" (I think those terms are mutually exclusive) or an atheist, you will not like this book. If you love God passionately and believe that He is much bigger than you are, then you should enjoy the insights that Dr. Swimme presents.
A Unique Perspective........2007-08-23
Although I am a Christian, I found many points brought up in this book to be well worth consideration. I assume that a person devoted to this particular sect would find more in common, but on any front, it is a read worth a small amount of consideration.
Cosmic Creation From A New Perspective.......2006-11-10
A very well written and thought provoking look at something a lot of people have probably felt in their gutyet weren't quite sure how to quantify and elucidate.
The Universe is a Green Dragon.......2004-01-13
Thanks for getting the book out so quick!
Undiscriminating mix of fact and fancy, patronizing tone.......2003-07-25
I am a scientist, and I do appreciate and feel the vastness and beauty of the universe, and the elegance of biological evolution. But I don't think Swimme's romanticizing of science, cosmology, and particle physics is going to lead us to build a better society or better individual lives. Educated people have already tried making a god of science in this culture, I presume because of the seeming miracles it has performed, and the result has been people with empty spiritual lives and a desperate need to fill the void with stuff - food, things, travel - anything to avoid facing the sense of meaninglessness they get when they feel like tiny insignificant cogs in a vast machine. It doesn't really matter whether the machine is the military/industrial complex or the universe, in terms of its effect on the human spirit. Granted, the current state of much organized religion is not ideal, but I don't think Swimme's approach is going to have any better results. There are many alternative approaches between religious fundmentalism on one pole and an exclusive devotion to matter on the other.
This particular book is also painful to read, due to its patronizing tone and the way science is mixed with the subjective speculations and opinions of the author. There is a lack of respect for logic or fact in this book, which is surprising considering its topic and the author's credentials. Swimme is misusing the hard-won authority of science, which has performed its seeming miracles by a rigorous attention to observable facts. He owes it to his trusting readers (note the many 5-star reviews at this site) to distinguish clearly between the facts and his interpretations. There is a lack of intellectual humility here, which ironically mirrors his complaint of inappropriate human grandiosity in relation to nature.
Average customer rating:
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Sun Lore of All Ages: A Collection of Myths and Legends
William Tyler Olcott
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Astrology
| New Age
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| New Age
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
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Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0486445569 |
Book Description
This captivating study circles the earth in its examination of legends, traditions, and superstitions. Starting with solar creation myths, it explores ancient ideology, mythology, and folklore associated with the moon as well as the sun. 30 evocative illustrations complement the text, which features an extended survey of sun worship, sun-catcher myths, and much more.
Books:
- The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
- The Hand Of God: A Collection of Thoughts and Images Reflecting the Spirit of the Universe
- The Hidden Records: Ancient Pyramid Star Maps Decode the Secret of Human Origins
- The Invisible Universe
- The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory
- The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All
- The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)
- The Nature of Consciousness : The Structure of Reality: Theory of Everything Equation Revealed : Scientific Verification and Proof of Logic God Is
- The Nemesis Affair: A Story of the Death of Dinosaurs and the Ways of Science
- The Planetary System, Third Edition
Books Index
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