Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind

Amazon.com

What would you say about a woman who, despite stroke-induced paralysis crippling the entire left side of her body, insists that she is whole and strong--who even sees her left hand reach out to grasp objects? Freud called it "denial"; neurologists call it "anosognosia." However it may be labeled, this phenomenon and others like it allow us peeks into other mental worlds and afford us considerable insight into our own.

The writings of Oliver Sacks and others have shown us that we can learn much about ourselves by looking closely at the deficits shown by people with neurological problems. V.S. Ramachandran has seen countless patients suffering from anosognosia, phantom limb pain, blindsight, and other disorders, and he brings a remarkable mixture of clinical intuition and research savvy to bear on their problems. He is one of the few scientists who are able and willing to explore the personal, subjective ramifications of his work; he rehumanizes an often too-sterile field and captures the spirit of wonder so essential for true discovery. Phantoms in the Brain is equal parts medical mystery, scientific adventure, and philosophical speculation; Ramachandran's writing is smart, caring, and very, very funny.

Whether you're curious about the workings of the brain, interested in alternatives to expensive, high-tech science (much of Ramachandran's research is done with materials found around the home), or simply want a fresh perspective on the nature of human consciousness, you'll find satisfaction with Phantoms in the Brain. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

Neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran is internationally renowned for uncovering answers to the deep and quirky questions of human nature that few scientists have dared to address. His bold insights about the brain are matched only by the stunning simplicity of his experiments -- using such low-tech tools as cotton swabs, glasses of water and dime-store mirrors. In Phantoms in the Brain, Dr. Ramachandran recounts how his work with patients who have bizarre neurological disorders has shed new light on the deep architecture of the brain, and what these findings tell us about who we are, how we construct our body image, why we laugh or become depressed, why we may believe in God, how we make decisions, deceive ourselves and dream, perhaps even why we're so clever at philosophy, music and art. Some of his most notable cases:

A woman paralyzed on the left side of her body who believes she is lifting a tray of drinks with both hands offers a unique opportunity to test Freud's theory of denial.
A man who insists he is talking with God challenges us to ask: Could we be "wired" for religious experience?
A woman who hallucinates cartoon characters illustrates how, in a sense, we are all hallucinating, all the time.

Dr. Ramachandran's inspired medical detective work pushes the boundaries of medicine's last great frontier -- the human mind -- yielding new and provocative insights into the "big questions" about consciousness and the self.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant insight into the human mind.......2007-08-27

I absolutely love this book. It's constantly fascinating, very well written and by revealing how much our behaviour is at the mercy of brain function it's made me far more forgiving of people whose behaviour is unexpected or irrational. I recommend this book to everyone who's even vaguely interested in what makes people tick.

Terrific and gripping explanations of the most complex system.......2007-08-11

This book deals with every aspect of human mind and thinking. I read his
Reith lectures before this. While "The Emerging Mind" has also great essays
on different aspects, "Phantoms in the brain", is more leisurely, replete with
those terrific, speculative yet simple, experiments. Like Dr. Ramachandran
himself characterises the universal quality of the most creative insight
with a "why didn't *I* think of that!", these experiments are so creative, that
you tend to make this rhetorical remark after he designs his experiments following
the case-study description. And told with such humour!

He builds up the knowledge on the subject with these experiments on troubled
people ending up speculating on subjects such as genius' qualities, savants
and God. Overall an inspiring and awesome read.

(Hearing him speak is a treat too! One can sense the passion behind his inquisitive
mind)

Fascinating Read.......2007-04-14

This is one of the best science books I've read in a long time. Far from being dry and boring, the stories of his patients are truly amazing and the prose flows so well that it reads like a novel.

Yes, there is some wild speculation here but Ramachadran clearly points out when he is doing so, and personally I thought it made the book more interesting than just laying down the facts.

incredible read.......2007-02-06

Dr Ramachandran's ability to clearly illustrate the workings of our complex mind is nothing short of incredible. The case studies presented are intriguing and the whole book in general kept me turning pages.

Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind.......2007-01-19

Excellent service from vender: well packaged, fast delivery!

The 12th Planet (The Earth Chronicles, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Ignorance isn't bliss!!
The 12th Planet
Bringing Forth An Unknown
The 12th Planet
An Interesting Theory...

The 12th Planet (The Earth Chronicles, Book 1)
Zecharia Sitchin
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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The Stairway to Heaven: Book II of the Earth Chronicles (The Earth Chronicles)
The Wars of Gods and Men: Book III of the Earth Chronicles (The Earth Chronicles)
The lost realms: Book IV of the Earth Chronicles (The Earth Chronicles)
cosmic code: Book VI of the Earth Chronicles (The Earth Chronicles)
Genesis Revisited

ASIN: 038039362X

Amazon.com

Zecharia Sitchen's The 12th Planet is the starting point on a quest that spans six books and 20 years worth of ancient aliens, genetic manipulation, and scrutiny of linguistic minutiae. If we trust Sitchen's translation abilities, we must be prepared for the imminent return of an alien race who created us some 300,0x00 years ago. The 12th Planet is perhaps the best written of Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series; full of example after example of ancient Sumerian passages, astronomical observations, archaeological finds, and technological coincidences supporting his theories. The price we pay for all this evidence is a bit of a dry read at times, but the ideas Sitchin proposes are more than scintillating enough to make up for the overtly scholastic tone of his text. --Brian Patterson

Book Description

Over the years, startling evidence has been unearthed, challenging established notions of the origins of Earth and life on it, and suggests the existence of a superior race of beings who once inhabited our world. The product of thirty years of intensive research, The 12th Planet is the first book in Zecharia Sitchin's prophetic Earth Chronicles series -- a revolutionary body of work that offers indisputable documentary proof of humanity's extraterrestrial forefathers. Travellers from the stars, they arrived eons ago, and planted the genetic seed that would ultimately blossom into a remarkable species...called Man.

Customer Reviews:

Ignorance isn't bliss!!.......2007-09-19

I can't understand why people put some much negative engery into someone else's work such as a legend as Dr. Sitchin. As much as time they spent writing their negative reviews they could have perhaps written their own book. Anyways......it has been a true pleasure studying the works of Dr. Sitchin a true "Einstein" in our midst. Please see youtubedotcom for more on this "magnificent" scientist.

-Drah Cenedive

The 12th Planet.......2007-09-13

An enlightening look at how mankind came to be on this planet while explaining why a missing link cannot found. It molds together the ideas of creation as explained in religious manuscripts and theories of evolution into a feasible chain of events.

Bringing Forth An Unknown.......2007-06-29

I have to thank Sitchen for writing this book because it was an incentive for me to research and validate what I read. I have enjoyed all of his books.

I can say that almost of the information he has given can be validated if one has the desire to know.

Sitchen introduced me to Ninhursag, the chief geneticist and the co-creator of the human body as we know it today. I did not say she created the mind or the spirit that inhabits the body. I just write she co-created the human body as we know it today.
Bettye Johnson, author, Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls

The 12th Planet.......2007-03-09

This book was the start of a different thought process for me and Mr Sitchin "I THANK YOU SO MUCH" What a change in my life since I 1st read this book in 2002 and since I have read everything Sitchin and I must say I believe in what he writes.

An Interesting Theory..........2007-02-07

This book is interesting. The theory makes some sense, and I would like to see the material cited as "proof" backing up the theory.

A lot of the "pictures" are just drawings, which leaves room for questioning their authenticity. Being the skeptical believer I am, I really wish I had access to more reliable information that would confirm some of the things this book claims. It held my attention enough that I not only finished it, but also started to read the second book "The Stairway to Heaven" (which lost my attention after the first 20 or so pages... I'll get back to it at some point).

I do have to say, though, that towards the end I was a little turned off, mostly by the fact that:

- the book claims the 12th planet approaches Earth every 3,600 years
- the book uses its own interpretation of ancient texts to support its claim and says that ancient people described the periods when the planet approached Earth as times when the climate would go crazy due to the gravitational pull caused by this huge planet's proximity to Earth
- the book says the planet was near us at about 3,800 BC
- if the planet had come by us at about 3,800 BC, the actual last time the planet was near Earth was at about 200 BC, a time when such incredible event would have been clearly recorded by people, who had already developed pretty modern languages, and kept records of everything
- I never read anything from approximately 200 BC saying there were huge climatic changes on earth, big earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, etc. around that time...

Another event that didn't make sense was that the writer tells the "gods" decided to let humanity perish by orbiting the planet in their spaceships while Earth was flooded by the deluge. The writer goes on to say that the aliens (gods) were crying in desperation in their ships because it was so horrible that earth was being destroyed and they regretted not saving men, and that they were starving in the ships because the food they brought wasn't enough.

Well, while the author says everything mentioned on the paragraph above, he also says that the 12th planet was near Earth when this happened. If they were starving and desperate, why didn't they just fly back to their planet? They could have come back in another 3,600 Earth-years (which, by the way, were just the same as one of their years) to check out how we were doing if they missed us too much.

On the other hand, it would make sense that such a messed up race (humans) would have come from such a messed up family of aliens. But, then again, we may just be making god to our own image, as usual...

All in all, it's an interesting theory for an interesting subject, definitely worth reading if you don't expect it to reveal all the secrets of the universe.

Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our time : The Mayan Calendar

Average customer rating:

Masonic Propaganda
A Bit on the Technical Side
deeply compelling
DiaGnosis: This is an invention, and not the Maya calendar
Judge Only for YOU...

Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our time : The Mayan Calendar
Carl Johan Calleman
Manufacturer: Garev Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0970755805

Book Description

The Mayan Calendar may well provide the basis for the understanding of creation. In this extraordinary publication, Carl Calleman shows us how the Mayan Calendar combines science and sprituality to unlock the secrets of the universe and provide clues to the future of mankind.

Customer Reviews:

Masonic Propaganda.......2007-09-20

You have to love Masonic propaganda. The roots of all this Mayan/Atlantean "mysteries" lies in 19th century creators of the New Age movement, most famous of which was the Freemason Mrs.Blavatsky.

Masons are putting together a One world government (taking shape under European Union, and the coming Rockefeller-sponsored North American Union)...which needs a one world religion. Its easier to control people if they all believe the same religious nonsense that you feed to them.

Masons invented communism (look up Marx and Mazzini), and succeeded in killing about 200 million people, but it didn't work in wiping out Christianity, which was its original intent.

So they try to invent new religions, fuse Christianity with all sorts of New Age concepts (like this book)...etc...but so far they've failed to come up with anything that would catch on.
Maybe they are still experimenting...

It will still take a few more decades to bring about one world government with continental "unions"...so they have plenty of time to pitch ideas to people and see what works. By 2013, the Mayan Calendar will be long gone and forgotten...

I get a good laugh out of those reviewers who consider this a "scholarly" work, when in fact almost none of the ideas presented can be scientifically corroborated.

A Bit on the Technical Side.......2007-07-30

Textbook style, in-depth analysis of the Mayan Calendar and the formation of the civilization itself. Devotes very little to the prophecy as it realtes to our present day. Not an easy read.

deeply compelling.......2007-05-14

I am so appreciative for this book and all the work it represents. Speaking for myself, I feel so benefitted by the perspective of a picture this big, this ancient and this relevant to events throughout time itself. I have been interested in the Mayan Calendar in times past but never have I been so "grabbed" and held inthralled by the potential of evolving consciousness. What a gift at this timie of so much shifting that all can feel but few can identify sufficiently to draw up a map for living. This book inspires to bend and flex in all the right ways and not to fear but to accept that what is coming will look, feel and be very different from what we are used to.

DiaGnosis: This is an invention, and not the Maya calendar.......2007-02-18

Extracts from the online disgnosis2012 (dotcodotukslashcalldothtm) review that also apperars in the book Beyond 2012:

Swedish researcher Carl Johan Calleman noticed that since the tzolkin can be used as a map of the 13-baktun cycle, it could theoretically also be applied to the larger cycles that have been found on a few stelae, (a stela or stele is an upright lab or pillar with an inscription or sculpture and the plural form is stelae) such as stela 1 at the Coba - a ruined Maya city in the forest sixty miles east of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan. Then he noticed that if this is continued upwards, a cycle is discovered that is close to the scientifically accepted age of the universe. To explain this further, we must first look at the extended version of the Long Count calendar.

Twenty kin or days is one uinal (20 days); eighteen uinals is one tun (360 days; twenty tuns is one katun- 7,200 days (about 20 years); twenty katuns is one baktun - 144,000 days (about 400 years); twenty baktuns is one pictun - 2,880,000 days (about 8,000 years); twenty pictuns is one kalabtun - 57,600,000 days (about 160,000 years); twenty kalabtuns is one kinchiltun - 1,152,000,000 days (about 3.154 million years); twenty kinchiltuns is one alautun (about 63.08 million years); twenty alautuns is one hablatun (about 1.26 billion years); twenty hablatuns is about 25.2 billion years.

What Calleman realized is that thirteen hablatuns would be equal to about 16.4 billion years, which is close to the usual estimate given for the age of the universe; about 15 billion years. If the pattern of the 13 x 20 Sacred Calendar or tzolkin encodes larger sacred cycles, such as the 13-baktun cycle, he reasoned that a whole cosmology of 13-unit cycles, rather than twenty-unit ones, could be represented in a nine-step pyramid form, such as the Pyramid of the Jaguar at Tikal, Guatemala, or the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque, Mexico (the one that conceals the tomb of the ancient Maya ruler, Pacal). In this way, the top or ninth level would represent a 13-uinal period, while the bottom or first level would represent a 13-hablatun period.

So, the topmost layer represented the 260-day tzolkin of thirteen uinals. The next level down would be a 260-uinal cycle of thirteen tuns. The next level down would be a 260-tun cycle of thirteen katuns (this is a cycle normally known as the Short Count). Under this would be a 260-katun cycle of thirteen baktuns (this is the familiar 13-baktun cycle). Below this would be a 260-baktun cycle of thirteen pictuns, and so on. In this way, we would have a nine-level pyramid, where each layer is structured like the tzolkin, but twenty times larger than the layer above.

This is a very intriguing idea, showing how the development and evolution of the universe could be encoded into the structure of the Maya calendrical systems, from the creation of the universe until its final consummation at the end-point. At the junctions of each level of the pyramid, humanity gains another "frame of consciousness", and although Calleman says that speculation on the consciousness that will be accessed at the "summit of the pyramid" would seem to be "almost pointless", he does indulge the reader a little. It will be an end of time, in which no more calendars are needed:

"...the attainment of a time-less cosmic consciousness, and an experience of unity with All-That-Is in its fullest sense, a disappearance of the line dividing life from death. Although many that live today have had temporary experiences of such a cosmic consciousness, these have only been temporary, due to our limiting frame of consciousness. At the end of Creation this may no longer be so and the eternal life may in fact manifest as a time-less cosmic consciousness."

If this sounds familiar, maybe that is because it is based on "several ancient scriptures" that turn out to be mainly the Book of Genesis and the Book of Revelation.

Calleman supports the True Count, as opposed to the Lounsbury correlation, but he realised that his theory would be much neater if only the Long Count had ended on the day 13 Ahau in the tzolkin, instead of 4 Ahau. Incredibly, he decided that the Maya had got it wrong, and says that although he still agrees with the True Count of the tzolkin, the correlation between the Long Count and the tzolkin was wrong. This is something nobody had questioned before, since there has never been any doubt of the tzolkin - to- Long Count correlation; it was set by the Maya and wherever a stela shows the Long Count, it shows the relevant tzolkin date. Previous arguments had concerned how the calendars relate to the Gregorian calendar, not how they relate to each other. Calleman criticized Arguelles for creating his own New Age Dreamspell count, yet has not seen the parallels to his own creation. In fact, he says in reference to later "invented" tzolkin correlations, "Such disregard of the calendrical knowledge of the Classical Maya is not likely to lead to truth", but this applies equally to his own invented Long Count correlation. The result of the change in correlation means that Calleman sees the 13-baktun cycle as starting on June 17th 3115 BC and ending on 28th October 2011.

There is a problem, however, because dividing by twenty works fine until we get to the level beneath the summit of the pyramid, when we find that thirteen tuns is 4680 days, and a twentieth of this is 234 days, not 260 days. Calleman admits this, where he refers to "The short universal cycle of 2011, probably totalling only 13 x 18 = 234 days, but possibly 260 days..." Two diagrams on p.77 of Calleman's book differ on the length of this last cycle - one says 13 x 20 days (260) and the other says 13 x 18 days (234). If the tzolkin level (the Universal Underworld) is shortened to 234 days, so that the pattern (of each level being a twentieth the size of the one above) is retained, then the tzolkin as the key 260-unit "filtration pattern of divine light" is unable to form the top level of the pyramid. Alternatively, if the 260-unit tzolkin is retained as the top level of the pyramid, so that each level consists of 260 sub-units, then the top level will be only an eighteenth the size of the level below, whereas all other levels are a twentieth the size of the level below. Since both solutions lose the symmetry of the pyramid, Calleman is clearly undecided as to which is correct. This brings the validity of the whole pyramid construct into question.

If Calleman had stuck with the Maya Long Count correlation, the idea would have remained an interesting concept, but the idea that the tzolkin "ends" on the day 13 Ahau and "begins" on the day 1 Imix is, in fact, "based upon a misconception of the tzolkin calendar" due to modern conventions in representing it, according to John Major Jenkins. Therefore the alteration to the Long Count was not necessary, and Calleman could have presented the idea without resorting to inventing his own correlation. Calleman now has quite a following, and supporters are presenting his theory as "The Mayan Calendar" or saying, "The Maya say..." when they should say, "Carl Calleman says..." His book is titled The Maya Calendar: Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our Time, but his solution is being taken as the genuine Maya Calendar, when it is an attempted explanation that got out of hand and ended up "massaging" the facts to fit the explanation. Amazingly, José Arguelles has written the introduction to Calleman's sequel book, just as several websites are attempting to combine the theories of Arguelles and Calleman... and even Jenkins. It seems that people are so wary of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, that they have poured all the water into one bath, inadvertently drowning the baby.

Judge Only for YOU..........2007-01-12

Do not take the words of anyone else - especially when it comes to this book. If you want opinions, read ALL of the reviews on this book, not just the negative ones which seem to display most prominently.

I do not know what standards Mr. Jonathan Jett-Parmer thinks this book does not meet, nor does he state what his qualifications are in the subject material. He tells of the the relevance of Dr. Calleman's other works and their apparent qualifications which DO meet with the standards of Mr. Jett-Parmer. However, he does not provide any reasons for such assertions and apparent contradictions.

If he would be so kind as to update his review I think we could all benefit from a more detailed explanation for the opinions he has every right to express.

I would not be surprised if it took most people six months to a year of effort before the material in this book began to sink in and feel like one was learning it, instead of being confused by it. The reason is that it addresses using a calendar other than the one we all share worldwide - the Gregorian calendar. The calendar itself, no matter which one we used at any point in the past, present or future, is the basis for our conscious reality. That is why the book seems like it is not as easy to comprehend as perhaps other readers would expect. I know that I felt dumbfounded and walked away from it several times.

The reason it because the idea that we would use a calendar other than the one we know worldwide is truly a shock to your senses. We don't know how to even think about a calendar other than the one we know. Think about it: have you ever thought once about using another calendar?

I guarantee you have not - not to replace the one we all sharez. How about a year that was not 365 days per year? What about a year that was actually 360 days per year? The same as 360 degrees in a circle? Don't worry - because in this book there is no either/or with the calendar: There are 17 in total, one called the Haab that tracked the solar orbit of 365.2421 days per year and is more accurate than the Gregorian.

On solar orbit, why is that meaningful to our planet, besides the seasons, planting and harvesting to grow food? Why are we so obsessed with how accurate ANY system is in precision timekeeping of the Earth around the sun in a year? I think down to 4 decimal places is good for me.

Would it make sense to have alternatives to try and see if an even 360 day per Galactic Year system would be more likely to relate to other systems in the galaxy and universe? Is it safe to say that, at the very least, the time it takes our little planet to go around the sun in a year means nothing to anyone not on our planet? Why would it? IT ONLY MATTERS IN THIS LITTLE SOLAR ORBIT.

The rest of the universe is based on spherical shapes and sizes, of varying ellipses and precessions and so on, but they are all ultimately 360 degrees round. In the span of thousands to millions to billions of years and years it is the mathemathical relationships that deterine the flow of evolution. That does not mean that Keplers Laws or Newtons Laws are no less important - just that they are only important if what you use them for is relevant - like landing on the surface of a planet. Or putting a sattellite into orbit. Or blasting off from the surface of the planet.

But tracking the progress of our evolution, over 16.64 billion years ago until now, and culminating on October 28, 2011? That is mathematics, and the planets and orbits REPRESENT how it all works together. But the celestial mechanical motions from one day, month or year don't matter in the grand scheme of things. And besides that, if this book is wrong, then there is nothing to fear. Right?

but I am an expert on this book as well as the books by Mr. John Major Jenkins and Jose Arguelles: Jenkins and Arguelles are BOGUS disinformation based on unprovable assertions. This book is based on mathematics and makes no claims that are not verified. Are there assertions and deep thoughts as to the meaning of the math and how that should be interpreted? Of course. As with any book, on any subject, especially a subject as controversial and difficult to comprehend as the Mayan Civilization, if someone is asking you to ignore something for no apparent reason, or they make spurious claims that seem 'fishy' then wonder more about why they are working so hard to close your mind. Keep your mind open at all times, judge for yourself and of any books on the Mayans BUY ONLY THIS BOOK. It is not perfect, but it is the closest to the Truth that we have right now. Thank you.

How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age

Average customer rating:

Don't waste your money
Quick Turnaround
Classic
Think About a Different Book on Critical Thinking
Poor Critical Thinking Skills

How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age
Theodore Schick , and Lewis Vaughn
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time
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Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking

ASIN: 007287953X

Book Description

This brief, inexpensive text helps students think critically, using examples from the weird claims and beliefs that abound in our culture to demonstrate the sound evaluation of any claim. The authors focus on types of logical arguments and proofs, making How to Think about Weird Things a versatile supplement for logic, critical thinking, philosophy of science, or any other science appreciation courses.

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your money.......2007-08-13

This book isn't so much about developing better thinking skills as it is a collection of the authors' opinions presented as science. It can help you practice your ability to locate logical fallacies in arguments, since almost every argument in the book contains at least one. My favorite is the voodoo-math that they use to explain apparent pre-cognition as the result of statistical probability. The first half of the formula that they present relies on the notion that the average person knows a very large number of people who are all, for some reason, dying off at a rate faster than one person every four days. The second half of the formula is omitted entirely, and they instead skip directly to their conclusion. I think that the authors were relying on the intimidation that some people feel when faced with a series of big numbers to keep anyone from analyzing their absurd argument.
The authors also frequently use straw man arguments and several variations of the argument from intimidation in an attempt to reinforce their opinions as facts. If you are really interested in developing your thinking skills, then checking out de Bono's books and The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools would be a good start. There are many great books on the topic, and there's also lots of good information for free online.

Quick Turnaround.......2007-06-12

Received product just over 24 hours from ordering. Was worried about overnight delivery accuracy, but was pleased to receive order on time, as promised.

Classic.......2007-02-04

This book is extraordinarily well-written. It covers much, and covers it well. Not only is it a good primer on skepticism and critical thinking, it should definately be required reading for all "postmodernists." Filled with endless examples and clever arguments, this book is a gold mine for anyone teaching a class on critical thinking or even general science.

Think About a Different Book on Critical Thinking.......2007-01-23

Several other reviewers have made comments to the effect that this book is a bit lame. I agree but instead of regurgitating their complaints I'll specify a few of my own.

Thomas Kuhn, which the authors talk about on pages 83-86, is listed as a hard-core relativist. Even if one limits oneself to reading Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions this claim about him cannot be supported. While it is true that Kuhn's work spawned consonance from many such people that shouldn't be too surprising since Kuhn's book is a work of philosophy/literature and not science. Literature, of any sort, is particularly ripe for such abuse. On page 86 the authors say, "We can even say that people with different conceptual schemes experience the world in different ways". That, in a nutshell, is Kuhn's main point - and to make him out to be an Absolutist Relativist is simply not useful.

In discussing the Availability Error (pp 140-144) in confirmation bias the authors use the example of Madey & Gilovich's study using the reading of a faked diary of prophetic dreams. "When subjects were asked to remember as many of the dreams as possible, they remembered many more of the dreams that were fulfilled than those that were not". What they failed to account for is the fact that dreams that 'came true' were in fact mentioned in the diary twice and the ones that did not 'come true' were mentioned only once. So that of course the students remembered 'true' dreams more often; since not only is there the "wow" factor involved in prophetic accounts coming 'true' but by repeating a story using different verbiage the effect on ones memory is more than twice as much. This mnemonic effect is why professional journal articles have an Abstract, Body and Conclusion.

The authors do a disservice to Intelligent Design by inserting it into the discussion on Creationism (pp 189-191) and then misunderstanding it to boot. There is no indication in the text that we've switched topics - in fact, it seems that instead of re-writing the chapter to deal with the new threat of ID the authors merely lumped in some opinions on the subject. This has the unfortunate effect of disrupting the flow of the text.

The authors also seem to misunderstand Michael Behe's contention (cf Darwin's Black Box) that certain biochemical processes are irreducibly complex. Most biologists, we are told, reject Behe's argument that "the parts of an irreducibly complex system could not have evolved independently of that system". The authors commit the logical fallacy of Equivocation (see p 300 in their book) because by definition any process that is irreducibly complex cannot be built up through time given functional Independence of it parts. If the authors really want to go head to head with the Intelligent Design ideas they should tear into Icons of Evolution - the book that does the most damage to Darwinians IMHO.

Really, almost any other book on logic/critical thinking is better than this one. Stick with Copi's _Introduction to Logic_ (if it's still in print) and you'll be able to think circles around any weirdness you might encounter.

Poor Critical Thinking Skills.......2006-01-07

This book can be savaged by the very critical thinking skills it proposes to teach. The authors insist that a proposition be accurately defined. But rarely attempt to accurately define the concepts they use as examples. They devote a great deal of space to explaining the weakness of individual perception and memory, then insist that reality can only be that which one percieves. One of my greatest criticisms is regular reference to the work of Hyman. Any good skeptic is skeptical of the work of a professional debunker. Hyman is well known for debunking any scientific effort for one might wish to discredit. Thus their regular dependence on Hyman damages their already questionable veracity.

I forced myself to the last chapter, a chapter the authors claim to be example applications of their proposals. I felt they did a poor job of debunking homeopathic medicine, but when they abrubtly dismissed "water witching" because the working hypothesis they defined was faulty, without any discussion of scientific studies or in fact any discussion of the past success or lack thereof, of "witching", I just closed the book and set it on the shelf. It will be in the next batch I trade at the used bookstore.

In conclusion, the authors are sloppy, prejudiced, deceitful, and not particularly good writers. Their position damages science by furthering the cause of those who would call science a "religion" and even worse, but promoting the ideology of the closed, bolted, and sealed mind.

Science has come a long way since Newton first published. The authors seem unaware of this fact.

Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Mysteries of Life and Living

Average customer rating:

This book will help you get out of the "hallways" of life
Good Book
A good read to refer to now and again for reminding you what's important in life
God Bless
Worth the read

Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Mysteries of Life and Living
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross , and David Kessler
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684870754

Amazon.com

After experiencing a paralyzing stroke in 1995 and facing her own mortality, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (author of the renowned On Death and Dying) realized she had some unfinished business to take care of. "I wanted to write one more book, not on death and dying, but on life and living," she explains. So she joined forces with coauthor David Kessler, a leader in the field of hospice care, and together they wrote about the lessons we can learn about living from those who are dying. As Kessler explains in his introduction, "The dying have always been teachers of great lessons, for it's when we are pushed to the edge of life that we see most clearly."

In days gone by, the community would have gathering places where children and adults listened to elders tell their stories of life's challenges and the meaning they found in life. In lieu of that kind of extended community, the authors offer this book, filled with stories from the edge. Then, like fireside elders, they weave these personal stories into themes, such as living authentically, the importance of play, finding one's power, loving relationships, and self-compassion. One cannot say enough about the lasting value of this beautifully written and carefully rendered book. This is your chance to see life from the 20/20 vision of hindsight. In the end what will we value most? Here are some hints: the days we surrendered and became calm, the times we healed that which was broken, and of course all the moments we opened ourselves to love. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Is this really how I want to live my life?

Each one of us at some point asks this question. The tragedy is not that life is short but that we often see only in hindsight what really matters.

In this, her first book on life and living, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross joins with David Kessler to guide us through the practical and spiritual lessons we need to learn so that we can live life to its fullest in every moment. Many years of working with the dying have shown the authors that certain lessons come up over and over again. Some of these lessons are enormously difficult to master, but even the attempts to understand them can be deeply rewarding. Here, in fourteen accessible chapters, from the Lesson of Love to the Lesson of Happiness, the authors reveal the truth about our fears, our hopes, our relationships, and, above all, about the grandness of who we really are.

Customer Reviews:

This book will help you get out of the "hallways" of life.......2007-08-10

The quote from the book that stuck with me was from Ronnie Kaye author of Spinning Straw Into Gold. "In life when one door closes another door always opens, but the hallways are a bitch."

I read this book three years ago after my sister passed from cancer and really learned a lot from it. If you have had someone close to you die or know someone that has had the unpleasant experience of having to battle for their life every day, this book may be of some help to you in learning "how" to interact with them. Learning to cope with a disease is never easy for the patient or the family and friends. This book is a good attempt to help each of us do just that.

I recently picked the book up again after experiencing a missed opportunity that cost me five months salary. This book brought closure to the experience. The wisdom from this book has reinforced my decision not to seek a legal remedy through the court system as a solution to my difference of opinion with my former employer. It made me realize that in life, the reality is that some relationships just don't work out. It has saved me time, money and energy that otherwise may have been wasted. After finishing the book a second time, I walk away feeling like I have been given a gift. I have been given a second opportunity to change my life and move on.

Good Book.......2007-06-26

I learned so much from theis book. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler did a fine job.

A good read to refer to now and again for reminding you what's important in life.......2007-05-09

This book has a lot of good advice and insight to it. There are some referecences here and there to god and whatnot, and I'm not a religious person at all, but this book is not what some people may think because the ideas still apply regardless of your POV of spirituality; it's about lessons in life and isn't telling people to follow this or that or morals of any certain religion (the authors don't try to press that onto the reader). So, if you are anti-religious...and you start reading, notice such mentionings, plus you're turned off by such things, I advise you still don't pass over this book (it's not as if every-other word is "god" or something like that anyway). I would recommend this read to anyone. I really enjoyed it and it helped to remind me what parts in life are trivial compared to what's really important.

God Bless.......2007-05-07

I do not do surveys... Thank you... THe star is not my opinion...as I do not do surveys I placed a zero as a title...for my review

God Bless

Arthur C Parman

Worth the read.......2007-03-29

This book will open your eyes, your mind and your heart.
It will provide you with the truth and do so lovingly.
It is well worth the read and it's benefits are lasting ones.
I highly recommend Elisabeth Kubler-Ross to any and everyone.
I found her after I had lost my sister unexpectedly and all
of her books helped me to heal and to open myself in ways that
continue today. You will be blessed, so read her books.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition)

Average customer rating:

A very good color paperback of a classic book
cheap and handy but not so very illustrated
A penultimate work in the history of the occult!
A Book to be Ensouled
Interesting Overview and Good Starting Point

The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition)
Manly P. Hall
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Isis Unveiled [Two Volume Set]

ASIN: 1585422509
Release Date: 2003-10-23

Book Description

A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, ritual, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is available for the first time in a compact "reader's edition."

Like no other book of the twentieth century, Manly P. Hall's legendary The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world. Students of hidden wisdom, ancient symbols, and arcane practices treasure Hall's magnum opus above all other works.

While many thousands of copies have sold since its initial publication in 1928, The Secret Teachings of All Ages has previously been available only in oversized, expensive editions. For the first time, Hall's celebrated classic is now published in an affordable trade paperback volume. Literally hundreds of entries shine a rare light on some of the most fascinating and closely held aspects of myth, religion, and philosophy from throughout the centuries.

More than one hundred line drawings and a sixteen-page color insert reproduce some of the finest illustrations of the original book, while reset and reformatted text makes this edition of The Secret Teachings of All Ages newly accessible to readers everywhere.

Download Description

Simply put, this is the most fascinating and complete occult book ever published. It represents a lifetime of research into the mythology, symbolism, and magical practices of countless cultures. From the secrets of Isis to the teachings of mystic Christianity, nearly every occult dogma imaginable is represented here. PDF searchable text-only format.

Customer Reviews:

A very good color paperback of a classic book.......2007-10-05

The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a must have book for anyone interested in esoteric knowledge. This is the best version of the book, short of obtaining one of the original 800 hard covers. It has all of the essential pictures and insets, many of which are absent in the reader's edition.

cheap and handy but not so very illustrated.......2007-07-12

a nice book containing alot info on many ancients topics. see index. Manly Hall has done a great job here. At some chapters it is nice to know some more of the current mytology on beforehand.
for a book this big it's good to have it in a handy paperback. The text is over 70 years and copyright is not renewed so this book is also freely available on the internet. I was hoping this printed book would be more illustrated than the online version. it does have some nice color illustration in the midle but througout the book it was not as illustrated as I expected.

A penultimate work in the history of the occult!.......2007-06-08

This is probably one of the most voluminous books I've ever read, but I won't complain. I really think that the author had a keen knowledge that seems to be missing among more "elusive" new-age types. I am almost finished reading it and I can say this book is quite interesting; the only chapters that didn't fascinate me had to do with science, but I'm really not one for science and never have been.

A Book to be Ensouled.......2007-05-19

I can add little to what the others that have reviewed this book have said other than to give it my highest personal endorsement. Mr. Hall was that rarest of true scholars- the Agrippa of our age.

There are those that will question why genuine "secret teachings" should be published for the general public. The author answers this near the end of the book in recounting the tale of Alexander's displeasure in hearing that his mentor Aristotle had published one of his most profound discourses for anyone to read. Aristotle's reply was that those who lacked spiritual comprehension would gain little from reading the book. That is also true in our time. Most people will not read this book, and those who do (if not ready) will dismiss it as nonsense. That certainly applied to me in my youth. It is a foolproof lock to wisdom- it will sound like foolishness to those who have not yet obtained to spiritual comprehension. You have to be capable of contemplating such teachings and then internalizing them (or "ensouling" them in the author's terminology.)

This book is truly a link of the Golden Chain. The author understood the importance of the Mysteries, of Pythagoras and Plato, of the perennial wisdom that flows through the ages. That is why this book will never be dated- such wisdom springs from the Source and can only be recollected. That Hall could have mastered so much in his 20's is remarkable. That he was sensitive to the growing danger of unbalanced soulless materialism so young makes him a true prophet. Given his times and backgoround I can only assume that this man was directly initiated by the Gods themselves.

This Tarcher/Penguin edition is truly a reader's edition. The type is actually readable as opposed to some of the reduced facsimile editions. It is unabridged and most of the important illustrations are included. The table of contents is very detailed and useful and there is a full index. Still, one day, I will own my own copy of the magnificent full-sized original for it is as much a work of art as it is a compendium of knowledge and wisdom.

Interesting Overview and Good Starting Point.......2007-04-12

This is a good overview of some of the various "secret" teachings throughout history. Rather than sate my curiosity, it made me more curious about these teachings and the unifying themes within. I think the book was a little too speculative at times and had a heavy leaning towards Masons and Rosicrucians. That said, I recommend it for anyone who wants to get a sense of the secret teachings that seem to be a part of all ages, both outside and hidden within the traditional religious teachings.

Tales from the Time Loop: The Most Comprehensive Expos of the Global Conspiracy Ever Written and All You Need to Know to Be Truly Free

Average customer rating:

David Icke is telling the truth.
Best book I've ever read
Balony
IS DAVID ICKE STARTING TO MAKE SENSE?
No room left for cowards...

Tales from the Time Loop: The Most Comprehensive Expos of the Global Conspiracy Ever Written and All You Need to Know to Be Truly Free
David Icke
Manufacturer: David Icke Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0953881040

Customer Reviews:

David Icke is telling the truth........2007-09-11

the reason it sounds so fantastic is that the average person does not have the information. They live in a fog of network television and canned news media - all of which are owned & controlled by the ones behind the so-called 'conspiracy'.

Do the research. It's no story - it's real.

Best book I've ever read.......2007-09-11

The conclusions in this book about the nature of reality and how it's all an illusion have changed my life for the best. Icke is very thorough and well documented in trying to support his claims. I couldn't put the book down. Five stars.

Balony.......2006-11-25

Hehe, O.K. I bought the book -- it's not the first time I've thrown away money and won't be the last. After skimming through it and reading this guy's life story, which includes "voices" psychics, and god-knows what else, I can say that I refuse to waste my valuable time reading this clap-trap. Let me suggest that everyone thinking about buying this book, read THIS book first you will be doing yourself a lifelong favor.

IS DAVID ICKE STARTING TO MAKE SENSE?.......2006-09-18

It's easy to simply reject someone who says the world is run by manipulative reptilians posing as world leaders; that George Bush, Tony Blair, the British monarch, and many other prominent people are blood-drinking child-abusers who engage in secret rituals unknown to the rest of us. Despite David Icke's seemingly outrageous claims, I found some logic as well as interesting and possibly credible theories in Tales From the Time Loop. In contast to his earlier books, he has shifted his beliefs in a more positive direction. It sounds a lot like he is embracing spirituality and the immortality of the soul. He accepts the existence of the astral world, a place or state with many levels occupied by beings with numerous agendas and understandings of the universe. But he rejects reincarnation as separate lifetimes ("there is no time") or that life in a human body is a journey toward perfection. In Icke's version of reality, there is no karma, no need to make up for evil deeds or mistakes. Everything is an illusion. What is missing in his framework, in my opinion, is purpose. Why does reality exist? Why are we here playing these games?

What about the evil reptilians? Why are they here and what do they want? Icke finally gives us a reason the reptilians must sacrifice humans and drink blood. He says they have a problem remaining in this dimension and they need human DNA to keep from shifting back to their own dimension. They sometimes do shapeshift into reptiles, and he quotes numerous witnesses who have seen them shift. Icke takes pokes at the frenzy of interest in the bloodline of Jesus (theories that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had children). He says the so-called Jesus bloodline is just part of the reptilian bloodline. In a previous book, he claimed there was no historical Jesus, so I don't know what to make of this new belittling of the Jesus bloodline.

But the repitilians seem to fade in importance behind his major thesis, that we are all participating in a Time Loop in which history keeps repeating itself. Everything in the Time Loop (our apparent universe as well as the astral world) vibrates. Only Oneness does not vibrate. David found a parallel to this idea in the movie, The Matrix, which obviously impressed him much more than it impressed me. I found the Matrix movies silly stories thinly built around special effects. Despite his admiration for matrix-buster Neo, Icke criticizes the media for being purveyors of falsehood that serve the Illuminati agenda.

Speaking of history, I do not think David Icke is anti-semitic as some of his critics charge. He is absolutely correct in defending anyone's right to express their point of view, even if it is repugnant and can be proven wrong. David is not a holocaust-denyer, but he does think people have a right to deny the holocaust. If we had an intelligent, educated populace, there would be few takers for theories like "there was no holocaust" that are so contrary to tons of evidence. He also explores an interesting idea about the origin of today's Jewish population. There is some evidence that the Ashkenazi Jews (those who come from Europe) were at least in part related to a non-semitic people called the Khazars who converted to Judaism in 740 AD. They occupied territory that is mostly in modern-day Turkey. The significance of this (according to Icke) is that it refutes the idea that present-day Israel was an ancestral home to its current Jewish inhabitants.

But as the book progresses, Icke sounds more like many New Agers in proclaiming that human consciousness will shift into higher gear and can defeat the Illuminati. He gained some new insights, he says, while taking a psychoactive drug, ayahuasca, in Brazil. This was his first foray into mind-altering drugs and he tells us he received a great deal of information from a voice in his head. I believe him (this is not an uncommon experience) but I recognize that we do not know the origin of these voices. They may originate within ourselves, or they may come from spiritual entities outside ourselves. In either case, we cannot be sure what they tell us contains any actual truth.

Why bother reading Tales From the Time Loop or any of David Icke's books? I don't know if there are any actual Illuminati plotting to take over the world, but I do know the world is full of evil, with its endless wars, unrelenting poverty and destructive competition for precious natural resources. Icke's critics can be pretty hard on him, but I think his message deserves a hearing. I want to live in a world where David Icke can say and write what he believes and where I am free to say and write what I think of what he believes.

No room left for cowards..........2006-09-07

This is a great and challenging book, not for the faint of heart. David Icke presents a vision of the world which is radically different from the one which we are spoonfed from cradle to grave. Think of the courage it takes to get up on the world stage and bring forth this kind of information. People who pan Icke (and others in the truth movement) are nothing more than staid cowards, unwilling to integrate and adapt...worst of all, unwilling to listen and think these things through. Bottom line: read this book and pass it on to friends; time is running short and our freedoms are eroding before our eyes. It's time to wake up and rise to our true and magnificent human potential...and Icke is here to help on us our way.

Children of the Matrix: How an Interdimensional Race has Controlled the World for Thousands of Years-and Still Does

Average customer rating:

Children of the Matrix
5 for the courage alone. Bravo Icke.
Terrible
Political/social dissent literature
Well it did cause icke to go on writing more books

Children of the Matrix: How an Interdimensional Race has Controlled the World for Thousands of Years-and Still Does
David Icke
Manufacturer: David Icke Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0953881016

Book Description

The Publisher claims that we are born into a world controlled by unseen forces that have plagued and manipulated humanity for thousands of years. No, this is no script from a Hollywood movie. It is claimed to be happening to you NOW. You may look around and think that what you see is “real”. But in truth you are living in an illusion - an illusion designed to keep you in a mental, emotional, spiritual prison cell.

David Icke exposes these forces and their methods of human control and he claims to reveal a fantastic web of global manipulation, orchestrated by forces byond this physical realm. He exposes the hidden bloodlines, through which other-dimensional entities live and operate unseen among us; and he claims to show how the bloodlines of the royal, political, and economic rulers of today are the same as those who ruled as the kings and queens of ancient times.

Customer Reviews:

Children of the Matrix.......2007-05-13

Extremely informative, as are all David Icke's Books. Holds your attention. Encourages you to pay closer attention as to what is going on all around you.

5 for the courage alone. Bravo Icke........2006-06-15

Some people prefer to look at Icke's claims as strickly metaphors (who wouldn't agree that the World's elite are reptilian snakes, evil, and shape-shifters based on their actions?) which is dead on and endlessly relevant - especially these days. And don't forget, Icke has been saying this stuff for almost 15 years, so over that time he has been disturbingly prophetic which just adds to his credibility. Fifteen years ago he could be dismissed as simply a ranting clown, now those of us who have some sort of clue that "things are amiss" are forced to re-evaluate his claims.

On the other hand, there are a growing number of people who prefer to take Icke's writing as totally literal, which obviously, is far too much for most sheeple to accept. The controlling elite with hybrid DNA who are able to shape shift into creatures that look like Reptiles and are somehow directed in their agenda by entities outside of our realm? Say again?! Well, the strange thing is, many other "elite" people have very similar views, who have no interest or connection with Icke. Very similar themes occur in various genres of literature over many hundreds of years. Why is this? Why are the elite so interested in human DNA? Why do we have the R-complex as part of our brains? Why is the story of human evolution (which is what my training orginally was in) so murky, corrupt and political? Why won't "Atlantis" go away (even Plato wrote about its existence in literal terms)? Why is quantum physics, holographic and string theories now providing framework for the existence of other dimensions and realms beyond our normal senses? Why don't we realize that we perceive with our 5 senses only 1% of the known light / sound spectrum (which is less than cats and dogs, by the way)? Why is the UFO community so convoluted and seemingly infiltrated? Why all the talk and "whistle-blowing" regarding underground caverns, bases, and even cities? I don't claim to know... One thing I do know is that prior to reading Icke, the events that endlessly unfold in the World seemed so mysterious, unrelated, random, pointless, maddening, disheartening, etc. But Icke's ideas really do de-mystify and explain a great many things that have occurred and continue to occur, albeit in a way that literally challenges you to redefine your reality. Unfortunately, post-Icke, the World appears to me more evil, maddening, and scary, which are themes that he tries to address and quell in his most recent works.

Never mind the typos in this book, it's Icke very controversial ideas (many of which are borrowed and pieced together) that are worth the price, metaphorical or not. And the ultimate value is discovering why you might have such visceral reactions to those ideas. In other words, it's a way of understanding the depth that you might be burried within the Matrix. But, I would suggest that there is a REASON why you read the book, or are reading this and contemplating buying it; follow your instincts not your conditioned knee-jerk reactions.

Terrible .......2006-05-30

Where do I begin ?

Icke has absolutely no idea what he's talking about in this book. He relentlessly mixes facts with fiction to create a rather disturbing cocktail of nonsense for the reader.

Does anyone honestly believe that reptillian beings actually exist in any form other than subconscious manifestations of serpent archetypes ? The fact that NO ONE has actually witnessed a reptillian being publicly speaks volumes about Icke's delusional psyche.

I get the feeling that Icke wrote this book to satisfy peoples curiosity and to feed them what they want to hear. This is Icke's MO as of the biggest secret - mix fact and fiction together to create fear and misdirection at the same time. All the while Icke pockets a princely sum for his overpriced "books" and phony "lectures".

I'm certainly not going to give Icke one penny for this diseased garbage. He should be ashamed of himself for writing such mindless unsupported rubbish.

Political/social dissent literature.......2006-05-06

If a fiction writer actually BELIEVES to be true the fiction he writes, does that free him to write a wilder, more detailed story? Icke proves that it does.

Conspiracy literature is the new literature of dissent. It's not difficult to deconstruct the mythology that Icke has pulled together. The world, he claims, is "secretly" controlled by shape-shifting reptiles who also happen to commit unspeakable crimes against children. Bush, Clinton, and the other world rulers are certainly "reptilian" in that they are cold-blooded men governed by their deeper animal instincts and desires, such as greed and bloodlust. They are "shape-shifters" because they are deceitful, liars, and they cannot be "pinned down" (as if Kerry is the only one who ever "flip-flopped" on an issue).

Our rulers are "snakes." Their policies are the moral equivalent of child molestation, because they starve, bomb, fail to educate, or otherwise oppress most of the world's children.

Icke's ideas (outrageous, of course, on the literal level) provide his readers with a mythology and meta-narrative of the world in an age when traditional mythologies and religions have crumbled. Some of you readers need to get a grip on yourselves. Read properly, David Icke can provide some fascinating LITERARY insights into the world we all live in.

(For some reason I can't edit my review, I can really only give this THREE STARS because of Dave's bad grammar and run-on sentences.)

Well it did cause icke to go on writing more books.......2006-03-17

did anyone who reviewed this book actually go and look at the bloodline connection, PLEASE!!!!! atleast if there are no reptilians then WTF do all the world leaders have to share their bloodline connections for???

icke does not appear to me to be perfect, i am not either, and i am not defending him, i have seen him defend himself on many occasions, but atleast he tries to put forward many extreme things, true or not, i think that icke deserves 4 stars, for interests sake.

oh yes for those wanting to know more about the illuminati / all seeing eye cult side of things, read the illuminatus trillogy by robert anton wilson and robert shea, wilson is a high recomendation of mine.

go icke and all who put forward their theories on the all seeing eye of lucifer.

The Children of Now: Crystalline Children, Indigo Children, Star Kids, Angels on Earth, and the Phenomenon of Transitional Children

Average customer rating:

anecdotal, thought inspiring, does not totally convince
The Children of Now
Fascinating book!!!
This book is a must read!
The Children of Now

The Children of Now: Crystalline Children, Indigo Children, Star Kids, Angels on Earth, and the Phenomenon of Transitional Children
Meg Blackburn Losey
Manufacturer: New Page Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Beyond the Indigo Children: The New Children and the Coming of the Fifth World
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ASIN: 156414948X

Book Description

The Children of Now is a groundbreaking work that shows that a large number of kids come into the world bearing inherent gifts that are beyond strange--they are telepathic, understand subtle energies, and/or have amazing psychic abilities. Many of them remember where they were before they came to Earth and often can describe past lives.

Many doctors mislabel them as autistic, ADD, ADHD, or suggest other behavioral difficulties. More than half the time, these doctors are wrong. The Children of Now are not defective--they are differently functional. We are doing ourselves and the world a great disservice by not acknowledging these amazing children and their special gifts.

A surprising percentage of these children carry within themselves wisdom far beyond most adults. The phenomenon is very real, and more and more of these highly evolved children enter our world every day. The Children of Now offers not only genuine stories of many children who have brought amazing talents into our world, but also practical, easy solutions to assist society in supporting and nurturing these gifted--not defective--children and their families, rather than labeling, segregating, and condemning them.

Fascinating to anyone with an open mind, and life-illuminating for parents with these incredible kids, Meg offers detailed answers derived from counseling real kids in real families.

The Children of Now is a must-read for every parent, teacher, caregiver, and child advocate. In it you'll discover:

- Why our children's DNA is different from previous generations'.
- The traits and needs of the Crystalline Children.
- The Children of the Stars and why they are here.
- Real stories of real children as Dr. Meg helps them and their families search for answers.
- Why these kids are exhibiting telepathy, telekinesis, healing abilities, and more.
- How to help the Children of Now at home, at school, and socially.

Customer Reviews:

anecdotal, thought inspiring, does not totally convince.......2007-10-08

This book was a little new agey for me. However the points the author makes about human institutions not serving the person, the mis/diagnoses of kids who operate other than from a linear, blind obedience paradigm were well worthwhile. The author's experience with kids was interesting to the point i could not stop reading. However her categorizations of star kids, crystalline etc I could not buy into. I also hold these children have always been, although we may have more recognition of it. I would call these children "mystics" although i use the term a little loosely here. The author is an excellent writer and well worth reading---critically.

The Children of Now.......2007-09-20

I found this book very interesting. Dr. Meg's evolution and her description of her development and how it dovetailed into working with these kids was fascinating.

Fascinating book!!!.......2007-04-29

This book is a definite must for anyone around gifted kids,be it an overnight sitter or a parent.Meg describes the phenomenon in a believable,down to earth style without the New Age hype and sentimentalism that is characteristic of so many others who write about the gifted kids.The author also mentions valuble tips on how to support and nurture these kids in the last chapter.Overall, I believe this will be a major step forward in the upbringing of these children.The only part which I felt was somewhat lacking is the despcription of the aura,the differences between each energy type in it and what traits a certain type might cause in a child.

This book is a must read!.......2007-04-21

I got it from the library, read it in one evening, and promptly came here to get one in a hurry. It blew me away! Some of the information was familiar but the new information was tremendous. She explained what is going on with the most compassion. And she speaks from personal experience, not just from research. This should be REQUIRED reading for anyone in charge of kids.

The Children of Now.......2007-03-29

Hello: This information explains the behavior and unique giftedness of what is perceived as abnormalilties in children. Children are our hope for the future.

The institutions which are in place to serve our children are antiquated and disempower the children rather than nurture and educate them; this being schools and medical system alike.

A must read for both professionals and parents.

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

Average customer rating:

It's only a slice of the book!
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
The Book that proved the importance of the CROWD - READ IT BEFORE INVESTING!!!!!
Why our kids MUST still study European History a.k.a. 'The History of Dead White Males'
First 100 pages good, but the rest of the book was slow

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Charles MacKay
Manufacturer: Harriman House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Devil Take the Hindmost: A History of Financial Speculation
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The Great Crash 1929

ASIN: 1897597320

Amazon.com

Why do otherwise intelligent individuals form seething masses of idiocy when they engage in collective action? Why do financially sensible people jump lemming-like into hare-brained speculative frenzies--only to jump broker-like out of windows when their fantasies dissolve? We may think that the Great Crash of 1929, junk bonds of the '80s, and over-valued high-tech stocks of the '90s are peculiarly 20th century aberrations, but Mackay's classic--first published in 1841--shows that the madness and confusion of crowds knows no limits, and has no temporal bounds. These are extraordinarily illuminating,and, unfortunately, entertaining tales of chicanery, greed and naivete. Essential reading for any student of human nature or the transmission of ideas.

In fact, cases such as Tulipomania in 1624--when Tulip bulbs traded at a higher price than gold--suggest the existence of what I would dub "Mackay's Law of Mass Action:" when it comes to the effect of social behavior on the intelligence of individuals, 1+1 is often less than 2, and sometimes considerably less than 0.

Book Description

First published in 1841, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds is often cited as the best book ever written about market psychology. This Harriman House edition includes Charles Mackay's account of the three infamous financial manias - John Law's Mississipi Scheme, the South Sea Bubble, and Tulipomania.Between the three of them, these historic episodes confirm that greed and fear have always been the driving forces of financial markets, and, furthermore, that being sensible and clever is no defence against the mesmeric allure of a popular craze with the wind behind it.In writing the history of the great financial manias, Charles Mackay proved himself a master chronicler of social as well as financial history. Blessed with a cast of characters that covered all the vices, gifted a passage of events which was inevitably heading for disaster, and with the benefit of hindsight, he produced a record that is at once a riveting thriller and absorbing historical document. A century and a half later, it is as vibrant and lurid as the day it was written.For modern-day investors, still reeling from the dotcom crash, the moral of the popular manias scarcely needs spelling out. When the next stock market bubble comes along, as it surely will, you are advised to recall the plight of some of the unfortunates on these pages, and avoid getting dragged under the wheels of the careering bandwagon yourself.

Customer Reviews:

It's only a slice of the book!.......2007-06-27

I first discovered this book 40 years ago, and especially loved its description of the witchcraft hysteria. This is a lovely little edition, but it is only a small subset of the entire work, dealing specifically in three economic bubbles. It would have been good reading in 2000.

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.......2007-05-18

Years ago, in one of my MBA courses the Prof. mentioned this book and alluded to sections within the text how events which occured years ago are still applicable and effective today. My curiosity was picked so I searched for a copy and was able to obtain one at a local library. The reading was engrossing to say the least. The book deal with mass hysteria and mass public manipulation for political and financial gains. The events described are of massive proportions with world wide application and implication. After reading the book a big question mark floats over society where it allows itself over and over to fall on mass to charlatans, liars and deceivers who manage to lure the public to believe and trust their sordid tales and flim-flam to the point of selling their souls for a piece of the allusive dream. I recently found an old copy of the term paper I wrote on the book and decided to add a copy to my personal library. Rereading the book brought back the memories of class discussions and the interesting events mentioned. The books givs the reader a better understanding of how major world events take shape from rumors and minor incidents. A very easy read with a great and event filled story line. Should be read by all.

The Book that proved the importance of the CROWD - READ IT BEFORE INVESTING!!!!!.......2007-03-15

If you are a stock market investor, than this book must appear as one of your top 10 books to read. Investors really have no choice but to read this book because unlike any book you will ever read, this book teaches you about the CROWD. What motivates the crowd, and what causes people to join the crowd. If you were to ask any of the famous investors you have read about, every one of them is aware of the importance of CROWD PSYCHOLOGY. Warren Buffett has always talked about Mr. Market, which he learned from Benjamin Graham.

Now having said this let me tell you quickly what this book is about. MacKay in a brilliant, and in an interesting manner takes you through 700 pages of mass buying panics from centuries ago. These include The Witch Mania (100 pages) in the 15th and 16th century. The Crusades (100 pages), Alchemy (160 pages), and the Poisoners- hey, poisoning people was a big thing centuries ago- remember Napoleon.

The big buying binge that most people recognize is the South Sea Tulip Craze, where the participants bid up the price of tulips, yes tulips to the equivalent cost of houses and more. We're not done, MacKay goes through many, many more crazes, panics, and buying binges. All of these stories involve the CROWD. Extraordinary Popular Delusions... has survived the test of time. We do not know if anything being written today, or any studies being researched currently will be able to stand the time test? We only know that MacKay's book has.

Is the book interesting?

Yes it's fascinating, but you have to be interested in this subject. If you are in the financial markets you have no to STUDY, NOT READ this book. I say this because I have been a money manager and history buff for 35 years. If I did not live through the modern equivalent of MacKay's book, frankly I wouldn't believe half the stuff that is in this book, which is presented as truth.

The reality is I have seen MacKay's explanations work out in my own lifetime, and so have you. A few 20th century equivalents are in order:

1) INTERNET STOCK MAREKT CRAZE: 1999 - 2000
Wow, I did an analysis of the market value, of a major Internet stock in play at the time of the craze. The stock was representative of hundreds of other companies participating in the run-up in value. One day, I discovered that this Internet stock's market value was the equivalent of ten major corporations combined. These companies included IBM, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Electronic Data Processing, JC Penny, Sears, and others, all combined. It couldn't be. Did I calculate wrong? It was true, and the number was getting bigger every day.

Over $1.4 trillion dollars had been committed to Internet stocks by some of the smartest savviest people in the world. When it was over, that $1.4 trillion was reduced to under $100 billion. Over 90 plus percent of the value had simply disappeared. This was Extraordinary Popular Delusions all over again, and you lived through it too.

2) Personal Note: During the Internet Craze, I was re-tooling by taking courses at Harvard University. Every five years, I try to do this. I would drive up once a week and spend eight hours in financial classes with some of America's truly outstanding teaching professors to see what's new in academia that hasn't hit the money management industry yet. These world-renowned professors all got swept into the Internet stock market craze. They personally lost substantial pieces of their net worth. Every one of them was claiming that we were in a new age. They were throwing out their financial training out the window.

These were Professors who had read every page of MacKay's book, underlined it, annotated it, and even memorized sections. This is what you need to know. The first words that come out of a person's mouth involved in mass hysteria are - THIS TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. It's a dead giveaway that we are in a POPULAR DELUSION.

3) The American Invasion of Iraq: Forget whether the President was right or wrong. Every intelligence agency in the world believed that the Iraqi's had weapons of mass destruction. David Kay, perhaps the smartest man in government believed it. This again, is an example of the crowd psychology in action.

4) Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba- President Kennedy as smart a man as they come got swept up into the crowd psychology believing along with everyone else that 1500 poorly trained Cubans could land on a beach in Cuba, and then suddenly without support, walk their way into Havana picking up ordinary people on the countryside who would swell their ranks and allow these expatriates to overthrow the Castro regime. These were the smartest men in government that believed this.

The list goes on and on, and if you the reader live long enough, you will see yourself swept up in these instances of mass hysteria. If two Presidents of the United States can get caught up in crowd psychology, we all better be on the lookout for it. Good luck.

Richard Stoyeck

Why our kids MUST still study European History a.k.a. 'The History of Dead White Males' .......2007-03-08

While I agree with several reviewers who comment that this book is a bit uneven--several chapters are much weaker than others--overall, this was an eye-popping book for me, for several reasons. A reader of some key chapters in this book, hears that most vital history lesson of all time with a rarely experienced degree of punch. The lesson? (One whose punchline goes way beyond its utility to investors and speculators...the part of the book many reviewers here hone in on). That mankind repeats its past mistakes, atrocities, and stupidities with amazing regularity and amnesia. Why does this book stand out in driving this lesson home? Because it catalogues in exquisitely gory detail, a long list of lessons we never learn from. Each sorry chapter of human history is replayed in a vivid blow by blow account. Each tale immediately reminds the reader of a similar one that preceded or followed it in time. Each tale has a pivotal turning point, which signals a shift from mob hysteria to mob self awareness. Following this turning point is a series of communal actions and avowals meant to cleanse the community in which the folly occurred of all its remnants, and immunize it from a re-infection by the same disease....But then comes the next chapter, and the next, and the next. The lesson that's driven home is--we keep going back over and over.
There are two chapters in this book that stood out in particular-- the one on the Witch Hunt fever that swept Puritan New England in the 18th century, and the one describing the Christian Crusades of the late Middle Ages. The first is the quintessential case in point of historical amnesia. The very men who barely a generation before fled to America to escape religious persecution, become the ridiculous kangaroo court inquisitors of helpless women accused of "witchcraft", and carry on their kangaroo proceedings without a trace of insight into their glaring hypocrisy, paganism, or fascism. Men barely done with thanking their new land for its gift to them of tolerance and due process, decide their fellow humans' fate by the famous test: "if she drowns she's innocent...if she doesn't we burn her as a witch". The second tale, of the Crusades, stands out in its subject matter, as particularly salient to modern Christians who (justly) cringe at the mob fanaticism overtaking many Muslim lands. We are forced to look in the mirror and see...there went we. The message is: THEY who terrorize us are being dangerously "washed" in the brain. But we too were for well over a century the inflamed cannon fodder of craven pseudo-holy cleric imposters and politicians. The CONTENT that drives current terror is religion, but the PURPOSE is that timeless human motive--greed and power.
The author recounts these sorry tales with a dispassionate prose, relentlessly unsparing of detail. Though dense at times as reviewers pointed out, I found his style really quite eloquent and effective. He appeals to his readers in an intimate and trusting tone, as a historian speaking to readers who are enlightened men--who share his ironic verdicts on past stupidities, and join him in affirming that, finally, enabled by unvarnished full accountings of our past, "we modern men will never be such fools again!" He occasionally adds a reality check: ".....will we?" Of course, the book's 160 year age gives us the answer of time......The answer? Well, as so nicely put by a contemporary social commentator named Borat (whose movie has a theme similar to MacKay's, applied to mob fanatics of the present day) ...."NOOOOOOT !!!!"

First 100 pages good, but the rest of the book was slow.......2006-09-27

I recommend Edward Chancellor's "Devil Take the Hindmost" instead of this book. I enjoyed this book for first hundred pages (financial speculation), but I was not interested in the later sections of the book.

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