History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Immortal Cell: One Scientist's Quest to Solve the Mystery of Human Aging

Average customer rating:

Refreshing tale of a driven scientist.
more self promotion than the discussion of the subject matter
Nothing too special
A good and easy read which opens perspectives
WOW...what an illuminating read!

The Immortal Cell: One Scientist's Quest to Solve the Mystery of Human Aging
Michael D. West
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385509286
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Amazon.com

Human beings have always hungered for immortality. But even in myths, those who find the secrets of eternal life often have to pay a high price. Michael West, CEO of Advanced Cell Technology, has spent most of his career as a biotechnologist seeking ways to make mammalian cells live forever. His successes put him at the center of political, moral, and religious firestorms. In The Immortal Cell, West offers not only a chronology of the emerging science of immortality, but a personal journal of his own path from strict creationist to ardent scientist seeking to shape human evolution. It was West and his cohorts who announced in 2001 that by inserting a person's own DNA into an unfertilized egg cell from a woman of reproductive age, they could create embryonic stem cells--cells that might be able to repair any number of problems for the DNA donor, including burns, cancer, degenerative disorders, and even normal aging. Accused of "playing God," West became one of the central figures in the debates on human cloning and was compared to Osama bin Laden by one histrionic news agent. In The Immortal Cell, West describes both the research and the furor that followed. Though the biology is a little tough for general readers, West does a fine job of using diagrams and step-by-step descriptions to explain his processes of cell culture and manipulation. The debate over therapeutic cloning of human cells is far from over, and readers seeking to better understand the debate will find West's book an unapologetic, one-sided argument in favor of human stem cell research. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

The extraordinary story of the breakthrough discoveries in cell aging, stem cell research, and therapeutic cloning, and the tremendous promise they hold for dramatically extending human life.
Dr. Michael West has been consumed with the mystery of science since he was as an inquisitive child mixing chemicals in his attic-turned-laboratory. Today, he stands in the center of a controversy so great that the list of those lining up against him includes President George W. Bush.
Once a devoted creationist eager to dispel theories of human evolution, Dr. West was set on a quest to find a scientific solution to the devastating effects of disease and death after the death of his father. He became immersed in the study of cell aging and the discovery of the cellular “clock” telomerase – the mechanism that controls cell aging. His work led him to found the biotechnology company Geron, a pioneer in the field of stem cell research. His new company, Advanced Cell Technology, is the only organization in the United States pursuing human therapeutic cloning research – research in the field of “regenerative medicine” intended to repair damaged and diseased human organs and tissues.
Unlike reproductive cloning, the attempt to clone a human child, therapeutic cloning is a process of growing cells, using a patient’s own DNA that is inserted it into an unfertilized egg cell to create embryonic stem cells, cells that hold the promise of repairing the damage of age and disease – in essence, making the cell young again. The potential for therapeutic cloning to treat afflictions caused by the loss of dysfunction of cells – from spinal cord injury and skin burns to kidney failures and cancer – is enormous.
Part memoir, part adventure story, The Immortal Cell chronicles the breakthroughs Dr. West and other scientists have made in biotechnology over the past decade – and the astonishing potential they offer us to cure diseases and improve the quality of human life.

Customer Reviews:

Refreshing tale of a driven scientist........2006-07-23

This amazing book reads like a Michael Crichton novel; full of suspense, moral predicaments, and uncertainies, with the added bonus of it being a true story. The author truly captures the intensity of being on the cutting edge of controversial science; give this to your kid and they will give up on 'cops and robbers' and want to be a scientist when they grow up. Read it yourself, and you will gain new insight into the controversy. Highly recommended.

more self promotion than the discussion of the subject matter.......2005-10-21

After reading so many positive reviews, I ordered the book, and expected to learn in-depth insight into the immortality of cells.
I was disappointed. This book is more of the author's personal story of pursuing the goal of revering aging rather than detailed look into the biological nature of aging. There are tidbits of gems here and there, but the density is low. If you are looking for amserious discussion of the subject matter, this book is not for you.

Nothing too special.......2005-06-18

This book is a narrative account of the author's attempts over the years to study aging. There was a lot of discussion about stem cells. I was hoping for more commentary on immortality, but he talked a lot about therapeutic uses of stem cells instead. The talk of immortality was mostly restricted to getting individual cells to reproduce indefinitely, rather than finding the fountain of youth. There were characters here and there who were introduced and faded away, but by and large the focus was on the author's character.

If you're looking for a dreamy, fountain of youth type of book, this is not really it. That is what I was looking for, so I was disappointed to see it was merely a recounting of events without a whole lot of future vision or insights. I think there are other books on immortality out there you may want to try.

A good and easy read which opens perspectives.......2005-02-15

In The Immortal Cell, Michael D. West tells about his lifelong search for solutions to aging and age-related illnesses.

West's quest starts with an ideal of compassion: if we can help it, why should we keep suffering from Alzheimer, Parkinson, macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, and so many illnesses associated with aging?

West first thought religion and the bible would provide him with answers to his questions about life and death. One is surprised that a bright young man with a scientific mind would have fallen for creationism for as long a period of time as ten years, but West finally recognized that creationism does not resist serious analysis and that at the end of the 20th century, it is just nonsense. Because of this however West has kept a certain understanding for the point of view of the more conservative religious parties.

West then tells of the scientific quest, amidst fierce competition between scientists and even corporations, to understand the mechanics of cellular aging: the discovery of the importance of telomeres, those chromosome ends that turn out to be associated with the cellular clock; the discovery of telomerase, the enzyme able to repair telomeres; the discovery of the tight relationship of such research with cancer research; the first experiments to rewind the cellular clock by implanting somatic cells DNA into egg cells; the cloning of the first mammals; and the experiments to produce embryonic stem sells in vitro, from somatic DNA and egg cells.

The most important result is the proof that cellular aging is not a fatality, as one could have thought initially: it is caused by a mechanism that we are now able to somewhat tweak. From there, there are two main therapeutic perspectives. First, the idea of fixing the aging cells of the body. A lot of research remains to be done in this area. So far, nobody has managed to find a mechanism to reliably deliver a fix to a significant number of cells, and the fix itself has yet to be developed. Second, the idea that any somatic cell can be used to produce embryonic stem cells. This opens the door to building tissues and even entire organs in vitro. Such tissues and organs could be then grafted to the donor without risk of rejection. The perspectives go from implanting skin and bone marrow cells to finding a cure for diabetes and atheroscleriosis. Ultimately, it may allow for entire organ replacement.

West is probably a better scientist than philosopher, but in the last chapter of the book, he makes a good case for therapeutic cloning, including addressing some religious questions regarding "life" with very sound arguments.

The Immortal Cell is a good and easy read. I had fairly high expectations about it because it was very well rated online, and I was a little disappointed by several aspects of the book. West could have communicated even better the excitement this research should generate. He neglects related developments such as the impact nanotechnology research could have.

He also fails to address exciting but disruptive perspectives. If in fact cellular therapy becomes one day mainstream, there is a clear possibility that humans could see their life expectancy increase dramatically, from about 80 years today in developed countries to... 100? 120? 150? 200? 1000? The social impact of such a change would be enormous. It is quite possible that West does not wish to speculate about such subjects so as not to disrupt current research. After all, his own work has put him in the middle of the controversy about research on human embryonic stem cells and human cloning.

WOW...what an illuminating read!.......2004-08-22

Such a fascinating look into the competitive world of scientific discovery and the breakthroughs that are being uncovered every minute behind closed doors. I love when he gets really technical into the science of the telomere and how this research can both help explain the immortal nature of cancer cells as well as the mortal nature of somatic cells. Shows how truly groundbreaking stem cell research can be (reverting mortal cells into immortal embryonic ones)! GREAT READ and highly recommended!

Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers

Average customer rating:

Earth-Shaking Paradigm Shift from a Very Prominent Biologist
Rhetoric Against a Needed Science
A brilliantly written book
The work of a good scientist, an abysmal social commentator
The author breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics.

Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers
Ruth Hubbard , and Elijah Wald
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807004316

Book Description

How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers With a new Preface "With their rich array of citations and examples . . . [Hubbard and Wald] show how the marriage of science and business . . . has created that most treacherous of American progeny: commerce masquerading as human liberation." -Daniel Callahan, The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

Earth-Shaking Paradigm Shift from a Very Prominent Biologist.......2004-10-28

Ruth Hubbard is a professor emerita of biology at Harvard and a member of the Council for Responsible Genetics, a prominent national bioethics board. In this book (co-written with her son-in-law, Elijah Wald), she takes everything you think you know about genes, genetic health care screening, DNA fingerprinting, the Human Genome Project, and the search for a gay gene and other behavior-related genes, and blows your mind by explaining, point by point, exactly how unreliable, meaningless, and discriminatory each of these much-lauded technologies is. After reading this book, you'll never read a newspaper article about the latest genetic study the same way again. Don't miss it.

Rhetoric Against a Needed Science.......2001-11-18

Ruth Hubbard uses the rhetoric of exaggeration to try to convince us to abandon genetic research. But if genes didn't matter then monkeys could talk and if environment didn't matter then we wouldn't have schools. Obviously they BOTH matter.

Let us use the objective methods of science to document the specifics of what is genetically determined and what is environmentally determined.

Any serious AIDS researcher knows that without genetic research we have no chance of defeating AIDS. Obviously we need to study genetics to maintain progress against disease.

A brilliantly written book.......1999-10-28

Dr. Hubbard gives her readers much to think about, and she backs up everything she's written. She explains how the popularly-held reductionist view of genetics does not tell the whole story. Her book explains how the public often only hears one side of the story when it comes to the potential of the latest genetic technologies.

The work of a good scientist, an abysmal social commentator.......1999-08-29

Hubbard does deserve credit for throwing some skepticism on "the next big thing" in science, genetic technology. Unfortunately, she combines her skeptical analysis with her hopelessly egalitarian political views, obscuring any positive contributions this book could have. Hubbard goes through every expected cliche - Nazi imagery (social pundits never tire of this), playing the "race card, and discouraging scientific progress as "unneccessary". Read this book only if you wish to glimpse the future of awful politically-correct rhetoric.

The author breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics........1998-10-02

A 5-star book. If there weren't so much hype about gene therapy there would be no need for this book. But bad science and misinformation coming from those with commercial or political interests has given the American public the idea that gene therapy has possibilities. To date, gene therapy has not cured one disease. Ruth Hubbard finally breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics.

Ethics for Life Scientists (Wageningen UR Frontis Series)

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Ethics for Life Scientists (Wageningen UR Frontis Series)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402031785

Book Description

Life sciences have huge controversial social implications. In doing experiments with animals, plants or humans the welfare of these living beings can be hampered; in communicating research results private and public interests can be harmed (patents!) or at least severely influenced; in being a member of a research group issues of human rights (such as discriminatory behaviour) can become prominent; individual and collective forms of responsibility because of controversial types of research can become urgent.

Funding organizations can confront scientists and engineers with new ethical issues; the public at large or, as is the case with sustainability, future generations can challenge existing ways of doing research, and educating and teaching can confront scientists with new ethical issues.

In this book, resulting from an expert workshop at Wageningen University and Research Centre, European and American experts discuss such topics and theories as the relationship between ethics, professional ethics and business ethics, the public responsibility of researchers and communicating, organizing, teaching and discussing ethical issues.

Life Scientists: Their Convictions, Their Activities and Their Values

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a great assett

Life Scientists: Their Convictions, Their Activities and Their Values
Gerard M. Verschuuren
Manufacturer: Genesis Publishing Company (MA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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From the Publisher

Life scientists appear to be the wizards of this new era. They have ventured to tackle issues ranging from the origin of life to the origins of humankind; from medical and genetic knowledge to questions about how to control life and death. Spectacular are the achievements they have made. Who are these scientists? How do they operate? What do they believe? What do they value? Read it yourself.

Customer Reviews:

a great assett.......1997-02-18

The book would be a great assett to upper level students for instilling a more realistic vision of science, and would be a good book for stimulating discussions with colleagues. Fraser F. Fleming, Dept. of Chemistry, Duquesne Univ

Small Acts of Kindness: Striving for Derech Eretz in Everyday Life

Average customer rating:

A year in the life...
Serving God by Serving Others
Great reading...sure to better yourself
small acts of kindness review

Small Acts of Kindness: Striving for Derech Eretz in Everyday Life
Shalom Freedman
Manufacturer: Urim Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9657108594

Book Description

In a society such as ours, when doing good is the stuff of legend and hagiography, Freedman's meticulous description of the constant struggle to be a good person and to do good for others is refreshing and bracing. It shows how good can triumph in spite of everything and should serve as an inspiration to all of us who would also wish to be good people and do good unto others.

Customer Reviews:

A year in the life..........2004-12-09

One sees in this journal of a year (1999-2000) in the life of a religious Jew in Israel the timeless struggle of a man to know the good, and to do it. For Shalom Freedman the essential moral question is how does one act in accordance with true "derech eretz"? That is, how does one go about treating others with respect, consideration and compassion in accordance with "the will of God"?

It would seem that the Golden Rule of doing unto others as one would wish be done unto oneself would be a necessary and sufficient guide. Indeed in the Talmud it is written: "What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary." Freedman goes a bit beyond this; indeed his year-long "experiment" in derech eretz is that of a man seeking some kind of perfection of behavior toward his fellow human beings. Of course it can be said--and Freedman is well aware of this--that such an endeavor is itself a sign of something other than derech eretz. On the one hand, some people might find this an exercise in moral one-upmanship, while others might view it as delusive or even egocentric.

Yet the experiment, because it is published rather than private, takes on greater significance. To do good just for the sake of being good is perhaps just a gesture. But to do good with the intent of showing others what the struggle is all about, and to do this with real self-examination and then to share it with the world--such an intent lifts the entire enterprise to another level and justifies it.

The reader can ask (and I found it hard not to) "to what extent did Freedman succeed and to what extent does this publication itself further the cause of derech eretz?" Indeed, this is the question that I believe Shalom Freedman himself is asking. He writes, "I know that despite all my efforts in the past year, I have not helped people in any significant way." (p. 273)

This is perhaps too modest; and perhaps it is born of the terrible uncertainty that is the burden of Israelis, who live everyday knowing that the end of their struggle is nowhere in sight. While Freedman writes of his "intense concentration on the minor encounters of everyday life" (p. 273) all about him are momentous and violent events.

Again Freedman is well aware of this seeming disconnectedness. While he worries over whether he missed saying a kind word to a friend, or whether he gave enough to a beggar in the street, the state of Israel is in a life and death struggle for its survival. Yet--and this is the whole point of this venture--such things go hand in hand because the Jewish people cannot win the larger war and lose their soul (and neither can Americans, by the way), and derech eretz is at the very soul of any civilized society.

I must say however that I would not describe derech eretz as "doing the will of God" as Freedman does (p. 164). I am uneasy at being told what is the will of God, and I don't believe that other persons, regardless of how pious they may seem, can say what pleases or does not please God. But this is a complaint that I would register against any religion that imagines that God is personally involved in their daily lives. This is simply my belief. I wish Freedman and all the priests and preachers and other clerics would say instead that what is pleased is themselves and their view of life as taught in their traditions. To presume to speak for God grates on the ears and rankles the soul.

That point aside, I am in deep sympathy and in substantial accord with Freedman's beliefs. I believe, as many do, that charity not only begins at home, but that it is incumbent on us as human beings to treat those people around us with courtesy, consideration and compassion; and to fail in this is to fail in the most fundamental way as human beings. Indeed, if Freedman's example were universally followed, the world would overnight turn into something close to a heaven on earth. Alas, how far we are from such a world! And yet how little it would take from each and every human being to bring it about.

Freedman's moral struggle and self-examination make this a most interesting read, but I also gained from the insights into the daily lives of the religious Jews of Israel that Freedman provides. He steers a middle road between the ultra-Orthodox, who are largely out of tune with the modern world (in somewhat the same way that fundamentalist Christians and Muslims are), and the secular society that sometimes seems but an extension of the American mass culture.

Here are some examples of Freedman's fine spiritual insight:

"I know how it is when you are alone, and suddenly someone listens to you and makes you feel that you are a human being again." (p. 201)

"...[M]odesty, humility and walking humbly before God are the foundations of my faith." (p.206)

"Perhaps what I primarily mean by derech eretz is simple decency and kindness. In this sense, it is not something of which to make a big deal, but rather something that one does naturally and comes to expect of others, as basic civilized human behavior." (p. 51)

"...[T]here are those who, upon receiving offers of help, might come to hate those who are extending it, for they see in those people a freedom and power that they themselves do not possess." (p. 51)

And finally here's something that relates to post 9/11 United States: "The dilemma of how to maintain our strength while preserving our humanity is one that we are faced with all the time..." (p. 194)

Serving God by Serving Others.......2004-11-13

The Golden Rule shows up in one form or another in almost all religions. Religious books and leaders exhort us to follow that rule. But most of us find it hard to know what to do.

In Small Acts of Kindness, Shalom Freedman takes on the challenge to perform as many Godly acts towards others as he possibly can for a year during 1999 and 2000. The book is a journal that describes his daily efforts, successes, failures and thoughts about what he is accomplishing. Mr. Freedman's purpose is to help his fellow Israelis make Israel the example for Jews and all other people that God has intended.

This book will be most accessible to those who live in Israel, know Israel or know Jewish religious practices. Almost every page includes Hebrew terms, and non-Jews like me will be kept busy flipping to the glossary in the back to find out what the words mean. In too many cases, there's no translation so you just have to guess.

But it would be a mistake for those who are not Jewish to skip this book. Mr. Freedman is a highly religious and moral man whose example can teach all of us many valuable lessons about following God's will towards our fellow humans and animals.

He is very honest in describing his many failures to do the optimal thing, and is harsh with himself for these failings. He also is a subtle observer who draws valuable lessons from his experiences. He soon notices that helping others involves doing so on their terms . . . not on ours. That may even mean letting them help us, even when we don't want or need any help. There are also many situations where what the right thing is can be very difficult to discern.

Mr. Freedman has more financial resources than many of the people he meets and knows. As a result, he is often asked to loan or give money which he does freely. Yet in the end, he realizes that happily giving his attention, his time and his expertise are usually better gifts than his money.

Ultimately, the value of this book is in holding up a mirror of how one can try to be a moral person who that we can see how we compare. Mr. Freedman has no thoughts or experiences that you haven't had in some other context.

I was struck by how often Mr. Freedman did his moral acts out of a sense of what is right and a sense of caring to be a good person. In doing so, he is like a moral philosopher looking for the truth. Yet, he is a loner and doesn't find human contact easy. Much of his kindness brings him personal pain that often exceeds the benefit that others seem to have received. He is the more to be praised for his efforts.

In my own religious tradition, the Protestant Christian one, we are encouraged to be vessels for God's love which simply spills naturally out of us to encompass helping others. In doing so, God directs us to do the right thing without any particular reflection on our part. The Holy Spirit is always there guiding us. I came away realizing what a great gift the Holy Spirit is in helping us to do the right thing from God's perspective and how the Holy Spirit saves us so many agonies of trying to decide what to do. I wouldn't enjoy trying to be judge and jury over everything and everyone in the way that Mr. Freedman tries to do.

May your life be filled with much joy in providing goodness

Great reading...sure to better yourself.......2004-05-02

I just finished reading Shalom Freedman's Small Acts of Kindness. It is MUST reading for any person wanting to better themselves, regardless of their religion. Freedman shows us by personal example how to be a better human being and how to improve everything around us.
His positive attitude towards all of humanity is a great inspiration and his willingness to help those less fortunate than himself truly indicates that he is a man to be admired.
Anyone looking for ways to better themselves and help others at the same time must read this book.

small acts of kindness review.......2004-03-08

I have never really read a book of this kind before. This
journal measures one man's sincere attempt to perform compassionate (sometimes random) acts towards his fellow man. The author reflectively pursues his attempts at derech eretz in a world that sometimes is unappreciative, sometimes unaware and sometimes mean spirited. Nevertheless, Mr. Freedman chases his goal of being a good person relentlessly and honestly.
His attempts are to be admired. Whether he is successful at
all times is not the point. His writing is clear and his
motives are well meaning. I highly recommend this book to others.

Ethics and science: a 0.1% solution.(PERSPECTIVES)(research scientists' code of conduct): An article from: Issues in Science and Technology

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Ethics and science: a 0.1% solution.(PERSPECTIVES)(research scientists' code of conduct): An article from: Issues in Science and Technology
Michael Kalichman
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Title: Ethics and science: a 0.1% solution.(PERSPECTIVES)(research scientists' code of conduct)
Author: Michael Kalichman
Publication: Issues in Science and Technology (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
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Scientists claim success in cloning human embryos; critics debate the science, ethics of the experiment.(Brief Article): An article from: Transplant News

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Scientists claim success in cloning human embryos; critics debate the science, ethics of the experiment.(Brief Article): An article from: Transplant News
Transplant News Special Correspondent Michele Grygotis
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ASIN: B0008IHRDW
Release Date: 2005-07-28

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This digital document is an article from Transplant News, published by Transplant Communications, Inc. on November 28, 2001. The length of the article is 1074 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Scientists claim success in cloning human embryos; critics debate the science, ethics of the experiment.(Brief Article)
Author: Transplant News Special Correspondent Michele Grygotis
Publication: Transplant News (Newsletter)
Date: November 28, 2001
Publisher: Transplant Communications, Inc.
Volume: 11 Issue: 22 Page: NA

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Unscientific ethics: science and selective ethics.: An article from: The Hastings Center Report

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Unscientific ethics: science and selective ethics.: An article from: The Hastings Center Report
David Benatar
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This digital document is an article from The Hastings Center Report, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2007. The length of the article is 1791 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Unscientific ethics: science and selective ethics.
Author: David Benatar
Publication: The Hastings Center Report (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2007
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Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Page: 30(3)

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