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.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

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Amazing Experiments ...that you can't do.
Proceed with Caution
Not organic but entertaining!
Danger, Will Robinson
Ford's Chemical Magic: When Science Was Fun

Chemical Magic
Leonard A. Ford
Manufacturer: Dover Publications Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Classic guide provides intriguing entertainment for readers while elucidating sound scientific principles. More than 100 unusual stunts demonstrate cold fire, dust explosions, a nylon rope trick, a disappearing beaker, a glass dissolving in water, and much more. Step-by-step instructions also stress safety precautions. Second edition, revised by E. Winston Grundmeier.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Experiments ...that you can't do........2007-05-12

This book reminds me of how we've gone a society of educational discovers to one that irrationally sees harm in a simple chemistry set.

There are experiments that I've heard told and retold, some of which I seriously attributed to exaggeration. For instance, a glass beaker submerged in a liquid that has the same refractive index as glass, rendering the beaker completely invisible. Or, another, volumes of smoke made as if by magic.

It turns out they're all in here! Don't let the physical size fool you, because this book is chalked full of some of the most amazing and impressive chemistry experiments you've ever seen.

The problem, however, is that the typical home reader won't be able to get their hands on these chemicals anymore. So while you can read about them, you can't conduct the experiments yourself.

About the only people who'd get practical benefit out of this book would be college chemistry professors who want to lure students into the profession. This would be an impressive way to do it.

Proceed with Caution.......2005-10-31

This book gives lots of chemical demonstration ideas. However, some are entirely too dangerous to do. You must use a lot of common sense when considering doing any of these demonstrations. Some are not safe at all. Mercury and CCl4 are EPA regulated. It's not advisable to put ethanol in your mouth to spit out in front of students... This only demonstrates bad lab techniques. Make sure you do the first experiment in the book outside or in a fume hood. It releases a strong odor and an acid vapor. Definitely not something you want your students breathing!

Not organic but entertaining!.......2005-09-10

Each experiment first explains the "action" or the effect intended to produce. Secondly, necessary elements are listed along with their appropriate quantities. Thirdly, a very fortunate addendum to each experiment explains why the reaction occurred and how it did. Finally, most experiements are augmented by a primitive diagram, whose descriptive efforts vary according the action(s) of the chemist, but nevertheless aid the reader with some significance to visualize where certain items should be oriented.
Anyone interested in this book will understand it is not for anarchy or extremely plexiform experiments to uncover the human genome. Mad scientists, this book is unfortunately not for you, but anyone intrigued by paradoxical chemical experiments, such as fire submerged in water, a burning bush that is not consumed by its flames, and other such fascinating elements, will be pleased with its contents.
These experiments usually do not require manifold ingredients so they are ideal for high-school chemistry classes, introductory college chemistry, or entertainment during a meal. A waiter who can perform such legerdemain at events will not remain a waiter long, and those of you who are addicted to gambling and teasing friends certain things are impossible will immediately recognize the value of this book.
I have rated this book 4-star primarily because the majority of the experiments are prosaic or have no genuine purpose to belong the the publishment. However, those experiments that really are "chemical magic" scintillate like stars amid the black heavens, illuminating their observers and imparting them joy at a further comprehension of experimental chemistry.

Danger, Will Robinson .......2005-07-16

This text is a lot of fun, a rapid-fire compilation of visually interesting experiments. *However* it is out-of-date on safety. Despite a recent revision the text appears unaware of the great danger posed by materials such as carbon tetrachloride (a chemical which has since the 60's been all but banned), mercury, benzene, phosphorous, thermite, etc. To say "be careful" is not enough when talking to a lay audience. Please be cautious, the experiments may sound thrilling but the harm can be nasty and permanent.

Ford's Chemical Magic: When Science Was Fun.......2005-05-06

This is truly a great and extremely fun book, especially for the curious kid or adult who wants to do exciting stuff with chemicals and glassware. I did every experiment in this book as a kid, some dozens of times, but recommend adult supervision for some of the experiments. In today's dummied down, Lawyer stiffled society it's nice to know that there are actually still books around that have experiments that are as fun as they are politically incorrect. All kids should be exposed to the fun of making fireworks, playing with mineral acids and white phosphorus, oxidizers, and burning metals if they can find the materials and if they have appropriate supervision. It's the real way to become introduced to non watered-down chemistry; this book has the really FUN experiments that will, unlike almost all of the prevailing experimemts in the prevailing contemporary books, keep kids from thinking that science is a complete bore. (Tri ess Sciences in Glendale, CA sells a lot of these reagents to adults). This is a book from an exciting past era, long gone now, where there was a lot of real freedom to really experiment and learn in an environment free of hyper-legal and trumped up anti chemical sentiment. Get it and you'll see, but be careful with white phosphorus solutions of carbon disulfide. When the boring books on chemistry are replaced by great books like this, people will return to science. Have fun.

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Hello! This was written by a KID.
MOST DULL BOOK EVER WRITTEN
WORST BOOK EVER
A Novel That Fails on Every Level
Pretty Good

A Gebra Named Al: A Novel
Wendy Isdell
Manufacturer: Free Spirit Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Hello! This was written by a KID........2005-03-22

What the heck is up with some of these reviewers? HELLO! This story was written by a LITTLE GIRL, not a teacher! What is wrong with you people? Shame on you! ...Now, for everybody with a conscience, check it out: This story is cute. It's not Hemingway, it's not Shakespeare, but it's cute. If you read it for entertainment's sake, and keep in mind a kid wrote it, you'll like it. (And hey--if you're not reading for entertainment, you won't enjoy it no matter WHAT it is. Some of these kids' reviews sound like they were forced on pain of death to read the thing, sheesh.) It's a story about a girl and a talking zebra-thing who knows math, and a bunch of scientific horses. I repeat: it's cute.

MOST DULL BOOK EVER WRITTEN.......2005-01-31

I had to read this book for science class and it was HORRIBLE!!! Not only was the plot too simple and childish, but the explanations for the science and math concepts are like textbook excerpts. We needed to take a quiz about the book at the end, and to prove how much it taught us, all of the questions were about things that weren't even mentioned (the teacher probably couldn't find anything)! NEVER READ THIS BOOK EVER, NOT EVEN FOR A LAUGH!!

WORST BOOK EVER.......2004-09-15

This book is so bad that it doesn't even deserve a one. I think the author of this book is a complete loser that has absolutely NO FRIENDS WHATSOEVER. If you have a choice to read this book, I STRONGLY RECOMEND NOT READING IT!!!

A Novel That Fails on Every Level.......2004-08-17

Although this book appeals to teachers as it is ostensibly a tool for making math and science more fun for kids, I would advise them to think twice before assigning it, especially if they intend to use it in a junior high or high school classroom.
Firstly, the writing is extremely poor--Ms. Isdell seems to come from the school of thought which dictates that the largest word is always the best. However, the polysyllabic words she uses often do not work as well within the context as would their monosyllabic synonyms, and consequently the writing sounds extremely forced. It is not insignificant that this story was entered in a contest, because one gets the distinct feeling that she was writing mainly to impress. Moreover, the plot is unlikely to appeal to anyone over the age of eight, yet the subject matter is too advanced for anyone that young. The majority of older students will doubtlessly find it painfully dull.
This book has been labeled "educational"; however, after reading it one must wonder how much students can learn by reading it. Perhaps a careful reader might glean a few random facts from it, yet one can expect little more than that. Contrary to its title, few algebra concepts are introduced. The order of operations is described in detail and there is a passing reference to perfect squares. There are also several fairly brief digressions discussing various science concepts (such as the structure of atoms, the elements, and mitosis) which the average reader would be inclined to skim or skip completely. One would be hard pressed to find any more information than this.
In short, reading this book felt like having to choke down a particularly vile pill which did nothing but give me a stomach ache. If one must try to make math and/or science more enjoyable to students, one at least ought to choose a different book.

Pretty Good.......2004-08-07

I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Not too bad for something written by a 13-year-old kid. Not too bad at all.

Obviously anybody who doesn't like it just didn't "get" it. ;-)

Fulcanelli and the Alchemical Revival: The Man Behind the Mystery of the Cathedrals

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Much ado about nothing
The Fulcanelli Mystery continues...
Fascinating Study with Strong Evidence
Regrettable Misconception
Designed to destroy Fulcanelli

Fulcanelli and the Alchemical Revival: The Man Behind the Mystery of the Cathedrals
Geneviève Dubois
Manufacturer: Destiny Books
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Binding: Paperback

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Fulcanelli: Master Alchemist: Le Mystere des Cathedrales, Esoteric Intrepretation of the Hermetic Symbols of The Great Work (Le Mystere Des Cathedrales ... of the Hermetic Symbols of Great Work)
The Mystery Traditions: Secret Symbols and Sacred Art
The Golden Builders: Alchemists, Rosicrucians, First Freemasons
The Mysteries of the Great Cross of Hendaye: Alchemy and the End of Time
The Dwellings of the Philosophers

ASIN: 1594770824
Release Date: 2005-11-21

Book Description

Sheds new light on the identity of the alchemist Fulcanelli

• Provides new understanding of the relationships between the most important figures of the esoteric milieu of Paris in the first half of the 20th century

• Includes a wealth of rarely seen documents, photos, and letters

Fulcanelli, operative alchemist and author of The Mystery of the Cathedrals and The Dwellings of the Philosophers--two of the most important esoteric works of the twentieth century--remains himself a mystery. The true identity of the man who allegedly succeeded in creating the philosopher’s stone has never been discovered, despite ardent searches by many--even the OSS (the wartime U.S. intelligence agency, later to become the CIA) claimed to have looked for him following the end of World War II. Geneviève Dubois looks at the esoteric milieu of Paris at the turn of the century, a time that witnessed a great revival of the alchemical tradition, and investigates some of its salient personalities. Could one of these have been this enigmatic man, reported to have last appeared in Seville, Spain, in 1952 when he would have been 113 years of age?

The trail followed by the author encounters such figures as Papus, René Guénon, Schwaller de Lubicz, Pierre Dujols, Eugene Canseliet, and Jean-Julien Champagne. Working from rare documents, letters, and photos, Dubois suggests that one of these men could have been hiding his activity behind the pseudonym of Fulcanelli or that Fulcanelli may even have been a composite fabricated by several of these individuals working together. Beyond its attempt to reveal the actual identity of Fulcanelli, Fulcanelli and the Alchemical Revival also presents an explanation of the alchemical doctrine and reveals the unsuspected relationships among the important twentieth-century truth seekers it highlights.

Customer Reviews:

Much ado about nothing.......2006-07-10

After having read both 'Le mystere des cathedrales' and 'The dwellings of philosophers' (which, by the way, do NOT seem to be written by the same person), I simply cannot understand why so many people are interested in the 'true' identity of their supposed author. On the other hand, this is one of the instances when I understand perfectly the Traditionalist (like in Rene Guenon) contempt for biography. The only thing that truly matters here is whether Fulcanelli's ideas work or not. So far I have not read a reasonable discussion of this; instead, we get more and more books dealing with the utterly insignificant minutiae of the life in the occult circles in France around WW1.
I feel like paraphrasing the old Zen adage - if you meet Fulcanelli on the road, kill him!

Coming back to Mlle Dubois' book: it certainly brings to light many previously unpublished documents and obscure facts. However, their arrangement is rather haphazard, the commentary minimal and the translation of all this into English simply not very good; at times it reads almost like one of those jobs done by an online free translation engine. But it still deserves three stars, if only for a stubborn research.

The Fulcanelli Mystery continues..........2006-06-10

Anticipating this book & finally reading it was a bit anticlimactic in that the promise did not quite meet my expectations. What I found in this book is a good overview of French alchemical occultism since the end of the 19th century through the mid-20th. A sound companion to Christopher McIntosh's "Eliphas Levi & the French Occult Revival". But as to throwing additional light onto identifying who was Fulcanelli- the usual suspects remain unchallenged. The translation appears a bit forced and choppy, and required me to go back and reread certain sections to see if I had missed something. Like Herman Hesse novels, the allure and promise of mystical insight is promised but never quite delivers.

Fascinating Study with Strong Evidence.......2006-06-07

Who was this enigmatic being, Fulcanelli, a twentieth century alchemist who allegedly discovered the secrets of immortality, or at very least a special elixir that extended his life long beyond life expectancy? His true identity is the subject of this book.

Fulcanelli is accredited with authoring two books, Le Mystère des Cathédreles (1926) and The Dwellings of the Philosophers in 1930. The former title by far is considered a masterpiece in modern alchemy, examining the sculptures in French gothic cathedrals, primarily Notre Dame of Paris, and linking them to the processes of alchemy, suggesting that these churches were used as but intended as learning centers for the ancient sciences. A curious "lost" chapter, The Cyclic Cross at Hendaye, is added to the 1957 edition of this book, a chapter which redirects Fulcanelli's work in an entirely different corner of the universe, a ten page examination of a stone cross near a parrish church in the center of a small town in the Basque country. The examination of the symbols on this cross, according to the author of this chapter, point to a prediction of the end of the world. This chapter has spawned an entire impulse based on Fulcanelli's book, that is very different than the rest of the book, and this topic (that chapter) is not the focus of this book, though the author does have some interesting remarks about it in a later chapter in her book. And being that it was added over thirty years after the original edition of this book, it is questionable whether it was even penned by the same hand that wrote the rest of the book. Le Mystère des Cathédreles is definitely about alchemy, not the end of the world.

This book will introduce the reader to the thriving Parisian occult activity between the periods of about 1910 and 1930. Major personalities are named and relationships established. Interest in the occult was acute during this period, and Paris was the center of a bustling community of artists, writers, poets, and others with an intense interest in this subject matter.

Dubois book presents quite a bit of compelling information suggesting exactly who was behind the Fulcanelli phenomena. She introduces the key players and presents how certain individuals were quite capable of producing this ground-breaking revival of the alchemical tradition. The clues Dubois are strong (and abundant) and the conclusion logical. The book is lavishly illustrated with portraits, fragments of handwriting samples, notes, obituaries, and even the natal charts of two of the key players (with brief analysis for both) in this drama.

Geneviève Dubois has written other text on themes Alchemical and has extensively studied this period of occult history. This book is a welcomed addition to the mystery of who Fulcanelli might (probably) was plus an excellent historical survey of the thriving occult community in Paris up to around 1930.

Regrettable Misconception.......2006-04-15

If we use the word "misconception", it is quite on purpose, for that word refers to "getting it wrong", which on the whole is not dishonourable. Nevertheless, within this particular misconception is also the deep and scarcely veiled contempt in which the author holds Fulcanellian alchemy. The authors listed above had undoubtedly shown respect for Fulcanelli and had considered him an Adept of hermetic philosophy, which he masterfully discussed in both of his published books. However, Genevi?ve Dubois not only appears to hold contempt for Fulcanellian alchemy, but for Fulcanelli himself, who is also disparaged, run down and betrayed in such a manner that her book would have been more appropriately entitled, "Fulcanelli d?voy? " rather than "Fulcanelli d?voil? "!

"L'Affaire Fulcanelli" , another work by said author, is a fallacious and partial book full of glaring errors of logic, transcription and date. It is, as far as I know, a book that few noticed (with the exception of Jean Laplace), and one which ridicules and describes a hoax cunningly orchestrated by the duplicity of two document looters - Pierre Dujols and Ren? Schwaller - and the ingenious ideas of Eug?ne Canseliet and his mentor Julien Champagne, in the manner of a novel by Flaubert: the "Bouvard and P?cuchet " of the Belle Epoque. However, under the pretence of making amends, Genevi?ve Dubois wished to make it clear at the end of the perfidious book that she thinks that young Canseliet had been the sport of Champagne, who thoroughly manipulated him.

Jean Laplace, therefore, justly expressed his indignation in the diatribe he published in La Tourbe des Philosophes , N?s 36-37:
[...] I was still very na?ve to think that those "questers" had only in mind to put a name on a pseudonym; I realized after some time that some of them were only trying, under the cover of that so-called "quest", to destroy the hated image of Eug?ne Canseliet, whom they so detested. [...].

The malevolence and intentional prejudice warned against by Eug?ne Canseliet, again produced a heap of nauseous nonsense entitled Fulcanelli d?voil?. Still, in his Alchimie expliqu?e, and on that same page 12, the philosopher foresaw that four centuries would not elapse, as in the case of Flamel, before his own life would be meticulously sifted through without any benevolence by yet another Villain.

[...] The new accusatory document that appeared in November 1992 (Fulcanelli d?voil?) goes even farther, insinuating that there never was an Adept Fulcanelli, since all of that had been a hoax of which Eug?ne Canseliet was the victim, unless he was a stakeholder in it. The hatred for Eug?ne Canseliet that emanates from that distasteful book is all the more easily released as the only one able to give answers has been dead for about ten years now. Still, when one realizes that the author is not even able to correctly read the original copy of the philosopher's published letter - so enormous are the mistakes - one is allowed to seriously doubt her insight.

Not content with all that, Genevi?ve Dubois, who was at that time directing a line of alchemical writings for publisher Dervy, decided in 1995 to publish an odd book under the name of "Jean-Fran?ois Gibert" entitled Propos sur la Chrysop?e, avec en annexe le Manuscrit de Pierre Dujols-Fulcanelli traitant de la pratique alchimique , in which the author expresses, without beating around the bush, her negative intentions (p. 21):

Newton's case study now being almost completed, we will now talk about the case of Fulcanelli, one which is close to a hoax and represents the final form of pseudo-alchemical materialism, a blind alley in the hermetic labyrinth. To prove our statements we are going to present a still unheard of manuscript from Dujols-Fulcanelli on the Chrysopea. This will enable students of the philosophical art to get their own ideas on the Great Work considered in the manner of Le Myst?re des Cath?drales, written from the notes left by Dujols and Champagne, by the scholarly blower, the late Eug?ne Canseliet.

What an edifying document, indeed, is this text which, while correctly reflecting Pierre Dujols' style, is at the perfect opposite of the alchemical path followed and recommended by Fulcanelli.

The alchemist Fulcanelli was the most famous adept of the 20th century, the man who achieved the Great Work less than 100 years ago, but his true identity has always been shrouded in myth and uninformed speculation...until now.

Patrick Rivi?re reveals with profuse documentary evidence the true identity of the enigmatic and prestigious author of The Mystery of the Cathedrals and The Dwellings of the Philosophers. Beginning with an overview of French alchemical life at the turn of the 20th century, Rivi?re carefully builds his case step-by-step with facts, documents, and photographs, introducing us to the well-known physicist who was known as Fulcanelli. Rivi?re also demolishes the scurrilous hypotheses that suggest Fulcanelli never existed. Rivi?re is uniquely suited to solving this mystery as his teacher was Fulcanelli's sole student, Eug?ne Canseliet. (ISBN 1-897244-21-5 Red Pill Press)

Designed to destroy Fulcanelli.......2006-01-20

Do you ever read a book and feel like you need a long, hot shower when you're done? That is how I felt after finishing the original French version of this book. Dubois tries to make the case that Fulcanelli didn't really exist, that he was a "committee". The point of such an argument is to destroy the reality of the adept and give the credit for his work to Schwaller. Dubois takes great pleasure in the character assassinations of Jean-Julien Champagne and Eugène Canseliet.

Moreover the book is poorly written and goes off on tangents that have nothing to do with her "argument".

If you can read French, you will learn much more about the man known as Fulcanelli reading Patrick Rivière's book Fulcanelli in the Qui suis-je? series published by Pardès.

Strange Fruit: Alchemy, Religion and Magical Foods: A Speculative History

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Manna as Psychedelic OR as Monatomic gold
Procrustean entheogenists
The master key to many doors...
Innovative evidence for Christian entheogen tradition
For those who want to be in the know

Strange Fruit: Alchemy, Religion and Magical Foods: A Speculative History
Clark Heinrich
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Manna as Psychedelic OR as Monatomic gold.......2006-08-06

i agree with the review about how entheogenic aurthors choose the works they cite very specificly and am more inclined to take Laurence Gardners stance in his book Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark where he propose that the Philosophers stone of alchemcy and the Manna of the Israelites as monatomic gold which is "entheogenic" and much much more in its owen write. I would like to see to two opinions more closely examined but while I love entheogens I'm much more impressed by the work of David Hudson as revealed by Laurence Gardner in his book but also and I am very skeptical about this but David Icke one of the leading aurthors about the conspiracy says that Laurence Gardner is a shap shifting reptile alien which another aspect if you take all of Icke's views literally but the truth lies somewhere within. Anyone with comments on this please email me at remorb@bluebottle.com I'd like some other opinions. I tend to agree with Gardner but then again he may be a shapshifter spreading lies like Icke says.

Procrustean entheogenists.......2004-03-06

I now have a pretty good library of entheogenic literature, and I credit the authors with making a very good case for the existence and persistence of the entheogenic initiatory tradition. But I have also read a great many alchemical books, and I marvel at how entheogenic authors pick and choose the very few texts they quote; meanwhile they gloss over the mainstream alchemical works which only too clearly show that there is a literal laboratory work, wherein one applies the understanding of nature gained through gnosis, whether delivered by entheos or not.

Like Jung, they have a particular axe to grind; and, let's face it, it helps make their living. At least Jung would admit in his later years that he was wrong to contort alchemical texts so that they fit only his psychological theory.

But in talking with some of these authors, I find that they are still objectivists, and not mystics (to use the word in its best sense). On their trips they may well see that the order of the world is a projection of Mind, but then when writing, they hope to be looked upon favorably by the scholarly community, and so they prove not to have the conviction of their visions.

The essense of life can be perceived as a fire, or fiery moving water, a flow of consciousness, of Mind, ever coming into beingness and winking out again. This fire is the fountain of the alchemists. It is not to be reified as stomach acid, or muscimol, or any 5-HT-2A agonist. Those are agents that open our minds to SEE this fundamental fire.

This reductionist attitude that the secret coding means amanita or psilocybin, or iboga, etc, misses the point: the substance is the doorway, not the end.

And so, having had the vision themselves, what keeps these authors from understanding that classical alchemy as found in the works of Ripley, Philalethes, d'Espanget, Fulcanelli, etc, has very clearly a practical laboratory aspect?

When someone says that these authors have answered their questions as to what the alchemical tradition was all about, they reveal that they have not read very extensively in that tradition.

The master key to many doors..........2002-08-14

This book came to me at a time when I had been trying desperately to crack the alchemical code. Having read Artephius, I eventually concluded that the secret fire of the alchemists' was no fire at all, but rather an acid. But like most things in regards to alchemy, stripping away one veil only revealed another. It wasn't until I read Heinrich's work that I learned the acid was actually "stomach acid". This book will give you the key to most of the great religious mysteries of the ages. It's hard to believe so many mystery traditions (Gnosticism, Alchemy, Hermeticism, The Grail mythology... and yes, even Christianity if you strip away the silly superstitious nonsense) can all stem from a common stream, but Heinrich's case is air tight. I can't thank him enough for writing this book. It is priceless to any true seeker.

Innovative evidence for Christian entheogen tradition.......2002-04-01

When I read about eating bittersweet scrolls followed by seeing visions, in Ezekiel and Revelation, it was clear that Christianity included an essential entheogen tradition. However, it was unclear which entheogens might be allegorized in those scriptures. Heinrich presents a fine and sufficient candidate.

He also presents a brilliant hypothesis that the story of the Exodus is based around ergot poisoning of the yeast supply. Chris Bennett in Sex, Drugs, Violence and the Bible makes a case for cannabis especially in the Old Testament, and Dan Merkur in Mystery of Manna, and in Psychedelic Sacrament, makes a case for ergot in the Old Testament.

This is a model of a fine book. The prose is clear, artistic, and masterful. The photos are stunning and perfectly support his case, showing the shape-shifting Amanita in its various lifecycle stages, explaining how each stage is allegorized in Hindu, Christian, and alchemical traditions. Definitely worth the price. A must-have for entheogen scholars.

For those who want to be in the know.......2001-12-29

Bottom line: the fly Agaric mushroom is the basis for much of the world's religions and symbolism due to its hallucinatory effects. After reading this I found myself seeing the mushroom represented in works of art and in story illustrations I otherwise would not think twice about. Example: that red and white mushroom shown in fairy tales at the bottom of trees with a little gnome sitting on it. (Go check your old story books.)

Book Description

Clarifies some of the methods and practices used in the art of alchemy, the mother of chemistry, from the 1771 Encyclopedia Brittania. Contains a complete course on alchemy. Scarce!

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Musaeum Hermeticum renovatum et amplificatum, transl. by A. E. Waite
What a Book!

The Hermetic Museum

Manufacturer: Weiser Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 087728928X

Customer Reviews:

Musaeum Hermeticum renovatum et amplificatum, transl. by A. E. Waite.......2007-05-14

The Hermetic Museum, or "Musaeum Hermeticum (renovatum et amplificatum)", originally published and printed in 1625 by Lukas Jennis, and later reissued in amplified form in 1678 (and as a reprint in 1749), should be counted among the most influential late compilations of alchemical material in addition to "Theatrum chemicum" and "Bibliotheca chemica curiosa". Compiled during the splendid, late blooming of alchemy - the philosophical, scientific and hermetic construct of the most learned minds of Europe and Middle East - the work came to contain such celebrated and important 16th and 17th -century texts as "Hydrolithus Sophicus seu Aquarium Sapientum" by (pseudo-)Siebmacher, Eirenaus Philalethes' "Introitus Apertus ad occlusum Regis palatium", and the "Tripus Aureus", in itself a compilation of tractates by Thomas Norton, Cremer and Basil Valentine. In its time 'Musaeum' was diligently studied and treasured by several generations of both practical and philosophical alchemists. However, the Enlightenment and its new theories of chemistry and its newlyfound distaste of all things spiritual, soon became to tax the ancient prestige of 'opus alchymicum'.

A. E. Waite (1857-1942) was, without doubt, one of the more influential members of the 19th century Occult Revival, as well as one of its most learned representatives. Member of both the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Rosicrucian Society, his writings concerning eg. divination, Kabbalah and alchemy were well received even among the academic circles of the time. Waite was also the co-creator of so-called Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

Waite's translation of the 1678/1749 original, "The Hermetic Museum Restored and Enlarged" was, and still is, a notable achievement, with a cultural impact that is almost equal to that of the works by Eliphas Levi. Whether Waite's translation does real justice to the original latin, is a somewhat tricky question, as the original texts are relatively hard to come by. In addition, as the alchemists' latin is notoriously cryptic and introverted (indeed hermetic!), each translation is essentially an independent rendition of the translator, and nowhere as decisively as among the Occult writers of the 19th century. A caveat is therefore issued here for all diligent students of the Art; they would do well to trust the original latin edition instead (in this as well as other cases).

However, for the general reader - as well as any students of 19th-century occult writing - Waite's translation of the "Musaeum Hermeticum" offers a fascinating rendition of one of the most influential compilations of late alchemical material ever compiled. Researchers into alchemy as a cultural, philosophical an/or historical phenomenon could also benefit by selective reading of this classic.
I would like to finish with a general word of thanks to all publishers who still in these days care to take reprints of literary works of this kind - they are making a valuable contribution to our consciousness of one of the most intriguing currents of spirituality in the Western culture: that of alchemy.

Antti Lampinen, MA
postgraduate student

What a Book!.......2001-05-15

I found this book very helpful and good. I recommend it highly if you are interested at all in Hermeticism. An instant classic in the field!

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Awesome book! New edition's available though...
Fun and Intriguing
This story is extremely educational, at the same time adve..

The Chemy Called Al: A Novel
Wendy Isdell , and Pamela Espeland
Manufacturer: Free Spirit Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Gebra Named Al: A Novel

ASIN: 0915793962

Customer Reviews:

Awesome book! New edition's available though..........2005-03-22

Hey, I still think this is got to be one of the most awesome books written by a kid. The first edition is out of print but there's a second edition. Check out the writer's website: http://www.wendyisdell.com .

Fun and Intriguing.......1998-02-14

I read THE CHEMY CALLED AL and found it very intriguing on many different levels. I found its references to alchemy and to chemistry both accurate and surprisingly allegorical--the protagonist's journey itself is a journey into deep theoretical parts of the universe and the inner self. I purchased the book for my child, but found myself reading it for myself.

This story is extremely educational, at the same time adve.........1997-12-01

ntorous. The book being a great classroom utensil can teach wonders about science and math. I recommend this story to children who want to learn!

Linus Pauling: Investigating the Magic Within (Innovative Minds)

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Linus Pauling: Investigating the Magic Within (Innovative Minds)
Victoria Sherrow
Manufacturer: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers
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Binding: Library Binding

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