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.

Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life

Average customer rating:

everything a popular science book should be
Ohh mitochondria, tell us the truth
Simply the most fascinating book I have read in years
The ATP Powerhouses
It *is* a life-changing book!!!

Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life
Nick Lane
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0199205647

Book Description

Mitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small collection of genes, separate from those in the cell nucleus. It is thought that they were once bacteria living independent lives. Their enslavement within the larger cell was a turning point in the evolution of life, enabling the development of complex organisms and, closely related, the origin of two sexes. Unlike the DNA in the nucleus, mitochondrial DNA is passed down exclusively (or almost exclusively) via the female line. That's why it has been used by some researchers to trace human ancestry daughter-to-mother, to 'Mitochondrial Eve'. Mitochondria give us important information about our evolutionary history. And that's not all. Mitochondrial genes mutate much faster than those in the nucleus because of the free radicals produced in their energy-generating role. This high mutation rate lies behind our ageing and certain congenital diseases. The latest research suggests that mitochondria play a key role in degenerative diseases such as cancer, through their involvement in precipitating cell suicide. Mitochondria, then, are pivotal in power, sex, and suicide. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Nick Lane brings together the latest research findings in this exciting field to show how our growing understanding of mitochondria is shedding light on how complex life evolved, why sex arose (why don't we just bud?), and why we age and die. This understanding is of fundamental importance, both in understanding how we and all other complex life came to be, but also in order to be able to control our own illnesses, and delay our degeneration and death. 'An extraordinary account of groundbreaking modern science... The book abounds with interesting and important ideas.' Mark Ridley, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford

Customer Reviews:

everything a popular science book should be.......2007-09-30

While this book is not easy reading, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Nick Lane does not try to oversimplify the intricacies of the molecular biology
underlying the workings of a cell, but shows how the details are necessary to
understand how and why it all came to be. I am amazed at how he managed
to distil a vast quantity of mostly very recent scientific research into not only
a readable, but also a visionary book. The speculative parts of the book need
to be taken with a grain of salt. However, after reading this book my attention
is drawn to articles on mitochondria in Nature and Science, articles which I would
certainly have shirked before reading this book.

Ohh mitochondria, tell us the truth.......2007-09-17

What a book, absolutely fascinating and highly recommended, although I must say that this is not an easy book, in fact is kind of complex if you are not acquainted with the subject. This is not a critic, thing is I would not change a bit of it, but in my opinion, people should have a little knowledge of cellular metabolism and biochemistry before attempting this book.

After reading Dawkins book about the selfish gene, it was inevitable for me to wonder about life origins, why unicellular organisms have that tendency to complexity and to group itself, and how all this machinery works. This book provide a thorough and absorbing introduction of Mitochondria and its symbiosis with eukaryotes, what is the function of each one, why there are two sexes and why we aged and finally become history. As you will see, our understanding of these matters is rather modest, the author insinuate possible solutions to some of the big questions, but in any case the subject is so interesting that you read this book excited all the way to the end.

How beautiful is life and how complex ... you can see that just watching a little fly and wonder how on earth this insect manage to fly, as if eukaryotes have a previous knowledge of Physics, as if they have all the basic solutions of nature in a template. I just know one thing: I want to know and read more about it.

Simply the most fascinating book I have read in years.......2007-07-19

I cannot over recommend this book. It ranks alongside "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins as one of the seminal books for understanding life on earth. Interestingly, the title doesn't oversell the book at all - it really does contain fascinating information about power, sex and suicide (albeit cell suicide). If you have any interest in evolution or the origins of life - just get this book.

The ATP Powerhouses.......2007-07-16

The power of "mighty"chondria enthralled me to my very cells. Science, power, intrique...like a great mystery novel that takes place within the cell...

Note: reading this book in public elicits stares. The title jumps out, but not the subtitle.

It *is* a life-changing book!!!.......2007-05-14

Well, all right... Enthusiasm might trump my common sense a little, here. Not everyone will change their outlook on life after reading this highly interesting and eye-opening book, but it certainly convinced me of the central role that mitochondria likely played in the evolution of eukaryotic cells and of multicellular organisms. I had to change my opinion on the relative importance of getting a nucleus or getting mitochondria during our evolutionary journey; mitochondria, which up to now I had unfairly considered as rather boring ATP factories and mere actors in the process of apoptosis, now do indeed seem to be the architects of life as we know it.

Nick Lane does a great job at integrating the relevant scientific literature and weaving it into an all-audience book filled with exciting facts and clever hypotheses. Among popular science writers, he is certainly among the best; the same appears to be true as a theory-builder.

This is a must-read book for all biologists, and a "really, really should be read" book for anyone else.

Into the Cool: Energy Flow, Thermodynamics, and Life

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Superb Science and Art
You are a GRS too!
Very impressive effort
a journey of energetic enthusiasm

Into the Cool: Energy Flow, Thermodynamics, and Life
Eric D. Schneider , and Dorion Sagan
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226739376

Book Description

Scientists, theologians, and philosophers have all sought to answer the questions of why we are here and where we are going. Finding this natural basis of life has proved elusive, but in the eloquent and creative Into the Cool, Eric D. Schneider and Dorion Sagan look for answers in a surprising place: the second law of thermodynamics. This second law refers to energy's inevitable tendency to change from being concentrated in one place to becoming spread out over time. In this scientific tour de force, Schneider and Sagan show how the second law is behind evolution, ecology,economics, and even life's origin.

Working from the precept that "nature abhors a gradient," Into the Cool details how complex systems emerge, enlarge, and reproduce in a world tending toward disorder. From hurricanes here to life on other worlds, from human evolution to the systems humans have created, this pervasive pull toward equilibrium governs life at its molecular base and at its peak in the elaborate structures of living complex systems. Schneider and Sagan organize their argument in a highly accessible manner, moving from descriptions of the basic physics behind energy flow to the organization of complex systems to the role of energy in life to the final section, which applies their concept of energy flow to politics, economics, and even human health.

A book that needs to be grappled with by all those who wonder at the organizing principles of existence, Into the Cool will appeal to both humanists and scientists. If Charles Darwin shook the world by showing the common ancestry of all life, so Into the Cool has a similar power to disturb—and delight—by showing the common roots in energy flow of all complex, organized, and naturally functioning systems.

“Whether one is considering the difference between heat and cold or between inflated prices and market values, Schneider and Sagan argue, we can apply insights from thermodynamics and entropy to understand how systems tend toward equilibrium. The result is an impressive work that ranges across disciplinary boundaries and draws from disparate literatures without blinking.”—Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-06-12

This book is excellent and should be read for those Physicochemical Professors that believe second law can not be taught without calculus. Thermodynamics is a subject demistified in this book.

Superb Science and Art.......2006-11-02

This is one of the few recent books that I am buying for friends. Schneider and (Dorion) Sagan do a marvelous job of explicating the most significant concepts behind non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Their explanation makes the subject both accessible and meaningful - an artful and rare accomplishment. And, as I am finding out, their message is enlightening for even friends with science degrees!

It has been stressed for years how the "entropy law" foretells and mandates a relentless downward spiral towards equilibrium (oblivion). Now read about the other side of the story - how the ongoing evolution of complexity gets its "sustenance" from its ability to destroy energy gradients and thus entropy becomes the essential engine and ally in the evolution of our universe and self-analytical life.

You are a GRS too!.......2006-05-24

After reading the book I added a prefix to my name, GRS - gradient reducing system. Indeed, I am a GRS with around 4 bn year history and helping nature reduce the gradient between 5800K Sun and 2.7K outer space.

If you read Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, and are wondering why the gene has got to be "selfish", then you must read this book. Its simple, when there is a gradient, nature detests it and finds a way of removing the gradient in most efficient way.

Also, this book gives insights into Ecology and how each species(including us) depends on many other species. It gives a feeling that the eastern concept of one's relationship with the whole universe, is indeed true to some extent in some sense. It also lets us understand why we need to save the rain forests at any cost, if we are indeed looking at long term survival.

Some examples for how nature tries to abolish gradient are exhilarating. After reading this book I got a feeling that Second law of thermodynamics replaces "God".

The rise of complexity in open system with energy flow, information flow is neatly explained using non-equilibrium thermodynamics(NET). Understanding the rise of life at the most fundamental level yet is so thrilling. Some mathematics would have helped but since the book is meant for a layman too, its understandable.

Very impressive effort.......2006-04-11

Works of scientific significance tend to fall into one of two categories: those that present new material, and those that reconfigure existing material into something that is new by virtue of its originality of insight. "Into the Cool" falls decisively into the second category, and Eric Schneider and Dorion Sagan have created a book that is as much concerned with philosophy of science as it is about science. The book seamlessly presents the historical and philosophical evolution of a fundamental principle (the second law of thermodynamics as applied to open systems) and develops the implications of the principle in a staggeringly wide range of contexts. In doing so, the authors have avoided the gratuitous descent into the intentionally obscure that mars so much of "popular" scientific writing, and have given us a work that is engaging, lucid and supremely approachable. Their approach risks repetition of material, and the book is not immune to that criticism. In the book's finest moments, however, the authors are able to exploit that repetition by presenting their material in a variety of contexts that collectively support the validity of their argument. In the section on economics, for example (economics in a work on thermodynamics!), the authors make a persuasive case for viewing markets as organically derived from, rather than merely analogical to, the implications of the second law. The authors' treatment of this argument requires less in the way of philosophical gymnastics than might be imagined, and their exposition makes the unfolding of the logic seem almost inevitable. Because of the richness of the material, this is a work that demands more than one reading. Fortunately, the warmth and sincerity of the writing make this book a joy, rather than the heavy going that might easily have otherwise resulted. Highly recommended.

a journey of energetic enthusiasm.......2006-04-11

if you are a reader who enjoys a book that brings together information from many different fields of science to assemble them in support of a more general idea then 'into the cool' is a book you.

ultimately this is not a book about science but a story of our micro and macro world for which the formulas and the math and the science are yet undeveloped. however, the thought experiments, analogous and philosophical, are well within the reach of a curious mind out for a scientific reward.

schneider and sagan take you on a journey of energetic enthusiasm during which, at some point, you will find yourself no longer looking in on an idea for having become the very idea yourself.

The Broken Dice, and Other Mathematical Tales of Chance

Average customer rating:

Even better than his first book
intellectual fun

The Broken Dice, and Other Mathematical Tales of Chance
Ivar Ekeland
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226199924

Book Description

Ivar Ekeland extends his consideration of the catastrophe theory of the universe begun in his widely acclaimed Mathematics and the Unexpected, by drawing on rich literary sources, particularly the Norse saga of Saint Olaf, and such current topics as chaos theory, information theory, and particle physics.

"Ivar Ekeland gained a large and enthusiastic following with Mathematics and the Unexpected, a brilliant and charming exposition of fundamental new discoveries in the theory of dynamical systems. The Broken Dice continues the same theme, and in the same elegant, seemingly effortless style, but focuses more closely on the implications of those discoveries for the rest of human culture. What are chance and probability? How has our thinking about them been changed by the discovery of chaos? What are all of these concepts good for? . . . Ah, but, I mustn't give the game away, any more than I should if I were reviewing a detective novel. And this is just as gripping a tale. . . . Beg, borrow, or preferably buy a copy. . . . I guarantee you won't be disappointed."—Ian Stewart, Science

Customer Reviews:

Even better than his first book.......2003-03-03

Ivar Ekeland is one of the better writers of popular mathematics. In "The Broken Dice," he continues with the themes explored in "Mathematics and the Unexpected." Divided into six chapters (Chance, Fate, Anticipation, Chaos, Risk and Statistics) the book is an elegant examination of the human struggle to find order in the seeming contingency that is the natural world. Mixed with the mathematical discussions are excerpts from Icelandic sagas, the Bible, and Shakespeare that reinforce the message that our analytical search for meaning is still fundamentally a humanistic endeavor.

intellectual fun.......2002-08-21

If you had to go through it in graduate school you'd probably agree with me that behaviour under uncertainty is usually handled rather mechanically by professors. You may even have considered that, anyway, not much intuition could be behind those theories. Ivar Ekeland shows in this book that dealing with the fundamentals of expectations, probabilities, games, and risk can be fun, and you get the intuition to start thinking by yourself as well. Early morning reading, though.

Average customer rating:

Some good points but

Energy and the Evolution of Life
Ronald F. Fox
Manufacturer: W.H. Freeman & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Some good points but.......2006-02-12

his primary thesis that energy is a driving and creative force for life is flawed (although he admits it is not a sufficient condition). He is able to ignore cosmology and entropy under this approach but unconvincingly. For instance on page 74 of my 182 page copy of the book (I don't believe there is a 704 page version!) he says "Thus a free energy increase may be due to a change in internal energy, not in entropy making it wrong to think in terms of order out of chaos when dealing with a thermally buffered system." He also mistakenly equates entropy with disorder which is really a measure of heat dispersal. Then in the next chapter on page 82 he effectively disavows this argument. [I will use calculus notation for differential changes for ease of reference.] He gives the change in Gibbs' free energy as

dG = dU + PdV - TdS

and indicates that we can drop PdV for small volume changes in a large environment. This is correct however if we keep that assumption and return to the first law of energy conservation, we have the change in internal energy equal to the heat transfer or

dU = dq [Integrating q = <>U. Note that the term enthalpy is usually introduced such that q = <>H in the open system case]

and at constant temperature entropy change dS = dq/T so there is no distinction between the change of internal energy and entropy under his own assumptions! We will see in a moment that it is the entropy that is the real driver and requires a cosmological explanation. But first I'll mention that he does do a good job in explaining why a reduction in Gibbs' free energy is not in conflict with the 2nd law of thermodynamics (the law of entropy increase in closed systems) as he says 'biological systems are not isolated' although his mathematical approach of adding more terms might confuse some. The fact that the standard or 'short form' formula for Gibbs' free energy is based on measurements of the system and not it's surroundings is again only possible by dealing with open systems where dV (volume changes) can be ignored.

Changes in entropy of the surroundings dS(surr) = -dH(sys)/T for an open system where pressure is constant and then all terms ignore the surroundings in standard analysis, i.e.

dG(sys) = dH(sys) - TdS(sys) and the subscript becomes redundant and is usually dropped.

It is this mathematical manipulation that creates misunderstandings about the entropy of the surroundings being irrelevant and he recognizes this but he does not recognize the fact that entropy is the driving mechanism due to his error above concerning internal energy. Enthalpy is the measure of the entropy change of the surroundings and not vice versa despite the equivalency in the formula above where dS(surr) drops out. Mathematical equivalencies do not express causes. As P.W. Atkins says in his book 'The 2nd Law' -

" The Universe falls upward in entropy: that is the only law of spontaneous change. The free energy is, in fact, just a disguised form of the total entropy of the Universe."

In his book 'The Road to Reality' Roger Penrose again clearly illustrates the flaw of the 'energy as the driver' theory-

"There is a common misconception that the energy supplied by the Sun is what our survival depends on. This is misleading. For energy to be of any use to us at all, it must be provided in a low-entropy form...what we get from the Sun is in the form of [relatively few] individual photons of high energy (basically yellow high-frequency photons because of the Sun's high temperature ), whereas this energy mostly goes back in space in the form of [more] photons of low energy (infrared, low frequency)...The Sun's smaller number of photons means fewer degrees of freedom and therefore a smaller phase space and smaller entropy than in the photons returned to space. The plants make use of this low-entropy energy in their photosynthesis, thereby reducing their own entropy...[and so on]"

The problem with the energy-driver theories is that they can lead to false inferences. For instance, in addition to ignoring the quality of the energy that leads to ignoring the role of entropy as Penrose pointed out, it ultimately led Fox to reject Darwinian evolution. He says (page 130)-

"In a driven system, a small amount of energy input leads to the spontaneous self-organization of space and space-time patterns. This is the meaning of energy flow-ordering." However this is a tautology and does not explain underlying causes (and cannot by ignoring the quality of the energy) which is precisely what Darwinian evolution is designed to do. As author Jochen Fromm says in his book 'The Emergence of Complexity'-

"...evolution is the main reason and the driving force for the complexity and diversity which can be found in nature, and neither the concept of self-organization nor the phenomena of emergence can really replace evolution or natural selection."

Biology with ESP CD-ROM and OLC passcard

Average customer rating:

Yes, attack creationism!
Great for Indiependent Learning
Good book, but attack on special creation unneccessary

Biology with ESP CD-ROM and OLC passcard
Sylvia S. Mader
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0072508191

Book Description

How do you make a great text even better? By creating new art and photographs and enhancing the multimedia and supplements package.

The new seventh edition of Biology by best-selling author/expert Sylvia Mader, has integrated outstanding new elements giving it a quality unmatched by any other biology text. With its complete, comprehensive coverage of core biology concepts, students at all levels will benefit from its use.

For more than 20 years Dr. Mader has successfully helped students learn the structure and function of the human body. A brilliant and prolific writer, Dr. Mader was a respected and well-loved biology instructor before she began her writing career. Her descriptive writing style, carefully constructed pedagogy, and accent on key terms and concepts provides students with a firm grasp on how their bodies function. In her twenty-year career with McGraw-Hill, she has written an impressive collection of textbooks including Inquiry into Life, tenth edition, Human Biology, seventh edition, and Understanding Human Anatomy and Physiology, third edition. Throughout the years, her goal remains the same-"to give students what they need to best understand biology."

This text is color customizable so you can create a text that fits your course perfectly.

Customer Reviews:

Yes, attack creationism!.......2006-06-08

"A Reader" wrote, "Good book, but attack on special creation unneccessary". I couldn't disagree more. Putting creationism in its correct place is precisely what good science should do. Part of the job of science is defeating old myths and faith-based means of "explanation" and replacing them with real science. So not only should evolution be taught but creationism should be explicitly mentioned by name and refuted. Science is a process and the best way to show that is to illustrate how it got to where it is today. That means the course of thought leading to today's science must be a part of the scenario. Thus, creationism should be shown wrong and refuted. After all, any astronomy course will show the roots of astronomy in the pre-science ideas that preceded it. Similarly a chemistry course must show how modern chemistry emerged from its precedents such as alchemy.

And that is what this book does. To call for any other approach would clearly be to call for special treatment for creationism. And this would be a giveaway as to the motivations of the person calling for such special treatment.

Great for Indiependent Learning.......2003-01-23

I used this text for a course that I took from Cal Berkeley Extension - online. That is an internet course. I am considering a career change from physical sciences to biotech and need to come up to speed rapidly.

The course covered only the first 2 units (first 17 chapters) so I will only speak to that. This text, with CD ROM (2) and internet learning center is GREAT! Looking at the entire package this is a great way to learn biology. The material covered in those first 17 chapters are exactly what one needs to know - elementary biochem; cell structure; genetics; gene expression; biotech. The illustrations are great and consistent (eg., phosphate groups are always orange-yellow) throughout the text. Actually, I would say that it is about the best illustrated text I have ever seen in my life. The on-line quizes (about 64 questions/chapter) let you know if you have really mastered the material or not. Independent questions at the end of every chapter all have answers in the appendix - so again you can check your understanding. The web site has shockwave art match the parts of the cell to the labels all as part of a package to independently learn biology.

I would say it would be helpful to have a year of college chemistry before plunging into this course - but the chemistry is not too sophisticated. The focus is on essentials - but with understanding. For people considering a switch into biology and want to study independently, I reccomend this book highly. I do not easily give 5 stars - but this book earns it.

Good book, but attack on special creation unneccessary.......2002-07-27

I really liked the 6th edition of this text, which I used for both semesters of General Biology. The illustrations were clear and I think Mader had a clear grasp of the concepts of biology. However, as a molecular biology major and as a person who has seen no evidence that macroevolution has occurred, I object to her characterization of creationism as unscientific. Mader is bold enough to actually state in Chapter 1 (in a connecting concepts box)"When faith is involved, a hypothesis cannont be tested in a purely objective way." She neglects to consider the exorbinant amount of faith it takes to believe in macroevolution. This is a theory which in all actuality is untestable. Furthermore, her statement which was quoted above would be considered by many to be "bad science"! She makes no reference to any studies which support her hypothesis. And I don't believe I've ever heard of any. In the fields of genetics and molecular biology, as we come to understand the complexity of living organisms, the theory of evolution just becomes more and more untenable. It's fine if Dr. Mader believes in evolution. That's her choice. But to go out of her way to rip the growing number of scientists who disagree with her was gratuitous and mean-spirited. This caused me to question HER objectivity throughout the rest of the book.

The Eighth Day: Social Evolution as the Self-Organization of Energy

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The Eighth Day: Social Evolution as the Self-Organization of Energy
Richard Newbold Adams
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0292720610

Energy, Matter, Intelligence, and Life (EMIL)

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Energy, Matter, Intelligence, and Life (EMIL)
Sorin G. Popa , and Mohsen Shahinpoor
Manufacturer: ECDM Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This book presents a novel view on the formation and evolution of the Universe. It focuses on the importance of the living matter and offers plausible hypotheses regarding its evolution. Thus, energy, matter, intelligence, and life are treated as hierarchical systems and their evolution is described accordingly. Furthermore, it is shown how geometry and numerology play very important roles in the evolution of the systems contained within the Universe. Another important element covered by the book is information, which is treated as a main component of any structure within the Universe. Through evolution informational structures led to the formation of intelligent structures. The book covers both modern and ancient concepts, ranging from the Big Bang, to brain waves, to the power of the pyramid and to the Golden Number.

Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and

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Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Biochemistry | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Leading researchers in the area of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe contributed to Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe. This volume provides a review of this interdisciplinary field. In 50 chapters many aspects that contribute to exobiology are reviewed by 90 authors. These include: historical perspective of biological evolution; cultural aspects of exobiology, cosmic, chemical and biological evolution, molecular biology, geochronology, biogeochemistry, biogeology, and planetology. Some of the current missions are discussed. Other subjects in the frontier of exobiology are reviewed, such as the search for planets outside the solar system, and the possible manifestation of intelligence in those new potential environments. The SETI research effort is well represented in this general overview of exobiology. This book is the proceedings of the Fifth Trieste Conference on Chemical Evolution that took place in September 1997. The volume is dedicated to the memory of Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam who suggested the initiation of the Trieste conferences on chemical evolution and the origin of life. Audience: Graduate students and researchers in the many areas of basic, earth, and life sciences that contribute to the study of chemical evolution and the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe.

Fundamental Mechanisms of Low-Energy-Beam-Modified Surface Growth and Processing: 0Ymposium Held November 29-December 2, 1999, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. ... Society Symposia Proceedings, V. 585.)

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Fundamental Mechanisms of Low-Energy-Beam-Modified Surface Growth and Processing: 0Ymposium Held November 29-December 2, 1999, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. ... Society Symposia Proceedings, V. 585.)

Manufacturer: Materials Research Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1558994939

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