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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The New York Times Will Shortz's Favorite Sunday Crossword Puzzles: From the Pages of The New York Times

Average customer rating:

mhvmike
Perfect gift for the addicted.
From the Board Games Editor at BellaOnline.com

The New York Times Will Shortz's Favorite Sunday Crossword Puzzles: From the Pages of The New York Times
Will Shortz , and The New York Times
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 031232488X

Book Description

In this follow-up to the immensely successful Will Shortz's Favorite Crossword Puzzles, the legendary New York Times puzzle editor turns his attention to the most popular crosswords of the week: the Times's giant Sunday puzzles. Fans everywhere will appreciate this incredible collection, which also includes a special introduction and commentary on every puzzle from Shortz on what makes these crosswords stand out from the pack.

Customer Reviews:

mhvmike.......2007-02-11

I'm down to the last puzzle and need to order another book of crosswords. I hope I can find one as good as this one. I've really enjoyed working these unique crosswords. If you like hard but clever puzzles, there's 50 in this book.

Perfect gift for the addicted........2007-01-10

After seeing the movie "Wordplay," my wife became interested in solving the NY Times crossword puzzle and is now addicted. This book was the perfect gift for a vacation to a place where getting the newspaper is not so easy.

From the Board Games Editor at BellaOnline.com.......2005-12-06

Everyone loves a New York Sunday crossword puzzle, for many people who can't get the New York Times on a daily basis because of geography or finances, the Sunday puzzles are the only ones they ever do. They're truly the most finely-crafted large crosswords available.

The puzzles are bigger than the Times daily puzzles, and although they are only the same difficulty level as your average Thursday puzzle, they take much longer to solve because of their mammoth size.

This is a great collection of puzzles that any crossword puzzle fan should have in their just-in-case arsenal.

Rubberneckers: Everyone's Favorite Travel Game

Average customer rating:

A Real Hit
A MUST for the car
Roadtrip
ABSOLUTELY love it.
Rubber Neckers

Rubberneckers: Everyone's Favorite Travel Game
Matthew Lore , and Mark Lore
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

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ASIN: 0811822176

Book Description

Rubberneckers finally puts an end to on-the-road ennui, whether you're road tripping, field tripping, or just facing the morning commute. Crack open this box of glossy cards and let the fun begin! A combination of games all of us have played at some point in our driving and riding careers, Rubberneckers is nothing but a good time, no matter how old you are. Just think, there are 200 million cars in America. That's half a billion bored riders or a staggering 20 billion bottles of beer on the wall. Thank god, help is here at last.

Customer Reviews:

A Real Hit.......2007-07-15

This was definately a good purchase. My 9 year old twin girls loved it. The game challenges you to find certain road signs, types of cars, ect while on your road trip. The best part are the cards that ask you to get the attention of another car near you. The object being to wave or do some other instruction and get the other car to acknowledge you. It was a good time and did make the trip go that much quicker. It's great just to leave in the car even when you are on short trips.

A MUST for the car.......2007-07-11

My son (9 years) and I (don't ask) just got back from a road trip. Twenty-six hours of driving over ten days. We played this game until the last eight hours - then we switched to a book on tape (we were real tired by then). Anyway, it kept us entertained for the first 18 hours. Although the driver is not supposed to play (because some of the challenges require you to interact with other drivers), I could still join in the fun (by waiting until we were at a stop light, etc...). Most of the challenges were finding things such as a dog in the car, a person on a bike, a college decal, and even someone picking their nose. Combine this with the Ultimate Sticker Puzzles: License Plates Across the States: Travel Puzzles and Games! (Ultimate Sticker Puzzles) and you're good to go!

Roadtrip.......2006-08-21

Great fun. The driver definitely cannot play. It would be good for the kids riding in the backseat. We played all day and added our scores when we arrived at our destination.

ABSOLUTELY love it........2006-08-08

I've had this game since it came out, and it still gets used at least 2-3x per month for long car rides. We live four hours from my inlaws, and the drive there (to rural Illinois) is soooo boring. But not with Rubberneckers! We don't REALLY follow the rules, but have modified them to match our needs.

We're looking forward to the day that our daughter will be old enough for us to buy Rubberneckers Jr!

Rubber Neckers.......2006-08-05

Very fun game for making the time go quicker when you are traveling!! Kids and adults will enjoy.

Will Shortz's Favorite Crossword Puzzles from the Pages of The New York Times

Average customer rating:

A little too challenging
Best First Crossword Book for NY Times Lovers
A Challenging Diversion
A Bit Elementary, My Dear Will
Diabolical, But Fair

Will Shortz's Favorite Crossword Puzzles from the Pages of The New York Times
The New York Times , and Will Shortz
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031230613X

Book Description

For the first time ever, Will Shortz personally selects 75 of his favorite puzzles from his tenure as editor of The New York Times crosswords. This collection will feature puzzles with varying difficultyeverything from Monday to Saturday. Special commentary will accompany each puzzle, giving clever insight into the puzzle-solving world that Will Shortz dominates. Getting to know the background on these puzzles will also add a new dimension for the growing number of crossword buffs. A special introduction written by Shortz explains why these puzzles qualify as his favorites among the thousands of puzzles he has edited in his career.

Customer Reviews:

A little too challenging.......2007-05-12

Many (most) of the puzzles are Thursday/Friday puzzles, with only a few Mon/Tues, which can be a little difficult for some solvers who haven't mastered the late week puzzles yet! But still fun, and clever :)

Best First Crossword Book for NY Times Lovers.......2007-01-16

I don't know if Will Shortz has released a more recent collection of his favorites, and if he hasn't he should! Here is an amazing collection of some of the best wordplay Shortz and his constructors had to offer in the '90's. All levels of difficulty are here, from Moday through Saturday. No Sunday editions, and I have to assume there is a book devoted to Sunday's puzzles. In my opinions, Shortz should do an annual editions featuring his favorites from the past year. And if he reads this, I hope he gives me some credit for the idea :)

A Challenging Diversion.......2005-08-07

From easy to hard, these puzzles should keep you entertained. Some are funny, all are clever. Will Shortz's comments provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the world of puzzle making.

A Bit Elementary, My Dear Will.......2005-03-10

These puzzles are lots of fun, but they aren't especially challenging. However, that's not to discourage anyone from buying the book. I loved doing it, and I came back to buy a copy for someone else. But, if you're really hard-core--Saturday's puzzle in ink, that sort of thing--you might want to look elsewhere.

Diabolical, But Fair.......2003-12-11

Six months ago I would have called every one of these puzzles unfair. The gimmicks and tricks are too hard! But that was before I became a crossword puzzle fan.

These are mostly challenging crosswords, all from the New York Times. There are a few Monday and Tuesday puzzles, but most are from Thursday-Saturday, the tough part of the week. And they are clever. It really makes you wonder (and admire) the kind of minds that can come up with such diabolical puzzles.

And now with almost half a year of New York Times crossword experience under my belt, I can say that all these puzzles are scrupulously fair. Will Shortz wouldn't have it any other way.

Average customer rating:

A must have for interactive training

Thiagi's 100 Favorite Games (Pfeiffer Essential Resources for Training and HR Professionals)
Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan
Manufacturer: Pfeiffer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Thiagi's Interactive Lectures

Design Your Own Games and Activities: Thiagi's Templates for Performance Improvement

I'll Take Learning for 500: Using Game Shows to Engage, Motivate, and Train (Pfeiffer Essential Resources for Training and HR Professionals)

The Ten-Minute Trainer: 150 Ways to Teach it Quick and Make it Stick! (Pfeiffer Essential Resources for Training and HR Professionals)

Card Games by Thiagi

ASIN: 0787981990

Book Description

Thiagi's 100 Favorite Gamesis an exciting new resource from Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan, who is acknowledged as the world’s foremost authority on interactive learning. This is a first-of-its-kind collection that represents game play at its very best. Thiagi offers the "how-to" and the "lowdown" on his all-time favorite games. With this resource, you’ll never be stuck for a fun, innovative, and effective activity.

Thiagi’s 100 Favorite Games can be used to:

Illustrate concepts
Aid learning transfer
Improve team work
Build critical skills in any training event
Energize meetings
Or us as icebreakers, or openers and closers to a formal training session

Customer Reviews:

A must have for interactive training.......2007-04-25

This book is a must have reference for any trainer or facilitator who wants to create more engagement in the classroom.

Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game (Modern Library Chronicles)

Average customer rating:

pretty good book
For the casual fan...
"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks..."
A good book on baseball
Inside Baseball History

Baseball: A History of America's Favorite Game (Modern Library Chronicles)
George Vecsey
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0679643389
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Book Description

“Football is force and fanatics, basketball is beauty and bounce. Baseball is everything: action, grace, the seasons of our lives. George Vecsey’s book proves it, without wasting a word.”
–Lee Eisenberg, author of The Number

In Baseball, one of the great bards of America’s Grand Old Game gives a rousing account of the sport, from its pre-Republic roots to the present day. George Vecsey casts a fresh eye on the game, illuminates its foibles and triumphs, and performs a marvelous feat: making a classic story seem refreshingly new.
Baseball is a narrative of America’s can-do spirit, in which stalwart immigrants such as Henry Chadwick could transplant cricket and rounders into the fertile American culture and in which die-hard unionist baseballers such as Charles Comiskey and Connie Mack could eventually become the tightfisted avatars of the game’s big-money establishment. It’s a celebration of such underdogs as a rag-armed catcher turned owner named Branch Rickey and a sure-handed fielder named Curt Flood, both of whom flourished as true great men of history. But most of all, Baseball is a testament to the unbreakable bond between our nation’s pastime and the fans, who’ve remained loyal through the fifty-year-long interdict on black athletes, the Black Sox scandal, franchise relocation, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs by some major stars.

Reverent, playful, and filled with Vecsey’s charm, Baseball begs to be read in the span of a rain-delayed doubleheader, and so enjoyable that, like a favorite team’s championship run, one hopes it never ends.

“Vecsey possesses a journalist’s eye for detail and a historian’s feel for the sweep of action. His research is scrupulous and his writing crisp. This book is an instant classic—— a highly readable guide to America’s great enduring pastime.” — The Louisville Courier Journal

Customer Reviews:

pretty good book.......2007-08-10

a good book worth reading by any baseball fan. the author really knows his stuff. my only complaint is that it jumps around a little chronologically, making somewhat difficult to read at times. if you are thinking about buying it, do it. you probably won't be disappointed.

For the casual fan..........2007-06-14

This book is strictly for casual fans or general readers. While smoothly written, the stories told are well-known and the historical insight negligible. For a serious academic history of the game, read Benjamin Rader, BASEBALL: A HISTORY OF AMERICA'S GAME (second edition) or Charles C. Alexander, OUR GAME: AN AMERICAN BASEBALL HISTORY (a little dated, since it was published in 1991). If you are really determined, try Harold Seymour's classic three-volume history.

"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks...".......2007-05-08

BASEBALL: A HISTORY OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE GAME by George Vecsey is not quite a comprehensive account of America's pastime. However, Vecsey pinpoints the major events and people who defined the game on and off the field, and clears the myths from the facts. He intermingles the Abner Doubleday myth with Columbus and Pocahontas, and specifically states that Albert Goodwill Spalding, a pitcher turned businessman, helped typify baseball to how it is recognized today. From Abner Doubleday to the scandalous fervor of 1919 and the Black Sox as well as the so-called Great Bambino curse that was finally broken one day in October 2004, the book places the game within a historical perspective.

Vecsey intertwines baseball with history. He embraces the game as a long-time fan as well as a sports columnist, but with a tinge of romanticism when he recounts his childhood memories of the game during baseball's "golden age" and Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial reigned. The book is a combination of the Ken Burns's documentary and HBO Sports', "When it was a Game." There are several historical references throughout the book, such as his discussion of the First and Second World Wars when team members heeded to the call of duty, and unfortunately, never to return. What is worth noting is that the game boosted morale during and after the war; in 1949 General MacArthur praised the game as a "piece of diplomacy," and decades later, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Ryozo Kato, stated that the game "helped heal the memories of war" (115). In addition, with emergence of the Civil Rights Movement, baseball became integrated and progressed with the times.

Although BASEBALL is geared towards the general-reading public, this is by no means an introduction to the game. The book is rather a historical commentary that insights readers about this aspect of American culture that is as historic as it is ever changing. Vecsey's narrative is enlightening, and it is amazing to know that the game has existed for over two centuries and continues to draw new followers and spectators.

A good book on baseball.......2007-04-17

I am not an avid baseball fan, but I do enjoy going to a few games each year. I also enjoy a good read - and this was a good read. What I enjoyed most was learning about the early history of the game, which I had no clue about. I also found the chapters on the negro leagues, the Yankees, and the Curt Flood/free agency era, to be informative.

Inside Baseball History.......2007-01-10

An objective critique of baseball history separating truth from fiction.
A well written and interesting book showing the unknown conflicts between owners and players. The owners reluctance to expose internal problems with star athletes. It also raises questions about the origins of America's game. Though provoking and insigtful. This writer knows his stuff.

The New York Times Favorite Day Crosswords: Monday: 75 of Your Favorite Very Easy Monday Crosswords from The New York Times

Average customer rating:

The New York Times Favorite Day Crosswords: Monday: 75 of Your Favorite Very Easy Monday Crosswords from The New York Times
The New York Times
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031236556X
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Book Description

Monday might not be your favorite day to head to the office but if youre a crossword solver who enjoys the Times easiest puzzles, you cant wait for Monday to roll around. This first volume of our new series collects all your favorite start-of-the-week puzzles in one attractive, portable package.

Average customer rating:

Lovely
Poetic and amazing... just like the writer!
This is the place to begin Cohen's prose work.
Magnificent
Sadly ahead of its time

The Favorite Game
Leonard Cohen
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400033624
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Book Description

In this unforgettable novel, Leonard Cohen boldly etches the youth and early manhood of Lawrence Breavman, only son of an old Jewish family in Montreal. Life for Breavman is made up of dazzling colour – a series of motion pictures fed through a high-speed projector: the half-understood death of his father; the adult games of love and war, with their infinite capacity for fantasy and cruelty; his secret experiments with hypnotism; the night-long adventures with Krantz, his beloved comrade and confidant. Later, achieving literary fame as a college student, Breavman does penance through manual labour, but ultimately flees to New York. And although he has loved the bodies of many women, it is only when he meets Shell, whom he awakens to her own beauty, that he discovers the totality of love and its demands, and comes to terms with the sacrifices he must make.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely.......2007-05-06

This is one of the best books I ever read, I prefered it to his beautiful losers although that was lovely too. I am a big Cohenite and definately recomend practically anything he has ever done, this book for example is glorious.

Poetic and amazing... just like the writer!.......2006-02-11

This is quite possibly my favorite book.
As a fan of Mister Cohen and the city of Montreal, I loved this book. Mind you this was written before his musical career. You can actually see some of the songs forming way before they were committed to tape.

That being said, I love Cohen's Montreal, the late night drives, the small little dives and parks.

Also this is Cohen's best expample of wrestling with his Jewishness.

Simply an amazing book and an amazing read.

If you like Salinger, Cohen's music or the city of Montreal itself, you need to read this.

This is the place to begin Cohen's prose work. .......2005-06-06

The Favorite Game is the book I should have picked up before reading Beautiful Losers. It is as if the stylistic experiments Cohen attempted in his second novel make far more sense now. However, having said this I must add that this is the more entertaining and enjoyable work.

This book is about romance. It is always entertaining to hear people talk about love, affection, adoration even fixation as being something only people can have for one another. Lawrence Breavman (the protagonist) feels this way about his life and the many persons and places that populate it. Lisa, Tamara, Shell and the city of Montreal, all are adored by this young man. He loves his best friend Krantz with whom he begins an empassioned dialogue unveiling the many layers of Montreal and Quebecois life oscillating around him in both the city and out in the Laurentian highlands. Breavman truly treats the world as "other." It is beautiful to witness.

There is mysticism in this work. The way Breavman notices the angles of sunlight on his beloved mountain, the colors of the surface of the Saint Lawrence and then the Hudson. The park that he walks through each night and protects. The color of the snow under the moonlight and the sound it gives off when he and a young Lisa are walking home from Hebrew School. Each of these things is as vivid as the young man's search for a partner, for sexual fulfillment. As in Cohen's later work, beauty and grotesqueness and filth coexist and are both the possession of his protagonist's soul. Breavman wanders endlessly through his city (Montreal) taking in every detail he can. His friend Krantz acknowledges -one summer night- that they would walk endlessly and never sleep if they were to follow Breavman's whims, his aesthetic eye, the contours of his persistent and ever unfolding dialogue.

This is a beautiful story. Like James Joyce, Cohen has taken up the development of the young artist's personal aesthetic sense (and appetite). Joyce made the distinction between "fetishism" and admiration for beauty in The Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man. Stephen Daedalus didn't want to possess beauty, he wanted to really learn how to admire it, appreciate it, recreate it if he could. Lawrence Breavman wants to appreciate beauty as well and he moves beyond merely desiring to possess what he sees. He may pause and admire the infinite little details of being in the world, but he learns to never possess but to engage. His dialogue is an engagement with beauty that, interestingly, supersedes his literary career. The young man, like Stephen Daedalus, is an emerging artist. But his dialogue is what Cohen cares about and his peregrinations, his questions and escapades are all the real art. Stephen Daedalus learned that he could recreate the world in his imagination and then place this on paper and by doing so, would have done his aesthetic duty, would have engaged the world. In Cohen's account, we see the artist as wanderer, as more than reticent observer. But he is no fetishist, he does not need to drown in sensual pleasures. Life is sensual for him. Life is enduring and eternal and he needs no false Gods to redeem him from a fallen state or from desolation.

Five stars. At times this work is breathtaking.

Magnificent.......2005-01-09

I was forced to read this book in my English 101 in college. Having only known Leonard Cohen by reputation, I was reticent of reading it but I did because I had to. At the end, though, I learned to appreciate this book because everything made sense and I started relating to his character. It's quite touching. Having seen Ghost World about a year after, it reminded me of this book, same basic, same principal of being disappointed by the poeple you care about and not being able to accept those changes. I suggest you read this book, it's a good read and a good intrusion into the mind of a little boy growing up.

Sadly ahead of its time.......2005-01-03

I enjoyed this book because it helped explain sexual deviance. It's even more relevant now that it was then. Sex is certainly not held to be sacred, or even valued at all by most people today. One thing I don't agree with the author on is whether this is a good or bad thing- he actually seems to think it's enlightened and for the best!

How to Conquer the New York Times Crossword Puzzle: Tips, Tricks and Techniques to Master America's Favorite Puzzle

Average customer rating:

Good introduction to crossword puzzles. A couple of flaws.

How to Conquer the New York Times Crossword Puzzle: Tips, Tricks and Techniques to Master America's Favorite Puzzle
The New York Times , and Amy Reynaldo
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312365543
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Customer Reviews:

Good introduction to crossword puzzles. A couple of flaws........2007-07-19

Many people are simply not interested or motivated to solve a crossword puzzle. Ever. This book is clearly not for them. On the other hand, there are people who live and breathe crossword puzzles, doing multiple puzzles every day, competing in crossword tournaments, discussing puzzles daily, or even constructing puzzles. This book is not so much for them, either. This book targets the masses in between, the occasional solver, the one who is trying to get more consistent, the one who wants to be able to tackle puzzles of higher difficulty than those found in "TV Guide" or airline magazines.

So, does it succeed? That depends on your expectations. The title, "How to Conquer The New York Times Crossword Puzzle (Tips, Tricks and Techniques to Master America's Favorite Puzzle)", makes it sound easy -- read this book and KAZAAM, you'll be good at puzzles. The truth is, solving a crossword puzzle requires a combination of general knowledge (vocabulary, literature, pop culture, art, sciences, geography, etc.), crossword conventions (i.e. an abbreviation in the clue implies an abbreviation in the answer), and puzzling logic (recognizing letter patterns, interpreting tricky clues, discovering unconventional tricks, etc.). This book is a great introduction to the latter two, especially for those that are just starting out. The general knowledge part is still up to you.

The book break roughly into sections -- easy, medium, Thursday, hard, and Sunday puzzles. Thursday puzzles are medium but often gimmicky, and Sunday puzzles are medium/hard but considerably larger than weekday puzzles. Each section starts with a couple pages of basic strategy relating to that difficulty level. It's not rocket science, but it sets a nice context for the puzzles that follow. Then follows a "Step-by-Step" solving of a puzzle appropriate for that section. While this may sound like the highlight of the book, I found it to be one of the weaker features. While it's mildly interesting to eavesdrop the brain of a master solver and to see some of the logic applied, the vast majority turns out not to be particularly instructional, as many crossword clues fall into the "you know it or you don't" category. Clearly, Ms. Reynaldo knows it, but that doesn't really help the novice solver. For example, the hard puzzle starts with the 1-Across clue "Sonnet ender". The step-by-step guide starts out "...amazingly for a Saturday puzzle, I think I know the answer: SESTET." Okay, fine, but how does that help those who don't know these things? Even in the easy puzzle, we find things like, "33-Down [Cartoon possum] is POGO, and 34-Down [Greek love god] is EROS." Again, fine if you know these things. But what if you don't? This broad knowledge, as much as puzzle savvy, is what separates the "masters" from the rest.

After each step-by-step solve, there are 10-15 previously-run puzzles for that category. They represent a nice cross-section of the usual suspects that contribute puzzles to the New York Times. (Regular solvers of the New York Times puzzle will often recognize the names and styles of frequent constructors and will thus have a subtle headstart on the type of puzzle to expect.) A nice touch is that each puzzle has a "hints" paragraph at the back of the book, so a solver who is stuck may well get a push in the right direction without resorting to looking at the answers (which, of course, are also there).

Interspersed throughout are short chapters that may truly be the gems of the book. Two in particular are "100 Must-Know Words" and "Top 10 Ways Constructors Try to Trick You". The 100 words are truly crossword staples. These include the short, vowelly words like OLIO and ELIA that appear over and over in puzzles. Learning them up-front would certainly jump start any novice solver. The constructor "tricks" include common ways that clues are written to be deliberately misleading. These are the clues that make you slap your head and/or chuckle when you finally figure them out, and they tend to separate the New York Times and other quality puzzles from the also-rans. The short chapter "Word Banks" introduces another 300 words, names, and abbreviations that show up fairly often in puzzles, grouped in categories. Unfortunately, it is not as well done as the "100 Must-Know Words", in that only about half have any definition at all. The inclusion of two or three common clues for each, as is done in the "100 Must-Know Words" would have made this section much more valuable. As it is, it feels somewhat unfinished. In addition there a several mini-lessons entitled "Think Outside the Boxes". These address issues like recognizing letter patterns and how to recognize when you've made a mistake. Good stuff for the novice, though a Table of Contents would have been nice.

Finally, the book includes two chapters that sound great but are really just throw-ins: "How to Construct a Crossword Puzzle" and "How to Become a Better Solver". I am reminded of the Monty Python skit of the TV show "How To Do It": "How to play the flute. (picking up a flute) Well here we are. You blow there and you move your fingers up and down here." Right. Okay, so, how to be a better solver. Do more puzzles. Read and learn things. Remember them. Got it? Good.

The chapter "How to Construct a Crossword Puzzle" is really a misnomer. This is not something that can be covered in two-and-a-half pages, and this book will not teach you to do it (though it does point to several good references). A better title would be "How Constructors Construct a Crossword Puzzle". The vast majority of people have no idea how puzzles are actually made. This is a nice, high-level overview that gives some insight into the process and perhaps offers solvers a mild appreciation of what is involved.

In summary, despite a couple of weak spots there is a lot to like about this book. It is a great starting point for anyone who wants to start doing New York Times-style crosswords, or for those who have difficulty with all but the early-in-the-week puzzles. Buy it as a gift for someone you love (maybe throw in the DVD "Wordplay" as well) and introduce them into the wonderful world of crosswords. Maybe they'll even get hooked.

And that's a good thing. :)

The Big Book of Lionel: The Complete Guide to Owning and Running America's Favorite Toy Trains

Average customer rating:

Great foundation book
ideal
Big Book of Lionel
Great for beginner and expert Lionel train fans
The Big Book of Lionel

The Big Book of Lionel: The Complete Guide to Owning and Running America's Favorite Toy Trains
Robert S. Schleicher
Manufacturer: MBI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0760318263

Book Description

An illustrated treasury for Lionel enthusiasts. Highlights include an overview of product development, 20 track plans for the floor and tabletop, advice on building scenery and structures, wiring and track how-to, help in choosing locomotives and freight or passenger operations, maintenance and restoration tips and techniques, and instructions for all kinds of prototypes. - Hobby Merchandiser, September 2004Author and hobby veteran Robert Schleicher presents an illustrated treasury of practical advice for the Lionel enthusiast. Included in this volume are: an overview of product development, track plans for the floor and tabletop, advice on building scenery and structures, wiring and track how-to, help in choosing steam or diesel locomotives and freight or passenger operations, maintenance and restoration tips techniques, and instructions for operations that best emulate prototype railroads.Officially Licensed by Lionel- Only comprehensive, hands-on Lionel book to take technological developments of the last decade into consideration.- Schleicher's previous Lionel Train Book was published by Lionel in 1986 and has sold an estimated 20,000 copies LTD.- All techniques and topics discussed are fully illustrated.- 2004 will mark the 25th anniversary of General Mills' resuscitation of the Lionel name.About the AuthorBob Schleicher of Niwot, Colorado, is a veteran hobby industry writer and publisher, and the author of several MBI titles, most recently 101 Projects for Your Model Railroad and Slot Car Bible.

Customer Reviews:

Great foundation book.......2007-08-23

This book lays a great foundation for anyone starting out. Practical ideas and methods are shown for wiring track and accessories. Care and maintenance. High quality book with very thick glossy pages and many many color photos along with some B/W photos. This would be helpful for anyone interested in 3 track O-gauge even if they are planning on using non-Lionel trains and accessories.

ideal.......2007-03-09

if you are serious about lionel trains this is a must have for info

Big Book of Lionel.......2006-07-11

The book covers a wide range of subjects on planning, building and operating a Lionel O-guage layout, but does not go into a lot of detail. Both Post-War and Modern Lionel trains and tracks are covered as is the newer TMCC electronic controls. The photos of existing Lionel O-gauge layouts are excellent, but the book did not describe the type of track nor were track layout diagrams provided, which would have been very informative. Nevertheless, the book is interesting and provides a good overview of what to consider when planning and building a Lionel O-gauge layout.

Great for beginner and expert Lionel train fans.......2006-03-22

This book with its excellent pictures and detailed descriptions will satisfy the model train neophyte as well as the old veterans.
It is geared especially to the famous "O" gauge Lionel trains of yesteryear. It can serve as a reference book for those just starting out or rediscovering the joys of model train collecting and operating layouts.

The Big Book of Lionel.......2006-02-26

A very good book, full of interesting tips and facts. Full of good information on Lionel trains.

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