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.

40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContinÂ®, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania

Average customer rating:

A Declaration of War
Fascinating Trial; Mediocre Account
21St CENTURY SCOPES TRIAL: DARWIN: 40 INTELLIGENT DESIGN: 0 (ID STRIKES OUT)
Don't Judge This Book By Its Cover
Like a box of chocolates: tasty, and with lots of nuts

40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContinÂ®, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania
Matthew Chapman
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Educational Law & Legislation | Specialties | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Science & Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0061179450
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

In this fascinating story of evolution, religion, politics, and personalities, Matthew Chapman captures the story behind the headlines in the debate over God and science in America

In Kitzmiller v. Dover Board of Education, decided in late 2005, a Republican judge rendered a surprising verdict in a case that pitted the teaching of intelligent design (sometimes known as "creationism in a lab coat") against the teaching of evolution. Taking place in a small Pennsylvania school district, the case had national repercussions, all the way up to President Bush, who said he believed intelligent design should be taught as "an alternative theory" to evolution.

Matthew Chapman, the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, spent several months covering the trial from beginning to end. Through his in-depth encounters with the participants—creationists, preachers, teachers, scientists on both sides of the issue, lawyers, theologians, the judge, and the eleven parents who resisted the fundamentalist proponents of intelligent design—Chapman tells a sometimes terrifying, often hilarious, and above all moving story of ordinary people doing battle in America over the place of religion and science in modern life.

Written with a filmaker's eye for character and detail, and including insights only a descendent of Darwin could bring forth, Chapman paints an entertaining, yet disturbing picture of America today.

Customer Reviews:

A Declaration of War.......2007-08-28

I like to think of Forty Days and Forty Nights as the first salvo of a battle to take our country back from the evangelicals who have intimidated our elected officials into ritualistic declarations of faith and foolish legislation. Matthew Chapman tells how ordinary people in a small Pennsylvania town stood up courageously to the faithbound who tried to insert their brand of religious creationism into public education. These ordinary citizens risked their reputations and in some cases their livelihoods to preserve the constitutional wall between Church and State. By following the citizens' litigation opposing the local school board's purchase for use in classroom biology of a textbook espousing "intelligent design" as an alternative to the teaching of evolution, Chapman uses the recorded testimony of the combatants to expose the "inanity" (the judge's final word) of the school board's case. The lesson is clear: only such fearless opposition can break the hold which the evangelicals have gained in our country over public policy.

Fascinating Trial; Mediocre Account.......2007-08-06

Chapman's account of the issues and personalities that shaped the famed Kitzmiller v. Dover case in Pennsylvania is a truly entertaining read. There's so much great material here that one can't help but be fascinated by the trial transcripts, interviews, and examples of Intelligent Design (ID) "literature" that Chapman includes here.

In particular, Chapman does a fine job of illustrating the contrasting personalities that made up the school board which introduced ID to Dover-area public schools. Without editorializing too much, Chapman shows how the board did the public a disservice by letting their religious views blind their commitment to the education of an increasingly lethargic student body. It's sad to hear how Dover-area kids were let down by a cohort of fundamentalists who, as the trial proceedings demonstrate, actually had very little to no knowledge of what constitutes evolution and what constitutes ID (much less what the scientific method is all about). So as the board was busy legislating religion in Dover, students were tuning out amidst a crumbling school infrastructure and an uninspiring curriculum. That's the most unfortunate aspect of this tale.

For me, the problem with this book is simple: there's so much great material to work with here, but Chapman is a mediocre storyteller at best. There are long sections of the book where he quotes from transcripts or interviews without any narrative insight. He describes at least six or seven of the trial participants as "good-looking." His tone alternates between flippant and cavalier -- rarely sensitive to detail and nuance. His account of the trial's finale is reduced to saying, "You've heard this before, so I'll only quote this part of X's closing statement..." And the conclusion to his narrative, "Revelation," puts forth a bizarre rant that attempts to link the rise of religious fundamentalism in America with the demise of the so-called Protestant work ethic.

I wish Chapman had engaged the trial -- the issues and the personalities -- with more tact and intelligence. This is a fun read, but it's too much "wink wink, nudge nudge" and not enough well-rounded description and analysis. For a far better account of this trial, see Margaret Talbot's article in The New Yorker, which appeared just after the trial's completion.

21St CENTURY SCOPES TRIAL: DARWIN: 40 INTELLIGENT DESIGN: 0 (ID STRIKES OUT) .......2007-07-31

Not since early Hunter S. Thompson or Tom Wolfe have I had as much fun reading a witty, provocative piece of journalistic writing as I've had in screenwriter Matthew Chapman's "40 Days and 40 Nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, GOD, OxyContin AND OTHER Oddities ON TRIAL IN Pennsylvania". It's an enthralling, often humorous tome, that owes more to the mordant humor of Frank McCourt, in his bestselling memoirs "Angela's Ashes" and "Teacher Man", than it does to the rather dry, but never dull, prose of Chapman's great-great-grandfather, Charles Darwin, in his scientific classic, "Origin of Species". In the fall of 2005, Chapman attended the Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District Trial, as an accredited journalist and filmmaker, intent on making a documentary film on the trial, the town and its people. However, this would soon become a personal trek of self-reflection and discovery, in which he would make a most remarkable conclusion on the teaching of creationism in science classrooms. A trek which took him back to Dover, PA often, holding substantive conversations with the key players on both sides of the issue. And while Chapman truly strives for a cinematic narrative, fading in and out between brief discussions of the 20th Century Scopes Trial, the Discovery Institute, and his illustrious ancestor's revolutionary scientific research, the book's emphasis remains focused upon himself and his conversations with the people of Dover. So those in search of an extensive, truly profound, overview of the trial's origins and history might be best served elsewhere, most notably by reading Edward Humes' definitive, well-written account of the trial in his book "Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion, and the Battle for America's Soul", but they would miss much of the personal drama that Chapman has vividly recorded, using his prose as though it was his video camera lens, exquisitely recording all of the detail present.

Chapman's narrative is more linear in focus than Humes' comprehensive account, and adheres more closely to a chronological perspective. One that starts with the Dover Area School District board's decision in the fall of 2004 to teach Intelligent Design alongside evolution, unexpectedly starting a civil war within the town itself, led by the ardent Fundamentalist Christians on the board, against those in the Dover community who were appalled by the board's decision. Among the most sympathetic figures is unexpectedly the board's firebrand, Bill Buckingham, who ruefully admits to Chapman that he's addicted to the painkiller OxyContin, and blames it, not himself, for some of his most outlandish comments, at the board's meetings, that were reported accurately by the local press. Chapman's truly moving, poignant portrayal of him strongly hints that he is, indeed, a lost soul afflicted by drug addiction. It is through moving portraits like those of Buckingham, and his arch-nemesis, former board member Barrie Callahan, that we get a strong sense of the political and religious strife which embroiled the people of Dover for more than a year, beginning in the summer of 2004, when the board left the Dover High School science teachers twisting in the wind, simply because Buckingham had objected to the teaching of "Darwinism" - and that mentioned only briefly - in the newest edition of a popular high school textbook co-authored by Brown University cell biologist Kenneth R. Miller, who, himself, is the subject of a sympathetic portrayal by Chapman in which he explains the rationale for science's faithful adherence against "dealing with issues of meaning or purpose" during his court testimony.

However, it isn't Kenneth R. Miller who emerges as the hero of Chapman's vividly told tale. Instead, the honors rest upon the attorneys for the plaintiffs, most notably, lead attorney Eric Rothschild, and, quite unexpectedly, philosopher of science Barbara Forrest. Rothschild is depicted as a most congenial, yet still quite, astute, legal warrior in the courtroom, who is able to pry gently from leading Intelligent Design advocate - and star defense witness - Lehigh University biochemist Michael Behe a surprising admission that astrology could be viewed as scientific, based on Behe's own broad definition of what science is, one that includes the potential study of supernatural phenomena; a definition which runs counter to the one subscribed to by the National Academy of Sciences and mainstream science: a rational enterprise that is completely divorced from the supernatural realm (During this memorable "duel" of a cross-examination between Rothschild and Behe, Chapman observes Behe "smiling defiantly" as Rothschild reads the infamous disclaimer posted on the website of Lehigh University biological sciences department acknowledging evolution's scientific validity, but noting too Behe's academic freedom to pursue "research" on Intelligent Design. He draws the conclusion that Behe feels intense pain from this rejection by his own departmental colleagues.). Chapman demonstrates why philosopher Barbara Forrest may have been the plaintiffs' most effective witness. Led on by attorney Rothschild, she begins her testimony with an elegant overview of the history of the creationism, especially during the last two decades of the 20th Century, emphasizing the origins and early history of the "Intelligent Design" movement. And then she reveals the pivotal "smoking gun" in an accurate, yet dramatic fashion, documenting the text changes made in the early drafts of the Intelligent Design textbook "Of Pandas and People", noting the ample instances in which "creation" was substituted with "design", not scores of times, but at least more than one hundred different instances in the text itself. Later, she ends her testimony in a memorably tedious cross-examination by lead defense attorney Richard Thompson that drags on for nearly a day and a half.

Chapman concludes "40 Days and 40 Nights" on a most idiosyncratic, personal note, and one that he has alluded to ever since the very first page of his memoir. He contends that we should allow creationism into the science classroom, so that it can be "dissected", in much the same fashion as it was during the Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District trial, by allowing teachers to "explore the limitations of faith through the revelatory methods of science", and resulting in "verdicts" identical to Republican Federal Judge Jones' conclusion that Intelligent Design wasn't scientific. Emotionally, it is a sentiment that I found myself quite unexpectedly, at first, to be in complete agreement. However, on second thought, I concur with Ken Miller's observation that introducing Intelligent Design into science classrooms would be a "science stopper". It would conflate most students' understanding of what exactly is the difference between religious faith and science, though I suppose that some truly gifted students, like those attending prominent American high schools such as Alexandria, Virginia's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and New York City's Bronx High School of Science and Stuyvesant High School, might readily understand and appreciate these distinctions. And yet I am inclined to agree more with the harsh view articulated by distinguished British paleontologist Richard Fortey in his essay published in the January 30, 2007 issue of the British newspaper Telegraph, contending that it is an absolute waste of time arguing with Intelligent Design advocates, and that they ought to be dismissed as "IDiots"; by extension, so would be the teaching of Intelligent Design alongside evolution in a science classroom. I would rather see talented students from Thomas Jefferson, Bronx Science and Stuyvesant engage themselves fruitfully in genuine scientific research of the highest caliber, than in trying to understand the metaphysical, religious nonsense known as Intelligent Design and other flavors of creationism. I think, in hindsight, so would Charles Darwin.

Don't Judge This Book By Its Cover.......2007-07-26

Alas, Darwin's great-grandson has not been well served by his publisher. Athough Chapman's description of the dramatis personae of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial is both engaging and illuminating, the book's presentation suffers from a lack of attention by its publisher and/or editor.

The cover itself seems to advertize a work of pulp fiction, not an entertaining account of a trial with historic implications. It's reference to " . . . Oxycontin, and Other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania" is not only false, but unnecessary; the actual content of the book would be its best advertisement.

Another reviewer has commented on the hilariously unflattering photo of the author, which implies that the publisher does not take this book seriously. And a firmer editorial hand might have spared us such phrases as the Center for Thought and Ethics having provided certain documents "thoughtfully and ethically," and a book with a panda on the cover being referred to as "unbearable."

Apart from the general cutesiness of the author's attempts at puns, the account of the trial and its aftermath make for entertaining and informative reading.

But the final chapter, in which Chapman argues that Intelligent Design should be taught in schools so that its falsity can be demonstrated is tedious. Worse, Chapman apparently fails to appreciate the irony: he is, in essence, arguing FOR the first step of the "wedge strategy" advocated by the Discovery Institute, that is, to "Teach the Controversy," thus elevating "Intelligent Design" to a level apparently competitive with evolution. Given Chapman's obvious viewpoint expressed in the book, his failure to appreciate the implications of his final disquisition is disappointing. Not to mention that demonstrating the falsity of Intelligent Design in athe classroom might well run afoul of the Establishment clause of the Constitution.

40 Days and 40 Nights has the appearance of having been rushed into print with little attention to serious editing. The publisher should be embarrassed.

Like a box of chocolates: tasty, and with lots of nuts.......2007-07-05

This book is about the famous Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Board case.

The school board, controlled by science-illiterate, religious fanatics and following the advice of other, science-illiterate, religious fanatics at the Thomas More Law Center, overruled Dover High's own science faculty and forced through a policy mandating that the freshman biology course include a statement that misrepresented and criticized evolutionary theory and provided information about an untested creationist alternative called "intelligent design." (Intelligent design is a "scientific" theory whose primary advocates are yet another bunch of religious kooks at the Discovery Institute.)

After the school board passed that policy, several parents sued, alleging that the policy violated the First Amendment's provision regarding separation of church and state. After a full trial, the court eventually ruled that, duh, ID was a religious theory and had no place in science class.

The book has three main ingredients. The trial itself serves as the unifying theme for the book, so the first ingredient, of course, is a description of the courtroom action, including very brief summaries of some of the testimony of the experts for both plaintiffs and defendants on the main points of the trial. Chapman does comment on some of the technical aspects of the trial, but only occasionally and very briefly. In general there is very little analysis of the merits of the scientific, legal, or philosophical arguments that both sides presented, so if you're looking for detailed information about those issues, you may want to look elsewhere.

The second ingredient is a brief summary chapter in which Chapman argues in favor of teaching creationism/ID in science classes.

The book's third and most important ingredient is the "human interest" or background stories about many of the characters on both sides of the tragicomedy of the trial; and it is this ingredient that makes the book such a tasty read. The anecdotes and revealing glimpses into the personalities, backgrounds, and motivations of the main actors are generally presented with warmth, sensitivity, and, frequently, with a great deal of humor. Many of the anecdotes were downright hilarious. Unfortunately, several anecdotes were of a more disturbing nature.

The anecdotes revealing the dishonesty of the board members and the hypocrisy of the Thomas More Law Center will probably not be surprising to anyone who has followed the evo/crevo dispute in any detail, but the reports about the school board's arrogant, religious bigotry may be shocking simply for how open and public it was. The cowardice of the Discovery Institute's William Dembski and Stephen Meyer in failing to testify was also interesting, and Dick Carpenter's unexplained disappearance was simply mystifying. (Carpenter is associated with Focus on the Family, another group of religious cranks.) Other anecdotes report on the school board members' appalling lack of intellectual curiosity about the changes they were making to the science curriculum. That will probably not surprise anyone who has followed the dispute in any detail either, since many of the pro-ID statements from school officials in Kansas a couple of years ago were just as appallingly ignorant. The vicious hate mail and personal attacks that the plaintiffs and their school-age children endured show once again that freedom isn't free. In sharp contrast to Dembski's and Meyer's cowardice, the plaintiffs showed a lot of courage in standing up to the religious bullies on the school board and in the local pulpits. If the Christian God is indeed a God of love, then some of those clergymen are going to have to answer some day for their hateful actions and comments.

Again, if you're looking for detailed, technical analyses of any part of the evo/crevo debate or a formal, historical treatment of the trial, this book is probably not going to satisfy you, but the human interest stories in this book are truly a feast.

P.S. Even if you don't buy the book, at least take a look at the inside jacket cover. The picture of Chapman is hilarious.

The Night Life of the Gods (Modern Library Paperbacks)

Average customer rating:

One of my all time favorite books
Amusing, But Not His Best
very good!
an irrelevant review
Sheer Entertainment

The Night Life of the Gods (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Thorne Smith
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0375753060
Release Date: 1999-12-28

Book Description

Thorne Smith's rapid-fire dialogue, brilliant sense of the absurd, and literary aplomb put him in the same category as the beloved P. G. Wodehouse. The Night Life of the Gods--the madcap story of a scientist who instigates a nocturnal spree with the Greek gods--is arguably his most sparkling comedic achievement.
Hunter Hawk has a knack for annoying his ultrarespectable relatives. He likes to experiment and he particularly likes to experiment with explosives. His garage-cum-laboratory is a veritable minefield, replete with evil-smelling clouds of vapor through which various bits of wreckage and mysteriously bubbling test tubes are occasionally visible.
With the help of Megaera, a fetching nine-hundred-year-old lady leprechaun he meets one night in the woods, he masters the art (if not the timing) of transforming statues into people. And when he practices his new witchery in the stately halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art--
setting Bacchus, Mercury, Neptune, Diana, Hebe, Apollo, and Perseus loose on the unsuspecting citizenry of Prohibition-era New York--the stage is set for Thorne Smith at his most devilish and delightful.

Born in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1892, educated at Dartmouth, THORNE SMITH was an early cohort of Dorothy Parker's. He achieved literary success in 1926 with the publication of Topper and went on to publish nine novels in the next eight years. He earned a passionate following among both critics and readers before his death, at the age of forty-two, in 1934.

CAROLYN SEE is the author of nine books. Her latest novel is The Handyman. She lives in Pacific Palisades, California.

Customer Reviews:

One of my all time favorite books.......2006-06-28

Didn't discover Thorne Smith until I was an adult. In case you haven't recognized the name, Smith is responsible for the Topper series of books, among many others - although he didn't live long enough to see the success of his works in movies and TV. It is a goldie-oldie where we discover Hunter Hawk, a brilliant scientist who likes to experiment - he can turn people into statues! On his jaunts out of his estate, he meets the lovely Mageara, a 900 year old witch with who has (among other things) the power to turn statues into flesh and blood! They hook up and the main thrust of the plot is they go to the Metropolitan Museum and turn famous mythological statues to life. Things never would be the same in New York after that! Hawk and Magaera must be reponsible for the care, feeding (mostly drinking!), housing and behavior of these gods and goddess - mayhem abounds!
The supporting characters, mainly Mageara's father and Hawk's butler are also delights.
Smith's dialog is rapid-fire and laugh out loud great. It does have some terms that were current in the 20's/30's, but it is a great read. This book means a lot to me.
It is a once in a lifetime book that captured my imagination and it is worth getting - Worth getting used with Amazon, or in used book stores - maybe bookstores have the reissued paperbacks.

Amusing, But Not His Best.......2006-01-13

My suggestion: read "Gods" for the characters. They're well-drawn, with distinct personalities and foibles, and their eagerness to experience the modern world (and its pleasures of the flesh) is guaranteed to bring a smile. Unfortunately, the story is a bit weak, with too much jumping from vignette to vignette, and the bantering dialogue is at times overdone. Still, whenever "Gods" seemed to be bogging down and I was ready to give it up, Smith would hit his stride again and keep me reading. Worth the time.

very good!.......2006-01-11

Night Life of the Gods was written many moons ago and it feels like it. That could be one of the reasons I liked it so much, it just has a different "feel" than most other books I've been reading recently. The story is fun, the characters are pretty nwell done and the writing takes the reader to a different age.

It is a welcome addition to my bookshelves!

an irrelevant review.......2005-08-11

This is possibly the first adult book I read. I must have been about eight. My parents were a bit bohemian and I appreciated that they let me read such racy stuff. Since I went on to become a professor of literature, it must have had a good influence on me.
I hadnt thought of it for probably fifty years, until recently the author's name came back to me. I couldnt remember the title, but thought it was something like Twilight of the Gods. I'm not an opera buff so I didnt catch my mistake right away.
Now I have to decide, is revisiting a childhood memory worth the $25 it now costs. I dont trust my taste then at all, but I'm tempted.

Sheer Entertainment.......2000-04-16

I was about 13 years old when I discovered this book. It had been left with others on the third floor of our home. They belonged to an Uncle who was overseas during WWII. Had my parents been aware of just what I was reading, I am sure they would have confiscated the book. I was well into my 20's when I 're-discovered' Night Life of the Gods, among other Thorn Smith books, and read them again without the little girl giggles. We still laugh aloud over the delicious romps of Smith's characters. The tales are timeless and still a lot of fun. Not the least bit significant of anything; a leap from so much seriousness in print today. Read, laugh and enjoy a fine humorist.

Average customer rating:

A bit of soul food
Feeling troubled, read this book
One of the finest Christian authors...
Wonderful reading
Read all that Ron Mehl Wrote

What God Whispers in the Night
Ron Mehl
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1590528905
Release Date: 2006-06-01

Book Description

In this expanded, revised hardback edition of The Cure for a Troubled Heart, Ron Mehl has crafted a book of tender encouragement for Christians dealing with seasons of difficulty. Mehl points out that in moments of struggle and heartache, human coping strategies can offer only temporary and superficial help. He highlights key Scriptures which give powerful direction and comfort - empowering the struggling believer through God's whispered message that "I Am Awake, I Am at Work, and I Am on Watch." With moving, contemporary illustrations, meaty content, and a dynamic epilogue, Mehl skillfully unveils the ways the Lord's love can penetrate pain and restore hope and peace in any circumstance.

Customer Reviews:

A bit of soul food.......2007-09-26

I bought this on a whim as a bargain book. I am so glad I did. IT is an easy read. I have found its words most helpful and comforting. Ron Mehl was given a special gift for bringing Biblical wisdom to the needs of the human spirit.

If you find yourself frustrated, troubled and alone... you will benefit from this book.

Feeling troubled, read this book.......2007-07-16

This was my first time reading a book by Ron Mehl. I was pleasantly surprised. Although I had bought the book several months earlier it was just what I needed by the time I picked it up. Feeling overwhelmed by life, Ron Mehl reminded me that God is in control, I can trust him, and he will use my weaknesses. At 134 pages this book was just the right size. Also, his illustrations really brought his concepts alive.

One of the finest Christian authors..........2007-04-28

I've been a big fan of Ron Mehl since I stumbled across one of his books offered for sale at a Goodwill in St. Louis. That book (God Works The Night Shift) was so well written and compelling that I paid full price for another Mehl book (The Tender Commandments) and another and another.

Mehl's writing style is so different from other contemporary Christian authors. It's delightfully conversational and forthright and simple and pure, which makes for easy reading and comprehension.

And "What God Whispers In the Night" is just as delightful as his other books, filled with inspiration and hope and keen spiritual insights.

My favorite quote from "What God Whispers In The Night": "God's promises are designed for the darkness." Another golden nugget, "You aren't truly trusting God until you're slightly out of control."

This is a quick read and an easy read but it's simple truths will remain with you for a long time.

Wonderful reading.......2005-08-04

This is a book that belongs in every Christian's library to be read & re-read. It is a comforting reminder of God's help in trying times. I bought one for a hurting friend, read it before I sent it, & have since bought 4 more for gifts & for myself.

Read all that Ron Mehl Wrote.......2004-01-07

Ron was a great man with a heart after God's own heart. He was an example to all who knew him of how to live your faith and how to live by faith. His great church is a legacy but more than that his life left imprints upon the hearts of all he came in contact with. Having said all that, read this book - matter of fact read anything written by Ron Mehl. Today he is in the presence of God - but as you read his writings you will sense God's presence too and draw closer to him.

God Works the Night Shift: Acts of Love Your Father Performs Even While You Sleep

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God Works the Night Shift Even while you Sleep
Great encouragement, inspirational...
Encouragement That You Are Not Alone.
Awesome book!
The message of book is as comforting as it is challenging

God Works the Night Shift: Acts of Love Your Father Performs Even While You Sleep
Ron Mehl
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1590528050
Release Date: 2006-06-01

Book Description

Sometimes we feel that God is working by leaps and bounds in the lives of others, but not in our own. Especially when we are going through difficult times, it may seem as though other people have been richly blessed-while our own lives are completely empty. But Ron Mehl assures readers that despite the way things sometimes appear, God is continually at work in their lives, reminding them that God often does his best works in the darkness. As men and women take a closer look at the God who works the night shift, they will learn about the unceasing acts of love he performs for them, every moment of their lives...even while they sleep.

Customer Reviews:

God Works the Night Shift Even while you Sleep.......2007-02-22

I love this book. It is interesting and very easy to read. Hats off to the author. If you are looking for something special, give this book as a gift.

Great encouragement, inspirational..........2004-05-15

Have you ever felt that God has deserted you and that nothing is happening? It may be because God is working the night shift in your life and accomplishing things you haven't seen yet. Mehl has a down-home writing style that allows you to easily identify with his trials in life, and how God has done work behind the scenes to show His glory. Great book...

Encouragement That You Are Not Alone........2003-12-19

This written work is extremely encouraging and offers hope to persons encountering a range of obstacles. This would make an excellent gift for someone who feels like they are facing unmovable mountains. With God all things are possible and God never forgets where we are. This book helped me through some really dark days and I appreciate the author's commitment in writing it.

Awesome book!.......2002-03-01

I was given this book while going through a challenging illness. This book provided so much hope and comfort to me! I looked forward to reading it each night. The author repeats the same message in a very clear, realy manner so that you finally get it that God NEVER leaves your side! I love this book!

The message of book is as comforting as it is challenging.......1999-08-31

God Works the Night Shift is a book that I will purchase for others. I found it a comforting reminder of Christ's profound love for me and an inspiration to obey a God whose primary concern is for my ultimate good. I will read it again and again, and regard it as a trusted companion. Founded on a deep and broad understanding of the Bible, its pages are compelling, humorous and deeply touching. It had a healing effect on me and I know it will on others.

Night on the Flint River: An Accidental Journey in Knowing God

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In touch with God and Self outdoors

Night on the Flint River: An Accidental Journey in Knowing God
Roberta C. Bondi
Manufacturer: Abingdon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0687024552

Customer Reviews:

In touch with God and Self outdoors.......2000-04-12

Being an outdoor person, I was drawn to this book by the cover (I know, don't judge a book by its cover), but I was. I have been outdoors before, and come close to what I thought was death, but was pulled through by the grace of God. Night on the Flint River : An Accidental Journey in Knowing God is Roberta Bondi's experience of just such an event. she has a powerful way of relating lifes misadventures as ways of connecting with the divine. Some would call this a "fox-hole confession", however, Bondi reflects on what happens when someone is already a believer, and feels they have come close to death. Is coming close to death a time of fear or a time of intense spiritual growth? Roberta explores this question well, and helped me understand my faith a little better also.

When God Walks Away: A Companion to the Dark Night of the Soul

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When God Walks Away: A Companion to the Dark Night of the Soul

When God Walks Away: A Companion to the Dark Night of the Soul
Kaye McKee
Manufacturer: Crossroad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0824523806

Book Description

The newest book in the informal series of spirituality seen from a woman's perspective: When Women Pray, when Women Build the Kingdom. The theme of this book is the experience of a believer seemingly losing the faith that has sustained them.

Customer Reviews:

When God Walks Away: A Companion to the Dark Night of the Soul.......2007-01-10

This book is very well written in simple language for all to understand. While it is not a long book, it requires thinking and contemplation. It is truly a work written from the author's heart and personal experiences. I like the suggestions of art, music and cinema to enhance the reader's understanding of the material. Kaye is a wonderful writer. This book would benefit anyone who has gone through an experience of depression or other tough times in their lives. Kaye helps the reader know there is hope and God never leaves us, but we sometimes walk away from God.

Lean Hard on Jesus: God's Great Goodness in Your Darkest Night

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Lean Hard on Jesus: God's Great Goodness in Your Darkest Night
Joyce Rogers
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1581346743

Book Description

âAnd we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.â
Romans 8:28, NKJV

This is a familiar Bible verse, but one that we all too easily forget when we are facing tragedy and suffering. It is in these times that we must lean on Jesus and dig into His Word to rediscover God’s great goodness.

In this book Joyce Rogers speaks openly about what God has done and is doing in her life. She believes with all her heart in the goodness, dependability, and mercy of God, which He has shown her even in the darkest nights of her soul.

Through every story, poem, and Bible verse in these pages, she reminds us that God is good and that all goodness comes from Him. Joyce Rogers’s powerful illustrations of how God transforms grief into hope, weakness into strength, and uncertainty into faith demonstrate that God is good. All the time.

God Whispers in the Night: Encouragement for Life's Difficulties and Disappointments

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Description of God's Love

God Whispers in the Night: Encouragement for Life's Difficulties and Disappointments
Marie Shropshire
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565072855

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Description of God's Love.......2000-05-18

This is one of my favorite books. It is an excellent example of how we view ordinarily disturbing situations and how to put them in God's care. As a counselor, I find that the book helps us to look at the routine issues in our lives and feel better about them by seeing them from God's perspective. Marie Shropshire shows in a very clever manner how we can endure our problems by seeing God's love and mercy. Great book.

Average customer rating:

God Whispers in the Night
Marie Shropshire
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0736906959

Book Description

Everyone experiences "winter seasons" filled with adverse circumstances, the pain of disappointment, and the discouragement of misunderstanding. Marie invites readers to rest in God’s arms and let His healing touch renew their spirit and hope.

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