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.

Cultural Heritage: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies

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Cultural Heritage: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies
Smith
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0415352428

Critical Readings: Media and Gender (Issues in Cultural and Media Studies)

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Critical Readings: Media and Gender (Issues in Cultural and Media Studies)
Cynthia Carter , and Linda Steiner
Manufacturer: Open University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 033521097X

Book Description

How is gender constructed in the media?
To what extent do portrayals of gender influence everyday perceptions of ourselves and our actions?
In what ways do the media reinforce and sometimes challenge gender inequalities?

Critical Readings: Media and Gender provides a lively and engaging introduction to the field of media and gender research, drawing from a wide range of important international scholarship. A variety of conceptual and methodological approaches is used to explore subjects such as: entertainment; news; grassroots communication; new media texts; institutions; audiences. Topics include:

Gender identity and television talk shows
Historical portrayals of women in advertising
The sexualization of the popular press
The representation of lesbians on television
The cult of femininity in women's magazines
Images of African American women and Latinas in Hollywood cinema
Sexual violence in the media
Women in popular music
Pornography and masculine power
Women's relationship to the Internet.

This book is ideal for undergraduate courses in cultural and media studies, gender studies, the sociology of the media, mass communication, journalism, communication studies and politics.

Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another

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Interesting; entertaining; necessarily disappointing
Still reading it... do not let the poilitical physics misguide you
Critical Mass
Almost great...
To be shunned...

Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another
Philip Ball
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374530416
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Book Description

Are there “natural laws” that govern the ways in which humans behave and organize themselves, just as there are physical laws that govern the motions of atoms and planets? Unlikely as it may seem, such laws now seem to be emerging from attempts to bring the tools and concepts of physics into the social sciences. These new discoveries are part of an old tradition. In the seventeenth century the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, dismayed by the impending civil war in England, decided that he would work out what kind of government was needed for a stable society. His solution sparked a new way of thinking about human behavior in looking for the “scientific” rules of society.

Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Auguste Comte, and John Stuart Mill pursued this idea from different political perspectives. But these philosophers lacked the tools that modern physics can now bring to bear on the matter. Philip Ball shows how, by using these tools, we can understand many aspects of mass human behavior. Once we recognize that we do not make most of our decisions in isolation but are affected by what others decide, we can start to discern a surprising and perhaps even disturbing predictability in our laws, institutions, and customs.

Lively and compelling, Critical Mass is the first book to bring these new ideas together and to show how they fit within the broader historical context of a rational search for better ways to live.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting; entertaining; necessarily disappointing.......2007-05-15

CM is well-written, thoughtful throughout, and often quite interesting. PB does a very able job of describing a broad range of social science scholarship, some of it mainstream, some of it fringe, all of it having to do with the application of concepts and methods drawn mainly from the physical sciences to the study of various human phenomena. Throughout, the author presents his material with assurance. However, it seems to me that it is only when he discusses the behavior of the likes of pedestrians or car drivers that he writes from a position of certainty (or reasonable certainty at least). At the end of the day, it is one thing to model traffic flow and quite another to model just about any other type of large-scale social behavior. Applying hard scientific notions to the former seems reasonable enough, and often enough yields reasonable predictions of future 'behavior'. Applying them to the latter, however, seems vanishingly less reasonable, the more complex the behavior under consideration -- and the more players (subject to variable motivations) who contribute to it. Moreover, as the many (very interesting) cases PB discusses show, over and over, the more complex the phenomenon/behavior under consideration, the less rigorously have hard scientific concepts been applied to its analysis. One cannot escape the feeling that so much of the "science" that PB invokes (or, in fairness, that he quotes others as invoking), is only speciously applied to social science problems, serving merely to provide compelling metaphors (the behavior of persons resembling that of particles in thermodynamic systems, etc.). It is certainly interesting that Bell Curves, Power Laws, phase changes, and so forth recur (or at least seem to recur), often unexpectedly, in different contexts. Interesting facts piled on interesting facts, however, do not add up to science -- a science of description perhaps (if such be science), but hardly one of prediction.

There is much of interest in CM, and I very much enjoyed reading it. In the end, though, the book felt like so much sand through my fingers. Far from establishing the legitimacy or the utility of a 'physics' of society, CM left me wondering whether the social sciences have really progressed at all since the time of Hobbes and Locke, Hume and Smith, etc., etc. Having finished CM, I am far more interested in reading the great works of political philosophy than I am in further studying current trends in the science of society. I thank PB for giving me some insight into the latter, and for providing an incisive and compelling overview of the former.

Still reading it... do not let the poilitical physics misguide you.......2007-04-07

My Profile 43 yo Mechanical Engineer.. beginner enterpreneur

First I am only in chapter 6, so I will revisit this review and edit accordingly.

As an admirer of the style of Dr. Ball's way of making chemistry accesible to everyone (specially me).. I was just curious by the comments and the approach of this new book, so when I saw the price was right I bought my used copy..just started some days ago and wow!! talk about a tour d force! I went back to my collegue years to remeber the classical political theorist and Hobbes.. just when I thought it was going to be a lecture in political theory, we are taken ino the realms of thermodymamics and statistical physics as models to be used for political physics..but I have not reach that part already, what I think its that this book is a must as a way to teach thermodynamics!!!

So I must admitt I am kind of slow to learn, but if the principles and scopes of thermo were explained as in Critical Mass, then universities would at least be true to the root of word universal.. and that in those times men of science were holistics in their endevours and connected everything in their theories.. if that was good or not let us judge by history.. but at least we were not surrounded by specialist in their ivory towers.. getting back at the book, if thermodynamics is a dry subject be prepared to be enlighten, wow! I even dusted out my "Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory , and Statistical Thermodynamics" by Sears-Salinger ad began to see the light on the chapters on phase transitions.. in a way, I felt like if the fear of having to hear the axioms and descriptions was shedded off by Dr. Balls's explanations.. do not believe me? see if it happens too.

Again, Im in chapter 6, so there is a lot to see, but only for the thermodymaics insight the book is worth its weight in gold

Critical Mass.......2007-03-08

The book starts a little slowly, but the introductory chapters are needed to set the foundation for the rest of the book. It is well written and provides much provocative food for thought.

A good read and well worth the effort.

Almost great..........2006-11-11

Philip Ball has constructed a very interesting and entertaining survey of parallels between results in physics (like the hysteresis curve of magnetic materials) and results regarding human activity (like the relationship between crime and the severity of the criminal justice system). He finds many relationships that look like phase transitions with critical points, and several phenomena with implicit power law relationships, among other parallels.

What I could have done without are Dr. Ball's frequent qualifying statements regarding the moral and ethical implications of the theories, and his statements about the shortcomings of economics. (The latter appears to be a current focus of his, judging from a recent editorial he wrote for the Financial Times where he made a case for throwing out any theory based on the fully rational agent, "homo economicus" and/or market equilibria, and starting from scratch. Not surprisingly, his editorial spurred many letters to the editor.) In terms of the former, I think Dr. Ball is conflicted when the theory conflicts with his sense of fairness. Many times, he injects qualifying statements where he does not like the human implications of a theory. He even inserts an entire chapter at the end cautioning that government policy should not be based on the (to him) less palatable implications of the theories. He is obviously a believer in significant governmental interference in the free market.

In summary, I really enjoyed the book, but I think it would have been better without the distracting qualifying statements.

To be shunned..........2006-11-09

I am an academic economist who frequently collaborates with scientists and find that interdisciplinary collaboration is often fruitful and that there are clear synergies from letting scholars from different fields interact. I therefore purchased this book with the expectation of being exposed to useful ideas. I was sadly disappointed. The book starts with stating the need for behavioral physics. I smiled a little at this, since economists have been doing this for 150 years, but I guessed that you can't know everything. Then the author started writing about economics. Oh boy! Either the author is truly ignorant of economic research the last 50 years or this guy is to scientific writing what Ann Coulter is to punditry. I doubt that there is a single economic concept that the author has understood. A fundamental concept such as Pareto optimality is botched. Apparently there is evidence that prices fall when demand grows which would be news to most economists (including Adam Smith who is supposed to have expressed this interesting idea.) The author states that economists look for theories that enables prediction of market movements whereas real traders know that this is not possible. Any economist will tell you that the truth is the other way around. In fact, economists know that unless there is asymmetric information among traders it is not possible to consistently outperform the market. Real traders make a living trying to do so. And the statement that microeconomic models ignore interactions between agents is just laughable. In fact economics is a holistic science in the sense that it is explicitly acknowledged that actions are interconnected. This is what general equilibrium analysis is all about. (I don't recall the publication date of Cournot's market model but it was a long time ago.) I could come up with more examples of nonsense but if you want a laugh, just borrow the book at the library. I am concerned with the disingenousness of the writing style. There is no end to the number of statements like "Some economists believe," "mosts economists will" and "many think that." Since I don't recognize any of this I can only assume that he made these things up. The other approach is to cherry pick bad ideas from the past and present them as current practice. (Kontradieff cycles!!!)

In my interactions with scientists I have often despired about the calvalier attitude they have to economics. They seem to think that having a Ph.D. in e.g. physics means that they are super-smart (which they often are) so something as trivial as economics must be dead simple to them. This leads them to say the dumbest things like claiming that energy should be the unit of account when measuring value. It seems to me that having a brain that understands quantum mechanics and relativity makes you supremely unable to understand elemenetary aspect of behavioral science. (Although you may be able to predict behaviour in queues and other not very interesting patterns.) The contrast with biology is interesting. The flow of useful ideas between biologists and economists has been very beneficial to both sciences and promise to be more so in the future.

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Nothing new
Fast Paced Medical Thriller
Another solid medical thriller by Clement
A Must Read
Unauthorized research has fatal consequences.

Critical Condition
Peter Clement
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345443403
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Book Description

In the heat of a passionate encounter, ecstasy suddenly turns to terror for renowned geneticist and TV personality Dr. Kathleen Sullivan. Stricken by a brain hemorrhage, she is rendered completely paralyzed and speechless . . . but still utterly aware; a prisoner inside her own body.

Kathleen is rushed to a Manhattan hospital, her chances of survival slim. Even if she pulls through, the likelihood that she’ll sustain permanent brain damage is near one hundred percent. But neither outcome can compare to the insidious fate in store for her masterminded by the very people entrusted with saving her life. As her lover, ER chief Richard Steele, watches and waits for a miracle, Kathleen becomes a pawn in a clandestine plot that runs deeper than medical politics–and reaches into the highest echelons of power at New York City Hospital.

Placed in the hands, and at the mercy, of revered Chief of Neurosurgery Dr. Tony Hamlin, Kathleen descends into a waking nightmare. Powerless to resist the sinister experiments she is subjected to, and unable to cry out for help, she must fight desperately to communicate her tortured, trapped thoughts to Steele–before her tormentors can carry their bizarre and potentially lethal work to its completion.

Ruthlessly determined to achieve their goals, the secret cabal of ambitious physicians will go to any length to avoid discovery, defy the law, and make medical history at all costs . . . even the human life they are sworn to preserve.

For anyone who has ever had a mortal fear of hospitals, and the sense of powerlessness that often transpires within their cold, sterile corridors, Peter Clement’s Critical Condition will provide chilling new nightmares–along with infectious suspense.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Kathleen is rushed to a Manhattan hospital, her chances of survival slim. Even if she pulls through, the likelihood that she'll sustain permanent brain damage is near one hundred percent. But neither outcome can compare to the insidious fate in store for her masterminded by the very people entrusted with saving her life. As her lover, ER chief Richard Steele, watches and waits for a miracle, Kathleen becomes a pawn in a clandestine plot that runs deeper than medical politics—and reaches into the highest echelons of power at New York City Hospital.

Placed in the hands, and at the mercy, of revered Chief of Neurosurgery Dr. Tony Hamlin, Kathleen descends into a waking nightmare. Powerless to resist the sinister experiments she is subjected to, and unable to cry out for help, she must fight desperately to communicate her tortured, trapped thoughts to Steele—before her tormentors can carry their bizarre and potentially lethal work to its completion.

Ruthlessly determined to achieve their goals, the secret cabal of ambitious physicians will go to any length to avoid discovery, defy the law, and make medical history at all costs... even the human life they are sworn to preserve.

For anyone who has ever had a mortal fear of hospitals, and the sense of powerlessness that often transpires within their cold, sterile corridors, Peter Clement's Critical Condition will provide chilling new nightmares—along with infectious suspense.

"Clement's twenty years as an emergency physician and family doctor result in novels of stunning suspense grounded by an insider's view of medical science."
   THE TORONTO STAR

Customer Reviews:

Nothing new.......2006-03-29

The theme of this book is not new. The plot goes out of the main story explaining surgeries that nobody'll do unless a M.D. and that gets boring. The way Kathleen saves herself is a fairytale and the way Dr. Morris and Dr. Downs save their selves is pathetic.

Fast Paced Medical Thriller.......2005-08-24

Dr. Kathleen Sullivan and Dr. Richard Steele have returned (Mutant). Sullivan suffers a severe brain hemorrhage and finds herself totally paralyzed, but completely awake and aware. She is given a questionable treatment by the Chief of Neurosurgery. It is left to Steele to determine what a group of doctors in his hospital are up to. Throw in a fanatical murderer on the loose who is killing doctors, and you have a fast paced thriller. Clement has developed some intriguing characters for this outing. Realistic descriptions of stem cell research add to the mix. The skulking killer was a bit over the top, but needed, I suppose, for the suspense. Overall, a good read with a very exciting conclusion.

Another solid medical thriller by Clement.......2005-06-27

I really enjoy Peter Clement's books. It would be really easy to write way over our laymens heads, since he is a doctor, but he seems to always be aware of his reader's limited medical knowledge and writes accordingly. His books are packed with mystery and suspense. His characters are always interesting and believable. Critical Condition delivers like all his others.

Dr. Sullivan has a stroke and wakes up to find that while she is totally aware of her surroundings, she is trapped inside a body that will not respond. The only way she is able to communicate is by blinking her eyes to yes & no questions. Her lover, E.R. physician Richard Steele is desperate to find a way to help restore her life to normal. There are doctors at the hospital that have been experimenting with stem cells, and they may be able to help, but at what cost? When things don't go the way these physicians planned, will Dr. Sullivan be capable of making those around her understand there is a plot to kill her?

This was an exciting book. It was hard to put down. It was hard not to panic while reading Sullivans reaction to finding herself unable to move, or speak. She can't even breath on her own, and I had trouble breathing just reading about her panic. Clement doesn't waste alot of time mincing words or piling on page after page of "filler". He gets right to the heart of the story, making your heart beat faster in the process. Pick this one up, you won't regret it.

A Must Read.......2002-06-03

Peter Clement is a natural, the novel is full of surprises and action, and difficult to put down. Any book that keeps my interest over sleep and meals deserves the highest score. I have become a devout follower. I stongly recommend this book - A must read.

Unauthorized research has fatal consequences........2002-06-02

In Peter Clement's "Critical Condition," Dr. Kathleen Sullivan suffers a brain hemorrhage and spends most of the book flat on her back, unable to move or to communicate normally. Her lover, Dr. Richard Steele, Chief of ER, is heartbroken, especially since his first wife died after a battle with cancer. Will Richard once again lose a woman he loves? Even if Kathleen survives, will she ever be able to function normally again?

There is a great deal more at stake here, however, than Kathleen's medical problems. There are a number of doctors in New York City Hospital who are engaged in unauthorized research that could revolutionize the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, including heart failure and strokes. When Kathleen, without her consent, becomes a guinea pig in this new research, she cannot easily communicate her terror to Richard or to the police. Complicating matters still further, there is a homicidal maniac on the loose, and he is targeting those very doctors engaged in this new research.

Although the plot of "Critical Condition" is extremely convoluted, Clement manages to hold the reader's interest with crisp dialogue and fast-paced action. There is plenty of gore here, as people are dispatched in extremely messy ways. One of Clement's strengths is his talent for explaining arcane scientific concepts, and his information about stem cell research is fascinating. Another plus is Clement's restraint in not making either of his heroes, Kathleen or Richard, super-detectives. Instead they are portrayed as vulnerable people, whose medical knowledge does not protect them from the evil that surrounds them. Finally, Clement wisely shows that there is a moral gray area surrounding controversial scientific research. Do the potential benefits that may result from stem cell research offset the moral questions that such research raises? Does the United States government handcuff its scientists too much with restrictive rules, or are these rules designed to protect us all from dangerous and untested practices? These are valid questions, which are intelligently addressed. Clement gives no pat answers; he allows the reader to make his own judgments concerning these thorny issues.

Amazon.com

When a handsome stranger walks into Joss Cole's one-woman law office on a sleepy island in Puget Sound and slaps down a hefty retainer to incorporate a fledgling electronics business, the burned-out ex-public defender has a hunch things aren't exactly as they seem. And when Dean Belden, this strange new client, comes back a few days later with a federal grand jury subpoena he swears he can't explain, she still doesn't tie it into the bizarre illness suffered by her other major clients, a group of commercial fishermen. Then Belden skips out on the feds and dies before her eyes in the fiery explosion of his float plane. Or does he? Within hours there are two attempts on Joss's life--clearly someone thinks she knows more than she's telling. Later, a nuclear fission expert shows up on the island tracking two missing tactical nuclear devices stolen from a Siberian storage facility, and the Geiger counter starts ticking. When Joss's fishermen start dying of what is clearly radioactive poisoning, the outlines of Belden's shadowy past get filled out in a tense thriller as topical as today's headlines. Steve Martini ties it all together with a fast-paced, well-plotted story of homegrown militia groups set up by America's enemies. He tosses in a hint of romance--just enough to show off Joss's vulnerable side without slowing down the action. Martini fans will swallow this one whole, while those who haven't discovered him yet can catch up with his several other thrillers on the paperback backlist, including Compelling Evidence, Prime Witness, and The Judge. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Steve Martini weaves a story based on today's fears and tomorrow's headlines-riveting in its realism, genuine in its characters. Jocelyn "Joss" Cole, a burned-out public defender from L.A., has opted for a quieter life in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Joss has no significant clients other than a group of commercial fisherman suffering from a strange and serious illness, a condition that doctors cannot diagnose, and which Joss believes has an industrial cause. Then into her office comes Dean Belden, a well-heeled client in search of a lawyer to help him set up a business in the islands. Within days Belden is subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury. Less than an hour after testifying, and before Joss can discover what happened in the secrecy of the grand jury room, Belden dies in a fiery explosion of his float plane on Seattle's Lake Union. Gideon Van Ry is a nuclear fission expert and a scholar in residence at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California. One of his duties is to update the Center's database, an extensive catalog listing fissionable materials and weapons of mass destruction. Gideon is troubled by the apparent failure to account for two small tactical nuclear devices missing from a storage facility in the former Soviet Union.The two weapons were last seen in packing crates, to be shipped to an American company called Belden Electronics. Gideon has been unable to locate this firm, and now he is left with only one possible lead, the lawyer who incorporated the company-Jocelyn Cole. Fraught with tension and suspense, Critical Mass is Steve Martini at his electrifying best. It is the story of what can happen in a world where private hate and public apathy combine to uncork the sleeping but deadly genie of nuclear terror.

Customer Reviews:

Critical Mass.......2006-10-31

This author has appeared in these pages before, as one of a small handful who brings far more to the legal thriller than simply an ingenious plot. He's an author, not a genre author, and I'm a fan.

Let's drop back in time a few years and a few novels to his second, CRITICAL MASS. Even then, he had the gift of observation, strong character creation skills, an ear for natural dialogue and excellent word choice. Meanwhile, the plot centers around uranium stolen from the former Soviet Union. Hmm.

Normally I'd give up after two sentences, or perhaps even read the back cover and put it back on the bookstore shelf unread, because it's just impossible to pull this reader into that subject matter. But since this is Steve Martini we're talking about, I read a full 10% before I gave up. Gerd Balke pulled me into this subject matter with SKULL DANCE, and Todd Stone has pulled me into his military thrillers as well. But basically, you can't win me by writing about this, not even if you're Steve Martini.

Meanwhile, I still look forward to reading the other Steve Martini novel on my shelf and then buying more at the local bookstores. I'm still a fan. I just didn't read CRITICAL MASS.

Critical Mass.......2006-09-05

This book is a real page turner. Some of the outcomes are a real surprise. I usually struggle with this type of book (Political, Terrorism). The book hooks you from the very beginning and keeps your attention the whole way through.

Boring and predictable.......2006-06-25

I was very disappointed in this book, especially as all the reviews were so great, and surprised to find myself rather bored with it. My first Martini book was Double Tap, which I was very impressed with. Reading this book was almost like it was written by another author. I found the characters flat, none of whom I cared about except the Dutchman, and the plot seemed well put together, but somehow predictable.

Exciting without doubt.......2006-06-02

I am not a novel reader by nature, but someone gave me this book and along with some other S Martini books, found it riveting until I finished the book, then I was disappointed that I finished the book. Now what I thought, it was so good, I didn't want it to end! good thing is, I still have lots of Steve's books to read...

Unusual thriller with international nuclear intrigue - suspenseful, but uneven plot.......2005-10-20

We've read most of Martini's booklist, and frankly were somewhat surprised at the pure thriller aspect of this novel. While one expects a fair degree of "lawyering" in his (defense attorney) Paul Madriani series, Martini's non-series novels (like this one) still usually showcase a lawyer or two as the leading players. And while one observes that the leading lady in "Critical Mass", Jocelyn Cole, is indeed a one-woman law office, that role is almost incidental to the suspenseful plot that follows about two missing Russian nuclear devices. In an almost Clancy-like early part of the book, we're treated to alternating scenes of the devices out on the ocean, to a new mystery client visiting Cole, to a surprise explosion of a small plane with its pilot aboard. From there we're soon engrossed in a tale to identify the whereabouts of the bombs, complete with high-level political machinations to keep everything quiet under direct orders of the President himself (not so unlikely anymore!). The storyline proceeds to threaten the life of our leading lady and a new sidekick, Gideon van Ry, from a nuclear tracking institute; and before it's all over, a number of surprises conspire to amuse and entertain!

We might give this enjoyable book higher marks if were just a tad more plausible. While the basic premise of the old Soviet Union losing track or selling some of its old nuclear stuff is not that far-fetched, most of the action that follows, from the stealthy Navy Seal attack, to the multiple brushes with death that befall our heros, to the closing scenes near the Smithsonian are mostly pretty tough to swallow. While we agree with Martini's fan club that "Mass" is a worthwhile outing, we'd prefer he stick to legal topics he knows just a little more about - and leave the military skullduggery to Clancy et al!

Japanese Culture and Communication: Critical Cultural Analysis

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Japanese Culture and Communication

Japanese Culture and Communication: Critical Cultural Analysis
Ray T. Donahue
Manufacturer: University Press of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Communication | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0761812490

Book Description

Japanese Culture and Communication provides a cross-cultural training manual for interacting with the Japanese by considering the conceptual barriers involved, identifying the real differences related to communication and culture, and providing actual cases for developing critical cultural analysis. The author discusses Japan's distinctiveness as a country that appears both "western" and "eastern" yet actually developed its own unique tradition. He focuses on the perceptual barriers to effective intercultural relations, Japanese communication style, contrastive rhetoric or discourse between Japanese and English, and images of the Japanese in the mass media. Application exercises are provided, as well as guest articles from several foreign residents of Japan, and Japanese studies specialists.

Customer Reviews:

Japanese Culture and Communication.......2001-02-25

Explore the unique and exciting culture of the exotic country of Japan. This intresting, and outstanding book takes you along for the ride to Japan and introduces you to the way the Japanese communicate with one another.If you find other languages and lands exciting, you should get this great book, it's worth the money!

Reading the Media in High School: Media Literacy in High School English (Language and Literacy Series (Teachers College Pr))

Average customer rating:

Superbly organized and presented

Reading the Media in High School: Media Literacy in High School English (Language and Literacy Series (Teachers College Pr))
Renee Hobbs
Manufacturer: Teachers College Press, Teachers College, Columbia University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0807747386
Release Date: 2007-03-01

Book Description

This pioneering book, by one of the founders of the media literacy field, provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of media literacy on the academic achievement of adolescents. It chronicles the practice of high school teachers who prepared their students to critically analyze all aspects of contemporary media culture. To do so, they developed an innovative curriculum that incorporates popular media, television, journalism, film, and new media into the required English curriculum. This book examines the processes they used to design and implement the new curriculum as well as the specific, measurable impact that the program had on students.

Customer Reviews:

Superbly organized and presented.......2007-06-09

"Reading The Media: Media Literacy In High School English" by national media education expert Renee Hobbs (Associate Professor of Communication at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) chronicles the successful practice of highschool English teachers who developed an innovative curriculum for their students that incorporates popular media, television, journalism, film, and 'new media' information sources, as well as the specific, measurable impact that this curriculum supplementation had on the students' academic performance. "Reading The Media" documents how a media literacy course significantly improved reading comprehension, writing, critical analysis, and other academic skills. Teachers are also provided with practical information on how to revise their lessons plans and activities to take advantage of media literacy strategies to increase student motivation and equip basic citizenship skills. Superbly organized and presented, "Reading The Media" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to high-school and home-school Media Literacy and English Language Studies curriculums.

Medical Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking, Clinical Manual, Third Edition

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Nursing Care Plan Help
nursing
Right product, quick delivery
5 Stars is NOT enough!!

Medical Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking, Clinical Manual, Third Edition
Priscilla LeMone , and Karen M. Burke
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Nursing | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Medical & Surgical | Nursing | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Nurse & Patient | Nursing | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Reference | Nursing | Medicine | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 0130483974

Customer Reviews:

Nursing Care Plan Help.......2007-03-11

This book is great for creating a med/surg concept map. The information is condensed but broad enough to help out in a pinch in the clinical setting. Rationale for various interventions can be found easily.

nursing.......2007-02-07

This book is the best to have if you are a nursing student. It is so easy to use and to the point with the information. I can't tell how many times I have used this book. Though I still have used the textbook for more detailed information. Highly recommened to have and use for papers and quick research. It gives labs, nursing diagnosis, interventions, home health care. Number one book to have!!!!!!!!!

Right product, quick delivery.......2007-02-07

I will definitely order from this source again; delivery was sooner than I expected and the book was exactly what I ordered and it was in excellent shape.

5 Stars is NOT enough!!.......2005-08-11

I happened to fall upon this book during my med-surg rotation, and it got me A's in my exams! I carry this and use it more than the textbook that was written by this woman. It is well worth the purchase, and I would highly recommend this convienent book to any nursing student that wants to do more than just pass, but to comprehend!!

Ideology and Modern Culture: Critical Social Theory in the Era of Mass Communication

Average customer rating:

Thompson can write
Many informations. But you will be tired at the end.

Ideology and Modern Culture: Critical Social Theory in the Era of Mass Communication
John Thompson
Manufacturer: Stanford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0804718466

Customer Reviews:

Thompson can write.......2005-05-09

This is a book is a clear, concise study of the major debates in the area of the humanities, the social sciences, media and culture.
Academics do not write like Thompson anymore ( at least in critical theory). Thompson puts ideas in context, defines his terms, consider possible objections, gives examples.
The writer is generous to his readers by providing them with an intelligible text without sacrificing rigor.

Martinez

Many informations. But you will be tired at the end........2000-03-31

For everyone who is interested in matters of ideology and public opinion it is a very useful guide into past and current discussion on the concept of ideology. In the second part of the book you will find quite interesting elaboration of the development of media industry based mainly on data from Braitain, neverthenless vey elucidating. Finally the author's media theory which is trying to consider the inner dynamics of media development against the mainstream of New-Left critics of the mass culture tyranny. The style very clear, so you can follow the author's pace of thoughts quite easy but you can find yourself quite bored going thru three fields of reaserch which will finish in final synthesis.

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