General Books

The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World

W. Cleon Skousen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

GLENN BECK, award winning radio and TV host has been talking about "The 5000 Year Leap!" Have you ever read a book which literally changed the course of your thinking and your life? The founder's success formula, as presented in 5000 Year Leap would solve nearly every problem we have in American today if followed. This book will give you a feeling of confidence in today's confused world. Once an individual has a working knowledge of the only correct and proven principles for freedom, prosperity, and peace, then other history can be taught from a whole different perspective. American History becomes a study of how the United States throughout its 200 plus years has either supported the principles of liberty and prospered, or violated these principles and suffered. Can any other knowledge be more helpful to the rising generation in America today? America desperately needs better and stronger leaders. We need leaders who know correct answers and will step forward and make a positive diference in this world.

The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories

Herodotus

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Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

From the editor of the widely praised The Landmark Thucydides, a new Landmark Edition of The Histories by Herodotus, the greatest classical work of history ever written.

Herodotus was a Greek historian living in Ionia during the fifth century BCE. He traveled extensively through the lands of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and collected stories, and then recounted his experiences with the varied people and cultures he encountered. Cicero called him “the father of history,” and his only work, The Histories, is considered the first true piece of historical writing in Western literature. With lucid prose that harks back to the time of oral tradition, Herodotus set a standard for narrative nonfiction that continues to this day.

In The Histories, Herodotus chronicles the rise of the Persian Empire and its dramatic war with the Greek city-states. Within that story he includes rich veins of anthropology, ethnography, geology, and geography, pioneering these fields of study, and explores such universal themes as the nature of freedom, the role of religion, the human costs of war, and the dangers of absolute power.

Ten years in the making, The Landmark Herodotus gives us a new, dazzling translation by Andrea L. Purvis that makes this remarkable work of literature more accessible than ever before. Illustrated, annotated, and filled with maps, this edition also includes an introduction by Rosalind Thomas and twenty-one appendices written by scholars at the top of their fields, covering such topics as Athenian government, Egypt, Scythia, Persian arms and tactics, the Spartan state, oracles, religion, tyranny, and women.

Like The Landmark Thucydides before it, The Landmark Herodotus is destined to be the most readable and comprehensively useful edition of The Histories available.

Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know

Jennifer Van Sijll

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Michael Wiese Productions Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $15.63

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Flawed format. Wait for DVD! 3 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I certainly agree with the existing reviews regarding content, and have nothing to add in this regard.
HOWEVER, there are two problems:
1. The book measures 7 1/2" tall and 11" wide. This makes it hard to hold and fits poorly on the reference bookshelf where it belongs.
2. The book mentions an upcoming DVD. This would a MUCH better format than book.
This book tries to illustrate various cinimatographic points with still shots from exemplary movies. Sometimes these still shots cannot illustrate the point adequately, while a video clip would be TREMENDOUS at illustrating the point. (For example: various transitions: How in the heck can you illustrate transitions with still photos?!)
WAIT FOR THE DVD. It should be TREMENDOUS,and well worth the purchase.

happy with my purchase 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

there was no unpleasant surprise with my purchase. the book came a day or two later than was promised, but other than that, all was as i expected!! :)

Editorial Review:

What the industry's most succcessful writers and directors have in common is that they have mastered the cinematic conventions specific to the medium.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition

Susan Wise Bauer

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peace Hill Press Amazon Marketplace: 53 new & used starting at $9.00

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Total reviews: 116 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Homeschool material 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Excellent material. I really like how this material is designed to to cycle through over three times during a child's homeschool experience in grades K-12.

Editorial Review:

What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew? What happened to Anansi the Spider in the Village of the Plantains? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome?

Told in a straightforward, engaging style that has become Susan Wise Bauer's trademark, The Story of the World series covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americas—find out what happened all around the world in long-ago times. This first revised volume begins with the earliest nomads and ends with the last Roman emperor. Newly revised and updated, The Story of the World, Volume 1 includes maps, a new timeline, more illustrations, and additional parental aids.

This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. Enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations.

Europe Between the Oceans: 9000 BC-AD 1000

Barry Cunliffe

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Yale University Press Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $23.95

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Europe is, in world terms, a relatively minor peninsula attached to the Eurasian land mass. Yet it became one of the most innovative regions on the planet, generating restless adventurers who traversed the globe to trade, to explore, and often to settle. By the fifteenth century Europe was a driving world force, but the origins of its success have until now remained obscured in prehistory.

In this magnificent book, distinguished archaeologist Barry Cunliffe views Europe not in terms of states and shifting political land boundaries but as a geographical niche particularly favored in facing many seas. These seas, and Europe’s great transpeninsular rivers, ensured a rich diversity of natural resources while also encouraging the dynamic interaction of peoples across networks of communication and exchange. The development of these early Europeans is rooted in complex interplays, shifting balances, and geographic and demographic fluidity.

Weaving together titanic concepts while remaining sensitive to specifics, Cunliffe has produced an interdisciplinary tour de force. His is a bold book of exceptional scholarship, erudite and engaging, and it heralds an entirely new understanding of Old Europe.

(20080808)

The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition

Flavius Josephus

Amazon Price: $10.18 List Price: $14.97 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hendrickson Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $7.82

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Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

an amazing reference 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

want to know how Christianity was working when the apostles were still the ones calling the shots? here is a first/second century historians perspective on what was going on in that time

Editorial Review:

This renowned reference book has served scholars, pastors, students, and those interested in the background of the New Testament for years. The insight given into the Essene community, the destruction of Jerusalem and the interpretations and traditions of the Old Testament in first century Judaism is invaluable. The outlook of Josephus, a late first century Pharisee and historian, on Jesus and the New Testament documents is enlightening and provocative. As an original reference, The Works of Josephus is essential to a full understanding of the first century, the time of Christ and the New Testament.

Complete and unabridged, this is the best one-volume edition of the classic translation of JosephusÂ' works. The entire text has been reset in modern, easy-to-read type; numbering corresponding to that used in the Loeb edition has been added to the text; and citations and cross-references have been updated from Roman numerals to Arabic numbers.

Travels with Herodotus (Vintage International)

Ryszard Kapuscinski

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Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

From the renowned journalist comes this intimate account of his years in the field, traveling for the first time beyond the Iron Curtain to India, China, Ethiopia, and other exotic locales.

In the 1950s, Ryszard Kapuscinski finished university in Poland and became a foreign correspondent, hoping to go abroad – perhaps to Czechoslovakia. Instead, he was sent to India – the first stop on a decades-long tour of the world that took Kapuscinski from Iran to El Salvador, from Angola to Armenia. Revisiting his memories of traveling the globe with a copy of Herodotus' Histories in tow, Kapuscinski describes his awakening to the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of new environments, and how the words of the Greek historiographer helped shape his own view of an increasingly globalized world. Written with supreme eloquence and a constant eye to the global undercurrents that have shaped the last half-century, Travels with Herodotus is an exceptional chronicle of one man's journey across continents.

The Complete World of Greek Mythology

Richard Buxton

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Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A full, authoritative, and wholly engaging account of these endlessly fascinating tales and of the ancient society in which they were created.

Greek myths are among the most complex and influential stories ever told. From the first millennium BC until today, the myths have been repeated in an inexhaustible series of variations and reinterpretations. They can be found in the latest movies and television shows and in software for interactive computer games.

This book combines a retelling of Greek myths with a comprehensive account of the world in which they developed—their themes, their relevance to Greek religion and society, and their relationship to the landscape.

• "Contexts, Sources, Meanings" describes the main literary and artistic sources for Greek myths, and their contexts, such as ritual and theater.
• "Myths of Origin" includes stories about the beginning of the cosmos, the origins of the gods, the first humans, and the founding of communities.
• "The Olympians: Power, Honor, Sexuality" examines the activities of all the main divinities.
• "Heroic exploits" concentrates on the adventures of Perseus, Jason, Herakles, and other heroes.
• "Family sagas" explores the dramas and catastrophes that befall heroes and heroines.
• "A Landscape of Myths" sets the stories within the context of the mountains, caves, seas, and rivers of Greece, Crete, Troy, and the Underworld.
• "Greek Myths after the Greeks" describes the rich tradition of retelling, from the Romans, through the Renaissance, to the twenty-first century.

Complemented by lavish illustrations, genealogical tables, box features, and specially commissioned drawings, this will be an essential book for anyone interested in these classic tales and in the world of the ancient Greeks. 250 illustrations, 120 in color.

Fingerprints of the Gods

Graham Hancock

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 264 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

His main ideas are good, his supporting theories flawed 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I want to like Graham more than I do. He seems like a nice british chap, writes a good story and obviously has loads of passion. But like many oter books in this genre he leaves a lot of stones unturned that are right in front of him. Some examples:

Hancock loves to reference the Piri Reis map as conclusive evidence that ancient seafarers existed thousands of years ago and the infomation in the Piri Reis map is evidence of this. However the chinese were, 1 or 2 hundred years before the Piri Reis map was drawn up, exploring many corners of the globe, had a civilisation considered more advanced than europe at its time and had a very plausible explanation of why they would sail and map the southern seas including antarctica. Hancock fails to even bring the ancient chinese sea explorers into the picture, which is suprising because it tells another tale of suppressed information (the chinese destroyed much evidence of the explorations for political reasons much like evidence is covered over today in light of other theories) that he could relate to. Further have you ever seen a piece of the Piri Reis map depciting Antarctica? Its always another more contemporary map thats shown. I belive this is because the only remaining piece of the Piri Reis map remaining does not show the portion of antarctica.

An issue that bothers me is the theory of Antarctica being 'Atlantis'. Now the idea that Antarctica was in a different geographical location, had less ice in our recent past or was influenced by rapid earth crust displacement is a genuine argument. However to suggest it was the mythical 'Atlantis' doesn't make sense logically. It doesn't match up with Plato's description and it doesn't fit a logical location in comparison with the america's as a whole or a part of the america's. Its not a stretch of the imagination to believe south america and africa were trading for a long time and much evidence indicates this was in fact so. For the ancient greeks and egyptians to know of such a place likely means it was in the central america's not to the extreme far south of south america at antarctica. Ancient civilisations that really progressed somewhere tend to be in more fertile areas around the middle equatorial band and not to the extreme north and south of our planet. I wonder if Hancock simply pushes Antarctica because no one else does as rigorously and so he can get better access to covering that theory to himself. I.e it sells books to push it as an extreme theory.

Hancock also frequently discusses the ideas of a great event - a catastrophe but its all very rhetorical. He mentions earthquakes, floods and then goes on to show how the pyramids were build with advanced astronimical infrastructure. But he never really discusses meteor impacts, comet strikes or other theories relating to the disaster. Quite obviously if the pyramids were dynamic to a earthquake why would they house astronimical information? Graham doesn't do a good job and bring these pieces together. It feels like he's repeating other books. The history of early Pyramids is never discussed of course...always the Giza pyramids. None of these new age writers seem bothered to write about the failed pyramids attempts and how practice makes perfect. He still pushes the idea that large ramp was used for the pyramids and doesn't pick up on other theories of ramp making, the slopes that could be used in conjunction with rounded timber wheels that could be connected to stone blocks to roll them up the ramps. Japanese groups have done experiments to show how easily a small group of people can roll a 2 tonne stone block up the required ramp using semi circular pieces of fabricated timber that make the entire block like a cylinder. Its appaling to the reader to be rehashed ideas about the pyramid construction from 30 years ago. Hancock continually bounces around in time frames and never connects the dots, never discusses how trade and knowledge exchange could occur and how other evidence could in fact support him.

Geologically he contain his theory of antartica around crustal displacement. Now this sort of geological behaviour may be possible, but an event such as a comet or supernova influencing the earth 13,000 years ago is going to be complex. There's no reason why the author can't tie up a few of these theories together because I think it would make far more interesting reading and make his argument more bouyant. Eg a comet or supernova debris, or debris from a comet broken loose from a companion binary star or similar solar system/galaxy event slams into north america 13,000 years ago. At the time south america is quite advanced. Perhaps not advanced enough to make spacecraft but enough to know how to smelt metal,move large stone blocks and importantly run a society. It took us 20 years to put a man on the moon, take a country about 10 years to prepare for an olympic games so its no stretch to imagine a stone age culture developing sophisticated masonry skills over hundreds or thousands, or perhaps even hundreds of thousand years. So they had cities...its really no suprise. So they sailed, perhaps not around the globe, but certainly between south america and africa. They each exchanged knowledge. Thus similarities occur between south america and the rest of the world.

He also has another book 'Supernatural'. Hancock is game enough to go and do some ayahuasca in South America. He surely understands the power of these plant psychedelics and he should be game enough to try discussing the role of drugs in our ancient past with these books in more detail. While most of us are currently bound by legal laws regarding drugs, our past was not. Its impossible they didn't play a role in shaping out belief's and development given their power. I would like to see someone write a book that ties in our use of 'sacred plants' more succinctly. Hancock should condense 3 of his books underworld, supernatural and fingerprints into 1 book.

These books are not meant for strict scientific analysis though ultimately...to me they are more like updated Von Daniken books. Its a shame because Hancock is quite correct in saying the mainstream scientific community wont touch this stuff, thats very normal in professions and he's likely correct, like many others, that something devastating happened on earth 13,000 years ago. If Hancock explored more contemporary information that's out there he could do a better job because he could deepen the story into something truly thought provoking rather than rehasing old theories and ideas we've heard before. The rhetoric gets boring quick.

Editorial Review:

The bestselling author of The Sign and the Seal reveals the true origins of civilization. Connecting puzzling clues scattered throughout the world, Hancock discovers compelling evidence of a technologically and culturally advanced civilization that was destroyed and obliterated from human memory. Four 8-page photo inserts.

The Mayan Calendar and the Transformation of Consciousness

Carl Johan Calleman, Jose Arguelles

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Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Reveals the Mayan calendar to be a spiritual device that describes the evolution of human consciousness from ancient times into the future.

• Shows the connection between cosmic evolution and actual human history.

• Provides a new science of time that explains why time not only seems to be speeding up in the modern world but actually is getting faster.

• Explains how the end of the Mayan calendar is not the end of the world, but a path toward enlightenment.

The prophetic Mayan calendar is not keyed to the movement of planetary bodies. Instead, it functions as a metaphysical map of the evolution of consciousness and records how spiritual time flows--providing a new science of time.

The calendar is associated with nine creation cycles, which represent nine levels of consciousness or Underworlds on the Mayan cosmic pyramid. Through empirical research Calleman shows how this pyramidal structure of the development of consciousness can explain things as disparate as the common origin of world religions and the modern complaint that time seems to be moving faster. Time, in fact, is speeding up as we transition from the materialist Planetary Underworld of time that governs us today to a new and higher frequency of consciousness--the Galactic Underworld--in preparation for the final Universal level of conscious enlightenment. Calleman reveals how the Mayan calendar is a spiritual device that enables a greater understanding of the nature of conscious evolution throughout human history and the concrete steps we can take to align ourselves with this growth toward enlightenment.