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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Hollywood Book of Death : The Bizarre, Often Sordid, Passings of More than 125 American Movie and TV Idols

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Excellent book
How did they really die
Bizarre Read
Not all that impressive

The Hollywood Book of Death : The Bizarre, Often Sordid, Passings of More than 125 American Movie and TV Idols
James Robert Parish
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0809222272

Book Description

The death of a celebrity is often as fascinating as--and sometimes more fascinating than--a star's actual life. From the grisly end of Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson family and the mysterious demise of Bob Crane to the peaceful passings of Lucille Ball and George Burns, The Hollywood Book of Death is a captivating and appealingly packaged volume of more than 125 television and movie stars' final curtain calls.

Arranged in an encyclopedic approach by manner of death, these well-researched accounts include details of celebrities' colorful lives and unusual deaths, their funerals, and the intriguing aftermath. With more than 100 rare photographs and a special "necrology" index of more than 6,000 stars and directors, along with a section revealing where Hollywood personalities are resting in eternal sleep, this enthralling reference promises to be on every film and television buff's "Top 10" gift list.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-08-24

This is a great book. Anyone interested in the seedy history of Hollywood stars will definitely enjoy this book.

Excellent book.......2007-01-12

Very Good book, well written.
I for some reason have a morbid fascination into hollywood deaths and this book definately satisfies my curiosity.
Highly recommend

How did they really die.......2006-10-05

The title of the book says it all. The book details the deaths and often the lives of some of Hollywoods favorite players. It is broken up into sections depending on the type of death. Some of the catagories and people in them are:
1. Mysterious:
a. Natalie Wood
b.Sal Mineo
c. Bruce and Brandon Lee
and many more

2.in obserity-these people had not been in the limelight in a while
a. Lucille Ball
b. Joan Crawford
c. Mary Pickford
as well as many more

3. suicide
a. Freddy Prinz
b. Lupe Velez
as well as others

4. Drugs/alcohol
a. Judy Garland
b. Chris Farley
c. John Barrymore
and many more

This book is full of interesting tidpits that any person who loves old Hollywood will definitly injoy

Bizarre Read.......2006-03-16

This had all the bizarre,and perverse stories I have read in a long time. I have read accounts of some of these deaths but they weren't quite as sordid as these.

Not all that impressive.......2006-02-05

I like this book, but felt it left out so many interesting cases.
Most of the entries were not sordid or bizarre as the cover states but simply sad.

The Hollywood Book of Scandals : The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds and Affairs of Over 100 American Movie and TV Idols

Average customer rating:

Those who like this book really like it, those who don't really hate it
Poor book, badly disjointed, rehashing scandals most people already know about
I read this book before because it was WRITTEN before...
The Hollywood Book of Scandals
Debbie Davis could only like this book.

The Hollywood Book of Scandals : The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds and Affairs of Over 100 American Movie and TV Idols
James Robert Parish , and James Parish
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071421890

Book Description

Popular cult author and show business insider James Parish exposes the scandals that rocked Tinseltown

Nothing intrigues the public more than a good, juicy scandal. Add a famous Hollywood star or two to the mix and the nation is hooked. The Hollywood Book of Scandals provides the full account of 32 big, provocative scandals—complete with all the sexy, scintillating, and often shocking details. Written by veteran show business chronicler James Robert Parish, this book dishes the full dirt on:

Bob Crane’s mysterious death
Elizabeth Taylor’s seduction of Eddie Fisher
Robert Mitchum’s arrest for drug possession
Judy Garland’s public meltdown
Errol Flynn’s trial for statutory rape
Winona Ryder’s shoplifting trial

More than 100 black-and-white celebrity photos offer readers a close-up look at the leading players in these sordid dramas.

Customer Reviews:

Those who like this book really like it, those who don't really hate it.......2007-07-12

There's not much space, it seems, for in-betweens, but place me firmly in the "like" camp, especially since I've talked up this book favorably in reviews of several other Hollywood-gossip books here on Amazon. I will say I'm also in Parish's corner. I haven't read a _bad_ book from him yet, IMO. His "Hollywood Book Of..." series specializes in relatively short, punchy articles that are well-researched (certainly in comparison to some other books in this genre), evenhanded and crisply written. While the photos are not always anything special (his series on actresses features much better selections of pictures), they're also usually well-chosen and a lot less sensationalistic than, say, _Hollywood Babylon's_ selections.

Another reviewer questioned why Cary Grant's rooming with Randolph Scott should even be considered a scandal in 2007, which misses the point. It's not that it's not scandalous now, in 2007; the point is how it was regarded _back then_. If Parish doesn't make it clear in that particular instance, he generally does elsewhere in the book (for instance, in his analysis of the Fatty Arbuckle scandal, where it was clear both at the time and now that Arbuckle was a railroaded, innocent man; in fact, Parish explodes the myth of Virginia Rappe's innocence and demonstrates that key (false) testimony was given by a friend of Rappe's who had an axe of her own to grind).

No book is perfect, though, and my own quibble is that Parish covers some material that's already been gone over in other books in the present series, while leaving out other material that clearly deserves inclusion. Specifically, I'm thinking of his section on the Woody Allen-Mia Farrow breakup, which was already discussed at length in "The Hollywood Book of Breakups". The space devoted to that rehash could have been used, instead, to talk about - for instance - the David Begelman check-forgery scandal (where actor Robert Stack discovered his name signed to a check he didn't draw or cash, which was ultimately traced to then-studio head Begelman).

All in all, though, I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Poor book, badly disjointed, rehashing scandals most people already know about.......2007-03-24

I found this book to be very disjointed, badly organized, and even poorly written. The list of "scandals" is the same old list of tired stories, innuendo, and might-have-beens that every movie fan and scandal fan likely knows about already. Worse, some of the occurrences Parish lists aren't really even scandals - the fact that Robert Blake was tried for his wife's murder may be a scandal, but in 2007 is the fact that Cary Grant shared a house with a fellow male star even slightly scandalous? The only scandal is in those who judged him, one way or the other.

In addition, this book could have benefited from thorough copy editing and fact-checking. There are many minor and major factual errors and, in addition, many typos and grammatical errors.

I don't recommend this book.

I read this book before because it was WRITTEN before..........2006-09-04

If you have read the Hollywood Babylon books, then there is really no need to read this one. It is a rehash of what was in those books.

The only reason you might want to read this one is to save yourself reading the other two or maybe you have no clue at all about these scandals and want to catch up.

I found the book hard to follow in general. Overall I can't tell if this was a repeat by intention or what. I like John Robert Parish too, so this is no slam on him. I just don't get the point, but he isn't the first guy to so something over.

The Hollywood Book of Scandals.......2006-07-29

The scandals themselves were interesting however I found the book hard to read. Some of the information was repetitive from chapter to chapter and it was not well written. I was looking for something that I could just pick up an read a story at a time and this was not the book for that.

Debbie Davis could only like this book........2006-06-24

Only a short bus rider like Debbie davis could love this book.This book is the second book in a row this parish character wrote and its boring an old news from the old tabloids.Unless you have lived under the dirt there is nothing new here. Just an obvious attempt to make money. This has been done much better by better writers like Bob Thomas and James bacon and Earl Wilson!!!!- Note- one reviwer wrote Don Johnston of Beach Boys wrote I write the songs. His name is Bruce dear.

I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But...: Backstage Gossip from American Idol & the Secrets that Can Make You a Star

Average customer rating:

Simon Cowell : Witty, Talented, and Fantastically Egotistical.
Interesting Man, Interesting Book
" I Don't Mean to be Rude But This is a Great Book"
Fascinating and Funny
Rudeness is part of our common lives. It's called mediocrity

I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But...: Backstage Gossip from American Idol & the Secrets that Can Make You a Star
Simon Cowell
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0767917413
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Book Description

Do YOU have what it takes to be a star? Simon Cowell reveals the answer and takes you behind the scenes of American Idol in this wickedly entertaining tell-all.

Since the debut of American Idol, puckish Brit judge Simon Cowell has become America’s most notorious critic—not only on account of his incredible instinct for spotting the next breakout musical stars, but for his hilarious, shockingly candid repartee with everyone who crosses his path. Now, true to form, he holds nothing back, offering you a backstage pass to America’s hottest show—the highlights, the gossip, the contestants who blew their chances—and takes you on a whirlwind tour of the music business while sharing his own insider opinions, on everything.

From his days in the mailroom at EMI Records to the creation of American Idol, Simon has always had a knack for judging talent—and for being center stage. Here, he tells the rollicking stories of his first insult (to his mother), his first music criticism (to first-grade teacher Mrs. Prigg), and his first image makeover (on his unfortunate younger brother). And of course, the side-splitting backstory of the birth of American Idol—and all the dreadful auditions, bad hair days, judges’ squabbles, juicy rumors, surprise triumphs, and #1 singles that followed.

With his trademark wit and brutal honesty, Simon delivers the real dish on: Who gave the best and worst performances on the show? What really goes on between the three judges (and what was it like to kiss Paula Abdul)? Who were the biggest divas when the cameras weren’t rolling? And, if you’re an aspiring Justin or J.Lo, you’ll also learn the trade secrets that only Simon knows: how to develop an image and make the most of your talent, how to find an agent or manager, how to nail an audition, and—should you be so lucky to make it to the top—how to stretch your 15 minutes into a career.

Packed with razor-sharp insights into music, the fame game, and pop-music powerhouses from the Beatles to Britney Spears, I Don’t Mean to Be Rude, But…is your ticket inside American Idol, and a highly amusing, no-holds-barred look at what it takes to make it big.

Customer Reviews:

Simon Cowell : Witty, Talented, and Fantastically Egotistical........2007-01-26

I truly have enjoyed the American Idol judge's book, I hope he writes some more books about the music industry and the show. Simon is very music business savvy, and not only proves his creditability in this book, but entertains readers with his wit and his backstage gossip! I loved it, and LOVE Simon!

Interesting Man, Interesting Book.......2006-04-20

I've always been a fan of Mr. Cowell for his brutal honesty and offbeat charm. Still, his book surprised me with its depth and clarity. It's easy to see he has a brilliant knack for the music business as well as an enlightened view of life in general. Cowell describes his childhood in England and rise to the top in an entertaining, witty way, while paying heed to Idol fans by telling humorous behind-the-scenes stories. This book is an informative and enjoyable read for anyone - who knew Simon Cowell was such a fascinating writer?

" I Don't Mean to be Rude But This is a Great Book" .......2006-02-09

Enter Simon Cowell. He's a fashon critic who always has to be "honest" and sincere. You do have to feel for Simon though. Putting up with William Hung is pretty hard to do. Simon does many eight things in this book though. He insults Madonna, Michael Jackson etc. I liked his true love section especially P. Diddy and Himself and Michael jackson and anyone. I liked his Idol chapters and his tips to succeed.

Fascinating and Funny.......2005-06-22

I read this book as a newcomer to American Idol watching back in Season 3. I found it a fascinating introduction to both the world of American Idol and the music industry. In fact, I found that much of Simon Cowell's advice and insight could probably be applied to show business in general. I thought it was interesting that his philosophy seems to often be that it is better to be "cruel to be kind." After reading the book, I certainly felt I had a much better understanding of him, of the show, and of how the music industry works.

But, of course, the fun part of the book were all of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans and "gossip" that he shared. Since I didn't begin watching AI until the third season, I enjoyed catching up vicariously this way. Some of the anecdotes about Randy and Paula and Ryan were a hoot.

I found Cowell's writing style engaging and witty. It held my interest throughout and was very easy to read. I recommend it highly, especially, of course, for fans of the series.

Rudeness is part of our common lives. It's called mediocrity.......2005-06-13

This is a "clumsy" book. My first impression was that it was written to deliver inconspicuously hidden messages to his irreverent friends. The next impression, as I sifted through his scruffy childhood, was that he did not possess any impressionable talent. Instead, he created a delusional rationale for writing such a book in the first place.

I watched American Idol on television and was intrigued by Simon Cowell. I purchased the book to gain a better understanding about him, the celebrity industry, and his insightful `dynamo' concepts. Unfortunately, all I encountered throughout the book was a rambling hypocrite who, in the end, chastised everyone for pursuing celebrity status unless they were fortunate enough to be miraculously chosen by him.

To be fair, American Idol is pure entertainment. Judging talent on time constraints and lurid subjectivity is the type of medium that will thrive in the spotlight. Millions devour the mindless intrigue.

I have seen incredible performances. But those recitals live beyond the winds of subjectivity even when those artists display eccentric personalities, vitriolic egos...and being in the right place at the right time.

One unfortunate theme oozing through Simon Crowell is his decision to export his ugly behavior from Britain to America. Perhaps it was already here, waiting for him and the timing could not have been more perfect since America must tolerate greedy politicians / corporations today with their ugly voter accountability / customer service.

I am disheartened by the fact that Simon Cowell did not spend more time focusing on his talent and business prowess. It is undecided whether he a creative genius. Unfortunately, that is the theme for a better book for a more civilized world.

Growing Up With Loukoumi (includes narrated CD)

Average customer rating:

WORTH HAVING
an excellent message for children
Another great book by this author
Excellent Educational Book
You can be what you dream

Growing Up With Loukoumi (includes narrated CD)
Nick Katsoris
Manufacturer: Nk Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0970510039
Release Date: 2007-01-15

Product Description

In Growing Up With Loukoumi by Nick Katsoris, a lamb named Loukoumi (Greek for sweet ) struggles with what she wants to be when she grows up. She considers becoming a firefighter, a judge or a doctor. As she walks along, she encounters her friends including Gus the bear, Fistiki the cat, Dean the dog and Marika the monkey. Each friend explains to Loukoumi that she can be whatever her heart desires. If she wants to be a singing star, a policeman or even an Oscar winning actress, then she can do it! The key is that she must always believe in herself, stay positive and work hard, because if you believe in yourself your dreams will come true! The CD version of the book (included) features the voices of singing legend Gloria Gaynor, (Grammy Award winner for I Will Survive) Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, national CBS correspondent and MarketWatch anchor Alexis Christoforous, American Idol Heartthrob Constantine Maroulis of American Idol fame, and Guiding Light actor Frank Dicopoulos. Each voices a character that encourages Loukoumi to reach for her dreams, which is especially meaningful when being heard from such inspirational and successful adults. The package also includes an original song from Gloria Gaynor called, Believe.

Customer Reviews:

WORTH HAVING.......2007-03-21

I BOUGHT THE BOOK BECAUSE PART OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO MAKE-A-WISH. IT IS A GOOD BOOK TO OWN.

an excellent message for children.......2007-03-09

The important message of "If you beleive in yourself, you can become whatever you want to be" is so simple yet essential. Children will love to travel this journey with the darling little lamb Loukoumi, and learn something valuable in the process. A great book for parents to read with their kids.

Another great book by this author.......2006-12-24

Great book for young children. You will not be disappointed.

Excellent Educational Book.......2006-11-18

This book is an excellent boost to any child's dreams. It is an inspiring book and has a positive message encouraging a child to go after their dreams and to work hard and that anything is possible. I highly recommend this book to any child. Children need positive enforcers in their life. Constantine Maroulis from American Idol, also the star in two Broadway shows, "The Wedding Singer" and "Jaquels Brel" beginning Jan 9th in New York, is funny, and enlightening to the kids who love him.

You can be what you dream.......2006-11-08

This is a favorite in my classroom! Loukoumi explores many jobs, from farmer to singer, in this sweet story. The CD features many successful Greek people and is beautifully done. Rocker Constantine Maroulis as Farmer Gus is priceless!

Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Contemporary Reviews (American Critical Archives)

Average customer rating:

Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Contemporary Reviews (American Critical Archives)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0521391423

Book Description

From the self-withdrawn Fanshawe through the posthumously issued Dr. Grimshaw's Secret, this compilation of reviews and notices traces Nathaniel Hawthorne's rise from obscurity to world renown as a writer placed in the ranks of Carlyle, Dickens, and Shakespeare. Reviews by Henry Fothergill Chorley, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, Edwin Whipple, Henry James, Edith Simcox, William Dean Howells, and many others respond to Hawthorne's tales, romances, notebooks, and fragmentary works in efforts to capture and define the nature of Hawthorne's mind and the quality of his art.

Idols of Perversity: Fantasies of Feminine Evil in Fin-de-Siecle Culture (Oxford Paperbacks)

Average customer rating:

Only the picture on the cover is in color
Pretty pictures, silly words
IDOLS OF PERVERSITY
Steve Martin's "Shop Girl" recommends this
Important discussion of sexual archetypes

Idols of Perversity: Fantasies of Feminine Evil in Fin-de-Siecle Culture (Oxford Paperbacks)
Bram Dijkstra
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0195056523

Book Description

At the turn of the century, an unprecedented attack on women erupted in virtually every aspect of culture: literary, artistic, scientific, and philosophic. Throughout Europe and America, artists and intellectuals banded together to portray women as static and unindividuated beings who functioned solely in a sexual and reproductive capacity, thus formulating many of the anti-feminine platitudes that today still constrain women's potential. Bram Dijkstra's Idols of Perversity explores the nature and development of turn-of-the-century misogyny in the works of hundreds of writers, artists, and scientists, including Zola, Strindberg, Wedekind, Henry James, Rossetti, Renoir, Moreau, Klimt, Darwin, and Spencer. Dijkstra demonstrates that the most prejudicial aspects of Evolutionary Theory helped to justify this wave of anti-feminine sentiment. The theory claimed that the female of the species could not participate in the great evolutionary process that would guide the intellectual male to his ultimate, predestined role as a disembodied spiritual essence. Darwinists argued that women hindered this process by their willingness to lure men back to a sham paradise of erotic materialism. To protect the male's continued evolution, artists and intellectuals produced a flood of pseudo-scientific tracts, novels, and paintings which warned the world's males of the evils lying beneath the surface elegance of woman's tempting skin. Reproducing hundreds of pictures from the period and including in-depth discussions of such key works as Dracula and Venus in Furs, this fascinating book not only exposes the crucial links between misogyny then and now, but also connects it to the racism and anti-semitism that led to catastrophic genocidal delusions in the first half of the twentieth century. Crossing the conventional boundaries of art history, sociology, the history of scientific theory, and literary analysis, Dijkstra unveils a startling view of a grim and largely one-sided war on women still being fought today.

Customer Reviews:

Only the picture on the cover is in color.......2006-03-13

Students of polymorphous perversity should consider having this book the equivalent of a lifetime membership in an illustrated encyclopedia in artistic themes which use women as a prop. The Index (pp. 429-453) provides page numbers for locating the works of particular artists and the occasional mention of a book like ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Carroll). Great thinkers like Freud, Nietzsche, and Mark Twain are mentioned less than a snake biting its tail: Uroboros, as feminine principle, is covered in nine places on 14 pages, mostly on and between pages 128-148. Charles Darwin, Darwinism, and Social Darwinism crop up more often, but hardly as much as Mythology.

Back in 1986, when Oxford University Press published the first edition, there were economic reasons for having all the pictures in black and white. I prefer color myself, but there is an illustration, VIII, 11. Andrea Carlo Lucchesi (1860-1924), "The Myrtle's Altar," sculpture (ca. 1891) which appears to be about half marble precariously perched above a crown and a necklace containing a crucifix dangling alongside a tree trunk in which the marble portion of the picture is so white and striking that anything which drew attention to the portions of the picture which appear to be a drab gray on page 252 would merely detract from the incredible stare which changes her posture from a form of pouting withdrawal to some serpentine potential to strike:

The eyes of Lucchesi's young lady, snakelike and piercing, are no longer turned inward but display a hypnotic, aggressive quality. She sizes up the (male) viewer with a licentious intensity calculated to produce in him, in Max Nordau's words, "the morbid state of degeneracy which renders a man a woman's plaything and the victim of his own temperament" (Paradoxes, 258).

I am quoting from Bram Dijkstra's book, IDOLS OF PERVERSITY / FANTASIES OF FEMININE EVIL IN FIN-DE-SIECLE CULTURE, page 252, just under the picture. In addition to comments by critics of those times, the book has some examples of the poems written by painters expressing their feelings about their subjects. The poem "Aspecta Medusa" by Dante Gabriel Rossetti was meant to accompany a drawing which does not appear on page 137 where nine lines of the poem appear. The book is organized into eleven topics on grand schemes that frequently mention pictures which are not shown. It does not seem likely that anyone would be able to see everything by looking at the books in the Bibliography, which has sources quoted on pages 403-410, Exhibition Catalogues, Periodicals, and a further series of nonfiction texts on pp. 411-424 including four works by Freud and three volumes (actually containing four titles of published works) by Nietzsche.

That Freud and Nietzsche get so little attention in this book tends to draw our attention away from intellectual slavery to a fixed system and allow an appreciation of the incredibly diverse richness of the ideas available for discussion in a culture that did not adhere to rigid political boundaries, though ideals involving men and women tended to involve great simplifications, even then.

Pretty pictures, silly words.......2005-09-08

As a few of the other reviewers have observed, this is a visual treat served up by a crusading cretin. Well, he's obviously not a cretin, but after the scattergun insults he's hurled at so many of his subjects, it seems only right to answer for these unjustly damned dead folk in kind. Sorry, but the author of this hasn't earnt the right to start patronising past masters, at least certainly not judging by this.

This is feminism as conspiracy theory, the portrayal of culture as sex war, and it's joyless nonsense. The imagery in question is often exotic and edgy - but that's what interesting art does. If Dijkstra understood the art he castigates so energetically - chiefly Decadence - then he might begin to see the argument that perhaps beauty and pleasure are legitimate ends in their own right. Which is surely better than this ideological axe-grinding.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with those who praise the quality of the research in 'Idols of Perversity'. The author leans heavily on a couple of slender sources which are clearly pretty radical for their day as if they show the misogynist character of an entire era. We could use the SCUM Manifesto to portray all women as homicidal loons. But most of us are a little more grown up than that and just laugh at it, as I did with this. Women portrayed powerfully are 'demonised', women not portrayed powerfully are being repressed. Apparently. If any of his subjects fail to provide visuals or commentary to support his screed, Bram happily 'knows' what they were thinking anyhow.

I reluctantly recommend this. Five stars for the lavish - and frequently rare - imagery. One for the politically-correct propagandising - an average of three with one on top for giggles. If you enjoy Symbolist or Decadent art, do buy it, but also look out for the out-of-print 'Dreamers of Decadence' which covers the same area and with more appreciation and less sanctimonious baggage.

IDOLS OF PERVERSITY.......2002-04-18

I don't know how this qualifies as a direct written review, but I was so inspired by this book when I first read it at least 10 years ago, (I've reread it a few times each year in between) that for at least 10 years, greatly in part as a gesture of gratitude to Mr. Dijkstra, I have anxiously been working to compliment the fine research of Mr. Dijkstra by "re-illustrating" it with contemporary images from "this past century." He has been an inspiration to me, I hope he will be impressed with my gesture. (From one century into this next, -More from me later!) Pepe Paras

Steve Martin's "Shop Girl" recommends this.......2002-03-14

I bought this because I enjoyed Steve Martin's novel "Shop Girl." His heroine says that "Idols of Perversity" is her favorite book. I have to admit that I couldn't get through it, not that it's a bad book, but it wasn't light reading.
--
Review by Thomas David Kehoe, author of "Hearts and Minds: How Our Brains Are Hardwired for Relationships."

Important discussion of sexual archetypes.......2001-05-23

I read this book several years ago and to put it simply, it shook up my perceptions about the imagery used in art during that time. Suddenly I saw these beautiful, lithesome, sinuous or passive figures of women as statements of deep-seated fears and misperceptions about women and non-white, non-Anglo Saxon Europeans during that era. It is an important study.

Whispering Nickel Idols: A Garrett, P.I., Novel

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Utterly Ridiculous
Give Us MORE Garrett !!
Plaid Platinum Pants
Fantasy Wolfe
One of the Better Garrett Novels

Whispering Nickel Idols: A Garrett, P.I., Novel
Glen Cook
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451459741

Book Description

In TunFaire, a city of gorgeous women, powerful sorcerers and dangerous magic, the beautiful, criminally insane daughter of a comatose crime boss has some lascivious designs on private investigator Garrett-who now has to figure out why everyone is suddenly after him.

Customer Reviews:

Utterly Ridiculous.......2007-08-28

After reading 90 pages, I still had no idea what the story was about. The book went into the trash.

Give Us MORE Garrett !!.......2006-05-31

I don't know what it is about this guy Glen Cook, but I just cannot get enough of him. Any character who claims beer is his favorite food and redheads are his favorite sport is my kind of guy. If someone told me it was possible to blend the fantasy lit world of elves and fairies with the Dectective Noir world of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, i would laugh in their face. However, Glen Cook does exactly that. And it works. I have laughed my way through all eleven Garrett books and I can't wait for more. All I can say is I hope Mr. Cook considers taking some more time off from his job at the General Motors light duty truck plant and writing us some more Garrett. I cannot get enough.

Plaid Platinum Pants.......2006-03-31

It feels like it has been forever since the last Garrett, P.I. novel. Glen Cook, who has some truly dark fantasy series to his credit has always used this series, starring a mundane tough guy detective (think Archie Goodwin) and his partner The Dead Man (think an undead Nero Wolf in an elephant suit), as his lighter side. Garrett is usually the butt of the jokes (both his mouth and his romantic abilities keep him in hot water) and The Dead Man provides both magical and mental assitance (as well as a good deal of sarcasm. The result is a steady stream of adventure, crisis, and smirks.

Garrett's problem this time is that he woke up from a perfectly good night of sleep to discover a child called Penny Dreadful has convinced Dean, the housekeeper, to provide a home for a bucket of unusual cats. In short order a number of people (mostly in plaid pants) are trying very hard to kill Garrett. This serves as a distraction from the job Garrett has been hired to do - find out how crime czar Chodo Contague became a vegetable. Making this a bit complicated is Belinda Contague, a beautiful, intelligent, warmhearted psychotic with a yen for the detective. But that's life in TunFaire.

In case this sounds too tepid there is a family of alcoholic pixies, a homicidal vegetarian elf, a born again blacksmith, and a really deadly redhead in the mix, and they are Garrett's friends. You don't want to know about the bad guys or the not so bad guys. The Dead Man, who prefers to sleep is woken up by the chaos and the only thing worse than not being helped by a four hundred year dead corpse is being helped by one that thinks you are a congenital idiot.

These tales are unalloyed fun. Cook often ventures into serious matters, but only for short visits. One of Garrett's weaknesses is a streak of integrity that often gets him into bad situations that he should have lied his way out of, but he is no angel. While this is fantasy, even the exotic creatures have a touch of believability to them. Bad puns, bad neighborhoods, and crazy citizens aside, TunFaire is still the place to be when you need a change of pace.

Fantasy Wolfe.......2006-03-25

Okay, I confess, I bought this volume based on the cover art and the blurb on the back. I was trapped in an airport and had nothing to read (quelle horreur!), so I grabbed this volume because I liked the weirdness it seemed to promise.

It was an excellent choice. I was lucky to "chance" into something this good.

The novel is strong and intelligent. Better still, it is really funny. The characters, human, extra-human and otherwise, are fun and interesting. I enjoyed it mightily.

The blurb on the cover of my copy of the book calls the series "Fantasy Noir." I suppose in one way, that's a moderately appropriate assessment; Cook is certainly familiar with the conventions of the Noir genre, but that isn't really the direction he is going in this volume, Whispering Nickel Idols is actually a fantasy echo of the Rex Stout turn of mind.

What I'm saying is that the novel is a Noir/Cosy Mystery hybrid (mostly Cosy) with fantasy elements thrown in. This is excellent...I like all three turns of mind. The fantasy elements are really the fun bit, since a lot of the character color of the vignettes is based on the character styles of the varying "others" who inhabit the fantasy.

Regardless, the reason I mentioned Rex Stout is because the novel very much takes its primary cue from the Nero Wolfe stories.

Cook's narrator, Garret, P.I. is far more like the amiable Archie Goodwin than "Noir," tough guy Mike Hammer or Sam Spade, and the literary allusion and "wiseacre" attitude displayed by the amanuensis is pure Goodwin. Also, just as in the Nero Wolfe stories, the principal of the firm (The Dead Man) is immobile and actually does the brainwork while the narrator is really the prime legman and personality.

The Dead Man even sends Garret out to collect the persons he wants to interview, just as Wolfe sends Goodwin out.

The real giveaway though, was the Dead Man's "speech patterns," which are pure Nero Wolfe.

This is not a criticism, nor is it intended to be, I enjoyed the volume a great deal...it a far stronger and friendlier Wolfe pastiche than any of the "authorized" attempts to create posthumus Rex Stout-styled mysteries since his death in the 1970's.

The strength of the novel is in its wit, but there are plenty of broad physical slapstick jokes that liven things up.

This is a solid novel and is entertaining enough to even please the "Fantasy Challenged" of the audience.

The closest I can come to a criticism of the book is that it seems to be a mystery in search of a plot: until very near the end I wondered just what it was Garret was supposed to be investigating. It's not that the story is short on crime (small "c"), it's more that it is short of A Crime (caps). Not to worry though--the situations that Cook sweeps us through function nicely as self-sufficient vignettes.

This is the good stuff...

One of the Better Garrett Novels.......2006-03-20

"Whispering Nickel Idols" is the 11th book in the Glen Cook's Garrett, P.I. series. It's set in the town of TunFaire and centers on Garrett, ex-marine private eye with a heart of gold and a lot of sidekicks. These are great stories, mixing the noir detective genre with the fantasy genre to great effect. All of them more or less stand alone; if you wanted to you could pick this up as your first Garrett novel and have a pretty good feel for what was going on. But to better appreciate the universe of Garrett's friends, it's better to start earlier.

The plot involves the criminal underworld, the attempt of law and order to assert itself, and sartorially challenged religious cultists. And lots of kittens. It's as enjoyable as any of the Garrett books that I've read, which is to say quite a bit. These aren't terribly deep, but they're a lot of fun, perfect to curl up with on a rainy day. If you've ever enjoyed mysteries and ever enjoyed fantasies and don't have a problem with really witty anachronisms, I couldn't recommend this more.

Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture

Average customer rating:

One of Chip's Top Ten (wordsntone.com)
A three time read and ready for number four...
Examine your preconceptions.

Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture
Herbert Schlossberg
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0891077383

Book Description

"The bookshelf next to my desk holds Christian classics and books I refer to often. Idols sits on that shelf, for Herb's lucid critique has been an invaluable reference for my own writings. It helps believers to understand the ideologies that undergird secular culture, and how they dramatically--and dangerously--differ from the Judeo-Christian view based on adherence to absolute truth." --Charles Colson, Prison Fellowship

"Well-written and highly readable... discerning and critical analysis of our times; a stimulating contribution." --Carl F. H. Henry

"This book has become a vade mecum for thousands of Christians who understand the cultural disaster of our time and are determined to do something about it." --Richard John Neuhaus, Editor-in-chief, First Things

"Now that Francis Schaeffer is no longer with us, Schlossberg is just about the most provocative Christian thinker around." --Harold O. J. Brown, Professor of Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Years before anyone talked about an American 'culture war,' Herb Schlossberg penned an acute description of the crisis of virtue that is the domestic issue of the 1990s. His diagnosis remains essential reading for everyone who believes that self-governing republic requires self-governing and morally serious citizens." --George Weigel, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center

"Thorough, provocative and especially penetrating. If you want to think Christianly about culture Idols for Destruction is must reading!" --John H. White, President, Geneva College

Customer Reviews:

One of Chip's Top Ten (wordsntone.com).......2005-09-11

A bit heady, but worth it. Schlossberg writes as a Christian and systematically goes through the 20th century influences on Western thought and compares them with a traditional Judeo-Christian worldview. This is a thinking book-and will cause you to think past your "in the box" notions about our faith. As the author quotes, "He who marries the spirit of an age, soon finds himself a widower."

A three time read and ready for number four..........2005-08-05

I've read this book three times in the last five or six months and will read it again before the year is over. Why? The language is elevated and the concepts are deep. Multiple reads are the way to mine this treasure for all it is worth.

As for content, I concur with the observations made in the previous review entitled "Examine your preconceptions". Adding anything more would be redundant.

Examine your preconceptions........1997-12-06

The power of your worldview lies in the fact that it is hidden. It is a collection of your underlying beliefs and assumptions which color all of your thinking, yet is rarely examined openly. Idols for Destruction is a challenging read, but well worth the effort for those who would like to gain a fresh perspective on the worldviews that they have unconciously adopted. The author writes from a Christian perspective, and most people will probably not agree with all of his ideas, but he systematically goes through most of the 20th century influences on Western thought and compares them with a traditional Judeo-Christian world view. He does an excellent job in drawing out the implications of the various philosophical systems and providing examples of how they are manifest in modern culture. The most useful things I have gained from this book are first, a review of most of the philosophies which have shaped this century and a heightened awareness of what worldview is implicitly expressed by various thinkers and writers. This helps me to be a more critical thinker and to analyze people's arguments better. The second thing I have gained is the realization that there are other options then whatever worldview happens to be the most popular today. This has opened up whole new areas of thought and allowed me to understand a much broader range of ideas by people who have differing worldviews. This book is very well documented. It helps if you have had a college cource on Philosophy or have a quick reference book to help you to understand all of his references to philosophical and moral systems. It is not casual reading, and it will force you to do some hard thinking, but it is well worth the effort.

Images at War: Mexico From Columbus to Blade Runner (1492-2019) (Latin America Otherwise)

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Images at War: Mexico From Columbus to Blade Runner (1492-2019) (Latin America Otherwise)
Serge Gruzinski
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0822326434

Book Description

“If colonial America was the melting pot of modernity, it was because it was also a fabulous laboratory of images. . . . Just as much as speech and writing, the image can be a vehicle for all sorts of power and resistance.” So writes Serge Gruzinski in the introduction to Images at War, his striking reinterpretation of the Spanish colonization of Mexico. Concentrating on the political meaning of the baroque image and its function within a multicultural society, Gruzinski compares its ubiquity in Mexico to our modern fascination with images and their meaning.
Although the baroque image played a decisive role in many arenas, especially that of conquest and New World colonization, its powerful resonance in the sphere of religion is a focal point of Gruzinski’s study. In his analysis of how images conveyed meaning across linguistic barriers, he uncovers recurring themes of false images, less-than-perfect replicas, the uprooting of peoples and cultural memories, and the violence of iconoclastic destruction. He shows how various ethnic groups—Indians, blacks, Europeans—left their distinct marks on images of colonialism and religion, coopting them into expressions of identity or instruments of rebellion. As Gruzinski’s story unfolds, he tells of Aztec idols, the cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe, conquistadors, Franciscans, and neoclassical attempts to repress the baroque. In the final chapter he discusses the political and religious implications of contemporary imagery—such as that in Mexican soap operas—and speculates about the future of images in Latin America.
Originally written in French, this work makes available to an English audience a seminal study of Mexico and the role of the image in the New World.

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