Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A difficult read,but worth the time
  • Absolutely Must Reading
  • Read it at your own perill
  • convoluted writing
  • Unsurpassed both for content and style
Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts
Clive James
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ClassicsClassics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | African | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
James, CliveJames, Clive | ( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Consciousness & ThoughtConsciousness & Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
HumanismHumanism | Movements | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Nonfiction BooksLook Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
  2. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
  3. Clive James' Reliable Essays: The Best Of Clive James Clive James' Reliable Essays: The Best Of Clive James
  4. The Curtain: An Essay in Seven Parts The Curtain: An Essay in Seven Parts
  5. Twenty-eight Artists and Two Saints: Essays Twenty-eight Artists and Two Saints: Essays

ASIN: 0393061167

Book Description

Forty years in the making, a new cultural canon that celebrates truth over hypocrisy, literature over totalitarianism.

Echoing Edward Said's belief that "Western humanism is not enough, we need a universal humanism," the renowned critic Clive James presents here his life's work. Containing over one hundred original essays, organized by quotations from A to Z, Cultural Amnesia illuminates, rescues, or occasionally destroys the careers of many of the greatest thinkers, humanists, musicians, artists, and philosophers of the twentieth century. In discussing, among others, Louis Armstrong, Walter Benjamin, Sigmund Freud, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Franz Kafka, Marcel Proust, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, James writes, "If the humanism that makes civilization civilized is to be preserved into the new century, it will need advocates. These advocates will need a memory, and part of that memory will need to be of an age in which they were not yet alive." Soaring to Montaigne-like heights, Cultural Amnesia is precisely the book to burnish these memories of a Western civilization that James fears is nearly lost. 110 photographs.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars A difficult read,but worth the time.......2007-10-01

Although this book has an intersting premise,it is a difficult book to read.It is written in essay form,and the author's style is not flowing or easy to read.However the content is interesting and does make you think about how we got where we are to-day:by losing sight of,and forgetting the past and important peope in it.
You can read this book a chapter at a time, and leave it for a while since each chapter is an essay on one person.it is not a novel,but a collection of essay/biographies, and includes some very intersting people

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Must Reading.......2007-09-15

In fairness, I had never heard of Clive James until he appeared on Bill Moyers Journal on PBS. I was just blown away and ordered this book the next day. If you want to understand Western culture ... I mean truly understand the culture in which you live, you should read this book. What you learn here is that a whole lot of people you never heard of and a few you have made monumental contributions that you didn't know about. This is the kind of book every person should have in their library as a reference. You can read it at leisure and you should. You should savor it.

5 out of 5 stars Read it at your own perill.......2007-09-11

If you never studied French, German, Italian or Spanish, you will be sorry you didn't. You will be made aware of all you are missing because you can not read the all those untranslated or untranslatable important writers that are fundamental to our civilization. If you know them you will see that for English speakers is very difficult not to be confused by Spanish and Italian. I have found misspelled Spanish words because the Italian spelling was used in the wrong place. Clive James is almost pushing me to start again with German, French and Italian.

3 out of 5 stars convoluted writing.......2007-09-04

just found what I've read so far very digressive and convoluted. He is a much better speaker than writer. haven't given it a full read, but am daunted by the many digressions from the points I'm interested in. don't care about 10 other people whom I may or may not know who really don't have relevance to the person I'm reading about.

5 out of 5 stars Unsurpassed both for content and style.......2007-09-01

This is an amazing book. Clive James was only a dim sound in my limited background before the book was presented to me as a present. When I finished this book, I made the unusual promise to myself to read it again, an unusual decision since I am not thoroughly committed to modern writing and have found nothing that quite measures up to it, either traditional or modern. The essays, it is made clear, were not written at the same time, but were the accumulation of some years of reading and study. The casual reader will be introduced to a number of people hitherto unknown or barely known, mixed in with giants like Tacitus, Keats, Proust, Kafka, the three Manns,and Camus. I cannot ignore James's prose style, which astonishes minute by minute. A must-read for anybody interested in history and the arts.
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Calculations are only as good as your numbers
  • Pants on fire?
  • Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
  • Very Interesting
  • History as Science Fiction
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ChineseChinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
IrishIrish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
JapaneseJapanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Augustine, SaintAugustine, Saint | ( A ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Doctors & MedicineDoctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Lawyers & CriminalsLawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Love, Sex & MarriageLove, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Assyria, Babylonia & SumerAssyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
Early CivilizationEarly Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
HistoriographyHistoriography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Asian American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Asian AmericanAsian American | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
FrenchFrench | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
VictorianVictorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
EpicEpic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GermanGerman | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
RussianRussian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
SpanishSpanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ChineseChinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Conspiracy TheoriesConspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
War on DrugsWar on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
English (All)English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ArabicArabic | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ArmenianArmenian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
CzechCzech | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
GreekGreek | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
HungarianHungarian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
JapaneseJapanese | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
KoreanKorean | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
NorwegianNorwegian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Persian & FarsiPersian & Farsi | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
PolishPolish | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
PortuguesePortuguese | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
RomanianRomanian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
RussianRussian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
SwedishSwedish | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
TurkishTurkish | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ScienceScience | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Online ResearchOnline Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books
Native AmericanNative American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
History of ScienceHistory of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
Magic & WizardsMagic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Sailor MoonSailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
PilatesPilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
HistoryHistory | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Children's BooksLook Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Health BooksLook Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside History BooksLook Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Nonfiction BooksLook Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Reference BooksLook Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Religion & Spirituality BooksLook Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Romance BooksLook Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy BooksLook Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology) History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
  2. History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
  3. Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
  4. Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
  5. They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621058

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:

3 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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 Complete Book of Scrapbooking: Projects and Techniques
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The best scrapbook book for beginners
  • Best on the Market
  • Great information for the beginner
  • Scrapbook Teacher
The Complete Book of Scrapbooking: Projects and Techniques
Louise Riddell
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Collections, Catalogues & ExhibitionsCollections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Papercrafts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ScrapbookingScrapbooking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Home & Garden BooksLook Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Creating Keepsakes' Encyclopedia Of Scrapbooking Creating Keepsakes' Encyclopedia Of Scrapbooking
  2. Quick & Easy Scrapbook Pages: 100 Scrapbook Pages You Can Make in One Hour or Less (Memory Makers) Quick & Easy Scrapbook Pages: 100 Scrapbook Pages You Can Make in One Hour or Less (Memory Makers)
  3. Outstanding Scrapbook Pages: 250 Of the Best Pages and Techniques from the World's #1 Scrapbooking Magazine Outstanding Scrapbook Pages: 250 Of the Best Pages and Techniques from the World's #1 Scrapbooking Magazine
  4. Scrapbooking for Dummies Scrapbooking for Dummies
  5. Scrapbook Embellishments (Master Series) Scrapbook Embellishments (Master Series)

ASIN: 159223299X

Book Description

Transform traditional photo albums into beautiful scrapbooks that tell stories and engage the imagination. Handwritten notes, thoughtful design elements, and related keepsakes all bring life and immediacy to photographs of life's special events. The Complete Book of Scrapbooking features 450 color photos and explains a wide range of scrapbooking techniques that include paper tearing, punching, stitching, rubber stamping, chalking, and using vellum With 24 pull-out templates, 20 special projects that provide ideal starting points, and step-by-step instructions and engaging text, this book provides all the techniques that, once mastered, enable anyone to create keepsake scrapbooks for every occasion. Adding personally written memories and attractive design elements to photographs and other ephemera creates cherished scrapbooks for both present and future generations.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The best scrapbook book for beginners.......2007-04-24

This was the first scrapbook book I ever bought (after checking about twenty books in the local book store) and it is still the best source book for beginner's I've seen. It introduces all the tools and basic techniques and also has some great layouts. If you're an experienced scrapper this is not a book for you but if you're only starting get this book. You won't regret it.

5 out of 5 stars Best on the Market.......2006-08-01

This is far and above the best book I've encountered for New Scrappers. Instead of just showing layouts, explanations are there to show why a layout works, how to do it and simplifies the mystique behind all the necessary tools and not so necessary tools. I wish I had bought this book before spending money on stuff I didn't really need. You won't regret this purchase if you are a beginner and it also makes a great gift for someone thinking about scrapping. Guaranteed to rev your creativity.

5 out of 5 stars Great information for the beginner.......2006-03-10

If you are new or fairly new to scrapbooking, this book will help you with organization, picture taking, details about products you will need and conservation and storage. The book also includes stencils and templates which can be removed and used on photos and cardstock. The spiral binding is an added plus because the book lays flat when open. Well worth the purchase price.

5 out of 5 stars Scrapbook Teacher.......2004-09-21

This is a great book encompassing every aspect of scrapbooking for the beginner and experienced crafter. It's easy to read and understand, offering a great deal of layouts. I couldn't put it down. This book will definitely take the fear out of beginning scrapbookers and challenge others to try new techniques.
Grandmother Remembers a Written Heirloom for My Grandchild
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Real Treasure For Grandchildren
  • Wonderful gift!
  • Grandmother Remembers
  • special keepsake.
  • Good Book
Grandmother Remembers a Written Heirloom for My Grandchild
Judith Levy
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori and Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GrandparentingGrandparenting | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
AccessoriesAccessories | Formats | Books | Address Books | Bible Covers | Book Covers | Calendars | Church Supplies | Journals | Note Cards | Photo Albums | Postcards | Writing Stationery
Book AccessoriesBook Accessories | Our Favorites | Gift Ideas | Address Books | Bible Covers | Book Covers | Calendars | Church Supplies | Desk Accessories | Journals | Note Cards | Photo Albums | Postcards | Writing Stationery
Similar Items:
  1. Grandfather Remembers: Memories for My Grandchild Grandfather Remembers: Memories for My Grandchild
  2. Memories for My Grandchild Memories for My Grandchild
  3. A Grandparent's Book A Grandparent's Book
  4. Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories
  5. Our Story Our Story

ASIN: 094143432X

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Real Treasure For Grandchildren.......2007-09-13

This book allows you to easily leave a legacy for grandchildren. Can include generic info such as geneology, as well as very personal memories/reflections and lots of space for those special pictures you hope would never be lost. It is truly a way to give a gift of love.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful gift!.......2007-07-11

Having a copy myself, I searched to find another for a newly 'grandmothered' friend- She loved it!

5 out of 5 stars Grandmother Remembers.......2007-07-06

Great book and project for giving to your grandchildren. I have completed one book and plan on filling others. A nice gift for a new grandmother.

5 out of 5 stars special keepsake. .......2007-05-13

My mom bought this book for my grandma to fill out for me when I was a baby. (1983) My grandma liked it so much that she bought six more over the years for my siblings and cousins. She added in as many photos as she could fit and some of the little pictures I drew for her when I was a kid. This book really means a lot to me.

4 out of 5 stars Good Book.......2007-04-12

Good book. I order several for grandparents and great-grandparents. It is hard to find this kind of book. This is the best one I have found so far.
Garbage Collection: Algorithms for Automatic Dynamic Memory Management
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Category killer
  • An absolute must
  • Great book
  • Excellent book
  • pretty good book
Garbage Collection: Algorithms for Automatic Dynamic Memory Management
Richard Jones , and Rafael D Lins
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Algorithms | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Memory ManagementMemory Management | Algorithms | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
MathematicsMathematics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books | Applied | Chaos & Systems | Geometry & Topology | Mathematical Analysis | Mathematical Physics | Number Systems | Pure Mathematics | Transformations | Trigonometry
All Amazon UpgradeAll Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Computers & InternetComputers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Professional & TechnicalProfessional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Computers & InternetComputers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Advanced Compiler Design and Implementation Advanced Compiler Design and Implementation
  2. Virtual Machines: Versatile Platforms for Systems and Processes (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Architecture and Design) Virtual Machines: Versatile Platforms for Systems and Processes (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Architecture and Design)
  3. Programming Language Pragmatics, Second Edition Programming Language Pragmatics, Second Edition
  4. Virtual Machines Virtual Machines
  5. Optimizing Compilers for Modern Architectures: A Dependence-based Approach Optimizing Compilers for Modern Architectures: A Dependence-based Approach

ASIN: 0471941484

Book Description

Modern software places increasing reliance on dynamic memory allocation, but its direct management is not only notoriously error-prone. Garbage collection eliminates many of these bugs. This reference presents each of the most important algorithms in detail, often with illustrations of its characteristic features and animations of its use.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Category killer.......2007-05-04

This book is superb. It is thorough enough that there is little need for a practitioner to read the primary literature, even when contemplating sophisticated garbage collector designs. I remember being intimidated by garbage collection prior to reading this book, but now I am instead enthralled by garbage collection. Given the trend toward automatic memory management in programming languages, I think this book is an increasingly important part of the practicing programmer's library.

The first time I read the book, it seemed a bit repetitive, because the first two chapters provide the basic framework for the rest of the book. As a result, topics such as copying collection are discussed in at least two places. Upon reflection though, I think that there is no better way to organize the book, because there exists no straight path through all of the concepts the book covers.

Over the past eight years I have read portions of this book over and over as I've contemplated garbage collector designs for various software projects. I continue to be surprised at just how well this book meets my needs.

5 out of 5 stars An absolute must.......2007-01-18

I'd bought this book for personal reading. Even though I'm not directly into GC algos, I found this book amazingly lucid to read and follow. It has thorough coverage of all the GC algos I've heard of till date.

It goes about explaining the algos with a very broad level view, then goes a little deep, then deeper, so its very easy to follow, and the reader can decide to what extent (s)he wants to understand the algo.

A must have for anybody directly working on GC, or like me, people who develop high performance systems on GC aware languages/platforms. It can help you extract the most out of your platform.

5 out of 5 stars Great book.......2005-10-22

This is really a great book. It's really a must have for people who want to write their own modern virtual machine (like I).

This is simply the only book about Garbage Collection you can get. It's very complete: all GC Algorithmes are covered by this book in depth! All topics are properly introduced it has a nice layout, and offer snippets of pseudocode. It is not really a dry text.

If you want to read scientific papers about Garbage Collectors (like of ACM), it's recommended to read first this book, to get a proper introduction in this topic.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent book.......2003-03-22

Garbage collection is a very interesting and complicated topic. To understand different garbage collection algorithms, one has to go through various research papers published over last 30 years or read the simplified descriptions presented in Java site and Bill Venners artima.com. This book does an excellent job in putting together all these algorithms in a logical order that gives us a chance to understand the different challenges sceintists and programming language authors faced and how the algorithms evolved over the time. The book starts with basic overview and history of commonly known algorithms: Reference counting, Mark and Sweep, and Copying algorithms. It then elaborates each of these algorithms, enumerates their pros and cons, and presents imporvements done by different researchers. After this, the book moves on to advanced algorithms like Generational algorithm and concurrent mark and sweep algorithm. I recommend this book to anyone interested in garbage collection. I haven't seen any other book on this topic. Even for programmers who mostly don't have to worry about GC as it is "automatically" done, this is a good book to understand and appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. Also, knowledge of the concepts in this book will be invaluable in performance tuning.

5 out of 5 stars pretty good book.......2001-01-08

I wanted to know about the generational algorithm that Java is now using. The book was pretty clear about how things work. I haven't read the whole book but what I've seen is very encouraging. The first few chapters are a broad overview and then you can dive into the particular algorithm you are interested in.
The Book of Memory: A Study of Memory in Medieval Culture (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Window on the Past...
  • fine academic work
  • Comprehensive and well-written academic text
The Book of Memory: A Study of Memory in Medieval Culture (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature)
Mary J. Carruthers
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

MedievalMedieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
GeneralGeneral | Criticism & Theory | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Movements & PeriodsMovements & Periods | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Arthurian Romance | Beat Generation | General | Gothic Revival | Medieval | Modernism | Postmodernism | Renaissance | Romanticism | Surrealism | Victorian
Look Inside History BooksLook Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All DealsAll Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Literature & FictionLiterature & Fiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Literature & FictionLiterature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Craft of Thought: Meditation, Rhetoric, and the Making of Images, 4001200 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature) The Craft of Thought: Meditation, Rhetoric, and the Making of Images, 4001200 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature)
  2. The Medieval Craft of Memory: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures (Material Texts) The Medieval Craft of Memory: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures (Material Texts)
  3. The Art of Memory The Art of Memory
  4. In the Palaces of Memory: How We Build the Worlds Inside Our Heads In the Palaces of Memory: How We Build the Worlds Inside Our Heads
  5. Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition (Routledge Classics) Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition (Routledge Classics)

ASIN: 0521429730

Book Description

The Book of Memory is a magisterial and beautifully illustrated account of the workings and function of memory in medieval society. Memory was the psychological faculty valued above all others in the period stretching from late antiquity through the Renaissance. The prominence given to memory has profound implications for the contemporary understanding of all creative activity, and the social role of literature and art. Drawing on a range of fascinating examples from Dante, Chaucer, and Aquinas to the symbolism of illuminated manuscripts, this unusually wide-ranging book offers new insights into the medieval world.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Window on the Past..........2001-01-23

This extraordinary book and its companion volume, "The Craft of Thought," represent the most thorough, complete and accurate treatment of the arts of memory available in English. If you have a good academic vocabulary and a latin dictionary handy, this is quite a page turner. It gives you a look inside the heads of ancient and medieval scholars, whose imaginary "memory machines" are conceptual forerunners to the random-access memory in modern computers. Its themes are also a revelation to anyone interested in medieval art history. For example, after reading this, one realizes that medieval manuscripts were colorfully illuminated for the purposes of recollection, not just to make pretty pictures in the margins. This work expands and corrects some of the conclusions of Frances Yates in her pioneering work, "The Art of Memory." This is an intellectual thrill ride!

4 out of 5 stars fine academic work.......2000-10-18

I agree with the reader from New York who praises the scholarship on display here from Prof. Carruthers. Memory, so long a darling subject among intellectual elites, has fallen out of favor among modern intellectuals. Carruthers does an admirable job of re-locating it on our cultural maps.

_The Book of Memory_ suffers, however, in comparison with Frances Yates' classic text, _The Art of Memory_, which manages to be sweepingly ambitious, rigorous, and engaging. Carruthers is more academic. Yates' book is a masterpiece, whereas this one is merely superb.

4 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and well-written academic text.......2000-05-06

Carruthers's *Book of Memory* deals with the ways reading, composition, and memory interacted in the Middle Ages. She explores the way texts were used as memory tools or mnemonic devices by medieval readers. Texts, she argues, were not meant to be simply informational. Instead, readers and listeners used mnemonic skills to store the information gleaned from texts in their minds and use that information as the matter for future composition or meditation. Carruthers's writing is clear and informative. This text is comprehensive, often fascinating, and displays the author's vast knowledge of her subject matter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in expanding his or her understanding of memory and composition in the Middle Ages. However, this book is not for everyone. It is very dense and goes into great technical detail about its subject matter. Students of medieval language and history will find it most useful.
Mystic Chords of Memory: Civil War Battlefields and Historic Sites Recaptured
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The greatest test for The Great Republic
Mystic Chords of Memory: Civil War Battlefields and Historic Sites Recaptured
David J. Eicher
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & ExhibitionsCollections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
HistoryHistory | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Photo EssaysPhoto Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | 19th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
BattlefieldsBattlefields | Civil War | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0807123099

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The greatest test for The Great Republic.......2000-01-14

Writing on the U.S. Civil War must be a daunting task for any author. The vast coliseum of scholarship where so many have been and so many are yet to go leaves little scope for something different or new. Somehow, though, David Eicher's "Mystic Chords of Memory" is a refreshing photographic look at America's supreme hour.

The author has seemingly visited every battlefield, seen every monument, heard every story, read every text, letter and gravestone. From Harper's Ferry to Ford's Theatre, there are "then and now" photographs of many of the key places in that great conflict. The "now" photos from Eicher's own albums are splendid, evocative modern portraits of their black and white kin placed nearby. The photographs are matched by Eicher's simple and plain prose, brisk with quotes from the old generals, their soldiers and their families.

Eicher's book seems to share a similar ancestry to Ken Burns' masterful civil war television series. Both employ simple and elegant approaches to the task of conveying meaning to the conflict. Like Burns, Eicher doesn't waste time with interpretative Rubik's cubes. To Eicher, the Civil War is basic history - bloody, tragic, wasteful - but pure and simple history just the same. Get on with the pictures, stories and bonding with the old heroes; leave quarrel and contention to others.

Some might have feared that the world "will little note, nor long remember", yet David Eicher's study highlights the Civil War's enduring facility for bringing forth new and engaging reflections of that greatest test of The Great Republic. This is a beautiful book and a pleasure to read.
Scrapbooking Your Favorite Family Memories (Scrapbook)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Easy to Use.
  • Scrapbooking Goldmine
  • lots of ideas
Scrapbooking Your Favorite Family Memories (Scrapbook)
Michele Gerbrandt
Manufacturer: Memory Makers Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
PapercraftsPapercrafts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Adult Coloring Books | General | Paper Dolls | Paper Models
ScrapbookingScrapbooking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Preservation & CollectingPreservation & Collecting | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Home & Garden BooksLook Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Ultimate Guide To Scrapbooking Ultimate Guide To Scrapbooking
  2. The Amazing Page: 650 New Scrapbook Page Ideas, Tips And Techniques (Memory Makers) The Amazing Page: 650 New Scrapbook Page Ideas, Tips And Techniques (Memory Makers)
  3. Quick & Easy Scrapbook Pages: 100 Scrapbook Pages You Can Make in One Hour or Less (Memory Makers) Quick & Easy Scrapbook Pages: 100 Scrapbook Pages You Can Make in One Hour or Less (Memory Makers)
  4. Creating Keepsakes' Encyclopedia Of Scrapbooking Creating Keepsakes' Encyclopedia Of Scrapbooking
  5. Memory Makers' Great Scrapbooks Memory Makers' Great Scrapbooks

ASIN: 1892127334
Release Date: 2003-10-01

Product Description

Capture and preserve your family’s most precious moments! This complete guide to safe scrapbooking provides you with the proper photo-safe techniques to preserve cherished memories without the fear of ruining treasured photographs. Inside you’ll find:
- Over 500 inspiring page ideas
- Complete lists of necessary tools
- Detailed, step-by-step instructions
- Tips on arranging photos, photo cropping, page layouts, - and personal touches
- And so much more! Whether you are a scrapbooking novice or veteran, you’ll find ample inspiration to turn everyday photos into scrapbook works of art!

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Easy to Use........2007-07-03

This is an very easy to use and understand how to book. It contains a great many ideas that I would never have thought of or attempted without this book. Worth the money. You will use it over and over.

5 out of 5 stars Scrapbooking Goldmine.......2007-05-14

This is a great idea generator for scrapbookers. Nothing is too fancy or involved - just great "anyone can do this" page ideas. Loved it. Gave one as a gift also.

5 out of 5 stars lots of ideas.......2006-11-30

I am very happy with this book-- It doesn't have a lot of step by step instructions but I got some great ideas by just looking through it. Really cool ideas for ways to cut the pictures themselves, titles, layouts, etc. Not something that will teach you new techniques but if you are wanting something to spice up what you already know without being terribly time involving then you will enjoy this book.
Grandparents & Grandchildren: Shared Memories
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • a great snapshot into the grandparent/children relationship.
  • "Grandparents. . ." is heartwarming
  • Poignantly written, beautifully photographed stories of love
  • Beautifully presented book blending warmth & nostalgia.
  • The book lets you into the lives of the families selected
Grandparents & Grandchildren: Shared Memories
Carol Abrams , and Ferne Margulies
Manufacturer: Stoddart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & ExhibitionsCollections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Photo EssaysPhoto Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
PhotojournalismPhotojournalism | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
PortraitsPortraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Exhibition Catalogs | Museums | Museums & Collections | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
RelationshipsRelationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books | Codependency | Conflict Management | Dating | Divorce | Friendship | General | Interpersonal Relations | Love & Loss | Love & Romance | Marriage | Mate Seeking | Nonmonogamy
Marriage & FamilyMarriage & Family | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GrandparentingGrandparenting | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Health BooksLook Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Nonfiction BooksLook Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Parenting BooksLook Inside Parenting Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Accessories:
  1. Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1575440768

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars a great snapshot into the grandparent/children relationship........1999-08-28

a perfect coffee table book or present.

5 out of 5 stars "Grandparents. . ." is heartwarming.......1998-10-07

I was moved by this book. I happen to be one of the grandaughters featured in this book, and I hate to admit this, but I really wouldn't have picked it up, but since I was given a free copy, I read, and it made me appreciate the relationship between my grandfather and me. Now everyone that has picked it up, wants a copy. It really is touching.

5 out of 5 stars Poignantly written, beautifully photographed stories of love.......1998-07-19

This is a delightfully written book filled with poignant reflections of love betweem grandparents and grandchildren. In just a page or two, Carol Abrams captures the essence of these relationships and the photography illuminates the stories. As a recent grandmother, I readily identify with the unconditional love these grandparents share with the reader and only hope that my grandaughter will bond with me in a similar fashion.

5 out of 5 stars Beautifully presented book blending warmth & nostalgia........1998-06-18

I was so touched by "Grandparents & Grandchildren, Shared Memories" that I began sending a copy to each of my family members--then to friends who are grandparents. The recipients are all so delighted with this "treasure" that I thought I might share my idea with others. It's a beautifully presented book, blending warmth and nostalgia through engaging vignettes. Each charming chapter reassures us that what seems ordinary is potentially profound. Kudos to Carol Abrams & Ferne Margulies for a gem of a book!

5 out of 5 stars The book lets you into the lives of the families selected.......1998-06-10

This wonderful book is not just another coffee table photography book. The stories behind the photographs explore the special relationships many grandparents share with their grandchildren. Some have made incredible sacrifices in stepping into the role of parent, when their own children failed to fill that role. The devotion is so heartwarming. Reading these stories makes one stop and cherish their own special relationships with family. It is a book I know I will look at over and over again.
The Emerging Physics of Consciousness (The Frontiers Collection)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The uneven quality of emerging physics
  • Mind, Brain and the Quantum: The Cutting Edge of the Science of Consciousness
The Emerging Physics of Consciousness (The Frontiers Collection)
Tuszynski J.A.
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Ethics & MoralityEthics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
Quantum TheoryQuantum Theory | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Quantum TheoryQuantum Theory | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Nonfiction BooksLook Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Science BooksLook Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
All DealsAll Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
ScienceScience | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
All Amazon UpgradeAll Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
MedicineMedicine | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Professional & TechnicalProfessional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
ScienceScience | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
MedicineMedicine | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness
  2. Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality
  3. The Physics of Consciousness: The Quantum Mind and the Meaning of Life The Physics of Consciousness: The Quantum Mind and the Meaning of Life
  4. Mindful Universe: Quantum Mechanics and the Participating Observer (The Frontiers Collection) Mindful Universe: Quantum Mechanics and the Participating Observer (The Frontiers Collection)
  5. Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics (The Frontiers Collection) Mind, Matter and Quantum Mechanics (The Frontiers Collection)

Accessories:
  1. Light Scattering and Nanoscale Surface Roughness (Nanostructure Science and Technology) Light Scattering and Nanoscale Surface Roughness (Nanostructure Science and Technology)
  2. Quantum Theory: A Wide Spectrum Quantum Theory: A Wide Spectrum
  3. Lectures on Quantum Mechanics Lectures on Quantum Mechanics

ASIN: 3540238905

Book Description

Consciousness is one of the major unsolved problems in science. How do the feelings and sensations making up conscious experience arise from the concerted actions of nerve cells and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? Can such feelings be explained by modern science, or is there an entirely different kind of explanation needed? And how can this seemingly intractable problem be approached experimentally? How do the operations of the conscious mind emerge out of the specific interactions involving billions of neurons? This multi-authored book seeks answers to these questions within a range of physically based frameworks, i.e, the underlying assumption is that consciousness can be understood using the intellectual potential of modern physics and other sciences. There are a number of theories of consciousness in existence, some of which are based on classical physics while some others require the use of quantum concepts. The latter ones have drawn a lot of criticism from the present-day scientific establishment while simultaneously claiming that classical approaches are doomed to failure. This book presents the reader with a spectrum of opinions from both sides of this on-going scientific debate, letting him/her decide which of these approaches are most likely to succeed.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars The uneven quality of emerging physics.......2007-02-06

The articles involving exposition of scientific progress are pretty good. The articles attempting philosophy are not so good. Some of the authors attempt to impress the reader instead of enlightening the reader.

5 out of 5 stars Mind, Brain and the Quantum: The Cutting Edge of the Science of Consciousness.......2007-01-23

I think that most of us would agree that consciousness remains one of the major unsolved problems in science. Though there are still some scientists and philosophers who think that it is no more than a grand illusion created by a series of neural reflexes, common sense, personal insight and observation really tell us otherwise.

So how do the feelings and sensations that make up conscious experience arise from the actions of neurons and their associated synaptic and molecular processes? Or is there enough evidence to indicate that the mind is not a product of neural activity, but is instead a universal field that is constrained by the brain?

This fine book proposes that consciousness can be understood using the insights of modern physics and other sciences.

The book is divided into 14 chapters:

1. The path ahead by Jack A. Tuszynski and Nancy Woolf
2. Consciousness and quantum physics: empirical research on the subjective reduction of the state vector by Dick J. Bierman and Stephen Whitmarsh
3. Microtubules in the cerebral cortex: role in memory and consciousness by Nancy J. Woolf
4. Towards experimental tests of quantum effects in cytoskeletal proteins by Andreas Mershin and Hugo Sanabria and John H. Miller and Dharmakeerthna Nawarathna and Efthimios M. C. Skoulakis and Nikolaos E. Mavromatos and Alexadre A. Kolomenskii and Hans A. Schuessler and Richard F. Luduena and Dimitri V. Nanopoulos
5. Physicalism, chaos and reductionism by Alwyn Scott
6. Consciousness, neurobiology and quantum mechanics: the case for a connection by Stuart Hameroff
7. Life, catalysis and excitable media: a dynamic systems approach to metabolism and cognition by Christopher James Davia
8. The dendritic cytoskeleton as a computational device: a hypothesis by Avner Priel and Jack A. Tuszynski and Horacion F. Cantiello
9. Recurrent quantum neural network and its applications by Laxmidhar Behera and Indrani Kar and Avshalom C. Elitzur
10. Microtubules as a quantum Hopfield network by Elizabeth C. Behrman and K. Gaddam and J. E. Steck and S.R. Skinner
11. Consciousness and quantum brain dynamics by Gordon Globus
12. The CEMI field theory: seven clues to the nature of consciousness by Johnjoe McFadden
13. Quantum cosmology and the hard problem of the conscious brain by Chris King
14. Consciousness and logic in a quantum computing universe by Paola Zizzi

Each chapter begins with a brief summary that is most valuable if any of the topics is unfamiliar. Most of the chapters contain some original research data as well as a comprehensive discussion, summary and references.

Virtually all the authors have been widely published elsewhere and this book represents their current views about consciousness. Considering the number of eminent experts in the book, there is a remarkable uniformity of style.

There is some mathematics in a few of the chapters, but nothing too complex.

The intention of the book was clearly to present many different views of the consciousness problem, and as such it succeeds extremely well. It does not come to a final answer, but is instead a summary of where we are in understanding the physics of consciousness.

The book highlights the important fact that consciousness is a highly interdisciplinary issue. We do not have all the answers, but we are asking better questions. And some world-class scientists are finding a way out of the empty impasse of trying to reduce consciousness to an epiphenomenon of neural activity.

The book needs a little understanding of mathematics and the basics of quantum mechanics. But it is otherwise not a difficult read.

If you are interested in consciousness and its interaction with the physical and biological worlds, this is an excellent book that I recommend highly.

Books:

  1. Designated Targets (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 2)
  2. Devil at My Heels: A Heroic Olympian's Astonishing Story of Survival as a Japanese POW in World War II
  3. Dreaming in Code: Two Dozen Programmers, Three Years, 4,732 Bugs, and One Quest for Transcendent Software
  4. Edith Wharton
  5. Estimator's Piping Man-Hour Manual, Fifth Edition (Estimator's Man-Hour Library)
  6. Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators, Second Edition
  7. Forest Mage (The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 2)
  8. Forever (Firstborn Series #5)
  9. Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis: An Introduction
  10. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books

  1. How to Read Lacan
  2. The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving
  3. Satin Doll: A Novel
  4. The Apprentice Mage, 1865-1914
  5. The Heart of Listening: A Visionary Approach to Craniosacral Work: Anatomy, Technique, Transcendence
  6. Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving
  7. The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring
  8. Louis XIII, the Just
  9. State Tax Consequences of Ira Distributions for Nonresidents
  10. Cyberhound's Guide to Companies on the Internet